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Zhonghua Nan Ke Xue = National Journal... Sep 2023To study the clinical therapeutic effect as well as drug effectiveness and safety of Shizi Sanhua decoction combined with Nuoyu in the treatment of oligozoospermia in... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
OBJECTIVE
To study the clinical therapeutic effect as well as drug effectiveness and safety of Shizi Sanhua decoction combined with Nuoyu in the treatment of oligozoospermia in men.
METHODS
102 patients with oligozoospermia diagnosed at Longhua Hospital of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from February 2022 to March 2023 were selected and randomly divided into 3 groups. The treatment group was treated with Shizi Sanhua Decoction + Nuoyu; the traditional Chinese medicine group was treated with Shizi Sanhua Decoction; and the Nuoyu nutrient group was treated with Nuoyu nutrient. A review assessment and record were made after one course of treatment (3 months).
RESULTS
A total of 102 patients completed the trial due to the treatment process. There were 34 cases in each of the traditional Chinese medicine group, the Nuoyu nutrient group, and the treatment group. Clinical efficacy: total effective rate of 52.94% in the traditional Chinese medicine group; 58.82% in the Nuoyu nutrient group; 82.35% in the treatment group. The clinical efficacy of the treatment group was better than that of the traditional Chinese medicine group and the Nuoyu nutrient group (P<0.05), which was statistically significant. Semen routine: the treatment group was better than the traditional Chinese medicine group and Nuoyu nutrient group in improving the total number of sperm and sperm concentration.
CONCLUSION
The semen concentration and forward sperm count of patients with oligozoospermia treated with Shizi Sanhua Decoction combined with Nuoyu improved more significantly, and the clinical efficacy was remarkable. And the clinical efficacy is not affected by age and disease duration. It can be popularized and applied as a treatment for oligozoospermia.
Topics: Humans; Male; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Oligospermia; Semen; China; Medicine, Chinese Traditional
PubMed: 38639600
DOI: No ID Found -
Zygote (Cambridge, England) Apr 2024Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is a technique that directly injects a single sperm into the cytoplasm of mature oocytes. Here, we explored the safety of...
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is a technique that directly injects a single sperm into the cytoplasm of mature oocytes. Here, we explored the safety of single-sperm cryopreservation applied in ICSI. This retrospective study enrolled 186 couples undergoing ICSI-assisted pregnancy. Subjects were allocated to the fresh sperm (group A)/single-sperm cryopreservation (group B) groups based on sperm type, with their clinical baseline/pathological data documented. We used ICSI-compliant sperm for subsequent fertilization and followed up on all subjects. The recovery rate/cryosurvival rate/sperm motility of both groups, the pregnancy/outcome of women receiving embryo transfer, and the delivery mode/neonatal-related information of women with successful deliveries were recorded. The clinical pregnancy rate, cumulative clinical pregnancy rate, abortion rate, ectopic pregnancy rate, premature delivery rate, live birth delivery rate, neonatal birth defect rate, and average birth weight were analyzed. The two groups showed no significant differences in age, body mass index, ovulation induction regimen, sex hormone [anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH)/follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)/luteinizing hormone (LH)] levels, or oocyte retrieval cycles. The sperm recovery rate (51.72%-100.00%) and resuscitation rate (62.09% ± 16.67%) in group B were higher; the sperm motility in the two groups demonstrated no significant difference and met the ICSI requirements. Group B exhibited an increased fertilization rate, decreased abortion rate, and increased safety versus group A. Compared with fresh sperm, the application of single-sperm cryopreservation in ICSI sensibly improved the fertilization rate and reduced the abortion rate, showing higher safety.
Topics: Humans; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; Female; Cryopreservation; Male; Pregnancy; Adult; Retrospective Studies; Pregnancy Rate; Sperm Motility; Spermatozoa; Semen Preservation; Pregnancy Outcome; Embryo Transfer; Fertilization in Vitro
PubMed: 38629180
DOI: 10.1017/S0967199424000078 -
American Journal of Human Genetics May 2024Infertility, affecting ∼10% of men, is predominantly caused by primary spermatogenic failure (SPGF). We screened likely pathogenic and pathogenic (LP/P) variants in...
Infertility, affecting ∼10% of men, is predominantly caused by primary spermatogenic failure (SPGF). We screened likely pathogenic and pathogenic (LP/P) variants in 638 candidate genes for male infertility in 521 individuals presenting idiopathic SPGF and 323 normozoospermic men in the ESTAND cohort. Molecular diagnosis was reached for 64 men with SPGF (12%), with findings in 39 genes (6%). The yield did not differ significantly between the subgroups with azoospermia (20/185, 11%), oligozoospermia (18/181, 10%), and primary cryptorchidism with SPGF (26/155, 17%). Notably, 19 of 64 LP/P variants (30%) identified in 28 subjects represented recurrent findings in this study and/or with other male infertility cohorts. NR5A1 was the most frequently affected gene, with seven LP/P variants in six SPGF-affected men and two normozoospermic men. The link to SPGF was validated for recently proposed candidate genes ACTRT1, ASZ1, GLUD2, GREB1L, LEO1, RBM5, ROS1, and TGIF2LY. Heterozygous truncating variants in BNC1, reported in female infertility, emerged as plausible causes of severe oligozoospermia. Data suggested that several infertile men may present congenital conditions with less pronounced or pleiotropic phenotypes affecting the development and function of the reproductive system. Genes regulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis were affected in >30% of subjects with LP/P variants. Six individuals had more than one LP/P variant, including five with two findings from the gene panel. A 4-fold increased prevalence of cancer was observed in men with genetic infertility compared to the general male population (8% vs. 2%; p = 4.4 × 10). Expanding genetic testing in andrology will contribute to the multidisciplinary management of SPGF.
Topics: Humans; Male; Infertility, Male; Adult; Exome Sequencing; Steroidogenic Factor 1; Azoospermia; Oligospermia; Mutation; Spermatogenesis; Cohort Studies
PubMed: 38614076
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2024.03.013 -
Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2024(1) Background: Standard semen analysis methods may exhibit variability between observers and/or human error; therefore, additional methods are needed to overcome these...
Introducing a New Smartphone Applied Semen Analyzer, SpermCell™: A Cross-Sectional Validation Study with a Comparative Analysis and a Mini Patient Questionnaire on a Large Sample Cohort.
(1) Background: Standard semen analysis methods may exhibit variability between observers and/or human error; therefore, additional methods are needed to overcome these handicaps. We aimed to present a new smartphone-applied semen analyzer, Sperm Cell™, investigate its diagnostic efficacy by comparing it with the standard analysis method, and determine its user-friendly nature. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a large sample cohort, including 102 men. Three semen analyses were performed for each semen sample. The first employed the standard manual method, whereas the others were smartphone-based analyses performed by technicians and patients. We compared major semen parameters between the three semen analyses. The user-friendly nature of the analyzer was also evaluated with a mini-questionnaire completed by the participants. (3) Results: The determined median sperm count, motile sperm count, and percentage of motile sperms, on standard manual semen analysis, were 50.00 × 10/mL (0-160 × 10/mL), 23.94 × 10/mL (0-108 × 10/mL) and 50.00% (0-73.00%), respectively. Median sperm count and motile sperm count were 50.52 × 10/mL (<1-150 × 10/mL) vs. 55.77 × 10/mL (<1-160 × 10/mL) and 23.34 × 10/mL (0-105 × 10/mL) vs. 23.53 × 10/mL (0-104 × 10/mL) for SpermCell™-based semen analysis performed by a technician and patients themselves, respectively. The percentages of motile sperms were 47.40% (0-67.00%) vs. 47.61% (0-80.20%), respectively. All the parameters were statistically similar between the three semen analysis methods ( > 0.05 for each). The SpermCell™ analysis results were correlated with the standard manual method with up to 0.85 correlation coefficients. Moreover, substantial diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity and specificity were obtained in determining the oligospermia and asthenozoospermia via the device-based analyses performed by technician and patients. The mini-questionnaire results revealed that the analyzer is useful. (4) Conclusions: The novel smartphone-applied semen analyzer is a helpful tool with acceptable diagnostic accuracy in determining the major semen parameters. It can be used as an efficient at-home point-of-care testing method in the initial assessment of couples with infertility concerns.
PubMed: 38611602
DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14070689 -
Clinical Endocrinology Jun 2024Idiopathic male infertility is common, yet there is no approved treatment. This study aimed to understand practice patterns towards empirical medical therapy (EMT) for...
OBJECTIVE
Idiopathic male infertility is common, yet there is no approved treatment. This study aimed to understand practice patterns towards empirical medical therapy (EMT) for idiopathic male infertility in Australia and New Zealand (NZ).
DESIGN
Clinical members of the Endocrine Society of Australia, Fertility Society of Australia & NZ, and Urological Society of Australia & NZ were invited to complete a survey. Questions included demographics, EMT practice habits, and thoughts regarding infertility case scenarios. Unadjusted group differences between specialists, those with and without additional training in male infertility, and frequency of managing it were evaluated.
RESULTS
Overall, 147 of 2340 members participated (6.3%); majority were endocrinologists and gynaecologists. Participants were experienced; 35% had completed additional training in male infertility and 36.2% reported they frequently manage male infertility. Gynaecologists were more likely to manage male infertility and attend education courses than endocrinologists and urologists. Beliefs about the effect of EMT on sperm concentration and pregnancy did not differ between speciality types. Many respondents considered all patient scenarios suitable for EMT. Of medications, hCG and clomiphene were selected most. Two respondents indicated they would use testosterone to treat male infertility.
CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates common use of EMT in Australia and NZ for idiopathic male infertility. The breadth of responses reflects a lack of consensus within the current literature, highlighting the need for further research to clarify their role in the management of idiopathic male infertility.
Topics: Humans; Male; Australia; New Zealand; Infertility, Male; Adult; Practice Patterns, Physicians'; Surveys and Questionnaires; Clomiphene; Middle Aged; Female; Testosterone
PubMed: 38606557
DOI: 10.1111/cen.15059 -
Journal of Ethnopharmacology Aug 2024Phoenix dactylifera L. pollen is the male reproductive dust of palm flowers known as a natural product that is considered a strong stimulant of sexual potency and... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE
Phoenix dactylifera L. pollen is the male reproductive dust of palm flowers known as a natural product that is considered a strong stimulant of sexual potency and fertility in Iranian traditional medicine (ITM). In this regard, no evidence-based medications are empirically prescribed to treat IMI. However, applying traditional medicine for the treatment of male infertility has attracted more attention in recent years.
AIM OF THE STUDY
Phoenix dactylifera L. pollen was compared with pentoxifylline (PTX) to evaluate its efficacy on sperm parameters.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
During this parallel randomized controlled trial, 80 adult men with asthenozoospermia, oligozoospermia, or teratozoospermia (age 20-35 years) were enrolled. In two separate groups of participants with a 1:1 ratio, participants received either 6 g of Phoenix dactylifera L. pollen powder daily or 400 mg of PTX tablets daily for 90 days. We measured the sperm parameters as well as the serum sex hormones in the sample. ANCOVA and t-tests were used to compare groups.
RESULTS
There was no significant difference between the study groups in terms of baseline characteristics or demographic characteristics. According to the results, participants who took Phoenix dactylifera L. pollen powder had significantly improved sperm concentration (p = 0.016), morphology (p = 0.029), sperm counts (p = 0.012), progressive motility (p = 0.016), total motility (p = 0.018), and reduced immotile sperms (p = 0.014) compared to those who took PTX.
CONCLUSIONS
In light of these results, Phoenix dactylifera L. pollen is recommended as a treatment factor for ameliorating IMI by enhancing sperm functional capacity and semen parameters.
Topics: Humans; Male; Pentoxifylline; Adult; Pollen; Phoeniceae; Young Adult; Spermatozoa; Infertility, Male; Sperm Motility; Asthenozoospermia; Iran; Sperm Count; Oligospermia; Plant Extracts
PubMed: 38604508
DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118168 -
Zhonghua Nan Ke Xue = National Journal... Apr 2023To compare the six-sequence-tagged site (STS) with the eight-STS scheme in the detection of Y chromosome microdeletions.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the six-sequence-tagged site (STS) with the eight-STS scheme in the detection of Y chromosome microdeletions.
METHODS
Using real-time quantitative PCR, we compared the results of the six-STS (sY84, sY86, sY127, sY134, sY254, sY255) scheme with those of the eight-STS (sY84, sY86, sY127, sY134, sY254, sY255, sY145, sY152) scheme in detecting Y chromosome microdeletions.
RESULTS
No statistically significant difference was found in the detection rate of the deletion of the azoospermia factor (AZF) regions between the six-STS and eight-STS methods (9.34% [575/6177] vs 8.85% [542/6122], P > 0.05).
CONCLUSION
Though the eight-STS scheme increased the detection of AZFd, its detection rate of the AZF region deletion was not significantly different from that of the six-STS method. From the perspectives of experimental operation, economic cost and clinical strategy guidance, the six-STS is better than the eight-STS scheme for the detection of Y chromosome microdeletions.
Topics: Humans; Sequence Tagged Sites; Chromosome Deletion; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Infertility, Male; Sex Chromosome Aberrations; Chromosomes, Human, Y; Sex Chromosome Disorders of Sex Development
PubMed: 38598213
DOI: No ID Found -
Journal of Cellular and Molecular... Apr 2024Oligoasthenoteratospermia (OAT), characterized by abnormally low sperm count, poor sperm motility, and abnormally high number of deformed spermatozoa, is an important...
Oligoasthenoteratospermia (OAT), characterized by abnormally low sperm count, poor sperm motility, and abnormally high number of deformed spermatozoa, is an important cause of male infertility. Its genetic basis in many affected individuals remains unknown. Here, we found that CCDC157 variants are associated with OAT. In two cohorts, a 21-bp (g.30768132_30768152del21) and/or 24-bp (g.30772543_30772566del24) deletion of CCDC157 were identified in five sporadic OAT patients, and 2 cases within one pedigree. In a mouse model, loss of Ccdc157 led to male sterility with OAT-like phenotypes. Electron microscopy revealed misstructured acrosome and abnormal head-tail coupling apparatus in the sperm of Ccdc157-null mice. Comparative transcriptome analysis showed that the Ccdc157 mutation alters the expressions of genes involved in cell migration/motility and Golgi components. Abnormal Golgi apparatus and decreased expressions of genes involved in acrosome formation and lipid metabolism were detected in Ccdc157-deprived mouse germ cells. Interestingly, we attempted to treat infertile patients and Ccdc157 mutant mice with a Chinese medicine, Huangjin Zanyu, which improved the fertility in one patient and most mice that carried the heterozygous mutation in CCDC157. Healthy offspring were produced. Our study reveals CCDC157 is essential for sperm maturation and may serve as a marker for diagnosis of OAT.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Male; Mice; Asthenozoospermia; Infertility, Male; Mice, Knockout; Mutation; Oligospermia; Semen; Sperm Motility; Spermatozoa; Membrane Proteins
PubMed: 38509755
DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.18215 -
American Journal of Men's Health 2024Seasonal changes are assumed to affect various sperm characteristics based on photoperiods, temperature, and air pollution. According to the literature, most studies... (Review)
Review
Impact of Season Variation on Semen Quality: A Comprehensive Retrospective Analysis of Data From Patients at an Eastern Iranian Tertiary Care Fertility Center Over a Decade.
Seasonal changes are assumed to affect various sperm characteristics based on photoperiods, temperature, and air pollution. According to the literature, most studies were performed on populations of Western countries, and there are limited studies performed in the Middle East with variable results. This study evaluated the seasonality of sperm characteristics among men of reproductive age in an andrology center in Kerman, Iran, where the seasonal temperature varies significantly, with average temperatures ranging from 50 °F (10 °C) to 75.2 °F (24 °C). We retrospectively evaluated the sperm analysis test record. Sperm samples were obtained from 2,948 men during 10 years, excluding those with azoospermia. Samples were assessed for volume, concentration, motility, and morphology according to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. We performed a comprehensive comparative literature review of the studies investigating the association between seasonal variation and sperm quality. The mean semen volume was higher in the summer compared with other seasons ( = .04). The mean percentage of sperm motility was higher in the spring and less in winter ( = .03). Sperm morphology-related parameters, measured by the percent of normal morphology, were significantly better in winter ( = .03). Our findings suggest seasonality of sperm characteristics among men of fertility age. Semen volume, motility, and morphology were affected by the photoperiod of reproductive seasons. Results might support the influential role of seasonal variations in the possibility of fertility, especially among those using assisted reproductive technologies and those with oligospermia.
Topics: Humans; Male; Semen Analysis; Seasons; Retrospective Studies; Iran; Semen; Sperm Count; Tertiary Healthcare; Sperm Motility
PubMed: 38509696
DOI: 10.1177/15579883241237505 -
Cureus Feb 2024We presented a 30-year-old man suffering from severe oligozoospermia caused by substantial sperm maturation arrest around the spermatid stage. Additionally, he was...
We presented a 30-year-old man suffering from severe oligozoospermia caused by substantial sperm maturation arrest around the spermatid stage. Additionally, he was suffering from a varicocele. For three years, the couple had been trying to conceive. The clinical and endocrinological evaluation of the woman revealed that she was medically fit to undergo pregnancy. We performed laparoscopic ligation of the spermatic vein to treat the varicocele. Semen analysis was conducted at the beginning of the clinical pregnancy journey and after three and six months of treatment, which included 80 mg/day of phytoestrogens for six months. Six months following the end of the therapy, a second semen analysis was carried out. The inherent characteristics of the semen substantially improved in the third month, facilitating the implementation of the reproductive method referred to as intrauterine insemination. Following this treatment, the patient delivered a healthy baby weighing 3300 g. Sperm parameters improved substantially after three months of therapy; however, they reverted to baseline values during the wash-out period. These promising findings strongly suggest that phytoestrogens could be utilized for therapeutic purposes in the management of oligozoospermia. To further demonstrate the potential impact of phytoestrogens on male infertility, it is imperative to conduct a validation phase and randomized controlled trials.
PubMed: 38481882
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.54071