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Andrology 2020 Jul 7. Epub 2020 Jul 7.

First Responder Health and Safety Laboratory, Department of Health and Human Physiological Sciences, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York, United States.

Background: Low endogenous testosterone has been associated with increased cardiovascular risk in men.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of low serum testosterone level (TT) in a cohort of male US career firefighters and to examine its relation with left ventricular wall thickness (LVWT).

Material And Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among 341 career firefighters, (age:37. Read More

Andrology 2020 Jul 5. Epub 2020 Jul 5.

Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology, University Hospital Schleswig Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany.

Background: Peyronie's disease (PD) can be a cosmetically and functionally devastating condition. Surgical approaches have been proposed in the chronic stages of PD as plication or plaque incision/excision with grafting to preserve penile size in complex cases. Although several surgeons nowadays are inclined towards the utilization of non-autologous grafts owing to the ease of their preparation and availability, synthetic graft procedures still await more technical improvements and supporting evidence before their consideration for standard care. Read More

Andrology 2020 Jul 3. Epub 2020 Jul 3.

Department of Growth and Reproduction and International Centre for Research and Research Training, Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, Denmark (address: Blegdamsvej 9, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Background: Studies have reported associations between psychological stress and semen quality, but most have been performed on selected populations using different stress measures. Thus, it is uncertain which stress scale best quantifies the effects of stress on testicular function.

Objective: To study the association between three different measures of stress and testicular function in young men. Read More

Andrology 2020 Jul 3. Epub 2020 Jul 3.

Department of Growth and Reproduction, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Background: Testicular microlithiasis (TM) is sometimes found on scrotal ultrasound. The prevalence seems higher in populations of men with testicular dysfunction, and TM may be a risk factor for testicular germ cell neoplasia in situ in men with additional risk factors. The association between TM and testicular function is controversial, especially in incidentally found TM. Read More

Andrology 2020 Jul 3. Epub 2020 Jul 3.

Department of Urology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.

Background: Penile cancer represents a rare pathology whose natural history of treatment is poorly understood.

Objective: To illustrate the dynamic survival profiles in surgically treated patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the penis (SCCP) using the conditional survival (CS) estimates.

Materials And Methods: Patients with non-metastatic SCCP were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Read More

Andrology 2020 Jul 1. Epub 2020 Jul 1.

University of Geneva, Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, Geneva, Switzerland.

Background: The effects of PPIs on human spermatozoa fertilizing capacity were poorly investigated although these drugs are widely over-used. Two publications retrospectively studied relationships between any PPI intake and sperm parameters from patients consulting at infertility clinics, but the conclusions of these reports were contradictory. Only two reports investigated the effects of lansoprazole and omeprazole on sperm motility and found lansoprazole to be deleterious and omeprazole to be neutral for sperm motility. Read More

Andrology 2020 Jul 1. Epub 2020 Jul 1.

Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacology, Izmir, Turkey.

Background: Resistin is known as a potential mediator of obesity-associated insulin resistance. The high resistin level disrupts nitric oxide (NO)-mediated relaxation which is also important in erectile function. An antioxidant alkaloid, Boldine, is known as anti-diabetic and protects endothelial functions. Read More

Andrology 2020 Jul 1. Epub 2020 Jul 1.

Department of Urology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States.

Background: Exercise and weight loss have been shown to improve serum testosterone (T) in obese individuals. However, the association between low T levels and guideline-based exercise thresholds has not been determined.

Objective: Using the recently updated Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee (PAGAC) recommendations, we sought to investigate the relationship between recommended activity levels and the prevalence of low T levels. Read More

Andrology 2020 Jun 29. Epub 2020 Jun 29.

Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China.

Background: Since SARS-CoV-2 infection was first identified in December 2019, the novel coronavirus-induced pneumonia COVID-19 spread rapidly and triggered a global pandemic. Recent bioinformatics evidence suggests that angiotensin converting enzyme 2-the main cell entry target of SARS-CoV-2-is predominantly enriched in spermatogonia, Leydig and Sertoli cells, which suggests the potential vulnerability of the male reproductive system to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Objectives: To identify SARS-CoV-2 RNA in seminal plasma and to determine semen characteristics from male patients in the acute and recovery phases of infection. Read More

Andrology 2020 Jun 29. Epub 2020 Jun 29.

Department of Nephro-urology, Nagoya City University, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan.

Background: Recent studies have shown that epigenetic alterations, such as those involving lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1), lead to oncogenic activation and highlight such alterations as therapeutic targets. However, studies evaluating the effect of LSD1 inhibitors on male fertility are lacking.

Objectives: We analyzed the potential toxicity of a new selective LSD1 inhibitor, N-[(1S)-3-[3-(trans-2-aminocyclopropyl)phenoxy]-1-(benzylcarbamoyl)propyl] benzamide (NCL1), in testes. Read More

Andrology 2020 Jun 29. Epub 2020 Jun 29.

Laboratory in Reproductive Medicine and Molecular Endocrinology, Center of Translational Medicine-Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus (CEMT-BIOREN), Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile.

Background: The sperm vitrification developed by this group is based on the ultrarapid freezing of a vitrification solution composed of a non-permeable cryoprotectant (saccharides and protein), in which previously selected sperm are resuspended, free of seminal plasma, and then plunged directly into liquid nitrogen. Compared to traditional sperm freezing, vitrification does not cause chemical or physical damage to the intracellular structures and reduces the damage to the plasma membrane because no ice crystals form, thus preserving motility and DNA integrity.

Objectives: This manuscript is a review of the vitrification methodology developed by the authors' research group, including studies showing the application in human reproduction therapy. Read More

Andrology 2020 Jun 29. Epub 2020 Jun 29.

São Paulo State University (Unesp), School of Dentistry, Department of Morphology, Genetics, Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, Araraquara, Brazil.

Background: Venlafaxine (selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor - SNRI) use has increased worldwide. However, the impact of venlafaxine on testes and sperm parameters has not been investigated.

Objectives: We evaluated venlafaxine impact on testicular and sperm parameters and verified whether the changes are reversible. Read More

Andrology 2020 Jun 28. Epub 2020 Jun 28.

Department of Urology, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China.

Background: The number of erectile dysfunction (ED) patients is increasing annualy. How to improve the effectiveness of ED treatment is an important issue for the field of andrology.

Objectives: To investigate whether low androgen status impairs the erectile function of rats by regulated endothelial nitric oxide synthase(eNOS) uncoupling. Read More

Andrology 2020 Jun 27. Epub 2020 Jun 27.

Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine-Section of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Endocrinology and Rare Diseases, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", School of Medicine, Policlinico, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124, Bari, Italy.

Background: Late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) is a syndrome characterized by clinical and biochemical evidence of low testosterone levels with advancing age. In recent years, several guidelines, position statements and other recommendations have become available. It is unclear whether similar indications are reported in these documents . Read More

Andrology 2020 Jun 27. Epub 2020 Jun 27.

Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Medical Specialties, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria of Modena, Modena, Italy.

Background: It has recently been suggested that the hypergonadotropic hypogonadism characterizing Klinefelter syndrome (KS) might not be due to a steroidogenic dysfunction per se, but mainly to an altered testosterone (T) secretion into the bloodstream. However, the Leydig cell functionality remains incompletely studied in KS, and new markers should be considered. Previous data indicated that chronic hCG stimulation influence the production of both Insulin-like peptide 3 (INSL3) and 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25-VD) in eugonadal men. Read More

Andrology 2020 Jun 23. Epub 2020 Jun 23.

Andrology Laboratory, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.

Background: Males with short penises may suffer from sexual dysfunction and psychological problems. However, currently, managing short penis is a huge challenge.

Objectives: To explore whether inhibition of lysyl oxidase (LOX) activity (Anti-LOX) combined with a vacuum device (VD) could lengthen the penis of pubertal rat. Read More

Andrology 2020 Jun 18. Epub 2020 Jun 18.

Endocrinology, Diabetology and Andrology Unit, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, IRCCS, Rozzano, MI, Italy.

Background: Klinefelter syndrome (KS) may induce skeletal fragility, but the studies so far published on this topic were mainly focused on the evaluation of bone mineral density (BMD) and bone microstructure, whereas data on fracture risk is still lacking.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence and determinants of vertebral fractures (VFs), i.e. Read More

Andrology 2020 Jun 17. Epub 2020 Jun 17.

Division of Experimental Oncology/Unit of Urology, URI; RCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.

Introduction And Objectives: Adult patients with Klinefelter syndrome (KS) may present with testicular volume loss and a decrease in circulating testosterone (T) levels. However, the actual rate of hypogonadism in adult KS men is unknown. We aimed to (a) assess the prevalence of different forms of hypogonadism in a cohort of KS patients with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA); and (b) investigate potential preoperative predictor of positive sperm retrieval (SR) at surgery in the same cohort of men. Read More

Andrology 2020 Jun 17. Epub 2020 Jun 17.

Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Shaanxi, China.

Background: The epididymis is a popular research topic in urology and reproduction.

Objectives: To explore and identify the anatomical characteristics of the epididymis based on histology, proteomics, and 3D reconstruction of epididymal tubules.

Materials And Methods: A 3D reconstruction of epididymal tubules was generated based on 7-μm-thick transverse serial sections of an epididymis. Read More

Andrology 2020 Jun 13. Epub 2020 Jun 13.

Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Background: Although humans are exposed to mixtures of endocrine disruptor chemicals, few studies have examined their toxicity on male reproduction. We previously found that fetal exposure to a mixture of the phytoestrogen genistein (GEN) and the plasticizer di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) altered gene expression in adult rat testes.

Objectives: Our goal was to investigate the effects of fetal exposure to GEN-DEHP mixtures at two doses relevant to humans on testicular function and transcriptome in neonatal and adult rats. Read More

Andrology 2020 Jun 13. Epub 2020 Jun 13.

Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.

A recent report by Li et al., described the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in semen samples of six patients, including two subjects who were recovering from the clinical disease. This finding re-opened the discussion on possible male genital tract infection, virus shedding in semen, sexual transmission and safety of fertility treatments during the pandemic period [1]. Read More

Andrology 2020 Jun 12. Epub 2020 Jun 12.

Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology, Saarland University, Homburg, Saar, Germany.

Background: Seminomatous germ cell tumours (SGCT) are the most frequent malignancy in young men. Reliable prognostic biomarkers for the prediction of metastasis at diagnosis and the risk of relapse in clinical stage I (CSI) are lacking. Adjuvant therapies carry a risk of overtreatment, whereas salvage therapies have a risk of high toxicities. Read More

Andrology 2020 Jun 11. Epub 2020 Jun 11.

Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Policlinico Umberto I of Rome, Rome, Italy.

Background: A pandemic outbreak of COVID-19 has been sweeping the world since December. It begins as a respiratory infection that, mainly in men with diabetes or renal impairment, evolves into a systemic disease, with SARDS, progressive endothelial cell damage, abnormal clotting and impaired cardiovascular and liver function. Some clinical trials are testing biological drugs to limit the immune system dysregulation, "cytokines storm," that causes the systemic complications of COVID-19. Read More

Andrology 2020 Jun 11. Epub 2020 Jun 11.

Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine - Section of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Endocrinology and Rare Diseases, School of Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy.

Background: The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) disease 2019 (COVID-19) seems to have a worse clinical course among infected men compared with women, thus highlighting concerns about gender predisposition to serious prognosis. Therefore, androgens, particularly testosterone (T), could be suspected as playing a critical role in driving this excess of risk. However, gonadal function in critically ill men is actually unknown, mainly because serum T concentration is not routinely measured in clinical practice, even more in this clinical context. Read More

Andrology 2020 Jun 2. Epub 2020 Jun 2.

Research Program in Men's Health: Aging and Metabolism, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

Background: Testosterone treatment increases erythrocytes in men, but its effects on leukocyte and platelet counts are unknown and could affect its safety.

Objective: To determine whether testosterone affects circulating leukocytes and platelets in men.

Methods: Secondary analyses of two randomized testosterone trials were performed: the 5α-reductase (5aR) and OPTIMEN trials. Read More

Andrology 2020 Jun 2. Epub 2020 Jun 2.

Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States, 90089.

I am pleased to introduce this thematic issue of Andrology, which represents the proceedings of The XXVth Workshop, entitled "Lifelong Cell-Cell Interactions in the Testis: A Driver for Male Fertility" held on April 3-6, 2019 at The Ritz-Carlton Chicago, Chicago, Illinois. Understanding the cellular, biochemical and molecular processes in the testis that underpin male fertility will contribute to the early diagnosis, prevention and treatment of infertility as well as to the development of a reversible male contraceptive. Read More

Andrology 2020 May 29. Epub 2020 May 29.

Department of Global Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.

Research is needed to understand the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in semen, sexual transmissibility, and impact on sperm quality. Several studies have examined men recovering from COVID-19, but large-scale community-based testing is needed to ascertain the effects on the male reproductive tract, and the potential for prolonged transmission. Read More

Andrology 2020 May 29. Epub 2020 May 29.

Department of Human Reproduction, Division of Gynaecology, University Medical Center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Background: DNA methylation patterns can show transgenerational inheritance and are influenced by lifestyle and environmental factors. It is suggested that these patterns can be changed by assisted reproductive technology.

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of two different sperm preparation methods, conventional density gradient centrifugation (DGC) vs. Read More

Andrology 2020 May 29. Epub 2020 May 29.

Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.

Background: Bone health is underdiagnosed and undermanaged in men. Bone loss occurs in men with hypogonadism and in aging men. Thus, patients with a diagnosis of late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) are at risk of osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures. Read More

Andrology 2020 May 27. Epub 2020 May 27.

Urology Department, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester University Hospitals Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK.

Background: Collagenase clostridium histolyticum is a recognized non-surgical management for Peyronie's disease, licenced for use in the UK for patients with a palpable plaque and a curvature deformity of at least 30°. However, it is not currently funded for use within the National Health Service. Collagenase clostridium histolyticum has also recently been withdrawn from the European and other markets worldwide, but there is potential for this to be produced off-patent in the future. Read More

Andrology 2020 May 26. Epub 2020 May 26.

Laboratory of Seminology - Sperm Bank "Loredana Gandini", Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.

Great concerns have been raised on SARS-CoV-2 impact on men's andrological well-being, and one of the critically unanswered questions is whether it is present or not in the seminal fluid of infected subjects. The expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 in the testis and in the male genital tract allows speculations about a possible testicular involvement during the infection, possibly mediated by local and/or systemic inflammation that might allow a high viral load to overcome the hemato-testicular barrier. To date, few investigations have been carried out to ascertain the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the seminal fluid with contrasting results. Read More

Andrology 2020 May 26. Epub 2020 May 26.

Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.

The coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic carries clinical, economic and social burdens that are currently being disclosed. The key steps of virus life cycle have been recently clarified, highlighting the role of host type 2 angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE2) and TMPRSS2 serine protease in virus-cell binding and entry, respectively. Importantly, major concerns derive from the androgen-dependent tissue-expression of both TMPRSS2 and ACE2, suggesting a differential clinical course of the infection between genders. Read More

Andrology 2020 May 25. Epub 2020 May 25.

Department of Laboratory Animal Medicine, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, BK21 PLUS Program for Creative Veterinary Science Research, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.

Background: Glutathione peroxidase 3 (Gpx3) protects cells from oxidative stress and its reduced expression in human prostate cancer has been reported.

Objectives: We hypothesized that Gpx3 might play an important role in the development of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN), a pre-cancerous state of the prostate, and aimed to highlight the underlying molecular mechanism.

Materials And Methods: The following double-knockout mice Nkx3. Read More

Andrology 2020 May 25. Epub 2020 May 25.

Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.

Background: Male infertility represents a complex clinical condition requiring an accurate multilevel assessment, in which machine learning technology, combining large data series in non-linear and highly interactive ways, could be innovatively applied.

Methods: A longitudinal, observational, retrospective, big data study was carried out, applying for the first time the ML in the context of male infertility. A large database including all semen samples collected between 2010 and 2016 was generated, together with blood biochemical examinations, environmental temperature and air pollutants exposure. Read More

Andrology 2020 May;8(3):807-813

President of the European Academy of Andrology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy.

Andrology 2020 May;8(3):814

Andrology 2020 May;8(3):530-531

Department of Physiology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.

Andrology 2020 May;8(3):532-534

Division of Systems Medicine, Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland.

Andrology 2020 May 23. Epub 2020 May 23.

Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.

Background: Testicular ultrasound (US) is routinely employed in the evaluation of reproductive and sexual function. However, its use for characteristics other than testicular volume is hampered by a lack of information on the prognostic value of its findings, which to date have only been incorporated in a score proposed by Lenz et al in 1993.

Objectives: We sought to explore whether testicular US examination can predict the quality of spermatogenesis and provide information on testicular endocrine function. Read More

Andrology 2020 May 22. Epub 2020 May 22.

Centre for Reproductive Health, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.

Background: Snail transcription factors mediate key cellular transitions in many developmental processes, including spermatogenesis, and their production can be regulated by TGF-β superfamily signalling. SNAI1 and SNAI2 support many cancers of epithelial origin. Their functional relevance and potential regulation by TGF-β superfamily ligands in germ cell neoplasia are unknown. Read More

Andrology 2020 May 21. Epub 2020 May 21.

Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.

Background: Steroidogenesis decline is reported to be one of the mechanisms associated with obesity-induced male factor subfertility/infertility.

Objectives: We explored the possible preventive/therapeutic effects of orlistat (a medication prescribed for weight loss) on obesity-induced steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis decline.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-four adult male Sprague Dawley rats weighing 250-300 g were randomized into four groups (n = 6/group), namely; normal control, high-fat diet, high-fat diet plus orlistat preventive group and high-fat diet plus orlistat treatment group. Read More

Andrology 2020 May 20. Epub 2020 May 20.

Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", Andrology, Women's Endocrinology and Gender Incongruence Unit, University of Florence - Careggi Hospital, Florence, Italy.

Background: The pandemic of new severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) due to coronavirus (CoV) 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has stressed the importance of effective diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of clinical worsening and mortality. Epidemiological data showing a differential impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on women and men have suggested a potential role for testosterone (T) in determining gender disparity in the SARS-CoV-2 clinical outcomes.

Objectives: To estimate the association between T level and SARS-CoV-2 clinical outcomes (defined as conditions requiring transfer to higher or lower intensity of care or death) in a cohort of patients admitted in the respiratory intensive care unit (RICU). Read More

Andrology 2020 May 18. Epub 2020 May 18.

Department of Reproductive Biotechnology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran.

Background: In rodents and humans, vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is associated with altered sperm structure and function (primarily decreased motility and morphological abnormalities) that are primarily attributed to VDD-induced hypocalcemia. However, it is suspected that VDD has much more drastic effects on mammalian spermatozoa.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to illustrate that VDD, depending on its severity and duration, can alter sperm nuclear integrity and can also lead to the loss of spermatozoa's ability to support embryonic development. Read More

Andrology 2020 May 16. Epub 2020 May 16.

Center for Reproductive Medicine, Amsterdam Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Background: Origin of human adult Leydig cells (ALCs) is not well understood. This might be partly due to limited data available on the identification and location of human precursor and stem Leydig cells (SLCs) which hampers the study on the development of ALCs.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to investigate whether described human (PDGFRα, NGFR) and rodent (NES, PDGFRα, THY1, NR2F2) SLC markers are expressed by a common cell population within human adult testicular interstitial cells in vivo and before and after in vitro propagation. Read More

Andrology 2020 May 16. Epub 2020 May 16.

Genetics Unit, INIBIC-Complexo Hospitalario Universitario A Coruña (CHUAC), A Coruña, Spain.

Background: Procedures to detect sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF), like the sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) test, determine the "global" SDF without discriminating between spermatozoa with single-strand DNA breaks only (SDF-SSBs) and those containing double-strand DNA breaks (SDF-DSBs).

Objectives: (a) To validate a test to distinguish human spermatozoa with massive DSBs (DSB-SCD assay), (b) to study the baseline SDF-SSBs and SDF-DSBs, and (c) to assess their dynamics in vitro.

Materials And Methods: (a) SDF-DSBs were determined by visualization of diffused DNA fragments from spermatozoa lysed under non-denaturing conditions. Read More

Andrology 2020 May 15. Epub 2020 May 15.

Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.

Introduction: Vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency is highly prevalent in China, but its effect on sperm quality and outcomes of assisted reproductive technology (ART) in men from infertile couples is not clear. This study aimed to explore the association of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels and semen parameters, as well as ART outcomes for men from infertile couples.

Materials And Methods: This study recruited 1308 men from infertile couples who attended the Reproductive Medicine Center of Peking University Third Hospital for first time from February to August 2019 (NCT03804294). Read More

Andrology 2020 May 14. Epub 2020 May 14.

Department of Urology, Careggi Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.

Background: Recently, alterations in miRNAs expression profile in semen have been linked to damaged spermatogenesis, suggesting miRNAs could be used as potential infertility biomarkers. In previous animal studies, miR-20a-5p was found to be down-expressed in low motile spermatozoa, implying its potential target of genes associated with cell apoptosis.

Objective: To investigate miR-20a-5p expression in blood plasma of patients suffering from non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA), compared to normozoospermic controls. Read More

Andrology 2020 May 9. Epub 2020 May 9.

Center for Reproductive Medicine, Houston, United States.

Background: Genitourinary anomalies occur in approximately 1% of humans, but in most cases the cause is unknown. Aristaless-Like-Homeobox-4 (ALX4) is an important homeodomain transcription-factor. ALX4 mutations in humans and mouse have been associated with craniofacial defects and genitourinary anomalies such as cryptorchidism and epispadias. Read More

Andrology 2020 May 8. Epub 2020 May 8.

Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (GEBC CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) & Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (P.CCC), Porto, Portugal.

Background: Testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) are highly sensitive to platinum-based chemotherapy, and wild-type p53 seems to play a pivotal role in this susceptibility. On the other hand, overexpression of MDM2 seems to entail treatment resistance and unfavorable prognosis.

Objectives: We aimed to describe p53 and MDM2 immunoexpression in a well-characterized cohort of primary and metastatic TGCTs and evaluate associations with clinicopathological and prognostic variables, including survival. Read More

Andrology 2020 May 8. Epub 2020 May 8.

Institute for Science and Technology in Medicine, Keele University, Keele, UK.

Background: Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) improves health in some but not all men with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and adult-onset testosterone deficiency (TD). Such heterogeneity is compatible with the concept of patient subgroups that respond differently to therapy.

Objectives: Use baseline SHBG and age to identify putative subgroups that demonstrate different responses in variables such as waist circumference and HbA1c following TRT. Read More