Publications by authors named "G Balercia"
Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH) represents a relatively rare cause of nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA), but its knowledge is crucial for the clinical andrologists, as it represents a condition that can be corrected with medical therapy in 3 quarters of cases. There are forms of congenital HH, whether or not associated with an absent sense of smell (anosmic HH or Kallmann syndrome, and normosmic HH, respectively), and forms of acquired HH. In congenital HH, complete absence of pubertal development is characteristic.
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- - Immune checkpoint inhibitors, like pembrolizumab used in melanoma treatment, can cause rare autoimmune reactions affecting endocrine glands, leading to conditions like hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.
- - A 39-year-old man experienced a sequence of endocrine issues following his pembrolizumab treatment, including thyrotoxicosis, hypothyroidism, and central adrenal insufficiency.
- - This case highlights the need for careful monitoring of hormonal functions in patients undergoing immunotherapy due to the variability and unusual nature of these endocrine side effects.
Osteoporosis is a chronic disease that affects millions of patients worldwide and is characterized by low bone mineral density (BMD) and increased risk of fractures. Notably, natural molecules can increase BMD and exert pro-osteogenic effects. Noteworthily, the nutraceutical BlastiMin Complex (Mivell, Italy, European Patent Application EP4205733A1) can induce differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) in osteoblasts and can exert in vitro pro-osteogenic and anti-inflammatory effects.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPolyphenols are natural bioactives occurring in medicinal and aromatic plants and food and beverages of plant origin. Compared with conventional therapies, plant-derived phytochemicals are more affordable and accessible and have no toxic side effects. Thus, pharmaceutical research is increasingly inclined to discover and study new and innovative natural molecules for the treatment of several chronic human diseases, like type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and osteoporosis.
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- Non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) is a prevalent and complex issue with varied treatment options and no definitive guidelines, leading to differing management practices internationally.
- A comprehensive survey with 336 responses from specialists in 49 countries explored current medical and surgical strategies for NOA, analyzing results against existing guidelines and offering expert recommendations.
- Key findings included diverse approaches to hormonal therapy, significant variation in sperm retrieval success rates, and differing protocols around varicocele repair and follicle-stimulating hormone cutoff levels for sperm retrieval.