Asian journal of andrology最新文献

{"title":"Predicting the upgrading of the International Society of Urological Pathology Grade Group in nonclinically significant prostate cancer: a multicenter observational study.","authors":"Ling Zhou, Shi-Yan Li, Zhang-Yun Wang, Yu-Yu Liu, Chao Chen, Hong Yu","doi":"10.4103/aja2025115","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4103/aja2025115","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The aim of this study was to explore the predictors of International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) Grade Group (GG) upgrading in nonclinically significant prostate cancer (non-csPCa) biopsy specimens guided by transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) following radical prostatectomy (RP). A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data from 231 patients who underwent TRUS-guided biopsy and RP between January 2018 and December 2023. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed to identify independent predictors of postoperative ISUP GG upgrading. The diagnostic efficiency of these predictors was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Additionally, ROC analysis was used to compare the predictive performance of different positive target (PT) imaging methods across prostate volume (PV) subgroups. The study included 111 (48.1%) patients in the GG concordance group and 120 (51.9%) patients in the GG upgrading group. Univariate analysis revealed that PV, prostate-specific antigen density, Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System version 2.1 (PI-RADS v2.1), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) PT, contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) PT, and clinical T stage significantly influenced GG upgrading (all P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression revealed PV (OR = 0.974; 95% CI: 0.955-0.994; P = 0.010), MRI PT (OR = 3.902; 95% CI: 1.507-10.102; P = 0.005), and CEUS PT (OR = 2.280; 95% CI: 1.073-4.845; P = 0.032) as independent predictors. The prediction model demonstrated the highest diagnostic performance (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC] = 0.738, P < 0.001). MRI PT showed superior predictive efficacy compared with CEUS PT in patients with a PV <30.13 ml. In conclusion, PV, CEUS PT, and MRI PT were identified as independent predictors of postoperative ISUP GG upgrading. The predictive model exhibited the best overall performance, and compared with CEUS PT, MRI PT demonstrated greater predictive accuracy for smaller prostates.</p>","PeriodicalId":93889,"journal":{"name":"Asian journal of andrology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147791811","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Tektin family in mammalian spermatozoa: structure, function, and disease.","authors":"Qi-Jun Chen, Qing-Chao Li, Hui Nie","doi":"10.4103/aja202618","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4103/aja202618","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Successful fertilization requires spermatozoa to be both mechanically stable and responsive to extracellular signals, a capacity conferred by specialized cytoskeletal proteins. In mammalian spermatozoa, tektins (e.g., Tektin1-5) are filamentous structural proteins predominantly localized to the flagellum, where they stabilize the axoneme and support the motility and functional competence of the spermatozoa essential for fertilization. Given the dynamic redistribution of certain isoforms (e.g., Tektin1-3) to the sperm head during capacitation, hyperactivation, and the acrosome reaction, the molecular mechanisms through which tektins coordinate structural integrity with signaling events remain unclear. Owing to advancements in genetic tools, high-throughput sequencing, and structural biology, significant progress has been made in the past decade in elucidating the roles of tektins in spermiogenesis and fertilization. In this review, we discuss functional evidence from animal models and human genetic studies, summarize the current knowledge linking tektin deficiency or mutation to impaired sperm motility and male fertility, and highlight the potential of these genes as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in precision andrology.</p>","PeriodicalId":93889,"journal":{"name":"Asian journal of andrology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147791849","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Inflammation, immune cells, signaling mechanisms, and diseases of male reproductive system.","authors":"Yan-Na Zhu, Wen-Cong Jin, Dong Zhang, Zuping He","doi":"10.4103/aja2025119","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4103/aja2025119","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Male infertility has become a serious issue in reproductive health. Inflammation of male reproductive system is a prevalent factor that influences male fertility. On the one hand, inflammation serves as the innate defense mechanism against injury, infection, and abnormal stimuli; and notably, it plays crucial roles in pathogen elimination, tissue repair, and the maintenance of internal homeostasis. On the other hand, inflammation can adversely affect spermatogenesis and lead to male infertility through oxidative stress, immune dysregulation, and cellular damage. In this review, we discuss the categories and etiology of inflammation diseases in male reproductive system and the functions of testicular immune cells, e.g., testicular macrophages, T and B lymphocytes, dendritic cells (DCs), mast cells, and Leydig cells, as well as signaling molecules and pathways by inflammation in male reproduction. Understanding these mechanisms may offer targets for therapeutic strategies to improve male fertility outcomes in inflammation-related condition. We also address therapeutic strategies for male reproductive system inflammation, including the use of antibiotics and lifestyle modifications. This review would help us better understand the mechanisms underlying the influence of inflammation on the male reproductive system. More significantly, it could be beneficial for treating inflammatory-related diseases of male reproductive system.</p>","PeriodicalId":93889,"journal":{"name":"Asian journal of andrology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147791781","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects and mechanism of low-intensity pulsed ultrasounds on testicular steroidogenesis in rats.","authors":"Xianghu Meng, Feng Zhou, Majken Højrup Wiborg, Caipeng Qin, Lia Banie, Weerayut Wiriyabanditkul, Guifang Wang, Guiting Lin, Tom F Lue","doi":"10.4103/aja20262","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4103/aja20262","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) has emerged as a non-invasive therapeutic approach with regenerative potential in various tissues. This study explores its effects on testicular steroidogenesis in male rats. Twenty-four 9-month-old rats were allocated into three groups: control, LIPUS, and LIPUS-M. The LIPUS group underwent pulsed ultrasound therapy targeting the testes twice weekly for 4 weeks, whereas the LIPUS-M group continued with maintenance therapy administered once every 2 weeks for 6 months. At the end of the experiment (16 months), blood and testicular tissues were collected for analysis. Our results showed that LIPUS therapy significantly elevated serum testosterone level and increased the number of Leydig cells (LCs), as indicated by steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (STAR) and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) immunofluorescence. Collagen IV staining showed increased interstitial vascularization, and senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-Gal) staining suggested reduced cellular senescence. Although the LIPUS-M group also showed increased LC counts and angiogenesis, serum testosterone levels were not elevated. These findings demonstrate that LIPUS can activate LCs and enhance endogenous testosterone production, supporting its potential as a noninvasive regenerative approach for hypogonadism.</p>","PeriodicalId":93889,"journal":{"name":"Asian journal of andrology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147701052","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Preliminary observations on phenotypic differences between complete and partial globozoospermia.","authors":"Gang-Xin Chen, Hui-Lin Xu, Lei Yang, Bei-Hong Zheng, Yan Sun","doi":"10.4103/aja20266","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4103/aja20266","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":93889,"journal":{"name":"Asian journal of andrology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147701033","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association between body mass index and semen quality in infertile men: a cross-sectional study of 28 167 patients.","authors":"Xu Cao, Lu Gao, Xiao-Jie Fu, Jie Chen, Xia-Yang Li, Yi-Shuai Huang, Juan-Zi Shi, Peng-Fei Qu","doi":"10.4103/aja202596","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4103/aja202596","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>Although the detrimental impact of abnormal body mass index (BMI) on semen quality is well established in the general population, studies exploring this relationship in infertile men remain limited. This study aimed to investigate the association between BMI and semen quality parameters and to identify potential BMI thresholds linked to altered semen quality. In this cross-sectional study, clinical records from 28 167 men evaluated for infertility prior to assisted reproductive treatment (ART) at Northwest Women's and Children's Hospital (Xi'an, China) between January 2019 and December 2023 were analyzed. Participants were categorized by BMI as underweight (<18.5 kg m -2 ), normal (18.5-24.9 kg m -2 ), overweight (25.0-29.9 kg m -2 ), and obese (≥30.0 kg m -2 ). Conventional semen analysis was performed according to World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, and a composite measure of \"good\" semen quality was defined using established reference criteria. Multivariable regression, smoothed curve fitting, and threshold effect analyses were used to examine associations between BMI and semen parameters. Underweight men had lower sperm counts, whereas overweight men showed slightly higher progressive motility. Obese men demonstrated significant reductions in semen volume, sperm concentration, sperm count, motile sperm counts, and the likelihood of achieving good semen quality compared with men of normal weight. Smoothed curve fitting and threshold effect analyses revealed an inverted U-shaped relationship between BMI and overall semen quality, with improvement up to a BMI of 26.0 kg m -2 , followed by a decline beyond this point. These findings suggest that maintaining a BMI between 18.5 kg m -2 and 26.0 kg m -2 may optimally support semen quality and reproductive potential in infertile men.</p>","PeriodicalId":93889,"journal":{"name":"Asian journal of andrology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147596945","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Male testosterone synthesis disorders: oxidative stress pathways, regulatory mechanisms, potential of antioxidant therapy, and botanical medicine prospects.","authors":"Hui Wu, Min-Tao Jian, Gang Ning, Bo-Nan Li, A-Jian Peng, Hao-Yu Wang, Xue Tang, Xing Zhou","doi":"10.4103/aja2025105","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4103/aja2025105","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Testosterone, one of the most important hormones in men, regulates many physiological and pathological processes. Testosterone biosynthesis mainly occurs in Leydig cells. Oxidative stress (OS) is also commonly observed in Leydig cells and is an important factor, leading to decreased testosterone concentrations. This review evaluates male testosterone synthesis disorders from the perspective of OS. OS impairs testosterone synthesis through multiple mechanisms, including modulating the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, reducing testicular steroid synthase activity, damaging the mitochondrial function of Leydig cells, inducing endoplasmic reticulum stress, and inhibiting Leydig cell development. A coordinated regulatory network comprising nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α), and the glutathione pathway, plays an integral role in modulating testosterone biosynthesis. We summarize the therapeutic potential of antioxidants, especially botanical medicines, in mitigating Leydig cell oxidative injury and restoring testosterone biosynthesis, highlighting their promise as a novel treatment approach. Finally, the therapeutic potential of antioxidants in male disorders of testosterone synthesis, including late-onset hypogonadism, male infertility, and erectile dysfunction, is systematically reviewed and critically analyzed. This review provides a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underpinning testosterone synthesis disorders and may facilitate the development of new clinical treatments.</p>","PeriodicalId":93889,"journal":{"name":"Asian journal of andrology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147596979","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The causal effect of family history of cardiovascular disease on erectile dysfunction: a randomized clinical study and Mendelian randomization study.","authors":"Dong-Jie Li, Bo-Yu Xiang, Yong Li, Chi-Teng Zhang, Li Liu, Xiu-Cheng Li","doi":"10.4103/aja202584","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4103/aja202584","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>Erectile dysfunction (ED) is increasingly recognized as an early clinical marker of cardiovascular disease (CVD); however, the causal role of familial predisposition to CVD in ED development remains insufficiently defined. This study investigated whether genetic susceptibility associated with a parental history of CVD exerts a causal influence on ED risk, integrating clinical data with Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. A cohort of 288 men who attended the Department of Andrology of Xiangya Hospital (Changsha, China) between June 2017 and June 2023 were recruited, comprising 223 patients with clinically confirmed ED and 65 controls. Detailed demographic, cardiovascular, and ED severity data were collected. Genetic variants associated with ED and parental CVD history were obtained from genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics, and two-sample MR analyses were conducted to evaluate causal effects. Clinically, men with ED were significantly older, exhibited higher body mass index (BMI), and demonstrated lower testosterone levels compared with controls. A trend toward an association between family history of CVD and ED was observed. MR analyses provided robust evidence of causality, with paternal CVD history increasing ED risk and maternal CVD history exerting an even stronger effect. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the stability of these findings without evidence of pleiotropic bias. Collectively, these results indicate that familial genetic susceptibility to CVD independently contributes to the risk of ED. These findings underscore the clinical importance of incorporating family history into ED risk stratification and highlight the need for early screening and preventive strategies in men with a family history of CVD. Proactive management of this high-risk population may mitigate the future burden of ED and its cardiovascular sequelae.</p>","PeriodicalId":93889,"journal":{"name":"Asian journal of andrology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147505649","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Phenotypic modulation of corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells in type 2 diabetic rats is mediated by regulated exosomes secretion via neutral sphingomyelinase-2.","authors":"Feng-Zhi Chen, Xin-Tao Zhang, Qin-Yu Zeng, Bing-Xin Lu, Li Wang, Hong-Bing Mei, An-Yang Wei","doi":"10.4103/aja202569","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4103/aja202569","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Phenotypic modulation of corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells (CCSMCs) is closely related to the occurrence of erectile dysfunction (ED). However, the effect of exosomes (EXOs) on the phenotypic modulation of CCSMCs with diabetes mellitus (DM)-related ED is not fully understood. Using a rat model of type 2 DM, we found an important role for phenotypic modulation of CCSMCs in DM-related ED. EXO secretion by CCSMCs is also driven by pathological changes to the corpus cavernosum in diabetic rats. We used CCSMCs subjected to platelet-derived growth factor-BB as an in vitro model of phenotypic modulation and isolated EXOs from the supernatants of cultured CCSMCs by ultracentrifugation. The results suggest that phenotypic modulation enhances the capacity of CCSMCs to secrete EXOs and that inhibiting EXO secretion could restore the contractile phenotype of CCSMCs in vitro. Notably, a further mechanistic study revealed that regulated EXO secretion could change the phenotype of CCSMCs via the neutral sphingomyelinase-2 (nSMase2) pathway. Taken together, our results indicate that the modulation of EXO biogenesis and secretion may be a novel therapeutic approach to improve type 2 DM-induced ED by maintaining the contractile phenotype of CCSMCs.</p>","PeriodicalId":93889,"journal":{"name":"Asian journal of andrology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147476484","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluating patient experience with in-person versus virtual vasectomy consultations.","authors":"Megan G Paradzinsky, Mukul Sharda, Jonathan S Ellison, Yuchen Jin, Aniko Szabo, Jay I Sandlow, Peter N Dietrich","doi":"10.4103/aja2025104","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4103/aja2025104","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Since the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, there has been a rise in the use of telehealth pre-vasectomy consultations. Several studies have demonstrated that the rates of vasectomy completion do not seem to be affected by consultation type, suggesting that a pre-vasectomy physical examination is not necessary for successful procedure completion. While the current research offers a preliminary evaluation of the feasibility of virtual consultations for vasectomy, it has not included patient experiences with the consultation and the procedure. Thus, we evaluated satisfaction, procedural experience, and consultation preferences among patients undergoing vasectomy after either in-person or virtual consultation. Between October 1, 2022 and December 31, 2023, patients scheduled with two fellowship-trained infertility specialists were offered either visit type, with consistent counseling and appointment availability across modalities. Post-procedure surveys assessed satisfaction, pain, consultation preference, and anxiolytic use. Of 169 survey respondents, 40 (23.7%) had virtual and 129 (76.3%) had in-person consultations. Five (4.4%) patients who had an in-person consultation reported they would have preferred to have a virtual consultation. In the virtual cohort, 3 (8.6%) patients would have preferred an in-person consultation. No statistical difference was observed between the groups regarding preference for alternate consultation type (P = 0.39). There were also no significant differences in pain rating or reported comfort with vas manipulation by consultation modality (P = 0.21 and P = 0.17, respectively). Most patients still choose in-person consultations over virtual consultations for vasectomy despite equal availability to both, and patients report similar satisfaction and pain scores regardless of their consultation method. Virtual consultation can be offered without compromising patient experience.</p>","PeriodicalId":93889,"journal":{"name":"Asian journal of andrology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147476554","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}