Short-term impact of tirzepatide on metabolic hypogonadism and body composition in patients with obesity: a controlled pilot study.

Background: Tirzepatide (TZP), a dual agonist of glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptors, has recently been introduced in Italy for the treatment of obesity. Obesity is frequently associated with metabolic hypogonadism, which is characterized by low testosterone levels and normal low levels of gonadotropin. This condition exacerbates metabolic dysfunction and increases the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM).

The Global State of Contemporary Andrology Practice: A Comprehensive Analysis of Clinical Practice, Training Pathways, and Emerging Challenges.

Purpose: This study evaluates the current state of andrology practice worldwide, identifies challenges faced by clinicians, and explores training, certification, and research opportunities. It also seeks to redefine the qualifications necessary to be recognized as an andrologist and to propose areas for standardization and improvement.

Materials And Methods: A global, cross-sectional survey was conducted using a 48-question online questionnaire designed by international experts.

Development of a Training Program for Meta-Analytical Research: A Novel Approach to Minimizing Errors in Medical Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses.

Purpose: The Global Andrology Forum (GAF) has developed an innovative training method to equip novice researchers with the fundamental skills to conduct high-quality systematic reviews and meta-analyses (SRMAs) under the supervision of senior experts. This article aims to describe and evaluate the effectiveness of the GAF training program in enhancing these skills.

Materials And Methods: A six-module training program was designed to cover the key steps in SRMA studies, enabling GAF members to conduct high-quality SRMAs.

Sperm DNA Fragmentation in Men with Varicocele: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we investigated the relationship between varicocele and sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) alongside conventional semen parameters.

Materials And Methods: A comprehensive systematic search was conducted to identify articles on SDF in men with varicocele published in the Scopus and PubMed databases. This included observational studies investigating levels of SDF as a primary outcome and conventional semen parameters as secondary outcomes in men with varicocele compared to men without varicocele.

Effects of ketogenic diets on polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of ketogenic diet (KD) and very-low-energy ketogenic therapy (VLEKT) protocols on various health outcomes in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and increased body weight.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted across Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase databases from their inception through January 2025, using a predefined search strategy. Studies were selected based on the PICOS criteria.

Diabetes mellitus secondary to endocrine diseases: a position statement of the working group of the club of the Italian society of endocrinology (SIE)-Nutrition hormones and metabolism.

Purpose: This position statement addressed the limited scientific literature on the management of diabetes mellitus secondary to endocrinopathies, despite its frequent occurrence in hormonal diseases such as acromegaly, Cushing's syndrome, primary hyperaldosteronism, pheochromocytoma, hyperthyroidism, and neuroendocrine tumors. The aim was to review the pathophysiological mechanisms, clinical features, and management strategies, focusing on nutritional and pharmacological approaches.

Methods: A comprehensive review of existing literature was conducted regarding studies on diabetes secondary to endocrinopathies and the effects of treatments for these conditions, such as somatostatin analogues and pancreatic surgery.

Retrospective real world study on vitamin D supplementation: Looking for the most effective molecule and its frequency of use.

Background & Aims: There is still uncertainty regarding the optimal serum levels 25-Hydroxy-vitamin D [25(OH)D] and the most effective supplementation strategies, including the choice of molecule and its dosing frequency. The aim of the study is to compare the effects of calcifediol versus two different frequencies of cholecalciferol administration on vitamin D supplementation, and to identity the key parameters that predict response to treatment.

Methods: This retrospective, real-world cohort study included 105 patients, who were divided into three groups.

Testicular function in postpubertal patients with growth hormone deficiency: A prospective controlled study.

Background: We have previously shown that treatment with recombinant human growth hormone (GH) influences testicular growth in children with GH deficiency (GHD) and have suggested that GH plays a role in testicular growth in childhood. Little evidence is available on testicular function in post-pubertal GHD patients.

Objective: This prospective controlled study was undertaken to evaluate testicular function in patients with GHD.

Effects of Varicocele Repair on Testicular Endocrine Function: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: The objective of this manuscript is to assess the effect of varicocele repair (VR) in patients with clinical varicoceles on serum total testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and inhibin B serum levels.

Materials And Methods: The study was performed in compliance with the Meta-Analysis and Systematic Reviews of Observational Studies (MOOSE) guidelines and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P). All eligible studies were selected following the PICOS (Population, Intervention, Comparison/Comparator, Outcomes, Study design) model.

Effects of Switching FSH Preparations on Sperm Parameters and Pregnancy: A Prospective Controlled Study.

To study the effect of switching to a follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) preparation other than that to which infertile male patients have not had an effective response. Seventy-four normogonadotropinemic, non-obstructive, oligozoospermic patients who were poor responders to the administration of highly purified FSH (hpFSH) (Group 1 (n = 22) and Group 3 (n = 15)) or to recombinant human FSH (rhFSH) (Group 2 (n = 22) and Group 4 (n = 15)) were selected for this prospective study. After 3 months of washout from treatment with the first FSH preparation of choice, rhFSH was administered to patients in Groups 1 and 4 and hpFSH to those in Groups 2 and 3.

Impact of Varicocele Repair on Assisted Reproductive Technique Outcomes in Infertile Men: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we investigated assisted reproductive technology (ART) success in infertile men with clinical varicocele and abnormal semen parameters who underwent varicocele repair (VR) before the ART procedure as compared to those who did not.

Materials And Methods: A comprehensive search of the Scopus, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases was conducted using a specific query string to identify studies examining the impact of VR on ART outcomes, including fertilization rate, clinical pregnancy, pregnancy loss, and live-birth rate, until October 2023. Outcomes were analyzed based on the type of ART.

The Andrological Landscape in the Twenty-First Century: Making Sense of the Advances in Male Infertility Management for the Busy Clinicians.

Male infertility represents a significant global problem due to its essential health, social, and economic implications. It is unsurprising that scientific research is very active in this area and that advances in the diagnostic and therapeutic fields are notable. This review presents the main diagnostic advances in male infertility, starting from the changes made in the latest WHO Manual of semen analysis and discussing the more molecular aspects inherent to "omics".

Predictability of varicocele repair success: preliminary results of a machine learning-based approach.

Varicocele is a prevalent condition in the infertile male population. However, to date, which patients may benefit most from varicocele repair is still a matter of debate. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether certain preintervention sperm parameters are predictive of successful varicocele repair, defined as an improvement in total motile sperm count (TMSC).

Behind the Genetics: The Role of Epigenetics in Infertility-Related Testicular Dysfunction.

In recent decades, we have witnessed a progressive decline in male fertility. This is partly related to the increased prevalence of chronic diseases (e.g.

Artificial intelligence in andrology - fact or fiction: essential takeaway for busy clinicians.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the current approach to medicine. AI uses machine learning algorithms to predict the success of therapeutic procedures or assist the clinician in the decision-making process. To date, machine learning studies in the andrological field have mainly focused on prostate cancer imaging and management.

Predictive parameters of the efficacy of varicocele repair: a review.

Varicocele has a prevalence of 15% in the population and represents a primary cause of infertility in 40% of cases and a secondary cause in approximately 80% of cases. It is considered the major correctable cause of male infertility. Despite its high prevalence in the infertile population, a large number of patients with varicocele do not experience reproductive difficulties.

In-Vitro Effects of Perfluorooctanoic Acid on Human Sperm Function: What Are the Clinical Consequences?

: Lifestyle and environmental pollution harm male fertility. Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are bio-accumulates in the environment as well as in several human tissues, and one of the most common PFAS is perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the in vitro effects of PFOA with hydrophobic and waterproofing properties on motility and bio-functional sperm parameters.

Obesity and male fertility disorders.

Often associated with obesity, male infertility represents a widespread condition that challenges the wellbeing of the couple. In this article, we provide a comprehensive and critical analysis of studies exploring the association between obesity and male reproductive function, to evaluate the frequency of this association, and establish the effects of increased body weight on conventional and biofunctional sperm parameters and infertility. In an attempt to find possible molecular markers of infertility in obese male patients, the numerous mechanisms responsible for infertility in overweight/obese patients are reviewed in depth.

Impact of COVID-19 on testicular function: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Studies investigating the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on male reproductive function are few and heterogeneous, and results are often conflicting. This systematic review and meta-analysis was carried out on studies conducted in men with active or anamnestic SARS-CoV-2 infection to evaluate its consequences on the male sex hormone profile and semen parameters.

Materials And Method: This meta-analysis follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) protocols.