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Lee PMY, Xu X, Bo Du J, Li J. Paternal pre-conceptional alcohol use disorder with the offspring's mortality risk. Am J Prev Med 2024:S0749-3797(24)00071-0. [PMID: 38430947 DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2024.02.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Paternal pre-conceptional alcohol use may contribute to early pregnancy loss. However, the link between paternal pre-conceptional alcohol use disorder(AUD) and long-term offspring's mortality risk remains unclear. This study examined the association of paternal pre-conceptional AUD and recency of diagnosis with offspring's mortality, and further stratified the mortality after the first year of birth by age. METHODS This is a nationwide cohort study with 1973174 Danish births(1980-2012), with follow-up from birth until death, emigration, or 31-December 2016. Paternal conceptional AUD was identified from Danish National Patient Register and Prescription Registry, categorizing recency of diagnosis into <1 year, 1-<4 years, 4-<8 years, ≥8 years. Logistic regression estimated odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals(CIs) for offspring mortality risk. All data were analyzed in 2023. RESULTS Paternal pre-conceptional AUD was associated with a 28% increased mortality after one year of birth(95%CI=1.09-1.51), 23% increased infant mortality(95%CI=1.07-1.42), and 23% increased odds of stillbirth(95%CI=1.06-1.43). Paternal AUD diagnosed <1 year before conception was associated with an 85%-111% increased risk of mortality in offspring aged 15-40 years. More recent AUD diagnosis(i.e.,one year before conception) had a higher risks of death from infectious and circulatory diseases in offpring. CONCLUSIONS Offspring of fathers with AUD before conception had higher mortality risk from birth to early adulthood, especially when AUD diagnosis is close to conception. Current awareness regarding paternal pre-conceptional alcohol dependence use is insufficient. Promoting alcohol dependence avoidance, including educating men on the impact of alcohol on child health during pre-pregnancy examination may help reduce or prevent long-term offspring mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priscilla Ming Yi Lee
- Department of Clinical Medicine-Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
| | - Xin Xu
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jiang Bo Du
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Jiong Li
- Department of Clinical Medicine-Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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Rasmussen JMK, Dalgaard MIR, Alipour H, Dardmeh F, Christiansen OB. Seminal Oxidative Stress and Sperm DNA Fragmentation in Men from Couples with Infertility or Unexplained Recurrent Pregnancy Loss. J Clin Med 2024; 13:833. [PMID: 38337527 PMCID: PMC10856715 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13030833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: This case-control study examined whether men from couples with unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) or infertility exhibited higher seminal oxidative stress (OS) and sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) compared to fertile controls. (2) Methods: The study included 30 participants from each group: unexplained RPL, unexplained infertility, and proven fertility. Data were collected at Aalborg University Hospital tertiary RPL and fertility treatment clinics (Aalborg, Denmark), excluding couples with mixed conditions for homogeneity. Semen samples were analyzed using computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA) for concentration, motility, and morphology. SDF was assessed via a CASA-based sperm chromatin dispersion test. OS was measured as static oxidation-reduction potential (sORP). (3) Results: The results showed no significant OS differences between groups. The RPL group had significantly lower SDF levels than the control group. A significant positive correlation between SDF and OS was observed in the infertility group. Overall, this study did not find significant differences in OS levels between men from couples with unexplained RPL or infertility and fertile controls, while SDF levels were lower in the RPL group compared to controls. (4) Conclusion: In conclusion, despite the existing literature suggesting that OS and SDF are negative prognostic factors, our findings suggest they may not be reliable diagnostic markers for RPL and infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maya Isabella Riise Dalgaard
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aalborg University Hospital, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark; (J.M.K.R.); (M.I.R.D.)
| | - Hiva Alipour
- Regenerative Medicine, Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, 9260 Gistrup, Denmark;
| | - Fereshteh Dardmeh
- Regenerative Medicine, Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, 9260 Gistrup, Denmark;
| | - Ole Bjarne Christiansen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aalborg University Hospital, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark; (J.M.K.R.); (M.I.R.D.)
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, 9260 Gistrup, Denmark
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Sharma A, Papanikolaou N, Abou Sherif S, Dimakopolou A, Thaventhiran T, Go C, Holtermann Entwistle O, Brown A, Luo R, Jha R, Prakash A, Khalifa D, Lewis H, Ramaraju S, Leeds AR, Chahal H, Purkayastha S, Henkel R, Minhas S, Frost G, Dhillo WS, Jayasena CN. Improvements in Sperm Motility Following Low- or High-Intensity Dietary Interventions in Men With Obesity. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2024; 109:449-460. [PMID: 37656983 PMCID: PMC10795917 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgad523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Obesity increases risks of male infertility, but bariatric surgery does not improve semen quality. Recent uncontrolled studies suggest that a low-energy diet (LED) improves semen quality. Further evaluation within a randomized, controlled setting is warranted. METHODS Men with obesity (18-60 years) with normal sperm concentration (normal count) (n = 24) or oligozoospermia (n = 43) were randomized 1:1 to either 800 kcal/day LED for 16 weeks or control, brief dietary intervention (BDI) with 16 weeks' observation. Semen parameters were compared at baseline and 16 weeks. RESULTS Mean age of men with normal count was 39.4 ± 6.4 in BDI and 40.2 ± 9.6 years in the LED group. Mean age of men with oligozoospermia was 39.5 ± 7.5 in BDI and 37.7 ± 6.6 years in the LED group. LED caused more weight loss than BDI in men with normal count (14.4 vs 6.3 kg; P < .001) and men with oligozoospermia (17.6 vs 1.8 kg; P < .001). Compared with baseline, in men with normal count total motility (TM) increased 48 ± 17% to 60 ± 10% (P < .05) after LED, and 52 ± 8% to 61 ± 6% (P < .0001) after BDI; progressive motility (PM) increased 41 ± 16% to 53 ± 10% (P < .05) after LED, and 45 ± 8% to 54 ± 65% (P < .001) after BDI. In men with oligozoospermia compared with baseline, TM increased 35% [26] to 52% [16] (P < .05) after LED, and 43% [28] to 50% [23] (P = .0587) after BDI; PM increased 29% [23] to 46% [18] (P < .05) after LED, and 33% [25] to 44% [25] (P < .05) after BDI. No differences in postintervention TM or PM were observed between LED and BDI groups in men with normal count or oligozoospermia. CONCLUSION LED or BDI may be sufficient to improve sperm motility in men with obesity. The effects of paternal dietary intervention on fertility outcomes requires investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditi Sharma
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Nikoleta Papanikolaou
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Sara Abou Sherif
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Anastasia Dimakopolou
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Thilipan Thaventhiran
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Cara Go
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College, London W12 0NN, UK
| | | | - Adrian Brown
- Centre for Obesity Research, University College London, London, UK
| | - Rong Luo
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Rama Jha
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Anavi Prakash
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Dalia Khalifa
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Hannah Lewis
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Sruthi Ramaraju
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Anthony R Leeds
- Clinical Research Unit, Parker Institute, Frederiksberg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Harvinder Chahal
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Sanjay Purkayastha
- Department of General and Bariatric Surgery, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, St. Mary's Hospital, London, UK
| | - Ralf Henkel
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Sukhbinder Minhas
- Department of Urology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Charing Cross Hospital, Fulham Palace Road, Hammersmith, London, UK
| | - Gary Frost
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Waljit S Dhillo
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Channa N Jayasena
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College, London W12 0NN, UK
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Davies R, Minhas S, Jayasena CN. Next-Generation Sequencing to Elucidate the Semen Microbiome in Male Reproductive Disorders. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2023; 60:25. [PMID: 38256286 PMCID: PMC10819355 DOI: 10.3390/medicina60010025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Mean sperm counts are declining at an accelerated rate and infertility is increasingly becoming a public health concern. It is now understood that human semen, previously considered to be sterile, harbours its own specific microbiome. Via activated leucocytes and the generation of reactive oxygen species, bacteria have the capability of evoking an immune response which may lead to sperm damage. Men with infertility have higher rates of both reactive oxygen species and sperm DNA damage. Due to the lack of sensitivity of routine culture and PCR-based methods, next-generation sequencing technology is being employed to characterise the seminal microbiome. There is a mounting body of studies that share a number of similarities but also a great range of conflicting findings. A lack of stringent decontamination procedures, small sample sizes and heterogeneity in other aspects of methodology makes it difficult to draw firm conclusions from these studies. However, various themes have emerged and evidence of highly conserved clusters of common bacteria can be seen. Depletion or over-representation of specific bacteria may be associated with aberrations in traditional and functional seminal parameters. Currently, the evidence is too limited to inform clinical practice and larger studies are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhianna Davies
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London W12 0HS, UK;
| | - Suks Minhas
- Department of Urology, Charing Cross Hospital, Imperial College NHS Trust, London W6 8RF, UK;
| | - Channa N. Jayasena
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London W12 0HS, UK;
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Inversetti A, Bossi A, Cristodoro M, Larcher A, Busnelli A, Grande G, Salonia A, Di Simone N. Recurrent pregnancy loss: a male crucial factor-A systematic review and meta-analysis. Andrology 2023. [PMID: 37881014 DOI: 10.1111/andr.13540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL), defined as two or more failed clinical pregnancies, affects 1%-3% of couples trying to conceive. Nowadays up to 50% of cases remain idiopathic. In this context, paternal factors evaluation is still very limited. The aim is to address the topic of the male factor in RPL with a broad approach, analyzing collectively data on sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) and semen parameters. We systematically searched in Pubmed/MEDLINE and Google Scholar from inception to February 2023. A protocol has been registered on PROSPERO (ID number CRD42022278616). PRISMA guidelines were followed. METHODS Pooled results from 20 studies revealed a higher DNA fragmentation rate in the RPL group compared to controls (mean difference [MD] 9.21, 95% CI 5.58-12.85, p < 0.00001, I2 98%). Age, body mass index (BMI), smoking, and alcohol intake were not associated with DNA fragmentation. Subgroup analysis by different SDF assays (TUNEL and COMET at a neutral pH vs. indirect assessment with other assays) and ethnicity did not highlight different results (p = 0.25 and 0.44). RESULTS Results pooled from 25 studies showed a significant difference comparing RPL and control groups regarding ejaculation volume (MD -0.24, 95% CI -0.43; -0.06, p 0.01, I2 66%), total sperm number (MD -10.03, 95% CI -14.65; -5.41, p < 0.0001, I2 76%), total sperm motility (MD -11.20, 95% CI -16.15; -6.25, p < 0.0001, I2 96%), progressive sperm motility (MD -7.34, 95% CI -10.87; -3.80, p < 0.0001, I2 97%), and normal sperm morphology (MD -5.99, 95% CI -9.08; -2.90, p 0.0001, I2 98%). A sub-analysis revealed that Asian and Africans, but not white-European RPL men had lower progressive sperm motility compared to controls. CONCLUSION In conclusion, current review and meta-analysis findings suggested that SDF and some specific semen parameters were associated with RPL in a multi-ethnic evaluation. This effort opens future direction on a growing awareness of, first, how the male factor plays a key role and, second, how appropriate would be to establish a direct dialogue between the gynecologist and the urologist. PATIENT SUMMARY We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis on the male component of RPL. We found that sperm DNA fragmentation and some specific sperm parameters are significantly associated with RPL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annalisa Inversetti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Italy
| | - Arianna Bossi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Alessandro Larcher
- Department of Urology and Division of Experimental Oncology, URI Urological Research Institute, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Busnelli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Grande
- Department of Medicine, Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Andrea Salonia
- Department of Urology and Division of Experimental Oncology, URI Urological Research Institute, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Division of Experimental Oncology/Unit of Urology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Di Simone
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Italy
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Li Y, Wang S, Li D, Huang Y, Liu H, Zhang X, Qin J, Mao X, Li Z, Chen L, Wei P, Shi W, Xue L. Short-interval second ejaculation improves sperm quality, blastocyst formation in oligoasthenozoospermic males in ICSI cycles: a time-lapse sibling oocytes study. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1250663. [PMID: 37745695 PMCID: PMC10512860 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1250663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Does short-interval second ejaculation improve sperm quality, embryo development and clinical outcomes for oligoasthenozoospermia males received intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment? Methods All enrolled male patients underwent short-interval secondary ejaculation on the day of oocyte retrieval, and 786 sibling MII oocytes from 67 cycles were equally divided into two groups based on whether the injected spermatozoons originated from the first or second ejaculation. Semen parameters, embryo development efficiency, morphokinetic parameters and clinical outcomes were compared between the two groups to assess the efficiency and clinical value of short-interval second ejaculation in ICSI cycles. Results Short-interval second ejaculation significantly improved sperm motility, normal morphological rate, and sperm DNA integrity both before and after sperm swim-up. The high-quality blastocyst rate (24.79% versus 14.67%), available blastocyst rate (57.56% versus 48.44%), and oocyte utilization rate (52.93% versus 45.29%) were significantly higher in the second ejaculation group (P<0.05). The clinical pregnancy rate (59.09% versus 47.37%), implantation rate (42.11% versus 32.35%) and live birth rate (40.91% versus 31.58%) were higher in the second ejaculation group, but the differences were not significant (P>0.05). Time-lapse analysis showed that morphokinetic time points after the 7-cell stage were earlier in the second ejaculation group but without a significant difference (P>0.05), and abnormal embryo cleavage patterns between the two groups were not significantly different (P>0.05). Conclusions Short-interval second ejaculation significantly improves sperm quality in oligoasthenozoospermic males, and is beneficial for blastocyst formation efficiency in ICSI cycles. This study suggested a non-invasive and simple but effective strategy for improving ICSI treatment outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Lintao Xue
- Reproductive Medical and Genetic Center, The People’s Hospital of GuangXi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, China
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Deng X, Sang Q, Zhang R, Mu J, Bao S. The association of APOH and NCF1 polymorphisms on susceptibility to recurrent pregnancy loss in women with antiphospholipid syndrome. J Assist Reprod Genet 2023; 40:1703-1712. [PMID: 37243946 PMCID: PMC10352192 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-023-02829-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is the main manifestation of pathological pregnancy in antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) women. The immune state plays a significant role in the occurrence/development of APS and RPL susceptibility, but there is little research on genetic factors. METHOD Previous studies have described the important role of APOH and NCF1 in APS and pregnancy. To explore the association of APOH and NCF1 gene variants with RPL susceptibility in APS patients, we collected and analyzed 871 controls, 182 APS and RPL, and 231 RPL patients. Four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs1801690, rs52797880, and rs8178847 of APOH and rs201802880 of NCF1) were selected and genotyped. RESULTS We found rs1801690 (p = 0.001, p = 0.003), rs52797880 (p = 8.73e-04, p = 0.001), and rs8178847 (p = 0.001, p = 0.001) of APOH and rs201802880 (p = 3.77e-26, p = 1.31e-26) of NCF1 showed significant differences between APS and RPL patients and controls in allelic and genotype frequencies respectively. Moreover, rs1801690, rs52797880, and rs8178847 showed strong linkage disequilibrium. Especially, our results revealed a complete linkage disequilibrium (D' = 1) between rs52797880 and rs8178847. Furthermore, higher serum TP (total protein) level was described in APOH rs1801690 CG/GG (p = 0.007), rs52797880 AG/GG (p = 0.033), and rs8178847 CT/TT (p = 0.033), while the higher frequency of positive serum ACA-IgM was found in NCF1 rs201802880 GA (p = 0.017) in APS and RPL patients. CONCLUSION Rs1801690, rs52797880, and rs8178847 of APOH and rs201802880 of NCF1 were associated with RPL susceptibility in APS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xujing Deng
- Department of Reproductive Immunology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Qing Sang
- Institute of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Fudan University and the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, the International Co-laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Ministry of Science and Technology and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Zhuhai Fudan Innovation Institute, Zhuhai, 519000, China
| | - Ruixiu Zhang
- Department of Reproductive Immunology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Jian Mu
- Institute of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Fudan University and the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, the International Co-laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Ministry of Science and Technology and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Shihua Bao
- Department of Reproductive Immunology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China.
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8
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Franco A, Proietti F, Palombi V, Savarese G, Guidotti M, Leonardo C, Ferro F, Manna C, Franco G. Varicocele: To Treat or Not to Treat? J Clin Med 2023; 12:4062. [PMID: 37373755 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12124062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Varicocele treatment in infertility still remains controversial. It is clear, in fact, that in many patients, varicocele has no impact on fertility. Recent scientific evidence demonstrated that varicocele treatment is beneficial in improving semen parameters and pregnancy rate when an appropriate selection of patients is made. The purpose of treating varicocele in adults is mainly to improve current fertility status. On the other hand, the goal of treatment in adolescents is to prevent testicular injury and maintain testicular function for future fertility. Hence, the key to the success of varicocele treatment seems to be a correct indication. The aim of this study is to review and summarize current evidence in managing varicocele treatment focusing on the controversies regarding surgical indications in adolescent and adult patients, and in other specific situations such as azoospermia, bilateral or subclinical varicocele, and prior to ART.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Franco
- Department of Urology, Sant'Andrea Hospital, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Flavia Proietti
- Department of Maternal and Child Health and Urological Sciences, Policlinico Umberto I, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Veronica Palombi
- Department of Maternal and Child Health and Urological Sciences, Policlinico Umberto I, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriele Savarese
- Department of Maternal and Child Health and Urological Sciences, Policlinico Umberto I, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Michele Guidotti
- Department of Urology, Nuovo Ospedale dei Castelli, 00040 Rome, Italy
| | - Costantino Leonardo
- Department of Maternal and Child Health and Urological Sciences, Policlinico Umberto I, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Claudio Manna
- Biofertility IVF and Infertility Center, 00198 Rome, Italy
| | - Giorgio Franco
- Department of Maternal and Child Health and Urological Sciences, Policlinico Umberto I, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
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Rossokha Z, Fishchuk L, Vorobei L, Medvedieva N, Popova O, Vershyhora V, Sheyko L, Brisevac L, Stroy D, Gorovenko N. Hyperhomocysteinemia in men and women of married couples with reproductive disorders. What is the difference? Syst Biol Reprod Med 2023; 69:75-85. [PMID: 36308028 DOI: 10.1080/19396368.2022.2124896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) is an autosomal recessive inherited metabolic disease caused by variations in folate metabolism genes, characterized by impaired methionine metabolism and accumulation of homocysteine (Hcy) in the blood serum. It was shown that men usually have higher plasma Hcy levels than women, but have not yet assessed the leading factors of these differences, which is important for the development of personalized protocols for the prevention of folate metabolism disorders in couples with reproductive disorders. This study aimed to analyze the effect of intergenic and gene-factor interactions on the risk of developing HHcy in men and women of married couples with reproductive disorders. In our study were involved 206 married Caucasian couples (206 males and 206 females) from central regions of Ukraine with early pregnancy losses in the anamnesis. We found that the incidence of HHcy in men was significantly higher than in women. Gender differences in folic acid and vitamin B12 levels were identified. The best predictors of HHcy in men (MTRR (A66G), MTHFR (C677T), MTR (A2756G), vitamin B12 level) and in women (MTHFR (C677T), MTR (A2756G), vitamin B12 level) were selected by binary logistic regression. There was no significant difference in the distribution of genotypes by the studied gene variants when comparing men and women with HHcy. Our findings demonstrate that there is a gender difference in the development of HHcy. This difference is caused by intergenic interaction and by environmental factors, in particular, nutrition and vitamins consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoia Rossokha
- Department of genetic diagnostics, State Institute of Genetic and Regenerative Medicine National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine.,State Institution "Reference-Centre for Molecular Diagnostic of Public Health Ministry of Ukraine", Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Liliya Fishchuk
- Department of genetic diagnostics, State Institute of Genetic and Regenerative Medicine National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine.,State Institution "Reference-Centre for Molecular Diagnostic of Public Health Ministry of Ukraine", Kyiv, Ukraine
| | | | - Nataliia Medvedieva
- State Institution "Reference-Centre for Molecular Diagnostic of Public Health Ministry of Ukraine", Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Olena Popova
- State Institution "Reference-Centre for Molecular Diagnostic of Public Health Ministry of Ukraine", Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Viktoriia Vershyhora
- State Institution "Reference-Centre for Molecular Diagnostic of Public Health Ministry of Ukraine", Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Larysa Sheyko
- Department of genetic diagnostics, State Institute of Genetic and Regenerative Medicine National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine.,Shupyk National Healthcare University of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Ljudmila Brisevac
- Department of genetic diagnostics, State Institute of Genetic and Regenerative Medicine National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine.,Shupyk National Healthcare University of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Dmytro Stroy
- Department of genetic diagnostics, State Institute of Genetic and Regenerative Medicine National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Nataliia Gorovenko
- Department of genetic diagnostics, State Institute of Genetic and Regenerative Medicine National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine.,Shupyk National Healthcare University of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
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10
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Li Q, Chen S, Dong X, Fu S, Zhang T, Zheng W, Tian Y, Huang D. The Progress of Research on Genetic Factors of Recurrent Pregnancy Loss. Genet Res (Camb) 2023; 2023:9164374. [PMID: 37006462 PMCID: PMC10065863 DOI: 10.1155/2023/9164374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is both mental and physical health problem affecting about 1-5% of women of childbearing age. The etiology of RPL is complex, involving chromosomal abnormalities, autoimmune diseases, metabolic disorders, and endometrial dysfunction. The causes of abortion are still unknown in more than 50% of these cases. With the development of science and technology, an increasing number of scholars focus on this field and find that genetic factors may play an essential role in unexplained RPL, such as embolism-related genes, immune factor-related genes, and chromosomal numeric, and structural variation. This review summarizes the genetic factors associated with RPL, including genetic mutations and genetic polymorphisms, chromosomal variants, and chromosomal polymorphisms. Many related genetic factors have been found to be demographically and geographically relevant, some of which can be used for risk prediction or screening for the etiology of RPL. However, it is difficult to predict and prevent RPL due to uncertain pathogenesis and highly variable clinical presentation. Therefore, the genetic factors of RPL still need plentiful research to obtain a more accurate understanding of its pathogenesis and to provide more detection means for the screening and prevention of RPL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinlan Li
- Institute of Reproduction Health Research, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Shuting Chen
- Institute of Reproduction Health Research, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Xinyi Dong
- Institute of Reproduction Health Research, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Sen Fu
- Institute of Reproduction Health Research, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Tianyu Zhang
- Institute of Reproduction Health Research, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Weiwei Zheng
- NHC Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics (Family Planning Research Institute of Guangdong Province), Guangzhou 510600, Guangdong, China
| | - Yonghong Tian
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310006, Zhejiang, China
| | - Donghui Huang
- Institute of Reproduction Health Research, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China
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11
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Llavanera M, Delgado-Bermúdez A, Ribas-Maynou J, Salas-Huetos A, Yeste M. A systematic review identifying fertility biomarkers in semen: a clinical approach through Omics to diagnose male infertility. Fertil Steril 2022; 118:291-313. [PMID: 35718545 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2022.04.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To identify the most robust molecular biomarkers in sperm and seminal plasma for the diagnosis of male infertility, and to evaluate their clinical use. DESIGN Systematic review. SETTING Not applicable. PATIENT(S) Accessible studies reporting well-defined (in)fertile populations and semen molecular biomarkers were included in this review. INTERVENTION(S) A systematic search of the literature published in MEDLINE-PubMed and EMBASE databases was performed, following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) The primary outcome was the content, expression, or activity of molecular biomarkers in human semen samples. Only studies reporting a receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis values were included. RESULT(S) Eighty-nine studies were included. Direct evaluation of sperm DNA damage has high potential as a diagnostic biomarker of fertility and assisted reproductive technology outcomes (area under the curve [AUCs] median = 0.67). Regarding strand break-associated chromatin modifications, γH2AX levels show good predictive value for the diagnosis of male infertility (AUCs median = 0.93). Some noncoding ribonucleic acid (RNA) exhibit excellent predictive values; miR-34c-5p in semen is the most well-characterized and robust transcriptomic biomarker (AUCs median = 0.78). While many proteins in semen show fair diagnostic value for sperm quality and fertilizing capacity, the levels of some, such as TEX101, in seminal plasma have an excellent diagnostic potential (AUCs median = 0.69). Although individual metabolites and metabolomic profiles in seminal plasma present good predictive value, the latter seem to be better than the former when inferring sperm quality and fertilizing capacity. CONCLUSION(S) The current review supports that some Omics (e.g., DNA structure and integrity, genomics and epigenomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and proteomics) could be considered relevant molecular biomarkers that may help identify infertility etiologies and fertilization prognosis with cost-effective, simple, and accurate diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Llavanera
- Unit of Cell Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Girona, Girona, Spain; Biotechnology of Animal and Human Reproduction (TechnoSperm), Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Ariadna Delgado-Bermúdez
- Unit of Cell Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Girona, Girona, Spain; Biotechnology of Animal and Human Reproduction (TechnoSperm), Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Jordi Ribas-Maynou
- Unit of Cell Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Girona, Girona, Spain; Biotechnology of Animal and Human Reproduction (TechnoSperm), Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Albert Salas-Huetos
- Unit of Cell Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Girona, Girona, Spain; Biotechnology of Animal and Human Reproduction (TechnoSperm), Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology, University of Girona, Girona, Spain; Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts; Consorcio CIBER, M.P., Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Marc Yeste
- Unit of Cell Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Girona, Girona, Spain; Biotechnology of Animal and Human Reproduction (TechnoSperm), Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
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12
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Kups M, Gill K, Rosiak-Gill A, Harasny P, Machalowski T, Grabowska M, Kurzawa R, Sipak O, Piasecka M. Evaluation of selected semen parameters and biomarkers of male infertility - preliminary study. F1000Res 2022; 11:591. [PMID: 38434001 PMCID: PMC10905134 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.121622.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Because the etiopathogenesis of male infertility is multifactorial our study was designed to clarify the relationship between standard semen parameters, testicular volume, levels of reproductive hormones and the fragmentation of sperm nuclear DNA (SDF). Methods: Patients (n = 130) were clustered as subjects: 1) with an abnormal volume (utrasonography) of at least one testis (<12 mL) or with a normal volume of testes and 2) with abnormal levels of at least one of the reproductive hormones (FSH, LH, PRL, TSH, total T - electrochemiluminescence method) or with normal hormonal profiles and 3) with high level of SDF (>30%), moderate (>15-30%) or low (≤15%) (sperm chromatin dispersion test). Results: In subjects with a decreased testicular volume and in subjects with abnormal levels of reproductive hormones, decreased basic semen parameters were found. Participants with abnormal testicular volume had a higher percentage of SDF and a higher level of FSH (Mann-Whitney U test). In turn, men with a high level of SDF had lower testicular volume and conventional sperm parameters than men with a low level of SDF (Kruskal-Wallis test). Conclusions: We showed that spermatogenesis disorders coexisted with decreased testicular volume and increased FSH levels. The disorders of spermatogenesis were manifested by reduced basic sperm characteristics and a high level of sperm nuclear DNA damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Kups
- The Fertility Partnership Vitrolive in Szczecin, Szczecin, West Pomeranian Voivodeship, 70-483, Poland
- Department of Urology and Oncological Urology, Regional Specialist Hospital in Szczecin, Szczecin, West Pomeranian Voivodeship, 71-455, Poland
| | - Kamil Gill
- Department of Histology and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Szczecin, West Pomeranian Voivodeship, 71-210, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Rosiak-Gill
- The Fertility Partnership Vitrolive in Szczecin, Szczecin, West Pomeranian Voivodeship, 70-483, Poland
- Department of Histology and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Szczecin, West Pomeranian Voivodeship, 71-210, Poland
| | - Patryk Harasny
- Department of Histology and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Szczecin, West Pomeranian Voivodeship, 71-210, Poland
- Department of Urology and Urological Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Szczecin, West Pomeranian Voivodeship, 70-111, Poland
| | - Tomasz Machalowski
- Department of Histology and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Szczecin, West Pomeranian Voivodeship, 71-210, Poland
- Department of Perinatology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Police, West Pomeranian Voivodeship, 72-010, Poland
| | - Marta Grabowska
- Department of Histology and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Szczecin, West Pomeranian Voivodeship, 71-210, Poland
| | - Rafal Kurzawa
- The Fertility Partnership Vitrolive in Szczecin, Szczecin, West Pomeranian Voivodeship, 70-483, Poland
- Department of Gynecology and Reproductive Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Szczecin, West Pomeranian Voivodeship, 71-210, Poland
| | - Olimpia Sipak
- Department of Obstetrics and Pathology of Pregnancy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Szczecin, Szczecin, West Pomeranian Voivodeship, 71-210, Poland
| | - Malgorzata Piasecka
- Department of Histology and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Szczecin, West Pomeranian Voivodeship, 71-210, Poland
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13
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OUP accepted manuscript. Clin Chem 2022; 68:489-490. [DOI: 10.1093/clinchem/hvac015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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14
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Fishchuk L, Rossokha Z, Medvedieva N, Vershyhora V, Sheyko L, Brisevac L, Gorovenko N. Effect of polymorphic variants of hereditary thrombophilia genes on the risk of early pregnancy loss for married couples. Meta Gene 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mgene.2021.100902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
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15
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The association of vitamin D with semen quality and fertility hormones in idiopathic recurrent pregnancy loss without the female factor. JOURNAL OF SURGERY AND MEDICINE 2021. [DOI: 10.28982/josam.941178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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16
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Grosso JB, Zoff L, Calvo KL, Maraval MB, Perez M, Carbonaro M, Brignardello C, Morente C, Spinelli SV. Levels of seminal tRNA-derived fragments from normozoospermic men correlate with the success rate of ART. Mol Hum Reprod 2021; 27:6162173. [PMID: 33693947 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gaab017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Decreased fertility is becoming an important social and medical problem and the male factor is involved in at least half of infertility cases. Since conventional semen analysis provides limited prediction of male fertility; in this work, we evaluated the potential use of seminal small RNAs (sRNA) as markers of semen quality in ART. Our bioinformatic analyses of available sRNA-seq databases showed that the most abundant sRNA species in seminal plasma of normozoospermic men are tRNA-derived fragments (tRFs), a novel class of regulatory sRNAs. These molecules not only exert their function within cells but also are released into the extracellular environment where they could carry out signaling functions. To evaluate whether the assessment of seminal tRFs in normozoospermic men has a predictive value for the clinical outcome in ART, we performed a prospective study with couples who underwent ICSI cycles with donated oocytes. The results obtained demonstrated that levels of 5'tRF-Glu-CTC, 5'tRF-Lys-CTT, and 5'tRF-Gly-GCC are significantly elevated in seminal samples from cases with repeated failed ICSI cycles, suggesting a potential association between increased seminal tRFs and unexplained male infertility. Interestingly, these tRFs showed a negative association with seminal testosterone, highlighting their involvement in male endocrinology. Our findings also suggest that tRFs could play a role in modulating male reproductive function in response to physiological stress since they showed significant associations with the levels of sperm DNA fragmentation in couples that achieved pregnancy but not in cases with failed ICSI cycles where seminal cortisol levels correlate with sperm quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julieta B Grosso
- Institute of Clinical and Experimental Immunology of Rosario (IDICER CONICET-UNR), Rosario, Argentina
| | - Luciana Zoff
- Institute of Clinical and Experimental Immunology of Rosario (IDICER CONICET-UNR), Rosario, Argentina
| | | | - María Belén Maraval
- Institute of Clinical and Experimental Immunology of Rosario (IDICER CONICET-UNR), Rosario, Argentina
| | | | | | | | | | - Silvana V Spinelli
- Institute of Clinical and Experimental Immunology of Rosario (IDICER CONICET-UNR), Rosario, Argentina
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17
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Harlow AF, Wesselink AK, Hatch EE, Rothman KJ, Wise LA. Male Preconception Marijuana Use and Spontaneous Abortion: A Prospective Cohort Study. Epidemiology 2021; 32:239-247. [PMID: 33165011 PMCID: PMC7855868 DOI: 10.1097/ede.0000000000001303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Male marijuana use has increased steadily over the last decade, but its effect on risk of spontaneous abortion to our knowledge has not been studied. METHODS We analyzed data from Pregnancy Study Online, a North American prospective cohort study of pregnancy planners (2013-2019). During the preconception period, male and female participants completed baseline questionnaires on demographics, medical history, and behavioral factors, including marijuana use. Female participants identified pregnancy losses on bimonthly follow-up questionnaires and questionnaires completed in early and late pregnancy. We categorized frequency of male marijuana use in the 2 months before baseline as none, <1 time/week, or ≥1 time/week. We estimated the association between preconception male marijuana use and spontaneous abortion, adjusting for male and female confounders. RESULTS Among 1535 couples who conceived during follow-up, 9% of men reported preconceptional marijuana use <1 time/week and 8% ≥1 time/week. Nineteen percent of pregnancies ended in spontaneous abortion. Compared with no use, adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for male marijuana use were 1.1 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.64, 1.7) for <1 time/week and 2.0 (95% CI = 1.2, 3.1) for ≥1 time/week. The association for ≥1 time/week persisted after restricting to couples where the female partner did not use marijuana (HR = 2.0, 95% CI = 1.1, 3.3), and was stronger for losses at <8 weeks' gestation (HR = 2.5, 95% CI = 1.4, 4.3) and among males aged ≥35 years (HR = 4.1, 95% CI = 1.54, 11). CONCLUSIONS Couples with male partners who used marijuana ≥1 time/week during preconception had greater risk of spontaneous abortion than couples with males who did not use marijuana.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa F. Harlow
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Amelia K. Wesselink
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elizabeth E. Hatch
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kenneth J. Rothman
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- RTI Health Solutions, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Lauren A. Wise
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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18
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Characterization of Copy-Number Variations and Possible Candidate Genes in Recurrent Pregnancy Losses. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12020141. [PMID: 33499090 PMCID: PMC7911754 DOI: 10.3390/genes12020141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 01/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
It is well established that embryonic chromosomal abnormalities (both in the number of chromosomes and the structure) account for 50% of early pregnancy losses. However, little is known regarding the potential differences in the incidence and distribution of chromosomal abnormalities between patients with sporadic abortion (SA) and recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL), let alone the role of submicroscopic copy-number variations (CNVs) in these cases. The aim of the present study was to systematically evaluate the role of embryonic chromosomal abnormalities and CNVs in the etiology of RPL compared with SA. Over a 3-year period, 1556 fresh products of conception (POCs) from miscarriage specimens were investigated using single nucleotide polymorphism array (SNP-array) and CNV sequencing (CNV-seq) in this study, along with further functional enrichment analysis. Chromosomal abnormalities were identified in 57.52% (895/1556) of all cases. Comparisons of the incidence and distributions of chromosomal abnormalities within the SA group and RPL group and within the different age groups were performed. Moreover, 346 CNVs in 173 cases were identified, including 272 duplications, 2 deletions and 72 duplications along with deletions. Duplications in 16q24.3 and 16p13.3 were significantly more frequent in RPL cases, and thereby considered to be associated with RPL. There were 213 genes and 131 signaling pathways identified as potential RPL candidate genes and signaling pathways, respectively, which were centered primarily on six functional categories. The results of the present study may improve our understanding of the etiologies of RPL and assist in the establishment of a population-based diagnostic panel of genetic markers for screening RPL amongst Chinese women.
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19
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Vessey W, Saifi S, Sharma A, McDonald C, Almeida P, Figueiredo M, Minhas S, Virmani A, Dhillo WS, Ramsay JW, Jayasena CN. Baseline levels of seminal reactive oxygen species predict improvements in sperm function following antioxidant therapy in men with infertility. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2021; 94:102-110. [PMID: 32895999 DOI: 10.1111/cen.14328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Revised: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Poor sperm function is a major cause of infertility. There is no drug therapy to improve sperm function. Semen oxidative stress is a recently identified pathway for sperm damage. Commercial antioxidants such as L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine (LAL) are commonly self-administered by infertile men. However, concerns have been raised whether inappropriate LAL therapy causes reductive stress-mediated sperm damage. It is imperative to investigate whether: (1) LAL improves sperm function by reducing reactive oxidative species (ROS); (2) LAL has differential effects on sperm function between men with normal and elevated ROS. METHODS A prospective cohort study of routine clinical practice was performed in infertile men with abnormal sperm quality. Changes in sperm function and semen ROS levels following three months of oral LAL therapy were compared between participants with baseline seminal normal ROS (≤10RLU/SEC/106 sperm; n = 29) and High ROS (>10 RLU/SEC/106 sperm; n = 15) levels measured using an established colorimetric-luminol method. RESULTS In normal ROS group, sperm function did not change following LAL therapy. In high ROS group, LAL therapy reduced semen ROS fivefold, increased sperm count by 50% (mean count in mill/ml: 21.5 + 7.2, baseline; 32.6 + 9.5, post-treatment, P = .0005), and total and progressive sperm motility each by 30% (mean total sperm motility in % 29.8 + 5.0, baseline: 39.4 + 6.2, post-treatment, P = .004; mean progressive sperm motility in % 23.1 + 4.6, baseline: 30.0 + 5.5, post-treatment, P = .014 vs. baseline). CONCLUSIONS We report for the first time that LAL only improves sperm quality in infertile men who have baseline high-ROS levels prior to treatment. These data have important potential implications for couples with male infertility and their clinicians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wayne Vessey
- Department of Andrology, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
| | - Shaghayegh Saifi
- Section of Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
| | - Aditi Sharma
- Section of Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
| | | | | | | | - Suks Minhas
- Department of Urology, Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK
| | | | - Waljit S Dhillo
- Section of Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
| | - Jonathan W Ramsay
- Department of Andrology, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
- Department of Urology, Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK
| | - Channa N Jayasena
- Department of Andrology, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
- Section of Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
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20
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Haddock L, Gordon S, Lewis SEM, Larsen P, Shehata A, Shehata H. Sperm DNA fragmentation is a novel biomarker for early pregnancy loss. Reprod Biomed Online 2020; 42:175-184. [PMID: 33082108 DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2020.09.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Revised: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
RESEARCH QUESTION Spontaneous pregnancy loss affects 10-15% of couples, with 1-2% suffering recurrent pregnancy loss and 50% of miscarriages remaining unexplained. Male genomic integrity is essential for healthy offspring, meaning sperm DNA quality may be important in maintaining a pregnancy. Does sperm DNA fragmentation measured by alkaline Comet assay act as a biomarker for early pregnancy loss? DESIGN Sperm DNA fragmentation was measured by alkaline Comet test in 76 fertile donors and 217 men whose partners had recently experienced miscarriage. Couples were divided into five groups for analysis: one miscarriage after spontaneous conception; two or more miscarriages after spontaneous conception; one miscarriage after fertility treatment; two or more miscarriages after fertility treatment and biochemical pregnancy. RESULTS Receiver operator characteristic curve analysis was used to determine ability of the average Comet score (ACS), low Comet score (LCS) and high Comet score (HCS) to diagnose miscarriage and develop clinical thresholds comparing men whose partners have miscarried with men with recently proven fertility. Male partners of women who had miscarried had higher sperm DNA damage (ACS 33.32 ± 0.57%) than fertile men (ACS 14.87 ± 0.66%; P < 0.001). Average Comet score, HCS and LCS all have promise as being highly predictive of sporadic and recurrent miscarriage using clinical thresholds from comparisons with fertile men's spermatozoa: receiver operating characteristic curve AUC for ACS ≥26%, 0.965; LCS ≤70%, 0.969; HCS ≥2%, 0.883; P <0.0001. CONCLUSIONS Sperm DNA damage measured by the alkaline Comet has promise as a robust biomarker for sporadic and recurrent miscarriage after spontaneous or assisted conception, and may provide novel diagnoses and guidance for future fertility pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lesley Haddock
- Examenlab Ltd, Unit 18A, Block K, Weavers Court Business Park, Linfield Road, Belfast BT12 5GH, UK.
| | - Stephen Gordon
- Urology at Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, Dorking Rd, Epsom KT18 7EG, UK
| | - Sheena E M Lewis
- Examenlab Ltd, Unit 18A, Block K, Weavers Court Business Park, Linfield Road, Belfast BT12 5GH, UK
| | - Peter Larsen
- Cryos International, Vesterbro Torv I, Aarhus 8000, Denmark
| | - Amjad Shehata
- Centre for Reproductive Immunology and Pregnancy, Bramshott House, 137/139 High Street, Epsom KT19 8EH, UK
| | - Hassan Shehata
- Centre for Reproductive Immunology and Pregnancy, Bramshott House, 137/139 High Street, Epsom KT19 8EH, UK; Maternal Medicine at Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, Dorking Road, Epsom KT18 7EG, UK
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21
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Zhang X, Wang H, Feng T, Yang J, Huang Q, Lu C, Guan Y, Sun R, Chen M, Qian Y. The relationship between semen factors and unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion. Clin Chim Acta 2020; 510:605-612. [PMID: 32827532 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2020.08.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The male factor may contribute to unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA). The relationship between semen factors and URSA is largely unknown. The analysis of metabolomics which is broadly acknowledged as the omics closest to the phenotype is suitable for providing assistance in the semen parameters analysis. METHODS We conducted a study including couples with URSA and controls which was next combined with a meta-analysis, and finally the study included 2352 subjects on semen parameters and URSA. Metabolomics analysis was conducted to detect semen metabolic factors related to URSA in total of 106 samples including seminal plasma and sperm cells. RESULTS The URSA group had significantly lower total sperm count, sperm concentration, motility and normal morphology percentage. Meta-analysis next showed consistent findings. Metabolomics revealed that 4 metabolites and one pathway and 8 metabolites and one pathway were significantly associated with URSA in sperm and seminal plasma, respectively. The combination of ascorbic acid and guanine in seminal plasma and hexadecanedioic acid and pyroglutamic acid in sperm showed ability for URSA prediction. CONCLUSION We provided novel insights into semen indices in relation to URSA. Lower sperm number and quality might increase the risk of URSA, and oxidative stress and hormone metabolism in sperm as well as nucleic acid synthesis and oxidative stress in seminal plasma were related to URSA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyue Zhang
- Reproductive Medical Center of Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210011, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Ting Feng
- Reproductive Medical Center of Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210011, China
| | - Jihong Yang
- Reproductive Medical Center of Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210011, China
| | - Qianqian Huang
- Reproductive Medical Center of Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210011, China
| | - Chaoyi Lu
- Reproductive Medical Center of Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210011, China
| | - Yusheng Guan
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Rongli Sun
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Minjian Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China.
| | - Yun Qian
- Reproductive Medical Center of Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210011, China.
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Demakakos P, Linara-Demakakou E, Mishra GD. Adverse childhood experiences are associated with increased risk of miscarriage in a national population-based cohort study in England. Hum Reprod 2020; 35:1451-1460. [PMID: 32510136 PMCID: PMC7316498 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deaa113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Revised: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Is there an association between adverse childhood experiences (ACE) and the risk of miscarriage in the general population? SUMMARY ANSWER Specific ACE as well as the summary ACE score were associated with an increased risk of single and recurrent miscarriages. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY There is scarce evidence on the association between ACE and miscarriage risk. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION We conducted a retrospective national cohort study. The sample consisted of 2795 women aged 55-89 years from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA). PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Our study was population-based and included women who participated in the ELSA Life History Interview in 2007. We estimated multinomial logistic regression models of the associations of the summary ACE score and eight individual ACE variables (pertaining to physical and sexual abuse, family dysfunction and experiences of living in residential care or with foster parents) with self-reported miscarriage (0, 1, ≥2 miscarriages). MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Five hundred and fifty-three women (19.8% of our sample) had experienced at least one miscarriage in their lifetime. Compared with women with no ACE, women with ≥3 ACE were two times more likely to experience a single miscarriage in their lifetime (relative risk ratio 2.00, 95% CI 1.25-3.22) and more than three times more likely to experience recurrent miscarriages (≥2 miscarriages) (relative risk ratio 3.10, 95% CI 1.63, 5.89) after adjustment for birth cohort, age at menarche and childhood socioeconomic position. Childhood experiences of physical and sexual abuse were individually associated with increased risk of miscarriage. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Given the magnitude of the observed associations, their biological plausibility, temporal order and consistency with evidence suggesting a positive association between ACE and adverse reproductive outcomes, it is unlikely that our findings are spurious. Nevertheless, the observed associations should not be interpreted as causal as our study was observational and potentially susceptible to bias arising from unaccounted confounders. Non-response and ensuing selection bias may have also biased our findings. Retrospectively measured ACE are known to be susceptible to underreporting. Our study may have misclassified cases of ACE and possibly underestimated the magnitude of the association between ACE and the risk of miscarriage. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Our study highlights experiences of psychosocial adversity in childhood as a potential risk factor for single and recurrent miscarriages. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of the role of childhood trauma in miscarriage and add an important life course dimension to the study of miscarriage. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) ELSA is currently funded by the National Institute on Aging in USA (R01AG017644) and a consortium of UK government departments coordinated by the National Institute for Health Research. The funders had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish or preparation of the article. The authors have no actual or potential competing financial interests to disclose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panayotes Demakakos
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | | | - Gita D Mishra
- School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland 4006, Australia
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23
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Kooshesh L, Bahmanpour S, Zeighami S, Nasr-Esfahani MH. Effect of Letrozole on sperm parameters, chromatin status and ROS level in idiopathic Oligo/Astheno/Teratozoospermia. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2020; 18:47. [PMID: 32404173 PMCID: PMC7218838 DOI: 10.1186/s12958-020-00591-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study investigates the effect of letrozole on hormone profiles, semen parameters, body mass index (BMI), degree of oxidative stress and sperm chromatin integrity in men with idiopathic oligo/astheno/teratozoospermia (iOAT) and T:E2 ratio ≤ 10. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study is a longitudinal, prospective, interventional and open-labelled clinical trial. Semen samples were collected from 20 iOAT men with low serum testosterone (T) to estradiol (E2) ratio (T:E2 ratio ≤ 10). The participants were treated with 2.5 mg letrozole orally per day for 3 months. Then, sperm parameters, hormone profiles, BMI, chromatin integrity and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level were assessed pre- and post- treatment. The chromatin integrity was evaluated by assessment of DNA fragmentation (with TUNEL assay) and protamine deficiency (with Chromomycin A3, CMA3). Also, the intracellular ROS levels were investigated by 2', 7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) staining. Finally, the differences between the parameters evaluated before and after letrozole treatment were analyzed with the t-test and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. RESULTS Sperm concentration, percentage of sperm motility and its normal morphology increased significantly after letrozole treatment. Moreover, serum testosterone level increased but estradiol level decreased significantly following treatment. The mean of T:E2 ratio improved 1600%. Also, letrozole treatment significantly reduced the percentage of sperm TUNEL positivity and sperm CMA3 positivity. While no significant difference was observed between intracellular ROS levels and BMI before and after treatment. Finally, as a notable result, four spontaneous pregnancies (20%) were achieved after treatment. CONCLUSIONS Letrozole treatment can effectively increase spontaneous pregnancies by improving sperm parameters and sperm chromatin integrity in men with iOAT and T:E2 ratio ≤ 10. TRIAL REGISTRATION Trial registration: IRCT, IRCT20191030045283N1. Registered 16 November 2019 - Retrospectively registered, https://fa.irct.ir/user/trial/43484/view.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leila Kooshesh
- Department of Anatomy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Soghra Bahmanpour
- Department of Anatomy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Shahriar Zeighami
- Department of Urology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hussain Nasr-Esfahani
- Department of Reproductive Biotechnology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Centre, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran.
- Isfahan Fertility and Infertility Centre, Isfahan, Iran.
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24
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Luan X, Yan Y, Zheng Q, Wang M, Chen W, Yu J, Fang J. Excessive reactive oxygen species induce apoptosis via the APPL1-Nrf2/HO-1 antioxidant signalling pathway in trophoblasts with missed abortion. Life Sci 2020; 254:117781. [PMID: 32407842 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2020.117781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2020] [Revised: 05/09/2020] [Accepted: 05/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Previous evidence has demonstrated that oxidative stress is related to the pathogenesis of missed abortion (MA), but the specific mechanism remains obscure. The adaptor protein APPL1 is one of the differential proteins in chorionic trophoblasts. Thus, this study aimed to assess the potential influence of APPL1 on oxidative stress responses as well the possible molecular mechanisms involving in MA. MAIN METHODS In the present study, the chorionic trophoblasts and the HTR-8/SVneo cell line were researched in vitro. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) was used to suppress the expression of APPL1. The fluorescent probes DHE and DCFH-DA were used to assess the intracellular reactive oxidative species (ROS). The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was determined. Apoptosis was detected by TUNEL and flow cytometry. Cell viability was determined using Cell Counting Kit-8. Protein expression was detected by immunohistochemistry, western blotting, and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. KEY FINDINGS The application of oxidant in normal chorionic trophoblasts induced cell death and overproduction of ROS, which was consistent with MA. In addition, knockdown of APPL1 in HTR-8/SVneo cells resulted in increased ROS and apoptosis, which could be rescued by pretreatment with antioxidants. Mechanistically, we report that overproduction of ROS in trophoblasts and disturbed SOD, APPL1 and Nrf2/HO-1 antioxidant responses constitute important contributors to apoptosis. SIGNIFICANCE Our results suggest that APPL1 has antioxidant properties that suppress oxidative stress and apoptosis via the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. Moreover, antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) effectively restored the impaired antioxidative defense system elicited by excess ROS, as a potential therapeutic reagent for MA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojin Luan
- Department of Gynecology, the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212001, China
| | - Yidan Yan
- Department of Gynecology, the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212001, China
| | - Qianwen Zheng
- Department of Gynecology, the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212001, China
| | - Min Wang
- Department of Gynecology, the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212001, China
| | - Wanyin Chen
- Department of Gynecology, the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212001, China
| | - Jun Yu
- Department of Gynecology, the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212001, China.
| | - Jie Fang
- Department of Gynecology, the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212001, China.
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25
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Nagata MB, Egashira J, Katafuchi N, Endo K, Ogata K, Yamanaka K, Yamanouchi T, Matsuda H, Hashiyada Y, Yamashita K. Bovine sperm selection procedure prior to cryopreservation for improvement of post-thawed semen quality and fertility. J Anim Sci Biotechnol 2019; 10:91. [PMID: 31807306 PMCID: PMC6857337 DOI: 10.1186/s40104-019-0395-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 09/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The application of cryopreservation and artificial insemination technology have contributed to the advancement of animal reproduction. However, a substantial proportion of spermatozoa undergoes alterations and loses their fertility during cryopreservation, rendering the frozen-thawed semen impractical for routine use. Cryopreservation is known to reduce sperm lifespan and fertility. Variation in cryosurvival of spermatozoa from different sires and even with the individual sire is common in artificial insemination (AI) centers. Our goal is to improve post-thawed semen quality by optimization of cryopreservation technique through sperm selection prior to cryopreservation process. Results Our strategy of sperm selection based on rheotaxis and thermotaxis (SSRT) on macrosale in a rotating fluid flow demonstrated the ability to maintain the original pre-freezing structural integrity, viability and biological function related to fertilization competence. This strategy has a positive effect on the cryosurvival and fertilizing abilities of spermatozoa as supported by the improvement on pregnancy rate of Japanese Black heifers and Holstein repeat breeders. This technique protected further sublethal damage to bovine spermatozoa (higher % cryosurvival than the control) and resulted in the improvement of DNA integrity. Prefreeze selected spermatozoa demonstrated slower and controlled capacitation than unprocessed control which is thought to be related to sperm longevity and consequently to appropriate timing during in vivo fertilization. Conclusions These results provide solid evidence that improvement of post-thawed semen quality by SSRT method is beneficial in terms of cryosurvival, longevity of post-thawed sperm, and optimization of in vivo fertilization, embryo development and calving as supported by the favorable results of field fertility study.
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Affiliation(s)
- MariaPortia B Nagata
- 1Advanced Manufacturing Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 807-1 Shuku-machi, Tosu, Saga, 841-0052 Japan
| | - Junki Egashira
- Saga Prefectural Livestock Experiment Station, 23242-2 Yamauchi-machi, Miyano, Takeo, Saga, 849-2305 Japan
| | - Naoto Katafuchi
- Saga Prefectural Livestock Experiment Station, 23242-2 Yamauchi-machi, Miyano, Takeo, Saga, 849-2305 Japan
| | - Kenji Endo
- Morinaga Dairy Service Co. Ltd., 1-159 Toyoharaotsu, Nasu-gun Nasu-machi, Tochigi, 329-3224 Japan
| | - Kazuko Ogata
- 4National Livestock Breeding Center (NLBC), 1 Odakurahara, Odakura, Nishigo-mura, Nishishirakawa-gun, Fukushima, 961-8511 Japan.,5Institute of Livestock and Grassland Science, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), Ikenodai 2, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0901 Japan
| | - Kenichi Yamanaka
- 6Faculty of Agriculture, Saga University, 1 Honjo-machi, Saga, 840-8502 Japan
| | - Tadayuki Yamanouchi
- 4National Livestock Breeding Center (NLBC), 1 Odakurahara, Odakura, Nishigo-mura, Nishishirakawa-gun, Fukushima, 961-8511 Japan
| | - Hideo Matsuda
- 4National Livestock Breeding Center (NLBC), 1 Odakurahara, Odakura, Nishigo-mura, Nishishirakawa-gun, Fukushima, 961-8511 Japan
| | - Yutaka Hashiyada
- 4National Livestock Breeding Center (NLBC), 1 Odakurahara, Odakura, Nishigo-mura, Nishishirakawa-gun, Fukushima, 961-8511 Japan.,7Ishikawa Prefectural University, 1-308 Suematsu, Nonoichi-shi, Ishikawa, 921-8836 Japan
| | - Kenichi Yamashita
- 1Advanced Manufacturing Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 807-1 Shuku-machi, Tosu, Saga, 841-0052 Japan
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26
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Bliddal S, Feldt-Rasmussen U, Rasmussen ÅK, Kolte AM, Hilsted LM, Christiansen OB, Nielsen CH, Nielsen HS. Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies and Prospective Live Birth Rate: A Cohort Study of Women with Recurrent Pregnancy Loss. Thyroid 2019; 29:1465-1474. [PMID: 31407629 DOI: 10.1089/thy.2019.0077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Background: Thyroid autoimmunity has been associated with pregnancy loss. Suggested mechanisms include thyroid function aberrations or an underlying breach of immunotolerance. We hypothesized that thyroid autoimmunity is a marker of the latter in women with recurrent pregnancy loss. This study investigated thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) status as a predictor of live birth in women with unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss. Methods: Cohort study of 825 consecutive women with recurrent pregnancy loss followed at the tertiary referral center for Recurrent Pregnancy Loss, Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), from 2011 to 2017. Recurrent pregnancy loss was defined as ≥3 consecutive losses, and as unexplained by absence of antiphospholipid syndrome, parental chromosome abnormality, or uterus malformation. Upon first visit, all women were screened for thyrotropin (TSH) and TPOAbs (TPOAb positivity: ≥60 kIU/L). Adjusted logistic regression analyses included as covariates the following: maternal age, TSH, previous number of losses, body mass index, smoking, pregnancy achieved by assisted reproductive technology, and thyroxine replacement (T4) treatment. Results: We included 825 women with a total of 3246 previous losses, of whom 139 (16.8%) were TPOAb positive. TPOAb positivity was not associated with the previous number of losses (p = 0.41). Women with unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss had a live birth rate in the first pregnancy after referral of 62.8% (285 of 454). TPOAb positivity was found in 78 of 454 (17.2%) women and was associated with a reduced live birth rate (51.3% vs. 65.2%, p = 0.02, adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.2 [0.1-0.6] p = 0.001). Treatment with T4 increased live birth rate significantly (aOR 3.7 [1.4-9.8], p = 0.007), and TPOAb-positive women receiving T4 had a live birth rate similar to that of TPOAb-negative women not receiving T4 (p = 0.70). Only 30% of TPOAb-positive women and 39% of women treated with T4 during pregnancy had known thyroid disease at referral. Conclusion: In a large cohort of women with unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss, TPOAb positivity was predictive of a reduced live birth rate. However, T4 treatment improved odds of live birth. The study supports screening for TPOAbs as a risk factor in women with unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss. The beneficial effect of T4 treatment in this high-risk group needs confirmation by randomized controlled trials. Close collaboration between fertility experts and endocrinologists is paramount.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofie Bliddal
- Department of Medical Endocrinology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ulla Feldt-Rasmussen
- Department of Medical Endocrinology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Åse Krogh Rasmussen
- Department of Medical Endocrinology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Astrid Marie Kolte
- Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Unit, Fertility Clinic 4071, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Linda Marie Hilsted
- Department of Biochemistry, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ole Bjarne Christiansen
- Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Unit, Fertility Clinic 4071, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Claus Henrik Nielsen
- Institute for Inflammation Research, Center for Rheumatology and Spine Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Henriette Svarre Nielsen
- Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Unit, Fertility Clinic 4071, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
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27
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Cao W, Pan X, Ye F, Zhou J, Huang Z, Li C, Zhang Y, Fang J, Jiang Y, Lian H, Fu Z, Du Y, Wang L. Association between semen quality among men with different occupational exposures and risk of recurrent spontaneous abortion in island residents. TRADITIONAL MEDICINE AND MODERN MEDICINE 2019. [DOI: 10.1142/s257590001950006x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the semen quality of male adults whose spouses suffer from recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) in the island area, and to explore the association between RSA and occupational exposures. Methods: A total of 131 male patients were recruited and divided into two groups: spouse with recurrent spontaneous abortion group (RSA group, [Formula: see text]) and the normal fertility group (control group, [Formula: see text]). Information such as height, weight and occupational exposure history of 131 men were obtained. Semen samples were collected and analyzed. Differences in semen parameters and DNA fragmentation index (DFI) between the two groups were compared. Odds ratios (ORs) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals were calculated to evaluate the association between occupational exposures and RSA status. Results: Overall, no significant difference was found in sperm concentration, progressive motility and normal morphology rate between RSA and control groups. Only DFI was observed to be significantly higher in the RSA group. Evaluation of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed DFI (AUC: 0.623, [Formula: see text]) could discriminate between males from the couples with RSA and without RSA. Conclusion: The analysis of conventional semen parameters could not directly reflect their influence on embryonic development, and test of integrity of the sperm DNA is of paramount importance to fully understand male fertility. It is crucial to conduct studies regarding occupational exposures and pregnancy loss and/or RSA risk, since it will provide population-level data to aid in the identification of important risk factors that warrant further mechanistic investigation, and eventually lead to effective prevention and treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenli Cao
- Reproductive Medicine Center of Zhoushan Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Zhoushan, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Xinyao Pan
- Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200011, P. R. China
- The Academy of Integrative Medicine of Fudan University, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive, Endocrine-Related Diseases, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Feijun Ye
- Reproductive Medicine Center of Zhoushan Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Zhoushan, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Jing Zhou
- Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200011, P. R. China
- The Academy of Integrative Medicine of Fudan University, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive, Endocrine-Related Diseases, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Zengshu Huang
- Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200011, P. R. China
- The Academy of Integrative Medicine of Fudan University, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive, Endocrine-Related Diseases, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Chuyu Li
- Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200011, P. R. China
- The Academy of Integrative Medicine of Fudan University, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive, Endocrine-Related Diseases, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Yanpu Zhang
- Reproductive Medicine Center of Zhoushan Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Zhoushan, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Jianwei Fang
- Reproductive Medicine Center of Zhoushan Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Zhoushan, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Yan Jiang
- Reproductive Medicine Center of Zhoushan Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Zhoushan, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Hongyu Lian
- Reproductive Medicine Center of Zhoushan Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Zhoushan, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Zhongxing Fu
- Ningguo Bio-Leader Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Anhui, P. R. China
| | - Yan Du
- Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200011, P. R. China
- The Academy of Integrative Medicine of Fudan University, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Ling Wang
- Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200011, P. R. China
- The Academy of Integrative Medicine of Fudan University, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive, Endocrine-Related Diseases, Shanghai, P. R. China
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