Clinical efficacy of treatments against non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA), which affects 1% of men, are currently limited by the incomplete understanding of NOA pathogenesis and normal spermatogenic microenvironment. Here, we profile >80,000 human testicular single-cell transcriptomes from 10 healthy donors spanning the range from infant to adult and 7 NOA patients. We show that Sertoli cells, which form the scaffold in the testicular microenvironment, are severely damaged in NOA patients and identify the roadmap of Sertoli cell maturation. Notably, Sertoli cells of patients with congenital causes (Klinefelter syndrome and Y chromosome microdeletions) are mature, but exhibit abnormal immune responses, while the cells in idiopathic NOA (iNOA) are physiologically immature. Furthermore, we find that inhibition of Wnt signaling promotes the maturation of Sertoli cells from iNOA patients, allowing these cells to regain their ability to support germ cell survival. We provide a novel perspective on the development of diagnostic methods and therapeutic targets for NOA.

Objective. To explore the status of electroacupuncture (EA) among other treatments for peripheral facial paralysis (PFP). Methods. Randomized controlled trials comparing EA with other treatments that met the eligibility criteria published in databases were included. The differences were observed and quantified through the risk ratio (RR) for dichotomous outcomes and the standardized mean difference (SMD) for continuous outcomes. Then, their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were recorded. Results. Twenty-three studies involving 1985 participants were included. META-analysis results showed that EA was better than manual acupuncture for PFP (RR: 1.16, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.22, for responding rate; SMD: 2.26, 95% CI 0.15 to 4.37, for facial nerve function) and current promoted recovery (RR: 1.21, 95% CI 1.15 to 1.27, for responding rate; SMD: 2.87, 95% CI 1.16 to 4.58, for facial nerve function). When combined with other treatments, EA improved their effectiveness (RR: 1.19, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.28, responding rate; SMD: 1.85, 95% CI 0.67 to 3.03, facial nerve function). Conclusion. Patients with PFP received EA (used separately or combined with other treatments) resulting in a better prognosis. However, the quality of evidence was very low-to-moderate. Considering the poor quality of evidence, we are not very confident in the results. We look forward to more research and update results in the future and improve the evidence quality.

Background: To evaluate the clinical outcomes and the duration required for the sperm to return to the ejaculate after a modified single-armed 2-suture longitudinal intussusception vasoepididymostomy (SA-LIVE). Methods: From March 2015 to December 2018, 134 patients with epididymal obstruction azoospermia underwent the modified single-armed vasoepididymostomy at Shanghai General Hospital. The outcomes and clinical findings were documented and evaluated. The mean follow-up period was 17 (range: 3-36) months. Results: Patency was assessed by the return of sperm in the ejaculate. The overall patency rate was 55.2%, and the patency rates were 58.9, 40.7, 36.4, and 58.9% for bilateral surgery, unilateral surgery, proximal anastomosis, and distal anastomosis, respectively. The average time to achieve patency was 4.11 ± 2.74 months. In the first 6 months, 87.8% (65/74) patency patients reported sperm in the ejaculate. The overall pregnancy rate was 40.9% (29/66) at the follow-up of 3-36 months, and the natural pregnancy rate was 30.3% (20/66). The natural pregnancy rate was 32.1% post-bilateral surgery and 33.3% for the site of distal anastomosis; surprisingly, it was 0% for the site of proximal anastomosis. Conclusion: Modified SA-LIVE is safe and may achieve favorable patency and pregnancy rates. When double-armed sutures are not accessible, single-armed may be preferable. The expected patency time was within 1 year. Moreover, because of the low natural pregnancy rate for proximal anastomosis, sperm banking is preferred to SA-LIVE.

Optimal vision and ergonomics are essential factors contributing to the achievement of good results during microsurgery. The three-dimensional (3D) digital image microscope system with a better 3D depth of field can release strain on the surgeon's neck and back, which can improve outcomes in microsurgery. We report a randomized prospective study of vasoepididymostomy and vasovasostomy using a 3D digital image microscope system (3D-DIM) in rats. A total of 16 adult male rats were randomly divided into two groups of 8 each: the standard operating microscope (SOM) group and the 3D-DIM group. The outcomes measured included the operative time, real-time postoperative mechanical patency, and anastomosis leakage. Furthermore, a user-friendly microscope score was designed to evaluate the ergonomic design and equipment characteristics of the microscope. There were no differences in operative time between the two groups. The real-time postoperative mechanical patency rates were 100.0% for both groups. The percentage of vasoepididymostomy anastomosis leakage was 16.7% in the SOM group and 25.0% in the 3D-DIM group; however, no vasovasostomy anastomosis leakage was found in either group. In terms of the ergonomic design, the 3D-DIM group obtained better scores based on the surgeon's feelings; in terms of the equipment characteristics, the 3D-DIM group had lower scores for clarity and higher scores for flexibility and adaptivity. Based on our randomized prospective study in a rat model, we believe that the 3D-DIM can improve surgeon comfort without compromising outcomes in male infertility reconstructive microsurgery, so the 3D-DIM might be widely used in the future.

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of vasal vessel‐sparing modified single‐armed 2‐suture longitudinal intussusception vasoepididymostomy (SA‐LIVE) to epididymal obstructive azoospermia patients. Forty consecutive epididymal obstructive azoospermia cases, who underwent microsurgical vasoepididymostomy in Shanghai General Hospital from January 2019 to October 2019, were included in this study. Twenty cases underwent SA‐LIVE (group A), and 20 cases underwent vasal vessel‐sparing SA‐LIVE (group B). Until March 2021, the mean follow‐up period was 16.9 ± 4.1 (12–23) months. The overall patency rate was 82.5%, and 80% and 85% for group A and group B respectively. The mean time to achieve patency was 4.11 ± 2.74 months. The overall natural pregnancy rate was 51.5%(17/33) at the mean follow‐up of 16.9 months. The natural pregnancy rate was 50.0% for group A and 52.9% for group B (p > .05). At the time of 6 months post‐operation, the patency rate was 70% for group A and 80% for group B (p = .465); the natural pregnancy rate was 0% for group A and 31.3% for group B (p = .022). Vasal vessel‐sparing SA‐LIVE is safe and effective to achieve favourable patency and pregnancy rates. Preserving vasal vessel would improve natural pregnancy rate at a very early stage.

No abstract

Non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) is the most severe disease in male infertility, but the genetic causes for the majority of NOA remain unknown. FANCM is a member of Fanconi Anemia (FA) core complex, whose defects are associated with cell hypersensitivity to DNA interstrand crosslink (ICL)-inducing agents. It was reported that variants in FANCM (MIM: 609644) might cause azoospermia or oligospermia. However, there is still a lack of evidence to explain the association between different FANCM variants and male infertility phenotypes. Herein, we identified compound heterozygous variants in FANCM in two NOA-affected brothers (c. 1778delG:p. R593Qfs*76 and c. 1663G > T:p. V555F), and a homozygous variant in FANCM (c. 1972C > T:p. R658X) in a sporadic case with NOA, respectively. H&E staining and immunohistochemistry showed Sertoli cell-only Syndrome (SCOS) in the three patients with NOA. Collectively, our study expands the knowledge of variants in FANCM, and provides a new insight to understand the genetic etiology of NOA.

Testis-expressed gene 11 (TEX11) mutation has been associated with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) and meiotic arrest. An analogous mutation of TEX11 in the mouse impairs meiosis and can be rescued by in vitro expansion of SSCs and gene therapy. However, a lack of genetic screening of a large cohort of Asian patients (including pedigree analysis) and proper functional evaluation limit the clinical application of TEX11 mutation screening. Thus, we performed whole-exome sequencing (WES) in 479 patients with NOA and identified three novel mutations (two splicing mutations and one missense mutation) in TEX11 in three pairs of siblings from three families and four novel pathogenic mutations (three frameshift mutations and a non-sense mutation) of TEX11 in four sporadic NOA-affected cases. Novel variants among family members were segregated by disease phenotype, and all the seven mutations were predicted to be pathogenic. Histological analysis showed that three patients with TEX11 mutations underwent meiotic arrest. The four mutations that resulted in protein truncations and defective meiosis-specific sporulation domain SPO22 were validated by Western blot. In total, we find seven of 479 patients of NOA (1.5%) carrying TEX11 mutations. Our study expands the knowledge of mutations of TEX11 gene in Asian patients with NOA. The high prevalence and X-linked inherited mode indicated that TEX11 might be included in genetic screening panels for the clinical evaluation of patients with NOA.