The correlation between epigenetic alterations and the pathophysiology of human infertility is progressively being elucidated with the discovery of an increasing number of target genes that exhibit altered expression patterns linked to reproductive abnormalities. Several genes and molecules are emerging as important for the future management of human infertility. In men, microRNAs (miRNAs) like miR-34c, miR-34b, and miR-122 regulate apoptosis, sperm production, and germ cell survival, while other factors, such as miR-449 and sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), influence testicular health, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial function.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNano-positioning plays a very important role in applications such as scanning probe microscopy and optics. We report the development of a compact inertial nanopositioner along with fully computer interfaced electronics operating down to 2 K and its use in our fully automated needle-anvil type Point Contact Andreev Reflection (PCAR) apparatus. We also present the fully automated operational procedures using the LabVIEW interface with our home-built electronics.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWorld J Mens Health
September 2024
Leukocytospermia, defined as a leukocyte concentration in semen exceeding 1×10 leukocytes/mL, significantly impacts male reproductive health by affecting sperm functionality and fertility outcomes. This condition arises from various etiological factors, including infections, autoimmune responses, lifestyle factors, and other physiological conditions. Adverse effects on sperm associated with leukocytospermia include acrosome damage and abnormalities in the sperm midpiece and tail.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Infertility affects approximately 15 % of couples globally, with 50 % cases of male factor infertility. Precise assessment of spermatogenesis is essential for evaluating male infertility. Recent studies suggest serum inhibin B as a promising biomarker for testicular function.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a multifaceted endocrine disorder with profound implications for the reproductive and metabolic health of women. The utilization of anthropometric measures in the diagnosis and management of PCOS has gained increasing attention due to their practicality and predictive capacity for associated conditions such as obesity and insulin resistance. This review rigorously explores the application of various anthropometric indices, including body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, and advanced metrics such as the body shape index and body roundness index, wrist circumference, neck circumference.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Women with PCOS often experience significant difficulties in achieving spontaneous pregnancy. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is a viable treatment option for these patients, offering an acceptable success rate. This study purposes to identify factors that may positively or negatively influence pregnancy rates in PCOS women undergoing ICSI and explore potential modifications to enhance successful pregnancy outcomes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: This prospective cross-sectional study aimed to delineate associations between the performance and physiological responses to the Bruce test with two field tests, the futsal intermittent endurance test (FIET) and the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test level-2 (YYIR2) in elite male futsal players, in order to endorse one of field test to futsal coaches.
Methods: Fifteen elite futsal players (age 20 ± 3 years) have been participated in this study. Main outcome measurements included aerobic power, heart rate, blood lactate, ventilation, VO, VCO, VE-VO and VE-VCO indicators during FIET, YYIR2, and the Bruce test with carrying out a portable gas analyzer.
Objectives: Digit ratio (2D:4D), as endocrine fingerprint, can indicate prenatal androgen exposure. It serves as an anatomical marker for various systemic diseases and a few studies relating it to oral health. The present study aims to evaluate the association between digit ratio and susceptibility to dental plaque formation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe quandary known as the Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) paradox is found at the juncture of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) and 'andrological ignorance' - a term coined to denote the undervalued treatment and comprehension of male infertility. The prevalent use of ICSI as a solution for severe male infertility, despite its potential to propagate genetically defective sperm, consequently posing a threat to progeny health, illuminates this paradox. We posit that the meteoric rise in Industrial Revolution 4.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRecent advancements in the understanding of how sperm develop into offspring have shown complex interactions between environmental influences and genetic factors. The past decade, marked by a research surge, has not only highlighted the profound impact of paternal contributions on fertility and reproductive outcomes but also revolutionized our comprehension by unveiling how parental factors sculpt traits in successive generations through mechanisms that extend beyond traditional inheritance patterns. Studies have shown that offspring are more susceptible to environmental factors, especially during critical phases of growth.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFConfluence of environmental, genetic, and lifestyle variables is responsible for deterioration of human fecundity. Endocrine disruptors or endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) may be found in a variety of foods, water, air, beverages, and tobacco smoke. It has been demonstrated in experimental investigations that a wide range of endocrine disrupting chemicals have negative effects on human reproductive function.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMultiple sclerosis (MS) is associated with an impaired immune system that severely affects the spinal cord and brain, and which is marked by progressive inflammatory demyelination. Patients with MS may benefit from exercise training as a suggested course of treatment. The most commonly used animal models of studies on MS are experimental autoimmune/allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) models.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common heterogeneous conditions of the endocrine reproductive system in women of childbearing age. Hyperandrogenism and oligomenorrhea are the two core characteristics of PCOS, a complicated and multifaceted illness. The condition is also linked to several major side effects, which include type 2 diabetes, early atherosclerosis, infertility, and endometrial cancer.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMale infertility research and clinical advances had vast progress in the last few decades. Strong research evidence underpinned the concepts of oxidative stress (OS)-mediated male reproductive disruptions, which bear answers to several cases of idiopathic male infertility. Antioxidant treatment held the prime solution for OS-mediated male infertility.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArsenic (As) is one of the most potent natural as well as anthropogenic metalloid toxicants that have various implications in the everyday life of humans. It is found in several chemical forms such as inorganic salt, organic salt, and arsine (gaseous form). Although it is mostly released via natural causes, there are many ways through which humans come in contact with As.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFViral infections have been a part of human existence to date, though viruses have posed a huge threat with various outbreaks lately. These threats are associated with reproductive health challenges, especially male infertility. The prime focus of this review is to highlight the mechanisms associated with viral infection-induced male infertility/subfertility and identify new treatment strategies with the aim to preserve male fertility.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMale infertility is a global public health concern. Teratozoospermia is a qualitative anomaly of spermatozoa morphology, contributing significantly to male infertility, whereas azoospermia is the complete absence of spermatozoa in the ejaculate. Thus, there is a serious need for unveiling the common origin and/or connection between both of these diseases, if any.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFReactive nitrogen species (RNS), like reactive oxygen species (ROS), are useful for sustaining reproductive processes such as cell signaling, the regulation of hormonal biosynthesis, sperm capacitation, hyperactivation, and acrosome reaction. However, endogenous levels of RNS beyond physiological limits can impair fertility by disrupting testicular functions, reducing gonadotropin production, and compromising semen quality. Excessive RNS levels cause a variety of abnormalities in germ cells and gametes, particularly in the membranes and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), and severely impair the maturation and fertilization processes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Aims: Several studies have shown that the length of ejaculatory abstinence alters sperm quality. However, the available data are conflicting and none seems to exist in a Nigerian population. The present study aims to compare the semen quality in normozoospermic and oligozoospermic semen samples of a homogenous Nigerian population, following varying ejaculatory abstinence days (EAD); less than 2, 2-3, and 3-7 days.
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