Endocrine Abstracts

Association between idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH) and atherosclerotic disease in young males remains unclear. The present study aimed to determine the effect of improving the testosterone level on cardiovasculary (CV) risk markers in young males with IHH.Materials and methods: The study included 19 non-obese males with IHH and 17 healthy controls. The patients were treated with hCG therapy (n=8) or testosterone replacement (...

Ghrelin receptor GHSR1α is expressed in hypothalamo–pituitary–gonadal tissues. Ghrelin reduces GnRH secretion in pre-pubertal period and concentrations of ghrelin are positively correlated with testosterone at adulthood. Nevertheless, the role of ghrelin in affecting pituitary and gonadal functions during normal pubertal development remains elusive. A possible correlation between ghrelin and LH, FSH, testosterone and inhibin B was examined in boys (n=55...

Objective: To analyse the semen quality in patients with newly diagnosed non-Hodgkin lymphoma before starting the treatment.Materials and methods: We evaluated semen quality in 29 patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma who underwent sperm banking in our clinic over a 9-year period. Semen samples were collected by masturbation after 2–7 days of sexual abstinence. Age at banking, semen volume, sperm concentration, and total and progressive sperm motility ...

Objective: Male hypogonadism is common in the elderly and has been associated with increased risk of mortality. Our objective has been to assess the prevalence of primary and central hypogonadism in elderly male patients admitted to the hospital because of acute illness. We also evaluated the relationships between gonadal dysfunction and in-hospital mortality.Patients and methods: 150 male patients, aged ≥65 years, admitted during 2010 and 2011 in ...

Objective: The red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is being recognized as a global marker of chronic inflammation, high level of oxidative stress, and cardiovascular disease risk. We aimed to investigate the relation between the level of RDW and highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), insulin resistance, BMI and body fat percentage in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).Methods: Cross-sectional study of 90 PCOS (2003 Rotterdam Consensus...

Aim: Re-analyzing the effect of injectable testosterone undecanoat depot (TUD) in hypogonadic patients.Materials & methods: (A) Patients: at onset 191 men with hypogonadism (median age: 64 years). (B) Distribution: by decade. (C) TUD (NebidoR-Bayer-Schering) 1000 mg was injected one per 3 months i.m. (D) Prostate volume (PV) by per-abdominal ultrasound: 3.5 MHz probe, elliptical volume (cm3), Aloka 550. (E). Time of analysis: be...

Background: Klinefelter syndrome (KS) is the most frequent genetic cause of male infertility. Individuals share the endocrine hallmark of hypergonadotropic hypogonadism, displaying high gonadotropin levels due to deficient testicular function. A single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) located within the FSHB promoter region (−211G>T, rs10835638) was recently shown to be associated with reduced serum FSH levels and other reproductive parameters in men. The objec...

Introduction: Digito-rectal examination (DRE) of the prostate is provides useful information on the state of prostate growth and on the presence of suspected peripheral nodules. The aim of this study is to describe the clinical and biochemical correlates of finding an enlarged prostate size at DRE in subjects with sexual dysfunction (SD).Methods: A consecutive series of 2379 patients was retrospectively studied. The analysis was focused on a subset of su...

Introduction: Although in females of infertile couples abnormal PRL has a definitive role in the medical flow-chart, its role in males is less clear. Animal models suggest that PRL does not play a major role in male reproduction, although its trophic action on male accessory glands was often observed. Studies in humans are scanty. We systematically evaluated possible clinical and ultrasound correlates of PRL in males of infertile couples.Methods: Out of ...

Introduction: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a diagnostic category which identifies subjects at high risk for diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, erectile dysfunction (ED) and male hypogonadism. However, MetS impact on male infertility has been poorly studied. We systematically evaluated possible associations between MetS and clinical characteristics in men with couple infertility.Methods: Out of 367 consecutive subjects, 351 men (36.0±8.0 years) wi...

Introduction: ‘Prostatitis-like symptoms’ (PLS) are a cluster of bothersome conditions defined as ‘perineal and/or ejaculatory pain or discomfort and National Institutes of Health-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) pain subdomain score ≥4’ (Nickel’s criteria). PLS may originate from the prostate or from other portions of the male genital tract. Although PLS could be associated with ‘prostatitis’, they should not be confused. T...

Background: Data on sexual dysfunction (SD) in cirrhotic patients are limited. Our aim was to evaluate the sexual function of patients with end-stage liver disease and to compare it with the results after liver transplant (LT) and with that of a controlled group matched by age and gender.Methods: Changes in sexual functioning questionnaire were used to evaluate SD in cirrhotic patients awaiting LT and in the post-LT setting 1 year after transplant. Clini...

A pathogenic link between erectile dysfunction (ED) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) is now well established. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), the hepatic hallmark of MetS, is regarded as an active player in the pathogenesis of MetS-associated cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study was aimed at evaluating the relationship between MetS-induced NASH and penile dysfunction. We used a non-genomic, high fat diet (HFD)-induced, rabbit model of MetS, and treated HFD rabbits with t...

Introduction: In subjects with erectile dysfunction (ED) responding poorly to sildenafil, metformin was reported to improve erections.Aims: To investigate metformin’s mechanism of action on erectile function, particularly focusing on adenosine (ADO), and NO signalling in an animal model of high fat diet (HFD)-induced metabolic syndrome (MetS).Methods: In vitro contractility studies of penile strips. Penile expression ...

Introduction: It has been suggested that BMI, especially above 30, is associated with subfertility in men. At the same time validity of BMI to distinguish variability in body composition, have been questioned (MacDonald, 2010). In our study, we employed more accurate surrogate measures of adiposity to investigate the relations of semen parameters and reproductive hormones with waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR).Methods: During 2010...

The G protein coupled receptor of obestatin GPR39 is expressed in pituitary and gonads, indicating its possible role in regulation of pituitary and testicular function. The present study examined a possible association of obestatin with LH, FSH, testosterone, and inhibin B at puberty. Blood samples were collected from 10 to 20 years old boys (n=557) and concentrations of obestatin, LH, FSH, testosterone, and inhibib B were determined using specific ELISA. Data were an...

Introduction: 46 XX male syndrome generally presented as hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism.Case report: A 39-year-old man was referred to our clinic with a pituitary mass. He had a history of pituitary adenoma of 45×28×40 mm size which was found after his admission with right-sided vision loss at 2006. The hormonal analyses showed hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism without any excess hormone levels. A transcranial pituitary adenomectomy was performed....

Background: HIV-infection is associated to an increased prevalence of age-related comorbidities, such as erectile dysfunction (ED) and testosterone (T)-deficiency.Aim: Definition of ED and T-deficiency in HIV-infected men using validated sexual questionnaires and the gold standard assay for T measurement: isotopic dilution–liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (ID–LC–MS/MS)Methodology: Prospective, cros...

In the last years estrogens have emerged as important regulators in male reproductive function. Spermatogenesis depends on the tight control of germ cell apoptosis and several studies indicated estrogens as playing a role in this process. The stem cell factor (SCF), a membrane-bound cytokine, and its receptor (c-kit), and the Fas ligand (FasL)/Fas receptor (FasR) system are powerful mechanisms controlling germ cell proliferation and apoptosis through the direct membrane commun...

Introduction: Hypogonadism have major affect on urogenital system also have several affect on other systems like cardiovascular and skeletal systems. There are very few study conducted on markers of atherosclerosis such as flow mediated dilatation (%FMD), carotis intima-media thickness(CIMT) and adipocytokine levels in idiopatic hypogonadotropic hypogonadal(IHH) males. The aim of this study was to evaluate this atherosclerotic risk factors in adult IHH male.<p class="abste...

Introduction: Smoking habit has always been considered to exert a detrimental effect on male reproductive health. However, several studies do not clearly demonstrate a negative effect of smoke on semen parameters. In addition, the effect of smoke on male genital tract has been poorly studied by ultrasound (US). We evaluated the correlations of smoking with seminal and US characteristics in males of infertile couples. Methods. A consecutive series of 426 men was systematically ...

Introduction: Even though the importance of nutrition in diabetes development is well known, little has been done to explore whether nutrition affects reproductive health and escalates the risk for further consequences of deterioration of metabolic parameters in young men.The goal of our study was to evaluate a possible relationship between eating patterns, metabolic parameters and androgenisation levels in healthy young men.Method...

Introduction: Measurement of testis volume (TV) is a reliable clinical procedure that predicts reproductive fitness. However, the role of TV in overall and cardiovascular (CV) fitness has never been studied.Aim: The study aims to analyze the clinical correlates of TV in patients with sexual dysfunction (SD) and to verify the value of this parameter and its determinants (i.e., luteinizing hormone (LH) levels) in predicting major adverse CV events (MACE).<...

Introduction: Sexual dysfunctions (SD) are dictated by predisposing, precipitating, maintaining, and contextual factors, the latter of which can help sexual problems to emerge. Even if the lack of sexual privacy is one of the most common contextual issues, it has not been extensively studied.Aim: Investigation of sexual privacy in a large sample of men consulting for SD.Methods: A consecutive series of 3736 men, attending the Outpa...

The regulation of TNF-α and IL-6 secretion in LPS-stimulated Peritubular cells was investigated in vitro. Immature rat Peritubular cells were incubated with LPS (10 μg/ml) over 24 h culture. TNF-α and IL-6 were measured in the culture medium by ELISA at 24 h, TNF-α and IL-6 genes by real-time RT-PCR, and activation of NF-κB, MAPKs, and AP-1 signal transduction pathways by western blotting. LPS stimulated the mRNA expression of IL-6 and much more the ex...