Relationship between age and prostate size

In a community-based study, the relationship between age and human prostate size was investigated in a population of men between the ages of 40 and 70 years to determine the normal prostate increase curve equation. One thousand male volunteers were randomly recruited from the Shanghai community, and the length, width, height, volume of the transition zone （TZ） and the whole prostates were measured by transrectal ultrasound （TRUS）. Each volunteer was evaluated bythe International Prostate Symptom Score （IPSS）. Among those who completed the examination, the mean prostate parameters were all positively associated with increased age. There were statistically significant differences between each age group （P〈O.05）. The mean transition zone volume （TZV） had a higher increase rate with age than the mean total prostate volume （TPV）, indicating that the enlargement of the TZ contributed the most to the increase in TPV. While all prostate parameters were positively correlated with the IPSS, the strongest correlation was associated with the TZ length （TZL） and TZV. The growth curve equations for prostate width, height and length were also positively associated with increasing

Association of symptomatic late-onset hypogonadism and lower urinary tract symptoms in aging males: a community-based study

Objective:Testosterone deficiency may be a risk factor for lower urinary tract symptoms(LUTS),and there may be a causal ink between the emergence of LUTS and the incidence of late-onset hypogonadism(LOH).We perfomed an epidemiologic study to investigate the association between symptomatic late-onset hypogonadism(SLOH)and LUTS in middle-aged and elderly rural Chinese males.Methods:A total of 965 men completed a questionnaire and underwent a detailed physical examination.The Aging Males'Symptoms(AMS)scale was used to assess SLOH,and the International Prostate Symptom Score(IPSS)questionnaire was used to assess LUTS.Serum reproductive hormone levels of testosterone,sex hormone-binding globulin(SHBG)and luteinizing hormone(LH)were measured.Results:A total of 965 males(mean age:56.34±8.85,range:40-80 years)were recruited for the present study.A total of 20.93%(202/965)were diagnosed with SLOH.A total of 93.16%(899/965)had mild LUTS,5.18%(50/965)had moderate LUTS,and 1.66%(16/965)had severe LUTS.Among SLOH patients,13.40%(27/202)and 3.90%(8/202)had moderate and severe LUTS,respectively.Patients with severe LUTS had increased SHBG and LH compared with those with mild and moderate LUTS(P<0.01).Correlation analysis revealed that the AMS total score was positively correlated with the IPSS score(P<0.05).The prevalence of SLOH was significantly increased with LUTS severity In addition to the known effect of age,the results of mutiple regression analysis also showed that serum LH or SHBG appeared to have a weak link with SLOH and LUTS that requires etiological and biological clarification in our future study.Conclusion:In this cross-sectional analysis of SLOH and LUTS,LUTS severity was significantly associated with hypogonadism symptoms.Additionally,the prevalence of SLOH advanced with increasing LUTS severity.Serum SHBG or LH showed a positive correlation with SLOH and LUTS.

Seminal plasma miR-192a： a biomarker predicting successful resolution of nonobstructive azoospermia following varicocele repair

This study was performed to investigate a potential marker for the presence of spermatozoa in the ejaculate following varicocelectomy in Chinese men with nonobstructive azoospermia and varicoceles. The micro-RNA （miR）-192a levels in seminal plasma and testicular tissue were evaluated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction from 60 men with nonobstructive azoospermia and varicoceles （Group A： 27 men with spermatozoa found in the ejaculate after surgery; Group B： 33 men without spermatozoa found in the ejaculate after surgery） and 30 controls. The seminal plasma and testicular tissue miR-192a levels were higher in Group B than in Group A and the controls （P〈 0.001）, and there was no significant difference between Group A and the controls （P〉 0.05）. Apoptosis and proliferation assays with miR mimics and inhibitors showed that miR-192a induced GC-2 cell apoptosis through the activation of Caspase-3 protein. Thus, seminal plasma miR-192a appears to be a potential marker for successfully indicating spermatozoa in the ejaculate following microsurgical varicocelectomy in men with nonobstructive azoospermia and varicoceles. Seminal plasma miR-192a may be a useful clinical marker for prescreening to determine which patients with nonobstructive azoospermia and varicoceles would benefit from varicocelectomy.

Evaluation of inactivated COVID-19 vaccine on semen parameters in reproductive-age males:a retrospective cohort study

During the coronavirus disease(COVID-19)epidemic,there have been concerns about the impact of vaccines on people’s fertility,including the fertility of those who are currently preparing for pregnancy and those who might become pregnant in future.However,there is still a lack of research on the effect of the COVID-19 vaccine on male fertility,and it is not surprising that couples and donors have concerns regarding vaccination.In this study,a retrospective cohort study was conducted to examine semen quality before and after receipt of the inactivated COVID-19 vaccine.There were no statistically significant changes in semen parameters(volume,sperm concentration,progressive motility,and total progressive motile count)after two doses of vaccine(all P>0.05).In summary,our study updates the most recent studies on the effects of the COVID-19 vaccine on male fertility,and the information from this study could be used to guide fertility recommendations for assisted reproductive technology(ART)patients and donors.

The Association between Interpersonal Relationship and Erectile Dysfunction of Middle-Aged and Elderly Men in a Rural Area of Zhejiang,China

Objective:To explore the association between interpersonal relationship and erectile dysfunction(ED)of middle-aged and elderly men.Methods:A population-based cross-sectional research was conducted in the rural area of Jiashan County,Zhejiang Province,in 2016.Middle-aged and elderly men(aged 40-80)were selected as study participants.The face-to-face questionnaire was collected,including basic information,lifestyles,interpersonal relationship,and sexual function.The interpersonal relationship was evaluated based on marital relationship,neighborhood relationship,and relatives/friends relationship.According to the International index of erectile function,the study participants were divided into ED group(mild ED,moderate-to-severe ED),and non-ED group.Correlations were evaluated between interpersonal relationship indices and the prevalence or the severity of ED.Potential confounders were adjusted by the logistical regression model.Results:There were 674 study participants with average age of 60.4±8.5 years,and 489 ED patients with prevalence of 72.6%.With age increasing,the prevalence and the severity of ED increased significantly.The men who could get help from spouse when an emergency occurred or who were more cared about by their neighbors had lower ED risk,and odds ratios(ORs)(95%confidence intervals[CIs])were 0.23(0.13-0.42)and 0.58(0.46-0.75),respectively.After the adjustment of the covariates(age,education degree,household income,smoking,and drinking),the ORs(95%CIs)were 0.29(0.14-0.60)and 0.54(0.39-0.74),respectively.Good marital relationship and good neighborhood relationship were associated with a less severity of ED.

Sperm Donors in Shanghai,China:A Study of Motivations,Characteristics,and Semen Parameters of Actual Sperm Donors

Objective:To identify the sociodemographic characteristics,motivations,and semen parameters of sperm donors in Shanghai,China.Methods:The participants were sperm donors associated with the Human Sperm Bank of Fudan University in Shanghai,China.Among the 334 sperm donors that applied for participation,329 completed the survey process.The responses obtained in the questionnaire and face-to-face interviews were used to investigate the donor motivations and characteristics,and the semen quality was examined to identify the sperm parameter.Results:In terms of the sociodemographic characteristics,an altruistic donor in this study was aged between 26 and 30 years,was single,did not have a child,had a college or undergraduate education level,was of the Han ethnicity,and worked full time.The strongest motivation highlighted by sperm donors was a donation for altruistic(26.4%,n=87)reasons.The second-highest rated motivation was curiosity(20.7%,n=68),followed by a desire to procreate(17.9%,n=59)."Complimentary body checks"(14.3%,n=47)and"financial incentives"(14.7%,n=47)were regarded as less important.The average semen parameters of the 329 donors were as follows:the semen volume was 3.39±1.21 mL,the semen concentration was 82.75×10^(6)/mL,the progressive motility rate(PR%)was 63.77%±3.13%,the total motility rate was 66.26%,the total progressive motile count was 158.31%±54.43×10^(6)/mL,and the round cell concentration was 0.38±0.51×10^(6)/mL.The PR%of the procreation motivation group was significantly higher than that of the other motivation groups(P<0.05).Conclusions:Sperm donors in Shanghai,China,are altruistic about their donation,although curiosity is also a key motivator.In addition,the decisions of donors are culturally influenced,and the motivation to procreate may influence the PR%.