Aims: This study was aimed to characterize laccase from a selected fungal strain and examine the enzyme’s ability to remove lignin from paper pulp. Methodology and results: Twelve fungal strains were screened for laccase production, resulting in the selection of Trichoderma sp. UBDFT12. The highest laccase activity (103 U/L) was observed from the culture filtrate on the fourth day of incubation. The optimum temperature and pH for the enzyme were 40 °C and pH 4, respectively. However, the enzyme stability was found to be reduced with time after 1 h incubation. At 1 mM, it was found that AgNO3, CaCO3, CuSO4, KCl, MgSO4, MnSO4 and ZnSO4 increased the laccase activity to 107, 107, 111, 112, 106, 105 and 107%, respectively, whereas FeSO4 and NH4Cl reduced the activity to 84 and 99%, respectively. The addition of 1% H2O2, 1% NaCl, 1% sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), 1 mM ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), 10 mM EDTA, 1 mM phenanthroline and 10 mM phenanthroline reduced the activity to 95, 73, 0, 79, 79, 73 and 37%, respectively. The culture filtrate was partially purified via ammonium sulphate precipitation and the recovered enzyme had a specific activity of 0.176 U/mg. Using sodium dodecyl-sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), the molecular weight of the enzyme was approximately 65 kDa and its activity was confirmed by zymography. The culture filtrate was also found to be able to remove lignin from different types of paper pulp. Conclusion, significance and impact of study Laccase produced by Trichoderma sp. UBDFT12 was found to have the ability to remove lignin from paper pulp.

Purpose: Varicoceles can be a source of elevated seminal oxidative stress (OS) and sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF). However, it remains unclear whether varicocele repair (VR) could reduce these parameters. This systematic review and meta-analysis (SRMA) aims to investigate the impact of VR on SDF and seminal malondialdehyde (MDA). Materials and Methods: A literature search was performed in Scopus, PubMed, Ovid, Embase, and Cochrane databases. This SRMA included randomized controlled trials and observational studies reporting the pre- and postoperative levels of SDF and seminal OS in infertile men with clinical varicocele that underwent VR. Subgroup analyses included techniques of VR and SDF testing. The effect size was expressed as standardized mean difference (SMD). Results: Out of 1,632 abstracts assessed for eligibility, 29 studies with 1,491 infertile men were included. The analysis showed a significant reduction in SDF after VR, compared to preoperative values (SMD −1.125, 95% confidence interval [CI] −1.410, −0.840; p<0.0001) with high inter-study heterogeneity (I2=90.965%). Reduction in SDF was evident with microsurgical technique and non-microsurgical inguinal approaches (SMD −1.014, 95% CI −1.263, −0.765; p<0.0001, and SMD −1.495, 95% CI −2.116, −0.873; p<0.0001), respectively. Reduction in SDF was significant irrespective of testing was done by sperm chromatin dispersion (SMD −2.197, 95% CI −3.187, −1.207; p<0.0001), sperm chromatin structure assay (SMD −0.857, 95% CI −1.156, −0.559; p<0.0001) or TUNEL (SMD −1.599, 95% CI −2.478, −0.719; p<0.0001). A significant decrease in seminal MDA levels was observed following VR (SMD −2.450, 95% CI −3.903 to −0.997, p=0.001) with high inter-study heterogeneity (I2=93.7%). Conclusions Using pre- and post-intervention data, this SRMA indicates a significant reduction in SDF and seminal MDA levels in infertile men with clinical varicocele treated with VR. These findings may have important implications for the future management of this selected group of infertile patients.

Artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine has gained a lot of momentum in the last decades and has been applied to various fields of medicine. Advances in computer science, medical informatics, robotics, and the need for personalized medicine have facilitated the role of AI in modern healthcare. Similarly, as in other fields, AI applications, such as machine learning, artificial neural networks, and deep learning, have shown great potential in andrology and reproductive medicine. AI-based tools are poised to become valuable assets with abilities to support and aid in diagnosing and treating male infertility, and in improving the accuracy of patient care. These automated, AI-based predictions may offer consistency and efficiency in terms of time and cost in infertility research and clinical management. In andrology and reproductive medicine, AI has been used for objective sperm, oocyte, and embryo selection, prediction of surgical outcomes, cost-effective assessment, development of robotic surgery, and clinical decision-making systems. In the future, better integration and implementation of AI into medicine will undoubtedly lead to pioneering evidence-based breakthroughs and the reshaping of andrology and reproductive medicine.

Purpose: Despite the significant role of varicocele in the pathogenesis of male infertility, the impact of varicocele repair (VR) on conventional semen parameters remains controversial. Only a few systematic reviews and meta-analyses (SRMAs) have evaluated the impact of VR on sperm concentration, total motility, and progressive motility, mostly using a before-after analytic approach. No SRMA to date has evaluated the change in conventional semen parameters after VR compared to untreated controls. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of VR on conventional semen parameters in infertile patients with clinical varicocele compared to untreated controls. Materials and Methods: A literature search was performed using Scopus, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases following the Population Intervention Comparison Outcome (PICOS) model (Population: infertile patients with clinical varicocele; Intervention: VR [any technique]; Comparison: infertile patients with clinical varicocele that were untreated; Outcome: sperm concentration, sperm total count, progressive sperm motility, total sperm motility, sperm morphology, and semen volume; Study type: randomized controlled trials and observational studies). Results: A total of 1,632 abstracts were initially assessed for eligibility. Sixteen studies were finally included with a total of 2,420 infertile men with clinical varicocele (1,424 patients treated with VR vs. 996 untreated controls). The analysis showed significantly improved post-operative semen parameters in patients compared to controls with regards to sperm concentration (standardized mean difference [SMD] 1.739; 95% CI 1.129 to 2.349; p<0.001; I2=97.6%), total sperm count (SMD 1.894; 95% CI 0.566 to 3.222; p<0.05; I2=97.8%), progressive sperm motility (SMD 3.301; 95% CI 2.164 to 4.437; p<0.01; I2=98.5%), total sperm motility (SMD 0.887; 95% CI 0.036 to 1.738; p=0.04; I2=97.3%) and normal sperm morphology (SMD 1.673; 95% CI 0.876 to 2.470; p<0.05; I2=98.5%). All the outcomes showed a high inter-study heterogeneity, but the sensitivity analysis showed that no study was sensitive enough to change these results. Publication bias was present only in the analysis of the sperm concentration and progressive motility. No significant difference was found for the semen volume (SMD 0.313; 95% CI -0.242 to 0.868; I2=89.7%). Conclusions This study provides a high level of evidence in favor of a positive effect of VR to improve conventional semen parameters in infertile men with clinical varicocele. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first SRMA to compare changes in conventional semen parameters after VR with changes in parameters of a control group over the same period. This is in contrast to other SRMAs which have compared semen parameters before and after VR, without reference to a control group. Our findings strengthen the available evidence and have a potential to upgrade professional societies’ practice recommendations favoring VR to improve conventional semen parameters in infertile men.

Infertility affects nearly 186 million people worldwide and the male partner is the cause in about half of the cases. Meta-regression data indicate an unexplained decline in sperm concentration and total sperm count over the last four decades, with an increasing prevalence of male infertility. This suggests an urgent need to implement further basic and clinical research in Andrology. Andrology developed as a branch of urology, gynecology, endocrinology, and, dermatology. The first scientific journal devoted to andrological sciences was founded in 1969. Since then, despite great advancements, andrology has encountered several obstacles in its growth. In fact, for cultural reasons, the male partner has often been neglected in the diagnostic and therapeutic workup of the infertile couple. Furthermore, the development of assisted reproductive techniques (ART) has driven a strong impression that this biotechnology can overcome all forms of infertility, with a common belief that having a spermatozoon from a male partner (a sort of sperm donor) is all that is needed to achieve pregnancy. However, clinical practice has shown that the quality of the male gamete is important for a successful ART outcome. Furthermore, the safety of ART has been questioned because of the high prevalence of comorbidities in the offspring of ART conceptions compared to spontaneous conceptions. These issues have paved the way for more research and a greater understanding of the mechanisms of spermatogenesis and male infertility. Consequently, numerous discoveries have been made in the field of andrology, ranging from genetics to several “omics” technologies, oxidative stress and sperm DNA fragmentation, the sixth edition of the WHO manual, artificial intelligence, management of azoospermia, fertility in cancers survivors, artificial testis, 3D printing, gene engineering, stem cells therapy for spermatogenesis, and reconstructive microsurgery and seminal microbiome. Nevertheless, as many cases of male infertility remain idiopathic, further studies are required to improve the clinical management of infertile males. A multidisciplinary strategy involving both clinicians and scientists in basic, translational, and clinical research is the core principle that will allow andrology to overcome its limits and reach further goals. This state-of-the-art article aims to present a historical review of andrology, and, particularly, male infertility, from its “Middle Ages” to its “Renaissance”, a golden age of andrology.

Purpose: Varicocele is a common problem among infertile men. Varicocele repair (VR) is frequently performed to improve semen parameters and the chances of pregnancy. However, there is a lack of consensus about the diagnosis, indications for VR and its outcomes. The aim of this study was to explore global practice patterns on the management of varicocele in the context of male infertility. Materials and Methods: Sixty practicing urologists/andrologists from 23 countries contributed 382 multiple-choice-questions pertaining to varicocele management. These were condensed into an online questionnaire that was forwarded to clinicians involved in male infertility management through direct invitation. The results were analyzed for disagreement and agreement in practice patterns and, compared with the latest guidelines of international professional societies (American Urological Association [AUA], American Society for Reproductive Medicine [ASRM], and European Association of Urology [EAU]), and with evidence emerging from recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Additionally, an expert opinion on each topic was provided based on the consensus of 16 experts in the field. Results: The questionnaire was answered by 574 clinicians from 59 countries. The majority of respondents were urologists/ uro-andrologists. A wide diversity of opinion was seen in every aspect of varicocele diagnosis, indications for repair, choice of technique, management of sub-clinical varicocele and the role of VR in azoospermia. A significant proportion of the responses were at odds with the recommendations of AUA, ASRM, and EAU. A large number of clinical situations were identified where no guidelines are available. Conclusions This study is the largest global survey performed to date on the clinical management of varicocele for male infertility. It demonstrates: 1) a wide disagreement in the approach to varicocele management, 2) large gaps in the clinical practice guidelines from professional societies, and 3) the need for further studies on several aspects of varicocele management in infertile men.

Purpose: Seminal oxidative stress (OS) is a recognized factor potentially associated with male infertility, but the efficacy of antioxidant (AOX) therapy is controversial and there is no consensus on its utility. Primary outcomes of this study were to investigate the effect of AOX on spontaneous clinical pregnancy, live birth and miscarriage rates in male infertile patients. Secondary outcomes were conventional semen parameters, sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) and seminal OS. Materials and Methods: Literature search was performed using Scopus, PubMed, Ovid, Embase, and Cochrane databases.Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included and the meta-analysis was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. Results: We assessed for eligibility 1,307 abstracts, and 45 RCTs were finally included, for a total of 4,332 infertile patients.We found a significantly higher pregnancy rate in patients treated with AOX compared to placebo-treated or untreated controls, without significant inter-study heterogeneity. No effects on live-birth or miscarriage rates were observed in four studies.A significantly higher sperm concentration, sperm progressive motility, sperm total motility, and normal sperm morphology was found in patients compared to controls. We found no effect on SDF in analysis of three eligible studies. Seminal levels of total antioxidant capacity were significantly higher, while seminal malondialdehyde acid was significantly lower in patients than controls. These results did not change after exclusion of studies performed following varicocele repair. Conclusions The present analysis upgrades the level of evidence favoring a recommendation for using AOX in male infertility to improve the spontaneous pregnancy rate and the conventional sperm parameters. The failure to demonstrate an increase in live-birth rate, despite an increase in pregnancy rates, is due to the very few RCTs specifically assessing the impact of AOX on live-birth rate. Therefore, further RCTs assessing the impact of AOX on live-birth rate and miscarriage rate, and SDF will be helpful.

Aims: The application of beneficial microbes is a suitable alternative to synthetic pesticides and fertilizers for agriculture. This study was aimed to evaluate the potential of a selected Trichoderma strain as a biocontrol agent against Rhizoctonia sp. and as a biofertilizer to improve paddy growth. Methodology and results: Four Bipolaris strains were identified via DNA barcoding as the cause of brown spot disease, whereas two Rhizoctonia strains were similarly identified as the cause of sheath blight disease in Brunei Darussalam. Eight Trichoderma strains were initially screened using confrontation assay and were found to substantially inhibit the growth of Rhizoctonia sp. Hybrid rice named BDR5 was treated with Trichoderma sp. UBDFM01 and/or Rhizoctonia sp. It was found that the selected strain showed the potential as a biofertilizer by significantly increasing the vigour index I, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll and dry shoot weight of the rice plants. The pathogen negatively affected the plants by significantly reducing the vigour index II, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll a/b ratio, total chlorophyll, and total weight of grains. Trichoderma strain showed the potential as a biocontrol agent by significantly diminishing the negative effects of the pathogen on the chlorophyll a, chlorophyll a/b ratio and total chlorophyll. Conclusion, significance and impact of study This study highlights the potential of Trichoderma sp. UBDFM01 as a biocontrol agent against Rhizoctonia sp. and also as a biofertilizer for rice plants. In addition, this study is the first to provide DNA-based evidence of Bipolaris sp. and Rhizoctonia sp. as the fungi that caused rice diseases in Brunei Darussalam.
Trichoderma ; Biological Control Agents ; Fertilizers--microbiology

Background:Childhood obesity(CHO)is a serious global health challenge affecting both developed and develop-ing nations.The feats attained in addressing this global health challenge can be reflected through the top-cited studies.The study's aim was to analyze the features of the 100 top-cited articles concerning CHO.Methods:We used a bibliometric analysis,and searched for relevant articles from the Web of Science(December 1,2021),using an appropriate keyword search-strategy((child OR childhood OR children OR adolescent)AND(obese OR obesity OR overweight)).The retrieved documents were analysed based on the citation number,publi-cation year,authorship,institution,journal and country.The analyses were performed mainly by the Bibliometrix application(using R-studio cloud)and HistCite.Results:The 100 top-cited articles were published between 1976 and 2018,their citations ranged from 365 to 10 789,with a mean citation of 1 146.2 and 31 studies had more than 1 000 citations.The articles were published in 31 journals,with the"Pediatrics"journal having the most publications(n=18).The studies were from 12 countries,with the most-productive being the USA(n=68),followed by the United Kingdom(n=12)and France(n=3).The leading institution was the University of Bristol(n=8),while Dietz WH(n=12),and Flegal KM(n=8)were the most productive authors.The most common research fields covered by these articles were;"General Internal Medicine"(n=34),"Pediatrics"(n=29),and"Nutrition Dietetics"(n=18).The study noted significant correlations between the total article citation and the number of authors(R=0.203),countries involved(R=0.407),institutions(R=0.407),and the publication year(R=0.847),all with P＜0.001.Conclusions:Through these top-cited articles,this analysis provides discernment into the historical advancements,including the prime roles performed by various stakeholders in addressing the issue of CHO.However,Asian countries'contribution is not adequately reflected in these articles,and thus more focus and funding for CHO research are needed for effectual prevention and control.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to analyze the characteristics of the 100 top-cited articles on scrub typhus (ST), and to assess the present research landscape and future research directions using bibliometric analysis. Methods: Web of Science was used to conduct a bibliometric analysis of the 100 top-cited articles on ST. The articles were analyzed by publication year, number of citations, document type, journals, keywords, institutions, country of origin, and authorship. Results: The top 100 articles on ST were published between 1945 to 2017. The number of citations ranges from 39 to 227 and the interquartile range was 35.5. The United States published the highest number ( n = 21) of articles. Mahidol University was the most prolific institution in terms of articles (n =14). The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene was the journal with the most articles (n =14), and Paris DH was the most productive author in terms of the Hirsh-index, which was 10 for that author. The study revealed a significant correlation between the total number of citations and the number of authors (r=0.668, p < 0.001), number of institutions (r = 0.692, p < 0.001), number of years since publication (r=0.869, p <0.001), and number of countries involved (r=0.963, p <0.001). Conclusion The findings of this study provide landmarks in the publication and citationfrequency of the most influential articles on ST. In addition, this study provides useful information for readers and health policy-makers in evaluating the literature on ST.