Evidence linking dietary protein intake with testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) is limited. We examined these associations in 2,546 Finnish men aged 42-60 years using 4-day food records and multivariable-adjusted models. Higher total and animal protein intakes and a higher animal-to-plant protein ratio were associated with lower total testosterone and SHBG, whereas plant protein intake was positively associated with both. In the highest versus lowest animal protein quartile, total testosterone was 1.2 nmol/L lower (95% CI: 0.37-2.03) and SHBG 3.0 nmol/L lower (95% CI: 1.34-4.66). In the highest versus lowest plant protein quartile, total testosterone was 1.1 nmol/L higher (95% CI: 0.34, 1.93) and SHBG 3.0 nmol/L higher (95% CI: 1.06, 4.94). Free testosterone was inversely associated with the animal-to-plant protein ratio and positively with non-grain plant protein. These cross-sectional findings suggest opposite associations of animal and plant protein intakes with total testosterone and SHBG.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine and metabolic disorder in women of reproductive age, but the relationships between circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) and nutrition-related proteins remain incompletely understood. This study investigated the associations of serum miR-146a, miR-642a, and miR-2861 with metabolic and inflammatory markers in PCOS. The study included 62 women with PCOS and 71 healthy controls. Serum miR-146a, miR-642a, and miR-2861 were measured by quantitative real-time PCR, while adiponectin (ADPN), leptin (LEP), retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and testosterone (T) were also assessed. Methodological validation evaluated sample processing conditions, assay precision, and agreement between analytical methods. Compared with controls, women with PCOS showed increased miR-146a expression and decreased miR-642a and miR-2861 expression. ADPN levels were reduced, whereas LEP, RBP4, HOMA-IR, IL-6, and T levels were elevated. miR-146a was negatively correlated with ADPN and positively correlated with LEP, RBP4, HOMA-IR, IL-6, and T. miR-642a was negatively correlated with RBP4, HOMA-IR, and IL-6, while miR-2861 was positively correlated with ADPN. Methodological validation showed acceptable assay stability, precision, and agreement between methods. The model combining the three miRNAs with ADPN, LEP, RBP4, HOMA-IR, IL-6, and T achieved an area under the curve of 0.929, with 82.26% sensitivity and 94.37% specificity. These findings demonstrate coordinated alterations in circulating miRNAs and metabolic markers in PCOS and support further evaluation of their combined diagnostic potential.

Children with transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT) often face various endocrine complications from iron overload, extramedullary hematopoiesis, and bone marrow expansion, influenced by genetic and non-genetic factors like blood transfusions and iron chelation. This study aims to evaluate the interplay between genetic predisposition, iron overload, and endocrine dysfunction. This was a prospective cross-sectional study including children ≥ 6 year age with TDT. Hospital records were analyzed to collect patient information, blood transfusion requirements, type and duration of chelation therapy. All patients underwent estimation of serum ferritin, glucose, calcium, phosphate, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), paratharmone (PTH), vitamin D, and free T4/ thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), whereas peripubertal children also underwent luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), estrogen, and testosterone. Only those suspected of having central cause of endocrine complications underwent growth hormone estimation. Various endocrine abnormalities were observed across 83 children (63males, 20females; aged6-20 years). Elevated mean serum ferritin levels > 3500 ng/ml was associated with increased prevalence of hypogonadism, growth retardation, hypothyroidism, impaired glucose tolerance, and hypoparathyroidism with p-values of 0.005, < 0.001, 0.02, 0.04, and 0.05, respectively. Children with β0β0 genotype had higher incidence of growth retardation (p = 0.03) and hypoparathyroidism (p = 0.02). Starting chelation therapy after 2years age resulted in hypogonadism(p = 0.003) and short stature(p = 0.04), while hypothyroidism(p = 0.04) was more prevalent in those who began transfusions after 2years age. Receiving over 20 transfusion units per year significantly resulted in glucose intolerance(p = 0.00) and osteopenia(p = 0.03). This study highlights the prevalence as well as multifactorial influences on endocrine complications in TDT, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to improve patient outcomes.

Gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) can improve mental wellbeing, but psychological responses to GAHT may differ between feminizing (FHT) and masculinizing hormone therapy (MHT). The effects of GAHT on perceived stress, particularly over time, remain underexplored. This study examined (1) within-person changes in perceived stress after 3 and 12 months of GAHT and (2) potential differences in stress trajectories between individuals initiating FHT and MHT. Data were used from two prospective cohort studies (ENIGI and RESTED) in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Israel. In total, 442 individuals (median age 23 years, IQR 20.5-28.0) completed the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale before GAHT and after 3 and 12 months. Linear mixed models assessed changes over time and between-group differences. Baseline perceived stress levels did not significantly differ between groups (0.15, p = 0.84). No significant changes in perceived stress were observed after 3 or 12 months, nor were there significant differences in changes between FHT and MHT (-1.0, p = 0.21; 0.25, p = 0.76). Within the limits of the present study, we observed no significant changes in perceived stress. Future research should explore stressors and coping mechanisms to identify strategies for reducing perceived stress during GAHT.

Estrogen-progestogen therapy remains the clinical gold standard for managing menopausal symptoms; however, the growing emphasis on precision medicine underscores the need for individualized strategies for females with specific contraindications or distinct clinical profiles. This narrative review examines the physiological mechanisms, clinical efficacy, and safety profiles of progestogen-only and testosterone-only therapies. Evidence suggests that progestogen-only therapy, particularly oral micronized progesterone (oP4), offers a robust alternative for alleviating vasomotor symptoms and sleep disturbances through its action on GABAergic neurosteroid pathways. Notably, observational data from large cohort studies, including the Etude Epidémiologique auprès de femmes de la Mutuelle Générale de l'Education Nationale study, suggest that oP4 and dydrogesterone are associated with a more favorable risk profile for venous thromboembolism and breast cancer than synthetic progestins used in combined hormone therapy. Testosterone therapy is specifically indicated for hypoactive sexual desire disorder, with transdermal delivery preferred to bypass hepatic first-pass metabolism. In the absence of approved female-specific testosterone products in South Korea, cautious off-label dosing and rigorous monitoring remain essential. Overall, monotherapy with progestogens or testosterone constitutes a vital component of tailored menopause management, if clinicians adhere to evidence-based protocols and remain aware of the current limitations in long-term safety data.

Serpell, BG and Cook, CJ. Perceptions of warm-up effectiveness maps to stress physiology in surfers. J Strength Cond Res 39(12): e1467-e1472, 2025-Warm-ups serve to enhance readiness in sport. Readiness has been defined as a state of physical, psychological, and behavioral preparation to perform. Testosterone and cortisol are often considered biomarkers of readiness in athletes. Furthermore, athletes who have more positive perceptions of warm-up tend to perform better. The purpose of this work was to explore whether changes in testosterone and cortisol profile map to perceptions of warm-up effectiveness in a group of surfers. Subjects surfed in an artificial wave-pool on 3 occasions-once for familiarization, once following an on-land warm-up, once when no warm-up was undertaken. Perceptions of warm-up effectiveness and surfing session quality were collected from subjects under both conditions, and hormones were measured before and after an active warm-up. Our results showed that the warm-up resulted in increased testosterone concentration and testosterone-to-cortisol ratio, and reduced cortisol concentration (p ≤ 0.05). In addition, subjects believed they were more prepared to surf after a warm-up (p ≤ 0.05), and a nonsignificant trend in poorer perception of readiness to perform presurf to postsurf was observed when a warm-up was not complete. In conclusion, we show changes in testosterone and cortisol mapped onto surveyed perceptions of readiness. Outcomes from this study have applications on the importance of warm-up for surfing. It also has broader implications for other sports by showing that a well-designed warm-up may enhance physical and mental readiness, and potentially performance, and it can enhance athlete's perceptions of using warm-ups.

Trans and nonbinary adults assigned female at birth (TNBF) are at elevated cardiovascular risk, an effect proposed to occur secondary to testosterone use. However, gender minority (GM) stress may also contribute to cardiovascular risk. Therefore, we examined the relative association of GM stress and testosterone to blood pressure (BP) and its regulation in TNBF adults. In 24 TNBF adults (12 not using and 12 using testosterone), GM stress was derived from a standardized composite score of seven psychosocial scales, and total testosterone was measured via radioimmunoassay. BP was assessed at rest and during acute physical (cold pressor test; CPT) and psychological (stroop colour word test; SCWT) stress. Resting systolic (SBP; 115±7 vs 115±13mmHg; P=0.978) and diastolic BP (DBP; 68±6 vs 68±11mmHg; P=0.995) did not differ between testosterone non-users and users. Backward elimination linear regression indicated that GM stress was negatively associated (SBP: β: -0.589, P=0.002; DBP: β: -0.492, P=0.006) and total testosterone was positively associated (SBP: β: 0.301, P=0.079; DBP: β: 0.422, P=0.013) with BP responses to the SCWT (SBP: R[2]=0.430, P=0.003; DBP: R[2]=0.553, P=0.001), but not resting BP or BP responses to the CPT. Our findings suggest that greater GM stress exposure blunts BP responses to psychological, but not physical, stress, whereas higher total testosterone levels are associated with greater BP responses to psychological stress among TNBF adults. Given established links between BP, its regulation, and cardiovascular risk, these data highlight the importance of integrating both physiological and psychological factors when examining cardiovascular risk in TNBF adults.