FSH levels and testicular volumes are associated with the severity of testicular histopathology in men with non-obstructive azoospermia.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to assess a potential association between FSH levels and testicular volumes with the severity of testicular histopathology on testicular biopsy in men with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) undergoing microdissection testicular sperm extraction (microTESE). METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed from the electronic health records of men who underwent microTESE with NOA. RESULTS: Eighty-six men with NOA underwent microTESE with concomitant testicular biopsy for permanent section to assess the testicular cellular architecture. The histopathological patterns were categorized by severity indicating the odds of sperm retrieval into 2 categories. The unfavorable category included Sertoli cell only pattern and early maturation arrest (n = 50) and the favorable category included late maturation arrest and hypospermatogenesis patterns (n = 36). In the men with unfavorable histopathologic patterns, the mean FSH level was 22.9 ± 16.6 IU/L, and the mean testicular volume was 10.4 ± 6.0 cc. This was in comparison to men with favorable histopathologic patterns revealing a mean FSH level of FSH 13.3 ± 12.0 with a mean testicular volume of 13.3 ± 5.9 cc. There was a statistically significant higher FSH level in men with unfavorable histopathology than favorable (p = 0.004) as well as a significant smaller mean testicular volume in men with unfavorable histopathology (p = 0.029). CONCLUSIONS: Higher serum FSH levels and smaller testicular volumes are associated with more severe testicular histopathological patterns in men with NOA.

Enhancing Renal Lymphatic Expansion Prevents Hypertension in Mice.

RATIONALE: Hypertension is associated with renal infiltration of activated immune cells; however, the role of renal lymphatics and immune cell exfiltration is unknown. OBJECTIVE: We tested the hypotheses that increased renal lymphatic density is associated with 2 different forms of hypertension in mice and that further augmenting renal lymphatic vessel expansion prevents hypertension by reducing renal immune cell accumulation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Mice with salt-sensitive hypertension or nitric oxide synthase inhibition-induced hypertension exhibited significant increases in renal lymphatic vessel density and immune cell infiltration associated with inflammation. Genetic induction of enhanced lymphangiogenesis only in the kidney, however, reduced renal immune cell accumulation and prevented hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that renal lymphatics play a key role in immune cell trafficking in the kidney and blood pressure regulation in hypertension.

Renal inflammation and injury are associated with lymphangiogenesis in hypertension.

Lymphatic vessels are vital for the trafficking of immune cells from the interstitium to draining lymph nodes during inflammation. Hypertension is associated with renal infiltration of activated immune cells and inflammation; however, it is unknown how renal lymphatic vessels change in hypertension. We hypothesized that renal macrophage infiltration and inflammation would cause increased lymphatic vessel density in hypertensive rats. Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) that exhibit hypertension and renal injury (SHR-A3 strain) had significantly increased renal lymphatic vessel density and macrophages at 40 wk of age compared with Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) controls. SHR rats that exhibit hypertension but minimal renal injury (SHR-B2 strain) had significantly less renal lymphatic vessel density compared with WKY rats. The signals for lymphangiogenesis, VEGF-C and its receptor VEGF-R3, and proinflammatory cytokine genes increased significantly in the kidneys of SHR-A3 rats but not in SHR-B2 rats. Fischer 344 rats exhibit normal blood pressure but develop renal injury as they age. Kidneys from 24-mo- and/or 20-mo-old Fischer rats had significantly increased lymphatic vessel density, macrophage infiltration, VEGF-C and VEGF-R3 expression, and proinflammatory cytokine gene expression compared with 4-mo-old controls. These data together demonstrate that renal immune cell infiltration and inflammation cause lymphangiogenesis in hypertension- and aging-associated renal injury.

Patterns of Use and Barriers to STI Point-of-care Tests for Military Obstetrician Gynecologists.

INTRODUCTION: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are commonly reported in military populations. Point-of-care tests (POCTs) are commercially available, but their use is variable in the civilian sector. Their use among military providers has not been evaluated. We sought to identify the pattern of use and barriers to using STI POCTs for military obstetrician/gynecologists (OBGYNs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We adapted a survey of civilian OBGYNs on patterns of use and barriers to STI POCTs for military OBGYNs. We sent an online questionnaire to 479 military OBGYNs via Army, Air Force, and Navy specialty leaders in May 2023. The questionnaire included 14 demographic questions and up to 52 questions regarding availability, use, and barriers to STI POCTs. The USU Institutional Review Board deemed the study exempt from Institutional Review Board review. RESULTS: Of the 479 solicited, 117 participated in the survey (24.4%). Of respondents, 64.1% were women and 79.5% non-Hispanic white. Sexually transmitted infections were detected once to twice weekly by 13.0% of respondents and once or twice monthly by 52.8%. The most available STI-related POCTs were wet mount prep (68.7%), rapid HIV (43.3%), and urine dipstick (38.6%). Gram stain was available for 30.3%, the Affirm VPIII (Becton, Dickinson and Company, Franklin Lakes, NJ) for 24.5%, and stat RPR for 16.3%. Economic barriers to using POCTs included cost of the test from manufacturer/distributor (57.9%) and military funding/stocking decisions (10.3%). The greatest barriers to use were the purchasing of an instrument (60.8%) and the interruption to workflow in clinic (57.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Military OBGYNs rely on several STI-related POCTs. Economic factors and interruption to workflow were cited as the most significant barriers to using POCTs for military OBGYNs. Test cost and impact on workflow should be considered in future development and procurement of POCTs for the Military Health System.

Cremaster muscle thickening: the anatomic difference in men with testicular retraction due to hyperactive cremaster muscle reflex.

The objective was to assess whether men suffering from testicular retraction secondary to hyperactive cremaster muscle reflex have an anatomic difference in the thickness of the cremaster muscle in comparison to men who do not have retraction. From March 2021 to December 2021, 21 men underwent microsurgical subinguinal cremaster muscle release (MSCMR) on 33 spermatic cord units, as 12 of them had bilateral surgery, at Surgicare of South Austin Ambulatory Surgery Center in Austin, TX, USA. During that same time frame, 36 men underwent subinguinal microsurgical varicocele repair on 41 spermatic cord units, as 5 were bilateral for infertility. The thickness of cremaster muscles was measured by the operating surgeon in men undergoing MSCMR and varicocele repair. Comparison was made between the cremaster muscle thickness in men with testicular retraction due to a hyperactive cremaster muscle reflex undergoing MSCMR and the cremaster muscle thickness in men undergoing varicocele repair for infertility with no history of testicular retraction, which served as an anatomic control. The mean cremaster muscle thickness in men who underwent MSCMR was significantly greater than those undergoing varicocele repair for infertility, with a mean cremaster muscle thickness of 3.9 (standard deviation [s.d.]: 1.2) mm vs 1.0 (s.d.: 0.4) mm, respectively. Men with testicular retraction secondary to a hyperactive cremaster muscle reflex demonstrate thicker cremaster muscles than controls, those undergoing varicocele repair. An anatomic difference may be a beginning to understanding the pathology in men who struggle with testicular retraction.

Increasing Medical Student Involvement in Research: Military Ob/Gyn HeadHunters.

INTRODUCTION: Our goal was to develop a successful research collaboration program, Military Ob/Gyn HeadHunters, to connect military medical students with residents, fellows, and staff physicians across the Military Health System (MHS) to foster research collaboration and mentorship. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a needs assessment of medical students from the Uniformed Services University and Health Professions Scholarship Program as well as staff physicians, residents, and fellows practicing in the MHS to better understand the barriers to initiating and conducting research within the MHS. We used the survey results to create a secure online spreadsheet to match medical students to researchers recruiting student researchers. A follow-up survey was sent to all respondents 3 months after the program launch to evaluate the program. RESULTS: Of the medical students who completed the needs assessment, 82.56% (n = 71/86) reported barriers in participating in research. The most common barrier was "I don't know where to look for research opportunities." Of the staff surveyed, 88.24% (n = 15/17) indicated that they were interested in medical student involvement in their research. However, 53.33% (n = 8/15) of the surveyed staff reported that they did not know any students who would be good candidates. Since the launch in April 2021, our 3-month follow-up survey had a response rate of 40.00% (n = 6/15) for staff and 47.06% (n = 32/68) for students. Hundred percent (n = 6/6) of faculty advertising projects recruited at least one student to join their project. 85.71% (n = 12/14) of students actively seeking participation joined a research team. CONCLUSIONS: Our novel research collaboration program successfully connected military medical students with active researchers in the MHS. Leaders in medical education can consider adopting this framework to improve trainee participation in research.

Gastroschisis in one twin neonate with extracorporeal liver.

We report a rare case of gastroschisis with extracorporeal liver suspected on late first trimester ultrasound and confirmed with second trimester ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging in one fetus in a twin pregnancy. Liver herniation is common in omphalocele, a membrane-covered abdominal wall defect associated with other congenital anomalies. However, it is highly uncommon in gastroschisis, an uncovered abdominal wall defect aside of the cord insertion. Presence of liver herniation complicates prenatal differentiation between omphalocele and gastroschisis. The twins were born at 31 weeks' gestation due to preterm labor. The baby was treated with a silo device, followed by biologic mesh and a wound vac with instillation of fluid to prevent desiccation. Ultimately, the baby died of sepsis, with multiorgan failure and polymicrobial infection.