Search

Background: The 2D:4D digit ratio (DR), representing the relative length of the index finger to the ring finger, is an anthropometric marker that shows sexual dimorphism, with males typically having a lower ratio than females. This parameter is linked to prenatal androgen exposure (PAE), which influences sexual differentiation of the brain and behavior. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between PAE and sleep among young adults., Methods: Anthropometric measurements were used to assess PAE, while sleep was evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ), actigraphy, and polysomnography (PSG). Data was collected from 720 participants via surveys, with 290 completing all questionnaires. Of these, 138 underwent anthropometric measurements, and 38 were further recruited for actigraphy, PSG., Results: Men exhibited a lower 2D:4D ratio than women, indicating higher PAE. The average PSQI score was 6.94 ± 2.98, and the MEQ score was 35.43 ± 19.59, with no significant gender differences in sleep quality or chronotype. Low PAE was associated with better sleep efficiency and a morning chronotype, but worse sleep quality in males. Actigraphy results showed no significant differences based on PAE. PSG data revealed that males with longer 2nd fingers and higher 2D:4D ratios were more likely to suffer from mild sleep apnea, a pattern not observed in women. PAE did not significantly impact other sleep architecture parameters., Conclusions: PAE, indicated by the 2D:4D ratio, is linked to sleep efficiency and chronotype, with significant gender differences. Men with lower PAE exhibited poorer sleep quality, and those with certain finger length patterns were more prone to mild sleep apnea. These findings underscore the potential long-term impacts of PAE on sleep health and emphasize the need for further research into gender-specific sleep regulation mechanisms., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2025 Bartoszek, Sawic, Pierzchała, Kudrycka, Białasiewicz and Kuczyński.)

Background/Objectives: Male infertility is a significant global health issue, comprising approx. 50% of all infertility cases. Semen cryopreservation, a critical component of assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs), is a method commonly used in a wide range of situations, including gonadotoxic treatments such as radiation or chemotherapy, hazardous occupational exposures, and various medical conditions. Although historically viewed as potentially damaging to sperm, recent findings suggest that cryopreservation, when performed with appropriate techniques, may in fact enhance semen quality by improving the proportion of healthy spermatozoa, particularly in terms of their morphological parameters. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of cryopreservation on sperm morphology and viability, utilizing advanced morphological assessments pre- and post-freezing. Methods: Semen samples were collected from 97 patients undergoing infertility treatment at the KRIOBANK clinic (Białystok, Poland). The semen was liquefied and prepared in the form of slides. Sperm morphology was then assessed using an OLYMPUS BX40 microscope at 60× magnification. Results: The findings of the study revealed significant improvements in sperm morphology, with increased percentages of normal sperm and reductions in deformation indices post-thaw. Conclusions: The findings indicate that optimized cryopreservation protocols may support the selection of higher-quality sperm, offering valuable benefits for ART applications. These results challenge certain past assumptions regarding the impact of cryopreservation and underscore the need for refined freezing techniques to maintain and potentially enhance semen quality for reproductive use.

Background : Male fertility is known to have been negatively influenced by the progress of civilization. Another condition whose incidence has been on the increase for the same reason is insulin resistance (IR). In addition, men increasingly often resign from the pursuit of active forms of leisure, preferring more sedentary ones. Considering these trends, this aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between lifestyle factors, insulin resistance, and male fertility in men with and without the condition. A further aim was to select those lifestyle factors that would make it possible to predict the level of male fertility, especially when IR is concerned. Methods : This study was performed in a group of 73 participants, divided into groups based on their insulin resistance status. Their physical activity, diet, perceived stress, sleep quality, libido level, and duration of sexual abstinence were assessed on the basis of a number of parameters, including indices proposed by the authors. In addition, relevant anthropometric measurements were taken and tests related to glucose metabolism and semen quality were carried out. On the basis of these data, statistical tests were performed to establish or disprove relationships between lifestyle choices and semen quality, as measured my sperm motility. Results : The results of this study highlighted the associations between a number of parameters, i.e., micronutrient and vitamin intake, diet quality, body composition, insulin resistance, and the duration of sexual abstinence, and semen quality, as measured by sperm motility. Significantly, the presence or absence of IR was linked to male fertility. A multivariate model was developed, incorporating parameters such as the Matsuda index, vitamin intake, and sexual abstinence duration, to predict motility scores. Conclusions : This study underscores the negative impact of modern civilization's lifestyle choices on male fertility. Notably, vitamin and mineral consumption, especially from antioxidant-rich diets like the Mediterranean diet, emerged as key modifiable factors affecting fertility. Routine diagnostics for insulin resistance in fertility-related interventions is recommended. This study also highlights the importance of considering sexual abstinence duration during semen collection for accurate diagnostic results. Future research should focus on validating the proposed multivariate model and exploring the effects of lifestyle modifications, particularly vitamin supplementation, on fertility outcomes in men, especially in the context of IR., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

The topic of sleep-related breathing disorders is always evolving, and during the European Respiratory Society (ERS) International Congress 2023 in Milan, Italy, the latest research and clinical topics in respiratory medicine were presented. The most interesting issues included new diagnostic tools, such as cardiovascular parameters and artificial intelligence, pathophysiological traits of sleep disordered breathing from routine polysomnography or polygraphy signals, and new biomarkers and the diagnostic approach in patients with excessive daytime sleepiness. This article summarises the most relevant studies and topics presented at the ERS International Congress 2023. Each section has been written by early career members of ERS Assembly 4., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: M. Bradicich reports an ERS faculty participation grant for the ERS International Congress 2023, outside the submitted work; payment or honoraria for lectures, presentations, speakers’ bureaus, manuscript writing or educational events from ERS faculty participation grant for the ERS International Congress 2023, outside the submitted work; support for attending meetings and/or travel from ERS faculty participation grant for the ERS International Congress 2023, outside the submitted work; and is ERS ECMC Representative for Assembly 4, outside the submitted work. Conflict of interest: D. Testelmans reports payment or honoraria for lectures, presentations, speakers’ bureaus, manuscript writing or educational events from Resmed and Nyxoah, outside the submitted work. Conflict of interest: M. Sánchez-de-la-Torre reports grants or contracts from Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Spain Goverment), outside the submitted work; payment or honoraria for lectures, presentations, speakers’ bureaus, manuscript writing or educational events from Jazz Pharmaceuticals and Philips, outside the submitted work; and support for attending meetings and/or travel from Jazz Pharmaceuticals and Resmed, outside the submitted work. Conflict of interest: W. Randerath is an associate editor of this journal. Conflict of interest: E.I. Schwarz reports grants or contracts from Philips Respironics, Löwenstein and the Swiss National Science Foundation, outside the submitted work; payment or honorara for lectures, presentations, speakers’ bureaus, manuscript writing or educational events from ResMed, outside the submitted work; leadership or fiduciary role in other board, society, committee or advocacy group, paid or unpaid for ERS Secretary of Assembly 4, outside the submitted work. Conflict of interest: S. Schiza reports being ERS secretary of Assembly 4 (until September 2023), unpaid, outside the submitted work. Conflict of interest: The remaining authors have nothing to disclose., (Copyright ©The authors 2024.)

A comparative study was carried out of emissions from the catalytic combustion of pellets made from furniture board waste and pellets made from wood mixed with Fe 2 O 3 . The mass content of the Fe 2 O 3 catalyst in the fuel was varied from 0% to 5%, 10%, and 15% in relation to the total dry mass weight of the pellets. The average flame temperature in the boiler was between 730 and 800 °C. The effect of the catalyst concentration in the fuel was analysed with respect to the contents of O 2 , CO 2 , CO, H 2, and NO x in the flue gas and the combustion quality of the pellets in the heating boiler. Changes in the CO 2 content and the proportion of unburned combustible components in the combustion residue were assessed. It was established that an increase in the Fe 2 O 3 content of the prepared fuels had a positive effect on reducing NO x , CO, and H 2 emissions. However, the proportion of iron oxide in the tested fuel pellets did not significantly influence changes in their combustion quality. A strong effect of the addition of Fe 2 O 3 on the reduction of the average NOx content in the flue gas occurred with the combustion of furniture board fuel, from 51.4 ppm at 0% Fe 2 O 3 to 7.7 ppm for an additive content of 15%. Based on the analysis of the residue in the boiler ash pan, the amount of unburned combustibles relative to their input amounts was found to be 0.09-0.22% for wood pellets and 0.50-0.31% for furniture board waste pellets.

A new scheme is investigated for evaluating the temperature dependence and dispersion relation of the Kerr constant (K) of an optically isotropic medium in isotropic and blue phases (BPs) liquid crystals. The scheme employs the measurement of the component of the transmitted light intensity of double modulated frequency using the modified in-plane-switching cell geometry (based on metallic film electrodes). It overcomes to a large extent the problem of a nonuniform electric field, employs relatively small driving voltages, and allows K to be measured directly. It is shown that the dispersion relation based on the single-band birefringence model describes well both blue and isotropic liquid crystal phases. It is found that the experimental data indicate that the temperature-dependent coefficients in this relation have a simple linear form in the isotropic phase, which allows a general model for the temperature and wavelength dependence of the Kerr constant in the isotropic liquid crystal phase to be formulated. In the BPs the temperature dependence of the experimental data deviate from the simple linear trend, but follow well an inverse exponential form.