Epidemiological and Clinical Aspects of Male Infertility in Patients Consulting at the Urology Department of the Yaounde Central Hospital

Introduction: About 10 to 15% of couples in the world and 20 to 30% in Cameroon consult for infertility problems. Infertility is of male origin in 40% of cases. Our objective was to evaluate the epidemiological and clinical aspects of male infertility in our setting. Methods: This was a cross-sectional and descriptive study, with retrospective data collection from the files of patients received for male infertility, over 5 years and 6 months (from January 1st, 2016 to April 30th, 2021) at the Urology Department of the Yaounde Central Hospital. Phone calls were made to patients with incomplete records for completion following a verbal consent. Data reported on data collection forms were entered into a data entry form designed on CSPro software version 7.2. The database was later exported for descriptive statistics using the IBM SPSS software version 23. Qualitative variables were summarized in frequencies and percentages while quantitative variables were summarized in means with their standard deviations for normally distributed data, or medians and interquartile ranges otherwise. Results: Out of 110 patients whose records were analyzed, the median age was 37.0 years, with an interquartile range of 8.3, with 55.5% in the age group 30 to 39 years. Of these 95 (86.4%) were married, 58 (52.7%) were from the West region, 76 (69.1%) were employed. Past history was dominated by mumps 40 (36.4%), varicocele surgery 25 (22.7%), alcoholism 87 (79.1%) and smoking 15 (13.6%). A disorder of spermatogenesis was found in all our patients: 37 (33.6%) azoospermia, 27 (24.6%) asthenospermia and 26 (23.7%) oligospermia patients. Paraclinical evidence of chlamydia and gonococcal infections were found respectively in 38 (34.5%) and 14 (12.7%) patients, varicocele and testicular dystrophy respectively in 95 (86.4%) and 38 (34.5%) patients. Infertility was primary in 67 (60.9%) patients. Conclusion: Most patients with infertility were in their thirties, had risky social habits and comorbidities. An early start of health promotion activities, comorbidities prevention and early detection of spermogram abnormalities would make it possible to reduce the frequency of male infertility.

Long Term Administration of Lannea acida Rich. (Anacardiaceae) Reverses the Imidacloprid-Induced Fertility Impairments in Adult Male Rat through Androgenic and Antioxidant Properties

Aim: The harmful effects of pesticides have been largely documented in recent times. But effective therapeutic solutions to pesticide related male infertility are yet to be established. This study investigated the curative effects of Lannea acida on imidacloprid (IMI)-induced hypofertility in male Wistar rats. Methods: Rats of 150 – 200 g were administered IMI (22.5 mg/kg) for two weeks and partitioned into control (distilled water, vitamin E, clomiphene citrate) or test (aqueous (340 mg/kg), methanol (170 mg/kg) extract) groups for eight weeks treatment. Animals were sacrificed at the end of the treatment and samples were collected for sperm, antioxidant and hormonal analysis. Fertility tests were performed from treatment day 47 for fertility indices estimation. Results were expressed as mean ± SEM and one way ANOVA was applied using STATISTICA Software. Results: Exposition to IMI resulted in a significant decrease in sperm count, motility, viability and normality, testosterone and LH, coupled to an increase in oxidative stress markers. Moreover, IMI impaired male fertility evidenced by a significant drop in fertility index and litter size. Similar to clomiphene citrate and vitamin E, plant extracts significantly improved the sperm parameters, sexual hormones and decreased the oxidative stress markers. More importantly, the fertility index and litter size were restored, especially with the aqueous extract. Conclusion: Present results indicate that L. acida possesses curative potentials against IMI-induced hypofertility through its androgenic and antioxidant properties. However, the effects the extract on spermatozoa DNA structure and the fertility of offsprings from exposed parents are yet to be studied to conclude on total recovery from IMI toxicity.

Spermotrend Improves Semen Quality and Infertility in Men with Varicocele —Spermotrend and Male Infertility

Background: Infertility affects 8% - 12% of couples globally, with approximately half of the cases reported in males. Oxidative stress is a common factor increased in the varicocele condition and particularly affects spermatozoa, due to their sensitivity to oxidative signals and testicular hypotrophy. The objective of this clinical trial is to study the effectiveness of Spermotrend in the improvement of sperm parameters in male infertility. Methods: A total of 170 males aged > 18 years with a diagnosis of infertility and varicocele were consecutively enrolled in a Phase II, open-label clinical trial. Spermotrend was administered 1 capsule (450 mg) orally every 8 hours for 6 months and was evaluated through semen analysis at 4 and 6 months of follow-up. Results: The trial results show a significant improvement following the administration of Spermotrend over 6 months in sperm concentration (44.1% at baseline vs. 64.1% at 6 months), sperm survival (28.2% with sperm survival ≥ 2 hours vs.56.5%), normalization of sperm morphology (31.2% vs. 72.9%). Varicocele condition decreased in all patients and, by the end of the study, 55.3% of patients had normal venous flow and dilation. Only 5.9% of the patients showed grade 2 varicocele at the end of the study, while 38.8% showed grade 1 varicocele, with no patients showing grade 3 varicocele. Regarding testicular hypotrophy, 90.6% of the patients completed the study with normalized testicular volume by recovering normal venous flow. Conclusion: A short-term course of Spermotrend may significantly improve sperm parameters associated with male infertility. Clinical Trial Registration: The clinical trial protocol was registered in the international clinical trial registry, ClinicalTrials.gov, with the code: NCT05222841 on 15/06/2021.

Advances in DNA methylation and its role in cytoplasmic male sterility in higher plants

The impact of epigenetic modifications like DNA methylation on plant phenotypes has expanded the possibilities for crop development.DNA methylation plays a part in the regulation of both the chromatin structure and gene expression,and the enzyme involved,DNA methyltransferase,executes the methylation process within the plant genome.By regulating crucial biological pathways,epigenetic changes actively contribute to the creation of the phenotype.Therefore,epigenome editing may assist in overcoming some of the drawbacks of genome editing,which can have minor off-target consequences and merely facilitate the loss of a gene’s function.These drawbacks include gene knockout,which can have such off-target effects.This review provides examples of several molecular characteristics of DNA methylation,as well as some plant physiological processes that are impacted by these epigenetic changes in the plants.We also discuss how DNA alterations might be used to improve crops and meet the demands of sustainable and environmentally-friendly farming.

Granulomatous mastitis in a 50-year-old male:A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND Granulomatous mastitis(GM)an inflammatory disease of the breast that usually affects women of childbearing age,occurs very rarely in males.CASE SUMMARY We present a case study of a 50-year-old male patient with GM.The patient developed a breast lump following the cleaning of a previously embedded dirtfilled nipple.While an initial improvement was noted with antibiotic therapy,a recurrence occurred a year later,showing resistance to the previously effective antibiotics.Subsequently,the lesion was excised.The histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of GM.CONCLUSION GM should be considered a possible diagnosis of male breast masses.

Pro-fertility effect of Ficus carica fruit extract in streptozotocin-induced male rats

Objective:To explore the impact of Ficus carica fruit aqueous extract on fertility parameters in streptozotocin(STZ)-induced male rats.Methods:Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four different groups.All groups except a normal control group were induced with 50 mg/kg of streptozotocin(STZ)intravenously to induce diabetes.A positive control group was treated with an antidiabetic drug,metformin(500 mg/kg)whereas a negative control group remained untreated throughout the experiment.Meanwhile,another diabetic rat group received treatment with 400 mg/kg of aqueous Ficus carica fruit extract.Rats in the treatment group were administered Ficus carica fruit aqueous extract daily through forcefeeding via oral gavage for a 21-day period.Assessments included the sperm quality(count,motility and morphology),histology of the testes,serum testosterone and fasting blood glucose(FBG)level.Results:The FBG level of the Ficus carica-treated rats exhibited a significant decrease compared to the negative control group(P<0.05).Sperm quality analysis also indicated that the aqueous Ficus carica extract had significant positive effects on sperm count and motility(P<0.05).The histology of the testes in Ficus caricatreated rats revealed an improved cell arrangement in the germinal cell layer.Furthermore,serum testosterone level showed an increment in the Ficus carica treatment group in comparison to the negative control group.Conclusions:Our findings provide compelling evidence for the profertility and anti-hyperglycemic properties of aqueous Ficus carica fruit extract in diabetic-induced male rats.

Body Contour in the Post-Bariatric Male Patient

Background: Obesity is currently considered a public health problem. Bariatric procedures have become an important part of obesity management and, consequently, the number of male patients seeking post-bariatric reconstructive procedures have increased. Therefore, the clinical approach and understanding of the body contour of this population have become more relevant. The goal of post-bariatric reconstruction is to enhance the male silhouette through removal of skin and adipose tissue excess, and abdominal rectus diastasis repair. Material and Methods: We conducted a retrospective study at the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department of the National Medical Center “20 de Noviembre”. All male patients referred to our department to start a post-bariatric reconstruction protocol from January 2018 to December 2022 were included in this study. Results: In total, 15 patients who underwent corporal contouring procedures were included;median age was 49.2 years with minimum of 33 years, and a maximum of 57 years. Median Body mass index was 28.4 kg/m2 with minimum of 22 kg/m2 and maximum of 38 kg/m2. All patients were treated 18 months after their bariatric surgery. All patients underwent an abdominoplasty as a body contouring procedure. 4 (26.7%) patients presented complications related to the surgery. Conclusion: We described a comprehensive and systematic approach to massive weight loss for male patients, suggesting an abdominal marking based on the patient’s clinical features and the expected results avoiding feminization of the abdominal body contour.

Geographic Differences in Allometric Patterns of Males of the Japanese Firefly Luciola parvula

It has been well known for many years that males of Luciola parvula (Coleoptera, Lampyridae) have two morphs, namely small and large morphs in Japan. This article performed a statistical reanalysis of their morphological measurements based on previously published data and compared them. As a result, the two morphs were found to have different allometric patterns in the Hakone and Nagano areas, Japan. In Hakone, the relationships between their pronotum width and length were expressed by a common allometric line and a shift in location along the line. However, in Nagano, the relationships between their pronotum width and body length were expressed by two parallel allometric lines (a common slope and different intercepts). The allometric pattern of males of this species may vary among different parts of the body or among different areas. Therefore, this article recommends future studies to measure the same parts of the body as previous studies to clarify geographic variation in allometric relationships.

Re-Densification Effect of Pressure-Injected Peptide-Hyaluronic Acid Combination on Male Androgenic Alopecia

Introduction: Mechanism of male androgenic alopecia (MAGA) is complex and leads to an excessive hair shedding and decreased hair density. Oral, topical, and injectable autologous treatments demonstrate ability to stimulate hair re-growth, but the response is suboptimal or plateaus off. Synthetic combination of the peptide complex and hyaluronic acid (P-HA) demonstrated hair regrowth in alopecia patients. Electronically-operated pneumatic injections (EPI) generate micro-trauma in the dermis and under wound-healing conditions may enhance regeneration effect of P-HA. Methods: Subjects seeking improvement of their male pattern hair loss (Hamilton-Norwood type 2-4) received the P-HA treatments through EPI. The course included 4 treatments every two weeks over the 8-week period. In 6 months, the hair growth was assessed comparative to baseline by global clinical photography and digital phototrichograms. The treatment safety and tolerability were documented through the whole study period. Results: Twelve men (30-45 years old) completed the treatment course with high tolerability and without adverse events. Post-treatment assessment of the previously bald areas showed improved coverage on the clinical photographs. The phototrichograms demonstrated statistically significant increase in terminal hair density by 36%, cumulative hair thickness by 37%, and follicular units by 20%;all contributing to a 38% increase in cumulated hair density (all p Conclusion: Electronic pneumatic injections are well tolerated and can be safely used for the needle-free administration of the peptide-hyaluronic acid combination in MAGA therapy. We achieved significant hair re-densification in the balding scalp. The exact role of the EPI-induced impact in the hair re-growth mechanism remains to be ascertained. .

Management of male obesity-related secondary hypogonadism:A clinical update

The global obesity pandemic has resulted in a rise in the prevalence of male obesity-related secondary hypogonadism(MOSH)with emerging evidence on the role of testosterone therapy.We aim to provide an updated and practical approach towards its management.We did a comprehensive literature search across MEDLINE(via PubMed),Scopus,and Google Scholar databases using the keywords“MOSH”OR“Obesity-related hypogonadism”OR“Testosterone replacement therapy”OR“Selective estrogen receptor modulator”OR“SERM”OR“Guidelines on male hypogonadism”as well as a manual search of references within the articles.A narrative review based on available evidence,recommendations and their practical implications was done.Although weight loss is the ideal therapeutic strategy for patients with MOSH,achievement of significant weight reduction is usually difficult with lifestyle changes alone in real-world practice.Therefore,androgen administration is often necessary in the management of hypogonadism in patients with MOSH which also improves many other comorbidities related to obesity.However,there is conflicting evidence for the appropriate use of testosterone replacement therapy(TRT),and it can also be associated with complications.This evidence-based review updates the available evidence including the very recently published results of the TRAVERSE trial and provides comprehensive clinical practice pearls for the management of patients with MOSH.Before starting testosterone replacement in functional hypogonadism of obesity,it would be desirable to initiate lifestyle modification to ensure weight reduction.TRT should be coupled with the management of other comorbidities related to obesity in MOSH patients.Balancing the risks and benefits of TRT should be considered in every patient before and during longterm management.

Female Warriors in the MCU and Wuxia Films:A Comparative Study

This essay offers a comprehensive comparative analysis of female warriors in the Marvel Cinematic Universe(MCU)and Wuxia films.Both genres portray powerful and empowered female characters who defy societal expectations and embody resilience,effectively challenging gender norms and promoting female empowerment.However,despite their strength,many of these women warriors face certain narrative factors,such as the male gaze and a predetermined fate,which can restrict their agency and curtail their full potential.And it is within the realm of Wuxia films that the captivating element of cross-dressing among female warriors emerges,providing a nuanced exploration of identity and the constraints imposed by society.

Genomic Instability Is a Mechanism for Diminished Male Fertility Following Chronic Dichlorvos Exposure

Background and Objectives: Chronic low-dose exposure to dichlorvos occurs in communities in Africa where the substance is used indiscriminately for a variety of purposes. This experiment used an animal model to evaluate genomic instability induced by this pattern of chronic exposure and its relationship with some measures of fertility in males. Methods: Seventy-five male Rattus norvegicus rats obtained for this experiment, were randomly allotted into five groups. Dichlorvos was given by oral gavage at doses of 0.28 mg/kg, 0.56 mg/kg and, 1.68 mg/kg, respectively, to three of the groups, on alternate days for 50 weeks. The remaining two groups received plain drinking water and cyclophosphamide as negative and positive controls, respectively. Samples were collected at 17, 34, and 50 weeks. Sperm count, sperm morphology and serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, dihydrotestosterone, oestrogen and progesterone were determined. Furthermore, the frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes was determined in bone marrow cells obtained from the femur. Results: The mean ranks of micronuclei frequency had an increasing trend. The frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MnPCE) had a significant negative correlation with oestrogen (rs = -0.47, p = 0.00, n = 50), follicle-stimulating hormone (rs = -0.41, p = 0.00, n = 50) and progesterone (rs = -0.37, p = 0.01, n = 50) serum levels. A positive monotonic relationship also existed between micronuclei frequency and those of tubular necrosis, tubular vacuolation, and residual bodies. A positive significant moderate correlation was found between MnPCE and the proportion of immotile sperms (rs = 0.41, p = 0.00, n = 50). Conclusion: The nature of the correlations between micronuclei frequency and the proportion of immotile sperms, adverse histological changes and serum hormone levels found in this study suggest genomic instability as the possible mechanism for diminished fertility in males chronically exposed to dichlorvos.

Diagnosis of Male Hypogonadism: Experience of a Subsaharan African Endocrinology Department: Transversal Study from January 1st, 2020 to July 31st, 2022

Introduction: Hypogonadism should be suspected in a man who has symptoms and signs of testosterone deficiency. Clinical manifestations depend on the severity and duration of testosterone deficiency, whether the testicular deficit is concerning only androgen synthesis, spermatogenesis, or both. The objective of our study was to evaluate the clinical and aetiological characteristics of male hypogonadism in Dakar’s suburb. Patients and methods: We conducted a transversal study from January 1st, 2020 to July 31st, 2022. We included all male patients aged at least 14 years old with hypogonadism confirmed by a low level of early-morning free testosterone based on two different dosages. For all patients included, sociodemographic and diagnostic parameters were collected by using a pre-established registration form. Results: In total, 20 patients were selected. The average age was 36.3 years old [14 - 62 years old]. Half of the patients were overweight. Five patients had an abdominal circumference greater than 94 cm (37 inches). The other comorbidities found in our patients were type 2 diabetes (n = 1), hypertension (n = 1) and primary hypercholesterolemia in 2 patients. The functional signs reported by the patients were: couple’s infertility in 17 patients, decreased libido in 14 patients, erectile dysfunction in 13 patients, premature ejaculation in 2 patients and anejaculation in 4 patients. The physical examination revealed a bilateral testicular atrophy in 17 patients and a unilateral testicular atrophy in 2 patients;no patient had varicocele or urethral meatus abnormalities. Ten patients presented a micropenis. A eunuchoid morphotype was present in 6 patients and a short stature was noted in 2 patients. It was peripheral hypogonadism (HH) in 18 patients and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (Hh) in 2 patients. The hypogonadotropic hypogonadism was isolated in both cases. The testicular echography confirmed testicular atrophy and showed cryptorchidism in 5 patients. The pituitary MRI performed in 2 patients with Hh showed an aspect of empty sella turcica in one patient and was normal in the second patient. Conclusion: In our practice, the diagnosis of male hypogonadism is most often made in adulthood. The most usual clinical presentation is failure of pubertal sexual development associated or not with a eunuchoid morphotype. The anomalies of spermatogenesis are found in most patients. Infertility is the primary motive for consultation.

Meta-Analysis of the Clinical Efficacy of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Male Immune Infertility

Objective: Exploring the therapeutic effects of acupuncture for male immune infertility using Meta-analysis. Methods: The literature related to clinical randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on acupuncture for male immune infertility published from the establishment of the database (journal) to 2021 was searched for RR values or OR values and 95% CI as effect indicators. RevMan 5.3 software was applied for meta-analysis. Results: Acupuncture or combination of acupuncture and herbal medicine (hereafter referred to as acupuncture and medicine) or electro-acupuncture, the total effective rate was significantly better than the control group, and the difference was statistically significant [RR = 1.29, 95% CI (1.20, 1.38), p 0.00001];In addition, the efficiency of the combined acupuncture and medicine treatment was better than that of the herbal medicine group alone, and the difference was statistically significant [RR = 1.05, 95%, CI (0.94, 1.16), P = 0.42];The sperm viability in the combined acupuncture and medicine treatment group was significantly better than that in the herbal medicine treatment group alone, and the differences were all statistically significant [MD = 0.04, 95% CI (?0.20, 0.28), P0.74];Sperm forward motion was significantly better in the combination of acupuncture and medicine than in the herbal medicine alone group, and the differences were all statistically significant [MD = 0.66, 95% CI (?0.04, 1.36), P = 0.06];ACP indexes were significantly higher in the combination of acupuncture and medicine than in the herbal medicine alone group, with a statistically significant difference [MD = 20.47, 95% CI (?65.31, 106.25), P = 0.64];The AsAb content in the seminal plasma of either needle medicine or acupuncture was lower than in the homogeneous prednisone group, and the difference was statistically significant [MD = ?7.00, 95% CI (?11.19, ?2.81), P = 0.001];The index of AsAb content in the serum of either needle medicine or acupuncture was lower than that of prednisone group, and the difference was statistically significant [MD = ?5.00, 95% CI (?9.53, ?0.47), P = 0.03]. Conclusion: Based on current evidence, acupuncture is more effective than Western medicine (prednisone) alone in the treatment of male immune infertility, and is more effective when combined with Chinese medicine.

Integration of omics studies indicates that species-dependent molecular mechanisms govern male fertility

Background Comparative and comprehensive omics studies have recently been conducted to provide a comprehensive understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying infertility.However,because these huge omics datasets often contain irrelevant information,editing strategies for summarizing and filtering the data are necessary prerequisite steps for identifying biomarkers of male fertility.Here,we attempted to integrate omics data from spermatozoa with normal and below-normal fertility from boars and bulls,including transcriptomic,proteomic,and metabolomic data.Pathway enrichment analysis was conducted and visualized using g:Profiler,Cytoscape,EnrichmentMap,and AutoAnnotation to determine fertility-related biological functions according to species.Results In particular,gamete production and protein biogenesis-associated pathways were enriched in bull spermatozoa with below-normal fertility,whereas mitochondrial-associated metabolic pathways were enriched in boar spermatozoa with normal fertility.These results indicate that below-normal fertility may be determined by aberrant regulation of protein synthesis during spermatogenesis,and the modulation of reactive oxygen species generation to maintain capacitation and the acrosome reaction governs boar sperm fertility.Conclusion Overall,this approach demonstrated that distinct molecular pathways drive sperm fertility in mammals in a species-dependent manner.Moreover,we anticipate that searching for species-specific signaling pathways may aid in the discovery of fertility-related biomarkers within large omics datasets.

Epidemiology of Male Sexual Dysfunction (MSD) in Patients Consulting in Some Health Services in the City of Douala, Cameroon

Sexual dysfunction is a group of diseases, disorders or difficulties experienced by men or women during any stage of normal sexual activity. In Africa in general and Cameroon in particular, statistical data concerning the prevelance and the main causes of male sexual dysfunction are rare due to socio-cultural and religious burdens and sometimes self-medication. The objective of this work was to determine the prevalences, comorbidities and the risk factors of the main sexual dysfunction in some hospitals in city of Douala. Through a descriptive retrospective study carried out from Novembre 2019 to June 2021, sociodemographic parameter, reasons of consultation, risk factors and type of male sexual dysfunction (erectile dysfunction or erectile dysfunction (ED), ejaculation disorders (EjD), libido disorders (LD) and disorders of sexual activity with pain or painful sexual intercourse (PSI)) were collected in the medical files of patients who have made urological consultation between 2016 and 2020 at the Deido District hospital, Laquintinie Douala Hospital and Douala General hospital respectively. At the end of our data collection, out of a total of 24995 consultations, 2743 (10.98%) patients were suffering from at least one male sexual dysfunction. Moreover, sexual disorders were the 2nd reason of urological consultation (13.69%) after urinary disorders (33.85%). Among sexual disorders, erectile (76%) and ejaculatory (20%) disorders were the predominant pathologies recorded with the prevalences of 9.79 et 2.62% respectively, and were mostly represented in patients from [41 - 50] for erectile dysfunction, and [18 - 30] years old for ejaculative dysfunction. In addition, the number of patients with ejaculatory and erectile dysfunctions was more important in patients from [18 - 30] and [31 - 40] years old respectively. Among patients presenting sexual disorders, several risk factors or pathologies were associated with the dysfunction: benign prostatic hyperplasia and metabolic syndrome (in patients over 50 years old);psychosocial problems, infections, and alcohol (in patients under 50 years old). These findings could be useful in the elaboration of therapeutic strategies for the management of the Cameroonian population suffering from sexual dysfunctions.

Perception of Male Nursing Students about Their Maternity Clinical Practice: A Cross-Sectional Survey from a Nursing College

The aim of this study was to explore the perception of male nursing students’ experiences and challenges in maternity clinical practice. A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was used. The self-administered questionnaire included 18 items 5-point Likert scale to identify the challenges experienced by male nursing students in their maternity clinical practice, and 14 items to assess comfort level in performing procedures in maternity clinical areas. Participants were 93 male nursing students who had completed their maternity clinical posting in different maternity clinical areas as a part of their nursing program, at the College of Nursing, Kuwait. Results showed that male nursing students are not very keen on undergoing maternity clinical training (Chi-square analysis χ2 = 96.939;P χ2 = 108.638;P χ2 = 5.297;P = 0.021). In conclusion, this study showed that being treated differently and being refused to provide care to clients were the main challenges faced by male nursing students during their maternity practice. The participants had a strong belief that they will not be accepted by maternity clients because of the gender difference and cultural influence. There is a need to design strategies in both academic and clinical settings to overcome barriers to male nursing students’ engagement in the various maternity care areas. Our findings also indicate the need to embrace gender diversity in maternity clinical practice and call for professionalism, gender and cultural awareness creation, and advocacy.

Male Involvement in the Maternal Health Care: Expectations of Pregnant Women in Bolgatanga Municipality in the Upper East Region of Ghana

Background: Male involvement during pregnancy and childbirth is very important as it has been shown to increase the number of times a pregnant woman undertakes antenatal care visits before delivery. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a relationship between the background characteristics of participants and their male partners’ involvement in maternal health care in the Bolgatanga Municipality of Upper East Region. Methods: The study design employed was a facility-based cross-sectional study design in 9 health facilities in the Bolgatanga municipality. The study populations for this study consisted of pregnant women using antenatal services in the health facilities before the commencement of this current study and are residents of the Bolgatanga municipality. A multistage sampling strategy was used in the sampling of participants for this study with an estimated sample size of 422. Results: Findings show that the majority of 403 (95.5%) of the participants expect their male partner accompanies them during the antenatal care clinic. The chi-square test revealed that marital status had a significant influence on male partners’ support in house chore and support in antenatal care service (P-value of 0.001 and 0.002, Conclusion: This study’s findings showed that pregnant women always want their male partners to accompany them to antenatal care and during labour and delivery. The pregnant women expected their male partners to be educated on the effects of pregnancy, how to take care of a pregnant woman, how to tolerate their partners, Sex during pregnancy, and how to prepare for emergencies (blood donation, transportation and finance).

Male Urethral Stricture: Epidemiological, Clinical, and Therapeutic Aspects in Kara

Background: Urethral stricture is a pathology frequently encountered in urological practice. Management is often surgical, with possible recurrences. What about this pathology in Kara, a semi-urban city? Objective: Assess the management of male urethral stricture in Kara. Patients and Methods: This was a descriptive study with retrospective data collection. The study took place in the urology department of the teaching hospital of Kara, from December 2020 to December 2022. All cases of male urethral stricture, surgically treated at the teaching hospital of Kara, were listed. The inclusion criteria were as follows: any patient who had been treated surgically for male urethral stricture in the urology department of the teaching Hospital of Kara. The operating theater register and hospital records were used to collect the data. The diagnosis of urethral stricture had been made with retrograde urethrogram. A total of 24 patients were treated for male urethral stricture during the study period. The following variables were studied: age, reason for consultation, location, length, and etiology of the stricture;the type of treatment received: optical internal urethrotomy, or anastomotic urethroplasty, and the results. The result was considered good if, after removal of the urethral catheter, the patient regained his micturition without the need for dilatation;the result was considered average if, after removal of the urethral catheter, the patient needed one or more dilatation sessions to regain urination;the result was considered poor if, after removal of the catheter, the patient did not regain good micturition despite the urethral dilatation sessions. Microsoft excel and epi info 7 software were used for data processing. Results: The average age of our patients was 43.7 years ± 10.18 with extremes ranging from 27 to 70 years. The most represented age groups were that of 40 to 50 years, with 37.5% of cases;and that of 30 to 40 years with 33.3% of cases. The patients had consulted for urine retention in 66.6% of cases;the location of urethral stricture was bulbar in 45.8% of cases. The most found etiology was infectious in 58.3% of cases. Among our patients, 58.3% had received optical internal urethrotomy as treatment, while 41.6% of our patients had received anastomotic urethroplasty as treatment. Postoperatively, after removal of the urinary catheter, 87.5% of patients had benefited from one or repeated dilatation. In terms of results, we had a good result in 20.8% of patients;the result was average in 45.8% of patients, and poor in 33.3% of patients. The average duration of follow-up was 14.3 +/- 7.2 months (3-27). Conclusion: Male urethral stricture mainly affects young adults in Kara. Surgical management is done by optical internal urethrotomy and/or anastomotic urethroplasty.

The Impact of Body Mass on Male Fertility in a Cohort of 127 Patients

Background: Aromatase and leptin are two adipose tissue cytokines. The former converts androgens into estrogens and stimulates adipogenesis. The latter cannot fully stimulate GnRH release as its hypothalamic receptors are reduced in obese men. Thus, obesity which is associated with an adipose tissue increment can interfere with male fertility. Objective: We aim to study the correlation between the body mass index (BMI) of an individual and the quality of semen he produces. Patients and Method: By means of the software R 4.2.1 we performed a retrospective analysis of the relationship between the BMI and the semen alterations in the patients managed at the former Military Teaching Hospital of Cotonou from October 1, 2017, to September 30, 2022: a bi-varied analysis and Fischer’s exact test (significance threshold 5%, confidence interval 95%) followed by a logistic regression when a non-significant p-value is below 0.20. Results: 127 males managed for infertility (mean age = 36.2 years) were recorded, including 11.1% obese (BMI > 30 kg/m2) and 36.5% overweighted (25 kg/m2 < BMI ≤ 30 kg/m2). The most frequent semen alterations were: oligoasthenospermia (27.8%), asthenospermia (22.2%), oligoasthenoteratospermia (14.3%), azoospermia (13.5%) and asthenoteratospermia (9.5%). Bi-varied analysis showed no correlation between the BMI and the semen alterations (p-value ranged from 0.086 to 0.9) and no difference in semen alterations between patients with BMI below and above 25 kg/m2 (p-value ranged from 0.12 to 0.9). Logistic regression demonstrated that asthenoteratospermia were correlated with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 [OR = 2.1, 95% CI (1.50 - 2.70), p = 0.021]. Conclusion: Male obesity and overweight can trigger asthenoteratospermia.