Enhancing Sperm Motility Parameters in Patients with Asthenospermia: A Combined Approach of Acupuncture at Fusiguan Point and Tamoxifen Citrate Tablets.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of acupuncture at Fuguan point combined with tamoxifen citrate tablet on sperm motility parameters. METHODS: A total of 115 individuals with asthenospermia were categorized based on different treatment regimens: 53 patients in the control group (receiving tamoxifen citrate tablets) and 62 patients in the observation group (undergoing acupoint acupuncture in conjunction with tamoxifen citrate tablets). Both groups underwent a 3-month treatment period. The computer-assisted sperm analysis system was employed to measure various motility parameters of human sperm, including sperm motility rate, average path velocity (VAP), lateral swing amplitude (ALH), percentage of class a sperm, and percentage of class a + b sperm. RESULTS: Prior to treatment, no statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of sperm motility rate, VAP, ALH, percentage of class a sperm, and percentage of class a + b sperm (p > 0.05). Following treatment, both groups exhibited significant enhancements in sperm motility rate, VAP, ALH, percentage of class a sperm, and percentage of class a + b sperm compared to pretreatment levels (p < 0.05). Furthermore, all measured indicators in the observation group demonstrated significantly superior improvements than those of the control group, with the differences proving statistically significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The combination of acupuncture at Fusiguan point and tamoxifen citrate tablets exerts a notably positive effect on sperm motility in individuals diagnosed with asthenospermia.

Enhancing Sperm Motility Parameters in Patients with Asthenospermia: A Combined Approach of Acupuncture at Fusiguan Point and Tamoxifen Citrate Tablets

Objective: To explore the effect of acupuncture at Fuguan point combined with tamoxifen citrate tablet on sperm motility parameters. Methods: A total of 115 individuals with asthenospermia were categorized based on different treatment regimens: 53 patients in the control group (receiving tamoxifen citrate tablets) and 62 patients in the observation group (undergoing acupoint acupuncture in conjunction with tamoxifen citrate tablets). Both groups underwent a 3-month treatment period. The computer-assisted sperm analysis system was employed to measure various motility parameters of human sperm, including sperm motility rate, average path velocity (VAP), lateral swing amplitude (ALH), percentage of class a sperm, and percentage of class a + b sperm. Results: Prior to treatment, no statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of sperm motility rate, VAP, ALH, percentage of class a sperm, and percentage of class a + b sperm (p > 0.05). Following treatment, both groups exhibited significant enhancements in sperm motility rate, VAP, ALH, percentage of class a sperm, and percentage of class a + b sperm compared to pretreatment levels (p < 0.05). Furthermore, all measured indicators in the observation group demonstrated significantly superior improvements than those of the control group, with the differences proving statistically significant (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The combination of acupuncture at Fusiguan point and tamoxifen citrate tablets exerts a notably positive effect on sperm motility in individuals diagnosed with asthenospermia. (AU)

Moxibustion prevents tripterygium glycoside-induced oligoasthenoteratozoospermia in rats via reduced oxidative stress and modulation of the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.

Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT) decreases male fertility, seriously affecting the production of offspring. This study clarified the preventive impact of different moxibustion frequencies on OAT and selected the optimal frequency to elucidate the underlying mechanism. An OAT rat model was constructed by gavage of tripterygium glycosides (TGS) suspension. Daily moxibustion (DM) or alternate-day moxibustion (ADM) was administered on the day of TGS suspension administration. Finally, we selected DM for further study based on sperm quality and DNA fragmentation index, testicular and epididymal morphology, and reproductive hormone level results. Subsequently, the oxidative stress (OS) status was evaluated by observing the OS indices levels; malondialdehyde (MDA), 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), and total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) in testicular tissue using colorimetry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Furthermore, heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) and nuclear factor erythropoietin-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) were evaluated using Western blotting. Immunohistochemistry was employed to locate and assess the expression of HO-1 and Nrf2 protein, while quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was utilized to detect their mRNA expression. MDA and 8-OHdG levels decreased following DM treatment, while T-SOD and T-AOC increased, suggesting that DM may prevent TGS-induced OAT in rats by decreasing OS in the testis. Furthermore, protein and mRNA expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 in the testis were elevated, indicating that DM may reduce OS by activating the signaling pathway of Nrf2/HO-1. Therefore, DM could prevent OAT in rats via the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, thereby presenting a promising therapeutic approach against OAT.

A novel variant in CFAP69 causes asthenoteratozoospermia with treatable ART outcomes and a literature review.

PURPOSE: Multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF) are a severe form of sperm defect causing male infertility. Previous studies identified the variants in the CFAP69 gene as a MMAF-associated factor, but few cases have been reported. This study was performed to identify additional variants in CFAP69 and describe the semen characteristics and outcomes of assisted reproductive technology (ART) in CFAP69-affected couples. METHODS: Genetic testing with next-generation sequencing (NGS) panel of 22 MMAF-associated genes and Sanger sequencing was performed in a cohort of 35 infertile males with MMAF to identify pathogenic variants. Morphological, ultrastructural, and immunostaining analyses were performed to investigate the characteristics of probands' spermatozoa. ART with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) was carried out for the affected couples to get their own progenies. RESULTS: We identified a novel frameshift variant in CFAP69 (c.2061dup, p. Pro688Thrfs*5) from a MMAF-affected infertile male with low sperm motility and malformed morphology of sperm. Furthermore, transmission electron microscopy and immunofluorescence staining revealed that the variant induced the aberrant ultrastructure and reduction of CFAP69 expression in the proband's spermatozoa. Moreover, the partner of the proband birthed a healthy girl through ICSI. CONCLUSIONS: This study expanded the variant spectrum of CFAP69 and described the good outcome of ART treatment with ICSI, which is beneficial to the molecular diagnosis, genetic counseling, and treatment of infertile males with MMAF in the future.

Correlation between Sperm Micro Ribonucleic Acid-34b and -34c Levels and Clinical Outcomes of Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection in Men with Male Factor Infertility.

Few studies have examined the correlation between sperm miRNA levels and clinical outcomes of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). In this study, we aimed to assess the correlation of sperm miR-34b, miR-34c, miR-122, and miR-429 levels with ICSI outcomes in men with teratozoospermia and asthenozoospermia. TaqMan microRNA quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to evaluate the relative expression of miRNAs in sperm. The relative miRNA levels quantified using a comparative method found that the four miRNAs were not associated with fertilization rate and early embryo development. However, revels of miR-34b and miR-34c in teratozoospermia sperm of the live birth group were significantly higher than those in the non-live birth group. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that the optimal cut-off delta cycle threshold values of miR-34b and miR-34c were 8.630 and 7.883, respectively. Statistical analysis found that the levels of miR-34b and the miR-34c in teratozoospermic and asthenozoospermic sperm above the thresholds were not associated with the fertilization rate and the high-quality embryo rate above 50%; however, they were more likely to exhibit higher implantation, pregnancy, and live birth rates. miR-34b and miR-34c were significantly associated with ICSI clinical outcomes in male factor infertility, especially teratozoospermia. Further validation is required before it becomes a clinically valid reference indicator.

A Case Report of Idiopathic OAT Syndrome, Associated with Necrospermia and Hypospermia, Reversed with Individualized Homeopathy.

BACKGROUND: Oligo-astheno-teratozoospermia (OAT) syndrome is one of the causes of male infertility, characterized by a decreased number of sperms (oligospermia), poor sperm motility (asthenospermia), and abnormal sperm shape (teratospermia). In necrospermia, spermatozoa in the ejaculated semen are dead, and in hypospermia, semen volume is less than 2 mL. The present case may be unique because of the association of all these features together in a single patient. METHOD: This idiopathic case was treated, from November 2016 to April 2017 in the National Homeopathy Research Institute in Mental Health, with the homeopathic medicine Natrium muriaticum. The Modified Naranjo Criteria for Homeopathy (MONARCH) score was used to assess the likelihood of causal attribution of the clinical outcome to the homeopathic medicine. RESULT: By the third month of starting homeopathic treatment, there was a marked improvement in sperm count from 14.4 to 77.4 million, semen volume from 0.8 to 2.2 mL, and normal forms from 14 to 75%. His wife became pregnant by the 5th month and delivered a healthy baby girl at full term. A MONARCH score of +9/13 indicates a positive causal relationship between the medicine prescribed and the treatment outcome. CONCLUSION: The present case report suggests a positive effect of individualized homeopathic medicine in treating a rare presentation of male infertility due to OAT syndrome.

Differentially expressed miRNAs and potential therapeutic targets for asthenospermia.

Asthenozoospermia is detected in 40% of infertile men, and characterised by low sperm motility. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play essential roles in spermatogenesis, but little is known regarding the function of seminal plasma miRNAs in asthenozoospermia. In this study, we collected seminal plasma samples from patients with asthenospermia and healthy men and employed high-throughput sequence technology to identify differentially expressed miRNAs. Thirteen altered miRNAs were confirmed by qRT-PCR. Six of these miRNAs were upregulated, and seven were downregulated. Five of the miRNAs (hsa-miR-34c-5p, hsa-miR-34b-5p, hsa-miR-146b-5p, hsa-miR-449a and has-miR-765) had been characterised previously, and eight of the others (miR-5000-3p, miR-4289, miR-6514-3p, miR-6882-5p and miR-6739-5p, miR-135a-5p, miR-509-3p and miR-196b-5p) were identified in asthenospermia for the first time in this study. These miRNAs were significantly associated with PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, HIF-1 signaling pathway and FoxO signaling pathway. The identified dysregulated miRNA may be the key to the development of new and enhanced diagnosis and prognosis technologies for asthenospermia, and may also provide new therapeutic possibilities in the field of personalised medicine.

Effectiveness of acupuncture for asthenozoospermia: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: According to the World Health Organization, the global incidence of infertility is about 15%, and more than 50% of infertility cases are caused by male infertility. Asthenozoospermia is caused by male fertility decline and male infertility. Due to work pressure, environmental pollution, sexual diseases, and other factors, the number of patients with asthenozoospermia has increased in recent years. It has been confirmed that acupuncture has a certain effect on patients with asthenozoospermia. Acupuncture and moxibustion can be an adjuvant treatment plan for the treatment of asthenozoospermia in addition to drug treatment. METHODS: Randomized controlled trials of acupuncture for asthenozoospermia will be searched in the relevant database, including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Database, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), and Chinese Scientific Journal Database (VIP database). The studies of electronic searches will be exported to EndNote V.9.1 software. We will run meta-analyses using the Review Manager (RevMan) V.5.3 software. Any disagreements will be solved in consultation with a third reviewer. RESULTS: Our study aims to explore the efficacy of acupuncture for asthenozoospermia and to provide up-to-date evidence for clinical of asthenozoospermia. CONCLUSION: This study will perform a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis on the efficacy of acupuncture for asthenozoospermia, making up for the lack of relevant evidence of the clinical use of acupuncture. INPLASY REGISTRATION NUMBER: INPLASY 202140032.

Efficacy of electroacupuncture for the treatment of asthenozoospermia: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Infertility has affected millions of couples aged 15 to 44 years worldwide. Recently, some studies suggest that abnormal semen quality is the main cause of male infertility and asthenozoospermia accounts for 19% of the infertility of men. The situation has brought a huge burden to the patient with asthenozoospermia and society. Acupuncture is a part of traditional Chinese medicine. Electroacupuncture (EA) has gained in popularity. Although a positive effect of manual acupuncture and EA on sperm parameters has been documented in several studies, there still a lack of more solid evidence. We hope to provide a convincing study for EA. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The electronic databases of MEDLINE, PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Clinicaltrials. org, China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database (CNKI), Wan fang Database, China Biology Medicine Database (CBM), VIP Science Technology Periodical Database, Chinese Clinical Trial Registry will be retrieved. All the randomized controlled trials of rESWT for patients with CP/CPPS will be included. We will evaluate the outcomes including NIH-CPSI, VAS, IPSS, IIEF-5, and conduct this study strictly according to the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. RESULTS: The present study is a protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis without results, and data analysis will be carried out after the protocol. We will share our findings on October 31st, 2021. CONCLUSIONS: EA for asthenospermia is a microtrauma surgery with less pain. EA can effectively improve sperm motility; however, its efficacy has not been assessed scientifically and systematically. To address this limitation, this study will inspect the efficacy and safety of the EA in patients with asthenospermia. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Formal ethical approval is not required in this protocol. We will collect and analyze data based on published studies, and since there are no patients involved in this study, individual privacy will not be under concerns. The results of this review will be disseminated to peer-reviewed journals or submit to related conferences. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION NUMBER: INPLASY2020100071.

Roles of CatSper channels in the pathogenesis of asthenozoospermia and the therapeutic effects of acupuncture-like treatment on asthenozoospermia.

Rationale: Idiopathic asthenozoospermia (iAZS) is one of the major causes of male infertility and has no effective therapeutic treatment. Understanding the potential mechanisms that cause it may be helpful in seeking novel targets and treatment strategies for overcoming the problem of low sperm motility in iAZS individuals. Methods: Computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA) was utilized to assess the sperm motility. RT-qPCR, Western blot, immunofluorescence staining, and calcium imaging analysis were performed to examine the expression and function of CatSper channels. Hyperactivation and acrosome reaction were used to evaluate the functional characteristics of epididymal sperm. In vivo fertility assay was applied to determine the fertility of rats. CatSper1 knockdown and overexpression experiments were performed to confirm the roles of CatSper channels in the pathogenesis of iAZS and the therapeutic effects of electroacupuncture (EA) treatment on AZS model rats. Results: Here, we reported a functional down-regulation of CatSper channel from CatSper1 to CatSper 4 in the sperm of both iAZS patients and ornidazole (ORN)-induced AZS model rats, and an impaired sperm function characterized by a reduction of protein tyrosine phosphorylation, hyperactivation, and acrosome reaction in the epididymal sperm of AZS rats. Knockdown of CatSper1 in the testis tissues is sufficient to induce AZS in normal rats, and this action was validated by the reversal effects of CatSper1 overexpression. Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) and electroacupuncture (EA) at 2 Hz frequency improve the sperm motility via enhancing the functional expression of CatSper channels in the sperm. Gene silencing CatSper1 in the sperm abolishes the therapeutic effects of 2 Hz-EA treatment on AZS rats. Conclusions: We conclude that a functional down-regulation of CatSper channel in the sperm may be a contributor or a downstream indicator for a portion of AZS, especially iAZS, while 2 Hz-TEAS or EA treatment has a therapeutic effect on iAZS through inducing the functional up-regulation of CatSper channels in the sperm. This study provides a novel mechanism for the pathogenesis of some AZS especially iAZS, and presents a potential therapeutic target of CatSper for iAZS treatment. Acupuncture treatment like TEAS may be used as a promising complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapy for male infertility caused by iAZS in clinical practice.

Acupuncture for oligospermia and asthenozoospermia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Acupuncture is widely used for oligospermia and asthenozoospermia in China, but its effect is unclear. We aimed to determine the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture in treating oligospermia and asthenozoospermia. METHODS: An electronic search for randomized controlled trials evaluating acupuncture treatment in patients with oligospermia and asthenozoospermia published from database inception to October 2018 was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, the Chinese Scientific Journal Database (VIP Database), the Wan-Fang Database, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure and the Cochrane Library. We established search terms related to 3 areas (oligospermia, asthenozoospermia, and acupuncture). Two authors independently screened all identified citations and extracted the data. The methodological quality of the included trials was assessed using the Cochrane criteria. RESULTS: Seven studies with a total of 527 subjects were screened according to inclusion and exclusion standards, and most of the studies had significant methodological weaknesses. Seven randomized controlled trials tested the effects of acupuncture compared with placebo acupuncture and conventional medications in patients with oligospermia and asthenozoospermia. The results of this study suggest that acupuncture alone has no clear superiority in improving sperm motility (standard mean difference [SMD] = 1.13, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.64 to 2.89), the sperm concentration (SMD = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.27-0.92) or semen volume compared with placebo acupuncture. No significant difference was found between acupuncture alone and conventional medications in improving sperm motility (SMD = -0.53, 95% CI: -2.54 to 1.48), the sperm concentration (SMD = -1.10, 95% CI: -1.48 to -0.72) or semen volume. However, adjuvant acupuncture may enhance the effect of medications on improving sperm motility (SMD = 4.10, 95% CI: 1.09-7.12) and the sperm concentration (SMD = 1.07, 95% CI: 0.739-1.40), but the study heterogeneity was too high to establish robust conclusions. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the current evidence does not support acupuncture as an effective treatment for oligospermia and asthenozoospermia; therefore, acupuncture is not currently recommended as a treatment for these conditions. However, owing to the high risk of bias among the included studies, the evidence is limited, and more large-scale, high-quality clinical trials are needed in the future. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: PROSPERO CRD42018083885.

[Yishen Tongluo Recipe combined with minimally invasive surgery for the treatment of varicocele-associated asthenospermia].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect of Yishen Tongluo Recipe (YTR) combined with minimally invasive surgery (MIS) in the treatment of varicocele-associated asthenospermia (of the kidney-deficiency and collateral-obstruction type). METHODS: We randomly divided 116 patients with varicocele-associated asthenospermia and up to the inclusion criteria into three groups and treated them by YTR combined with MIS (low spermatic vein ligation at the external inguinal ring orifice under the microscope) (the YTR+MIS group, n = 39), YTR alone (the YTR group, n = 38), or MIS alone (the MIS group, n = 39). At 12 weeks after treatment, we compared the total effectiveness rate, the percentage of progressively motile sperm (PMS), sperm straight line velocity (VSL), sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) and symptoms among the three groups of patients. RESULTS: After treatment, the total effectiveness rate was significantly higher in the YTR+MIS than in the YTR and the MIS group (89.74% vs 63.16% and 64.10%, P < 0.05), and so were the percentage of PMS (31.67 ± 3.93 vs 24.48 ± 3.15 and 25.57 ± 3.37, P < 0.05) and VSL (ï¼»30.19 ± 5.32ï¼½ vs ï¼»27.19 ± 5.48ï¼½ and ï¼»27.55 ± 5.24ï¼½ µm/s, P < 0.05), but the DFI was remarkably lower in the former than in the latter two groups (11.25 ± 8.27 vs 15.87 ± 5.45 and 15.26 ± 4.36, P < 0.05). The symptoms were improved more significantly in the YTR+MIS than in the YTR and MIS groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Yishen Tongluo Recipe combined with minimally invasive surgery, as an effective and safe strategy, can significantly improve sperm quality and sperm DNA integrity in patients with varicocele-associated asthenospermia.

Changes in the Level of DNA Fragmentation in Sperm Cells detected by Acridine Orange Test in Men with Sub/infertility Treated with Nutritional Supplement PAPA.

BACKGROUND: When diagnosing and treating male infertility it is important to determine whether there are defects in the maturation process of sperm nuclei. Using nutritional supplements can improve the morphological and physiological condition of the spermatozoa. In recent years there has been an increase in the usage of supplements with different compositions which strives to determine the best combination and avoid side effects. AIM: To study the effect of PAPA nutritional supplement on the levels of DNA fragmentation of sperm cells tested with acridine orange test (single stranded DNA against double stranded DNA) in men with sub/infertility. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 48 men with confirmed sub/infertility underwent treatment for three months with nutritional supplement PAPA containing 9 micronutrients. The differences in levels of DNA fragmentation were determined with acridine orange test, which was conducted before and after the treatment. RESULTS: The results were statistically significant (p<0.001) showing an increase in the number of green spermatozoa (normal DNA), and a decrease of damaged ones (orange and red). After treatment the level of sperm DNA fragmentation decreased by 10.2%. CONCLUSION: Men with confirmed sub/infertility that took nutritional supplement PAPA for three moths showed a decrease in DNA fragmentation levels of 10.2% determined by AO test which implies an improvement of male fertility levels.

[Clinical effect of acupuncture combined with traditional Chinese medicine in treatment of oligozoospermia/asthenozoospermia: a meta-analysis].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical effect of acupuncture combined with Chinese medicine in the treatment of oligozoospermia/asthenozoospermia. METHODS: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture combined with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the treatment of oligozoospermia/asthenozoospermia published up to February 15, 2019 were searched from databases of CNKI, CBM, Wanfang Data, VIP, PubMed, Embase, and The Cochrane Library. Two reviewers independently performed quality assessment and data extraction of the studies, and RevMan5.3 was used to perform the meta-analysis. RESULTS: A total of 13 articles with 12 RCTs were included, with a total of 1 183 patients. The meta-analysis showed that acupuncture combined with TCM achieved a significantly higher pregnancy rate than TCM alone in the treatment of oligozoospermia/asthenozoospermia(risk ratio [RR] ＝1.46, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.13－1.90，P＝0.004). The patients treated with acupuncture combined with TCM had a significantly higher effective rate than those treated with TCM alone (RR＝1.17, 95% CI：1.10－1.24, P<0.000 01). Compared with TCM alone, acupuncture combined with TCM achieved significantly better improvements in sperm survival rate (mean difference [MD]＝8.28, 95% CI: 6.48－10.08, P<0.000 01), sperm motility (MD＝17.01, 95%CI：11.06－22.96, P<0.000 01), sperm concentration (MD＝8.71, 95%CI：5.92－11.50, P<0.000 01), and number of grade A sperms (MD＝6.39, 95%CI：5.27－7.50, P<0.000 01). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture combined with TCM has a better clinical effect than TCM alone in the treatment of oligozoospermia/asthenozoospermia. Due to the low methodological quality of the studies included in this analysis, acupuncture combined with TCM in the treatment of oligozoospermia/asthenozoospermia should be used based on patients' conditions in clinical practice.

Efficacy and safety of acupuncture for the treatment of oligoasthenozoospermia: A systematic review.

Oligoasthenozoospermia is a common factor leading to male infertility. Acupuncture has been applied for treating male infertility for several thousand years in China, but clinical evidence of its efficacy and safety in treating oligoasthenozoospermia is yet to be established. This review aimed to systematically assess the evidence on the effect of acupuncture in males with oligoasthenozoospermia. Databases (PubMed, EMBASE, SINOMED, CNKI, Wanfang database and Cochrane Library) were searched to identify related studies published before 30th June 2019. The Cochrane risk of bias tool and Jadad score was adopted to assess the methodological quality of included studies. Twelve randomised controlled trials (RCTs) with 1,088 participants were included in this review. The aim of this study was to perform a meta-analysis, but it was not possible due to considerable clinical heterogeneity among the included studies. According to the narrative analysis, acupuncture or acupuncture combined with another intervention was effective in improving the semen quality based on the included studies. However, this result should be interpreted with caution due to high risk. The methodological quality of most included studies was low. The current evidence on acupuncture for oligoasthenozoospermia is inadequate to draw a solid conclusion due to the poor methodological quality. Rigorous full-scale RCTs are needed to validate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of acupuncture in treating oligoasthenozoospermia.

Are the cytokines TNF alpha and IL 1Beta early predictors of embryo implantation? Cross sectional study.

The cross-talk between endometrium and embryo is not accessible to the researcher for obvious ethical reasons that let understand why implantation remains the black box of reproduction. We aimed to detect of the concentrations of IL-1ß and TNF-α in endometrial secretion at the time of oocyte retrieval for early prediction of implantation. One hundred twenty women participated in the study during ICSI cycles. All women participating in the study included the following criteria; age; 22-36 years, BMI; less than 35 kg/m2, a husband with oligo- or oligoasthenospermia. All women received controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and immediately after ovum pickup, an intrauterine flushing was done. Embryo transfer was done at the blastocyst stage five days after ovum pick up. Serum pregnancy tests were done for all women. The clinical pregnancy was defined as the appearance of the gestational sac and positive embryo cardiac activity was confirmed by TVS. The ongoing pregnancy was detected by abdominal ultrasound at 12 weeks. The participants were divided into two groups: the pregnant group and the non-pregnant group. Thirty-two and half percent of women got pregnant. There were non-significant differences between the two groups regarding the demographic, clinical and laboratory data except for the duration of infertility and concentrations of TNF-α and IL-1ß. The concentrations of TNF-α and IL-1ß were significantly higher in the pregnant group than the non-pregnant group.Therefore,The use of TNF-α and IL-1ß to predict implantation in IVF is promising especially before embryo transfer. Clinical trial.gov registration NCT02854514.

Asthenozoospermia: Cellular and molecular contributing factors and treatment strategies.

Semen sample with poor sperm motility, which called asthenozoospermia, is considered as one of the main factors contributing to male infertility. Recognition of the cellular and molecular pathways contributing to sperm motility reduction may lead to applying novel treatment strategies for overcoming low sperm motility in asthenozoospermia individuals. In this review, we intend to discuss the main causes of sperm motility reduction in asthenozoospermia and some treatment strategies used to overcome low sperm motility.

EIF4G1 is a novel candidate gene associated with severe asthenozoospermia.

BACKGROUND: Asthenozoospermia (AZS), also known as asthenospermia, is characterized by reduced motility of ejaculated spermatozoa and is detected in more than 40% of infertile patients. Because the proportion of progressive spermatozoa in severe AZS is <1%, severe AZS is an urgent challenge in reproductive medicine. Several genes have been reported to be relevant to severe asthenospermia. However, these gene mutations are found only in sporadic cases and can explain only a small fraction of severe AZS, so additional genetic pathogenies need to be explored. METHODS AND RESULTS: By screening the variant genes in a patient with severe AZS using whole exome sequencing, we identified biallelic mutations c.2521C>T: p.(Pro841Ser) (NC_000003.11: g.184043412C>T) in exon13 and c.2957C>G: p.(Ala986Gly) (NC_000003.11: g.184045117C>G) in exon17 in the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4 gamma 1 gene (EIF4G1, RefSeq: NM_004953.4, OMIM: 600495) of the patient. Both of the mutation sites are rare and potentially deleterious. Transmission electron microscopy analysis showed a disrupted axonemal structure with mitochondrial sheath defects. The EIF4G1 protein level was extremely low, and the mitochondrial marker cytochrome c oxidase subunit 4I1 (COXIV, OMIM: 123864) and mitochondrially encoded ATP synthase 6 (ATP6, OMIM: 516060) protein levels were also decreased in the patient's spermatozoa as revealed by WB and IF analysis. This infertility associated with this condition was overcome by intracytoplasmic sperm injections, as his wife became pregnant successfully. CONCLUSION: Our experimental findings indicate that the EIF4G1 gene is a novel candidate gene that may be relevant to severe AZS.

Effects and mechanism of action of transcutaneous electrical acupuncture point stimulation in patients with abnormal semen parameters.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of transcutaneous electrical acupuncture point stimulation (TEAS) on sperm parameters and the underlying molecular mechanisms. METHODS: A total of 121 patients diagnosed with oligozoospermia, asthenozoospermia or oligoasthenozoospermia were randomised into four groups (three treatment groups, one control): the TEAS groups were treated with 2 Hz (n=31), 100 Hz (n=31), or mock stimulation (n=29) at acupuncture points BL23, ST36, CV1 and CV4 for 2 months. The control group (n=30) was provided with lifestyle advice only. RESULTS: The changes in total sperm count and motility in the 2 Hz TEAS group were significantly greater than those in the mock group and the control group. The change in neutral α-glucosidase (NAG) and zinc levels in the 2 Hz group were significantly greater than those in the mock group and control group, and the changes in fructose levels of the 2 Hz group were significantly greater than those in the control group. Significant increases in calcium and integrin-binding protein 1 (CIB1) and reduction of cyclin-dependent kinase 1 b (CDK1) were also found after 2 Hz TEAS treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings suggest that 2 Hz TEAS can improve sperm count and motility in patients with abnormal semen parameters, and is associated with increases in seminal plasma zinc, NAG and fructose. The upregulation of CIB1 and downregulation of CDK1 by TEAS may be associated with its positive effects on sperm motility and count. TRIAL REGISTRATION: http://www.chictr.org ; registration no. ChiCTR-TRC-11001775.

Supplementation of cryopreservation medium with TAT-Peroxiredoxin 2 fusion protein improves human sperm quality and function.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the potential effects of TAT-PRDX2 protein supplementation to the cryopreservation medium on post-thaw sperm quality and function. DESIGN: In vitro prospective study. SETTING: Medical university hospital. PATIENT(S): Fifty normozoospermic, 50 asthenozoospermic, and 50 oligoasthenozoospermic men undergoing semen analysis for couple infertility. INTERVENTION(S): Each semen sample was divided into three aliquots: fresh, cryopreserved control (without additive), and cryopreserved with TAT-PRDX2 protein. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Sperm motility, viability, mitochondrial potential, and DNA damage as well as reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and lipid peroxidation were analyzed. Acrosome reaction and zona-free hamster oocyte penetration tests were performed to assess the fertilization ability of cryopreserved spermatozoa. RESULT(S): In normozoospermic and asthenozoospermic groups, the addition of 150 µg/mL TAT-PRDX2 significantly reduced intracellular ROS and malondialdehyde levels and enhanced post-thaw sperm motility and viability when compared with the cryopreserved control of the respective groups but did not produce any significant protective effect in the oligoasthenozoospermic group. Mitochondrial potential was significantly increased, whereas DNA fragmentation was significantly decreased, after TAT-PRDX2 supplementation only in the asthenozoospermic group when compared with the cryopreserved control. Although the penetration rate and the penetration index were not markedly improved, TAT-PRDX2 supplementation obviously reduced spontaneous acrosome reaction and increased calcium ionophore-induced acrosome reaction in the normozoospermic and asthenozoospermic groups. CONCLUSION(S): TAT-PRDX2 protein effectively exerted cryoprotective effects on spermatozoa by reducing intracellular ROS level and thereby improved post-thaw sperm quality and function, especially for asthenozoospermic samples. TAT-PRDX2 protein is a promising additive for developing a new and highly efficient semen cryoprotectant.