Correlation of oxidation reduction potential and total motile sperm count: Its utility in the evaluation of male fertility potential / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

Oxidative stress (OS) is detrimental to sperm functions, and the oxidation reduction potential (ORP) is a good measure of OS as it considers the balance between oxidants and reductants. Total motile sperm count (TMSC) is viewed as the single most important semen analysis parameter that can predict male infertility severity, and its correlation with ORP has never been undertaken. The objectives of this study were to assess the correlation between ORP and TMSC, to identify the ORP cutoff value based on the TMSC result, and to compare this cutoff value with previously reported ORP cutoff values in literature. One thousand one hundred and sixty-eight infertile patients and 100 fertile controls were enrolled. Demographic and semen data of the participants were retrieved and analyzed. Wilcoxon's rank-sum test compared variables between infertile men and fertile controls; Spearman's correlation assessed the static ORP (sORP)-TMSC relationship for the whole sample and among each group individually. Using a 20×106TMSC threshold, receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis determined the sORP cutoff associated with the highest predictive values. TMSC was significantly negatively correlated with sORP across all participants (r = 0.86, P < 0.001), among infertile patients (r = 0.729, P < 0.001), and among fertile controls (r = 0.53, P < 0.001). A 20-million TMSC threshold determined an sORP cutoff value of 2.34 mV/106sperm/ml to be associated with 82.9% sensitivity, 82.8% specificity, 91.5% positive predictive value (PPV), 68.5% negative predictive value (NPV), and 82.9% overall accuracy. Compared with previously reported cutoff values in searched literature, the 2.34 mV/106sperm/ml cutoff value identified in our study yielded the highest overall diagnostic accuracy in the evaluation of infertile men.

Metabolic Syndrome and Male Fertility

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) represents a cluster of conditions that have a negative impact on human health overall. Its prevalence has been rapidly increasing worldwide and has coincided with a global decrease in birth rates and fertility potential. This review aims to address this observation through studying the relationship between MetS and male reproductive health. The effects of obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and insulin resistance on male fertility were examined and supporting evidence explaining the pathophysiology of sperm dysfunction with each MetS component were described. Adopting a healthy lifestyle appears to be the single most important intervention to prevent the unwanted effects of MetS on men's health and fertility. Further studies addressing the components of MetS and their impact on male reproduction are required to enhance our understanding of the underlying pathophysiology and to propose new methods for therapeutic intervention.

Male Oxidative Stress Infertility (MOSI): Proposed Terminology and Clinical Practice Guidelines for Management of Idiopathic Male Infertility

Despite advances in the field of male reproductive health, idiopathic male infertility, in which a man has altered semen characteristics without an identifiable cause and there is no female factor infertility, remains a challenging condition to diagnose and manage. Increasing evidence suggests that oxidative stress (OS) plays an independent role in the etiology of male infertility, with 30% to 80% of infertile men having elevated seminal reactive oxygen species levels. OS can negatively affect fertility via a number of pathways, including interference with capacitation and possible damage to sperm membrane and DNA, which may impair the sperm's potential to fertilize an egg and develop into a healthy embryo. Adequate evaluation of male reproductive potential should therefore include an assessment of sperm OS. We propose the term Male Oxidative Stress Infertility, or MOSI, as a novel descriptor for infertile men with abnormal semen characteristics and OS, including many patients who were previously classified as having idiopathic male infertility. Oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) can be a useful clinical biomarker for the classification of MOSI, as it takes into account the levels of both oxidants and reductants (antioxidants). Current treatment protocols for OS, including the use of antioxidants, are not evidence-based and have the potential for complications and increased healthcare-related expenditures. Utilizing an easy, reproducible, and cost-effective test to measure ORP may provide a more targeted, reliable approach for administering antioxidant therapy while minimizing the risk of antioxidant overdose. With the increasing awareness and understanding of MOSI as a distinct male infertility diagnosis, future research endeavors can facilitate the development of evidence-based treatments that target its underlying cause.

46 XX karyotype during male fertility evaluation; Case series and literature review / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

Forty-six XX disorder of sex development is an uncommon medical condition observed at times during the evaluation of a man's fertility. The following is a case series and literature review of phenotypically normal men diagnosed with this karyotype. Our goal is to comprehend the patients' clinical presentation as well as their laboratory results aiming to explore options available for their management. A formal literature review through PubMed and MEDLINE databases was performed using "46 XX man" as a word search. A total of 55 patients, including those conveyed in this article were diagnosed with a 46 XX karyotype during their fertility evaluation. The patients' mean age ± s.d. was 34 ± 10 years and their mean height ± s.d. was 166 ± 6.5 cm. Overall, they presented with hypergonadotropic hypogonadism. Sexual dysfunction, reduced hair distribution, and gynecomastia were reported in 20% (4/20), 25.8% (8/31), and 42% (13/31) of the patients, respectively. The SRY gene was detected in 36 (83.7%) and was absent in the remaining seven (16.3%) patients. We found that a multidisciplinary approach to management is preferred in 46 XX patients. Screening for remnants of the mullerian ducts and for malignant transformation in dysgenetic gonads is imperative. Hypogonadism should be addressed, while fertility options are in vitro fertilization with donor sperm or adoption.

Role of Antioxidants in Assisted Reproductive Techniques

Oxidative stress (OS) has been recognized as a significant cause of suboptimal assisted reproductive outcome. Many of the sperm preparation and manipulation procedures that are necessary in the in vitro environment can result in excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) thereby exposing the gametes and growing embryos to significant oxidative damage. Antioxidants have long been utilized in the management of male subfertility as they can counterbalance the elevated levels of ROS inducing a high state of OS. Few studies have looked into the clinical effectiveness of antioxidants in patients undergoing assisted reproduction. While an overall favorable outcome has been perceived, the specific clinical indication and optimal antioxidant regimen remain unknown. The goal of our review is to explore the sources of ROS in the in vitro environment and provide a clinical scenario-based approach to identify the circumstances where antioxidant supplementation is most beneficial to enhance the outcome of assisted reproduction.

Specialized sperm function tests in varicocele and the future of andrology laboratory / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

Varicocele is a common medical condition entangled with many controversies. Though it is highly prevalent in men with infertility, still it marks its presence in males who do have normal fertility. Determining which patients are negatively affected by varicocele would enable clinicians to better select those men who benefitted the most from surgery. Since conventional semen analysis has been limited in its ability to evaluate the negative effects of varicocele on fertility, a multitude of specialized laboratory tests have emerged. In this review, we examine the role and significance of specialized sperm function tests with regards to varicocele. Among the various tests, analysis of sperm DNA fragmentation and measurements of oxidative stress markers provide an independent measure of fertility in men with varicocele. These diagnostic modalities have both diagnostic and prognostic information complementary to, but distinct from conventional sperm parameters. Test results can guide management and aid in monitoring intervention outcomes. Proteomics, metabolomics, and genomics are areas; though still developing, holding promise to revolutionize our understanding of reproductive physiology, including varicocele.