Short-Term Hormonal Changes Following Microdissection Testicular Sperm Extraction among Men with Non-Obstructive Azoospermia: Findings from a Large Longitudinal Prospective Multicentric Study.

Purpose: 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.

A novel algorithm-based risk classification for vascular damage in men with erectile dysfunction.

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.

Contemporary Diagnostic Work-Up for Male Infertility: Emphasizing Comprehensive Baseline Assessment.

Infertility 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.

Role of Follicle-stimulating Hormone, Inhibin B, and Anti-Müllerian Hormone in Predicting Sperm Retrieval from Men with Nonobstructive Azoospermia Undergoing Microdissection Testicular Sperm Extraction: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background 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.

Testicular Cancer Treatments and Sexuality: A Narrative Review.

The incidence of testicular cancer (TC) has been rapidly increasing over the past years. Diagnosis and early treatment have shown good oncological control, guaranteeing the patient different treatment approaches according to histology and tumor stage. Currently, physicians usually prioritize oncological outcomes over sexual outcomes and quality of life, considering as a first aim the overall survival of the patients; however, differently from other neoplasms, quality of life is still strongly affected among TC patients, and sexual outcomes are frequently compromised after each TC treatment.

The Importance of Discordant Follicle Stimulating Hormone and Inhibin B Levels in Primary Infertile Men: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Study.

Purpose: We aimed to investigate the relationship between follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and inhibin B (InhB).

Materials And Methods: Data from 1,230 consecutive men presenting for primary couple's infertility were analyzed. Health-significant comorbidities were scored with Charlson comorbidity index.

Anti-Müllerian hormone predicts positive sperm retrieval in men with idiopathic non-obstructive azoospermia-findings from a multi-centric cross-sectional study.

Study Question: Is it possible to identify a reliable marker of successful sperm retrieval (+SR) in men with idiopathic non-obstructive azoospermia (iNOA) undergoing microdissection testicular sperm extraction (mTESE)?

Summary Answer: A higher likelihood of +SR during mTESE is observed in men with iNOA and lower preoperative serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels, with good predictive accuracy achieved using an AMH threshold of <4 ng/ml.

What Is Known Already: AMH has been previously linked to +SR in men with iNOA undergoing mTESE prior to ART.

Study Design, Size, Duration: A multi-centre cross-sectional study was carried out with a cohort of 117 men with iNOA undergoing mTESE at three tertiary-referral centres.

Kidney function impairment in men with primary infertility: A case-control analysis.

Background: Infertile men have a worse overall health status than their fertile counterparts.

Objective: We aimed to (1) compare kidney function in men presenting for primary couple's infertility with that of fertile men and (2) assess kidney function impairment toward sperm quality in infertile men.

Materials And Methods: In this case-control study, 387 consecutive white-European infertile men were matched by age with 134 same-ethnicity fertile men.

Clinical parameters associated with altered sperm DNA fragmentation index among primary infertile men: Findings from a real-life cross-sectional study.

Background: Recurrent pregnancy loss and unexplained infertility are the current indications to test sperm DNA fragmentation according to the European Association of Urology Guidelines on sexual and reproductive health.

Objective: To identify a novel and better performing model to diagnose primary infertile men presenting with altered sperm DNA fragmentation and to outline its predictive ability in respect to current European Association of Urology Guidelines' recommendations.

Materials And Methods: Data from the latest 515 consecutive primary infertile men as for World Health Organization criteria were analyzed.

"Stromal cells in prostate cancer pathobiology: friends or foes?".

The genomic, epigenetic and metabolic determinants of prostate cancer pathobiology have been extensively studied in epithelial cancer cells. However, malignant cells constantly interact with the surrounding environment-the so-called tumour microenvironment (TME)-which may influence tumour cells to proliferate and invade or to starve and die. In that regard, stromal cells-including fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells and vasculature-associated cells-constitute an essential fraction of the prostate cancer TME.

The symptomatic burden of Peyronie's disease at presentation according to patient age: A critical analysis of the Peyronie's disease questionnaire (PDQ) domains.

Background: Peyronie's disease (PD) has a huge impact on patients' physical and psychological wellbeing.

Objectives: To investigate whether patients' age has an impact on PD symptomatic burden at first presentation.

Materials And Methods: Data from 129 consecutive heterosexual patients seeking first medical attention for PD at a single andrological tertiary-referral centre were collected.

Haemospermia in the Real- Life Setting: A New High-Risk Stratification.

Objective: To (i) identify a novel risk stratification for patients complaining of haemospermia; and, (ii) compare its predictive ability to select high-risk patients by retrospectively validating the EAU guidelines classification.

Methods: Data from 283 consecutive patients complaining of a single episode/recurrent haemospermia were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were stratified into low vs high-risk according to EAU guidelines, whose diagnostic performance was then validated.

Circulating Cell-Free DNA in Renal Cell Carcinoma: The New Era of Precision Medicine.

Tumor biopsy is still the gold standard for diagnosing and prognosis renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, its invasiveness, costs, and inability to accurately picture tumor heterogeneity represent major limitations to this procedure. Analysis of circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is a non-invasive cost-effective technique that has the potential to ease cancer detection and prognosis.

High serum alpha-fetoprotein levels in primary infertile men.

Background: Alfa-fetoprotein (AFP) is a serum glycoprotein highly produced during fetal development. While AFP synthesis drops dramatically after birth, AFP production only persists or returns under specific pathological condition.

Objective: We sought to investigate the rate of and the potential meaning of high AFP serum levels in men seeking first medical attention for couple's primary infertility.

Effects of recreational cannabis on testicular function in primary infertile men.

Background: Male factor contributes to up to 50% of cases of couples experiencing infertility. Cannabis is one of the most commonly used recreational drugs, and its effects on the reproductive system have been largely debated in the literature.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of recreational cannabis use on total T (tT) levels, gonadal status, and sperm parameters in a cohort of primary infertile non-Finnish, white-European men.

Does Air Pollution Impact on Semen Parameters? Findings from a Real-Life, Cross-Sectional Study in Italian Infertile Men.

Purpose: In industrialized countries, air pollutants levels have been monitored closely for environmental and research issues. Using Italian data, we aimed to investigate the association between air pollutants levels and semen parameters in a cohort of non-Finnish white-European men presenting for couple's infertility.

Materials And Methods: Complete demographic and laboratory data from 1,152 infertile men consecutively assessed between January 2015 and January 2018 were analyzed.

The impact of different WHO reference criteria for semen analysis in clinical practice: Who will benefit from the new 2021 thresholds for normal semen parameters?

Background: In 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) has provided the latest update on processing and evaluating semen analysis.

Objectives: To assess (i) the rate of discordance in semen parameters categorization across three different WHO reference values (namely WHO21, 2010 and 1999) and (ii) the clinical differences among discordant semen analyses from a cohort of primary infertile men.

Materials And Methods: Data from 788 infertile men were analyzed.