ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Infertility impacts a substantial number of couples worldwide, and about 50% of cases are linked to male factors. The analysis of seminal fluid composition can improve diagnostic accuracy and offer deeper insights into the pathophysiology of male factor infertility. This study seeks to identify novel markers for diagnosing and treating male infertility by comparing organic acid profiles in the seminal fluid of individuals with normospermia, oligospermia, and azoospermia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Semen samples were collected from men with normospermia, oligospermia, and azoospermia. The organic acid profile in the seminal fluid was analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC/MS-MS). Data analysis was performed using SPSS and MetaboAnalyst. RESULTS: The study revealed significant differences in metabolite levels among normospermic, oligospermic, and azoospermic individuals. In groups with oligospermia, there were significant decreases in the levels of 2-OH-Isovaleric Acid, 3-Methyl-2-Oxovaleric Acid, Ethyl-Malonic Acid, Citric Acid, Oxoproline, Malic Acid, N-Acetyl-Aspartic Acid, Suberic Acid, Glutaconic Acid, and Succinic Acid. Similarly, individuals with azoospermia exhibited a notable reduction in the levels of Citric Acid, Malic Acid, and Suberic Acid. Furthermore, according to the Variable Importance in the Projection (VIP) score analysis, Ethyl-Malonic Acid, Glycolic Acid, and 3-Methyl-2-Oxovaleric Acid were identified as crucial factors for diagnosis and potential treatment strategies. CONCLUSIONS: The data obtained from the study highlights the significant potential of metabolites in assessing infertility and gaining a more in-depth understanding of the underlying pathological mechanisms.
Subject(s)
Azoospermia , Infertility, Male , Oligospermia , Humans , Male , Oligospermia/diagnosis , Azoospermia/diagnosis , Azoospermia/metabolism , Semen , Infertility, Male/diagnosis , Infertility, Male/metabolism , Citric Acid/analysis , Citric Acid/metabolismABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Acute appendicitis is the most frequent abdominal condition that requires non-obstetric surgical intervention during pregnancy. This study aims to scan pregnant patients operated on for acute appendicitis to evaluate the efficiency of using the Alvarado Score (AS) for diagnosis. METHODS: Our study included 48 pregnant patients who were pre-diagnosed with acute appendicitis and operated on at our department of general surgery from January 2010 to July 2016 and whose files were accessed. Fifty-three non-pregnant female patients of reproductive age who were operated on for appendicitis during the same period were included in the study as the control group. The patients in both groups were divided into two groups based on their AS total score being 7 and ≥ 7. RESULTS: The mean age of the 48 pregnant patients was 28 (19-42) years, while the mean age of the 53 control patients was 31 (18-45) years. Among pregnant and non-pregnant women, about a third of patients had an AS < 7 (16 of 48 versus 18 of 53). There was no significant difference when the AS scores of both groups were compared (p = 0.947). Using pathology results as reference test, the sensitivity and specificity of the AS in pregnant women was 79 and 80%. CONCLUSIONS: As a result, when the data collected by our study are evaluated, we see that pregnancy does not have a negative effect on the efficacy of AS. Therefore, the AS system can be an easy, non-invasive auxiliary diagnostic tool with high diagnosis accuracy rates that can be used in pregnant patients suspected of having acute appendicitis.
