Ricerc@Sapienza

Objective: Total sperm count (TSC) has been declining worldwide over the last several decades due to unknown etiologies. Our aim was to model the contribution that the obesity epidemic may have on declining TSC.

Materials and methods: Obesity rates were determined since 1973 using the WHO's Global Health Observatory data. A literature review was performed to determine the association between TSC and obesity. Using the measured obesity rates and published TSC since 1973, a model was created to evaluate the association between temporal trends in obesity/temperature and sperm count.

Carnitine is essential for energy metabolism and spermatozoa maturation. Combining L-carnitine and L-acetylcarnitine with micronutrients has been investigated as a treatment for infertility in men. We evaluated the effects of a therapeutic formulation, Proxeed Plus, on sperm parameters in oligoasthenozoospermic men. This prospective, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial involved 175 males (19-44 years) with idiopathic oligoasthenozoospermia who failed to impregnate their partners (12 months). Males received Proxeed Plus or placebo for 3 and 6 months.

Purpose the aim of the present study is to assess impairment of spermatogenesis induced by varicocele in, to our knowledge, the largest single-centre caseload available to date.Materials and methods We conducted a retrospective study on 4230 consecutive patients attending our Depart-ment for andrological outpatient assessment and precon-ception check-ups between 2011 and 2014. A total of 2113 patients had varicocele (Group V), while the remaining 2117 were selected as the control group (Group C). All patients were divided into age classes (

STUDY QUESTION Is ageing associated with a decline in semen quality and molecular changes to human sperm? SUMMARY ANSWER Semen quality declines with advancing age and characteristic molecular changes take place during the ageing process, including increased sperm DNA damage, altered sperm protamination and altered seminal plasma miRNA profile. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY During ageing, the reproductive system is exposed to physiological changes and potentially damaging factors that may impair testicular function.