Reproductive outcomes of intracytoplasmic sperm injection using testicular sperm and ejaculated sperm in patients with AZFc microdeletions: a systematic review and meta-analysis / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

Studies have explored the assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes of Y-chromosome azoospermia factor c (AZFc) microdeletions, but the effect of sperm source on intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) remains unknown. To determine the ART results of ICSI using testicular sperm and ejaculated sperm from males with AZFc microdeletions, we searched Embase, Web of Science, and PubMed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis. The first meta-analysis results for 106 cycles in five studies showed no significant differences in the live birth rate between the testicular sperm group and the ejaculated sperm group (risk ratio: 0.97, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.73-1.28, P = 0.82). The second meta-analysis of 106 cycles in five studies showed no difference in the abortion rate between the testicular sperm group and ejaculated sperm group (risk ratio: 1.06, 95% CI: 0.54-2.06, P = 0.87). The third meta-analysis of 386 cycles in seven studies showed no significant difference in clinical pregnancy rates between the testicular sperm group and the ejaculated sperm group (risk ratio: 1.24, 95% CI: 0.66-2.34, P = 0.50). Inevitable heterogeneity weakened our results. However, our results indicated that testicular sperm and ejaculated sperm yield similar ART outcomes, representing a meaningful result for clinical treatment. More properly designed studies are needed to further confirm our conclusions.

Expression of macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha in EPS and its significance / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect the mRNA and protein expressions of MIP-1alpha in EPS and determine their significance in the sub-typing of chronic prostatitis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We collected samples of expressed prostatic secretion (EPS) from 50 cases of chronic prostatitis, including 16 cases of chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP), 23 cases of chronic nonbacterial prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) (11 CPPS IIIA, 12 CPPS IIIB), and 11 cases of type-IV asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis (AIP). Another 15 healthy volunteers were included as normal controls. The mRNA and protein levels of MIP-1alpha in EPS were determined by RT-PCR and ELISA, respectively, followed by statistical analysis with SPSS 15.0.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mRNA expression of MIP-1alpha was markedly higher in the CPPS IIIA and CPPS IIIB groups than in the others (P<0.05). The protein level of MIP-1alpha was (1174.3 +/- 89.2) pg/ml in CPPS IIIA and (842.3 +/- 76.2) pg/ml in CPPS IIIB, significantly higher than (198.0 +/- 37.8) pg/ml in the control, (347.0 +/- 61.6) pg/ml in CBP and (292.0 +/- 56.4) pg/ml in type-IV AIP (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Determination of mRNA and protein levels of MIP-1alpha in EPS may help the sub-typing and diagnosis of chronic prostatitis.</p>

Effects of icariin on erectile function and expression of nitric oxide synthase isoforms in castrated rats / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>AIM</b>To investigate the effect of icariin on erectile function and the expression of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms in castrated rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-two adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into one sham-operated group (A) and three castrated groups (B, C and D). One week after surgery, rats were treated with normal saline (groups A and B) or oral icariin (1 mg/[kg.day] for group C and 5 mg/[kg.day] for group D) for 4 weeks. One week after treatment, the erectile function of the rats was assessed by measuring intracavernosal pressure (ICP) during electrostimulation of the cavernosal nerve. The serum testosterone (ST) levels, the percent of smooth muscle (PSM) in trabecular tissue, and the expression of mRNA and proteins of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and phosphodiesterase V (PDE5) in corpus cavernosum (CC) were also evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>ICP, PSM, ST and the expression of nNOS, iNOS, eNOS and PDE5 were significantly decreased in group B compared with those in group A (P 0.01). However, ICP, PSM and the expression of nNOS and iNOS were increased in groups C and D compared with those in group B (P 0.05). Changes in ST and the expression of eNOS and PDE5 were not significant (P 0.05) in groups C and D compared with those in group B.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Oral treatment with icariin ( 98.6 % purity) for 4 weeks potentially improves erectile function. This effect is correlated with an increase in PSM and the expression of certain NOS in the CC of castrated rats. These results suggest that icariin may have a therapeutic effect on erectile dysfunction.</p>

Effect of renewed SS-cream on spinal somatosensory evoked potential in rabbits / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>AIM</b>The effect of a renewed SS-cream (RSSC) on the treatment of premature ejaculation (PE) was evaluated and compared with the original SS-cream (OSSC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty male white New Zealand rabbits, weighing 2.5 kg-3.0 kg, were divided at random into 3 groups: the RSSC, OSSC and placebo groups. The spinal somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) elicited by electric stimulation of the glans penis with disk electrode was investigated with an electrophysiograph (Poseidomn, Shanghai, China) before and 10, 30 and 60 min after drug or placebo application on the glans. The Onset and the N1 latencies and the amplitude of SSEP were recorded and analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in the mean Onset and N1 latency of SSEP among the 3 groups before drug application. Compared with the pre-application value, the mean Onset and N1 latencies in the RSSC and OSSC groups were significantly prolonged at 10, 30 and 60 min after treatment (P<0.05), while they were not significantly changed (P>0.05) in the placebo group. The mean Onset latency of RSSC at 10 and 30 min and that of OSSC at 30 min were significantly delayed (P<0.05) compared with the placebo group. The mean N1 latency of RSSC at 30 and 60 min and that of OSSC group at 30 min were also significantly delayed (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>RSSC delays the latencies of SSEP, suggesting a local desensitizing effect on the sensory receptor of the glans penis dorsal nerve, which provides the potential for PE treatment. The desensitizing effect of RSSC is higher than that of OSSC.</p>

Sexual function of premature ejaculation patients assayed with Chinese Index of Premature Ejaculation / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>AIM</b>To assess the psychometric properties of the Chinese Index of Premature Ejaculation (CIPE).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The sexual function of 167 patients with and 114 normal controls without premature ejaculation (PE) were evaluated with CIPE. All subjects were married and had regular sexual activity. The CIPE has 10 questions, focusing on libido, erectile function, ejaculatory latency, sexual satisfaction and difficulty in delaying ejaculation, self-confidence and depression. Each question was responded to on a 5 point Likert-type scale. The individual question score and the total scale score were analyzed between the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were no significant differences between the age, duration of marriage and educational level (P> 0.05) of patients with and without PE and normal controls. The mean latency of patients with PE and normal controls were 1.6 +/- 1.2 and 10.2 +/- 9.5 minutes, respectively. Significant differences between patients with (26.7 +/- 4.6) PE and normal controls (41.9 +/- 4.0) were observed on the total score of CIPE (P< 0.01). Using binary logistic regression analysis, PE was significantly related to five questions of the original measure. They are the so-called the CIPE-5 and include: ejaculatory latency, sexual satisfaction of patients and sexual partner, difficulty in delaying ejaculation, anxiety and depression. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis of CIPE-5 questionnaire indicated that the sensitivity and specificity of CIPE were 97.60 % and 94.74 %, respectively. Employing the total score of CIPE-5, patients with PE could be divided into three groups: mild (>15 point) 19.8 %, moderate (10-14 point) 62.8 % and severe (< 9 point) 16.7 %.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The CIPE-5 is a useful method for the evaluation of sexual function of patients with PE and can be used as a clinical endpoint for clinical trials studying the efficacy of pharmacological intervention.</p>