Biomedical subjects

P Sagone

Publications and source records attributed to P Sagone.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2007

High prevalence of testicular cancer in azoospermic men without spermatogenesis.

BACKGROUND: An increased risk of testicular cancer in men with infertility and poor semen quality has been reported. Our aim was to investigate the prevalence of testicular nodules and cancer in azoospermic subjects with different spermatogenetic patterns. METHODS: A total of 1443 consecutive infertile men were investigated, out of which 145 (10.0%) were found to be azoospermic. By using clinical examination and testicular ultrasound, 11 out of the 145 patients showed testicular nodules (2.8-26 mm). To obtain spermatozoa for assisted reproduction, 97 subjects required testicular sperm extraction (TESE) and biopsy, including the 11 patients with nodules. They were divided into two groups according to biopsy results: Group A (n = 38) with complete Sertoli cell-only syndrome (SCOS) and Group B (n = 59) with varying spermatogenetic patterns. Ten nodules were found in Group A and one in Group B. RESULTS: In azoospermic men, the overall prevalence of nodules was 7.5%. In complete SCOS, the prevalence of nodules and cancer was 10/38 (26.3%) and 4/38 (10.5%), respectively. Amongst the cancers, one embryonal carcinoma, one seminoma and two in-situ carcinomas were found. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of testicular nodules and cancer in azoospermic men with complete SCOS is very high. In these subjects, the role of clinical evaluation, ultrasound and biopsy should be emphasized.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Immunophenotypical characterization of contractile cells in caput epididymidis of men affected by congenital or post-inflammatory obstructive azoospermia.

Myoid cells of the human caput epididymidis are replaced by large cells with ultrastructural features of smooth muscle cells (SMC) in chronic obstruction of the male genital tract. To evaluate whether these cellular changes are associated with different functional phenotypes we analysed the immunohistochemical expression of myosin heavy chain isoforms and of extracellular matrix (EM) components in the human caput epididymidis contractile cells in normal and in obstructed epididymides. Normal caput epididymidis myoid cells expressed a scattered immunostaining for SM2, marker of differentiated contractile SMC, while no staining was detected for SMemb (the non-muscle-type myosin heavy chain isoform) and for its transcription factor BTEB2, markers of undifferentiated proliferating SMC. A faint immunoreaction (IR) for EM was observed in the peritubular wall of the normal caput. In the contractile wall of the obstructed caput epididymidis a strong IR was detected for all myosin heavy chain isoforms as well as for collagen type IV and for fibronectin, markers for a secretory function of SMC. These findings, unknown in other models of SMC pathophysiology, suggest that myoid cells resume the molecular machinery of both mature SMC and of differentiating/secretory cells in the chronic obstruction of the human caput. Contractile cells of the epididymal duct represent a unique model to study the plasticity of SMC.

Chronic Disease↗

PubMed2004

Testicular function following chemo-radiotherapy.

Improvements in cancer survival raise infertility issues in young patients suffering from malignancies. The aim of the study is to review current knowledge on the effect of chemotherapy (CT) and radiotherapy (RT) for testis and hematological neoplasms on testicular function. Cisplatin-based regimens for testis neoplasm induce temporary azoospermia; permanent damage can occur with high doses (400-600 mg/m(2)). Alkylating agents are very effective for hematological neoplasm therapy but extremely dangerous to germinal epithelium. Damage can be irreversible. Spermatozoa cannot tolerate irradiation doses higher than 6 Gy. Leydig cells are damaged by doses higher than 15 Gy. A-Spermatogonia have been shown to survive after CT and RT and their recovery for post-treatment graft has been recently developed in animal models. Infertility counselling before treatment in young oncological patients is mandatory. Cryopreservation is the best option for fertility protection.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Linear and non-linear relationships between the 'swelling test' and conventional semen variables in men suspected of primary infertility.

The relationship and degree of association between the percentage of sperm swelling (HOS-test) and conventional semen variables was investigated in 263 consecutive ejaculates. The semen samples were exclusively obtained from men suspected of primary infertility. It was found that the correlation coefficients (Spearman's rho) followed the order: percentage of progressive motility at 3 h greater than count/ml greater than percentage of total motility at 3 h greater than percentage of normal spermatozoa. Of the three morphology sub-classes considered (sperm head, mid-piece and tail abnormalities), only mid-piece abnormalities correlated with the outcome of the HOS-test (rho = -0.409). Linear relationships between HOS-test results and sperm motility and morphology, but not sperm count, were indicated by LOWESS-smoothing. However, a linear relationship between the HOS-test, sperm count and a 'functional index' combining the conventional semen variables could be demonstrated after normalization of the data. Our findings suggest that the HOS-test may be of value in assessing the functional integrity and viability of spermatozoa; however, its prognostic power for fertility is probably not different from that of conventional semen variables.

Fertilization↗