Urine microbes and predictive metagenomic profiles associate with abnormalities in sperm parameters: implications for male subfertility.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the taxonomic and predicted functional relationship between the urine microbiome and alterations of semen analysis (SA) parameters. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Academic medical center. PATIENT(S): Men presenting for fertility evaluation or men presenting for vasectomy consultation with proven biological paternity were recruited and stratified on the basis of alterations, or lack thereof, in SA parameters. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Changes in the functional and taxonomic urine microbiome profiles of participants with or without alterations in SA parameters. RESULTS: Seventy-three participants were included in our study. Men with abnormal sperm motility (N = 27) showed a nearly 50-fold higher abundance of Dialister micraerophilus compared with those with normal sperm motility (N = 46). This relationship persisted on canonical correlational analysis (r = 0.439). Men with abnormal sperm concentration (N = 20) showed a lower abundance of Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus, compared with those with normal sperm concentration (N = 53). The urine of participants with impaired sperm motility demonstrated dramatic differences in predictive functional profiles in pathways involved in oxidation-reduction balance and cell longevity. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings underscore differences in the urinary microbiome and abnormalities in semen parameters, especially sperm motility. By incorporating predictive functional profiling, we also highlight possible mechanisms that may drive the observed differences in sperm parameters.

Semen microbiota are dramatically altered in men with abnormal sperm parameters.

There has recently been an explosion of studies implicating the human microbiome in playing a critical role in many disease and wellness states. The etiology of abnormal semen analysis (SA) parameters is not identified in 30% of cases; investigations involving the semen microbiome may bridge this gap. Here, we explore the relationship between the semen microbiome and alterations of sperm parameters. We recruited men presenting for fertility evaluation or vasectomy consultation with proven biological paternity. SA and next generation sequencing was performed. Differential abundance testing using Analysis of composition of Microbiota with Bias Correction (ANCOM-BC) was performed along with canonical correlational analysis for microbial community profiling. Men with abnormal (N = 27) sperm motility showed a higher abundance of Lactobacillus iners compared to those with normal (N = 46) sperm motility (mean proportion 9.4% versus 2.6%, p = 0.046). This relationship persisted on canonical correlational analysis (r = 0.392, p = 0.011). Men with abnormal sperm concentration (N = 20) showed a higher abundance of Pseudomonas stutzeri (2.1% versus 1.0%, p = 0.024) and Pseudomonas fluorescens (0.9% versus 0.7%, p = 0.010), but a lower abundance of Pseudomonas putida (0.5% versus 0.8%, p = 0.020), compared to those with normal sperm concentration (N = 53). Major limitations are related to study design (cross-sectional, observational). Our results suggest that a small group of microorganisms may play a critical role in observed perturbations of SA parameters. Some of these microbes, most notably Lactobacillus iners, have been described extensively within other, fertility-related, contexts, whereas for others, this is the first report where they have potentially been implicated. Advances in our understanding of the semen microbiome may contribute to potentially new therapeutic avenues for correcting impairments in sperm parameters and improving male fertility.

Should I freeze my sperm?-readability and quality of health resources for sperm banking.

Background: Sperm banking refers to the collection and storage of sperm cells for future use. Despite the recommendations of major medical societies, sperm banking is not discussed sufficiently with patients at risk of future fertility. Majority of Americans utilize the internet regarding health information. The aim of this study is to assess the reading level and the quality of online health information on sperm banking. Methods: The top 50 search results from Google, Bing, and Yahoo were selected after searching for the term "sperm banking". Duplicate pages, advertisements, news and magazines, blog posts, videos, paid subscriptions, articles intended for health professionals, and non-related pages were excluded. Four validated readability and two quality assessment tools were used to score the text. Websites were divided into five categories: academic, hospital-affiliated, commercial, non-profit health advocacy, and non-categorized. Descriptive statistics, one sample t-test, and Pearson's correlation coefficient were used to analyze the data. Results: Forty-one webpages were included. The mean Flesch Reading Ease Score (FRES) for all pages was 46.9/100 and the mean reading level was 11th grade, compared to the recommended 6th grade level, across various assessment tools. Utilizing the DISCERN Instrument, quality of online health information was fair. Seven percent of pages received a "good" quality score and no pages received a score of "excellent". On average, 1.5 out of 4 criteria categorized by the JAMA Benchmark, a validated quality assessment tool, were met. The hospital-affiliated webpages received the best reading scores and commercial pages received the highest quality scores. Conclusions: Online health information on sperm banking available in English is of poor quality based on several quality assessment tools and at a reading level significantly higher than what is recommended. Further efforts are needed by providers and healthcare institutions to improve the quality of information available to patients.

A Population-based Study of Ureteroenteric Strictures After Open and Robot-assisted Radical Cystectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate differences in the incidence of benign ureteroenteric stricture, we compared stricture rates of robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) and open radical cystectomy (ORC) using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare data. METHODS: We identified 332 RARC and 1449 ORC performed between 2009 and 2014 to determine stricture rates at 6, 12, and 24 months following surgery. We defined ureteroenteric stricture as the need for procedural intervention. Additionally, we compared the incidence of stricture diagnosis. Multivariable proportional hazards regression was performed to determine factors associated with stricture development. RESULTS: The incidence of ureteroenteric stricture at 6 and 12 months was higher for RARC vs ORC at 12.1% vs 7.0% (P < .01) and 15.0% vs 9.5% (P = .01), respectively. RARC vs ORC stricture incidence at 2 years did not differ significantly at 14.6% vs 11.4% (P = .29). Similarly, the stricture diagnosis rates were significantly lower following ORC at 6, 12, and 24 months (P < .05). In adjusted analysis, RARC (HR 1.64, 95%CI 1.23-2.19) and preoperative hydronephrosis (HR 1.51, 95% CI 1.17-1.94) were associated with the development of stricture. Higher hospital volume was associated with a lower risk of stricture (HR 0.40, 95%CI 0.26-0.63). CONCLUSION: RARC is associated with a higher rate of ureteroenteric stricture diagnosis and intervention on a population-based level that is mitigated by higher hospital volume. A significant study limitation is inability to differentiate extracorporeal vs intracorporeal diversion. However, a stricture complication compounds the financial burden of care and efforts must be pursued to improve this surgical outcome.

Feasibility of a Mobile Health Application To Monitor Recovery and Patient-reported Outcomes after Robot-assisted Radical Prostatectomy.

A mobile application (app) designed on the basis of a literature review and interviews with urologic oncologists was created to help streamline robot-assisted radical prostatectomy care and in compliance with quality indicators. Use of the app was limited to English-speaking men with iPhones; 20 of 43 men approached (47%) agreed to participate. Lack of an iPhone was the most common reason for non-enrollment (52%). Preoperatively, men received daily push notifications to perform Kegel exercises and 19 men (95%) completed an Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite for Clinical Practice (EPIC-CP) questionnaire using the app. After hospital discharge, men completed a postoperative pain questionnaire and received push notifications to ambulate and increase their fluid intake. After catheter removal, daily notifications to perform Kegel exercises and complete weekly EPIC-CP surveys were pushed to monitor recovery of functional outcomes. EPIC-CP and postoperative pain assessment response rates were 75% and 90%, respectively. 85% of the men complied with notifications to ambulate, hydrate, and perform Kegel exercises. The 15 men (75%) who completed the satisfaction survey found the app easy to use and understand, which suggests that mobile apps can be easily implemented perioperatively. Mobile apps have the potential to improve compliance with perioperative instructions and allow more frequent capture of patient-reported outcomes with minimal resource utilization. Patient summary: We examined the use of a mobile application designed to capture patient-reported outcomes and guide postoperative care after major urologic surgery. Mobile apps can be implemented with relative ease and high patient satisfaction.

Meta-analysis and systematic review of interventional therapy versus anticoagulation for isolated femoropopliteal deep venous thrombosis.

OBJECTIVE: Percutaneous endovenous intervention (PEVI) is gaining acceptance for select patients with symptomatic proximal lower extremity deep venous thrombosis (DVT), but the benefits are uncertain in patients with isolated femoropopliteal DVTs. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature to assess the safety and effectiveness of PEVI vs systemic anticoagulation for patients with isolated femoropopliteal DVT. METHODS: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library from inception to March 2018. All studies comparing clinical outcomes between PEVI and systemic anticoagulation were included. The main end points were post-thrombotic syndrome and bleeding complications. Secondary outcomes included femoropopliteal patency rate, venous obstruction, and recurrent DVT. RESULTS: No studies directly comparing PEVI with systemic anticoagulation in isolated femoropopliteal DVTs were identified by the systematic review. A traditional literature review identified one randomized controlled trial comparing the two, which found no difference in rates of post-thrombotic syndrome in PEVI vs systemic anticoagulation (risk ratio, 0.96; 95% confidence interval, 0.82-1.11; P = .56). We additionally identified five retrospective case series containing patients with isolated femoropopliteal DVTs, of which two reported on patency rates (46%-100% at 2 years). CONCLUSIONS: More data are required to definitively state that PEVI should be the preferred intervention for patients with isolated femoropopliteal DVTs, although the initial evidence is promising.