Search Results (393)

The purpose of this review is to highlight the complex influence of antibiotics on human fertility and the need for them not to be underestimated. In creating this review article, data and information from the following international databases were used: PubMed, Scopus and Clarivate Analytics. Only full text articles were used. Antibacterial antibiotics are a group of drugs essential in fighting infections, having multiple mechanisms of action at the level of the bacterial cell; but at the same time they also act on human cells. One of the important actions of antibiotics is on fertility. There are both experimental and clinical data showing the influence of some antibiotics on fertility. There are both positive and negative influences of these drugs on fertility. Some of the most important actions with a positive impact on fertility are: therapy of pelvic infections in women, treatment of endometritis, reduction in post-abortion infections, treatment of infections of the male genital tract—infections that reduce fertility. The most important negative implications of some antibiotics are the direct effects of reducing the production of gametes, decreasing the activity or quality of the gametes, reducing the synthesis of sexual hormones and negative influences on the evolution of pregnancy, including spontaneous abortion in some cases. Other negative influences are produced by the direct action of some antibiotics on the embryo. Some antibiotics such as azithromycin and nitrofurantoin increase the risk of miscarriage. Although only a limited number of antibiotics are known to have an influence on fertility, this influence should not be underestimated in clinical practice. Full article

Ebola virus disease (EVD) has traditionally been considered an acute infection characterized by high mortality and severe systemic inflammation. However, growing evidence accumulated over the last decade has progressively challenged this view, demonstrating that Ebola virus may persist long after apparent clinical recovery within immune-privileged anatomical compartments, including the male genital tract, ocular tissues, central nervous system, and breast milk. Persistent viral reservoirs have been associated with prolonged RNA shedding, sexual transmission, recrudescence phenomena, and outbreak resurgence, highlighting the clinical and public health relevance of post-acute Ebola persistence. At the same time, increasing evidence suggests that EVD survivors frequently exhibit chronic inflammatory activation and long-lasting immune dysfunction. Persistent alterations involving cytokine signaling, T-cell responses, and antiviral immune regulation may contribute to incomplete viral clearance and reservoir maintenance. In this context, the potential interaction between Ebola virus persistence and HIV-associated immune dysregulation remains poorly explored despite the substantial geographical overlap between both infections in sub-Saharan Africa. This narrative review examines current evidence regarding Ebola virus persistence, immune-privileged reservoirs, survivor immune dysfunction, and persistence-associated transmission. Additionally, we discuss the biological plausibility that chronic immune activation, T-cell exhaustion, and impaired antiviral surveillance observed in people living with HIV (PWH) could theoretically influence persistence dynamics and long-term reservoir biology. Understanding these interactions may have implications for survivor monitoring, outbreak preparedness, and future research on post-acute viral reservoir diseases. Importantly, this review does not argue that HIV has been clinically established as a modifier of Ebola virus persistence. Rather, it examines Ebola virus persistence as an established post-acute phenomenon and considers whether HIV-associated immune dysregulation in people living with HIV (PWH) may represent a biologically plausible, but still untested, determinant of viral clearance and reservoir biology. Full article

Background/Objective: The psychosexual burden of human papillomavirus (HPV)-induced genital warts (GWs) in men remains underexplored. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in men with GWs and to evaluate the effects of disease duration and condom use on the sexual cycle using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-15). Methods: This single-center, cross-sectional study was conducted in the dermatology outpatient clinic of Kayseri City Education and Research Hospital between May and June 2026 and enrolled 150 sexually active male patients with clinically diagnosed, currently present genital wart lesions. To minimize reading comprehension and social desirability biases, a two-stage protocol was implemented. First, a clinician explained each IIEF-15 item face-to-face. Patients then completed the questionnaire independently and submitted it in a sealed envelope. Associations were analyzed using Spearman’s rank correlation, and group comparisons used the Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis tests. Results: The median age was 30.0 years (IQR 25.0–36.0) and the median disease duration was 18.0 months (IQR 8.0–35.8). Erectile dysfunction (ED) of varying severity was detected in 84.7% (n = 127) of patients. In unadjusted analysis, longer disease duration was associated with lower sexual function scores; however, these associations did not remain significant after adjustment for age. As ED severity increased, all other sexual function domains declined concurrently and strongly (Spearman rho ranging from −0.679 to −0.821; p < 0.0001). Condom users exhibited higher total sexual function scores than non-users (median 55.5, IQR 43.2–61.0 vs. median 49.5, IQR 37.0–60.0); however, this difference did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.076). Conclusions: Genital warts in men constitute a major psychosexual condition that disrupts multiple phases of the sexual response cycle, not merely a dermatological lesion. Our cross-sectional findings suggest that lesion-directed treatment alone may not fully address this psychosexual burden: whether the proactive integration of multidisciplinary sexual counseling improves outcomes should be tested in controlled, longitudinal studies. Full article

Psychological stress can affect female reproductive function through behavioral, endocrine, ovarian, and oxidative mechanisms. Antioxidant supplements have therefore attracted attention for their potential to mitigate stress-related reproductive alterations. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a lipid-soluble quinone involved in mitochondrial energy metabolism and is widely used as a dietary supplement. However, whether CoQ10 modulates female reproductive responses to repeated psychological stress remains unclear. Although water avoidance stress (WAS) is a well-established psychogenic stress model, its effects on female reproductive outcomes are still not fully defined. In this study, we examined how repeated WAS affects female reproductive outcomes and whether CoQ10 modifies these effects. Twenty-eight regularly cycling female rats were assigned to sham control, WAS, CoQ10, or WAS + CoQ10 groups. WAS was applied for 1 h/day for 10 days, and CoQ10 was administered orally at 100 mg/kg/day. Repeated WAS did not significantly alter sexual incentive motivation parameters, reproductive hormones, corticosterone, total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), or mast cell count under the present experimental conditions (all p > 0.05). However, WAS reduced male-directed active investigation time (p = 0.008) and male investigation preference ratio (p = 0.024), increased absolute ovarian and adrenal gland weights (p = 0.035 and p = 0.016, respectively), reduced primordial follicle number (p = 0.030), decreased germinative epithelium thickness (p = 0.017), lowered VEGF histoscore (p = 0.033) regardless of CoQ10 treatment, and reduced corpus luteum angiogenesis in animals not receiving CoQ10 (p = 0.030). CoQ10 reduced total investigation time toward the male (p = 0.032), male investigation preference ratio (p = 0.037), 17-β estradiol (E2) (p = 0.003), testosterone (p = 0.021), and germinative epithelium thickness (p < 0.001) regardless of WAS exposure. CoQ10 also decreased kisspeptin-1 levels under non-stressed conditions (p = 0.010), while increasing corpus luteum angiogenesis under stress conditions (p = 0.003). Overall, repeated WAS produced selective behavioral and ovarian alterations rather than broad reproductive dysfunction. CoQ10 was not associated with a broadly protective or uniformly beneficial profile in this model, and its endocrine, behavioral, and ovarian effects should be interpreted with caution. Full article

Chronic epididymitis and orchitis represent significant yet frequently under-recognized contributors to male infertility, particularly among men of reproductive age. These conditions arise from persistent inflammatory or immunological processes affecting the epididymis and testis, leading to impaired spermatogenesis, altered sperm maturation and possible obstruction of the male reproductive tract. Infectious aetiologies, especially those linked to sexually transmitted pathogens and uropathogens, remain predominant; however, non-infectious mechanisms, including autoimmune activation, post-vasectomy changes and idiopathic inflammation, also play critical roles. The persistent inflammatory milieu induces cytokine release, oxidative stress and structural tissue remodelling, ultimately compromising the functional and immune-privileged microenvironment necessary for optimal sperm production and transport. Diagnostic evaluation requires a multimodal approach incorporating clinical examination, microbiological testing, semen analysis and scrotal ultrasonography, with advanced imaging and molecular assays reserved for complex or equivocal cases. Management is individualized and may involve antimicrobial therapy, anti-inflammatory treatment, immunomodulation or microsurgical intervention in cases of ductal obstruction. Assisted reproductive technologies provide additional options when natural conception is not feasible. Despite increased recognition of their impact, chronic epididymitis and orchitis remain insufficiently studied, with gaps in standardized definitions, biomarker validation and long-term outcome data. This review provides a focused synthesis and phenotype-driven clinical framework for chronic epididymitis and orchitis through a fertility-preservation lens, bridging urological and andrological perspectives and integrating evidence on subclinical inflammation, contemporary diagnostic biomarkers and a staged therapeutic pathway. Full article

Image-based sexual abuse (IBSA) is an increasingly prevalent problem that disproportionately affects women. Understanding the psychological processes related to this behavior is essential for its prevention. Accordingly, the present study examines the activation of moral disengagement mechanisms in IBSA contexts by considering the role of gender and age across the lifespan. Specifically, by using a vignette-based methodology, this study investigates which moral disengagement mechanisms are activated in scenarios of sextortion and non-consensual intimate image sharing (NCIIS) involving male-perpetrated abuse against women. A sample of 2343 participants (68.2% women) aged 14–74 years (M = 25.86, SD = 9.96, Mo = 19) completed measures which assessed eight mechanisms of moral disengagement. The results indicated that men exhibited higher levels of moral disengagement than women in relation to both sextortion and NCIIS, with younger men reporting the highest levels. Gender differences were more pronounced for NCIIS (ηp² = 0.085) than for sextortion (ηp² = 0.043). With regard to age, older participants reported lower overall levels of moral disengagement in both scenarios, although age effects were comparatively small (ηp² = 0.020–0.026). The minimization of consequences in sextortion was the only mechanism that remained relatively stable across ages. Analyses also revealed significant age × gender interactions, particularly for NCIIS (ηp² = 0.016), indicating that moral disengagement among women remained at consistently lower levels, whereas initial gender differences between men and women decreased with age. These findings are consistent with prior literature which suggests that both sextortion and NCIIS constitute gendered forms of violence and highlight the importance of targeting young men in prevention and intervention efforts aimed at challenging the justifications underlying these behaviors. Full article

Previous research has shown that both victim intoxication and narrative framing can influence the levels of victim blame. However, far less attention has been paid to how coercive strategy and narrative framing may interact to shape victim-blaming judgements and perceptions of sexual assault. The present study addresses this gap by examining how combinations of coercive strategies (physical force versus alcohol facilitated), narrative framing (active versus passive), and rape myth acceptance (RMA) influence victim blame and the recognition of sexual assault. Participant gender and age were also assessed in relation to RMA and victim-blaming attitudes. A total of 202 participants aged 18–63 (78.7% of women, 21.3% of men, M_Age = 28.93, SD = 14.36) completed an online survey evaluating vignettes depicting a male perpetrator sexually assaulting a female victim. Age significantly predicted victim blaming, with older participants assigning greater blame to the victim. Gender predicted both RMA and victim blame, with men reporting higher RMA and greater victim blame than women. Active framing in both the physical force and alcohol-use conditions reduced participants’ recognition of the incident as sexual assault. Participants with lower RMA consistently reported lower victim blame across conditions, and were more likely to identify the incident as sexual assault in the physical force condition. These findings highlight the influence of coercive strategies and the importance of victim-centred language in policing, legal, and media contexts, where narrative framing can meaningfully shape the recognition of sexual assault. Full article

Mainstream migration theory has often explained irregular immigration as an autonomous process driven primarily by individuals, families, or communities. However, the recruitment of undocumented labor by U.S. employers through labor-brokerage smugglers plays an even more significant role. The age of migrants transported by these smugglers is crucial, as it represents one of the key criteria used to distinguish between human smuggling (a crime against the state) and human trafficking (a crime against individuals). This article, based on interviews conducted between 2008 and 2025 with 197 Mexican migrant smugglers, examines whether there are differences in the proportion of minors—as well as in the minimum and maximum average ages—between male and female migrants from Mexico and Central America who were recruited by smugglers operating in labor-recruitment networks (primarily men for labor purposes), sexual-trade networks (women for commercial sexual activities), or mixed networks (involving both types of activities). The data were analyzed by comparing proportions and means for independent groups (labor vs. sexual-trade networks) and paired data (mixed networks). The study concludes that women recruited for the sexual-trade by labor-brokerage smugglers are significantly younger than men transported by labor-brokerage smugglers hired by U.S. employers. Full article

Background: Flattening of the medial longitudinal arch is traditionally attributed to excess body weight and Body Mass Index (BMI). However, controversy exists regarding whether adiposity or skeletal structure drives this biomechanical alteration, and which podometric index best detects it. Methods: A cross-sectional study evaluated 99 healthy university students (50 males, 49 females). Body composition was assessed via a four-component model. Plantar footprints were captured using 4K digital podoscopy and analyzed with five morphometric indices. Arch predictors were identified using multivariate regression models (Elastic Net regression) and Generalized Additive Models (GAMs). Results: Only Clarke’s Angle detected significant sexual dimorphism, showing structurally higher arches in females (50.28° ± 7.14) than in males (41.82° ± 11.20; p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed bone mass as the dominant structural predictor, exerting a non-linear negative association with the arch profile, which stabilizes beyond 12 kg. BMI was not a significant predictor, whereas body fat percentage showed a modest positive association. Conclusions: Plantar arch morphology is strongly associated with skeletal load (anthropometrically estimated bone mass) rather than adiposity or BMI. Within this specific cohort, Clarke’s Angle emerged as a highly sensitive instrument for characterizing sexual dimorphism. Clinical assessments diagnosing functional flatfoot should prioritize underlying bone structure over BMI, particularly when evaluating a healthy and physically active university population. Future studies incorporating DXA or radiographic validation are needed to confirm these anthropometric findings. Full article

This qualitative study examines how menstruation structures the lives and futures of married adolescent girls in the Centre for Girls’ Education’s Married Adolescent Safe Spaces (MAS) program in rural northern Nigeria. It addresses a key gap by focusing on married adolescents and treating menstruation as a social process linked to early marriage, schooling, mobility, and sexual and reproductive health, rather than only a hygiene issue. Guided by an intersectional social ecological and menstrual health-and-rights framework, the study draws on three years of ethnographic fieldwork. Methods include participant observation in MAS clubs, in-depth interviews, informal group discussions, and Hausa field notes from multiple rural communities, analyzed through iterative thematic coding and collaborative memoing. Findings show that menstruation operates as a “catalyst of constraint.” Menarche signals sexual maturity, intensifying moral surveillance, prompting threats or realities of school withdrawal, and accelerating pressure toward marriage. Girls describe menstruation as a “joy killer” and becoming “a shadow of myself,” as stains, pain, and shaming by teachers and peers lead to absenteeism and, at times, permanent dropout. Silence and stigma mean that asking questions can be read as promiscuity, pushing girls away from parents, religious leaders, and male teachers and toward sisters, peers, and mentors for incomplete guidance. Structural deprivation further individualizes the burden of menstrual management. Poverty, lack of affordable pads and underwear, and inadequate WASH facilities compel girls to “make do” with cloths and other unsafe materials, restrict movement during bleeding, and engage in small income-generating activities or kin negotiations to obtain basic supplies. MAS safe spaces partially disrupt these patterns by offering rare venues to discuss menstruation openly, learn cycle tracking and hygiene, and build peer solidarity and self-advocacy. However, the analysis underscores that program benefits remain constrained when poverty, weak school infrastructure, and restrictive gender norms remain intact. The study highlights how equitable sexual and reproductive health interventions must integrate menstrual health centrally, combining safe-space programming with subsidized products, improved WASH infrastructure, protective school policies, and norm change efforts. Full article

Circulating sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) concentrations are lower in individuals with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), reflecting its potential role in metabolic liver dysfunction. Our prior studies demonstrated that SHBG can attenuate MASLD by limiting hepatic lipid deposition, partly through suppression of lipogenic pathways, in both cellular and animal models. In the present work, we have examined whether SHBG could protect against development of liver fibrosis. For this purpose, in vitro and in vivo studies were performed. In vitro, we used co-cultures of human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG2) and human hepatic stellate cell line (LX-2) cells transfected using an SHBG expression vector vs. vehicle and treated with transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1). For in vivo studies we used wild-type and human SHBG transgenic mice developing liver fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄). Our results clearly showed that SHBG overexpression reduced the TGF-β1-induced expression in collagen in LX-2 cells. Moreover, SHBG overexpression reduced the CCl₄ induced liver fibrosis in both male and female mice. Histological examination revealed that SHBG transgenic mice had reduced NAS score and decreased collagen accumulation, assessed by Sirious Red staining. In addition, human SHBG transgenic mice treated with CCl₄ exhibited lower collagen 1A1 (Col1A1) protein levels when compared with wild-type CCl₄ treated mice. Mechanistically, SHBG attenuated fibrosis primarily through modulation of the TGF-β1/matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)/tissue inhibitor metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP1) axis, characterized by reduced TGF-β1 levels, increased metalloprotease activity, and decreased TIMP1 levels compared with wild-type CCl₄ treated mice. Notably, female SHBG transgenic mice exhibited greater protection against fibrosis than males, indicating a sex-dependent effect likely mediated by differences in sex steroid signaling. Taken together, we demonstrate for the first time that SHBG protects against liver fibrosis by promoting collagen degradation via the TGF-β1/MMPs/TIMP1 pathway. Further research is needed to elucidate the role of sex steroids in the regulation of MMPs and the observed sexual dimorphism. Full article

Introduction: The NF-κB signaling pathway is a key regulator of oncogenic processes; however, its systemic role in meningiomas remains poorly understood. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the expression of genes encoding NF-κB isoforms and IKK complex subunits in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with meningiomas prior to tumor resection. Methods: The study included 31 patients with meningiomas (WHO grades G1-G3) and 18 healthy volunteers. PBMCs were isolated using density gradient centrifugation, and total RNA was extracted. mRNA expression levels of NFKB1, NFKB2, RELA, RELB, c-REL, CHUK, IKBKB, and IKBKG were quantified by real-time PCR, with GAPDH used as the reference gene. Results: In patients with meningiomas, significantly lower expression of NFKB1 and higher expression of RELA, CHUK, and IKBKB were observed compared with the control group. NFKB1 expression was significantly higher in patients with higher tumor grades (WHO G2/G3) than in those with grade G1 tumors. Moreover, male patients exhibited higher expression levels of c-REL, CHUK, and IKBKB than female patients. Strong positive correlations were observed between components of the canonical NF-κB pathway. Discussion: The results may indicate systemic dysregulation of the NF-κB pathway in immune cells of patients with meningiomas, potentially characterized by activation of the canonical pathway and a shift toward p65/p65 homodimer formation. These alterations could reflect mechanisms associated with immunosuppression. NFKB1 expression may warrant further investigation as a candidate peripheral biomarker of tumor aggressiveness, while the observed sexual dimorphism in gene expression might suggest that sex could represent a relevant factor, requiring confirmation in prospective studies. Full article

Parent–child sexual communication plays a central role in adolescents’ sexual socialization, yet little research has examined whether frequent communication fosters adolescent disclosure of sexual behaviors and how disclosure relates to sexual debut. This study investigated whether the frequency of parent–child sexual communication is associated with adolescent disclosure and examined relationships between disclosure and age at first intercourse. Data from the Healthy Sexuality Pilot Study included 2044 adolescents (1030 males, 1014 females). Structural equation modeling with multi-group comparison revealed parent-specific pathways: maternal communication frequency was associated with disclosure to mothers (β = 0.66–0.69, p < 0.001), and paternal communication was associated with disclosure to fathers (β = 0.83–0.90, p < 0.001). Cross-parent effects were minimal, suggesting disclosure develops through specific parent–child dyadic communication. Invariance testing supported equivalent model functioning across male and female adolescents. Unexpectedly, greater disclosure to mothers was associated with earlier age at first intercourse for both males (β = −0.08, p < 0.05) and females (β = −0.15, p < 0.05). One possibility is that adolescents who become sexually active subsequently seek parental support, increasing disclosure after debut. Findings indicate that frequent sexual communication is associated with disclosure through parent-specific relational pathways but suggest the disclosure–behavior relationship is more complex than protective models predict. Results underscore the importance of promoting not only communication frequency but also quality and effective parental responses. Full article

Background: Adult circumcision is an effective surgical treatment for symptomatic phimosis, but its effects on sexual function and psychosocial outcomes remain incompletely characterized. This study aimed to assess patient-reported motivations for circumcision due to phimosis and to evaluate changes in sexual function, genital self-image, and depressive symptoms after surgery. Methods: We performed a prospective, single-center observational pre–post cohort study of adult men who underwent circumcision for symptomatic phimosis at a tertiary academic center in Poland between January 2023 and April 2025. Participants completed an author-designed questionnaire and validated patient-reported outcome measures before surgery and at six months after circumcision. The primary endpoint was the change in sexual function measured by the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-15). Secondary endpoints included changes in genital self-image assessed using the Male Genital Self-Image Scale (MGSIS-7), depressive symptoms measured with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), and patient-reported motivations for surgery. Paired comparisons were performed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: A total of 148 men were included in the study. The most common reasons for surgery were pain/discomfort (58/148, 39.2%) and impaired sexual activity (51/148, 34.5%). The total IIEF-15 score increased from 46.4 ± 20.4 to 57.5 ± 21.0 (p < 0.001), with significant improvements across all domains (all p < 0.001). The total MGSIS-7 score improved from 19.9 ± 4.5 to 23.1 ± 4.0 (p < 0.001). Paired BDI-II data were available for 77 men; the total BDI-II score decreased from 1.2 ± 3.8 to 0.3 ± 1.6 (p = 0.004). Most men reported improved sexual life (127/148, 85.8%) and cosmetic satisfaction (124/148, 83.8%), and 119/148 (80.4%) reported no complications. Conclusions: Circumcision for symptomatic phimosis was associated with improved sexual function and genital self-image, alongside a statistically significant but clinically negligible decrease in subclinical depressive symptoms. Full article

The redclaw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus) features a unique intersex phenotype—functional males harboring a female (ZW) genotype. This study investigates the sexually dimorphic transcriptomic responses of the hepatopancreas to acute methyl farnesoate exposure to decouple genotypic from phenotypic sex. We found that normal males prioritize enzymatic detoxification and steroidogenesis, whereas normal females prioritize energy conservation for reproductive preparation. Strikingly, intersex individuals exhibited a massive transcriptomic burst and paradoxical hormone receptor dynamics, exposing a fragile endocrine network driven by their inherent genotypic–phenotypic conflict. To survive severe MF-induced pharmacological stress, the intersex hepatopancreas actively suppresses lysosomal and apoptotic pathways, which we hypothesize serves as a compensatory mechanism to mitigate severe tissue damage. Instead, it deploys a compensatory architecture by hyperactivating amino acid biosynthesis, sulfur relay systems, and gap junctions to manage proteotoxic and oxidative stress. Co-expression network analysis identified VCP, maf, and hdac8 as central regulatory hubs orchestrating this survival strategy through proteostasis, oxidative sensing, and epigenetic override. These findings suggest that the crustacean response to acute pharmacological challenge involves profound metabolic and epigenetic reprogramming, providing novel hypotheses for future functional studies. Full article