Pseudodifflugia klarae nov. spec., Bereczkya minuta nov. gen. nov. spec. and Paramphitrema muelleri nov. spec.: three new filose testate amoebae from the plankton of the river Danube.

Three new, minute testate amoeban species smaller than 15 μm, including one new genus, are described from the plankton of the River Danube (Hungary) using high resolution video micrography. Pseudodifflugia klarae nov. spec. is characterised by an oval/pyriform, rigid, slightly compressed, scarcely or densely agglutinated test with a length of 8–14 μm. Its aperture is irregular in outline and inconspicuous; the nucleus contains one nucleolus and a few bent rods in the nucleoplasm. Bereczkya nov. gen., an incertae sedis cercozoan, has a minute spherical cell enclosed in a thin, rigid, more or less agglutinated organic test that is filled entirely by the cytoplasm. Its test bears an irregular and inconspicuous aperture. A collar-like ectoplasmic rim is situated in the aperture, from which a pseudopodial stem with filopodia is erected. The nucleus is slightly irregular, without a central nucleolus, but it contains rod-shaped granules in the nucleoplasm. Bereczkya minuta nov. spec. (test length: 3.5–8 μm, the diameter of the ectoplasmic rim: 0.8–2.3 μm) has a spherical test with asymmetric swellings and depressions, agglutinated with refractile mineral and other flat or irregularly-shaped xenosomes that may sometimes be almost entirely absent. Paramphitrema muelleri nov. spec. has a tubular or lemon-like test (length: 13–17 μm), which tapers towards the rigid apertures. The test is rigid, agglutinated and ism circular in cross section. The nucleus is vesicular. Thin filopodia, as well as 1–2 thick, straight, unbranched, tubular pseudopodia are produced

Pseudodifflugia klarae nov. spec., Bereczkya minuta nov. gen. nov. spec. and Paramphitrema muelleri nov. spec.: Three New Filose Testate Amoebae from the Plankton of the River Danube

Three new, minute testate amoeban species smaller than 15 μm, including one new genus, are described from the plankton of the River Danube (Hungary) using high resolution video micrography. Pseudodifflugia klarae nov. spec. is characterised by an oval/pyriform, rigid, slightly compressed, scarcely or densely agglutinated test with a length of 8–14 μm. Its aperture is irregular in outline and inconspicuous; the nucleus contains one nucleolus and a few bent rods in the nucleoplasm. Bereczkya nov. gen., an incertae sedis cercozoan, has a minute spherical cell enclosed in a thin, rigid, more or less agglutinated organic test that is filled entirely by the cytoplasm. Its test bears an irregular and inconspicuous aperture. A collar-like ectoplasmic rim is situated in the aperture, from which a pseudopodial stem with filopodia is erected. The nucleus is slightly irregular, without a central nucleolus, but it contains rod-shaped granules in the nucleoplasm. Bereczkya minuta nov. spec. (test length: 3.5–8 μm, the diameter of the ectoplasmic rim: 0.8–2.3 μm) has a spherical test with asymmetric swellings and depressions, agglutinated with refractile mineral and other flat or irregularly-shaped xenosomes that may sometimes be almost entirely absent. Paramphitrema muelleri nov. spec. has a tubular or lemon-like test (length: 13–17 μm), which tapers towards the rigid apertures. The test is rigid, agglutinated and ism circular in cross section. The nucleus is vesicular. Thin filopodia, as well as 1–2 thick, straight, unbranched, tubular pseudopodia are produced

Lifestyle-, environmental-, and additional health factors associated with an increased sperm DNA fragmentation: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Introduction Infertility affects one in every six couples in developed countries, and approximately 50% is of male origin. In 2021, sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) testing became an evidence-based test for fertility evaluations depicting fertility more clearly than standard semen parameters. Therefore, we aimed to summarize the potential prognostic factors of a higher SDF. Methods We conducted a systematic search in three medical databases and included studies investigating any risk factors for SDF values. We calculated mean differences (MD) in SDF with 95% confidence interval (CI) for exposed and non-exposed individuals. Results We included 190 studies in our analysis. In the group of associated health conditions, varicocele (MD = 13.62%, CI: 9.39–17.84) and impaired glucose tolerance (MD = 13.75%, CI: 6.99–20.51) had the most significant increase in SDF. Among malignancies, testicular tumors had the highest impact, with a maximum of MD = 11.3% (CI: 7.84–14.76). Among infections, the overall effects of both Chlamydia and HPV were negligible. Of lifestyle factors, smoking had the most disruptive effect on SDF – an increase of 9.19% (CI: 4.33–14.06). Different periods of sexual abstinence did not show significant variations in SDF values. Age seemed to have a more drastic effect on SDF from age 50 onwards, with a mean difference of 12.58% (CI: 7.31–17.86). Pollution also had a detrimental effect – 9.68% (CI: 6.85–12.52). Conclusion Of the above risk factors, varicocele, impaired glucose tolerance, testicular tumors, smoking, pollution, and paternal age of over 50 were associated with the highest SDF. Trial registration CRD42021282533

Accurate Quantitative Histomorphometric-Mathematical Image Analysis Methodology of Rodent Testicular Tissue and Its Possible Future Research Perspectives in Andrology and Reproductive Medicine

Infertility is increasing worldwide; male factors can be identified in nearly half of all infertile couples. Histopathologic evaluation of testicular tissue can provide valuable information about infertility; however, several different evaluation methods and semi-quantitative score systems exist. Our goal was to describe a new, accurate and easy-to-use quantitative computer-based histomorphometric-mathematical image analysis methodology for the analysis of testicular tissue. On digitized, original hematoxylin-eosin (HE)-stained slides (scanned by slide-scanner), quantitatively describable characteristics such as area, perimeter and diameter of testis cross-sections and of individual tubules were measured with the help of continuous magnification. Immunohistochemically (IHC)-stained slides were digitized with a microscope-coupled camera, and IHC-staining intensity measurements on digitized images were also taken. Suggested methods are presented with mathematical equations, step-by-step detailed characterization and representative images are given. Our novel quantitative histomorphometric-mathematical image analysis method can improve the reproducibility, objectivity, quality and comparability of andrological-reproductive medicine research by recognizing even the mild impairments of the testicular structure expressed numerically, which might not be detected with the present semi-quantitative score systems. The technique is apt to be subjected to further automation with machine learning and artificial intelligence and can be named ‘Computer-Assisted or -Aided Testis Histology’ (CATHI)