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BackgroundSeveral studies suggest that women with Crohn disease (CD) have reduced fertility due to decreased ovarian reserve, among other causes. On the other hand, male CD patients could have difficulties conceiving. The present study aimed to test the effect of CD on both male and female fertility potential, Sertoli cell function and ovarian reserve, assessed by inhibin-B (IB) plus IB:FSH ratio (IFR) and antiMüllerian hormone (AMH), respectively. Sexual dysfunction (SD) was studied as secondary endpoint.MethodsWe performed a cross-sectional, case–control study. Serum IB levels plus IFR were measured in 58 men with CD and compared to 25 age-matched healthy controls (HC). Serum AMH levels were measured in 50 women with CD and in 30 HC matched by age. SD was assessed by means of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIFE-15) in males and the Index of Female Sexual Function (IFSF) in women.ResultsA total of 108 CD patients and 55 HC were included. IB serum levels were significantly lower in CD men than in HC (177 ± 58 vs. 234 ± 75 pg./mL, p = 0.001). IFR was also decreased in CD patients compared to HC (58.27 ± 59.5 vs. 91.35 ± 60.04, p = 0.014). Women with CD > 30 years had lower serum AMH levels compared to HC (1.15 ± 0.74 vs. 2.14 ± 1.68 ng/mL, p = 0.033). In addition, CD women >30 years presented a serum AMH 30 years is the single independent predictor of reduced ovarian reserve in women with CD. These results should be confirmed in further studies in order to properly counsel patients with CD and desire for offspring.

BackgroundCarbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) is an indicator of inflammation, immune response, and impaired cardiac function. The aim was to investigate whether CA125 behaves as a biomarker of severity and poor clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).MethodsSerum CA125 [Elecsys CA125 II assay-(Roche Diagnostics GmbH)] was measured in stored biobank samples from COVID-19 hospitalized patients between 01 March 2020 and 17 October 2021. Multiple logistic regression models were built to explore the association between CA125 and clinical outcomes [in-hospital all-cause mortality, need for invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), or non-invasive respiratory support (non-IRS)], estimating odds ratios (ORs; 95% CI). The gradient of risk of CA125 was evaluated by fractional polynomials.ResultsA total of 691 patients were included, median age of 63 years (50–76), men (57.2%), with high comorbidity. At admission, 85.8% had pneumonia. Median CA125 was 10.33 U/ml (7.48–15.50). The in-hospital mortality rate was 7.2%. After adjusting for confounding factors, CA125 ≥ 15.5 U/ml (75th percentile) showed an increased risk of death [OR 2.85(1.21–6.71)], as age ≥ 65 years, diabetes, and immunosuppression. Furthermore, CA125 as a continuous variable was positive and significantly associated with the risk of death after multivariate adjustment. The mean hospital stay of the patients with CA125 ≥ 15.5 U/ml was longer than the rest of the study population.ConclusionCA125 in the first 72 h of hospital admission seems a useful biomarker of mortality in hospitalized patients with moderate–severe COVID-19. If our findings are confirmed, the wide availability of this biomarker would make easy its widespread implementation in clinical practice.

Introduction Vitamin D insufficiency (VDI) has been associated with increased cardiovascular risk in the non‐HIV population. This study evaluates the relationship among serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels, cardiovascular risk factors, adipokines, antiviral therapy (ART) and subclinical atherosclerosis in HIV‐infected males. Methods A cross‐sectional study in ambulatory care was made in non‐diabetic patients living with HIV. VDI was defined as 25(OH)D serum levels