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Aim: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of antiepileptics on thyroid function tests and to compare these effects among different antiepileptics. Materials and Methods: Two hundred and twenty patients (102 female and 118 male) aged 1-17 years indicated for antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy for epilepsy were enrolled in this study which was performed in a child neurology clinic between January 2014 and January 2018. Those patients using a single AED and with complete seizure control were included. In this study period, according to the local protocol, we measured free thyroxine (fT4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels at the beginning of treatment and at the 12th month of AED therapy. Results: The mean age of the patients was 10.2 +/- 4.4 years. TSH elevation was observed in only eight patients. These eight patients' thyroid autoantibodies were negative and their thyroid ultrasonography were normal. Subclinical hypothyroidism (TSH: 5-10, fT4 normal) was present in three of these eight patients, and they were therefore not started on medication. The other five were started on L-thyroxine. Four of these were using valproic acid and one was using carbamazepine. We found no significant difference between TSH and fT4 levels measured before the start and at the 12th month of drug therapy, nor among the different AEDs used. Conclusion: AEDs have no marked effects on thyroid function, and may therefore be safely used from that perspective. WOS:000718894700005

Background: Several compounds contained in coffee have been found to suppress carcinogenesis in experimental studies. We conducted a dose-response meta-analysis to assess the impact of coffee consumption on the risk of endometrial cancer. Materials and methods: We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE databases for studies published up to August 2016. Using random effects models, we estimated summary relative risks (RR) for cohort studies and odds ratios (OR) for case-control studies with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Dose-response analyses were conducted by using generalized least square trend estimation. Results: We identified 12 cohort studies and 8 case-control studies eligible for inclusion, contributing with 11,663 and 2,746 endometrial cancer cases, respectively. The summary RR for highest compared with lowest coffee intake was 0.74 (95% CI: 0.68-0.81; p(heterogeneity) = 0.09, I-2 = 32%). The corresponding summary RR among cohort studies was 0.78 (95% CI: 0.71-0.85; p(heterogeneity) = 0.14, I-2 = 31.9%) and 0.63 (95% CI: 0.53-0.76; p(heterogeneity) = 0.57, I-2 = 0%) for case-control studies. One-cup increment per day was associated with 3% risk reduction (95% CI: 2-4%) in cohort studies and 12% (95% CI: 5-18%) in case-control studies. After pooling the results from 5 cohort studies, the association remained significant only in women with body mass index over 30 (RR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.61-0.81). Conclusion: The results from our meta-analysis strengthen the evidence of a protective effect of coffee consumption on the risk of EC and further suggest that increased coffee intake might be particularly beneficial for women with obesity.

OBJECTIVE: The association of caffeine intake with testosterone remains unclear. We evaluated the association of caffeine intake with serum testosterone among American men and determined whether this association varied by race/ethnicity and measurements of adiposity. METHODS: Data were analyzed for 2581 men (≥20 years old) who participated in the cycles of the NHANES 1999-2004 and 2011-2012, a cross-sectional study. Testosterone (ng/mL) was measured by immunoassay among men who participated in the morning examination session. We analyzed 24-h dietary recall data to estimate caffeine intake (mg/day). Multivariable weighted linear regression models were conducted. RESULTS: We identified no linear relationship between caffeine intake and testosterone levels in the total population, but there was a non-linear association (pnonlinearity

SummaryBackground Testosterone deficiency (TD, total testosterone ≤ 350 ng/dL [12.15 nmol/L]) and obesity epidemic are growing in parallel in the United States. Yet the sequelae of TD and obesity on the risk of mortality remains unclear. Objective To investigate whether the co-occurrence of TD and overall obesity (body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2), and abdominal obesity (waist circumference ≥ 102 cm), is associated with a risk of all-cause mortality in American men. Design The data were obtained from the NHANES 1999-2004 and the Linked Mortality File (December 31, 2011). A total of 948 participants aged ≥ 20 years old with endogenous sex hormones and adiposity measurements data were included in this study. Results Over a median of 9.5 y of follow-up, 142 men died of any cause in this cohort. Multivariable analysis showed a 2.60 fold increased risk of death among men with TD compared with men without TD (Hazard Ratio [HR] = 2.60; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.20 – 5.80). No evidence for interaction between TD and overall or abdominal obesity with risk of death (Pinteraction ≥ 0.80). However, only after comparing men with TD and abdominal obesity with men without TD and no abdominal obesity, we found a 3.30 fold increased risk of death (HR = 3.30, 95% CI = 1.21 – 8.71). Conclusion Men with co-occurrence of TD and abdominal obesity have a higher risk of mortality. The effect of co-occurrence of TD and abdominal obesity should be further explored with a larger and longer follow-up time study. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

This study aimed to investigate the in vitro contractility of the myometrium and its relationship to the blood concentrations of estradiol-17β (E2β), progesterone (P4), 15-keto-13,14-dihydro-PGF2α (PGFM) and ionised calcium (Ca2+) prior to tissue harvest in 12 healthy Holstein-Friesian cows in late pregnancy. Three circular (CM) and 3 longitudinal myometrial (LM) strips were dissected during a caesarean section and mounted in an organ bath containing modified Krebs solution (KS). The spontaneous contractility was recorded during five 30-min time periods (T1 to T5), after which the strips were exposed to increasing concentrations of oxytocin (OT; 10-10-10-7M), a natural PGF2α-analogue (PGF; 10-7-10-4M) and KS (Cont) for four 30-min time periods (T6 to T9). The variables area under the curve (AUC), mean (MA) and maximal amplitude (maxA) were calculated for each T. The blood P4, E2s, Ca2+ and PGFM values averaged 4.0±1.7ng/mL, 482.3±63.7 pg/mL, 0.8±0.3 mmol/L and 125.3±63.7pg/mL. The LM strips had greater AUC, MA, and maxA than CM, and OT caused greater AUC and MA in both muscle layers than PGF or control treatment (OT>PGF>Cont). Estradiol-17β correlated with AUC and MA of LM at T1 to T5 (r=0.69; P≤0.05). In conclusion, LM and CM strips have different contractile performance but show enhanced activity when stimulated with OT and less activity after PGF stimulation if compared with Cont. Blood concentrations of E2β may be useful as an indicator of uterine contractile performance in late pregnant cattle.

True hermaphroditism in a dog is described in thiscase report. An eight month old cross-breed dog with enlarged structureprotruding from the vulva was brought for an ovariohysterectomie operation.Physical examinations exposed the presence of an os clitoris and urethralorifice at the base of the os clitoris. Exploratory laparotomy was performed asa diagnostic and therapeutic procedure. Both gonadal tissues and the genitaltract were removed during surgery and brought to the laboratory forpathological examinations. Microscopic examinations showed that the right gonadhad both seminiferous tubules like testis and primer follicles like ovarium.The concentrations of serum progesterone, testosterone and 17β-estradiol were0,188 ng/ml, 1,008 ng/ml and 23,61 pg/ml respectively. We concluded that thisis a true hermaphrodismus case due to the simultaneous presence of two sexgonads., Bu çalışmada, gerçekhermafrodit bir köpek anlatılmıştır. Vulvasından dışarıya doğru çıkan büyük birkitle olan 8 aylık melez bir köpek kısırlaştırma operasyonu için araştırmamerkezimize getirildi. Fiziksel muayenelerde os klitorisin varlığı ve bununbazalinde uretral deliğin olduğu saptandı. Teşhis ve tedavi amacıyla hayvanaovariohysterectomie operasyonu uygulandı. Her iki gonadal doku ve uteruspatolojik incelemeler için laboratuvara gönderildi. Mikroskobik incelemeler,sağ gonadın hem testis gibi seminifer tubuller hem de ovaryum gibi primerfoliküller içerdiğini gösterdi. Serum progesteron, 17β-östradiol ve testosterondüzeyleri sırasıyla 0,188 ng/ml, 23,61 pg/ml, 1,008 ng/ml olarak ölçüldü.Köpekte her iki gonadal dokunun aynı anda bulunması nedeniyle olgunun birgerçek hermafrodismus olgusu olduğu kanısına varıldı.

U radu su prikazani rezultati praćenja proizvodnje reznica sorti masline Velike sitnjake, Sitnice, Uljarice i Kalamate u 2016. godini pod utjecajem tretiranja različitim koncentracijama fitohormona IBA (2000, 3000, 4000 i 5000 ppm) te su uspoređeni s rezultatima dobivenim u 2015. godine za iste sorte. Istraživanja su dio projekta Identifikacija i gospodarenje genfondom maslina na području Dubrovačko neretvanske županije” i provedena su na Zavodu za mediteranske kulture Sveučilišta u Dubrovniku. Sorta Velika Sitnjaka je 2016. godine imala postotak ožiljavanja od 92,3% s koncentracijom IBA od 4000 ppm. Sitnica je 2015. i 2016. godine najveće potencijale rizogeneze imala također s koncentracijom IBA od 4000 ppm, dok je Uljarica u obje godine najveće postotke ožiljavanja imala s koncentracijom IBA od 2000 ppm. Kalamata je najveće potencijale rizogeneze u obje godine pokazala s koncentracijom IBA od 3000 ppm s istim postotcima ožiljavanja (15%)., This paper presents results of monitoring the production of olives Velika sitnjaka, Sitnica, Uljarica and Kalamate in 2016, on the impact of different concentrations of phytohormone IBA (2000, 3000, 4000 and 5000 ppm) and compares them with the results obtained in 2015 for the same varieties. The research is a part of the project "Identification and management of genefund olives in the Dubrovnik Neretva County" that was carried out in the Institute for Mediterranean Plants, University of Dubrovnik. In 2016, the cultivar Velika sitnjaka had 92,3% ooting of with the applied concentration of 4000 ppm of IBA. In 2015 and 2016, the greatest potential of rooting of the Sitnica cultivar was also established at the IBA concentration of 4000 ppm, while the Uljarica cultivar in the course of both years had the highest percentage of rooting at concentration of 2000 ppm of IBA. The Kalamata cultivar showed the greatest potential of rhizogenesis in both years, at a concentration of 3000 ppm of IBA, with the same rooting percentage of 15%.

Many factors influence the reproduction and fitness of organisms but lack extensive research. Reproductive endocrinology influences the estrous cycle of mammals, and consequently, their ability to bear and rear young. Moreover, dietary decisions made to satisfy nutritional requirements during pregnancy and lactation can impact development of offspring. Female physiological or dietary strategies, if compromised, may lead to unsuccessful reproduction. Due to cost and difficulties obtaining and preserving biological samples, reproductive endocrinology remains poorly studied in most free-ranging organisms. This study is one of the first to examine differences in fecal hormone (progesterone and estrogen) metabolites at different reproductive stages and in particular to determine the probability that a female bat (Seba’s short-tailed fruit bat, Carollia perspicillata) is in putative metestrus or pregnancy by correlating vaginal cytology with hormone metabolites. Fifty-five females collected throughout the reproductive season were examined for the presence of a conceptus. Furthermore, populations of cells (superficial, intermediate, and parabasal cells) in exfoliate vaginal cytology were quantified for each individual. Progesterone and estrogen concentrations increased from estrus through early pregnancy and then decreased into late pregnancy. From late pregnancy to early lactation progesterone levels continued to decrease, whereas estrogen levels increased. A logistic regression indicated that progesterone and estrogen concentrations and parabasal cell proportions were not significant predictors of whether a female was pregnant or in putative metestrus. Superficial cell proportions were highest during putative metestrus and were an effective predictor of this phase of the reproductive cycle. Reproductive status can influence dietary choices and foraging behavior. Generally, pregnancy and lactation are energetically expensive. Whereas energy availability may be one of the main precursors to reproductive success, nutrients such as calcium and nitrogen can also limit reproduction. Since energy and nutrient costs are high during reproduction, foraging strategies or choices of particular dietary items may be critical for survival of both mother and offspring. The goal of this study was to analyze dietary variation and consumption of nitrogen-rich and calcium-rich items during different reproductive stages in Seba’s short-tailed fruit bat (Carollia perspicillata). Dietary analysis was done on fecal samples from males, non-pregnant, pregnant, and lactating females at the Macaregua Cave in Santander (Colombia). Diets were similar among males, non-pregnant, and pregnant females, but lactating females had the most distinct diet. All groups were general in their diets, eating a wide variety of items. Nitrogen-rich items, such as Piper and insects, were not prevalent within the diet of pregnant bats, while Piper aduncum exceeded expected frequencies in the diets of lactating bats. Pregnant females may not be nitrogen limited and may be able to satisfy the requirement with fruits that are low in protein. Lactating females may have a more difficult time fulfilling the nitrogen requirement and must consume Piper. Calcium-rich Ficus was not common or found in the diets of lactating or pregnant bats, therefore, calcium requirements must have been satisfied through other avenues.

Synovial tissue lines the noncartilaginous surfaces of synovial joints and supplies these avascular structures with nutrients. In diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation of the synovial tissue - synovitis induces diffuse damage to the joints. The presence of functional receptors for glucocorticoids, androgens and estrogens in synoviocytes might link inflammation and the endocrine system at the local level. Synovial tissue could be regarded as an intracrine tissue, whereby active steroids influence the cells in which they are synthesized, without their release into the extracellular space. An increase in the peripheral metabolism of sex steroids is characteristic of rheumatoid synovitis, with an augmented ratio of estrogen to androgen occurring in both male and female patients. Changes in the peripheral nervous system at the site of local inflammation are also hallmarks of synovitis in rheumatoid arthritis. In the chronic phase of synovitis, sympathetic nerve fibers are lost; by contrast, sensory nerve fibers sprout into the inflamed tissue. Complex interactions occur between the endocrine, nervous and immune systems during synovitis. In particular, studying neuroendocrine - immune interactions in the inflamed synovium will potentially uncover new mechanisms in the pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis and might lead to new methods of therapeutic intervention.

International audience; Endocrine disruptors (ED) have been incriminated in the current increase of male reproductive alterations. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a widely used weak estrogenic environmental ED and it is debated whether BPA concentrations within the average internal exposure are toxic. In the present study we investigated the effects of 10(-12) to 10(-5) M BPA concentrations on fetal Leydig cell function, as fetal life is a critical period of sensitivity to ED effects on male reproductive function. To this aim, fetal testes from human at 6.5-10.5 gestational weeks (GW) or from rat and mouse at a comparable critical period of development (14.5 days post-coitum (dpc) for rat and 12.5 dpc for mouse) were explanted and cultured using our validated organotypic culture system in the presence or absence of BPA for 1-3 days. BPA concentrations as low as 10(-8) M reduced testosterone secretion by human testes from day 1 of culture onwards, but not by mouse and rat testes where concentrations equal to 10(-5) M BPA were required. Similarly, 10(-8) M BPA reduced INSL3 mRNA levels only in human cultured testes. On the contrary, 10(-5) and 10(-6) M diethylstilbestrol (DES), a classical estrogenic compound, affected testosterone secretion only in rat and mouse testis cultures, but not in human testis cultures. Lastly, contrarily to the DES effect, the negative effect of BPA on testosterone produced by the mouse fetal testis was maintained after invalidation of estrogen receptor alpha (ER alpha). In conclusion, these results evidenced i) a deleterious effect of BPA on fetal Leydig cells function in human for concentrations from 10(-8) M upwards, ii) species-specific differences raising concerns about extrapolation of data from rodent studies to human risk assessment, iii) a specific signaling pathway for BPA which differs from the DES one and which does not involve ER alpha.

A castanha-de-cutia (Couepia edulis Prance) é uma oleaginosa nativa da Amazônia encontrada na terra firme, com maior freqüência no Estado do Amazonas. A propagação da espécie se dá, normalmente, via semente, mas esse processo é demorado, pois a semente pode levar até 18 meses para germinar. A propagação vegetativa pode ser a solução para a produção de mudas. Este trabalho avaliou o uso de AIB para a propagação vegetativa de C. edulis, utilizando diferentes tipos de estacas e concentrações de AIB, em um delineamento experimental em blocos casualizados, seguindo o esquema fatorial 4 x 3, sendo os fatores4 tipos de estacas e 3 concentrações de AIB (0, 3.000 e 6.000 mg L-1). Ao final das avaliações, a maior porcentagem de emissão de brotos ocorreu nas concentrações de 0 mg L-1 (testemunha) e 3.000 mg L-1 de AIB. A emissão de brotos foi maior em estacas herbáceas sem folhas e semilenhosas. As maiores porcentagens de formação de calos foram obtidas na testemunha e em estacas herbáceas com folhas inteiras e folhas pela metade. A emissão de raízes mostrou uma tendência maior nas estacas sem o uso de AIB e na concentração de 6.000 mg L-1. A maior emissão de raízes ocorreu nas estacas herbáceas com folhas. No entanto, a porcentagem de sucesso ainda é baixa, mas sugere a utilização de concentrações menores de AIB. The oily cutia nut (Couepia edulis Prance) is native to Amazonian uplands and most frequent in the State of Amazonas. The propagation of the species is usually by seed, but the process is long, as the seed take 18 months to germinate. Vegetative propagation can be the solution for production of seedlings. This study evaluated the use of IBA in the vegetative propagation of C. edulis, using different types of cuttings and IBA concentrations, in an experimental design with randomized blocks, using a 4 x 3 factorial, with 4 types of cuttings and 3 IBA concentrations (0, 3,000 and 6,000 mg L-1). At the end of the evaluations, the best emission of shoots occurred in the concentrations of 0 mg L-1 and 3.000 mg L-1 of IBA. The emission of shoots was better in herbaceous cuttings without leaves and in semi-woody cuttings. The best callus formation occurred in the control and in the herbaceous cuttings with whole leaves and half leaves. The emission of roots was slightly better in the cuttings without the use of IBA and in the concentration of 6.000 mg L-1. The best emission of roots occurred in the herbaceous cuttings with leaves. The percentage of success was low, but suggests the use of smaller concentrations of IBA.

A castanha-de-cutia (Couepia edulis Prance) é uma oleaginosa nativa da Amazônia encontrada na terra firme, com maior freqüência no Estado do Amazonas. A propagação da espécie se dá, normalmente, via semente, mas esse processo é demorado, pois a semente pode levar até 18 meses para germinar. A propagação vegetativa pode ser a solução para a produção de mudas. Este trabalho avaliou o uso de AIB para a propagação vegetativa de C. edulis, utilizando diferentes tipos de estacas e concentrações de AIB, em um delineamento experimental em blocos casualizados, seguindo o esquema fatorial 4 x 3, sendo os fatores: 4 tipos de estacas e 3 concentrações de AIB (0, 3.000 e 6.000 mg L-1). Ao final das avaliações, a maior porcentagem de emissão de brotos ocorreu nas concentrações de 0 mg L-1 (testemunha) e 3.000 mg L-1 de AIB. A emissão de brotos foi maior em estacas herbáceas sem folhas e semilenhosas. As maiores porcentagens de formação de calos foram obtidas na testemunha e em estacas herbáceas com folhas inteiras e folhas pela metade. A emissão de raízes mostrou uma tendência maior nas estacas sem o uso de AIB e na concentração de 6.000 mg L-1. A maior emissão de raízes ocorreu nas estacas herbáceas com folhas. No entanto, a porcentagem de sucesso ainda é baixa, mas sugere a utilização de concentrações menores de AIB. The oily cutia nut (Couepia edulis Prance) is native to Amazonian uplands and most frequent in the State of Amazonas. The propagation of the species is usually by seed, but the process is long, as the seed take 18 months to germinate. Vegetative propagation can be the solution for production of seedlings. This study evaluated the use of IBA in the vegetative propagation of C. edulis, using different types of cuttings and IBA concentrations, in an experimental design with randomized blocks, using a 4 x 3 factorial, with 4 types of cuttings and 3 IBA concentrations (0, 3,000 and 6,000 mg L-1). At the end of the evaluations, the best emission of shoots occurred in the concentrations of 0 mg L-1 and 3.000 mg L-1 of IBA. The emission of shoots was better in herbaceous cuttings without leaves and in semi-woody cuttings. The best callus formation occurred in the control and in the herbaceous cuttings with whole leaves and half leaves. The emission of roots was slightly better in the cuttings without the use of IBA and in the concentration of 6.000 mg L-1. The best emission of roots occurred in the herbaceous cuttings with leaves. The percentage of success was low, but suggests the use of smaller concentrations of IBA.

Onset and development of puberty is regulated by the neuroendocrine system. Population-based studies worldwide have observed secular trends towards earlier puberty development. These changes are apparently caused by environmental factors such as improved socio-economic status, improved health care and nutrition. However, they may also partly result from endocrine-disrupting chemicals in the environment. Epidemiological studies have investigated the relationship between pubertal development and exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (polychlorinated biphenyls, polybrominated biphenyls, 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane, phthalate esters, furans and the pesticide endosulfan). Associations with both perinatal and postnatal exposure have been reported. Studies in experimental animals support some of these findings and point to differential endocrine regulatory mechanisms linked to pubertal development acting in the perinatal and the pre-pubertal period. Pubertal development is naturally associated with growth and body composition. There is increasing evidence for a link between prenatal development and pubertal onset. In girls born small for gestational age (SGA), pubertal onset and age at menarche often are advanced, especially if there has been an extensive catch-up growth during the first months of life. In utero growth retardation may have multiple causes including exposure to xenobiotic substances as was suggested for some endocrine-disrupting chemicals. An abnormal perinatal environment of children born SGA may alter the endocrine status and the sensitivity of the receptors for endocrine and metabolic signalling that may have effects on maturation of brain and gonads. However, the causal pathways and the molecular mechanisms that may link the pubertal growth pattern of children born SGA, pubertal development and endocrine-disrupting chemicals need further study.

Obesity and insulin resistance have been shown to be risk factors for laminitis in horses. The objective of the study was to determine the effect of changes in body condition during the grazing season on insulin resistance and the expression of genes associated with obesity and insulin resistance in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT). Sixteen Finnhorse mares were grazing either on cultivated high-yielding pasture (CG) or semi-natural grassland (NG) from the end of May to the beginning of September. Body measurements, intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT), and neck and tailhead SAT gene expressions were measured in May and September. At the end of grazing, CG had higher median body condition score (7 vs. 5.4, interquartile range 0.25 vs. 0.43; P=0.05) and body weight (618 kg vs. 572 kg ± 10.21 (mean ± SEM); P=0.02), and larger waist circumference (P=0.03) than NG. Neck fat thickness was not different between treatments. However, tailhead fat thickness was smaller in CG compared to NG in May (P=0.04), but this difference disappeared in September. Greater basal and peak insulin concentrations, and faster glucose clearance rate (P=0.03) during IVGTT were observed in CG compared to NG in September. A greater decrease in plasma non-esterified fatty acids during IVGTT (P

End of Project Report The overall objective of this project was to establish the effects of both long- and short-term changes in nutrition on ovarian follicle dynamics and on the systemic concentrations of metabolic and reproductive hormones. In order to avoid the confounding effects of lactation, suckling and maternal–calf bonding, beef heifers were used in a series of three studies. European Union 3rd Framework Programme (Contract AIR3-CT94-1124)