Publications

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the potential association between paternal health and male genital malformations in the offspring.MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed data from 2007 to 2016 derived from the IBM MarketScan Research database, which reports on reimbursed private healthcare claims in the United States. The association between paternal comorbidities (defined as individual and combined measures) and genital malformations in male offspring was analyzed.RESULTS: Of 376,362 male births, 22% of fathers had at least one component of the metabolic syndrome (MetS ≥1) prior to conception. Totals of 2880 cases of cryptorchidism (0.77%) and 2651 cases of hypospadias (0.70%) were identified at birth. While 0.76% of sons born to fathers with no MetS components were diagnosed with cryptorchidism, 0.82% of sons with fathers with multiple MetS components had cryptorchidism. Similarly, 0.69% vs 0.88% of sons had hypospadias when fathers had 0 or 2+ components of MetS. After adjusting for maternal and paternal factors, the odds of a son diagnosed with hypospadias increased with two or more paternal MetS components (Odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 1.27 [1.10 - 1.47]). Specific components of paternal MetS were not generally more associated with a son's genital malformations. When we performed a subgroup analysis where genital malformations were defined based on surgical correction, the association with hypospadias persisted.CONCLUSIONS: Fathers with multiple components of the metabolic syndrome in the preconception period were observed to be at increased risks for having sons born with hypospadias. The results support the association between a man's andrological and overall health. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

View details for DOI 10.1111/andr.13404

View details for PubMedID 36727635

Abstract

Adverse pregnancy outcomes occur frequently in women with sickle cell disease (SCD) across the globe. In the United States, Black women experience disproportionately worse maternal health outcomes than all other racial groups. To better understand how social determinants of health impact SCD maternal morbidity, we used California's Department of Health Care Access and Information data (1991-2019) to estimate the cumulative incidence of pregnancy outcomes in Black women with and without SCD-adjusted for age, insurance status, and Distressed Community Index (DCI) scores. Black pregnant women with SCD were more likely to deliver at a younger age, use government insurance, and live in at-risk or distressed neighborhoods, compared to those without SCD. They also experienced higher stillbirths (26.8, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 17.5-36.1 vs. 12.4 [CI: 12.1-12.7], per 1,000 births) and inpatient maternal mortality (344.5 [CI: 337.6-682.2] vs. 6.1 [CI: 2.3-8.4], per 100,000 live births). Multivariate logistic regression models showed Black pregnant women with SCD had significantly higher odds ratios (OR) for sepsis (OR 14.89, CI: 10.81, 20.52), venous thromboembolism (OR 13.60, CI: 9.16, 20.20), and postpartum hemorrhage (OR 2.25, CI 1,79-2.82), with peak onset in the 2nd trimester, 3rd trimester, and 6weeks postpartum, respectively. Despite adjusting for sociodemographic factors, Black women with SCD still experienced significantly worse pregnancy outcomes than those without SCD. We need additional studies to determine if early introduction to reproductive health education, continuation of SCD-modifying therapies during pregnancy, and increasing access to multidisciplinary perinatal care can reduce morbidity in pregnant women with SCD. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

View details for DOI 10.1002/ajh.26818

View details for PubMedID 36594168

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Despite the fact that the father contributes half the genome to a child, associations between paternal factors and birth defects are poorly understood.OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between preconception paternal health and birth defects in the offspring.MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted analysis of a national cohort study utilizing the IBM Marketscan Research Database, which includes data on reimbursed private healthcare claims in the United States from 2007 to 2016. The potential association between paternal comorbidities, as measured by the components of metabolic syndrome (MetS), and any birth defect in the offspring was analyzed.RESULTS: Of the 712,774 live births identified, 21.2% of children were born to fathers with at least one component of the metabolic syndrome (MetS ≥1) prior to conception. Compared to infants born to fathers with no components of the metabolic syndrome, a modestly higher percentage of infants with cardiac birth defects were born to fathers with more components of MetS (MetS=1, OR [95% CI]: 1.07 [1.01-1.13]; MetS ≥2, 1.17 [1.08-1.26], in comparison to MetS=0) after adjusting for maternal and paternal factors. Similarly, a higher percentage of infants with respiratory defects were born to fathers with two or more components of metabolic syndrome (MetS ≥2, OR [95% CI]: 1.45 [1.22-1.71]).DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: In this private insurance claims-based study, we found that fathers with metabolic syndrome-related diseases before conception were at increased risk for having a child affected by birth defects, especially cardiac and respiratory defects, and this association was not influenced by paternal age or assessed maternal factors.

View details for DOI 10.1002/bdr2.2082

View details for PubMedID 36106720

View details for DOI 10.1182/blood-2021-151715

View details for Web of Science ID 000736398802031

Abstract

To report three cases of severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) among oncofertility patients receiving a long-acting GnRH agonist for ovarian suppression after controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) with a GnRH antagonist protocol METHODS: Chart abstraction was completed for three patients at a single academic medical center. Patients included were undergoing fertility preservation prior to gonadotoxic chemotherapy. All patients underwent COH with GnRH antagonist protocol and embryo cryopreservation immediately followed by ovarian suppression with long-acting GnRH agonist. Main outcome measure was development of OHSS.Despite using GnRH agonist trigger and freezing all embryos, patients developed ascites, intermittent hyponatremia and hemoconcentration consistent with severe early-onset OHSS after receiving long-acting GnRH agonist immediately following oocyte retrieval for ovarian preservation.Risk of severe OHSS may be increased when a long-acting GnRH agonist is used for ovarian suppression immediately following oocyte retrieval. A delay in initiating long-acting GnRH agonist after oocyte retrieval in patients at high risk for developing OHSS should be considered.

View details for DOI 10.1007/s10815-020-02051-7

View details for PubMedID 33471229

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the relationship between pubertal development and postpubertal gonadal function in childhood cancer survivors. Methods: Childhood cancer survivors (≥10 years of age) who received follow-up care in a pediatric oncology group in an academic medical center during the period from January 1, 1985, to July 1, 2010 were included in this case series. Their pubertal development and gonadal function were evaluated. Results: The cohort consists of 39 males (age 10-21 years) and 35 females (age 10-29 years) with a variety of cancer diagnosis and treatments. The average age at diagnosis was ∼7.5 years. The average age at the time of the study was 16 and 16.7 years in males and females, respectively, representing a mean follow-up interval of ∼9 years. Despite the fact that 60% of survivors received cyclophosphamide equivalents and 16.2% received cranial radiation or brain tumor resection, the majority of survivors (68%) presented with both normal puberty and normal gonadal functions at the time of follow-up. In 27% of survivors, puberty development did not predict gonadal function in early adulthood: 20% of survivors had normal puberty, but abnormal gonadal function; 7% of survivors had abnormal puberty, but gonadal function remained normal as young adults. Conclusions: Most childhood cancer survivors had normal puberty and gonadal function despite a variety of cancer treatment modalities. However, normal puberty did not predict normal gonadal function later in life in many survivors. Therefore, close follow-up with gonadal function in adolescent and early adulthood years is essential.

View details for DOI 10.1089/jayao.2019.0138

View details for Web of Science ID 000524993500001

View details for PubMedID 32186962

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC7415869

View details for DOI 10.1093/jnci/djy188

View details for PubMedID 30371813

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC6376902

Abstract

To assess the impact of using donor sperm in assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles on perinatal outcomes.Historical cohort study.US national database from the Society of Assisted Reproductive Technology Clinic Outcome Reporting System (SART CORS) from 2012 to 2013.Patients undergoing the first fresh autologous ART cycle using either donor or partner sperm.None.Miscarriage, preterm birth, low birthweight rates.A total of 134,710 fresh autologous ART cycles were evaluated from the SART CORS database. Following exclusion criteria and after restricting to the first cycle, 2,123 donor sperm and 42,799 partner sperm ART cycles were included in the final analyses. After adjusting for all confounding variables (including maternal age, race, body mass index, smoking status, gravidity, history of preterm birth, highest follicle stimulating hormone count, blastocyst transfer percentage, total embryo transferred, and etiology of infertility), no statistically significant differences in miscarriage rates, preterm births, very preterm births, low birthweight, and very low birthweight were observed. Birthweight was significantly lower in the partner sperm group than in the donor sperm group (3,292 ± 601 and 3,233 ± 592 g in donor and partner sperm groups, respectively, adjusted P value 0.003); however, this small absolute difference (adjusted effect estimate 42 g, 95% CI 14.7-70.9) does not carry clinical significance.The use of donor sperm in fresh autologous ART cycles was not associated with increased miscarriage, preterm births, or low birthweights, as compared to cycles using partner sperm. This information can be used in patient counseling to reassure patients using donor sperm in ART cycles.

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2018.08.012

View details for PubMedID 30503127

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC7605214

Abstract

To study the differences in perinatal outcomes after frozen embryo transfer cycles using autologous or donor oocytes in women of advanced maternal age.Historical cohort study.US national database from the Society of Assisted Reproductive Technology Clinic Outcome Reporting System (SART CORS) from 2009 to 2013.Women at 40-43 years of age undergoing autologous frozen embryo transfers (a-FET) or donor oocyte frozen embryo transfers (d-FET) resulting in singleton pregnancies that were entered in the SART CORS database from 2009 to 2013.a-FET resulted in 4402 singleton live births whereas d-FET resulted in 2703 singleton live births. d-FET resulted in a higher risk of preterm births (< 37 weeks), with adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.33 (95% CI 1.02-1.75), but similar risk of small for gestational age (SGA), with aOR 1.75 (95% CI 0.85-3.7), when compared to a-FET. However, when only single blastocyst transfer cycles are considered, d-FET and a-FET showed no difference in preterm births or other adverse perinatal outcomes.Singletons resulting from d-FET are at increased risk for perinatal morbidity. However, the risk was diminished in single blastocyst transfer cycles. Our study supports the current American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) guidelines of transferring a single blastocyst in d-FET cycles.

View details for DOI 10.1007/s10815-018-1287-1

View details for PubMedID 30128819

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC6240548

Abstract

Transmission fidelity of CpG DNA methylation patterns is not foolproof, with error rates from less than 1 to well over 10 % per CpG site, dependent on preservation of the methylated or unmethylated state and the type of sequence. This suggests a fairly high chance of errors. However, the consequences of such errors in terms of cell-to-cell variation have never been demonstrated by experimentally measuring intra-tissue heterogeneity in an adult organism.We employ single-cell DNA methylomics to analyze heterogeneity of genome-wide 5-methylcytosine (5mC) patterns within mouse liver. Our results indicate a surprisingly high level of heterogeneity, corresponding to an average epivariation frequency of approximately 3.3 %, with regions containing H3K4me1 being the most variable and promoters and CpG islands the most stable. Our data also indicate that the level of 5mC heterogeneity is dependent on genomic features. We find that non-functional sites such as repeat elements and introns are mostly unstable and potentially functional sites such as gene promoters are mostly stable.By employing a protocol for whole-genome bisulfite sequencing of single cells, we show that the liver epigenome is highly unstable with an epivariation frequency in DNA methylation patterns of at least two orders of magnitude higher than somatic mutation frequencies.

View details for DOI 10.1186/s13059-016-1011-3

View details for PubMedID 27380908

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC4934005

Abstract

To compare the cost effectiveness of proceeding with oocyte retrieval vs. converting to intrauterine insemination (IUI) in patients with ≤4 mature follicles during assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles.Probabilistic decision analysis. The cost effectiveness of completing ART cycles in poor responders was compared to that for converting the cycles to IUI.Not applicable.Not applicable.Cost-effectiveness analysis.Cost effectiveness, which was defined as the average direct medical costs per ongoing pregnancy.In patients with 1-3 mature follicles, completing ART was more cost effective if the cost of a single ART cycle was between

Abstract

To describe the prevalence of "genuine" empty follicle syndrome (EFS) and "false" EFS at assisted reproductive technology (ART).Retrospective cohort.Large private fertility center.A total of 12,359 patients who underwent ART between 2004 and 2009.None.The failure to recover an oocyte during oocyte retrieval at ART, with and without a detectable serum β-hCG on the day of retrieval.Two cases of genuine EFS and nine cases of false EFS were identified in the cohort examined. The prevalence of genuine EFS was 0.016%, and the prevalence of false EFS was 0.072%. Only two out of 11 cases of EFS were considered genuine.Genuine EFS is a rare occurrence. Because this syndrome tends to recur with dismal pregnancy rates at ART, continued identification and further investigation of the syndrome are needed.

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2011.09.047

View details for PubMedID 22130102

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3576020

Abstract

The prevalence of moderately elevated TSH levels consistent with subclinical hypothyroidism (2.5-4.0 μIU/mL) was 23% in a cohort of 1,231 women pursuing assisted reproductive technologies. Preconception elevated levels of TSH were associated with diminished ovarian reserve but were not associated with adverse assisted reproductive technology or pregnancy outcomes.

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2011.02.056

View details for PubMedID 21457968

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3124612

Abstract

To review the physiologic functions and clinical significance of peripheral GnRH receptors.Literature review. All peer-reviewed journal articles published before 2010 on peripheral GnRH receptors were searched for in the Pubmed database, and relevant findings were summarized.Peripheral GnRH/GnRH receptor systems may serve as regulators of hCG synthesis and implantation, and play crucial roles in antiproliferation and apoptosis. Currently, GnRH agonists have been used in cancer treatment and ovary protection during chemotherapy, taking advantage of the local direct effect mediated by peripheral GnRH receptors.The ubiquitous GnRH/GnRH receptor system in human tissues has been shown to have some important physiologic functions. Further research to clarify functions of these peripheral GnRH receptors may lead to discovery of new therapeutic options.

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2010.08.045

View details for PubMedID 20888559