Azoospermia may be obstructive (blockage of the genital ducts) or non-obstructive (a lack of testicular production). The distinction is based on an ensemble of clinical, spermiological, hormonal, ultrasound, genetic and histological data. Azoospermia is the main indication for testicular biopsy for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes. Testicular spermatozoids are processed in the reproductive biology laboratory (simultaneously with oocyte retrieval or not) for in vitro fertilization with intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection. The histological study of spermatogenesis is usually performed on a testicular biopsy sample taken at the same time and provides additional diagnostic information on infertility. Histological alterations in the testicular tissues are frequently observed in azoospermic men. In non-obstructive azoospermia, three histological situations prevail: hypospermatogenesis, Sertoli-cell-only syndrome and germ cell arrest. One can distinguish between pure forms (in which all the seminiferous tubules have the same appearance) and mixed forms (in which the tubules' aspects are heterogeneous). Hypospermatogenesis is highly prevalent in azoospermia and is characterized by a low, basal level of spermatozoid production. The prevalence of Sertoli-cell-only syndrome varies from 27 to 68% and the mean spermatozoid recovery rate is between 16 and 33%. Germ cell arrests are rare phenotypes and have a poor prognosis for spermatozoid recovery. Overall, histological examination (still the only way to fully describe spermatogenesis) must be qualitative and quantitative, with the adoption of a standardized, universally understood terminology. It is essential to compare the histological data with (i) recovery of testicular spermatozoids, (ii) clinical, ultrasound, hormonal and genetic data and (iii) the outcome of IVF/ICSI procedures.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.annpat.2010.03.015 | DOI Listing |
Breast Cancer (Dove Med Press)
December 2024
Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center, Bronx, NY, USA.
Early detection is a relative newcomer in medicine, with its efficacy relying not only on therapy but also on the availability of evidence supporting the advantage of treatment at an earlier stage. Late 19th century histologic evidence that cancer begins as a single primary focus and Halsted's centrifugal theory of stepwise spread (breast, regional nodes, and systemic distribution) provided the rationale for both en bloc surgery and the lifesaving benefit of early detection. Clinicians soon noticed exceptions to this ordered timeline, and pathologists identified histological features that questioned its primacy; however, Bernard Fisher spearheaded the initial challenge.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFComput Struct Biotechnol J
December 2024
School of Information Science and Engineering, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, Yunnan, China.
The rapid development of spatial transcriptomics (ST) technology has provided unprecedented opportunities to understand tissue relationships and functions within specific spatial contexts. Accurate identification of spatial domains is crucial for downstream spatial transcriptomics analysis. However, effectively combining gene expression data, histological images and spatial coordinate data to identify spatial domains remains a challenge.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCureus
November 2024
Oncology, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, USA.
Introduction: Spindle cell melanoma (SCM) is a rare melanoma subtype characterized histologically by atypical, spindled, malignant melanocytes. SCM often presents in older patients and lacks typical cytologic markers, complicating diagnosis and frequently leading to advanced disease upon presentation. While some studies have documented SCM incidence, none have thoroughly examined the demographic, socioeconomic, and treatment factors influencing survival outcomes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMC Pulm Med
December 2024
Medical Department I, Division of Pneumology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany.
Purpose: The role of lung biopsy for evaluation of persistent chest radiographic abnormalities including secondary organizing pneumonia (OP) in COVID-19 remains uncertain. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of trans-bronchial forceps biopsy (TBFB) in patients with persistent lung abnormalities on thoracic computed tomography (CT) scan following SARS-CoV-2 infection with particular focus on cases with OP and immunocompromised (IC) patients.
Methods: Descriptive retrospective single center analysis of all TBFB performed for diffuse lung parenchymal changes after COVID-19 03-2020 to 06-2023.
Discov Oncol
December 2024
Laboratory of Integrative Oncology, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan.
Nuclear receptors, a group of 48 transcription factors that regulate a multitude of processes within our body, have long been employed as diagnostic markers or therapeutic targets in breast cancer, prostate cancer, and acute promyelocytic leukemia. Unfortunately, no comprehensive investigation has been conducted on their significance in other cancer types. The current study aimed to explore novel diagnostic markers by classifying nuclear receptors according to their expression patterns based on transcriptome data from The Cancer Genome Atlas on 10,071 tumor samples across 33 cancer types and investigating their association with genetic mutations, histological types, and prognosis.
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