Estradiol Concentrations and Wellbeing in Trans People Using Estradiol Hormone Therapy.

Purpose: In trans people undergoing feminizing hormone therapy, optimal estradiol concentrations are unclear, and anecdotally, some individuals desire supraphysiologic estradiol concentrations. We aimed to assess associations between estradiol concentration and psychological distress, well-being, and dysphoria. Second, we aimed to explore relationships between estradiol concentration and the risk of medical conditions potentially associated with estradiol therapy.

Effect of Spironolactone and Cyproterone Acetate on Breast Growth in Transgender People: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Context: Transgender people with sex recorded male at birth desiring feminization commonly use cyproterone acetate or spironolactone as antiandrogens with estradiol, but the optimal antiandrogen is unclear.

Objective: We aimed to assess the effect of antiandrogens on breast development. We hypothesized this would be greater in those treated with cyproterone acetate than spironolactone due to more potent androgen receptor antagonism and suppression of serum total testosterone concentrations.

Imprinted gene alterations in the kidneys of growth restricted offspring may be mediated by a long non-coding RNA.

Altered epigenetic mechanisms have been previously reported in growth restricted offspring whose mothers experienced environmental insults during pregnancy in both human and rodent studies. We previously reported changes in the expression of the DNA methyltransferase and the imprinted genes (Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1C) and (Potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily Q member 1) in the kidney tissue of growth restricted rats whose mothers had uteroplacental insufficiency induced on day 18 of gestation, at both embryonic day 20 (E20) and postnatal day 1 (PN1). To determine the mechanisms responsible for changes in the expression of these imprinted genes, we investigated DNA methylation of KvDMR1, an imprinting control region (ICR) that includes the promoter of the antisense long non-coding RNA ( opposite strand/antisense transcript 1).

DraculR: A Web-Based Application for In Silico Haemolysis Detection in High-Throughput microRNA Sequencing Data.

The search for novel microRNA (miRNA) biomarkers in plasma is hampered by haemolysis, the lysis and subsequent release of red blood cell contents, including miRNAs, into surrounding fluid. The biomarker potential of miRNAs comes in part from their multicompartment origin and the long-lived nature of miRNA transcripts in plasma, giving researchers a functional window for tissues that are otherwise difficult or disadvantageous to sample. The inclusion of red-blood-cell-derived miRNA transcripts in downstream analysis introduces a source of error that is difficult to identify posthoc and may lead to spurious results.

Pelvic Pain in Transgender People Using Testosterone Therapy.

This descriptive study aimed to assess the characteristics of pelvic pain and explore predictive factors for pelvic pain in transgender (trans) individuals using testosterone therapy. An online cross-sectional survey was open between August 28, 2020, and December 31, 2020, to trans people presumed female at birth, using testosterone for gender affirmation, living in Australia, and >16 years of age. The survey explored characteristics of pelvic pain following initiation of testosterone therapy, type and length of testosterone therapy, menstruation history, and relevant sexual, gynecological, and mental health experiences.

Lipid profiles and hypertriglyceridemia among transgender and gender diverse adults on gender-affirming hormone therapy.

Background: The effects of gender-affirming hormone therapy on lipid profiles among transgender adults have been inconsistent and incompletely characterized.

Objective: To longitudinally assess changes to lipid profiles following hormone therapy and to establish prevalence rates of hyperlipidemia/low HDL-cholesterol.

Methods: This longitudinal study followed lipid profiles of 366 transgender and gender-diverse adult patients (170 transfeminine and 196 transmasculine; mean age, 28 years) in Washington DC USA.

A prospective registry analysis of psychosocial and metabolic health between women with and without metabolic syndrome after a complicated pregnancy.

Purpose: Pregnancy complications affect over one quarter of Australian pregnancies, and this group of mothers is vulnerable and more likely to experience adverse cardiometabolic health outcomes in the postpartum period. Metabolic syndrome is common in this population and may be associated with postpartum mental health issues. However, this relationship remains poorly understood.

Effectiveness of a nurse practitioner-led cardiovascular prevention clinic at reduction of metabolic syndrome following maternal complications of pregnancy: a preliminary analysis.

Aim: Maternal complications of pregnancy, including hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational diabetes mellitus, intrauterine growth restriction, preterm labour, and placental abruption, are associated with increased risk of future cardiometabolic disease. Lifestyle interventions that focus on preventative strategies for this young, high-risk population of women may assist in cardiometabolic disease risk reduction. The aim of this preliminary registry analysis was to observe the change in maternal metabolic syndrome status after receiving a nurse practitioner-led lifestyle intervention delivered soon after a complicated pregnancy.

Haemolysis Detection in MicroRNA-Seq from Clinical Plasma Samples.

The abundance of cell-free microRNA (miRNA) has been measured in blood plasma and proposed as a source of novel, minimally invasive biomarkers for several diseases. Despite improvements in quantification methods, there is no consensus regarding how haemolysis affects plasma miRNA content. We propose a method for haemolysis detection in miRNA high-throughput sequencing (HTS) data from libraries prepared using human plasma.

Gestational diabetes mellitus and cardio-metabolic risk factors in women and children at 3 years postpartum.

Introduction: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is thought to be associated with cardio-metabolic risk factor development in women and their children during the early postpartum period and early childhood. We hypothesized that these women and their children would exhibit increased abnormal cardio-metabolic risk factors three years after pregnancy.

Methods: Women from the Screening Tests to Predict Poor Outcomes of Pregnancy study were invited to attend a follow-up with the child from their index pregnancy at 3 years postpartum.

Effects of low-dose oral micronised progesterone on sleep, psychological distress, and breast development in transgender individuals undergoing feminising hormone therapy: a prospective controlled study.

Objective: The role of micronised progesterone in hormone regimens for transgender individuals undergoing feminising hormone therapy remains uncertain. We aimed to determine the effect of oral micronised progesterone on sleep quality, psychological distress, and breast development in transgender individuals undergoing feminising hormone therapy.

Design: Prospective case-control study.

Modelling the Impact of Reducing Ultra-Processed Foods Based on the NOVA Classification in Australian Women of Reproductive Age.

Women of reproductive age have a high proportion of overweight/obesity and an overall poor nutritional intake and diet quality. Nutritional modelling is a method to forecast potential changes in nutrition composition that may offer feasible and realistic changes to dietary intake. This study uses simulation modelling to estimate feasible population improvements in dietary profile by reducing ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption in Australian women of reproductive age.

Placental Inflammasome mRNA Levels Differ by Mode of Delivery and Fetal Sex.

Parturition signals the end of immune tolerance in pregnancy. Term labour is usually a sterile inflammatory process triggered by damage associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) as a consequence of functional progesterone withdrawal. Activation of DAMPs recruits leukocytes and inflammatory cytokine responses in the myometrium, decidua, cervix and fetal membranes.

Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in Women After Maternal Complications of Pregnancy: An Observational Cohort Analysis.

Introduction: Certain complications of pregnancy, including hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational diabetes mellitus, intrauterine growth restriction, spontaneous preterm birth, and placental abruption, are established independent risk factors for premature cardiovascular disease in women. Metabolic syndrome, which is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, may be a suitable alternative to traditional cardiovascular risk calculators that underestimate risk in young women. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in women who experienced a complicated pregnancy 6 months earlier.

Nutritional properties of selected superfood extracts and their potential health benefits.

Background: The term 'superfoods' is used to market foods considered to have significant health benefits. 'Superfoods' are claimed to prevent diseases as well as improving overall health, though the lack of explicit criteria means that any food can be labelled 'super' without support from scientific research. Typically, these 'superfoods' are rich in a particular nutrient for example antioxidants or omega-3 fatty acids.

Relative importance of metabolic syndrome components for developing gestational diabetes.

Purpose: To assess the independent and joint contribution of the individual components of metabolic syndrome, and known risk factors for gestational diabetes (GDM), on risk of GDM.

Methods: Two thousand nine hundred and fifteen women from Australia and New Zealand, who participated in The Screening for Pregnancy Endpoints Study (SCOPE), were included. Using the SCOPE clinical data set and biomarkers obtained at 14-16 weeks' gestation, a logistic regression model was fitted to the binary outcome GDM, with individual metabolic syndrome components (waist circumference, blood pressure, glucose, HDL-C, triglycerides), recruitment site, and other established factors associated with GDM.

Short-Term Effects of Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy on Dysphoria and Quality of Life in Transgender Individuals: A Prospective Controlled Study.

Background: Gender affirming hormone therapy (GAHT), whilst considered the standard of care in clinical guidelines for the treatment of many transgender (trans) people is supported by low quality evidence. In this prospective longitudinal controlled study, we aimed to examine the effect of newly commencing GAHT on gender dysphoria and quality of life (QoL) over a 6 month period.

Methods: Adult trans (including those with binary and/or non-binary identities) people newly commencing standard full-doses of masculinising ( = 42; 35 = trans masculine, 7 = non-binary) or feminising ( = 35; 33 = trans feminine, 2 = non-binary) GAHT and cisgender participants (=53 male, =50 female) were recruited to participate in this longitudinal prospective study.

Blood Pressure Effects of Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy in Transgender and Gender-Diverse Adults.

[Figure: see text].

TNF signaling via TNF receptors does not mediate the effects of short-term exercise on cognition, anxiety and depressive-like behaviors in middle-aged mice.

Background: We recently reported that tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling via the TNFR1 and TNFR2 receptors mediates the effects of long-term exercise on locomotion, cognition and anxiety, but not depressive-like behavior. We now investigated whether the TNF signaling via its receptors also mediates the effects of short-term exercise on cognition, anxiety and depressive-like behaviors.

Methods: Thirteen-month-old C57BL/6 (WT), TNF, TNFR1, and TNFR2 mice were provided with 4 weeks of voluntary wheel running followed by behavioral testing using an established behavioral battery.

The interaction between metabolic syndrome and physical activity, and risk for gestational diabetes mellitus.

Aims: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of risk factors which increases risk of cardiometabolic diseases in the adult population and increases risk for pregnancy complications such as gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Epidemiological data indicate that moderate-to-high levels of physical activity reduces the risk for GDM. The study aims to determine whether the association between MetS and GDM is affected by physical activity.