Interstitial Lung Disease and Pulmonary Damage in Primary Sjögren's Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Pulmonary lung involvement is the most common extra-glandular manifestation in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS), leading to a worsening of the patient's prognosis. To date, different studies have assessed the prevalence of pulmonary involvement and interstitial lung disease (ILD) in pSS patients with different results.

Methods: We performed a systematic literature review and meta-analysis on ILD pooled prevalence in pSS according to the PRISMA and MOOSE guidelines.

Men with spinal cord injury have a smaller prostate volume than age-matched able-bodied men: a meta-analysis of case-control studies.

Study Design: Meta-analysis OBJECTIVES: Denervation and androgen deficiency, peculiar to individuals with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI), could hinder, to some extent, both prostate growth and activity. To comprehensively assess the relationship between SCI and prostate volume, we carried out a meta-analysis of the available case-control studies.

Methods: A thorough search of MEDLINE, Scopus and Web of Science was carried out to identify studies comparing prostate volume in men with and without SCI.

Erectile dysfunction in hyperuricemia: A prevalence meta-analysis and meta-regression study.

Background: Whether and to what extent an association exists between hyperuricemia and erectile dysfunction (ED) has not yet been fully determined.

Objective: To define pooled prevalence estimates and correlates of erectile dysfunction in men with hyperuricemic disorders.

Materials And Methods: A thorough search of Medline, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases was performed.

Association Between Minor Salivary Gland Biopsy During Sjӧgren's Syndrome and Serologic Biomarkers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: Patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) may develop a potentially severe disease with extra-glandular involvement and lymphoma insurgence. Minor salivary gland biopsy is routinely used in the disease diagnosis, but its potential role as a biomarker for clinical disease presentation and prognosis is still poorly understood.

Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis on clinical presentation and prognosis in pSS patients who underwent minor salivary gland biopsy at diagnosis according to the PRISMA guidelines.

Effects of bisphenol S and bisphenol F on human spermatozoa: An in vitro study.

Bisphenol A (BPA), the main chemical monomer of epoxy resins and polycarbonate plastics, has generated concerns about its endocrine disruptor properties, along with the reported possible links with several human health disorders. Accordingly, some restrictions on its use have been recommended. Bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol F (BPF) are the main replacements to BPA, with which they share homologies in chemical structure.

Erectile Dysfunction Is the Main Correlate of Depression in Men with Chronic Spinal Cord Injury.

Depression is the most prevalent psychological issue after a spinal cord injury (SCI) and is associated with noticeable disability, mortality and health expenditure. As SCI mainly occurs in sexually active men at a young age, and can lead to them suffering from an organic neurogenic erectile dysfunction (ED), we supposed that ED could be a major correlate of depressive status in men with SCI. As documented by a Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) score ≥14, depression was reported in 17 out of 57 men with a chronic SCI (29.

Erectile Dysfunction and Decreased Libido in Klinefelter Syndrome: A Prevalence Meta-Analysis and Meta-Regression Study.

Background: Only few studies have assessed sexual dysfunction in men with Klinefelter syndrome (KS).

Aim: To define pooled prevalence estimates and correlates of erectile dysfunction (ED) and decreased libido (DL) in KS.

Methods: A thorough search of Medline, Embase and Web of Science was performed to identify suitable studies.

Pathophysiology of Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Human Spermatozoa: Focus on Energetic Metabolism, Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis.

The dogma of mitochondria as the major source of energy in supporting sperm motility should be critically reconsidered in the light of several experimental data pointing to a major role of glycolysis in mammalian spermatozoa. In this light, the reported positive correlation between the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and motility of ejaculated spermatozoa cannot be explained convincingly by an impaired mitochondrial ATP generation only. Evidence has been produced suggesting that, in human sperm, dysfunctional mitochondria represent the main site of generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Crocetin Mitigates Irradiation Injury in an In Vitro Model of the Pubertal Testis: Focus on Biological Effects and Molecular Mechanisms.

Infertility is a potential side effect of radiotherapy and significantly affects the quality of life for adolescent cancer survivors. Very few studies have addressed in pubertal models the mechanistic events that could be targeted to provide protection from gonadotoxicity and data on potential radioprotective treatments in this peculiar period of life are elusive. In this study, we utilized an in vitro model of the mouse pubertal testis to investigate the efficacy of crocetin to counteract ionizing radiation (IR)-induced injury and potential underlying mechanisms.

Mortality in tocilizumab-treated patients with COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: People who are exposed to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) could develop a potentially fatal disease with lung involvement and severe cytokine storm syndrome (CSS) - coronavirus disease 2019 (hereafter, COVID-19). Tocilizumab (TCZ) was administered to these subjects, despite the lack of randomised clinical trial data. Hence, summarising data on the mortality rate and related risks factors may help physicians to correctly administer TCZ.

Bisphenol A and Male Fertility: Myths and Realities.

Bisphenol A (BPA) represents the main chemical monomer of epoxy resins and polycarbonate plastics. The environmental presence of BPA is widespread, and it can easily be absorbed by the human body through dietary and transdermal routes, so that more than 90% of the population in western countries display detectable BPA levels in the urine. As BPA is qualified as an endocrine disruptor, growing concern is rising for possible harmful effects on human health.

Independent Association of Erectile Dysfunction and Low Testosterone Levels With Life Dissatisfaction in Men With Chronic Spinal Cord Injury.

Background: The loss of global functional independence, along with bladder, bowel, and sexual dysfunctions, may contribute to psychological distress and life dissatisfaction after spinal cord injury (SCI).

Aim: To explore the relationship of erectile function and androgenic status with life satisfaction, independently from confounders recognizable in spinal cord-injured men.

Methods: 100 consecutive men (49 ± 17 years) admitted to a rehabilitation program because of chronic SCI (≥1 year) underwent clinical/biochemical evaluations, including the assessment of life and sexual satisfaction using the Life-Satisfaction Questionnaire-9 (LiSat-9), erectile function using the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5), global and bowel-bladder functional independence using the Spinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM) and measurement of total testosterone (TT) levels.

Testosterone replacement therapy.

Background: The aim of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is to improve symptoms and signs of testosterone deficiency including decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, depressed mood, anaemia, loss of muscle and bone mass, by increasing serum testosterone levels to physiologic range. TRT has been used in the last 70 years, and overtime, numerous preparations and formulations have been developed to improve pharmacokinetics (PKs) and patient compliance. The routes of delivery approved for use in the Western world include buccal, nasal, subdermal, transdermal and intramuscular (IM).

Polymorphic Cytosine-Adenine-Guanine Repeat Length of Androgen Receptor Gene and Gender Incongruence in Trans Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Case-Control Studies.

Introduction: It has been hypothesized that gender incongruence in transgender women could result from an antenatal impaired androgen activity on the developing brain. As the length of polymorphic cytosine-adenine-guanine (CAG) repeat sequences in the androgen receptor (AR) gene is inversely correlated with AR transcriptional activity, some studies explored a possible association between long CAG repeats and gender incongruence in trangender women. Yet results remain inconclusive.

Testicular Cancer in Infertile Men With and Without Testicular Microlithiasis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Case-Control Studies.

An association between testicular microlithiasis (TM) and both carcinoma (CIS) of the testis and testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) has been reported. Furthermore, TM seems to be significantly more prevalent in men with male-factor infertility, representing itself a risk factor for TGCT. Nevertheless, the evidence of the association of TM with a higher prevalence of testicular cancer in infertile men remains inconclusive.

Erectile Dysfunction and Premature Ejaculation in Homosexual and Heterosexual Men: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Comparative Studies.

Introduction: Comparative studies on differences in sexual function outcomes between homosexual and heterosexual men are sparse and inconclusive.

Aim: To systematically evaluate whether, and to what extent, a statistically significant difference exists in the odds of erectile dysfunction (ED) and premature ejaculation (PE) between homosexual and heterosexual men.

Methods: A thorough search of Medline, SCOPUS, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases was carried out to identify case-control studies comparing the prevalence of ED and PE in homosexual and heterosexual men.

Effect of prolonged treatment with phosphodiesterase-5-inhibitors on endothelial dysfunction in vascular diseases and vascular risk conditions: A systematic review analysis and meta-analysis of randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trials.

Objective: To challenge the argument that continuous use of phosphodiesterase-5-selective inhibitors may reduce endothelial cell dysfunction in patients with vascular diseases or vascular risk conditions.

Design: This study included systematic reviews and meta-analysis of randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trials dealing with the prolonged use of phosphodiesterase-5-selective inhibitors. The risk of bias and quality of trials were assessed by the Cochrane algorithm.

Reproductive hormones and sperm parameters after varicocele repair: An observational study.

Varicocele repair (VR) is associated with improved sperm parameters in subfertile patients. We examined the association of the levels of reproductive hormones, scrotal colour Doppler ultrasound (CDU) and seminal parameters in subfertile men, before and after VR. Fifty subfertile males, with left-side varicocele, were enrolled in this retrospective study.

Risk of prostate cancer in men with spinal cord injury: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

A lower risk of prostate cancer has been reported in men with spinal cord injury (SCI) as compared to that observed in able-bodied subjects. As injury-related consequences can have opposite effects on prostate pathophysiology, this meta-analysis aimed to (1) establish the existence/quantify the extent of decreased prostate cancer risk following SCI and (2) find out if there is any statistically significant difference in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels between SCI and able-bodied subjects. MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Scopus, CINAHL, and ScienceDirect databases were used.

AN ITALIAN SURVEY OF COMPLIANCE WITH MAJOR GUIDELINES FOR L-THYROXINE OF PRIMARY HYPOTHYROIDISM.

Objective: The adherence by endocrinologists to guideline regarding levothyroxine (LT4) therapy and the compliance of patients may impact the management of hypothyroidism. The aim of this study was to compare the adherence of Italian endocrinologists to the ATA/AACE and ETA guidelines on the management of newly diagnosed primary hypothyroidism and to validate the Italian version of the Morisky-Green Medical Adherence Scale-8 (MMAS-8) questionnaire as applied to the evaluation of the adherence of patients with hypothyroidism to LT4 treatment.

Methods: This was an observational, longitudinal, multicenter, cohort study, involving 12 Italian Units of Endocrinology.

Low vitamin D levels are independent predictors of 1-year worsening in physical function in people with chronic spinal cord injury: a longitudinal study.

Study Design: Longitudinal cohort study.

Objective: To explore the longitudinal association of baseline vitamin D levels with 1-year change in physical function outcomes in people with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI).

Setting: Rehabilitation institute.

Lower Vitamin D Levels Are Associated With Depression in People With Chronic Spinal Cord Injury.

Objectives: To determine (1) whether the serum concentration of 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) was associated with depression levels in people with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) and (2) whether any observed association was independent of potential confounders.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Rehabilitation institute.

Serum From Patients With Erectile Dysfunction and Vascular Risk Factors Triggered an Oxidative Stress-Dependent Mitochondrial Apoptotic Pathway in Ex Vivo Expanded Circulating Angiogenic Cells of Healthy Men.

Introduction: Serum from men with erectile dysfunction (ED) and vascular risk factors inhibits circulating mononuclear cells (MNCs) from expanding ex vivo and differentiating circulating angiogenic cells (CACs), which are putatively involved in the repair of endothelial damage.

Aim: To explore the involvement of apoptosis in the inhibition of CAC differentiation from MNCs of healthy men exerted by serum from men with ED and vascular risk factors.

Methods: MNCs from healthy men were cultured in serum from 10 healthy men (median age = 45 years, 25th-75th quartiles = 38.