Evaluation of the effects of COVID-19 on semen parameters and male infertility.

The new coronavirus pandemic resulted in millions of deaths in Brazil and around the world, and presented substantial challenges to society. The shortand long-term clinical manifestations tied to COVID-19 are still poorly understood, and may involve several organs and systems, including the male genital tract, which may lead to impaired fertility. The present study aimed to analyze, through an integrative literature review of articles available in databases, the effects of COVID-19 on parameters related to human semen quality. The analyzed studies reported significant decreases in sperm motility and morphology related to COVID-19. Reductions in concentration and volume were also observed. Inflammatory response is one of the leading mechanisms that may potentially explain the observed changes, although others may also be involved. More studies are needed to better understand the effects, modes of action, as well as other aspects involved in this complex phenomenon.

HIV, HPV and Chlamydia trachomatis: impacts on male fertility.

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are pathologies that have viruses, bacteria, protozoa and fungi as infectious agents, affecting millions of people worldwide and causing physical and psychological consequences for the carrier. Some of these infections such as HIV, HPV and Chlamydia trachomatis may present an asymptomatic phase, making the diagnosis difficult, which is often only performed when the couple looks for infertility treatment after not achieving spontaneous pregnancy. Infertility affects 15% of couples, 50% of cases are male-related, and it is estimated that STDs, which interfere with the physiology of the male reproductive system and may impair semen in parameters such as motility, concentration, morphology and number, cause 15% of male infertility cases. Since STDs treatments are increasing the expectation and quality of life of infected patients, discussing issues such as sexuality and reproduction is of great importance in clarifying unknown facts. This paper aims to discuss how the infectious processes associated with HIV, HPV and Chlamydia trachomatis can interfere with semen quality causing male infertility without apparent cause.

Three-parent babies: Mitochondrial replacement therapies.

The mitochondria are intracellular organelles, and just like the cell nucleus they have their own genome. They are extremely important for normal body functioning and are responsible for ATP production - the main energy source for the cell. Mitochondrial diseases are associated with mutations in mitochondrial DNA and are inherited exclusively from the mother. They can affect organs that depend on energy metabolism, such as skeletal muscles, the cardiac system, the central nervous system, the endocrine system, the retina and liver, causing various incurable diseases. Mitochondrial replacement techniques provide women with mitochondrial defects a chance to have normal biological children. The goal of such treatment is to reconstruct functional oocytes and zygotes, in order to avoid the inheritance of mutated genes; for this the nuclear genome is withdrawn from an oocyte or zygotes, which carries mitochondrial mutations, and is implanted in a normal anucleated cell donor. Currently, the options of a couple to prevent the transmission of mitochondrial diseases are limited, and mitochondrial donation techniques provide women with mitochondrial defects a chance to have normal children. The nuclear genome can be transferred from oocytes or zygotes using techniques such as pronuclear transfer, spindle transfer, polar body transfer and germinal vesicle transfer. This study presents a review of developed mitochondrial substitution techniques, and its ability to prevent hereditary diseases.

Frequency of Chromosomal Abnormalities in Products of Conception.

Purpose To describe the frequencies of chromosomal abnormalities found in abortion material, and to observe its correlation to maternal age. Methods A retrospective study was conducted based on data obtained from the databank of a medical genetics laboratory in Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. A total of 884 results from products of conception analysis were included, 204 of which were analyzed by cytogenetics, and 680 by molecular biology based on quantitative fluorescence polymerase chain reaction (QF-PCR). The frequency of individual chromosomal aberrations and the relationship between the presence of anomalies and maternal age were also evaluated. Results The conventional cytogenetics technique was able to detect 52% of normal and 48% of abnormal results in the analyzed material. Quantitative fluorescence polymerase chain reaction revealed 60% of normal and 40% of abnormal results from the samples evaluated by this method. The presence of trisomy 15 was detected only by cytogenetics, as it was not included in the QF-PCR routine investigation in the laboratory. A significant increase in abnormal results was observed among women aged 35 years or older compared with younger women (p = 0.02). Conclusion Chromosomal aberrations are still a major cause of spontaneous abortion, and the conventional cytogenetics technique is efficient for miscarriage material analysis, but molecular methods such as QF-PCR are adequate complementary strategies to detect the major chromosomal anomalies, leading to technical reports with reliable results.

Frequency of Chromosomal Abnormalities in Products of Conception / Frequência de anomalias cromossômicas em material de aborto

Abstract Purpose To describe the frequencies of chromosomal abnormalities found in abortion material, and to observe its correlation to maternal age. Methods A retrospective study was conducted based on data obtained from the databank of a medical genetics laboratory in Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. A total of 884 results from products of conception analysis were included, 204 of which were analyzed by cytogenetics, and 680bymolecular biology basedon quantitative fluorescence polymerase chain reaction (QF-PCR). The frequency of individual chromosomal aberrations and the relationship between the presence of anomalies and maternal age were also evaluated. Results The conventional cytogenetics technique was able to detect 52% of normal and 48% of abnormal results in the analyzed material. Quantitative fluorescence polymerase chain reaction revealed 60% of normal and 40% of abnormal results from the samples evaluated by this method. The presence of trisomy 15 was detected only by cytogenetics, as it was not included in the QF-PCR routine investigation in the laboratory. A significant increase in abnormal results was observed among women aged 35 years or older compared with younger women (p = 0.02). Conclusion Chromosomal aberrations are still a major cause of spontaneous abortion, and the conventional cytogenetics technique is efficient for miscarriage material analysis, but molecular methods such as QF-PCR are adequate complementary strategies to detect the major chromosomal anomalies, leading to technical reports with reliable results.

Resumo Objetivos Descrever a frequência de anomalias cromossômicas encontradas em material de aborto, e observar se estas estão relacionadas com a idade materna. Métodos Foi realizado um estudo retrospectivo no banco de dados de um laboratório de genética médica em Belo Horizonte, MG. O estudo incluiu 204 resultados avaliados por citogenética, e 680 resultados por biologia molecular baseada em reação em ensaio fluorescente da reação em cadeia da polimerase (QF-PCR), totalizando um número de 884 análises. A frequência de diferentes anomalias cromossômicas e a relação entre a presença de anomalias e a idade materna também foi avaliada. Resultados A citogenética convencional foi capaz de detectar 52% de resultados normais e 48% de resultados anormais no material analisado. A QF-PCR revelou 60% de resultados normais e 40% de anormais nas amostras avaliadas por esta técnica. A presença da trissomia 15 foi detectada por citogenética,mas até então não era incluída na investigação por QF-PCR no laboratório. Umaumento significativo na quantidade de resultados anormais foi observado em mulheres comidade de 35 anos ou mais, quando comparado a mulheres mais jovens (p = 0,02). Conclusão As aberrações cromossômicas são causas importantes de abortos espontâneos, e o estudo citogenético é eficaz para a análise das amostras de material de aborto, mas as técnicas moleculares, como a QF-PCR, representam métodos complementares adequados para detectar as principais anomalias cromossômicas, possibilitando a liberação de laudos com resultados confiáveis.

Estudo comparativo das regulamentações de reprodução assistida e das leis de abortamento de Brasil, Alemanha, Colômbia e França / Comparative study of regulations of assisted reproduction and abortion laws between Brazil, Germany, Colombia and France

OBJETIVO: Descrever as regulamentacões de Reprodução Humana Assistida (RHA) e as leis de abortamento do Brasil, Alemanha, Colômbia e Franc¸a. MÉTODO: Foi feito estudo qualitativo transversal das regulamentações referentes à reproducão humana assistida e ao abortamento no Brasil, na Colômbia, Alemanha e Franca entre agosto de 2014 e março de 2015. RESULTADOS: Para a RHA o Brasil tem a resolucão do Conselho Federal de Medicina 2.013/2013, a Colômbia o decreto 1.546/1998 para a doacão de gametas, a Alemanha e Franc¸a leis específicas. Em relacão à lei do abortamento, os quatro países têm leis específicas. CONCLUSÃO: Considerando todas as regulamentacões de RHA e leis de abortamento, verificamos que os países encontram-se em situacões distintas em relacão à RHA e que todos têm leis específicas para o abortamento.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to describe the regulations of Assisted Human Reproduction (AHR) and the abortion laws of Brazil, Germany, Colombia and France. METHOD: A cross-sectional qualitative study of regulations relating to assisted human reproduction and abortion in Brazil, Colombia, Germany and France between august 2014 and March 2015. RESULTS: For the AHR Brazil has the resolution of the Federal Council of Medicine 2013/2013, Colombia has the 1546/1998 decree for the donation of gametes, Germany and France have specific laws. Regarding the abortion law, the four countries have specific laws. CONCLUSION: Considering all the regulations of AHR and abortion laws, we found that these countries are in different situations regarding the AHR and that they all have specific laws for abortion.

Estudo das regulamentações de reprodução humana assistida no Brasil, Chile, Uruguai e na Argentina / Study of the regulations of assisted human reproduction in Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Uruguay

Objetivo: Estudar as regulamentac¸ões referentes à reproduc¸ão humana assistida no Brasil,Chile, Uruguai e na Argentina.Método: Estudo qualitativo transversal das regulamentac¸ões referentes à reproduc¸ãohumana assistida no Brasil, Chile, Uruguai e na Argentina entre novembro de 2013 e abrilde 2014.Resultados: O Brasil é regido pela Resoluc¸ão do Conselho Federal de Medicina n◦2.013/2013;a Argentina pela Lei n◦26.862/2013; no Chile, até o momento, não existe uma lei queregulamente o uso das técnicas; e no Uruguai o projeto de lei n◦19.167/2013 aguardaregulamentac¸ão.Conclusão: Brasil, Argentina, Chile e Uruguai são países sul-americanos que se encon-tram em distintas situac¸ões legais no que diz respeito à regulamentac¸ão das práticas dereproduc¸ão humana assistida.

tObjective: This research aimed to study the regulations of Assisted Human Reproduction inBrazil, Argentina, Chile and Uruguay.Method: A cross-sectional qualitative study of the regulations relating to Assisted HumanReproduction in Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Uruguay was conducted between November of2013 and April of 2014. Results: Regarding the Assisted Human Reproduction techniques, currently Brazil is regulatedby Resolution of the Federal Council of Medicine No. 2013/2013; Argentina by LawNo. 26,862/2013; in Chile, so far, there is no law regulating the use of these techniques; inUruguay the draft bill No. 19,167/2013 awaits regulation.Conclusion: Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Uruguay are South American countries that arein different legal situations regarding to the regulation of the practice of Assisted HumanReproduction.