Male infertility (MI) and male sexual dysfunction (MSD) can often coexist together due to various interplay factors such as psychosexual, sociocultural and relationship dynamics. The presence of each form of MSD can adversely impact male reproduction and treatment strategies will need to be individualized based on patients’ factors, local expertise, and geographical socioeconomic status. The Asia Pacific Society of Sexual Medicine (APSSM) and the Asian Society of Men’s Health and Aging (ASMHA) aim to provide a consensus statement and practical set of clinical recommendations based on current evidence to guide clinicians in the management of MI and MSD within the Asia-Pacific (AP) region. A comprehensive, narrative review of the literature was performed to identify the various forms of MSD and their association with MI. MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched for the following English language articles under the following terms: “low libido”, “erectile dysfunction”, “ejaculatory dysfunction”, “premature ejaculation”, “retrograde ejaculation”, “delayed ejaculation”, “anejaculation”, and “orgasmic dysfunction” between January 2001 to June 2022 with emphasis on published guidelines endorsed by various organizations. This APSSM consensus committee panel evaluated and provided evidence-based recommendations on MI and clinically relevant MSD areas using a modified Delphi method by the panel and specific emphasis on locoregional socioeconomic-cultural issues relevant to the AP region. While variations exist in treatment strategies for managing MI and MSD due to geographical expertise, locoregional resources, and sociocultural factors, the panel agreed that comprehensive fertility evaluation with a multidisciplinary management approach to each MSD domain is recommended. It is important to address individual MI issues with an emphasis on improving spermatogenesis and facilitating reproductive avenues while at the same time, managing various MSD conditions with evidence-based treatments. All therapeutic options should be discussed and implemented based on the patient’s individual needs, beliefs and preferences while incorporating locoregional expertise and available resources.

Objective:To study the safety and feasibility of early enteral feeding during therapeutic hypothermia guided by intestinal ultrasound in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).Methods:From January 2019 to December 2021, neonates with HIE who received therapeutic hypothermia in the neonatology department of our hospital were retrospectively selected. They were assigned into the ultrasound-guided observation group (admitted from May 2020 to December 2021) and the control group (admitted from January 2019 to April 2020). In the ultrasound-guided observation group, intestinal ultrasound was performed during therapeutic hypothermia. Based on clinical manifestations and ultrasound results, a small amount of enteral feeding [20 ml/(kg·d)] was initiated and gradually increased to total enteral feeding after rewarming. In the control group, 5 ml (once every 3 h) of glucose and sodium chloride solution was given during 72 h of therapeutic hypothermia. After rewarming, enteral feeding was started and gradually increased to total enteral feeding without intestinal ultrasound. The time to start enteral feeding, the time to achieve total enteral feeding, the incidences of feeding intolerance, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and late-onset sepsis were compared between the two groups.Results:A total of 17 cases were in the ultrasound-guided observation group and 18 cases in the control group. The median time to start enteral feeding and to achieve total enteral feeding in the ultrasound-guided observation group were earlier than the control group [36.0 (33.5, 39.0) h vs. 77.0 (74.0, 79.3) h, 6.0 (5.5, 6.5) d vs. 8.0 (7.0, 9.0) d, P<0.001]. No significant difference existed in the incidence of feeding intolerance between the two groups. Neither groups had NEC or late-onset sepsis. Conclusions:Early enteral feeding during therapeutic hypothermia in neonates with HIE is safe and feasible. Intestinal ultrasound helps implementing feeding plan and achieving early total enteral feeding.

Objective:To investigate the clinical features and risk factors of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) caused by wasp sting.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to collect the general data of wasp sting patients who had a clear history of wasp sting disease and clinical manifestations from June 2016 to December 2020 and were first diagnosed as wasp sting in hospital. Patients with hematological diseases, malignant tumors, severe liver and kidney dysfunction, cardiac insufficiency, and patients who had received hormone therapy before admission were excluded. Patients who were unable to obtain effective laboratory results due to hemolysis or other reasons within 48 h of admission were also excluded. The white blood cell count (WBC), neutrophil count (NEU), lymphocyte count (LYM), hemoglobin count (HB), myoglobin (Mb/MYO), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), albumin (ALB), K, Na, and Cl of the blood samples collected within 48 h after admission were recorded. Patients were divided into the MODS group and non-MODS group according to whether MODS occurred during hospitalization. Uni- and multivariate analysis were used to analyze the factors affecting the occurrence of MODS in wasp sting patients during hospitalization, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to evaluate the predictive effect of myoglobin level on the occurrence of MODS in wasp sting patients during hospitalization.Results:Mb, WBC, NEU, APTT and serum potassium in the MODS group [3890.00 (1416.90-4057.00) ng/mL, (21.99 ± 8.18) × 10 9/L, (19.61 ± 7.33)× 10 9/L, (93.75 ± 45.77) s, and (4.99 ± 0.95) mmol/L] were significantly higher than those in the non-MODS group [73.50 (34.30-264.20) ng/mL, (13.40 ± 4.14)× 10 9/L, (11.18±4.73)× 10 9/L, (37.00 ± 17.16) s, and (4.05 ± 0.56) mmol/L] (all P < 0.05); blood chlorine and ALB [(101.50 (98.25-105.00) mmol/L and (35.36 ± 6.44) g/L)] were significantly lower than those in the non-MODS group [(105.00 (103.00-107.00) mmol/L and (40.71 ± 5.48) g/L)] (all P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that NEU ( OR = 0.729, 95% CI: 0.542~0.981), Mb ( OR = 0.999, 95% CI: 0.998~1.000), and APTT ( OR = 0.951, 95% CI: 0.921~0.982) were independent risk factors for MODS in wasp sting patients. ROC curve analysis showed that NEU, Mb and APTT could be used to evaluate the occurrence of MODS in wasp sting patients. Among them, Mb had the highest predictive value (AUC = 0.950, 95 % CI: 0.891~0.982). The optimal cutoff value of Mb for predicting the occurrence of MODS in wasp sting patients was 515.30 ng/mL, and the corresponding sensitivity and specificity were 90.62% and 87.23%, respectively. Conclusion:Mb is an independent risk factor for MODS in wasp sting patients, which can be used as a good predictor of MODS in wasp sting patients.

Objective: To investigate the effect of berberine on programmed necrosis of hepatocytes induced by metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) in mice and its related molecular mechanism. Methods: Twenty male C57BL/6N mice were randomly divided into four groups (n=5 in each group): control group (S), fatty liver group (H), berberine group(B), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 inhibitor group (Nrf2), and all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) group (A). Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) concentrations were detected at the end of week 12 to calculate fatty liver index (liver mass/body mass ratio). Liver tissue was stained with HE, Masson and Oil Red O, and SAF score was used to evaluate the degree of liver injury. The expression levels of hepatic programmed necrosis-related proteins, namely receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3), phosphorylated mixed series protease-like domain (p-MLKL) and Nrf2 were detected by Western blot method. One-way ANOVA was used for intragroup comparisons and LSD-t tests were used for intergroup comparisons. Results: Compared with S group, H group serum ALT, AST, LDH, TG, TC, TNF-α, IL-1β levels and fatty liver index were significantly increased. The liver tissue was filled with vacuolar-like changes and inflammatory cell infiltration. Numerous red lipid droplets were observed with oil red O staining. Collagen fiber hyperplasia was evident with Masson staining. SAF scores (6.60 ± 0.55 and 0.80 ± 0.45) were significantly increased. The expressions of RIPK3 and p-MLKL were up-regulated. Nrf2 level was relatively increased, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Compared with H group, berberine intervention group liver biochemical indexes, lipid levels, pro-inflammatory mediator expression, fatty liver index, and SAF score were significantly reduced, and the expression of RIPK3 and p-MLKL were down-regulated, while Nrf2 levels were further increased, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Compared with B group, treatment with Nrf2 inhibitor had antagonized the protective effect of berberine on fatty liver. Serum ALT, AST, LDH, TG, TC and TNF-α, IL-1β levels, fatty liver index, and SAF scores were significantly increased and the expressions of RIPK3 and p-MLKL were relatively increased, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Berberine can significantly improve the metabolic-associated fatty liver disease injury in mice, and its mechanism is related to activation of Nrf2 and inhibition of programmed necrosis of hepatocytes.
Animals ; Berberine/therapeutic use* ; Fatty Liver ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2/metabolism* ; Necrosis

Objective: To observe the gadolinium imaging findings of inner ear in patients with sudden deafness and to analyze its clinical features. Methods: From November 2017 to July 2020, 21 patients with sudden deafness in the People's Hospital of Dongsheng District, Ordos City were selected as the research objects, including 14 males and 7 females, aged 36-76 years, with a median age of 50 years. The course of disease was 1-19 days, with an average of 5.5 days. The patients received audiology tests, laboratory examination, and intravenous gadolinium angiography, each of whom was scanned twice by 3D-FLAIR sequence: once before intravenous gadolinium injection, and once again 4.5-6.0 h after intravenous gadolinium injection. The following corresponding clinical treatment was given. The imaging manifestations and clinical features were observed. Results: Among 21 cases of sudden deafness in acute stage, the signal intensity of 11 cases was significantly higher than that of the contralateral ear, and 2 cases had vestibular labyrinthine hydrops. In laboratory examination, only 2 cases of total deafness had increased WBC count and faster erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and the rest had no abnormality. The hearing types of 21 patients with sudden deafness were: total deafness in 8 cases, flat decline in 10 cases, low frequency decline in 1 case, high frequency decline in 2 cases. The total effective rate was 57% (12/21). The hearing types of 11 patients with abnormal gadolinium angiography were total deafness in 5 cases, flat decline in 5 cases and high frequency decline in 1 case. The total effective rate was 64% (7/11). Conclusion: Gadolinium angiography is abnormal in some patients with sudden deafness, and the permeability of blood labyrinth barrier may be increased, which is worthy of further study.
Angiography ; Deafness ; Female ; Gadolinium ; Hearing Loss, Sudden/diagnostic imaging* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Vestibule, Labyrinth

Objective: The incidence of hip fractures is increasing worldwide with the aging population, causing a challenge to healthcare systems due to the associated morbidities and high risk of mortality. After hip fractures in frail geriatric patients, existing comorbidities worsen and new complications are prone to occur. Comprehensive rehabilitation is essential for promoting physical function recovery and minimizing complications, which can be achieved through a multidisciplinary approach. Recommendations are required to assist healthcare providers in making decisions on rehabilitation post-surgery. Clinical practice guidelines regarding rehabilitation (physical and occupational therapies) and management of comorbidities/complications in the postoperative phase of hip fractures have not been developed. This guideline aimed to provide evidence-based recommendations for various treatment items required for proper recovery after hip fracture surgeries. Methods Reflecting the complex perspectives associated with rehabilitation post-hip surgeries, 15 key questions (KQs) reflecting the complex perspectives associated with post-hip surgery rehabilitation were categorized into four areas: multidisciplinary, rehabilitation, community-care, and comorbidities/complications. Relevant literature from four databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and KoreaMed) was searched for articles published up to February 2020. The evidence level and recommended grade were determined according to the grade of recommendation assessment, development, and evaluation method. Results A multidisciplinary approach, progressive resistance exercises, and balance training are strongly recommended. Early ambulation, weigh-bearing exercises, activities of daily living training, community-level rehabilitation, management of comorbidities/complication prevention, and nutritional support were also suggested. This multidisciplinary approach reduced the total healthcare cost. Conclusion This guideline presents comprehensive recommendations for the rehabilitation of adult patients after hip fracture surgery.

Objective: The incidence of hip fractures is increasing worldwide with the aging population, causing a challenge to healthcare systems due to the associated morbidities and high risk of mortality. After hip fractures in frail geriatric patients, existing comorbidities worsen and new complications are prone to occur. Comprehensive rehabilitation is essential for promoting physical function recovery and minimizing complications, which can be achieved through a multidisciplinary approach. Recommendations are required to assist healthcare providers in making decisions on rehabilitation post-surgery. Clinical practice guidelines regarding rehabilitation (physical and occupational therapies) and management of comorbidities/complications in the postoperative phase of hip fractures have not been developed. This guideline aimed to provide evidence-based recommendations for various treatment items required for proper recovery after hip fracture surgeries. Methods Reflecting the complex perspectives associated with rehabilitation post-hip surgeries, 15 key questions (KQs) reflecting the complex perspectives associated with post-hip surgery rehabilitation were categorized into four areas: multidisciplinary, rehabilitation, community-care, and comorbidities/complications. Relevant literature from four databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and KoreaMed) was searched for articles published up to February 2020. The evidence level and recommended grade were determined according to the grade of recommendation assessment, development, and evaluation method. Results A multidisciplinary approach, progressive resistance exercises, and balance training are strongly recommended. Early ambulation, weigh-bearing exercises, activities of daily living training, community-level rehabilitation, management of comorbidities/complication prevention, and nutritional support were also suggested. This multidisciplinary approach reduced the total healthcare cost. Conclusion This guideline presents comprehensive recommendations for the rehabilitation of adult patients after hip fracture surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To study the changes in hemodynamics during the induction stage of systemic mild hypothermia therapy in neonates with moderate to severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). METHODS: A total of 21 neonates with HIE who underwent systemic mild hypothermia therapy in the Department of Neonatology, Dongguan Children's Hospital Affiliated to Guangdong Medical University, from July 2017 to April 2020 were enrolled. The rectal temperature of the neonates was lowered to 34℃ after 1-2 hours of induction and maintained at this level for 72 hours using a hypothermia blanket. The impedance method was used for noninvasive hemodynamic monitoring, and the changes in heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO), cardiac index (CI), and total peripheral resistance (TPR) from the start of hypothermia induction to the achievement of target rectal temperature (34℃). Blood lactic acid (LAC) and resistance index (RI) of the middle cerebral artery were recorded simultaneously. RESULTS: The 21 neonates with HIE had a mean gestational age of (39.6±1.1) weeks, a mean birth weight of (3 439±517) g, and a mean 5-minute Apgar score of 6.8±2.0. From the start of hypothermia induction to the achievement of target rectal temperature (34℃), there were significant reductions in HR, CO, and CI ( CONCLUSIONS The systemic mild hypothermia therapy may have a significant impact on hemodynamics in neonates with moderate to severe HIE, and continuous hemodynamic monitoring is required during the treatment.
Cardiac Output ; Child ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hypothermia ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain/therapy* ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Vascular Resistance

ObjectiveTo explore the occurrence， in vitro culture effect and clinical outcomes of embryo contamination during in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer （IVF-ET） cycles. MethodsA retrospective analysis was made on the embryo contamination cases during IVF-ET treatment at Reproductive Medicine Centre， Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology， Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital， Sun Yat-sen University from January 2010 to December 2020. We compared the contamination of 4 different insemination methods， contamination on 3 different in vitro culture days （D1， D2， D3） and contamination of 3 different samples （follicular fluid， semen and culture medium）. The source of contamination and types of microbes were identified. We also compared in vitro culture and clinical outcomes between two groups （42 cases of all embryos contaminated and 28 cases of partial embryos contaminated）. ResultsAmong the 29 583 cycles examined， 70 cycles had microbial contamination （0.24%）， and all contaminated embryos were from in vitro fertilization （IVF） source rather than intracytoplasmic sperm injection （ICSI） source. The contamination rate on D2 was the highest （54.3%）， followed by those on D1 （32.9%） and D3 （12.9%）. Compared with follicular fluid， semen is the most common source of contamination from D1-D3. The most common contaminants identified was Enterococcus faecalis in follicular fluid （18.0%）， while it was Escherichia coli in semen （59.6%） and culture medium （66.7%）. Moreover， the types of bacteria in culture medium were not consistent with those in follicular fluid and semen in 5 cases of microbial contamination. Compared with the Total contaminated group， the Partial contaminated group showed a significant decrease in No available embryo rates （6/28 vs. 34/42， 21.4% vs. 81.0%， P<0.001） and a rising trend in formation of blastocyst rates （5/12 vs. 2/7， 41.2% vs. 28.6%， P=0.656）， meanwhile， the clinical pregnancy cases and live births cases after transplantation of fresh and frozen-thawed cycles in Partial contaminated group were higher than those in the Total contaminated group. ConclusionICSI can effectively reduce embryo contamination. Embryo contamination mainly occurred on D2 in vitro culture and the most common contamination source is Escherichia coli in semen. Partial embryo contamination may still result in good in vitro culture effect and clinical outcomes during IVF-ET cycles.

Background/Aims: Low-level viremia (LLV) after nucleos(t)ide analog treatment was presented as a possible cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). However, detailed information on patients’ adherence in the real world was lacking. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of LLV on HCC development, mortality, and cirrhotic complications among patients according to their adherence to entecavir (ETV) treatment. Methods: We performed a retrospective observational analysis of data from 894 consecutive adult patients with treatment-naïve CHB undergoing ETV treatment. LLV was defined according to either persistent or intermittent episodes of <2,000 IU/mL detectable hepatitis B virus DNA during the follow-up period. Good adherence to medication was defined as a cumulative adherence ≥90% per study period. Results: Without considering adherence in the entire cohort (n=894), multivariate analysis of the HCC incidence showed that LLV was an independent prognostic factor in addition to other traditional risk factors in the entire cohort (P=0.031). Good adherence group comprised 617 patients (69.0%). No significant difference was found between maintained virologic response and LLV groups in terms of the incidence of liver-related death or transplantation, HCC, and hepatic decompensation in good adherence group, according to multivariate analyses. Conclusions In patients with treatment-naïve CHB and good adherence to ETV treatment in the real world, LLV during treatment is not a predictive factor for HCC and cirrhotic complications. It may be unnecessary to adjust their antiviral agent for patients with good adherence who experience LLV during ETV treatment.