Incidental Parathyroidectomy After Thyroid Surgery: A Single-Center Study.

Background: Hypoparathyroidism with hypocalcemia is the most frequent complication after thyroid surgery. Many risk factors have been involved in the development of this complication, with conflicting results. Incidental parathyroidectomy (IP) may be a frequent cause of postoperative hypocalcemia.

Lipidomic Profile of Human Sperm Membrane Identifies a Clustering of Lipids Associated with Semen Quality and Function.

Reduced sperm motility and/or count are among the major causes of reduced fertility in men, and sperm membranes play an important role in the spermatogenesis and fertilization processes. However, the impact of sperm lipid composition on male fertility remains under-investigated. The aim of the present study was to perform a lipidomic analysis of human sperm membranes: we performed an untargeted analysis of membrane lipid composition in fertile (N = 33) and infertile subjects (N = 29).

Sperm Gene Methylation Status in Infertile Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: The () gene is a paternally expressed imprinted gene that appears to play a role in embryo survival. The latest meta-analysis on methylation pattern in spermatozoa of infertile patients found higher methylation in spermatozoa from infertile patients than fertile controls. To provide an updated and comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis on the gene methylation pattern in patients with abnormal sperm parameters compared to men with normal parameters.

Productivity Index in Clinical Andrology: Research Directions on High-Impact Topics and in Particular on Male Infertility.

Purpose: Andrological diseases have an important social and economic impact as they cause a serious impairment of the quality of life of the affected patient. Epidemiologically, the impact of these disorders is progressively increasing, as demonstrated by the ever-growing prevalence of male infertility. This evidence justifies the rapid development of research in andrology that the scientific community has undertaken in recent decades.

Risk Factors for Hypoparathyroidism after Thyroid Surgery: A Single-Center Study.

Background: Hypoparathyroidism is one of the most common complications after thyroidectomy. This study evaluated the incidence and potential risk factors for postoperative hypoparathyroidism after thyroid surgical procedures in a single high-volume center.

Methods: In this retrospective study, in all patients undergoing thyroid surgery from 2018 to 2021, a 6 h postoperative parathyroid hormone level (PTH) was evaluated.

Effects of the ketogenic diet on bone health: A systematic review.

Objective: To carry out a systematic review of published studies to evaluate the relationship between different type of ketogenic diet (KD) and bone health as supported by the scientific literature.

Methods: The study involved all articles that assessed the relationship between the use of KD for the treatment of overweight or obesity and bone health. The quality assessment was evaluated with using the Cambridge Quality Checklists.

Globozoospermia: A Case Report and Systematic Review of Literature.

Purpose: Globozoospermia is a genetic syndrome characterized by the presence of round-headed spermatozoa and infertility due to the inability of these spermatozoa to fertilize the oocyte. In this article, we present the clinical case of a young globozoospermic patient with a new, not yet described mutation of the gene. We also performed a systematic review of the literature on gene mutations, the outcome of assisted reproductive techniques, and the risk of transmission of abnormalities to the offspring in patients with globozoospermia and made recommendations to offer a more appropriate clinical management of these patients.

Consensus and Diversity in the Management of Varicocele for Male Infertility: Results of a Global Practice Survey and Comparison with Guidelines and Recommendations.

Purpose: Varicocele is a common problem among infertile men. Varicocele repair (VR) is frequently performed to improve semen parameters and the chances of pregnancy. However, there is a lack of consensus about the diagnosis, indications for VR and its outcomes.

Ultrastructural Sperm Flagellum Defects in a Patient With Compound Heterozygous Mutations and Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia/.

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare autosomal recessive disease characterized by structural or functional motile cilia abnormalities. Up to 40 different genes seem, at the moment, to be involved in the pathogenesis of PCD. A number of ultrastructural defects have also been reported in sperm flagella, but the sperm mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) has never been described in these cases.

Gonadal Steroids and Sperm Quality in a Cohort of Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: A Case-Control Study.

Evaluation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis and sperm analyses are not a standard examination of patients with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS). This is a prospective-case-controlled study. Patients, aged 18-55, with a confirmed diagnosis of RRMS, naïve to any DMT were enrolled.

Evaluation of seminal fluid leukocyte subpopulations in patients with varicocele.

Varicocele is a common cause of sperm damage. Some studies showed higher concentration of seminal leukocytes in patients with varicocele. The aim of the study was to evaluate seminal leukocyte subpopulations in patients with varicocele.

Dual-release hydrocortisone for treatment of adrenal insufficiency: a systematic review.

Dual-release hydrocortisone is a new hydrocortisone formulation developed to improve the pharmacokinetic and the pharmacodynamic profiles and patient compliance. The aim of this review is to summarize the main knowledge on dual-release hydrocortisone, with particular attention to pharmacokinetics, metabolic and health-related quality-of-life aspects, bone health and drug safety.

Effect of treatment with testosterone on endothelial function in hypogonadal men: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Despite several studies showing an inverse correlation of total testosterone with endothelial damage, the effect of testosterone replacement therapy (TTh) on endothelial function has been scarcely investigated. In order to systematically assess the relationship between endothelial dysfunction and TTh, we performed a review and meta-analysis of available prospective and cross-sectional studies. A thorough research was performed on MEDLINE for hypogonadism and endothelial dysfunction.

Accuracy of the Low-Dose ACTH Stimulation Test for Adrenal Insufficiency Diagnosis: A Re-Assessment of the Cut-Off Value.

Background: The clinical practice shows that many low-dose ACTH-stimulation tests have a false positive result. The aim of the study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of a low-dose ACTH-stimulation test in the diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency and to define its optimal cut-off.

Methods: We analyzed data from 103 patients undergoing 1 µg ACTH-stimulation test.

Early male aging or poor clinical consideration for males in IVF centers? An original study.

The Italian law 40/2004 allows the use of assisted reproduction techniques only if there are no other effective therapeutic approaches to overcome infertility. According to article 4 paragraph 1, the impossibility of removing the otherwise impeding causes to achieve a pregnancy must be ascertained before the couple undergoes assisted reproduction techniques. On this premises, we sought to evaluate the percentage of couples who underwent or were addressed to assisted reproduction techniques despite a known and potentially treatable male infertility factor in fertility centers in the city of Catania, Italy.

Substance Abuse and Male Hypogonadism.

Progressive deterioration of male reproductive function is occurring in Western countries. Environmental factors and unhealthy lifestyles have been implicated in the decline of testosterone levels and sperm production observed in the last fifty years. Among unhealthy lifestyles, substance and drug abuse is a recognized cause of possible alterations of steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis.

Androgen Deficiency and Phosphodiesterase Type 5 Expression Changes in Aging Male: Therapeutic Implications.

The age-related decline of serum T occurs in ~20-30% of adult men and it is today defined as late-onset hypogonadism (LOH). In the elderly, such decline becomes more prevalent (up to 60%) and shows-up with erectile dysfunction (ED) and hypoactive sexual desire. A large body of experimental evidences have shown that the combination of T replacement therapy (TRT) and phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5i) is, usually, effective in restoring erectile function in patients with LOH and ED who have not responded to monotherapy for sexual disturbances.

Effects of Varicocele Treatment on Sperm Conventional Parameters: Surgical Varicocelectomy Versus Sclerotherapy.

Introduction: Varicocele is often associated with impaired sperm parameters. Different procedures have been developed for varicocele treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of varicocele treatment on conventional sperm parameters.

Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Modulation during Metabolic Diseases and Cancers: Master and Minions.

The prevalence of obesity and metabolic diseases (such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidaemia, and cardiovascular diseases) has increased in the last decade, in both industrialized and developing countries. This also coincided with our observation of a similar increase in the prevalence of cancers. The aetiology of these diseases is very complex and involves genetic, nutritional, and environmental factors.

How to Achieve High-Quality Oocytes? The Key Role of Myo-Inositol and Melatonin.

Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) have experienced growing interest from infertile patients seeking to become pregnant. The quality of oocytes plays a pivotal role in determining ART outcomes. Although many authors have studied how supplementation therapy may affect this important parameter for both in vivo and in vitro models, data are not yet robust enough to support firm conclusions.

Metabolism and Ovarian Function in PCOS Women: A Therapeutic Approach with Inositols.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by chronical anovulation and hyperandrogenism which may be present in a different degree of severity. Insulin-resistance and hyperinsulinemia are the main physiopathological basis of this syndrome and the failure of inositol-mediated signaling may concur to them. Myo (MI) and D-chiro-inositol (DCI), the most studied inositol isoforms, are classified as insulin sensitizers.

Pleiotropic Actions of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors (PPARs) in Dysregulated Metabolic Homeostasis, Inflammation and Cancer: Current Evidence and Future Perspectives.

Background: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) have demonstrated a lot of important effects in the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism and in the correct functioning of adipose tissue. Recently, many studies have evaluated a possible effect of PPARs on tumor cells. The purpose of this review is to describe the effects of PPARs, their action and their future prospective;

Methods: Narrative review aimed to synthesize cutting-edge evidence retrieved from searches of computerized databases;

Results: PPARs play a key role in metabolic diseases, which include several cardiovascular diseases, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, impaired immunity and the increasing risk of cancer; in particular, PPARα and PPARβ/δ mainly enable energy combustion, while PPARγ contributes to energy storage by enhancing adipogenesis;

Conclusion: PPAR agonists could represent interesting types of molecules that can treat not only metabolic diseases, but also inflammation and cancer.

Late-onset hypogonadism: the advantages of treatment with human chorionic gonadotropin rather than testosterone.

The traditional pharmacological treatment of patients with late onset hypogonadism (LOH) is represented by different formulations of testosterone (T) or alternatively by the extractive human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). The hormone replacement treatment (HRT) is associated with the potential increase of hematocrit, serum concentrations of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and prostate volume. Moreover, the gynecomastia represent a condition frequently associated with HRT.

Left spermatic vein retrograde sclerosis: comparison between sclerosant agent injection through a diagnostic catheter versus through an occluding balloon catheter.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the technical success between left spermatic vein (LSV) scleroembolisation achieved with the injection of sclerosant through a diagnostic catheter and through an occluding balloon (OB), in the treatment of male varicocele.

Materials And Methods: From January 2012 to September 2013, we prospectively enrolled 100 patients with left varicocele and an indication for LSV scleroembolisation related to symptoms or spermiogram anomalies; patients were randomised to two groups (we wrote a list of 100 lines assigned casually with A or B and each patient was consecutively allocated to group A or B on the basis of this list). Patients in group A underwent injection of the sclerosing agent through an angiographic diagnostic catheter (free catheter technique) and patients in group B through an OB catheter (OB technique).