Endothelial progenitor cells and erectile dysfunction: a brief review on diagnostic significance and summary of our experience.

The article provides a brief review of the literature concerning the diagnostic use of endothelial progenitor cells in patients with erectile dysfunction. In particular, patients with arterial erectile dysfunction could benefit from the use of this diagnostic marker, which in clinical practice can be used together with more conventional methods such as the penile Doppler. It is very important to acquire diagnostic tools for the diagnosis of sub clinical form of endothelial dysfunction in these patients, in particular when the erectile dysfunction is associated with cardiovascular risk factors

Hypogonadism and Sexual Dysfunction in Testicular Tumor Survivors: A Systematic Review

Testicular tumor is the most common malignancy in men of reproductive age. According to the tumor histology and staging, current treatment options include orchiectomy alone or associated with adjuvant chemo- and/or radiotherapy. Although these treatments have considerably raised the percentage of survivors compared to the past, they have been identified as risk factors for testosterone deficiency and sexual dysfunction in this subgroup of men. Male hypogonadism, in turn, predisposes to the development of metabolic and cardiovascular impairment that negatively affects general health. Accordingly, longitudinal studies report a long-term risk for cardiovascular diseases after radiotherapy and/or cisplatin-based chemotherapy in testicular tumor survivors. The aim of this review was to summarize the current evidence on hypogonadism and sexual dysfunction in long-term cancer survivors, including the epidemiology of cardiovascular and metabolic disorders, to increase the awareness that serum testosterone levels, sexual function, and general health should be evaluated during the endocrinological management of these patients

Substance Abuse and Male Hypogonadism

Progressive deterioration of male reproductive function is occurring in Western countries. Environmental factors and unhealthy lifestyles have been implicated in the decline of testosterone levels and sperm production observed in the last fifty years. Among unhealthy lifestyles, substance and drug abuse is a recognized cause of possible alterations of steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis. Alcohol, opioids and anabolic-androgenic steroids are capable to reduce testosterone production in male interfering with testicular and/or hypothalamic-pituitary function. Other substances such as nicotine, cannabis, and amphetamines alter spermatogenesis inducing oxidative stress and subsequent apoptosis in testicular tissue. Substance and drug abuse is a potentially reversible cause of hypogonadism, defined as the failure of the testis to produce physiological concentrations of testosterone and/or a normal number of spermatozoa. The identification of the abuse is important because the withdrawal of substance intake can reverse the clinical syndrome. This review summarizes the most important clinical and experimental evidence on the effect of substance abuse on testosterone and sperm production

Sport, doping and female fertility

Abstract This article is a review that addresses the following topics, divided by paragraphs. The first paragraph investigates the effects of physical activity on ovarian function, analyzing in particular the changes concerning the serum concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, prolactin, growth hormone, thyroid hormones, leptin, ghrelin, neuropeptide Y. The second paragraph analyzes the effects of doping on the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis. Finally, the last paragraph analyzes the PCOS category, evaluating the effects of hyperandrogenism in relation to athletic performance

Testicular Function of Childhood Cancer Survivors: Who Is Worse?

Background: A multi-disciplinary approach has led to an improvement in prognosis of childhood cancers. However, in parallel with the increase in survival rate, there is a greater occurrence of long-term toxicity related to antineoplastic treatment. Hypogonadism and infertility are among the most frequent endocrinological sequelae in young adult childhood cancer survivors. The aim of this study was to identify which category of patients, grouped according to diagnosis, therapy, and age at treatment, shows the worst reproductive function in adulthood. Methods: We evaluated morpho-volumetric development of the testis, endocrine function of the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis, and sperm parameters in 102 young adult childhood cancer survivors. Results: Overall, about one-third of patients showed low total testicular volume, total testosterone (TT) <3.5 ng/mL, and altered sperm count. Hodgkin’s disease, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and non-cranial irradiation associated to chemotherapy were risk factors for poor gonadal function. Patients treated in pubertal age showed lower total testicular volume; however, the difference was due to more gonadotoxic treatment performed in older age. Testicular volume was more predictive of spermatogenesis than follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), while anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) was not useful in the evaluation of testicular function of male childhood cancer survivors. Conclusions: Pre-pubertal subjects at high risk of future infertility should be candidates for testicular tissue cryopreservation

Endothelial progenitor cells and erectile dysfunction: a brief review on diagnostic significance and summary of our experience

The article provides a brief review of the literature concerning the diagnostic use of endothelial progenitor cells in patients with erectile dysfunction. In particular, patients with arterial erectile dysfunction could benefit from the use of this diagnostic marker, which in clinical practice can be used together with more conventional methods such as the penile Doppler. It is very important to acquire diagnostic tools for the diagnosis of sub clinical form of endothelial dysfunction in these patients, in particular when the erectile dysfunction is associated with cardiovascular risk factors