It’s possible that I shall make an ass of myself. But in that case one can always get out of it with a little dialectic. I have, of course, so worded my proposition as to be right either way (K.Marx, Letter to F.Engels on the Indian Mutiny)
Sunday, June 02, 2024
Evolutionary genomics: Consequences of biodiverse reproductive systems
DFG funds new Research Training Group in Biology at the University of Göttingen
UNIVERSITY OF GÖTTINGEN
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GÖTTINGEN’S NEW RESEARCH TRAINING GROUP (RTG), FUNDED BY THE GERMAN RESEARCH FOUNDATION (DFG) - "EVOLUTIONARY GENOMICS: CONSEQUENCES OF BIODIVERSE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEMS (EVOREST)" - BENEFITS FROM AN INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO INVESTIGATE THE EVOLUTION OF GENOMES IN ORGANISMS WHICH USE DIFFERENT FORMS OF REPRODUCTION FROM THE ENTIRE "TREE OF LIFE".
CREDIT: ELVIRA HÖRANDL, INES FRIEDRICH & JAN DE VRIES
A new Research Training Group (RTG) in Biology at the University of Göttingen has been funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). The RTG, entitled "Evolutionary Genomics: Consequences of Biodiverse Reproductive Systems (EvoReSt)", benefits from an interdisciplinary approach to investigate the evolution of genomes in organisms which use different forms of reproduction from the entire "Tree of Life". The DFG is providing funding of around 6.6 million euros over the next five years to establish this RTG.
The researchers will investigate the evolution of the nuclear genome – meaning the complete set of DNA within the nucleus of an organism’s cell – by analysing asexual and sexual reproduction in animals, plants and fungi. In addition, they will study the interaction between the nuclear genome and the genomes of specialised structures within cells known as organelles. Their studies will include horizontal gene transfer by means of viruses, which remains an under-researched topic. The continuing development of methods and models for modern analysis of the genome is also an important focus of the RTG. "The complete sequencing and analysis of genomes is now also possible for organisms that do not belong to the classic model systems," explains RTG Spokesperson Professor Elvira Hörandl from the Albrecht von Haller Institute for Plant Sciences. "This approach enables us to empirically test evolutionary hypotheses on changing and evolving genomes that could previously only be predicted theoretically. This allows us to better understand the dominance of sexual reproduction in nature, a key topic in evolutionary biology."
The RTG comprises a team of twelve researchers from the Göttingen Campus – the Faculty of Biology and Psychology, the University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG) and the Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences – providing a diverse range of expertise which will facilitate extensive study on this topic. The aim is to establish an international network on evolutionary genomics which will offer PhD researchers a modern, wide-ranging education in biology, enabling the RTG to promote the international exchange of students and researchers through workshops, seminars, conferences and short research visits with collaborating research groups. The research results will be published in peer-reviewed journals which have open access, as well as at international conferences.
Contact:
Professor Dr. Elvira Hörandl
University of Göttingen
Faculty of Biology and Psychology
Department of Systematics, Biodiversity and Evolution of Plants
Companies can improve the sustainability of their products in the earliest product-design stages
An interdisciplinary team of researchers from Lithuanian and Italian universities proposed a tool, which allows companies to assess the circularity of their future products in the earliest (creative) stages of product development,
An interdisciplinary team of researchers from Lithuanian and Italian universities proposed a tool, which allows companies to assess the circularity of their future products. The self-assessment tool emphasises the co-creation of circular design in the early (creative) stages of product development, encouraging entrepreneurs and designers think more systematically and collaborate better by integrating related stakeholders into the product development process. According to the researchers, this makes it unique.
“The majority of existing practical tools (systems of indicators) are aimed at measuring the environmental impact of products already in the market. Many companies are aware of sustainability and circularity, but they need skills and tools, which can help develop sustainable new products,” says Lina Dagilienė, professor at Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) School of Economics and Business.
A circular product design framework (CD-Framework) and a self-assessment tool (CD-Tool), co-created with researchers from KTU, Politecnico di Milano and business companies, are aimed at product developers, designers, and entrepreneurs. The CD-Framework consists of 10 categories; the additional questions focus on a certain products’ specific aspects and add interactivity.
Circular solutions: win-win for businesses and society
“The systemic thinking based structured information was one of the advantages identified by the companies, who participated in our research. Our tools helped them understand how they could practically include circularity in their products. For example, by changing the packaging and production materials or including additional services in a circular business model,” says Prof. Dagilienė.
According to the researchers, product or service design can become a catalyst of circular transition. Dagilienė says that the focus on a product design reflects an eco-friendly mindset which aims to prevent damage, rather than to manage the consequences of irresponsible behaviour.
“The growing amount of waste, pollution, noise, and diminishing biodiversity is the price that society pays for the environmentally harmful production. Our circular design tools emphasise the importance of planetary boundaries and promote the systemic attitude towards new product development among current and future entrepreneurs,” says Prof. Dagilienė, Principal Researcher at the Digitalisation research group at the KTU School of Economics and Business.
In contrast to the linear mindset, the circular economy (CE) can be linked with the idea of Spaceship Earth, where humans must find their place within a cyclical ecological system. The CE emphasises a win-win between the environment and business activity. According to Dagilienė, such a mindset can be beneficial to businesses as it allows them to create a unique value proposition for their customers.
“Moreover, in the context of stricter environmental policies and ever-present greenwashing, implementation of real circular innovations in the processes and products becomes increasingly important. For that, companies need knowledge and skills,” says the KTU researcher.
Bridges the gap between research and practice
The study, which resulted in the circular design framework and tool included practitioners from business in the process: the researchers were observing the companies applying the tool and registered the challenges they faced. According to Dagilienė, it is important to design a user-friendly, uncomplicated instrument without compromising its content.
“The research-practice gap can be described through forest and tree metaphor. While a practitioner cares about a specific tree and its qualities, a researcher will always be interested in the whole forest, its growth tendencies and other characteristics. Similarly, when developing new products, business practitioners require fast, specific solutions for their products, whereas researchers are developing systems, which focus on general tendencies, instead of individual needs of one company,” explains Dagilienė.
The study of researchers of KTU School of Economics and Business bridges the gap between research and business. The circular design pre-accelerator took four months – during this time, 8 workshops were organised, led by experts from different fields of sustainable new product development. In total, the pre-accelerator received 62 applications to become participants or experts; 48 novel concepts underwent rigorous evaluation and 16 proposals for further engagement were selected. Finally, 10 circular or sustainable ideas completed the pre-accelerator programme.
“The majority of the participants were small companies, as they have less human and financial resources, and similar activities allow them to renew their knowledge and share their practices with the representatives from other branches of industry,” says Dagilienė.
During the action research of pre-accelerator, the scientists were collecting data (expert diaries, focus groups, interviews) from the participants. According to Dagilienė, networking, sharing knowledge, expanding outlook were the main benefits of the activity as reported by the practitioners.
Users’ acceptance of circular products is related to storytelling
“The majority of the tested ideas represented techno cycle of product development – handbags, saunas, campervans, educational toys, candles, cardboard furniture. However, we also had the ideas about database of sustainable suppliers in film production, and products made from buckwheat hulls,” says Dagilienė.
She emphasises that the development of a circular product benefits from design-thinking approach, which involves the final user in the product design process. This helps to create products, which are attractive to the final user, and understand what the customers value in these products.
“For example, we observed that users’ acceptance of circular products (especially repaired, recycled ones) is closely linked to visual representation and storytelling,” says Dagilienė.
Usually, circular or sustainable products are more expensive (or they are not circular). That is why it is important to understand the needs of the consumer from the very first stages of product development.
“The business needs to know for what their customer is ready to pay more. However, it is also essential to ensure that circular economy solutions would not create social injustice, which would happen if they were affordable only to those with higher income,” emphasises Prof. Dagilienė.
To avoid this, an extensive analysis of the customers’ needs and expectations must be undertaken, together with experimenting with products and business models.
The self-assessment tool for circular product design (CD-Tool) co-created by interdisciplinary team of scientists from KTU and Politecnico di Milano in collaboration with businesses is available on circuloop.lt website.
The above-described study was published in Journal of Industrial Ecology and is available here.
SCIENTISTS FROM SHANGHAI JIAO TONG UNIVERSITY HAVE UNVEILED A NOVEL HYBRID-DRIVEN ORIGAMI GRIPPER, DESIGNED TO TACKLE THE CHALLENGE OF GRASPING AND MANIPULATING OBJECTS WITH UNPRECEDENTED VERSATILITY AND PRECISION.
In an impressive leap forward for robotics technology, researchers from Shanghai Jiao Tong University have unveiled a novel hybrid-driven origami gripper, designed to tackle the challenge of grasping and manipulating objects with unprecedented versatility and precision. This innovative device, highlighted in a recent study published in Cyborg Bionic Systems, promises to reshape the capabilities of robotic systems in industries ranging from manufacturing to healthcare.
The newly developed gripper utilizes a combination of pneumatic and cable-driven mechanisms to control an origami-inspired structure, allowing for adjustable finger stiffness and variable finger lengths. This sophisticated design enables the gripper to handle a wide variety of objects by altering its physical characteristics to suit the task at hand—a groundbreaking development in the field of soft robotics.
Traditional robotic grippers, often limited by their rigid construction and lack of adaptability, can struggle with tasks that require delicate handling or complex maneuvers. The origami gripper, in contrast, draws inspiration from the biological compliance and softness seen in natural organisms. Its fingers, crafted from thermoplastic urethanes-coated fabric and discrete thin metal sheets, combine the flexibility of soft materials with the precision and strength of rigid components. This allows the gripper to conform closely to the surfaces it interacts with, enhancing its ability to securely grasp diverse materials without causing damage.
One of the key innovations of the origami gripper is its ability to adjust the length and stiffness of its fingers dynamically. By modifying the lengths of the cables and the input pressure of the pneumatic system, the gripper can change its grasp to accommodate objects of different sizes and weights. This feature is particularly useful in scenarios where a variety of objects need to be handled sequentially or in environments where space and adaptability are crucial.
The design of the gripper includes three independently controlled cables for each finger, which can either pull synchronously for uniform motion or differentially for complex, multi-directional movement. This level of control is essential for tasks that require fine manipulation capabilities, such as assembling delicate components or navigating through cluttered or uneven surfaces.
The research team has conducted extensive testing to demonstrate the gripper's functionality. Experiments showed that the gripper could effectively adjust its gripping force and finger configuration to handle objects ranging from thin fabric pieces to large, heavy footballs. This versatility is underpinned by the gripper’s innovative pneumatic-cable hybrid system, which provides both the power needed to handle heavier loads and the gentle touch required for more fragile items.
Looking ahead, the researchers plan to further refine the gripper's design to enhance its load-bearing capabilities and increase its energy efficiency. Such improvements could broaden the gripper’s applications, making it a valuable tool for industries where manual dexterity and delicate handling are paramount, such as in surgical settings or the intricate assembly of consumer electronics.
This breakthrough represents a significant step forward in the ongoing integration of soft robotics into industrial and commercial applications. As robotics technology continues to evolve, devices like the origami gripper are poised to play a crucial role in enabling more efficient, safe, and versatile automated systems.
The paper, "Hybrid-Driven Origami Gripper with Variable Stiffness and Finger Length," was published in the journal Cyborg and Bionic Systems on Apr 9，2024, at DOI: https://spj.science.org/doi/10.34133/cbsystems.0103.
Hybrid-Driven Origami Gripper with Variable Stiffness and Finger Length
Revolutionizing robotics: Integrating actuation and sensing for smarter soft robots
BEIJING INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY PRESS CO., LTD
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SCIENTISTS FROM JIANGSU KEY LABORATORY FOR DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE OF MICRO-NANO BIOMEDICAL INSTRUMENTS HAVE THE “STRATEGIES FOR SOFT ACTUATION” SECTION WILL DELVE INTO INTELLIGENT ACTUATION STRATEGIES FOR SOFT ROBOTS AND SUMMARIZE WORK RELATED TO MULTIMODAL ACTUATION TECHNIQUES.
CREDIT: SHUAI ZHOU, JIANGSU KEY LABORATORY FOR DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE OF MICRO-NANO BIOMEDICAL INSTRUMENTS.
The world of robotics is witnessing a transformative shift with the rise of soft robotics, which offers unparalleled flexibility and adaptability in various applications, from medical interventions to intricate rescue operations. A groundbreaking review article by Zhou et al. published in Cyborg Bionic Systems in 2024, sheds light on this evolution, highlighting the crucial integration of actuation and sensing technologies that pave the way for truly intelligent soft robots.
Soft robots, unlike their rigid counterparts, are made from materials that mimic the mechanical properties of living tissues, allowing them to move and adapt with a life-like grace. This capability makes them ideal for operating in unstructured and unpredictable environments where traditional robots might falter. The innovative research spearheaded by the team from Southeast University in Nanjing, China, focuses on merging actuation—the ability to move and interact with surroundings—with sensing, which involves collecting data about the environment. This integration is essential for developing soft robots that can react and adapt to their surroundings autonomously.
Actuation technologies enable soft robots to perform diverse tasks, such as navigating rough terrain or delicately handling objects. Sensing technologies, on the other hand, allow these robots to perceive their environment, from detecting obstacles to assessing the properties of the objects they interact with. By integrating these two capabilities, soft robots can perform complex tasks more effectively and with greater autonomy.
Zhou and colleagues discuss various actuation methods, including pressure-driven, electrically driven, and those utilizing shape memory materials. These methods have allowed soft robots to achieve complex movements such as rotation, crawling, and bending. On the sensing side, the researchers explore advancements in proprioceptive (self-perception) and haptic (touch-based) sensing, which enable robots to understand their body position and react to physical contact.
One of the review's highlights is the detailed examination of three integration methodologies for actuation and sensing:
Sensor Surface Integration: Embedding sensors on the surface of the robot to provide real-time feedback on external interactions.
Sensor Internal Integration: Incorporating sensors within the robot's body to monitor internal states, enhancing the robot's ability to adapt its movements based on dynamic internal and external conditions.
Closed-loop System Integration: Utilizing sensor feedback to create systems where actuation and sensing are continuously informing and optimizing each other's functions.
Despite the promising advancements, the review identifies several challenges facing the field. These include the need for more durable and reliable integration techniques, the development of materials that can withstand diverse operational environments, and the creation of more sophisticated models for predicting and controlling robot behavior.
The future directions suggested by the research team include enhancing the load capacity of these robots, improving their energy efficiency, and refining the technologies that allow them to operate in extreme conditions. These improvements could revolutionize the way robots are used in fields such as deep-sea exploration, disaster recovery, and health-care.
Zhou,Li et al.'s review not only summarizes the current state of soft robotics but also serves as a call to action for researchers. It encourages further exploration into the integration of actuation and sensing to realize the full potential of soft robots. As this field evolves, it promises to bring forth robots that are not only more adaptable and safe for human interaction but also capable of performing tasks that are currently unimaginable.
The paper, "Integrated Actuation and Sensing: Toward Intelligent Soft Robots," was published in the journal Cyborg and Bionic Systems on Apr 18, 2024, at DOI: https://spj.science.org/doi/10.34133/cbsystems.0105.
Integrated Actuation and Sensing: Toward Intelligent Soft Robots
Humble leaders boost employees’ workplace status and leadership potential
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA
There are many different types of workplace leaders, from those who prioritise the needs of team members and the organisation above their own, to authentic leaders who foster openness, trust and transparency.
A recent study by the University of South Australia has highlighted the significant benefits of humble leadership in the workplace.
According to the study by UniSA’s Dr Xiao Lin, humble leadership can effectively elevate the workplace status of employees by boosting their sense of respect and prominence. It also leads to employees enhancing their own leadership potential by motivating them to lead and take charge.
Humble leadership is a workplace leadership behaviour characterised by leaders who view themselves accurately, appreciate the strengths and contributions of others and are open to feedback, even if it’s critical.
Humble leaders practice “bottom-up leadership” that involves behaviours such as listening actively and valuing the input of employees, supporting professional development of others and encouraging initiative within their workers.
Dr Lin, a member of UniSA’s Centre for Workplace Excellence, is an expert in moral-based leadership styles and says understanding humble leadership is important in today’s complex and competitive business environment.
“Understanding and implementing humble leadership is essential as it’s been shown to positively impact individual and team outcomes in the workplace including work engagement, proactive behaviour, wellbeing and resilience and increased innovation, learning and performance,” she says.
“Humble leadership is a powerful tool for lifting employees’ status and unlocking their potential, leading to a more engaged, innovative and high-performing workplace. It can also help build a pool of effective leaders for the future. By fostering the leadership potential of employees, organisations can maintain competitive advantages.”
Humble leadership works when leaders provide ‘status cues’ to communicate their humility and approachability. This could include a leader demonstrating their own willingness to listen, learn and work with their employees instead of asserting dominance or superiority.
Another example is the practice of ‘role reversals’ which allow employees to teach their leaders, driving them to exert more influence in the workplace.
Dr Lin says not all employees will respond to humble leadership behaviour in the same way and that it depends on their personal characteristics.
“Employees who focus on individual development, success and competition respond best to humble leadership behaviours. These are people who feel the need to be at the top, stand out and be excellent employees so they have the chance to influence their leaders and become high-status team members,” she says.
“People who don’t place as much value on their own development and success in the workplace are less likely to benefit from humble leadership behaviours. These sorts of employees will do whatever the leaders tell them. They have no interest in teaching their leaders or displaying their own strengths or contributions.”
How do humble leaders unleash followers' leadership potential? The roles of workplace status and individualistic orientation
ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE
5-May-2024
New male birth control gel takes effect sooner than similar contraceptive methods
THE ENDOCRINE SOCIETY
BOSTON—A novel male contraceptive gel combining two hormones, segesterone acetate (named Nestorone) and testosterone, suppresses sperm production faster than similar experimental hormone-based methods for male birth control, according to a new study.
Results from an ongoing multicenter phase 2b clinical trial will be presented Sunday at ENDO 2024, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in Boston.
“The development of a safe, highly effective and reliably reversible contraceptive method for men is an unmet need,” said senior researcher Diana Blithe, Ph.D., chief of the Contraceptive Development Program at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Md. “While studies have shown that some hormonal agents may be effective for male contraception, the slow onset of spermatogenic suppression is a limitation.”
NIH’s Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development is funding the study, which included 222 men who completed at least 3 weeks of daily treatment with the contraceptive gel. The gel contained 8 milligrams (mg) of segesterone acetate and 74 mg of testosterone. Segesterone acetate is an ingredient of the Annovera vaginal birth control ring. Men applied the gel once daily to each shoulder blade.
Early in the study, the researchers measured for suppression of sperm production by obtaining sperm count tests at 4-week intervals. The threshold deemed effective for contraception was 1 million or fewer sperm per milliliter of semen, Blithe noted.
Most study participants (86%) reached this sperm count by week 15, the researchers reported. Among those men, sperm production was suppressed at a median, or midpoint, time of less than 8 weeks of segesterone-testosterone treatment. Blithe said prior studies of male hormonal contraceptives given by injections showed a median time between 9 and 15 weeks for sperm output to become suppressed.
“A more rapid time to suppression may increase the attractiveness and acceptability of this drug to potential users,” Blithe said.
Testosterone treatment alone decreases sperm production, with a median time of 15 weeks but the addition of segesterone acetate speeds the time and lowers the dose of testosterone needed to suppress sperm production over testosterone alone, she said. In the daily segesterone-testosterone gel regimen, blood levels of testosterone are kept in the physiologic range to maintain normal sexual function and other androgen-dependent activities.
The sperm suppression stage of the international phase 2b trial of segesterone-testosterone gel is complete. The study continues to test the contraceptive’s effectiveness, safety, acceptability and reversibility of contraception after treatment stops.
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Study finds potentially treatable factors to improve symptoms in men stopping illicit steroids
THE ENDOCRINE SOCIETY
BOSTON—Men who illicitly used steroids to boost muscle size and physical performance and have stopped in the past year have impaired sexual function compared with men currently using steroids, according to a study being presented Sunday at ENDO 2024, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in Boston, Mass.
Having a psychiatric diagnosis and stopping steroids was associated with greater impairment in sexual function, the researchers found.
“It is important to recognize the symptoms that men experience within the first year of stopping steroids,” said lead researcher Bonnie Grant, M.B.B.S., of Imperial College London in London, U.K. “We observed that some factors such as psychiatric diagnosis and lower testosterone levels may contribute to worse symptoms of depression and sexual dysfunction.”
Millions of men worldwide illicitly use anabolic-androgenic steroids. These substances act like the male hormone testosterone to increase muscle growth, enhance body physique, and improve athletic performance. Using steroids is dangerous as they can lead to heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure, mental health problems and even death, Grant said.
Steroids stop the body from producing natural testosterone in men. When steroids are stopped, there is often a delay in the body making natural testosterone. During this time, men report feeling a low sex drive, low mood, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, with an overall decline in wellbeing. “There are currently no treatments which doctors can give these men to reduce these symptoms, and often men restart using steroids,” said Channa Jayasena M.D., Ph.D., the senior study author. He noted that no previous studies have focused on measuring symptoms within the first year of stopping steroids or investigated independently associated factors for these symptoms.
Grant and colleagues collected data from 165 men across England. Of these, 43 men had never used steroids, 76 were currently using steroids and 46 had stopped using steroids within the last 12 months. The men were asked about symptoms of sexual function, depression, anxiety, and quality of life. They also had a blood test done for testosterone and other reproductive hormone levels.
The study found that men stopping steroids less than one year ago had a 12% lower sexual function score compared with men currently using steroids. Erectile function, sexual desire and overall satisfaction scores were lower in men stopping steroids compared to men currently using steroids. Having a psychiatric diagnosis and stopping steroids was associated with greater impairment in sexual function.
Depression scores were 75% higher in men who stopped using steroids within the last year compared with men who had never used steroids. Having a psychiatric diagnosis and lower testosterone levels was associated with higher depression scores. Men who had stopped using steroids also were less energetic and more fatigued compared with men who had never used steroids.
“These data reveal potentially treatable factors to improve symptoms men experience when they stop using steroids,” Grant said.
Grant is scheduled to speak at the Society's reproductive health news conference at 11 a.m. Eastern June 2. Register to view the livestream at endomediastream.com.
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Endocrinologists are at the core of solving the most pressing health problems of our time, from diabetes and obesity to infertility, bone health, and hormone-related cancers. The Endocrine Society is the world’s oldest and largest organization of scientists devoted to hormone research and physicians who care for people with hormone-related conditions.
The Society has more than 18,000 members, including scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students in 122 countries. To learn more about the Society and the field of endocrinology, visit our site at www.endocrine.org. Follow us on Twitter at @TheEndoSociety and @EndoMedia.
Testosterone therapy: A safe and effective gender-affirming hormone therapy for trans men
Researchers discover significant body composition changes and minimal long-term side effects in transgender men undergoing testosterone therapy
THE RESEARCHERS DISCOVERED THAT THOSE IN THE HIGH-DOSE GROUP SHOWED GREATER LEAN BODY MASS GAINS IN THE FIRST YEAR COMPARED TO THE LOW-DOSE GROUP. IN ADDITION, HIGH DOSES WERE ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASE IN LEAN BODY MASS AT 3 AND 6 MONTHS.
CREDIT: DR. YUSUKE TOMINAGA FROM OKAYAMA UNIVERSITY, JAPAN
Transgender individuals often face unique challenges in aligning their physical bodies with their true gender identity. Among the various methods employed, gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) stands as a vital means for transgender men to achieve physical changes in consonance with their gender identity. Navigating the complexities that come with gender transition, transgender individuals seek medical interventions to alleviate gender dysphoria and align their bodies with their gender identity.
For transgender men, testosterone therapy holds promise in inducing masculinizing effects such as increased muscle mass, cessation of menstruation, and deepening of the voice. However, the lack of comprehensive research on the long-term effects and safety of testosterone therapy poses significant challenges in clinical decision-making and underscores the persistent taboo surrounding transgender healthcare. To address this pressing need, a study led by Assistant Professor Yusuke Tominaga along with Dr. Tomoko Kobayashi and Dr. Motoo Araki from the Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan dives into understanding the long-term physical effects and safety profile of testosterone therapy for transgender men, shedding light on crucial aspects of hormone administration and its impact on body composition. Their research findings were published in Andrology on 2 April 2024.
“The research team was inspired to investigate this area as we noticed the lack of a standardized regimen for testosterone dosage and administration. Our aim was to understand how hormone dosages are adjusted to align more closely with typical male testosterone levels in the bloodstream," explains Dr. Tominaga.
Analyzing data from transgender men who commenced GAHT between May 2000 and December 2021, the researchers meticulously recorded physical findings, blood test results, and menstrual cessation rates. They then compared the effects of testosterone on body composition changes and laboratory parameters, stratifying participants into low-dose and high-dose groups based on their testosterone dosage.
The findings of the study revealed that both low-dose and high-dose testosterone regimens demonstrated favorable outcomes, with no significant differences observed in menstrual cessation rates up to 12 months. Over time, participants exhibited a decrease in body fat percentage and an increase in lean body mass, indicative of the desired masculinizing effects of testosterone therapy.
Notably, the high-dose group exhibited greater gains in lean body mass during the initial year of therapy, suggesting a potential strategy for individuals seeking more rapid changes in body composition. Importantly, the study found no evidence of long-term, dose-dependent side effects such as polycythemia or dyslipidemia, reassuring both clinicians and transgender individuals regarding the safety profile of testosterone therapy.
Reflecting on the significance of their findings, Dr. Tominaga explains, “Our study contributes valuable evidence on the long-term effects of testosterone therapy, providing crucial insights for clinicians managing transgender healthcare. By elucidating the safety and efficacy of hormone therapy, we hope to alleviate uncertainties surrounding transgender healthcare and empower individuals to make informed decisions about their treatment.”
This study opens the door to more inclusive and evidence-based care by illuminating the long-term effects and safety of testosterone therapy for transgender men.
About Okayama University, Japan
As one of the leading universities in Japan, Okayama University aims to create and establish a new paradigm for the sustainable development of the world. Okayama University offers a wide range of academic fields, which become the basis of the integrated graduate schools. This not only allows us to conduct the most advanced and up-to-date research, but also provides an enriching educational experience.
About Assistant Professor Yusuke Tominaga from Okayama University, Japan
Dr. Yusuke Tominaga is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan. With over a decade of experience, Dr. Tominaga has co-authored numerous peer-reviewed articles and case reports, particularly on testosterone therapy for gender identity disorders, bladder tuberculosis, and prostate cancer. His notable achievements include exploring the long-term outcomes of hormone therapies and the impacts of various treatments on genitourinary cancers.
Trans men can achieve adequate muscular development through low-dose testosterone therapy: A long-term study on body composition changes
Persons of nonbinary gender may desire lower-dose testosterone treatment than guidelines recommend
THE ENDOCRINE SOCIETY
BOSTON—Among transgender and gender-diverse adults whose gender identity is nonbinary—not exclusively male or female—and who choose low-dose hormone treatment, most prefer to continue testosterone therapy at lower-than-recommended doses after at least six months of treatment, a new study finds. The study will be presented Sunday at ENDO 2024, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in Boston, Mass.
“Current guidelines for initiation of testosterone for gender affirmation assume that transgender and gender-diverse, or trans, individuals desire both rapid and complete masculinization,” said lead researcher Brendan Nolan, M.B.B.S., Ph.D., of the University of Melbourne in Melbourne, Australia. “However, we have noted that an increasing number of trans individuals, particularly those with a nonbinary gender identity, desire lower testosterone doses than recommended in existing guidelines.”
Research evaluating low-dose hormone therapy for trans people is limited, Nolan said. He and his colleagues therefore studied the duration of low-dose testosterone treatment among 46 young adults assigned female at birth and who identified as nonbinary. The patients applied 1% testosterone gel to their skin beginning with a median (midpoint) dose of 25 milligrams per day (mg/day). By their last follow-up visit, the patients were treated with median dose of 37.5 mg/day, with a range from 25 to 50 mg/day, less than the recommended full dose of 50 mg/day.
The researchers found that after the first six months of hormone therapy, 87% of the study patients (40 of 46) continued testosterone doses lower than those recommended in current guidelines. Only six patients chose to change their treatment regimen to full-dose testosterone. When the investigators narrowed their analysis to the 30 patients who received at least one year of testosterone therapy, 87% remained on a low dose at their last follow-up, Nolan reported.
Guidelines from the Endocrine Society for testosterone treatment of trans adults wanting masculinizing characteristics recommend 50 to 100 mg/day of testosterone for a 1.6% gel formulation. No standardized guidelines exist for persons desiring low-dose hormone treatment.
Although the investigators did not study the patients’ physical changes with testosterone therapy, Nolan said, “Theoretically, low doses could lead to slower or a lower degree of physical changes.”
Final blood tests showed that patients had a median total testosterone level within the low-normal range for cisgender men, he noted.
Nolan speculated that their findings suggest current guidelines for hormone treatment of trans adults may not apply to the needs of all nonbinary persons, but he said more research is needed.
“Future research should evaluate the influence of low-dose testosterone on clinical outcomes in trans including nonbinary people,” Nolan said.
Nolan receives funding from a Royal Australasian College of Physicians-Endocrine Society of Australia Research Establishment Fellowship.
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Endocrinologists are at the core of solving the most pressing health problems of our time, from diabetes and obesity to infertility, bone health, and hormone-related cancers. The Endocrine Society is the world’s oldest and largest organization of scientists devoted to hormone research and physicians who care for people with hormone-related conditions.
The Society has more than 18,000 members, including scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students in 122 countries. To learn more about the Society and the field of endocrinology, visit our site at www.endocrine.org. Follow us on Twitter at @TheEndoSociety and @EndoMedia.
