The association between male infertility and health status has yet to be unraveled. Here, by combining multiparameter phenotyping and scRNA-seq, we delineate the immune status of infertile men both at the semen and systemic levels. We first observe that young infertile men have a pro-inflammatory milieu with increased frequency of myeloid cells and inflammatory mediators in the seminal fluid and the peripheral blood, which are immune alterations typically observed in healthy elderly men.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: We aimed to investigate possible hormonal changes following microdissection testicular sperm extraction (mTESE) in men with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) across three referral centers.
Materials And Methods: We prospectively analyzed data from 102 consecutive NOA men. Patients with prior hormonal therapies were excluded.
Background: Penile dynamic color doppler duplex ultrasound (CDDU) is a relevant tool in assessing men with suspected vasculogenic erectile dysfunction (V-ED).
Aim: To investigate (1) factors potentially associated with V-ED to define risk classes useful in predicting V-ED; (2) the response to phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5i); and (3) the onset of incident major cardiovascular (CV) events.
Methods: A cohort of men with ED and without known concomitant CVD was grouped into: patients undergoing CDDU (N.
Scoring metrics are important to compare outcomes of different percutaneous treatments for small renal masses (RMs). The concept of trifecta (no complications, kidney function preservation, and absence of local recurrence) has been recently introduced in percutaneous thermal ablation of RM. In this context, previous studies have shown that cryoablation (CA) and microwave ablation (MWA) have similar outcomes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Male fertility relies on a complex physiology that may be negatively influenced by lifestyle, diet, and environment. The beneficial effect of nutraceuticals on male fertility is a debated claim. The aim of this study was to assess if the positive effect of nutraceuticals can counteract the negative effects of the environment on male fertility.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Phys Condens Matter
August 2024
We have investigated the local structure of the iron-based CaKFeAssuperconductor featuring distinct aliovalent substitutions at the Ca and K sites, that is CaKFeAs, CaKSrFeAs, CaKBaFeAsand CaNaKBaFeAs. Temperature-dependent Fe K-edge extended x-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) measurements are used to determine the near-neighbors bondlengths and their stiffness. The EXAFS analysis reveals that the Fe-As bondlength undergoes negligible changes by substitution, however, the Fe-Fe bondlength and the As height are affected by the Sr substitution.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInfertility is a prevalent issue affecting many couples during their reproductive years, with a significant number facing challenges in conceiving despite regular unprotected intercourse. Male factor infertility (MFI) contributes significantly to these cases, with a significant proportion of men lacking an identifiable etiology. As such, a thorough assessment of MFI has become increasingly vital for personalized management.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis paper introduces the HEX (High-pressure Elemental Xstals) database, a complete database of the ground-state crystal structures of the first 57 elements of the periodic table, from H to La, at 0, 100, 200 and 300 GPa. HEX aims to provide a unified reference for high-pressure research, by compiling all available experimental information on elements at high pressure, and complementing it with the results of accurate evolutionary crystal structure prediction runs based on Density Functional Theory. Besides offering a much-needed reference, our work also serves as a benchmark of the accuracy of current ab-initio methods for crystal structure prediction.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Objective: No clear-cut markers for predicting positive sperm retrieval (+SR) at microdissection testicular sperm extraction (mTESE) have been identified thus far. Our aim was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the ability of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), inhibin B (InhB), and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) to predict +SR in men with nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA) undergoing mTESE.
Methods: We performed a search in the PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Scopus databases according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis statement.
Purpose: To review the literature on the topic, to suggest a common line of treatment applicable across a wide community of specialists, and to contribute in maintaining the high level of interest in this disease.
Methods: A comprehensive and exhaustive review of the literature was performed, identifying hundreds of articles on the topic.
Results: Peyronie's disease is a condition that has been recognized, studied, and treated for centuries; despite this, if one excludes surgery in cases in which the deformity is stable, no clear treatment (or line of treatment) is available for complete relief of signs and symptoms.
Different suction-assisted nephrostomic sheaths have been developed for percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). (1) To examine PCNL techniques performed with different aspiration-assisted sheaths (Clear Petra sheath, Superperc, SuperminiPCNL, and a miniPCNL patented sheath), with specific regard to effectiveness and safety outcomes in adult and paediatric patients; (2) to extrapolate intrarenal pressure (IRP) data during these procedures. A systematic literature search was performed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Intravesical instillation of hyaluronic acid (HA) has been associated with reduced sexual dysfunction in participants with recurrent urinary tract infections (rUTIs), but the efficacy of an oral treatment has never been investigated.
Aim: To investigate the efficacy of an oral preparation of HA, chondroitin sulfate, N-acetylglucosamine, and vitamin C in improving sexual and urinary symptoms in a cohort of reproductive-age participants with rUTI.
Methods: In a monocentric randomized crossover pilot trial, participants with rUTI who were referred to our institute between March 2022 and April 2023 were randomized 1:1 in 2 groups: intervention vs control.
Purpose: To evaluate the impact of vacuum-assisted mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy (vamPCNL) vs. vacuum-cleaner mPCNL (vcmPCNL) on the rate of postoperative infectious complications in a cohort of patients with high risk factors for infections.
Methods: We retrospectively analysed data from 145 patients who underwent mPCNL between 01/2016 and 12/2022.
Background: Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) with extended lymphadenectomy (ePLND) is the gold standard for surgical treatment of prostate cancer (PCa). Recently, the en-bloc ePLND has been proposed but no studies reported on the standardization of the technique. The aim of the study is to describe different standardized en-bloc ePLND, the antegrade and the retrograde ePLND, and to compare their surgical and oncological outcomes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF