scholarly journals Using Data Mining to Assist in Predicting Reproductive Outcomes Following Varicocele Embolization

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (16) ◽  
pp. 3503
Author(s):  
Ana Paula Sousa ◽  
Judith Santos-Pereira ◽  
Maria José Freire ◽  
Belmiro Parada ◽  
Teresa Almeida-Santos ◽  
...  

We carried out a retrospective analysis of infertile couple data using several methodologies and data analysis techniques, including the application of a novel data mining approach for analyzing varicocele treatment outcomes. The aim of this work was to characterize embolized varicocele patients by ascertaining the improvement of some of their clinical features, predicting the success of treatment via pregnancy outcomes, and identifying data patterns that can contribute to both ongoing varicocele research and the more effective management of patients treated for varicocele. We retrospectively surveyed the data of 293 consenting couples undergoing infertility treatment with male varicocele embolization over a 10-year period, and sperm samples were collected before and at 3, 6, and 12 months after varicocele embolization treatment and analyzed with World Health Organization parameters—varicocele severity grades were assessed with medical assessment and scrotal ultrasound, patient personal information (e.g., age, lifestyle, and embolization complications) was collected with clinical inquiries, and varicocele embolization success was measured through pregnancy outcomes. Varicocele embolization significantly improved sperm concentration, motility, and morphology mean values, as well as sperm chromatin integrity. Following this study, we can predict that a male patient without a high varicocele severity grade (with grade I or II) has a 70.83% chance of conceiving after embolization treatment if his partners’ age is between 24 and 33 with an accuracy of 70.59%. Furthermore, male patients successful in achieving pregnancy following embolization are mostly characterized by having a normal sperm progressive motility before treatment, a normal sperm concentration after treatment, a moderate to low varicocele severity grade, and not working in a putatively hazardous environment.

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tchoula Mamiafo Corinne ◽  
Pieme Constant Anatole ◽  
Ngogang Yonkeu Jeanne

Objective. Hormones play a vital role in initiating and maintaining male reproductive function. The present study explores the influence and predictive ability of two reproductive hormones on semen quality among men who were partners in an infertile couple. Design. During our cross sectional study, men were recruited from private and public hospital and laboratories for clinical evaluation of fertility status. Methods. Fresh semen samples were assessed for quality (concentration, motility and morphology) according to the 2010 World Health Organization manual and the serum levels of hormones, including follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), Inhibin B was measured (ELISA). Results. We found a significant difference in the two groups regarding sperm concentration (p<0.0001), total sperm count (p<0.0001), progressive motility (p<0.0001), vitality (p<0.0001) and the percentage of normal forms (p=0.043). We found a strong and negative correlation between FSH and Inhibin B in the overall population, the normozoospermic reference group and the case group. Our study confirmed that Inhibin B was significantly and positively correlated with sperm concentration and leucocytes, and that FSH was negatively correlated to sperm concentration and vitality. Conclusion. Consistent with other studies, our results show strong association between semen quality and FSH and Inhibin B.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 263349412090688 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shah Dupesh ◽  
Natarajan Pandiyan ◽  
Radha Pandiyan ◽  
Jeeva Kartheeswaran ◽  
Bhaskar Prakash

Background: The precise effect of ejaculatory abstinence on semen parameters is highly debatable, especially among subfertile men. Previous studies on effect of abstinence time on different semen parameters have reported controversial results. The aim of this study was to retrospectively assess the variance of semen parameters with different periods of ejaculatory abstinence among both a population of normozoospermic ( n = 1621) and oligozoospermic ( n = 416) Tamil men, presenting to a fertility clinic for an infertility evaluation ( N = 2037). Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of 2037 semen analysis reports involved grouping patients based on their ejaculatory abstinence, that is, <24 h, 1 to 2 days, 3 to 7 days, 8 to 15 days, 16 to 30 days, and >30 days. All semen parameters were assessed as per the World Health Organization (WHO, 2010) recommended guidelines. The unpaired two-tailed t-test and Welch’s analysis of variance (ANOVA) combined with Games–Howell post hoc test were used for statistical analysis. A p value <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Result: A retrospective analysis of data ( N = 2037) identified no statistically significant differences in semen parameters of sperm concentration, percentage of progressively motile sperm, and normal sperm morphology in both normozoospermic and oligozoospermic individuals across different groups of abstinence. Semen volume was the only parameter that showed a statistically significant difference in both groups ( p < 0.0001). In both normozoospermic and oligozoospermic men, the group with <24 h abstinence had the highest mean percentage of progressively motile sperm and normal sperm morphology. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that ejaculatory abstinence may be highly arbitrary, and the recommendation of a strict 2- to 7-day abstinence per the WHO may be liberalized. In both normozoospermic and oligozoospermic men, semen parameters associated with an abstinence of <24 h were found to be noninferior as compared to longer ejaculatory abstinence intervals. These findings support in eliminating conservative recommendations as far as abstinence is concerned and suggest that patients may be asked to collect a semen sample on the day they present for an infertility evaluation, regardless of abstinence.


ISRN Urology ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Basri Cakiroglu ◽  
Orhun Sinanoglu ◽  
Ramazan Gozukucuk

Background. To compare preoperative and postoperative sperm parameters such as sperm count, motility, and morphology in patients with normal sperm concentration with teratozoospermia and asthenozoospermia. Materials and Methods. Hundred and six patients with varicocele associated with male infertility over a 5-year period were included into the study. Pre- and postvaricocelectomy seminal fluid parameters evaluation according to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria was performed at 4–6-month intervals. Results. One hundred and six patients met the criteria. The mean age of patients was 24.53 ± 8.13. The mean duration of infertility was 3.6 years (range: 1.5–6.3). Only the sperm motility of patients with normospermia showed a significant improvement postoperatively. Conclusions. No significant improvement in sperm morphology may be obtained in patients with clinical varicocele and preoperative normospermia.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (A) ◽  
pp. 252-256
Author(s):  
Batool Mutar Mahdi

Objectives: Semen analysis is the cornerstone for the valuation of the male partner in the infertile couples. This test has been standardized throughout the world through the World Health Organization (WHO) since the1970s by producing, editing, updating, and disseminating a semen analysis manual and guidelines. A retrospective study to give an insight about  male infertility. Methods: This retrospective study assessed the semen findings of 1000 men evaluated at the  Department of Urology, Al-Kindy Teaching Hospital in Baghdad-Iraq  between January 2016 and May 2019. Semen analysis were done for them. Results: According to WHO standard for semen normality, 1000 samples that were analyzed, normospermia was shown in 835 (83.5%)males (95% CI=0.811-0.857) and 12% had oligospermia and the rest 4.5% was azospermia. The normospermic samples had significantly higher levels regarding the following parameters: count per ml (51.30±1.24) (P= 0.001), volume(3.34±2.31)(P=0.0001), pus cell (8.04±1.02)(P=0.0001), motility (22.81±5.8)(P=0.0001), abnormal motility (22.81±5.8)(P=0.0001) and  normal (V)(P=0.0001)or abnormal morphology (25.86 ±12.4)(P=0.0002) when compared with oligospermia. Conclusions: Semen analysis is the keystone of infertile couple. Semen parameters like sperm concentration, motility and morphology, are indicators for male reproductive function. Sperm concentration is declining and there is a significant association between sperm concentration and sperm parameters.


2005 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 281
Author(s):  
M. Bochenek ◽  
P. Gogol ◽  
J. Janeczko

It is known that the mammalian sperm chromatin structure plays an important role in male fertility. In opposition to many other areas of biological research, the human sperm chromatin can be considered as a model for animal fertility investigations. This is due to the great number of males with high levels of chromatin abnormalities and the ease of tracking their fertility potential. The aim of the study was to find a relationship between sperm chromatin structure, level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the basic semen parameters: sperm concentration and motility. The semen from a total of 391 men from subfertile couples 22–51 years old was used. The sperm chromatin abnormalities were examined flow cytometrically according to the SCSA method (sperm chromatin structure assay; Evenson D.P. Methods In Cell Biology, vol. 33, 1990) and ROS level was examined by luminometry (Kolletis et al. 1999 Fertil. Steril.). Sperm concentration and motility were checked microscopically. Sperm concentration of the examined ejaculates ranged from 0.05 × 106/mL to 627.5 × 106/mL and progressive motility ranged from 0% to 70%. More than 30% of spermatozoa with abnormal chromatin (level considered as the infertility threshold) was found in 70 (17.9%) patients; 15–30% of spermatozoa with abnormal chromatin (level of decreased fertility potential) was found in 154 (39.4%) patients; and in 167 (42.7%) patients the number of abnormal spermatozoa did not exceed 15% (level of normal fertility potential; Evenson et al. 1999 Hum. Reprod.; Zini et al. 2001 Fertil. Steril.). High significant correlations were found between chromatin abnormality and: patients' age (0.1008, P = 0.017), sperm concentration (−0.2735, P < 0.001), progressive motility (−0.4365, P < 0.001), and ROS level (0.2709, P < 0.001). However in patients with normal sperm concentration (>20 × 106/mL, according to the World Health Organization), as many as 11.5% had a high level of chromatin abnormality (>30% of abnormal chromatin) and 29.7% of moderate chromatin abnormality (15–30% abnormal chromatin). Similarly, in patients with normal progressive sperm motility (>50%, according to the World Health Organization) 1.7% had a high level of chromatin abnormality (>30% of abnormal chromatin), and 33.9% had a moderate level of chromatin abnormality (15–30% abnormal chromatin). Contrary to the findings of many earlier investigations, a strong relationship between sperm chromatin damages and basic semen parameters was observed in this work. The sperm chromatin structure assay should be included in standard semen examination to avoid expensive and time consuming in vitro procedures for spermatozoa with damaged DNA.


Author(s):  
G.U.S. Wijesekara ◽  
D.M.S. Fernando ◽  
S. Wijeratne

AbstractBackgroundLead (Pb) is one of the metals most prevalent in the environment and is known to cause infertility and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fragmentation. This study aimed to determine the association between seminal plasma Pb and sperm DNA fragmentation in men investigated for infertility.MethodsMale partners (n = 300) of couples investigated for infertility were recruited after informed consent was obtained. Sperm parameters were assessed according to the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Seminal plasma Pb was estimated by atomic absorption spectrophotometry after digestion with nitric acid.ResultsIn Pb-positive and -negative groups the sperm parameters and sperm DNA fragmentation were compared using independent sample t-test and the Mann-Whitney U-test, respectively. The mean [standard deviation (SD)] age and duration of infertility were 34.8 (5.34) years and 45.7 (35.09) months, respectively, and the mean Pb concentration was 15.7 μg/dL. In Pb positives compared to Pb negatives the means (SD) of sperm count, progressive motility viability and normal morphology were lower (p > 0.05) but the DNA fragmentation was significantly higher 39.80% (25.08) than Pb negatives 22.65% (11.30). Seminal plasma Pb concentration and sperm DNA fragmentation had a positive correlation (r = 0.38, p = 0.03). A negative correlation was observed between sperm DNA fragmentation and sperm concentration, progressive motility, total motility and viability. When the DNA fragmentation was ≥30% sperm concentration and viability decreased (p < 0.05).ConclusionsPb in seminal plasma had a significant effect on sperm DNA fragmentation but not with other sperm parameters.


Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 393
Author(s):  
Mahsa Mansourian ◽  
Sadaf Khademi ◽  
Hamid Reza Marateb

The World Health Organization (WHO) suggests that mental disorders, neurological disorders, and suicide are growing causes of morbidity. Depressive disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, Alzheimer’s disease, and other dementias account for 1.84%, 0.60%, 0.33%, and 1.00% of total Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs). Furthermore, suicide, the 15th leading cause of death worldwide, could be linked to mental disorders. More than 68 computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) methods published in peer-reviewed journals from 2016 to 2021 were analyzed, among which 75% were published in the year 2018 or later. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol was adopted to select the relevant studies. In addition to the gold standard, the sample size, neuroimaging techniques or biomarkers, validation frameworks, the classifiers, and the performance indices were analyzed. We further discussed how various performance indices are essential based on the biostatistical and data mining perspective. Moreover, critical information related to the Transparent reporting of a multivariable prediction model for individual prognosis or diagnosis (TRIPOD) guidelines was analyzed. We discussed how balancing the dataset and not using external validation could hinder the generalization of the CAD methods. We provided the list of the critical issues to consider in such studies.


Zygote ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 367-371 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabelle Oger ◽  
Christelle Da Cruz ◽  
Gilles Panteix ◽  
Yves Menezo

In our work, we have used 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG), one of the major oxidative products of sperm DNA, in a population of patients consulting for infertility. We found an inverse relationship between sperm concentration and the log of the ratio of 8-OH-dG to dG (P<0.01). On the same patients' sperm samples, the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) was performed. An inverse relationship was observed between the DNA fragmentation index and sperm concentration (P<0.001). There was also a positive relationship between SCSA and log 8-OH-dG/dG. This indicates that DNA fragmentation measured by the SCSA originates in part from oxidative products. In a few patients, antioxidant treatment decreased the DNA fragmentation index below the threshold of 30% that is crucial for subfertility.


Author(s):  
Efat Jabarpour ◽  
Amin Abedini ◽  
Abbasali Keshtkar

Introduction: Osteoporosis is a disease that reduces bone density and loses the quality of bone microstructure leading to an increased risk of fractures. It is one of the major causes of inability and death in elderly people. The current study aims at determining the factors influencing the incidence of osteoporosis and providing a predictive model for the disease diagnosis to increase the diagnostic speed and reduce diagnostic costs. Methods: An Individual's data including personal information, lifestyle, and disease information were reviewed. A new model has been presented based on the Cross-Industry Standard Process CRISP methodology. Besides, Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Bayes methods (Tree Augmented Naïve Bayes (TAN)) and Clementine12 have been used as data mining tools. Results: Some features have been detected to affect this disease. The rules have been extracted that can be used as a pattern for the prediction of the patients' status. Classification precision was calculated to be 88.39% for SVM, and 91.29% for  (TAN) when the precision of  TAN  is higher comparing to other methods. Conclusion: The most effective factors concerning osteoporosis are detected and can be used for a new sample with defined characteristics to predict the possibility of osteoporosis in a person.  


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