scholarly journals Genetic Factors of Non-Obstructive Azoospermia: Consequences on Patients’ and Offspring Health

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (17) ◽  
pp. 4009
Author(s):  
Csilla Krausz ◽  
Francesca Cioppi
Keyword(s):  
Neurodevelopmental Disorders ◽  
General Health ◽  
Genetic Factors ◽  
Obstructive Azoospermia ◽  
Health Profile ◽  
Y Chromosome Microdeletions ◽  
Whole Exome ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Common Etiology ◽  
Offspring Health

Non-Obstructive Azoospermia (NOA) affects about 1% of men in the general population and is characterized by clinical heterogeneity implying the involvement of several different acquired and genetic factors. NOA men are at higher risk to be carriers of known genetic anomalies such as karyotype abnormalities and Y-chromosome microdeletions in respect to oligo-normozoospermic men. In recent years, a growing number of novel monogenic causes have been identified through Whole Exome Sequencing (WES). Genetic testing is useful for diagnostic and pre-TESE prognostic purposes as well as for its potential relevance for general health. Several epidemiological observations show a link between azoospermia and higher morbidity and mortality rate, suggesting a common etiology for NOA and some chronic diseases, including cancer. Since on average 50% of NOA patients has a positive TESE outcome, the identification of genetic factors in NOA patients has relevance also to the offspring’s health. Although still debated, the observed increased risk of certain neurodevelopmental disorders, as well as impaired cardiometabolic and reproductive health profile in children conceived with ICSI from NOA fathers may indicate the involvement of transmissible genetic factors. This review provides an update on the reproductive and general health consequences of known genetic factors causing NOA, including offspring’s health.

scholarly journals Novel Variants in HFM1 Lead to Male Infertility Due to Non-obstructive Azoospermia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dongdong Tang ◽  
Mingrong Lv ◽  
Yang Gao ◽  
Huiru Cheng ◽  
Kuokuo Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Male Infertility ◽  
Y Chromosome ◽  
Testicular Biopsy ◽  
Severe Form ◽  
Testicular Sperm Extraction ◽  
Obstructive Azoospermia ◽  
Sperm Retrieval ◽  
Gene Variation ◽  
Y Chromosome Microdeletions ◽  
Whole Exome

Abstract Background Non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) is the most severe form of male infertility. More than half of the NOA patients were idiopathic for their etiology, in whom it’s difficult to retrieve sperm despite the application of microsurgical testicular sperm extraction (microTESE). Therefore, we conducted to this study to identify the potential genetic factors responsible for NOA, and investigate the sperm retrieval rate of microTESE for the genetic defected NOA.Methods One NOA patient from a consanguineous family (F1-II-1) and fifty NOA patients from non-consanguineous families were included in the study. Semen analyses, chromosome karyotypes, screening of Y chromosome microdeletions, sex hormone testing, and subsequent testicular biopsy were performed to categorize NOA or obstructive azoospermia. Potentialgenetic variants were identified by whole exome sequencing (WES),and confirmed by Sanger sequencing in F1 II-1. The candidate genes were screened in the other fifty NOA patients. Further experiments including quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction and western blotting were performed to verify the effects of gene variation on gene expression.Results Normal somatic karyotypes and Y chromosome microdeletions were examined in all patients. Hematoxylin and eosin staining (H&E) of the testicular tissues suggested meiotic arrest, and a novel homozygous HFM1 variant (c.3490C>T: p.Q1164X) was identified in F1 II-1. Furthermore, another homozygous HFM1 variant (c.3470G>A: p.C1157Y) was also verified in F2 II-1 from the fifty NOA patients. Significantly decreased expression levels of HFM1 mRNA and protein were observed in the testicular tissues of these two mutants compared with controls. MicroTESE was performed in these two patients, while no sperm were retrieved. Conclusions Our study identified two novel homozygous variants of HFM1 that are responsible for spermatogenic failure and NOA, even microTESE can not contribute to retrieve sperm in these patients.

scholarly journals Novel variants in helicase for meiosis 1 lead to male infertility due to non-obstructive azoospermia

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dongdong Tang ◽  
Mingrong Lv ◽  
Yang Gao ◽  
Huiru Cheng ◽  
Kuokuo Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Male Infertility ◽  
Exome Sequencing ◽  
Whole Exome Sequencing ◽  
Genetic Factors ◽  
Testicular Biopsy ◽  
Severe Form ◽  
Testicular Sperm Extraction ◽  
Obstructive Azoospermia ◽  
Sperm Retrieval ◽  
Whole Exome

Abstract Background Non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) is the most severe form of male infertility; more than half of the NOA patients are idiopathic. Although many NOA risk genes have been detected, the genetic factors for NOA in majority of the patients are unknown. In addition, it is difficult to retrieve sperm from these patients despite using the microsurgical testicular sperm extraction (microTESE) method. Therefore, we conducted this genetic study to identify the potential genetic factors responsible for NOA and investigate the sperm retrieval rate of microTESE for genetically deficient NOA patients. Methods Semen analyses, sex hormone testing, and testicular biopsy were performed to categorize the patients with NOA. The chromosome karyotypes and Y chromosome microdeletion analyses were used to exclude general genetic factors. Whole exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing were performed to identify potential genetic variants in 51 patients with NOA. Hematoxylin and eosin staining (H&E) and anti-phosphorylated H2AX were used to assess the histopathology of spermatogenesis. Quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, and immunofluorescence were performed to verify the effects of gene variation on expression. Results We performed whole exome sequencing in 51 NOA patients and identified homozygous helicase for meiosis 1(HFM1) variants (NM_001017975: c.3490C > T: p.Q1164X; c.3470G > A: p.C1157Y) in two patients (3.9%, 2/51). Histopathology of the testis showed that spermatogenesis was completely blocked at metaphase in these two patients carrying the HFM1 homozygous variants. In comparison with unaffected controls, we found a significant reduction in the levels of HFM1 mRNA and protein expression in the testicular tissues from these two patients. The patients were also subjected to microTESE treatment, but the sperms could not be retrieved. Conclusions This study identified novel homozygous variants of HFM1 that are responsible for spermatogenic failure and NOA, and microTESE did not aid in retrieving sperms from these patients.

Detection Y Chromosome Microdeletions Among Iraq Population in Infertile Patients with Azoospermia and Severe Oligospermia

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (02) ◽  
Author(s):  
Samah A Hammood ◽  
Alaauldeen S M AL-Sallami ◽  
Saleh M Al-Khafaji
Keyword(s):  
Y Chromosome ◽  
Karyotype Analysis ◽  
Semen Analysis ◽  
Obstructive Azoospermia ◽  
Severe Oligozoospermia ◽  
Infertile Men ◽  
Y Chromosome Microdeletions ◽  
Detailed Evaluation ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Infertile Patients

Objective: To detection of microdeletions of Y chromosome and study the frequency of microdeletions in infertile men with non-obstructive azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia(Middle Euphrates center)in Iraq population. Material and methods: 153 males were included in the study, the casesweredivided into groups according to the infertility etiology and semen analysis according to Word health organization, the frequencies and the characteristicsof Y chromosome microdeletions were investigated in groups. Multiplex PCR was applied to detect the microdeletions. Results:Y chromosome microdeletion was detected in 42 (40.7%) of 153 cases ,Microdeletions in azoospermia showed more frequently detected 28 (52.8%), followed by severe oligospermia 14 (28 %),Microdeletions in the AZFc region were the most common 12 (22.64%), followed by AZFb 11(20.75%) and AZFa 5(9.43%) in azoospermia compared to severe oligospermisAZFc 6 (12%) AZFb 4 (8 %) and AZFa 4 (8%). Conclusion: Y chromosome microdeletions were detected quite frequently in certain infertility subgroups. Therefore, detailed evaluation of an infertile man by physical examination, semen analysis, hormonal evaluationsand when required, karyotype analysis may predict the patients for whom Y chromosome microdeletionanalysis is necessary and also prevent cost increases. Recommendation: This study emphasizes that analysis of microdeletions should be carried out for all patients with idiopathic azoospermia and severe oligospermia who are candidates for intracytoplasmic sperm injection

Molecular Evaluation of MicroRNA-146 Gene Variability (rs2910164 C> G) and its Association with Increased Susceptibility to Coronary Artery Disease

MicroRNA ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 09 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rashid Mir ◽  
Imadeldin Elfaki ◽  
Chandan k Jha ◽  
Jamsheed Javid ◽  
Suriya Rehman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coronary Artery Disease ◽  
Coronary Artery ◽  
Genetic Factors ◽  
Mirna Gene ◽  
Amplification Refractory Mutation System ◽  
Coronary Artery Diseases ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Inheritance Model ◽  
Artery Disease ◽  
Increased Susceptibility

Aim: Apart from the modifiable risk factors, genetic factors are believed to also influence the outcome of the coronary artery diseases (CAD). Under the genetic factors, miRNA polymorphisms, namely Hsa-miR-146a-5p (rs2910164) have become an important tool to study the mechanism that underlies the pathogenesis of this disease. Therefore, we investigated the association of miR-146a gene variations with susceptibility of coronary artery diseases. Methodology: This study was conducted on 100 CAD patients and 117 matched healthy individuals. Genotyping of the Hsa-miR-146a-5p C>G gene variation was performed by using amplification refractory mutation system PCR method (ARMS-PCR). Results: The distribution of Hsa-miR-146a-5p rs2910164 C>G genotypes observed between patients and controls was significantly different (P=0.048). Moreover, the frequency of G allele (fG) was found to be significantly higher among patients than in controls (0.36 vs. 0.25). Our findings showed that the Hsa-miR-146a-5p C>G variant was associated with an increased risk of CAD in codominant inheritance model CC vs. CG genotype (OR = 1.84, 95 % CI, 1.02-3.31; p=0.040) and (OR = 3.18, 95 % CI, 1.02-9.9; p=0.045) for CC vs. GG genotype in dominant inheritance model. Whereas the G allele significantly increased the risk of coronary artery disease (OR =1,81, 95 % CI, 1.18-2.78; p=0.006) compared to C allele. Taken together, these results demonstrated that miR-146a/rs2910164 is associated with susceptibility to coronary artery disease, providing novel insights into the genetic etiology and underlying biology of coronary artery disease. Conclusion: Our findings indicated that Hsa-miR-146a-5p rs2910164 GG genotype and G allele are associated with an increased susceptibility to Coronary Artery Disease. A larger sample size can be the key to progress in establishing the genetic co-relation of miRNA gene polymorphisms and cardiovascular diseases.

scholarly journals Actionable and incidental neuroradiological findings in twins with neurodevelopmental disorders

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynnea Myers ◽  
Mai-Lan Ho ◽  
Elodie Cauvet ◽  
Karl Lundin ◽  
Torkel Carlsson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neurodevelopmental Disorders ◽  
Copy Number Variants ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Molecular Signaling ◽  
Mri Findings ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Mri ◽  
Morphological Variants

AbstractWhile previous research has investigated neuroradiological findings in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the entire range of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) has not yet been well-studied using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Considering the overlap among NDDs and simultaneous development of the brain and face, guided by molecular signaling, we examined the relationship of actionable and incidental (non-actionable) MRI findings and NDD diagnoses together with facial morphological variants and genetic copy number variants (CNVs). A cross-sectional study was conducted with a twin cohort 8–36 years of age (57% monozygotic, 40% dizygotic), including 372 subjects (46% with NDDs; 47% female) imaged by MRI, 280 with data for facial morphological variants, and 183 for CNVs. Fifty-one percent of participants had MRI findings. Males had a statistically significantly higher percentage of MRI findings (57.7%) compared with females (43.8%, p = 0.03). Twin zygosity was not statistically significantly correlated with incidence or severity of specific MRI findings. No statistically significant association was found between MRI findings and any NDD diagnosis or facial morphological variants; however, MRI findings were statistically significantly associated with the number of CNVs (OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.00–1.44, p = 0.05, adjusted OR for sex 1.24, 95% CI 1.03–1.50, p = 0.02). When combining the presence of MRI findings, facial morphological variants, and CNVs, statistically significant relationships were found with ASD and ADHD diagnoses (p = 0.0006 and p = 0.002, respectively). The results of this study demonstrate that the ability to identify NDDs from combined radiology, morphology, and CNV assessments may be possible. Additionally, twins do not appear to be at increased risk for neuroradiological variants.

scholarly journals Occupational hazard exposure and general health profile of welders in rural Delhi

2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanu Anand ◽  
Jugal Kishore ◽  
TorErik Danielsen ◽  
GopalKrishna Ingle ◽  
Anuradha Chauhan
Keyword(s):  
General Health ◽  
Health Profile ◽  
Occupational Hazard ◽  
Hazard Exposure

Genetic and environmental influences on psychological distress in the population: General Health Questionnaire analyses in UK twins

2003 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 793-801 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. V. RIJSDIJK ◽  
H. SNIEDER ◽  
J. ORMEL ◽  
P. SHAM ◽  
D. P. GOLDBERG ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Control ◽  
General Health ◽  
Genetic Factors ◽  
General Health Questionnaire ◽  
Model Fitting ◽  
Regression Method ◽  
Health Questionnaire ◽  
Twin Data ◽  
Score Distribution ◽  
Shared Genetic

Background. The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) is the most popular screening instrument for detecting psychiatric disorders in community samples. Using longitudinal data of a large sample of UK twin pairs, we explored (i) heritabilities of the four scales and the total score; (ii) the genetic stability over time; and (iii) the existence of differential heritable influences at the high (ill) and low (healthy) tail of the distribution.Method. At baseline we assessed the GHQ in 627 MZ and 1323 DZ female pairs and at a second occasion (3·5 years later) for a small subsample (90 MZ and 270 DZ pairs). Liability threshold models and raw ordinal maximum likelihood were used to estimate twin correlations and to fit longitudinal genetic models. We estimated extreme group heritabilities of the GHQ distribution by using a model-fitting implementation of the DeFries–Fulker regression method for selected twin data.Results. Heritabilities for Somatic Symptoms, Anxiety, Social Dysfunction, Depression and total score were 0·37, 0·40, 0·20, 0·42 and 0·44, respectively. The contribution of shared genetic factors to the correlations between time points is substantial for the total score (73%). Group heritabilities of 0·48 and 0·43 were estimated for the top and bottom 10% of the total GHQ score distribution, respectively.Conclusion. The overall heritability of the GHQ as a measure of psychosocial distress was substantial (44%), with all scales having significant additive genetic influences that persisted across time periods. Extreme group analyses suggest that the genetic control of resilience is as important as the genetic control of vulnerability.

scholarly journals Vulnerability in the elderly

2021 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 62-67
Author(s):  
Ana Popescu ◽  
◽  
Gabriela Soric ◽  
Victoria Federiuc ◽  
Vitalie Ojovanu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Factors ◽  
Functional Decline ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Important Target ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Assessment Measures ◽  
Cognitive Problems

Background: Aging process involves an increased risk for the development of vulnerability, because senescence is a process characterized by a multitude of changes that influence the living conditions and health of the individuals. In geriatrics, the term “vulnerability” implies a multidimensional aspect, among which, multimorbidity, functional incapacity, socio-economic and cognitive problems in the elderly. The main objective of the article is to systematize data from the literature through the analysis of the concept and prevalence of vulnerability, assessed by the score Vulnerable Elders Survey-13 (VES-13) in the elderly. For this purpose, publications from the database GoogleSearch, PubMed, Hinari, etc. were analyzed. The information was systematized, highlighting the main aspects of the contemporary vision of the last 5 years.A series of studies (USA, Brazil, etc.) revealed a high prevalence of vulnerability in the elderly according to the VES-13 score, it was estimated in respondents aged > 65 years, between 40-50% of cases were vulnerable people, with a score ≥ 3 p. The vulnerability of the elderly results from different conditions, correlated with each other, especially biological, social and genetic factors. There was a functional decline between 13 and 24% of cases, especially in the elderly over 75 years, and an association with health problems, mobility and low autonomy in over 50% of cases, with a poor quality of life and increased risk of institutionalization. Conclusions: Vulnerability assessment measures are important for identifying older people at high risk of deteriorating health, which is an important target for interdisciplinary intervention.

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