Predictability of varicocele repair success: preliminary results of a machine learning-based approach.

Varicocele is a prevalent condition in the infertile male population. However, to date, which patients may benefit most from varicocele repair is still a matter of debate. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether certain preintervention sperm parameters are predictive of successful varicocele repair, defined as an improvement in total motile sperm count (TMSC).

Predictive parameters of the efficacy of varicocele repair: a review.

Varicocele has a prevalence of 15% in the population and represents a primary cause of infertility in 40% of cases and a secondary cause in approximately 80% of cases. It is considered the major correctable cause of male infertility. Despite its high prevalence in the infertile population, a large number of patients with varicocele do not experience reproductive difficulties.

Antioxidants for male infertility: therapeutic scheme and indications. A retrospective single-center real-life study.

Background: This single-center real-life study was conducted to evaluate the most effective combination of nutraceuticals and the most appropriate indications for the treatment of male infertile patients.

Methods: Infertile patients aged 20-55 years were treated with a combination of antioxidants (Androlen; Enfarma, Misterbianco, Catania, Italy) (group A), with Androlen (Enfarma) and a mixture of fibrinolytic molecules (Lenidase, Enfarma) (group B), or Androlen (Enfarma) and other molecules different from those used for the patients of the group B (group C). Patients were also subdivided according to the presence of varicocele, mild testicular hypotrophy, idiopathic infertility, and chronic male accessory gland infection.

Lifestyle and sexual habits of students in a Southern Italian region.

Background: Incorrect or harmful lifestyle during youth may impact negatively gonadal function later in life. To reduce the development of risky behaviors a series of health prevention and intervention campaigns have been conducted in Italy. The present study is part of a Sicily Region (Italy) health surveillance program that was carried out on a sample of late adolescents.

DNA Methylation in Offspring Conceived after Assisted Reproductive Techniques: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

: In the last 40 years, assisted reproductive techniques (ARTs) have emerged as potentially resolving procedures for couple infertility. This study aims to evaluate whether ART is associated with epigenetic dysregulation in the offspring. .

The Use of Ellagic Acid and Annona Muricata Improves Semen Quality in Men with High-Risk Papillomavirus Infection.

Background: Few data are currently available on the treatment of patients with HPV infection. In particular, there is no agreement on the use of antioxidants in these patients. Ellagic acid and annona muricata appear to improve HPV clearance in infected women.

Examples of Inverse Comorbidity between Cancer and Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Possible Role for Noncoding RNA.

Cancer is one of the most common causes of death; in parallel, the incidence and prevalence of central nervous system diseases are equally high. Among neurodegenerative diseases, Alzheimer's dementia is the most common, while Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most frequent neurodegenerative disease. There is a significant amount of evidence on the complex biological connection between cancer and neurodegeneration.

Beneficial Effects of the Very-Low-Calorie Ketogenic Diet on the Symptoms of Male Accessory Gland Inflammation.

Obesity exposes individuals to the risk of chronic inflammation of the prostate gland. A longitudinal clinical study was conducted on selected overweight/obese patients with male accessory gland inflammation (MAGI) to evaluate the effects of body weight loss on their urogenital symptoms. One hundred patients were selected and assigned to two groups undergoing two different nutritional programs.

Obesity and Male Reproduction: Do Sirtuins Play a Role?

Obesity is a major current public health problem of global significance. A progressive sperm quality decline, and a decline in male fertility, have been reported in recent decades. Several studies have reported a strict relationship between obesity and male reproductive dysfunction.

Molecular Mechanisms Underlying the Relationship between Obesity and Male Infertility.

In recent decades, the worldwide prevalence of obesity has risen dramatically and is currently estimated to be around 20%. Obesity is linked to an increased risk of comorbidities and premature mortality. Several studies have shown that obesity negatively impacts male fertility through various mechanisms.

Corrigendum to: Influence of 25‑hydroxy-cholecalciferol levels on SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severity: A systematic review and meta-analysis [EClinicalMedicine 37 (2021) 100,967].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.

Very-low-calorie ketogenic diet: An alternative to a pharmacological approach to improve glycometabolic and gonadal profile in men with obesity.

Obesity and metabolic diseases have become a worrying reality, especially in more developed societies. They are associated with the development of many comorbidities, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypogonadism, hypertension, cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases, neoplasia, obstructive sleep apnea, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Therefore, weight loss is of paramount importance.

The Burden of Hormonal Disorders: A Worldwide Overview With a Particular Look in Italy.

Endocrine diseases have a considerable impact on public health from an epidemiological point of view and because they may cause long-term disability, alteration of the quality-of-life of the affected patients, and are the fifth leading cause of death. In this extensive review of the literature, we have evaluated the prevalence of the different disorders of endocrine interest in the world and Italy, highlighting their epidemiological, clinical, and economic impact.

Retrospective Monocentric Clinical Study on Male Infertility: Comparison between Two Different Therapeutic Schemes Using Follicle-Stimulating Hormone.

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is a therapeutic option in patients with idiopathic oligozoospermia and normal FSH serum levels. However, few studies have evaluated which dose of FSH is more effective. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical efficacy of the two most frequently used FSH treatment regimens: 75 IU daily vs.

Relevance of sperm imprinted gene methylation on assisted reproductive technique outcomes and pregnancy loss: a systematic review.

Recent evidence suggests that gamete-imprinted genes play a role in embryo and placenta development and growth. This systematic review aimed to evaluate whether altered methylation of sperm-imprinted genes associates with sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF), pregnancy loss rate and assisted reproductive technique (ART) outcome. To accomplish this, Pubmed, MEDLINE, Cochrane, Academic One Files, Google Scholar, and Scopus databases were used for search strategy from each database inception until December 2020.

The Role of Resveratrol Administration in Human Obesity.

Obesity is a widespread disease that is associated with numerous and serious comorbidities. These include metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular-cerebrovascular disease, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, cancer, and sexual and hormonal disorders. The treatment of obesity has therefore become a goal of great clinical and social relevance.

Ultrasound aspects of symptomatic versus asymptomatic forms of male accessory gland inflammation.

Background: The ultrasound (US) evaluation of the male sex accessory gland inflammation (MAGI) helps the clinicians to understand the severity of this condition, allowing them to distinguish the uncomplicated form (prostatitis) from the complicated ones (prostate-vesiculitis and prostate-vesiculitis-epididymitis), as well as the unilateral from the bilateral forms, the fibrosclerotic and the hypertrophic-congestive form.

Objective: This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the US features of MAGI patients with active symptoms compared to patients without sexual, voiding, and ejaculatory dysfunction.

Materials/methods: To achieve this aim, an analysis of the prevalence of MAGI US criteria was carried out on a very large series of over 500 patients diagnosed with MAGI classified according to the different symptom profile evaluated through a dedicated questionnaire (previously conceived and published by our group) arbitrarily named "structured interview about MAGI" (SI-MAGI) for sexual, voiding, and ejaculatory disorders reported by these patients.

Ultrasound evaluation of patients with male accessory gland inflammation: a pictorial review.

Male accessory gland infection/inflammation (MAGI) is a major cause of male infertility. The importance of ultrasound evaluation in these patients is highly controversial, although evidence of its relevance has increased in recent years. Ultrasound criteria are an important element for confirming the clinical diagnosis.

Testosterone replacement therapy in hypogonadal male patients with hypogonadism and heart failure: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies.

Introduction: The recently published guidelines of the European Academy of Andrology (EAA) recommended not to prescribe testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) in male patients with hypotestosteronemia and severe heart failure (HF) [New York Hearth Association (NYHA) class III and IV] since the risk in these patients has not been formally documented. Therefore, the aim of this study was to systematically evaluate the risk of TRT on the cardiac function and angina, in male patients with hypotestosteronemia and HF or coronary heart disease.

Evidence Acquisition: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on male patients with hypotestosteronemia and chronic HF (ejection fraction <40%) or stable angina documenting the effect of TRT on NYHA class, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), adverse events, ST depression and other indexes of cardiovascular function.

Exposure to multiple metals/metalloids and human semen quality: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Exposure to metals/metalloids, including essential and nonessential elements, has been associated to male reproductive health in animals. However, findings from human studies are inconsistent.

Objectives: To investigate the impact of exposure to multiple metals/metalloids at environmental levels on the conventional human semen-quality parameters.