Revista Internacional De Andrologia最新文献

Objective

To investigate the effect of icariin on the transformation efficiency of germ cell-like cells from mouse induced pluripotent stem cells into sperm cells in vitro.

Methods

Firstly, mouse induced pluripotent stem cells were induced and cultured to transform into germ cell-like cells, and the primordial germ cell-like cells were identified by Western blot and RT-PCR. Then, different concentrations of icariin (0.1 μg/mL, 1 μg/mL, 10 μg/mL and 100 μg/mL) were added into the culture medium, and the obtained primitive germ cell-like cells were cultured, Western blot and RT-PCR were used to identify the obtained sperm cells, the transformation efficiency was compared.

Results

The primordium germ cell-like cells obtained from mouse induced pluripotent stem cells in vitro specially expressed Oct-4 protein, C-kit protein, Mvh mRNA, Fragilis mRNA and Stella mRNA. The sperm cells were specially expressed VASA, SCP3 and γH2AX proteins. RT-PCR showed that the sperm cells were specially expressed Ddx4, Tp2 and Prm1 mRNA. Compared with the control group, the expression level of VASA protein (1.744 ± 0.283, 2.882 ± 0.373, 6.489 ± 0.460), SCP3 protein (2.250 ± 0.306, 7.058 ± 0.521, 8.654 ± 0.804), γH2AX protein (4.304 ± 0.433, 5.713 ± 0.339, 9.268 ± 0.545), Ddx4 mRNA (1.374 ± 0.145, 2.846 ± 0.194, 4.021 ± 0.154), Tp2 mRNA (1.358 ± 0.130, 3.623 ± 0.326, 5.811 ± 0.390) and Prm1 mRNA (1.326 ± 0.162, 3.487 ± 0.237, 4.666 ± 0.307) in 0.1 μg/mL, 1 μg/mL, 10 μg/mL icariin experimental groups were all lower than that of VASA protein (10.560 ± 0.413), SCP3 protein (13.804 ± 0.642), γH2AX protein (11.874 ± 0.464), Ddx4 mRNA (6.4005 ± 0.361), Tp2 mRNA (7.314 ± 0.256) and Prm1 mRNA (7.334 ± 0.390) in 100 μg/mL icariin experimental group.

Conclusions

Icariin can promote the transformation of mouse induced pluripotent stem cells into sperm cells in vitro, and it is concentration-dependent manner in a certain concentration range.

Introduction

The sexual life of a couple is a dynamic entity, in which the two influence each other mutually, thus the existence of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) can influence the treatment of the man who seeks clinical help. Identify sexual dysfunction in female partners of patients attending an andrology clinic may provide a therapeutic opportunity. The authors aim to assess proportion of FSD in this population by comparison with a control group.

Material and methods

A longitudinal study over 12 months timespan. The female partners of patients attending the andrology clinic participating in the study (study group – SG) completed the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), as did the women serving as controls (control group – CG). Further data such as age, duration and quality of the relationship and previous relationships was also collected.

Results

Of the 30 women included in the SG, 14 (46.6%) considered that their current sex life was worse than in previous relationships. Of the 20 women in the CG, 60% considered that their current sex life was better. In the SG, 22 (73.3%) had FSD, with a mean score in the FSFI of 20.5, whereas only 3 women in the CG (15%) had FSD, with a mean score of 30.7 (p < 0.01).

Conclusions

Our study demonstrated that the proportion of FSD in female partners of patients attending an andrology clinic is significantly higher than control group. FSD treatment should be considered as a therapeutic opportunity for the couple in this setting.

The sexual manifestations of residents in long-term care facilities are often overlooked and even discouraged by care staff. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review of caregivers’ attitudes, knowledge and perceptions of sexual expression. After consulting different databases, ten scientific articles published between 2012 and 2022 met the inclusion criteria to form part of this review. This work has made it possible to identify and structure the insufficient scientific literature on this specific area of sexuality in older adults. It is concluded that there is scarce scientific literature and that the areas reviewed are determinant in the daily care of institutionalised older adults. Expanding in this field of study will allow the creation of training programmes and the creation of programmes for the care staff to deal with the sexual behaviour of institutionalised older adults.

Introduction and objectives

Persistent scrotal pain after varicocelectomy is stressful for both surgeon and patient. The number of researches focusing on which patient will benefit more from the operation is increasing in the literature. In this prospective study, we aimed to investigate whether the patient's physical activity levels and occupations affect the success of varicocelectomy in terms of pain relief.

Materials and methods

The data of 176 patients who underwent subinguinal microscopic varicocelectomy were analyzed according to BMI, age, varicocele grade, laterality, duration of pain, testicular volume difference, quality of pain, level of physical activity, and profession. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to evaluate the level of physical activity. Patients were grouped as inactive, moderately active, and active according to this scale. Visual analog scale (VAS) scores of the patients were recorded before and after the procedure.

Results

135 patients (76.7%) reported complete resolution of their pain. Partial resolution of pain was observed in 34 patients (19.3%). Seven patients (4%) complained of the same pain level. Univariate analysis showed that patient occupations and physical activity levels significantly affected the pain level (p = 0.041, p = 0.032, respectively). In the multivariate analysis, only physical activity levels of the patients were statistically significant in predicting the resolution of pain (p = 0.024).

Conclusions

Patients with low physical activity levels who underwent microscopic varicocelectomy surgery are less likely to have postoperative pain.

Introduction

With the advancement of microbiological methods, the isolation of less typical pathogens in cases of urethral and rectal infection is more frequent, apart from the classic etiological agents. One of them is formed by species of Haemophilus no ducreyi (HND). The objective of this work is to describe frequency, susceptibility to antibiotics, and clinical features of HDN urethritis and proctitis in adult males.

Patients and methods

This is an observational retrospective descriptive study of the results obtained by the Microbiology laboratory of the Virgen de las Nieves University Hospital on the isolates of HND in genital and rectal samples from males between 2016 and 2019.

Results

HND was isolated in 135 (7%) of the genital infection episodes diagnosed in men. H. parainfluenzae was the most commonly isolated (34/45; 75.6%). The most frequent symptoms in men with proctitis were rectal tenesmus (31.6%) and lymphadenopathy (10.5%); in those with urethritis, dysuria (71.6%), urethral suppuration (46.7%) and gland lesions (27%), so differentiating it from infections caused by other genitopathogens is difficult. 43% of patients were HIV positive. Antibiotic resistance rates for H. parainfluenzae were high to quinolons, ampicillin, tetracycline and macrolides.

Conclusion

HND species should be considered as possible etiologic agents in episodes of urethral and rectal infection in men, especially in cases with negative screening tests for agents that cause sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Its microbiological identification is essential for the establishment of an effective targeted treatment.

Objectives

Varicocele is a common cause of male infertility associated with an elevated testicular temperature that induces apoptosis, spermatogenesis dysfunction, and affects sperm parameters. In this study, we investigate the probable therapeutic effects of resveratrol (RES), a natural phytoalexin, against varicocele.

Materials and methods

In this study, 48 male Wistar rats randomly divided into 8 groups: normal, sham, normal + RES (20 and 50 mg/kg), varicocele, varicocele + ethanol and varicocele + RES (20 and 50 mg/kg). Incomplete closure of the left renal vein was used for varicocele induction and two months later, RES was administrated orally for 60 days. Then, sperm parameters, DNA fragmentations, chromatin density, and testis histopathology were analyzed. In addition, HSPA2, protamine 1, and 2 expression levels were evaluated using real-time PCR.

Results

According to our results, resveratrol treatment improved sperm parameters, testis histopathology, DNA fragmentation, and chromatin maturation which damaged follow varicocele (p ≤ 0.05). Also, it increased HSPA2, protamine 1, and 2 expression levels significantly in both doses (p ≤ 0.05).

Conclusion

Resveratrol potentially attenuates varicocele-induced spermatogenic impairments by its antioxidant features and regulates spermatogenic gene expression undergoing DNA fragmentation, so leads histopathological properties of tissues to physiological parameters.

Introduction

Studies have reported that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may cause erectile dysfunction (ED), however, its role in the pathophysiology of ED has not yet been fully elucidated. We aimed to elucidate COVID-19's effects on cavernosal smooth muscle, which has a pretty important role in erection physiology, by corpus cavernosum electromyography (cc-EMG).

Materials and methods

Twenty-nine male patients aged 20–50 years who applied to the urology outpatient clinic due to ED were included in the study. Nine patients that had COVID-19 and were treated as outpatients were classified as group 1, 10 patients who were hospitalized due to COVID-19 were classified as group 2, and 10 patients who did not have COVID-19 were classified as the control group (group 3). Patients underwent diagnostic evaluation including International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF)-5 form, penile color Doppler ultrasonography (CDUS), cc-EMG, and fasting serum levels of reproductive hormones (07–11 am).

Results

According to penile CDUS and hormonal values results, there was no significant difference between the groups. According to cc-EMG results, amplitudes and relaxation capacities of the cavernosal smooth muscle of patients in group 3 were significantly higher than those in the other groups.

Conclusions

COVID-19 can cause ED not only by psychogenic and hormonal factors but also with cavernosal smooth muscle damage.

Clinical Trial Registration Number: NCT04980508.

Introduction

Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) are one of the risk factors for male reproductive health and melatonin can be an ideal candidate for therapeutic development against RF-induced male fertility problems due to its antioxidant properties. The possible therapeutic role of melatonin in the destructive effects of 2100 MHz RF radiation on rat sperm characteristics is investigated in the present study.

Methods

Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups and the experiment continued for ninety consecutive days; Control, Melatonin (10 mg/kg, subcutaneously), RF (2100 MHz, thirty minutes per day, whole-body), and RF + Melatonin groups. Left caudal epididymis and ductus deferens tissues were placed in sperm wash solution (at 37 °C) and dissected. The sperms were counted and stained. Measurements of the perinuclear ring of the manchette and posterior portion of the nucleus (ARC) were performed and the sperms were examined at an ultrastructural level. All of the parameters were evaluated statistically.

Results

The percentages of abnormal sperm morphology were significantly increased with RF exposure, while the total sperm count was significantly decreased. RF exposure also showed harmful effects on acrosome, axoneme, mitochondrial sheath, and outer dense fibers at the ultrastructural level. The number of total sperms, sperms with normal morphology increased, and ultrastructural appearance returned to normal by melatonin administration.

Discussion

The data showed that melatonin may be a beneficial therapeutic agent for long-term exposure of 2100 MHz RF radiation-related reproductive impairments.

Purpose

The aim of this study is to evaluate the anatomical factors influencing elasticity values of normal testicular parenchyma using shear wave elastography (SWE).

Methods

This study examined 68 healthy male volunteers (117 testes in which standard transverse axis ultrasonography views could be obtained) via conventional scrotal ultrasonography and SWE. Both the mean (E_Mean) and standard deviation (E_SD) elasticity values were acquired.

Results

In the standard transverse axis view of the rete testis at the mid-lateral edge of the testes, the E_Mean values in 2 mm the testicular parenchyma from the rete testis and the testicular capsule at the same level as the rete testis were all significantly larger than in the central zone (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, respectively). The E_Mean value in the testicular parenchyma 2 mm from the testicular capsule on the line formed approximately 45° below the horizontal line of the rete testis was significantly larger than in the rete testis approximately 45° above the horizontal line (P < 0.001). In two standard transverse axis views, the E_SD values in other regions were significantly larger than those in the central zones (all P < 0.001). Also, the E_Mean values in the transmediastinal arteries were larger than those of the surrounding normal testicular parenchyma (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Based on SWE, factors including the testicular capsule, the density of testicular fibrous septa, the depth of the Q-Box™, and the transmediastinal artery may influence the testes elasticity measurement.

Objective

After the negative effects of smoking on public health were proven, smoking cessation campaigns were initiated by health ministries and non-governmental organizations. Many drugs have been tried to reduce the addiction to smoking and the nicotine contained in it. Recently, e-cigarettes (EC) are widely used for smoking cessation efforts, although the effects and possible harms are not fully known. In our study, we planned to show the effect of cigarette and EC smoke on the male urogenital system.

Methods

Adult male wistar rats were exposed to cigarette and EC smoke in a specially designed glass bell jar. Urine cotinine levels, testicular weights, gonadosomatic index, sperm count and sperm motility, testicular histology, and biochemical findings were compared with the control group.

Results

In some rats in the cigarette and EC group, the seminiferous tubules were disorganized, and the germ cells and Sertoli cells were separated and shed. Stopped germ cell separation, cavity formation, necrosis, fibrosis, and atrophy were observed in severe cases. Higher PCO levels were found in the cigarette group compared to controls. Tissue homogenates levels of LPO were higher in both EC and cigarette groups compared to controls. No significant differences were observed between groups in terms of sperm motility and sperm count.

Conclusion

Cigarette and EC liquid can increase oxidative stress as well as cause morphological changes in the testicle. To be a safe option in smoking cessation studies, its effect on people needs to be enlightened.