Customized MethylC-Capture Sequencing to Evaluate Variation in the Human Sperm DNA Methylome Representative of Altered Folate Metabolism.

Background: The sperm DNA methylation landscape is unique and critical for offspring health. If gamete-derived DNA methylation escapes reprograming in early embryos, epigenetic defects in sperm may be transmitted to the next generation. Current techniques to assess sperm DNA methylation show bias toward CpG-dense regions and do not target areas of dynamic methylation, those predicted to be environmentally sensitive and tunable regulatory elements.

A Case of Treatment- resistant Depression and Body Dysmorphic Disorder: The Role of Electroconvulsive Therapy Revisited.

Body dysmorphic disorder is a common, often disabling condition, and is frequently comorbid with major depressive disorder. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors constitute first line set of somatic interventions but the management of refractory patients remains challenging. Electroconvulsive therapy, an often highly beneficial treatment for medication resistant-depression, is not considered an effective therapeutic alternative for treatment refractory body dysmorphic disorder.

Turning the corner in fertility: high DNA integrity of boundary-following sperm.

We present a passive microfluidic sperm selection strategy that collects motile sperm based on their preference to follow boundaries and turn corners. Clinical assessment of selected human sperm from the device revealed a strong correlation between high DNA integrity and the tendency for sperm to follow boundaries. Human sperm with preference to follow boundaries on the left- or right-hand sides have higher (>51%) DNA integrity than straight swimmers and significantly higher (>67%) DNA integrity than sperm in raw semen.

Paper-Based Quantification of Male Fertility Potential.

Background: More than 70 million couples worldwide are affected by infertility, with male-factor infertility accounting for about half of the cases. Semen analysis is critical for determining male fertility potential, but conventional testing is costly and complex. Here, we demonstrate a paper-based microfluidic approach to quantify male fertility potential, simultaneously measuring 3 critical semen parameters in 10 min: live and motile sperm concentrations and sperm motility.

Direct DNA Analysis with Paper-Based Ion Concentration Polarization.

DNA analysis is essential for diagnosis and monitoring of many diseases. Conventional DNA testing is generally limited to the laboratory. Increasing access to relevant technologies can improve patient care and outcomes in both developed and developing regions.

High-dose folic acid supplementation alters the human sperm methylome and is influenced by the MTHFR C677T polymorphism.

Dietary folate is a major source of methyl groups required for DNA methylation, an epigenetic modification that is actively maintained and remodeled during spermatogenesis. While high-dose folic acid supplementation (up to 10 times the daily recommended dose) has been shown to improve sperm parameters in infertile men, the effects of supplementation on the sperm epigenome are unknown. To assess the impact of 6 months of high-dose folic acid supplementation on the sperm epigenome, we studied 30 men with idiopathic infertility.

Electroconvulsive in a Schizophrenic Patient With Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome and Rhabdomyolysis.

We present the case of a middle-aged man with a chronic history of schizoaffective disorder, depressed type, stable on a second-generation antipsychotic. Psychotic symptoms recurred contingent to medication noncompliance necessitating hospitalization. Treatment was complicated by the development of neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS).

Seminal hyperviscosity is not associated with semenogelin degradation or sperm deoxyribonucleic acid damage: a prospective study of infertile couples.

Objective: To investigate the association between seminal hyperviscosity, the extent of semenogelin degradation, and sperm DNA integrity (DNA fragmentation index [DFI] and high DNA stainability [HDS]) in semen from infertile couples.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: University-affiliated fertility center.

Rapid selection of sperm with high DNA integrity.

Sperm selection is essential to assisted reproductive technology (ART), influencing treatment outcomes and the health of offspring. The fundamental challenge of sperm selection is dictated by biology: a heterogeneous population of ~10(8) sperm per milliliter with a short lifetime in vitro. However, conventional sperm selection approaches result in less than 50% improvement in DNA integrity.

Low amounts and high thiol oxidation of peroxiredoxins in spermatozoa from infertile men.

Seminal oxidative stress occurs when there is an increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and/or a decrease of antioxidant activity, promoting impaired sperm function. Peroxiredoxins (PRDX) are abundant in human semen and are important antioxidant enzymes, which act as ROS scavengers and modulators in ROS-dependent signaling. Our aim was to determine whether the levels of PRDX1 and PRDX6 and their oxidation on thiol groups are associated with a decrease in sperm motility and DNA integrity.