Showing papers by "S. La Vignera published in 2019"
Open University1, University of Rome Tor Vergata2, Sapienza University of Rome3, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico4, Foro Italico University of Rome5, University of Bari6, University of Pisa7, University of Catania8, University of Bologna9, University of Florence10, Magna Græcia University11
TL;DR: The biochemistry, benefits and risks of VLCKDs are described, and recommendations on the correct use of this therapeutic approach for weight loss and management of metabolic diseases at different stages of life are provided.
Abstract: Weight loss is a milestone in the prevention of chronic diseases associated with high morbility and mortality in industrialized countries. Very-low calorie ketogenic diets (VLCKDs) are increasingly used in clinical practice for weight loss and management of obesity-related comorbidities. Despite evidence on the clinical benefits of VLCKDs is rapidly emerging, some concern still exists about their potential risks and their use in the long-term, due to paucity of clinical studies. Notably, there is an important lack of guidelines on this topic, and the use and implementation of VLCKDs occurs vastly in the absence of clear evidence-based indications. We describe here the biochemistry, benefits and risks of VLCKDs, and provide recommendations on the correct use of this therapeutic approach for weight loss and management of metabolic diseases at different stages of life.
139 citations
TL;DR: US signs of prostatitis more frequently occurred in patients with evidence of HPV-DNA persistence on semen, especially in those with high-risk genotypes, highlighting the importance of US in the framework of HPV -related MAGI.
Abstract: Papillomavirus (HPV) often occurs in the semen of patients with male accessory gland infection (MAGI). Ultrasound (US) evaluation has been suggested as a promising diagnostic tool for patients with HPV-related MAGI. No data on the spontaneous clearance of HPV-DNA have been reported so far in HPV-related MAGI. The primary aim of the study was to assess the percentage of early HPV-DNA spontaneous clearance in patients with prostatitis. The secondary aim was to evaluate the frequency of spontaneous clearance of HPV-DNA among patients with prostatitis associated with the presence or absence of US abnormalities. Patients with inflammatory MAGI and at least one suspicious criterion for HPV infection underwent semen HPV-DNA detection and prostate US. The presence of HPV-DNA was further investigated after a 6-month-long follow-up. Eighty patients satisfied the inclusion criteria and were recruited in the study. 69% of patients (55/80) showed HPV-DNA persistence in the semen. Among them, 82% (45/55) was positive for US signs of prostatitis, while they occurred only in 12% (3/25) of those patients with no sign of HPV-DNA persistence (p < 0.001). All patients with persistent high-risk HPV genotype (n = 30) showed at least two US signs of prostatitis. In 73% of patients (22/30), E6 and E7 mRNAs were detected. US signs of prostatitis more frequently occurred in patients with evidence of HPV-DNA persistence on semen, especially in those with high-risk genotypes. This highlights the importance of US in the framework of HPV-related MAGI.
12 citations
TL;DR: All the evidence supporting the potential usefulness of SrE, alone or in combination with other molecules with proven antioxidant effects, like selenium and lycopene, to improve sperm parameters was collected.
Abstract: Objective Male infertility is a wide spread disease among couple of childbearing age. Spermatozoa are highly susceptible to oxidative stress. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are capable of damaging the sperm membrane and DNA, inducing lipid peroxidation and sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF). Antioxidant supplementation is currently suggested after a complete diagnostic work-up, as recognized by the Italian Society of Andrology and Sexual Medicine (SIAMS). Indeed, it has been showed to improve sperm quality, DNA fragmentation and pregnancy rate. The administration of Serenoa repens extracts (SrE), including free fatty acids (FFA), methyl and ethyl esters, glycerides, flavonoids and sterols, has never been investigated for male infertility. However, their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties provide the rational for their possible effectiveness. The aim of this review was to collect all the evidence supporting the potential usefulness of SrE, alone or in combination with other molecules with proven antioxidant effects, like selenium and lycopene (along with which they are often commercialized), to improve sperm parameters. Materials and methods A systematic search was performed using Pubmed, MEDLINE, Cochrane, Academic One Files, Google Scholar and Scopus databases. The search strategy included the following key words: Serenoa repens, selenium, lycopene, oligozoospermia, oxidative stress, DNA fragmentation, male infertility, pregnancy rate. Conclusions By triggering multiple inflammatory and oxidative pathways, the combined administration of SrE, selenium and lycopene might likely improve the sperm quality. Proper studies are needed to test this hypothesis. Finally, since prostatitis can affect the sperm quality and considering the anti-estrogenic properties of SrE, we speculate about a possible specific indication in those patients with male infertility and "metabolic" prostatitis (where obesity and abnormal androgen/estrogen ratio concomitantly occur).
8 citations