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Background Ethnic minorities living in high-income countries have been disproportionately affected by Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in terms of infection rates, hospitalisations, and deaths; however, less is known about long COVID in these populations. Our aim was to examine the risk of long COVID and associated symptoms among ethnic minorities. Methods and findings We used nationwide register-based cohort data on individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 aged [greater than or equal to]18 years (n = 2,287,175) between January 2020 and August 2022 in Denmark. We calculated the risk of long COVID diagnosis and long COVID symptoms among ethnic minorities compared with native Danes using multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression and logistic regression, respectively. Among individuals who were first time diagnosed with COVID-19 during the study period, 39,876 (1.7%) were hospitalised and 2,247,299 (98.3%) were nonhospitalised individuals. Of the diagnosed COVID-19 cases, 1,952,021 (85.3%) were native Danes and 335,154 (14.7%) were ethnic minorities. After adjustment for age, sex, civil status, education, family income, and Charlson comorbidity index, ethnic minorities from North Africa (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.41, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.12,1.79], p = 0.003), Middle East (aHR 1.38, 95% CI [1.24,1.55], p < 0.001), Eastern Europe (aHR 1.35, 95% CI [1.22,1.49], p < 0.001), and Asia (aHR 1.23, 95% CI [1.09,1.40], p = 0.001) had significantly greater risk of long COVID diagnosis than native Danes. In the analysis by largest countries of origin, the greater risks of long COVID diagnosis were found in people of Iraqi origin (aHR 1.56, 95% CI [1.30,1.88], p < 0.001), people of Turkish origin (aHR 1.42, 95% CI [1.24,1.63], p < 0.001), and people of Somali origin (aHR 1.42, 95% CI [1.07,1.91], p = 0.016). A significant factor associated with an increased risk of long COVID diagnosis was COVID-19 hospitalisation. The risk of long COVID diagnosis among ethnic minorities was more pronounced between January 2020 and June 2021. Furthermore, the odds of reporting cardiopulmonary symptoms (including dyspnoea, cough, and chest pain) and any long COVID symptoms were higher among people of North African, Middle Eastern, Eastern European, and Asian origins than among native Danes in both unadjusted and adjusted models. Despite including the nationwide sample of individuals diagnosed with COVID-19, the precision of our estimates on long COVID was limited to the sample of patients with symptoms who had contacted the hospital. Conclusions Belonging to an ethnic minority group was significantly associated with an increased risk of long COVID, indicating the need to better understand long COVID drivers and address care and treatment strategies in these populations., Author(s): George Frederick Mkoma 1,*, Charles Agyemang 2,3, Thomas Benfield 4,5, Mikael Rostila 6,7, Agneta Cederström 6,7, Jørgen Holm Petersen 8, Marie Norredam 1,4 Introduction Globally, millions of people have [...]

STUDY QUESTION Is there a possible association between prenatal phthalate exposure and late effects in teenage daughters with respect to reproductive hormone levels, uterine volume, and number of ovarian follicles? SUMMARY ANSWER Our study showed subtle associations between phthalate metabolite concentrations in maternal serum from pregnancy or cord blood and LH and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels as well as uterine volume in their daughters 16 years later. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Endocrine-disrupting environmental chemicals may adversely affect human reproductive health, and many societies have experienced a trend toward earlier puberty and an increasing prevalence of infertility in young couples. The scientific evidence of adverse effects of foetal exposure to a large range of chemicals, including phthalates, on male reproductive health is growing, but very few studies have explored effects on female reproduction. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION This follow-up study included 317 teenage daughters who were part of the Copenhagen Mother–Child Cohort, a population-based longitudinal birth cohort of 1210 females born between 1997 and 2002. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS A total of 317 female participants (median age 16 years) were examined for weight, height, and menstrual pattern. A serum sample was analysed for concentrations of reproductive hormones, and trans-abdominal 3D ultrasonography was performed to obtain the number of ovarian follicles, ovarian and uterine size. Prenatal maternal serum samples were available for 115 females, and cord blood samples were available for 118 females. These were analysed for concentrations of 32 phthalate metabolites. Weighted quantile sum regression was used for modelling associations of combined prenatal phthalate exposure with the reproductive outcomes in post-menarcheal females. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE In bivariate correlation analyses, negative significant associations were found between several prenatal phthalate metabolite concentrations and serum hormone concentrations (testosterone, 17-OH-progesterone, and IGF-1) as well as number of ovarian follicles in puberty. Positive significant correlations were found between prenatal phthalate exposure and FSH and sex hormone-binding globulin concentrations. Combined analyses of phthalate exposure (weighted quantile sums) showed significant negative associations with IGF-1 concentration and uterine volume as well as a significant positive association with LH concentration. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Phthalate metabolites were measured in serum from single prenatal maternal blood samples and cord blood samples. Potential concomitant exposure to other endocrine-disrupting environmental chemicals before or after birth was not controlled for. The study population size was limited. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Our results support the need for further research into possible adverse effects of environmental chemicals during foetal development of the female reproductive system. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) The work was supported by The Center on Endocrine Disruptors (CeHoS) under The Danish Environmental Protection Agency and The Ministry of Environment and Food (grant number: MST-621-00 065). No conflicts of interest are declared. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Growth reference values about mid‐upper arm circumference (MUAC) are vital for assessing children's nutritional status. However, Pakistan lacks these reference values and growth charts. This study aims to develop these for children aged 6–60 months and compare them with global standards. Methods: The data were acquired from the 2018 National Nutrition Survey of Pakistan, which was conducted by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) during 2018–2019. The final study cohort comprised 57 285 children, with 51% being boys. Percentile values and charts for MUAC‐for‐age were developed using generalised additive models for location, scale and shape with the Box–Cox power exponential distribution. Results: The mean MUAC was 14.21 cm (±2.07 cm) and 14.13 cm (±2.12 cm) for the boys and girls, respectively. At 60 months of age, the P3 and P97 percentiles for girls were slightly higher than those for boys. The median percentiles of Pakistani children were smaller than the World Health Organisation 2007 standards and with international references. Conclusion: We observed disparities in MUAC‐for‐age growth references among Pakistani children compared to global standards, highlighting regional, age and gender variations. This underscores the need for developing countries like Pakistan to establish their growth references. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) may affect the male reproductive system as it uses angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE)2, which is expressed in testicular tissue, as an entry point into the cell. Few studies have evaluated the long‐term effects of mild coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) on testicular function, and insulin‐like factor 3 (INSL3) levels have not previously been assessed during acute SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the impact of acute SARS‐CoV‐2 infection on testicular function including INSL3 and the presence of SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA in semen in non‐hospitalised men with mild COVID‐19. Materials and methods: This longitudinal study included 36 non‐hospitalised SARS‐CoV‐2‐positive men (median age 29 years). Inclusion was within seven days following a positive SARS‐CoV‐2 reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction test. Reproductive hormone levels, semen parameters, and the presence of SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA in oropharyngeal and semen samples were assessed during acute SARS‐CoV‐2 infection (baseline) and at three‐ and six‐month follow‐up. Wilcoxon matched‐pair signed‐rank (two samples) test was used to assess time‐related alterations in reproductive hormone levels and semen parameters. Results: Lower plasma testosterone (T) (total and calculated free (c‐fT)) and higher luteinising hormone (LH) concentrations were observed during acute SARS‐CoV‐2 infection (baseline) compared to three‐ and six‐month follow‐up. Consequently, ratios of c‐fT/LH were lower at baseline compared to three‐ and six‐month follow‐up (p < 0.001 and p = 0.003, respectively). Concomitantly, lower INSL3 concentrations were observed at baseline compared to three‐month follow‐up (p = 0.01). The total number of motile spermatozoa was also lower at baseline compared to six‐month follow‐up (p = 0.02). The alterations were detected irrespective of whether the men had experienced SARS‐CoV‐2‐related fever episodes or not. No SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA was detected in semen at any time point. Discussion and conclusion: This study showed a reduction in testicular function, which was for the first time confirmed by INSL3, in men mildly affected by SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. The risk of transmission of SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA via semen seems to be low. Febrile episodes may impact testicular function, but a direct effect of SARS‐CoV‐2 cannot be excluded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To describe the natural history of inhibin B throughout life according to sex, age, and pubertal development., Methods: Based on serum samples from 2707 healthy controls aged 0 to 80 years, sex- and age-specific reference ranges of inhibin B concentrations were constructed. Concentrations were evaluated according to pubertal development and use of oral contraceptives (OCs). Also, measurements from 42 patients with Klinefelter syndrome were included., Results: In both sexes, inhibin B concentrations were high during minipuberty, decreased in childhood, and increased significantly from Tanner stages B1 to B3 (peak: B4) in females and from G1 to G3 (peak: G3) in males. Despite variations in menstruating females, inhibin B concentrations remained relatively constant after puberty, until becoming unmeasurable at menopause. Despite a modest decrease, the inhibin B concentration in males remained relatively high from puberty onwards. At any age, males had highest concentrations. Inhibin B standard deviation (SD) scores were lower in OC-users (median SD score = -0.88) than in non-users (SD score = 0.35), p < 0.001. In patients with Klinefelter syndrome, inhibin B concentrations spanned the reference range until around 15 years of age, where they decreased to subnormal or unmeasurable levels., Conclusion: Valuable sex- and age-specific reference data for inhibin B concentrations were provided. In OC-users, decreased concentrations of inhibin B underlined the ovaries as the only place of inhibin B production. In patients with Klinefelter syndrome, the decline in inhibin B concentrations at puberty underlined the shift in regulation of inhibin B production at pubertal onset., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Endocrine Society. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com. See the journal About page for additional terms.)