Sperm Selection Using Microfluidic Techniques Significantly Decreases Sperm DNA Fragmentation (SDF), Enhancing Reproductive Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This study aimed to compare sperm parameters and reproductive outcomes after sperm selection using microfluidic chips versus conventional techniques (swim-up/density gradients). A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed after the extraction of relevant data from thirty-nine studies that met the inclusion criteria. Mean difference or odds ratio was calculated for each outcome.

Undistorted MRI B0 fieldmap estimation using an augmented space.

In MRI, multiple applications require knowledge of the inhomogeneity field map, such as off-resonance correction, susceptibility mapping, water-fat separation, and spectroscopy imaging. Standard fieldmap estimation methods produce results that are themselves distorted by the fieldmap. This is because it is assumed that the signal is instantaneously acquired at the echo time, which is only valid for short readouts.

The reproductive journey of women with obesity undergoing assisted reproductive technology: an analysis of 48,595 in vitro fertilization cycles in 31,829 women.

Objective: To study cumulative live birth rates in in vitro fertilization per oocyte used, per embryo transferred, and per embryo transfer, according to female body mass index in a cohort in which all the ovarian stimulation cycles were performed until a live born was achieved or drop out were considered.

Design: Multicenter, retrospective observational cohort study.

Subjects: We included 31,829 women undergoing in vitro fertilization and using autologous oocytes and partner sperm, with known body mass index and known outcome.

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.

A genetic variant in the 3'-UTR of PIWIL4 confers risk for extreme phenotypes of male infertility by altering miR-215 and miR-136 binding affinity.

Study Question: What is the functional impact of the rs508485 genetic polymorphism, located in the 3'-untranslated region (UTR) region of the PIWIL4 gene, on non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA)?

Summary Answer: The rs508485 genetic variant contributes to the pathogenesis of extreme patterns of NOA by modulating PIWIL4 expression through microRNA (miRNA) interactions.

What Is Known Already: Male infertility represents a significant global health challenge with profound societal and economic consequences. One of the most severe forms of male infertility is NOA, which is characterized by severe spermatogenic failure (SPGF) of idiopathic origin in most cases.

Dual triggering for final oocyte maturation. A narrative review.

The dual triggering combines human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) with GnRH agonists (aGnRH) to induce the final oocyte maturation in fertilization (IVF). When both drugs are used sequentially, it is called "double trigger", but this strategy is rarely used clinically. This review explores the rationale for using dual triggering and compares its reproductive outcome with conventional hCG triggering.

A Comprehensive Comparison of PICSI and ICSI Techniques Through a Triple-Blinded Trial: Effects on Embryo Quality, Cumulative Pregnancy Rate, and Live Birth Rate.

: Sperm selection is critical in assisted reproduction, typically relying on swim-up and centrifugation density gradients. New methods, such as PICSI (physiological intracytoplasmic sperm selection), aim to enhance outcomes by selecting mature sperm based on hyaluronic acid (HA) binding and have generated interest due to their potential impact on the clinical outcomes of patients who undergo assisted reproductive treatments. : A single-center, prospective, and triple-blinded study was conducted with 277 couples in the egg donation program.

Trans-ethnic GWAS meta-analysis of idiopathic spermatogenic failure highlights the immune-mediated nature of Sertoli cell-only syndrome.

Non-obstructive azoospermia, a severe form of male infertility caused by spermatogenic failure (SPGF), has a largely unknown genetic basis across ancestries. To our knowledge, this is the first trans-ethnic meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies on SPGF, involving 2255 men with idiopathic SPGF and 3608 controls from European and Asian populations. Using logistic regression and inverse variance methods, we identify two significant genetic associations with Sertoli cell-only (SCO) syndrome, the most extreme SPGF phenotype.

Risk of preeclampsia and other pregnancy complications in frozen single euploid embryo transfers after natural versus artificial endometrial preparation: A truncated randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: To determine for the first time the incidence of preeclampsia and other pregnancy complications according to the mode of endometrial preparation for frozen embryo transfer (FET) in a randomized fashion.

Methods: Women about to undergo FET of a single euploid blastocyst were randomly assigned to a modified natural cycle (MNC) or an artificial cycle (AC). Inclusion criteria were as follows: Caucasian; non-obese; 18-43 years of age; nulliparity; regular menstrual cycles; and autologous oocytes.

Mapping the way to successful euploid frozen embryo transfer: a prospective pilot study of uterine elastography.

Study Question: Does the objective and quantitative assessment of uterine tissue stiffness via ultrasound shear wave elastography (SWE) predict the outcome after single euploid frozen embryo transfer (FET)?

Summary Answer: Uterine SWE data might be predictive of clinical pregnancy in good prognosis patients undergoing single euploid FET.

What Is Known Already: Few prior studies have evaluated the usefulness of strain uterine elastography in assessing the likelihood of conception in an infertile patient population following IUI or FET. These studies suggest that elastography parameters may be predictive of pregnancy following ART treatments.

Role of Artificial Intelligence in Identifying Vital Biomarkers with Greater Precision in Emergency Departments During Emerging Pandemics.

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated advances in molecular biology and virology, enabling the identification of key biomarkers to differentiate between severe and mild cases. Furthermore, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to analyze large datasets has been crucial for rapidly identifying relevant biomarkers for disease prognosis, including COVID-19. This approach enhances diagnostics in emergency settings, allowing for more accurate and efficient patient management.

A comprehensive study of common and rare genetic variants in spermatogenesis-related loci identifies new risk factors for idiopathic severe spermatogenic failure.

Study Question: Can genome-wide genotyping data be analysed using a hypothesis-driven approach to enhance the understanding of the genetic basis of severe spermatogenic failure (SPGF) in male infertility?

Summary Answer: Our findings revealed a significant association between SPGF and the gene and identified three novel genes (, , and ) along with 32 potentially pathogenic rare variants in 30 genes that contribute to this condition.

What Is Known Already: SPGF is a major cause of male infertility, often with an unknown aetiology. SPGF can be due to either multifactorial causes, including both common genetic variants in multiple genes and environmental factors, or highly damaging rare variants.

Effect of time since vasectomy on live birth rate of TESE‒ICSI egg donation cycles and male-related prognostic factors.

Background: Vasectomy is a widely used method of contraception. However, some men may have the desire to become biological fathers again after a period.

Objective: To explore the effect of time since vasectomy and different male comorbidities on live birth rates from intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles using donated oocytes by using testicular spermatozoa obtained by testicular sperm extraction.

The ovarian stimulation regimen does not affect aneuploidy or blastocyst rate.

Research Question: Could the total dose (<3000 IU or ≥3000 IU) and type of exogenous gonadotrophin (i.e. recombinant FSH and/or human menopausal gonadotrophin [HMG]) influence aneuploidy and blastulation rates and produce different reproductive outcomes?

Design: This retrospective, observational, multicentre cohort study included a total of 8466 patients undergoing IVF using autologous oocytes and preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidies.

Semen cryopreservation for an oncological reason: a retrospective study.

Research Question: How do cancer type and treatment affect semen quality before and after treatment, and what effect does it have in their clinical management of infertility? Also, what is the rate of patients using cryopreserved semen samples after treatment?

Design: Patients who cryopreserved spermatozoa for oncological reasons between 2000 and 2022 in IVI clinics in Spain were retrospectively reviewed. Semen parameters were analysed before and after treatment, and utilization and destruction rates were calculated. Total motile sperm count (TMSC) was used for assisted reproductive technology (ART) counselling.

Assessment of reproductive outcomes of fresh versus cryopreserved ejaculated sperm samples-a retrospective analysis of 44 423 oocyte donation ICSI cycles.

Study Question: Does the use of frozen sperm affect live birth rate (LBR) and cumulative LBR (CLBR) compared to fresh sperm samples in oocyte donation ICSI cycles?

Summary Answer: Although there were slight decreases in pregnancy rates (PRs) and LBR, as well as CLBR per embryo replaced and per embryo transfer (ET), when frozen sperm samples were used compared to fresh ejaculates, their clinical impact was limited.

What Is Known Already: Sperm cryopreservation is part of the daily routine in reproduction clinics worldwide because of its many advantages in cycle planning. Nonetheless, there is a lack of agreement in terms of its impact on the outcomes of ICSI cycles.

Induction of acrosome reaction by 4-Br-A23187 alters the glycoproteomic profile of boar spermatozoa.

Protein glycosylation is a post-translational modification involved in wide range of biological processes. In mammalian spermatozoa this modification has been identified in numerous proteins, and membrane glycoproteins are involved in the fertilization process. The objective of the present study was to identify changes in protein glycosylation after acrosome reaction (AR) induction using the 4-Br-A23187 ionophore.

Current global status of male reproductive health.

Background: The widespread interest in male reproductive health (MRH), fueled by emerging evidence, such as the global decline in sperm counts, has intensified concerns about the status of MRH. Consequently, there is a pressing requirement for a strategic, systematic approach to identifying critical questions, collecting pertinent information, and utilizing these data to develop evidence-based strategies. The methods for addressing these questions and the pathways toward their answers will inevitably vary based on the variations in cultural, geopolitical, and health-related contexts.

Changes in environmental exposures over decades may influence the genetic architecture of severe spermatogenic failure.

Study Question: Do the genetic determinants of idiopathic severe spermatogenic failure (SPGF) differ between generations?

Summary Answer: Our data support that the genetic component of idiopathic SPGF is impacted by dynamic changes in environmental exposures over decades.

What Is Known Already: The idiopathic form of SPGF has a multifactorial etiology wherein an interaction between genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors leads to the disease onset and progression. At the genetic level, genome-wide association studies (GWASs) allow the analysis of millions of genetic variants across the genome in a hypothesis-free manner, as a valuable tool for identifying susceptibility risk loci.

Influence of Sex and a High-Fiber Diet on the Gut Microbiome of Alentejano Pigs Raised to Heavy Weights.

This study investigates the influence of sex and a dietary transition on the gut microbiota of a local Portuguese pig breed. Three groups of male Alentejano pigs ( = 10 each) were raised between ~40 and 160 kg LW. Group C included pigs that were surgically castrated, while the I group included intact ones; both were fed with commercial diets.

Elevated Sperm DNA Damage in IVF-ICSI Treatments Is Not Related to Pregnancy Complications and Adverse Neonatal Outcomes.

This multicenter retrospective cohort study assesses the effect of high paternal DNA fragmentation on the well-being of the woman during pregnancy and the health of the newborn delivered. It was performed with clinical data from 488 couples who had a delivery of at least one newborn between January 2000 and March 2019 (243 used autologous oocytes and 245 utilized donated oocytes). Couples were categorized according to sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) level as ≤15% or >15%, measured by TUNEL assay.