The last few decades have brought contraception to the forefront of research, with great strides made in effectively targeting and optimizing the physiology, pharmacology, and delivery processes that prevent pregnancy. However, these advances still predominantly target female contraceptives for the prevention of contraception, whereas targeting the male sex has lagged far behind. This has led to a marked deficiency in safe and effective male contraceptive agents, resulting in a heavy dependence on female contraceptives to prevent unwanted and unplanned pregnancies. Current research in the veterinary field and in rodents highlights several promising avenues whereby novel, safe, and effective male contraceptive alternatives are being developed—with an emphasis on reduced side effects and reversibility potential. This review aims to discuss current and novel male contraceptives (both human and veterinary formulations) while highlighting their efficacy, advantages, and disadvantages.

Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1D) is a disease characterized by the destruction of pancreatic beta cells. The subsequent loss of insulin production results in hyperglycemia, muscle wasting, and vascular dysfunction. Due to an inability to appropriately maintain glucose homeostasis, patients afflicted with T1D suffer from increased morbidity and early mortality. Skeletal muscle is the body’s largest metabolic reservoir, absorbing significant amounts of glucose from the bloodstream and physical exercise is known to improve and prevent the progression of pathological outcomes, but many T1D patients are unable to exercise at a level that conveys benefit. Thus, directly targeting muscle mass and function may prove beneficial for improving T1D patient outcomes, independent of exercise. A potent negative regulator of skeletal muscle has been identified as being upregulated in T1D patients, namely the myokine myostatin. Our hypothesis is that targeting myostatin (via genetic deletion) will prevent glucose dysfunction in a T1D model, preserve skeletal muscle function, and protect against vascular and renal dysfunction. Our methods utilized adult male mice with (WT) and without myostatin (Myo KO), in combination with the chemical induction of T1D (streptozotocin). Experimental outcomes included the assessment of glucose homeostasis (plasma glucose, HbA1c, IGTT), metabolism, muscle function (in vivo plantarflexion), and skeletal muscle vascular function (ex vivo pressure myography). Our results described systemic benefits from myostatin deletion in the T1D model, independent of insulin, including the following: inhibition of T1D-induced increases in plasma glucose, prevention of functional deficits in muscle performance, and preservation of fluid dynamics. Further, endothelial function was preserved with myostatin deletion. Taken together, these data inform upon the use of myostatin inhibition as a therapeutic target for effective treatment and management of the cardiometabolic and skeletal muscle dysfunction that occurs with T1D.

Farmworkers experience disproportionate risks of pesticide exposure, yet only two U.S. states, California and Washington, currently mandate routine cholinesterase biomonitoring programs for agricultural workers. Although regulatory and resource limitations influence implementation of worker protection programs, operational barriers also complicate repeated biomonitoring among highly mobile and underserved farmworker populations. The objective of this preliminary study was to evaluate the operational feasibility of recruiting, retaining, and repeatedly monitoring farmworkers using a novel, rapid, portable cholinesterase analysis device under routine agricultural field conditions. Guided by an evidence-based feasibility framework, a multidisciplinary team administered surveys and collected blood samples from 25 farmworkers in rural North Carolina at three time points during a single agricultural season. Participation and visit completion rates were high, although worker mobility, changing job assignments, environmental conditions, and temperature-sensitive samples created logistical challenges. Experienced bilingual promotoras de salud played a critical role in coordination, communication, scheduling, and retention. Findings provide preliminary evidence that repeated field-based cholinesterase biomonitoring protocols are feasible and acceptable when supported by community-based outreach organizations with Spanish speaking health workers, structured logistics, and culturally responsive engagement strategies. Evaluation of the analytical performance is beyond the scope of this report, however, these results provide practical insights for strengthening occupational health surveillance and future implementation studies designed to protect agricultural workers.