Andrologia

Background. In this study, long-term functional, cosmetic, and quality-of-life outcomes of patients with congenital penile curvature who were operated on using the modified Essed–Schröder procedure were evaluated. Materials and Methods. Between 2009 and 2022, 233 patients with congenital penile curvature were operated using a modification of the Essed–Schröder technique. The average age of the cases was found to be 23.7 ± 4.6 (18–37). The mean postoperative follow-up period was 76.1 ± 16.8 (18–153) months. At the end of the follow-up period, 203 of 233 patients were interviewed retrospectively, and standard questionnaires were filled out to evaluate the functional, cosmetic, and quality-of-life results of the procedure. Results. There was a curvature ventral in 103, left lateral in 40, right lateral in 30, dorsal in 17, dorsolateral in 8, and ventrolateral in 5 cases. The mean degree of curvature was found to be 51.7 ± 9.4 (30–80). Recurrent curvature was detected in 16 cases (7.14%), and discomfort due to suture palpation was detected in 17 cases (8.37%). No case reporting erectile dysfunction was detected. 90.6% of the patients reported that they were satisfied with the operation. As a result, the curvature was effectively corrected, and the sensation of postoperative suture palpation was minimized. It has been determined that it increases patient and partner satisfaction and improves the quality of life. Conclusions. The modified Essed–Schröder technique is a relatively simple technique and provides successful functional and cosmetic results. It also provides a significant improvement in quality of life.

Background. Currently, there are few studies on the effects of hyperlipidemia on semen parameters and serum hormones in men. In this study, we divided the study subjects into two groups of normal and hyperlipidemia according to the criteria, and observed the differences between semen parameters and serum reproductive hormones in hyperlipidaemic men and normal men, to explore the potential associations between the indicators. Materials and Methods. Eight hundred eighty five men attending infertility clinics in six hospitals from September 2016 to June 2017 were selected. Their lipid levels, semen parameters, and serum reproductive hormone levels were tested, and a total of 480 men with normal lipids and 405 men with hyperlipidemia were selected according to the criteria, and the relationship between semen quality, serum reproductive hormones, lipids and semen parameters, and serum hormones was statistically analyzed. Results. There was no significant difference in semen parameters between hyperlipidaemic men and normal men (), serum testosterone levels were significantly lower in hyperlipidaemic men (), and there was a negative correlation between triglycerides (TG) and testosterone in the blood ().Conclusion. Hyperlipidemia does not affect male semen parameters, and changes in testosterone in hyperlipidaemic men may be related to triglycerides.

Reproductive health is an important issue for humanity. In the context of the increasing incidence rate of male infertility, it is essential to find the factors that affect male reproductive health. Gastrointestinal health is closely related to reproductive health. Gastrointestinal hormones (GIH) and gut microbiota (GM), as important material foundations for gastrointestinal function, can promote or inhibit testicular reproductive function, including spermatogenesis, sperm maturation, androgen synthesis, and even broader male diseases such as sexual function, prostate cancer, etc. On the contrary, the functional health of the testes is also of great significance for the stability of gastrointestinal function. This review mainly discusses the important regulatory effects of GIH and GM on male reproductive function.

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare genetic condition characterized by destructive respiratory disease and laterality abnormalities due to randomized left–right body asymmetry. In men, PCD is also often associated with infertility due to immotile sperm owing to a malfunction of the sperm flagella. Pathogenic mutations have been found in more than 50 genes. Nonetheless, not all patients with PCD experience infertility. Therefore, to better understand the impact of PCD-associated mutations on male fertility, it is necessary to clarify the role of these genes in spermatogenesis. The CCDC103 p.His154Pro mutation has a high prevalence in PCD. Here, we present the identification and functional analysis of a biallelic mutation in CCDC103 identified in a familial case of PCD associated with male infertility. The biallelic CCDC103 mutations, NM_213607:c.161_162del(p.His55Serfs9) and NM_213607:c.461A > C (p.His154Pro), were identified by whole-exome sequencing. Sanger sequencing validation was performed on all available family members, and the mutation was recessively separated with an infertility phenotype. The c.161_162del mutation breaks the reading frame of the protein and, therefore, is predicted to produce a nonfunctional protein. The tertiary structure of CCDC103-mutated protein indicated a significant conformational change that likely affected protein function. Transmission electron microscopy of spermatozoa showed that both the mid and principal regions of the flagellum lacked dynein arms, which was confirmed via immunofluorescence staining. Using the method of laser-assisted immotile sperm selection combined with intracytoplasmic sperm injection, the patient’s wife has a successful clinical pregnancy. These results extend the phenotype spectrum of the CCDC103 mutation in PCD.

This study aimed to investigate the potential benefits of frozen testicular sperm and to retrospectively analyze the clinical pregnancy and live birth outcomes following intracytoplasmic injection of fresh or frozen testicular sperm. A total of 468 infertile couples undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles utilizing either fresh or frozen testicular sperm extracted between January 2017 and December 2021 were included in this analysis. Participants were categorized into two groups: those utilizing fresh testicular sperm (n = 324) and those utilizing frozen testicular sperm (n = 144). Outcome measures encompassed fertilization rate, embryo development, clinical outcomes, and birth status of infants. Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences in 2PN fertilization rate, Day 3 (D3) available embryo rate, high-quality embryo rate, blastocyst formation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, live birth rate, and preterm birth rate between the two groups. Although the preterm birth rate in the frozen testicular sperm group was lower compared to the fresh testicular sperm group, the difference was not statistically significant (5.6% vs. 15.1%). Notably, there were no discernible distinctions in clinical pregnancy and birth outcomes, as well as infant birth parameters, between the fresh and frozen testicular sperm groups. These findings suggest that frozen testicular sperm holds practical value and warrants consideration for clinical application.

To investigate the correlation between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T gene polymorphism, homocysteine, and male infertility with varicocele in North China. One Hundred infertile males with varicocele (VC; grade II-III, VC group) and 100 healthy males with normal semen parameters and no varicocele (NC group) were recruited for PCR microarray, blood and semen testing. Compared with the CC genotype in the NC group, the TT genotype in the NC group and the CC genotype in the VC group showed no significant changes in sperm motility (; ), sperm density (, ), plasma homocysteine level (; ), and seminal plasma MDA (; ). In contrast, VC patients with the TT genotype had higher plasma homocysteine level and seminal plasma MDA levels (), lower partial pressure of oxygen in seminal pulse (PO₂; ) and poorer sperm quality (), as compared with the CC genotype. This suggests that MTHFR C677C>T may not be a risk factor for male Varicocele in North China. However, this may affect the oxidative stress associated with homocysteine expression, which in turn affects semen parameters in VC patients. Larger studies are needed to validate our findings.