BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Male breast cancer (MBC) is an uncommon neoplasm that shares several biologic characteristics with its female counterpart. In the latter, abnormalities in the expression and/or copy number of the ERBB2 gene are present in 10% to 30% of invasive carcinoma and behave as poor prognostic markers. ERBB2 abnormalities have also been reported in MBC, yet at lower frequency, but their prognostic significance remains controversial. Furthermore, no study has addressed the impact of chromosome 17 abnormalities in MBC survival. In this study, the ERBB2-gene status (overexpression and amplification) and chromosome 17 numerical abnormalities were investigated in a series of 50 archival cases of MBC. The results, together with patient's age, histologic grade, pathologic stage, and estrogen receptor status were correlated with overall survival. ERBB2-protein overexpression was present in 7 cases (14%), ERBB2-gene amplification in 4 (8%), and aneuploidy of chromosome 17 in 12 cases (33.3%). The pathologic stage, ERBB2 overexpression and ERBB2 amplification were significantly correlated with overall survival (P=0.002, 0.016, and 0.009, respectively). No correlation was observed between chromosome 17 aneuploidy and overall survival. Therefore, despite their low incidence in MBC, expression abnormalities of ERBB2 behave, together with the pathologic stage of the tumor, as predictors of overall survival, akin to what has been reported for its female counterpart.

背景与目标： ：男性乳腺癌（MBC）是一种罕见的肿瘤，与女性乳腺癌具有某些生物学特性。在后者中，ERBB2基因表达和/或拷贝数异常存在于10％至30％的浸润性癌中，并表现为不良的预后指标。在MBC中也有ERBB2异常的报道，但频率较低，但其预后意义仍存在争议。此外，还没有研究解决17号染色​​体异常对MBC生存的影响。在这项研究中，对一系列50例MBC存档病例中的ERBB2基因状态（过表达和扩增）和17号染色​​体数字异常进行了研究。结果，以及患者的年龄，组织学等级，病理分期和雌激素受体状态与总体生存率相关。 ERBB2蛋白过表达7例（14％），ERBB2基因扩增4例（8％），染色体17的非整倍性12例（33.3％）。病理分期，ERBB2过表达和ERBB2扩增与总生存率显着相关（分别为P = 0.002、0.016和0.009）。在第17号染色​​体非整倍性与总体存活率之间未发现相关性。因此，尽管其在MBC中的发病率较低，但ERBB2的表达异常以及肿瘤的病理阶段仍可作为总体存活率的预测指标，类似于其女性对应物的报道。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: BACKGROUND:Testosterone replacement in hypogonadal males improves body composition, sexual function, and health-related quality of life. Male cancer survivors are at risk of androgen deficiency; however, when and in whom testosterone should be replaced remain unanswered questions. OBJECTIVE:The aim of our study was to define the prevalence of androgen deficiency in this patient group through assessment of testosterone levels and related measures. DESIGN:This was a cross-sectional, observational study of cases and controls. We recruited 176 cancer survivors and 213 controls, aged 25-45 yr. RESULTS:Of cancer survivors, 97% had received chemotherapy and 40% radiotherapy. Cancer survivors had lower total testosterone (tT) levels than controls (mean difference 2.67 nmol/liter; 95% confidence interval 1.58-3.76; P = 0.003), and 24 of 176 (13.6%; 95% confidence interval 9.3-19.5) had a tT less than 10 nmol/liter, which was less than 2.5% centile for controls. Cancer survivors had a greater fat mass, higher fasting insulin and glucose levels, increased fatigue, and reduced sexual function and health-related quality of life. In both cohorts, the tT correlated negatively with insulin levels and negatively with body fat mass; however, the difference in tT between them was independent of fat mass. We measured tT and SHBG and calculated bioavailable testosterone. The changes in calculated bioavailable testosterone were similar to tT. CONCLUSIONS:A significant proportion of young male cancer survivors had a frankly low tT associated with an increased fat mass and insulin level compared with controls. These factors would be predicted to improve in response to testosterone replacement therapy and provide a powerful argument for an interventional study of testosterone therapy in young male cancer survivors.

背景与目标： 背景：性腺功能减退男性中的睾丸激素替代可改善身体组成，性功能以及与健康相关的生活质量。男性癌症幸存者有雄激素缺乏症的风险；然而，何时何地应更换睾丸激素仍未解决。
目的：我们的研究目的是通过评估睾丸激素水平和相关措施来确定该患者组中雄激素缺乏症的患病率。
设计：这是对病例和对照的横断面观察性研究。我们招募了176位年龄在25-45岁之间的癌症幸存者和213位对照。
结果：在癌症幸存者中，有97％接受了化疗，而40％接受了放疗。癌症幸存者的总睾丸激素（tT）水平低于对照组（平均差异2.67 nmol /升; 95％置信区间1.58-3.76; P = 0.003），其中176人中有24位（13.6％; 95％置信区间9.3-19.5） tT小于10 nmol /升，对于对照而言，小于2.5％百分位。癌症幸存者的脂肪量更大，空腹胰岛素和葡萄糖水平更高，疲劳加剧，性功能下降以及与健康相关的生活质量下降。在这两个队列中，tT与胰岛素水平呈负相关，与体脂质量呈负相关。但是，它们之间的tT差异与脂肪量无关。我们测量了tT和SHBG，并计算了生物利用睾丸激素。计算的生物利用睾丸激素的变化与tT相似。
结论：与对照组相比，相当大比例的年轻男性男性癌症幸存者的tT明显较低，与脂肪量和胰岛素水平增加有关。预计这些因素对睾丸激素替代疗法的反应将改善，并为年轻男性癌症幸存者进行睾丸激素疗法的介入研究提供有力的论据。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Y-autosomal translocation has been previously reported in association with male infertility; however, the mechanisms of Y-autosomal translocation and non‑obstructive azoospermia or severe oligospermia remain unclear. G‑banding and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) were performed to analyze the translocation of chromosomes, and a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping assay was used to test mutations. The present study describes three new cases with a de novo balanced translocation t(Y;13), t(Y;9) and t(Y;6). To further explore the genotype‑phenotype correlation, G‑banding and FISH were performed and indicated the presence of a derivative chromosome. The SNP genotyping assay using a microarray revealed no abnormality, especially in the Y chromosome. Molecular deletion analysis demonstrated that no microdeletion was detected in the azoospermia factor region of the Y chromosome in the examined, infertile men. Based on these observations, the authors proposed the hypothesis that a position effect involving unknown spermatogenesis regulatory gene(s) serves a key role in male infertility.

背景与目标： 以前已经报道过Y-常染色体易位与男性不育有关。但是，Y常染色体易位和非阻塞性无精子症或严重少精子症的机制仍不清楚。进行了G带和荧光原位杂交（FISH）来分析染色体的易位，并使用单核苷酸多态性（SNP）基因型分析法来测试突变。本研究描述了三个新病例，它们具有新的平衡易位t（Y; 13），t（Y; 9）和t（Y; 6）。为了进一步探讨基因型与表型的相关性，进行了G谱带和FISH并表明存在衍生染色体。使用微阵列的SNP基因分型分析没有发现异常，特别是在Y染色体中。分子缺失分析表明，在所检查的不育男人的Y染色体的无精子因子区域中未检测到微缺失。基于这些观察，作者提出了一个假设，即涉及未知精子发生调控基因的位置效应在男性不育中起关键作用。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :149 cases of urethral stricture were treated in the Urology Department from 1971 to 1984. All of these patients have therefore been treated with a minimal follow-up of 5 years. There were 87 cases of post-traumatic stricture, 53 of whom were lost to follow-up during the survey, 8 died and 26 patients were able to be reviewed. The remaining 62 cases consisted of post-infectious strictures, with 37 patients lost to follow-up during the survey, 1 patient who died and 24 patients who were reviewed. The patients reviewed were assessed according to the criteria of the SFU (French Urology Society) survey. Direct vision internal urethrotomy was performed in 33 cases with 18 very good or good results (54%), segmental resection was performed in 10 cases with 7 very good or good results, urethroplasty was performed in 4 cases with 2 good results and 2 urethral dilatations were performed with 2 good results. The failures were essentially treated by more complex surgery (urethroplasty).

背景与目标： 从1971年至1984年，泌尿外科对149例尿道狭窄患者进行了治疗。因此，所有这些患者均接受了最少5年的随访。共有87例创伤后狭窄病例，其中53例在随访期间遗失随访，8例死亡，26例能够接受检查。其余62例由感染后狭窄组成，在调查期间遗失37例患者，其中1例死亡，24例接受了复查。根据SFU（法国泌尿外科学会）调查的标准对接受检查的患者进行评估。直视内尿道切开术33例，非常好或好（18％）（54％），节段性切除10例，好或好7例，行尿道成形术4例，好转2例，尿道扩张2例进行了2项良好结果。失败基本上是通过更复杂的手术（尿道成形术）来治疗的。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: BACKGROUND:Semen quality, a predictor of male fertility, has been suggested declining worldwide. Among other life style factors, male coffee/caffeine consumption was hypothesized to influence semen parameters, but also sperm DNA integrity. To summarize available evidence, we performed a systematic review of observational studies on the relation between coffee/caffeine intake and parameters of male fertility including sperm ploidy, sperm DNA integrity, semen quality and time to pregnancy. METHODS:A systematic literature search was performed up to November 2016 (MEDLINE and EMBASE). We included all observational papers that reported the relation between male coffee/caffeine intake and reproductive outcomes: 1. semen parameters, 2. sperm DNA characteristics, 3. fecundability. All pertinent reports were retrieved and the relative reference lists were systematically searched in order to identify any potential additional studies that could be included. RESULTS:We retrieved 28 papers reporting observational information on coffee/caffeine intake and reproductive outcomes. Overall, they included 19,967 men. 1. Semen parameters did not seem affected by caffeine intake, at least caffeine from coffee, tea and cocoa drinks, in most studies. Conversely, other contributions suggested a negative effect of cola-containing beverages and caffeine-containing soft drinks on semen volume, count and concentration. 2. As regards sperm DNA defects, caffeine intake seemed associated with aneuploidy and DNA breaks, but not with other markers of DNA damage. 3. Finally, male coffee drinking was associated to prolonged time to pregnancy in some, but not all, studies. CONCLUSIONS:The literature suggests that caffeine intake, possibly through sperm DNA damage, may negatively affect male reproductive function. Evidence from epidemiological studies on semen parameters and fertility is however inconsistent and inconclusive. Well-designed studies with predefined criteria for semen analysis, subject selection, and life style habits definition, are essential to reach a consistent evidence on the effect of caffeine on semen parameters and male fertility.

背景与目标： 背景：精液质量是男性生育能力的预测指标，在世界范围内都有下降的趋势。在其他生活方式因素中，假设男性饮用咖啡/咖啡因会影响精液参数，但也会影响精子DNA的完整性。为了总结现有证据，我们对咖啡/咖啡因摄入量与男性生殖力参数（包括精子倍性，精子DNA完整性，精液质量和怀孕时间）之间的关系进行了观察性研究的系统综述。
方法：进行了系统的文献检索，直至2016年11月（MEDLINE和EMBASE）。我们纳入了所有报道男性咖啡/咖啡因摄入量与生殖结果之间关系的观察性论文：1.精液参数； 2.精子DNA特性； 3.生育力。检索所有相关报告，并系统搜索相关参考文献列表，以识别可能包含的任何其他潜在研究。
结果：我们检索了28篇报告咖啡/咖啡因摄入量和生殖结果的观察信息的论文。总体而言，他们包括19,967名男性。 1.在大多数研究中，精液参数似乎不受咖啡因摄入量的影响，至少不受咖啡，茶和可可饮料中的咖啡因的影响。相反，其他贡献表明含可乐的饮料和含咖啡因的软饮料对精液量，数量和浓度有负面影响。 2.关于精子DNA缺陷，咖啡因的摄入似乎与非整倍性和DNA断裂有关，但与DNA损伤的其他标志无关。 3.最后，在一些（但不是全部）研究中，男性喝咖啡与怀孕时间延长有关。
结论：文献表明，摄入咖啡因可能是通过精子DNA损伤，可能对男性生殖功能产生负面影响。然而，关于精液参数和生育能力的流行病学研究证据并不一致。精心设计的研究具有针对精液分析，受试者选择和生活方式习惯定义的预定义标准，对于获得有关咖啡因对精液参数和男性生育力影响的一致证据至关重要。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :It is commonly believed that hybridization might lead to the formation of new polyploidy species, but it is unclear whether hybridization can produce a new homodiploid species. Here, we report the spontaneous occurrence of a new crucian carp-like homodiploid fish (2n = 100) that originated from the interspecific hybridization of female common carp (Cyprinus carpio, Cyprininae, 2n = 100) × male blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala, Cultrinae, 2n = 48). The phenotype and reproductive traits of this new crucian carp-like homodiploid fish were found to be very similar to those of the existing diploid species (diploid crucian carp; Carassius auratus). FISH and 5S rDNA analyses revealed that the genotype of the crucian carp-like homodiploid fish differs from those of its parents but is closely related to that of diploid crucian carp. The results provide evidence of the existence of a possible route through which the distant hybridization of this cross can generate crucian carp. The new type of homodiploid fish is of great value in fish genetic breeding and for studying the early evolutionary process.

背景与目标： ：通常认为杂交可能导致新的多倍体物种的形成，但尚不清楚杂交是否可以产生新的同二倍体物种。在这里，我们报道了一种新的cru鱼状同二倍体鱼（2n = 100）的自发发生，该鱼起源于雌性鲤（Cyprinus carpio，Cyprininae，2n = 100）×雄性钝嘴鲷（Megalobrama amblycephala， Cultrinae，2n = 48）。发现这种新的cru鱼状同二倍体鱼的表型和繁殖性状与现有的二倍体物种（二倍体cru鱼； Car鱼）非常相似。 FISH和5S rDNA分析表明，the鱼状同二倍体鱼的基因型与其亲本不同，但与二倍体cru鱼密切相关。结果提供了存在可能的途径的证据，该杂交的远距离杂交可通过该途径产生cru鱼。新型同二倍体鱼类在鱼类遗传育种和研究早期进化过程中具有重要价值。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :We have previously demonstrated that gonadectomy either prior to (early) or after (late) puberty elevated ethanol consumption in males to levels similar to intact adult females-effects that were attenuated by testosterone replacement. To assess whether alterations in the aversive effects of ethanol might contribute to gonadectomy-associated increases in ethanol intake in males, the present study examined the impact of gonadectomy on conditioned taste aversions (CTA) to ethanol in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. Animals were gonadectomized, received sham surgery (SH) or non-manipulated (NM) on postnatal (P) day 23 (early) or 67 (late) and tested for CTA to ethanol in adulthood. Water-deprived rats were given 1 hr access every-other-day to 10% sucrose followed by an injection of ethanol (0, 1g/kg) for 5 test sessions. Test data were analyzed to determine the first day significant aversions emerged in each ethanol group (i.e., sucrose intakes significantly less than their saline-injected counterparts). Early gonadectomized males acquired the CTA more rapidly than did early SH and NM males (day 1 vs 3 and 4 respectively), whereas a gonadectomy-associated enhancement in ethanol CTA was not evident in late males. Among females, gonadectomy had little impact on ethanol-induced CTA, with females in all groups showing an aversion by the first or second day, regardless of surgery age. These data suggest that previously observed elevations in ethanol intake induced by either pre- or post-pubertal gonadectomy in males are not related simply to gonadectomy-induced alterations in the aversive effects of ethanol indexed via CTA.

背景与目标： ：我们以前已经证明，在青春期之前（早期）或青春期之后（晚期）进行性腺切除术会使男性的乙醇消耗量增加到与完整的成年女性相同的水平，这种作用会因睾丸激素的替代而减弱。为了评估乙醇的厌恶作用改变是否可能与男性进行性腺切除术相关的乙醇摄入量增加有关，本研究检查了性腺切除术对雄性和雌性Sprague-Dawley大鼠对乙醇的条件性味觉厌恶（CTA）的影响。在出生后（P）第23天（早期）或67（后期）对动物进行性腺切除术，进行假手术（SH）或不进行操作（NM），并在成年期测试其对乙醇的CTA。每隔一天给缺水的大鼠1小时使用10％的蔗糖，然后注射乙醇（0，1g / kg）进行5次测试。分析测试数据以确定每个乙醇组在第一天就出现了明显的厌恶感（即蔗糖摄入量明显少于其注射生理盐水的对应物）。早期进行过性腺切除的男性比早期SH和NM男性（分别为第1天，第3天和第4天）更快地获得了CTA，而在晚期男性中，与性腺切除术相关的乙醇CTA的增强并不明显。在女性中，性腺切除术对乙醇诱导的CTA几乎没有影响，所有组中的女性在第一天或第二天都表现出厌恶感，无论手术年龄如何。这些数据表明，先前观察到的男性青春期前或青春期后性腺切除术诱导的乙醇摄入量增加与单纯性腺切除术诱导的通过CTA索引的乙醇的厌恶作用改变无关。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: BACKGROUND:Vaginal candidiasis is frequent among pregnant women and it is treated with anti-fungal medication (conazoles). Conazoles have anti-androgenic properties and prenatal exposure in rodents is associated with a shorter (less masculine) anogenital distance (AGD) in male offspring. To our knowledge this has never been studied in humans. METHOD:In the Odense Child Cohort pregnant women residing in Odense municipality, Denmark, were recruited at gestational age 8-16 weeks between 2010 and 2012. Of the eligible 2421 mother-child pairs, 812 mother-son pairs were included. Questionnaire data on medicine use were collected in first and third trimester and physical examination at age 3 month was performed. Ano-scrotal distance; measured from the centre of anus to the posterior base of scrotum (AGDas). Ano-cephalad distance; measured from the centre of anus to the cephalad insertion of the penis (AGDap) and penile width; measured at the base of the penis. RESULTS:Eighty seven women had used antifungal medicine during pregnancy. Maternal use of oral fluconazole (n = 4) was associated with a 6.4 mm shorter AGDas (95% CI: -11.9;-0.9) in the male offspring. Use of antifungal vaginal tablets (n = 21), was associated with a non-significantly shorter AGDas (-1.9 mm; 95% CI: -4.3; 0.5) whereas exposure to vaginal cream (n = 23) was not associated to AGDas. Use of antifungal medicine in the window of genital development between 8 and 14 weeks of gestation was associated with a larger reduction in AGDas than exposure outside this window. Antifungal medicine intake was not associated with AGDap and penil width. CONCLUSION:Our preliminary findings prompted us to hypothesize that maternal use of conazole antifungal medication during pregnancy may affect the masculinization of male offspring. If confirmed, pregnant women should be advised to use antifungal medicine with caution.

背景与目标： 背景：阴道念珠菌病在孕妇中很常见，并用抗真菌药物（康唑）治疗。康唑具有抗雄激素特性，在啮齿动物中产前暴露与雄性后代较短（男性较少）的生殖器距离（AGD）有关。据我们所知，这从未在人类中研究过。
方法：2010年至2012年之间，丹麦欧登塞市的欧登塞儿童队列中的孕妇是在8-16周的胎龄中招募的。在符合条件的2421对母子中，包括812对母子。在上，下三个月收集有关药物使用的调查表数据，并在3个月时进行身体检查。阴囊阴囊距离;从肛门中心到阴囊后基底（AGDas）进行测量。无头颅距离从肛门中心到阴茎头插入（AGDap）和阴茎宽度的量度；在阴茎根部测量。
结果：87名妇女在怀孕期间使用了抗真菌药。母体后代母体口服氟康唑（n = 4）与AGDas短6.4mm（95％CI：-11.9; -0.9）有关。使用抗真菌阴道片（n = 21）与AGDas短得多（-1.9mm; 95％CI：-4.3; 0.5）有关，而暴露于阴道乳霜（n = 23）与AGDas无关。在妊娠8到14周之间的生殖器发育窗口中使用抗真菌药物，与在该窗口以外暴露相比，AGDas的减少幅度更大。抗真菌药物的摄入与AGDap和阴茎宽度无关。
结论：我们的初步发现促使我们假设孕妇在怀孕期间使用康唑类抗真菌药物可能会影响男性后代的男性化。如果确认，应建议孕妇谨慎使用抗真菌药。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :In the present study, we investigated the effects of repeated morphine pre-treatment on impairment of spatial memory acquisition induced by intra dorsal hippocampus (intra-CA1) administration of the non-selective cannabinoid CB1/CB2 receptor agonist, WIN55,212-2 in adult male rats. 2-day version of Morris water maze task has been used for the assessment of spatial memory. On the training day, rats were trained by a single training session of eight trials and 24 h later a probe trial test consist of 60s free swim period without a platform and the visible test was administered. Animals received pre-treatment subcutaneous (s.c.) injections of morphine, once daily for three days followed by five days drug-free treatment before training trials. The results indicated that bilateral pre-training intra-CA1 infusions of WIN55,212-2 (0.25 and 0.5 μg/rat) impaired acquisition of spatial memory on the training and test day. The amnesic effect of WIN55, 212-2 (0.5 μg/rat) was prevented in rats previously injected with morphine (20 mg/kg/day × 3 days, s.c.). Improvement in spatial memory acquisition in morphine-pretreated rats was inhibited by once daily administration of naloxone (1 and 2 mg/kg, s.c.) 15 min prior to injection of morphine for three days. The results suggest that sub-chronic morphine treatment may produced sensitization to cannabinoids, which in turn reversed the impairment of spatial memory acquisition induced by WIN55,212-2 and mu- opioid receptors may play an important role in this effect.

背景与目标： ：在本研究中，我们研究了重复吗啡预处理对非选择性大麻素CB1 / CB2受体激动剂WIN55,212-2背侧海马内（CA1内）给药引起的空间记忆获得障碍的影响在成年雄性大鼠中。莫里斯水迷宫任务的2天版本已用于评估空间记忆。在训练当天，通过八次试验的单次训练对大鼠进行了训练，并且在24小时后，探针试验测试包括无平台的60秒钟自由游泳期，并进行了可见测试。在训练试验前，动物每天接受一次皮下（s.c.）皮下注射吗啡治疗，连续三天，然后进行五天的无毒治疗。结果表明，WIN55,212-2（0.25和0.5μg/大鼠）的双训练前CA1内输注在训练和测试当天损害了空间记忆的获取。在事先注射吗啡（20 mg / kg /天×3天，s.c.）的大鼠中，WIN55，212-2（0.5μg/大鼠）的记忆消除得到了预防。在吗啡注射3天前每天15分钟每天一次给予纳洛酮（1和2 mg / kg，皮下注射），抑制了吗啡预处理大鼠的空间记忆获得性改善。结果表明，亚慢性吗啡治疗可能对大麻素产生致敏作用，从而逆转了由WIN55,212-2引起的空间记忆获得障碍，而多阿片受体可能在这种作用中起重要作用。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Male excess mortality is widespread among mammals and frequently interpreted as a cost of sexually selected traits that enhance male reproductive success. Sex differences in the propensity to engage in risky behaviours are often invoked to explain the sex gap in survival. Here, we aim to isolate and quantify the survival consequences of two potentially risky male behavioural strategies in a small sexually monomorphic primate, the grey mouse lemur Microcebus murinus: (i) most females hibernate during a large part of the austral winter, whereas most males remain active and (ii) during the brief annual mating season males roam widely in search of receptive females. Using a 10-year capture-mark-recapture dataset from a population of M. murinus in Kirindy Forest, western Madagascar, we statistically modelled sex-specific seasonal survival probabilities. Surprisingly, we did not find any evidence for direct survival benefits of hibernation-winter survival did not differ between males and females. By contrast, during the breeding season males survived less well than females (sex gap: 16%). Consistent with the 'risky male behaviour' hypothesis, the period for lowered male survival was restricted to the short mating season. Thus, sex differences in survival in a promiscuous mammal can be substantial even in the absence of sexual dimorphism.

背景与目标： ：男性过高的死亡率在哺乳动物中广泛存在，通常被解释为增强男性生殖成功的性选择性状的代价。经常会采用性别差异来冒险行为，以解释生存中的性别差距。在这里，我们的目的是隔离和量化在一个小的有性单态灵长类动物（灰色老鼠狐猴Microcebus murinus）中两种潜在危险的男性行为策略的生存后果：（i）大多数女性在南方南方的大部分时间里冬眠保持活跃；（ii）在短暂的年度交配季节，雄性广泛漫游以寻找雌性。我们使用了马达加斯加西部Kirindy Forest的M. murinus种群的10年捕获标记捕获数据集，对统计学上的性别特异性季节性生存概率进行了建模。出人意料的是，我们没有发现任何证据表明冬眠的直接生存益处，男性和女性之间没有差异。相比之下，在繁殖季节，雄性的存活率低于雌性（性别差距：16％）。与“危险的男性行为”假说相一致，降低男性生存期的时间仅限于短交配季节。因此，即使在没有性二态性的情况下，在混杂哺乳动物中，生存中的性别差异也可能很大。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Recent field studies on the reproductive ecology of western diamond-backed rattlesnakes (Crotalus atrox) from populations in southern Arizona showed significant differences in the concentration of plasma sex steroids (testosterone, T; 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone, DHT; and 17beta-estradiol, E2) throughout the active season (March-October), and peak levels were coincident with the two mating periods (late summer and early spring). There is, however, no information on levels of sex steroids during winter. Similar to most snakes, hibernating individuals of C. atrox are typically inaccessible, but in southern Arizona, where environmental conditions are typically mild during winter, adult males frequently bask at or near the entrances of communal dens. Basking activity, therefore, offers a unique logistical opportunity to assess the complete annual profile of plasma sex steroid levels in males of a temperate reptile in nature. From November to February, we measured levels of plasma T, DHT, and E2 in adult male C. atrox that were located basking at communal dens. Additionally, cloacal, core body, and ambient air temperatures were obtained to investigate potential relationships between body temperatures and levels of sex steroids. Mean levels of T, DHT, and E2 were relatively high, and the concentration hierarchy was T>DHT>E2. Mean levels of T, DHT, and E2 showed no significant variation across the four months of sampling; however, E2 levels decreased progressively. In the annul cycle, sex steroid levels during winter were not basal when compared to values obtained during the active season. Mean cloacal temperatures of basking males were significantly higher than core body temperatures of non-basking males (inside dens) from November-December, and in February, which suggests that one function of winter basking is to elevate body temperatures. Steroid levels, nonetheless, were not significantly correlated with cloacal temperatures. We suggest that future field studies of male C. atrox should: (a) investigate sex steroid levels in non-basking individuals and (b) test whether elevated levels of sex steroids during winter facilitate the large increases that occur in early spring, which are coincident with the second mating season. Our findings on the reproductive biology of C. atrox and other viperids are discussed in the context of the associated-dissociated model of reproduction.

背景与目标： ：来自亚利桑那州南部人群的西方菱形响尾蛇（Crotalus atrox）生殖生态学的最新田野研究表明，血浆性类固醇（睾丸激素，T；5α-二氢睾丸激素，DHT；以及17beta-雌二醇，E2）的浓度存在显着差异）在整个活动季节（3月至10月），高峰水平与两个交配期（夏末和初春）重合。但是，没有关于冬季性类固醇水平的信息。与大多数蛇相似，冬眠的C. atrox个体通常难以接近，但在亚利桑那州南部，冬季的环境条件通常较为温和，成年雄性经常在公共巢穴的入口或附近晒太阳。因此，晒日光浴活动提供了独特的后勤机会，可以评估自然界温带爬行动物男性血浆类固醇水平的完整年度概况。从11月到2月，我们测量了位于公共巢穴的成年雄性C. atrox血浆T，DHT和E2的水平。此外，还获得了泄殖腔，核心身体和周围的空气温度，以研究体温与性类固醇水平之间的潜在关系。 T，DHT和E2的平均水平较高，浓度等级为T> DHT> E2。在四个月的采样中，T，DHT和E2的平均水平没有显着变化。然而，E2水平逐渐降低。与活动季节获得的值相比，在无生命周期中，冬季的性类固醇水平不是基础。从11月到12月以及2月，鸟雄性的平均泄殖腔温度显着高于非-鸟雄性的核心体温（在巢穴内），这表明冬季取暖的一种功能是升高体温。尽管如此，类固醇水平与泄殖腔温度没有显着相关。我们建议，将来对雄性梭菌的田间研究应：（a）研究非晒太阳个体中的性类固醇水平，以及（b）测试冬天期间性类固醇水平的升高是否促进了早春时发生的大量增加。与第二个交配季节相吻合。我们在关联解离的繁殖模型的背景下讨论了我们对C. atrox和其他类病毒的生殖生物学的发现。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :The purpose of this study was to clarify the effects of nutrients on the gonadal development of male rats kept under constant darkness as a model of disturbed daily rhythm. The present study examined protein and vitamins, and their interactions. This study was based on three-way ANOVA; the three factors were lighting conditions, dietary protein and dietary vitamins, respectively. The levels of dietary protein were low or normal: 9% casein or 20% casein. The levels of dietary vitamins were low, normal or high: 1/3.3 of normal (AIN-93G diet) content, normal content, or three times the normal content, respectively. Other compositions were the same as those of the AIN-93G diet, and six kinds of experimental diet were prepared. Four-week-old rats (Fischer 344 strain) were kept under constant darkness or normal lighting (12-h light/dark cycle) for 4 wk. After 4 wk, the gonadal weights and serum testosterone content were evaluated. In the constant darkness groups (D-groups), the low-protein diet induced reduction of gonadal organ weights and serum testosterone concentrations. This reduction of gonadal organ weights was exacerbated by progressively higher levels of dietary vitamins. In the case of a normal-protein diet, the depression of gonadal development was not accelerated by high-vitamin intake. In the normal lighting groups (N-groups), the low-protein and high-vitamin diet slightly depressed gonadal development. These results suggest that the metabolism of protein and vitamins is different in rats being kept under constant darkness, and that excess dietary vitamins have an adverse effect on gonadal development in rats fed a low-protein diet.

背景与目标： ：这项研究的目的是阐明养分对处于持续黑暗中的雄性大鼠性腺发育的影响，这是日常节律紊乱的模型。本研究检查了蛋白质和维生素及其相互作用。本研究基于三向方差分析；这三个因素分别是光照条件，饮食蛋白和饮食维生素。膳食蛋白水平低或正常：酪蛋白9％或酪蛋白20％。饮食中的维生素水平低，正常或高：分别为正常（AIN-93G饮食）含量的1 / 3.3，正常含量或正常含量的三倍。其他组成与AIN-93G饮食相同，准备了6种实验饮食。将四周大的大鼠（Fischer 344株）保持在恒定的黑暗或正常光照下（12小时光照/黑暗周期）4周。 4周后，评估了性腺的重量和血清睾丸激素的含量。在恒定的黑暗组（D组）中，低蛋白饮食会导致性腺器官重量和血清睾丸激素浓度降低。逐渐增加饮食中维生素的含量会加剧性腺器官重量的减少。在正常蛋白质饮食的情况下，高维生素摄入不会促进性腺发育的抑制。在正常照明组（N组）中，低蛋白和高维生素饮食会稍微抑制性腺发育。这些结果表明，在恒定黑暗条件下的大鼠中蛋白质和维生素的代谢不同，并且饮食中过量的维生素对低蛋白质饮食的大鼠的性腺发育有不利影响。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: OBJECTIVE:Cross-sectional data suggest that obesity, particularly central obesity, may be associated with decreased production of sex steroid hormones in men. However, longitudinal hormone data on men in relation to obesity status are limited. Previous studies have not consistently demonstrated whether sex steroids are associated specifically to body mass index or to measures of central obesity. Our objective was to examine the relation of obesity (body mass index > 30 kg/m2), and of central obesity (waist circumference > 100 cm or waist to hip ratio > 0.95) to longitudinal change in sex steroid hormones in men. DESIGN:Prospective follow-up of a population-based sample of men in Boston. PATIENTS:Nine hundred forty-two (942) men in the Massachusetts Male Ageing Study with complete anthropometry and hormone data at baseline (1987-1989, ages 40-70) and follow-up (1995-1997). MEASUREMENTS:Free and total testosterone (FT and TT), dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS), and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) were assessed using standardized methods. Health behaviours and medical history were obtained by structured interview. Repeated measures regression was used to describe trends in steroid hormones and SHBG in relation to obesity status, adjusting for age, smoking, alcohol, comorbidities, and physical activity. RESULTS:Obesity was associated with decreased levels of total and free testosterone, and of SHBG at follow-up relative to baseline. For any given baseline concentration of TT, FT or SHBG, follow-up levels were lowest among men who remained obese or who became obese during follow-up. This was true for all three indices of obesity. Central adiposity was associated with lower DHEAS levels at follow-up, while elevated body mass index was not. CONCLUSIONS:Obesity may predict greater decline in testosterone and SHBG levels with age. Central adiposity may be a more important predictor of decline in DHEAS than is body mass index.

背景与目标： 目的：横断面数据表明，肥胖症，尤其是中枢型肥胖症，可能与男性性类固醇激素的产生减少有关。但是，有关肥胖状况的男性纵向激素数据有限。先前的研究并未始终证明性类固醇是否与体重指数或中枢性肥胖症的测量指标特别相关。我们的目标是检查肥胖（体重指数> 30 kg / m2）和中性肥胖（腰围> 100 cm或腰臀比> 0.95）与男性性类固醇激素的纵向变化之间的关系。
设计：对波士顿的一项以人群为基础的男性样本进行的前瞻性随访。
患者：马萨诸塞州男性衰老研究中的九十二名（942名）男性在基线（1987-1989，年龄40-70）和随访（1995-1997）时具有完整的人体测量学和激素数据。
测量：使用标准化方法评估游离和总睾丸激素（FT和TT），硫酸脱氢表雄酮（DHEAS）和性激素结合球蛋白（SHBG）。通过结构化访谈获得健康行为和病史。重复测量回归用于描述与肥胖状况相关的类固醇激素和SHBG的趋势，并根据年龄，吸烟，饮酒，合并症和体育锻炼进行调整。
结果：相对于基线，肥胖与随访时总睾丸激素和游离睾丸激素水平以及SHBG水平降低有关。对于任何给定的TT，FT或SHBG基线浓度，随访水平在仍然肥胖或在随访过程中变得肥胖的男性中最低。肥胖的所有三个指标都是如此。随访中，中央肥胖与DHEAS水平降低有关，而体重指数升高与肥胖无关。
结论：肥胖可能预示着随着年龄的增长，睾丸激素和SHBG的下降将更大。与体重指数相比，中央肥胖可能是DHEAS下降的更重要的预测指标。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Resistin is a circulating mediator of insulin resistance mainly expressed in human monocytes and responsive to inflammatory stimuli. Recent clinical studies have connected elevated resistin levels with the development and severity of heart failure. To further our understanding of the role of human resistin in heart failure, we studied a humanized mouse model lacking murine resistin but transgenic for the human Retn gene (Hum-Retn mice), which exhibits basal and inflammation-stimulated resistin levels similar to humans. Specifically, we explored whether resistin underlies acute anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity. Remarkably, doxorubicin (25mg/kg ip) led to a 4-fold induction of serum resistin levels in Hum-Retn mice. Moreover, doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity was greater in the Hum-Retn mice than in littermate controls not expressing human resistin (Retn(-/-)). Hum-Retn mice showed increased cardiac mRNA levels of inflammatory and cell adhesion genes compared with Retn(-/-) mice. Macrophages, but not cardiomyocytes, from Hum-Retn mice treated with doxorubicin in vitro showed dramatic induction of hRetn (human resistin) mRNA and protein expression. We also examined resistin levels in anthracycline-treated breast cancer patients with and without cardiotoxicity. Intriguingly, serum resistin levels in women undergoing anthracycline-containing chemotherapy increased significantly at 3 months and remained elevated at 6 months in those with subsequent cardiotoxicity. Further, elevation in resistin correlated with decline in ejection fraction in these women. These results suggest that elevated resistin is a biomarker of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity and may contribute in the development of heart failure via its direct effects on macrophages. These results further implicate resistin as a link between inflammation, metabolism, and heart disease.

背景与目标： ：抵抗素是胰岛素抵抗的循环介质，主要在人类单核细胞中表达，对炎症刺激有反应。最近的临床研究已将抵抗素水平升高与心力衰竭的发展和严重程度联系起来。为了进一步了解人类抵抗素在心力衰竭中的作用，我们研究了一种缺少鼠抵抗素但转为人类Retn基因（Hum-Retn小鼠）的人源化小鼠模型（Hum-Retn小鼠），其表现出与人类相似的基础和炎症刺激抵抗素水平。具体来说，我们探讨了抵抗素是否是急性蒽环类药物引起的心脏毒性的基础。值得注意的是，阿霉素（25mg / kg ip ip）导致Hum-Retn小鼠血清抵抗素水平提高了4倍。此外，在Hum-Retn小鼠中，阿霉素诱导的心脏毒性要比未表达人抵抗素（Retn（-/-））的同窝仔对照更大。与Retn（-/-）小鼠相比，Hum-Retn小鼠显示出炎症和细胞粘附基因的心脏mRNA水平升高。体外用阿霉素处理的Hum-Retn小鼠的巨噬细胞而非心肌细胞显示出hRetn（人抵抗素）mRNA和蛋白表达的显着诱导。我们还检查了蒽环类药物治疗的有或没有心脏毒性的乳腺癌患者的抵抗素水平。有趣的是，接受含蒽环类药物化疗的妇女的血清抵抗素水平在3个月时显着增加，而在随后发生心脏毒性反应的妇女中，在6个月时仍然升高。此外，这些女性的抵抗素升高与射血分数下降相关。这些结果表明，升高的抵抗素是蒽环类药物诱导的心脏毒性的生物标志物，并可能通过其对巨噬细胞的直接作用而导致心力衰竭的发展。这些结果进一步暗示抵抗素是炎症，代谢和心脏病之间的联系。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :There is little research on injecting drug use in Nigeria. We investigated the prevalence of HIV, hepatitis B and C, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among male injection drug users (IDUs) in Lagos. Male IDUs (N = 328) were recruited through respondent-driven sampling. Participants completed an interview about their sexual and injecting risk behaviours and were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBV), hepatitis C antibody (HCV), HIV and syphilis, as well as genital chlamydia and gonorrhoea infections. Three-quarters of IDUs (74%) reported injecting drugs in the past one month although most did not share needles (92%) and the majority obtained sterile needles from pharmacists (87%). Estimated HBV, HCV, HIV, syphilis, gonorrhoea and chlamydia prevalences were 7.8%, 7.7%, 0.9%, 1.9%, 0.0%, and 3.7%, respectively. The burden of HIV is presently low among IDUs in Lagos. Changes in accessibility to sterile needles at pharmacists would likely have a deleterious effect on IDUs' health. HBV vaccination and HCV prevention programmes for IDUs are urgently needed.

背景与目标： ：在尼日利亚，有关注射毒品使用的研究很少。我们调查了拉各斯男性注射吸毒者（IDU）中HIV，乙肝和丙肝以及性传播感染（STI）的患病率。男性注射毒品者（N = 328）是通过受访者驱动的样本招募的。参与者完成了关于其性行为和注射风险行为的访谈，并接受了乙型肝炎表面抗原（HBV），丙型肝炎抗体（HCV），HIV和梅毒以及生殖器衣原体和淋病感染的测试。在过去的一个月中，四分之三的注射毒品使用者（74％）报告正在注射药物，尽管大多数不共用针头（92％），并且大多数是从药剂师那里获得无菌针头的（87％）。估计的HBV，HCV，HIV，梅毒，淋病和衣原体患病率分别为7.8％，7.7％，0.9％，1.9％，0.0％和3.7％。目前在拉各斯的注射毒品使用者中艾滋病毒负担很低。药剂师对无菌针头的可及性的改变可能会对注射毒品使用者的健康产生有害影响。急需为注射吸毒者提供乙肝疫苗和丙肝预防方案。