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Filigheddu MT, Leonelli M, Varando G, Gómez-Bermejo MÁ, Ventura-Díaz S, Gorospe L, Fortún J. Using staged tree models for health data: Investigating invasive fungal infections by aspergillus and other filamentous fungi. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2024; 24:12-22. [PMID: 38144574 PMCID: PMC10746417 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Machine learning models are increasingly used in the medical domain to study the association between risk factors and diseases to support practitioners in understanding health outcomes. In this paper, we showcase the use of machine-learned staged tree models for investigating complex asymmetric dependence structures in health data. Staged trees are a specific class of generative, probabilistic graphical models that formally model asymmetric conditional independence and non-regular sample spaces. An investigation of the risk factors in invasive fungal infections demonstrates the insights staged trees provide to support medical decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Teresa Filigheddu
- Infectious Diseases Department, Hospital Ramón y Cajal, IRYCIS (Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria); Universidad de Alcalá, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Gherardo Varando
- Image Processing Laboratory (IPL), Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Sofía Ventura-Díaz
- Radiology Department, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain
| | - Luis Gorospe
- Radiology Department, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús Fortún
- Infectious Diseases Department, Hospital Ramón y Cajal, IRYCIS (Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria); Universidad de Alcalá, Madrid, Spain
- Microbiology Department, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain
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Vahedi Raad M, Firouzabadi AM, Tofighi Niaki M, Henkel R, Fesahat F. The impact of mitochondrial impairments on sperm function and male fertility: a systematic review. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2024; 22:83. [PMID: 39020374 PMCID: PMC11253428 DOI: 10.1186/s12958-024-01252-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Besides adenine triphosphate (ATP) production for sustaining motility, the mitochondria of sperm also host other critical cellular functions during germ cell development and fertilization including calcium homeostasis, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), apoptosis, and in some cases steroid hormone biosynthesis. Normal mitochondrial membrane potential with optimal mitochondrial performance is essential for sperm motility, capacitation, acrosome reaction, and DNA integrity. RESULTS Defects in the sperm mitochondrial function can severely harm the fertility potential of males. The role of sperm mitochondria in fertilization and its final fate after fertilization is still controversial. Here, we review the current knowledge on human sperm mitochondria characteristics and their physiological and pathological conditions, paying special attention to improvements in assistant reproductive technology and available treatments to ameliorate male infertility. CONCLUSION Although mitochondrial variants associated with male infertility have potential clinical use, research is limited. Further understanding is needed to determine how these characteristics lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes and affect male fertility potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minoo Vahedi Raad
- Department of Biology & Anatomical Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Amir Masoud Firouzabadi
- Reproductive Immunology Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
- Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Maryam Tofighi Niaki
- Health Reproductive Research Center, Sari Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sari, Iran
| | - Ralf Henkel
- LogixX Pharma, Theale, Berkshire, UK.
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, UK.
- Department of Medical Bioscience, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa.
| | - Farzaneh Fesahat
- Reproductive Immunology Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
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Dogan S, Aydin T, Koroglu N, Yilmazer Y, Albayrak N, Cetin F, Moshfeghi E, Celik O. Assessing the efficacy of a novel sperm-washing medium enriched with serotonin, L-carnitine, and coenzyme Q10: an observational cohort study. Asian J Androl 2024:00129336-990000000-00198. [PMID: 38856308 DOI: 10.4103/aja202425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT This observational cohort study investigated the potential of a novel sperm-washing medium (SWM) enriched with serotonin (5-HT), L-carnitine (L-C), and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) to enhance sperm motility and reduce DNA damage. It compared this innovative medium (5-HT/L-C/CoQ10 SWM) with two widely used commercial media (SWM 1 and SWM 2). Ninety-eight volunteers from an infertility clinic provided semen samples, which were divided into three aliquots for analysis in different SWMs: group 1, SWM was composed of hydroxyethyl piperazineethanesulfonic acid (HEPES), sodium bicarbonate, human serum albumin (HSA), taurine, and gentamicin sulfate (SWM 1); group 2, SWM was composed of HEPES, sodium bicarbonate, and HSA (SWM 2); and group 3, SWM was composed of HEPES-buffered human tubal fluid supplemented with 5-HT, L-C, and CoQ10 (5-HT/L-C/CoQ10 SWM). Sperm motility was categorized as progressive, nonprogressive, or immotile. Apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and DNA fragmentation were also assessed. There were no significant differences in total or progressive sperm motility among the groups. Spermatozoa in group 3 exhibited reduced apoptosis, necrosis, and ROS levels and increased viability. No significant differences were observed in the DNA fragmentation index among groups. The 5-HT/L-C/CoQ10 SWM reduced sperm oxidative stress and apoptosis compared with those of the two commercially available SWMs, suggesting that 5-HT/L-C/CoQ10 SWM could be useful for enhancing in vitro fertilization success rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sinem Dogan
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Istanbul Kultur University, Istanbul 34158, Türkiye
| | - Turgut Aydin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Acibadem Mehmet Ali Aydinlar University, Istanbul 34303, Türkiye
| | - Nadiye Koroglu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Acibadem Mehmet Ali Aydinlar University, Istanbul 34303, Türkiye
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Istanbul Beykent University, Istanbul 34500, Türkiye
| | - Yasemin Yilmazer
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University, Istanbul 34303, Türkiye
| | - Nazli Albayrak
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Acibadem Mehmet Ali Aydinlar University, Istanbul 34303, Türkiye
| | - Fadime Cetin
- Department of Bioengineering, Istanbul Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul 34349, Türkiye
| | - Elnaz Moshfeghi
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Istanbul Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul 34349, Türkiye
| | - Ozge Celik
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Istanbul Kultur University, Istanbul 34158, Türkiye
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Liu X, Lou K, Zhang Y, Li C, Wei S, Feng S. Unlocking the Medicinal Potential of Plant-Derived Extracellular Vesicles: current Progress and Future Perspectives. Int J Nanomedicine 2024; 19:4877-4892. [PMID: 38828203 PMCID: PMC11141722 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s463145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Botanical preparations for herbal medicine have received more and more attention from drug researchers, and the extraction of active ingredients and their successful clinical application have become an important direction of drug research in major pharmaceutical companies, but the complexity of extracts, multiple side effects, and significant individual differences have brought many difficulties to the clinical application of herbal preparations. It is noteworthy that extracellular vesicles as active biomolecules extracted from medicinal plants are believed to be useful for the treatment of a variety of diseases, including cancer, inflammation, regenerative-restorative and degenerative diseases, which may provide a new direction for the clinical utilization of herbal preparations. In this review, we sort out recent advances in medicinal plant extracellular vesicles and discuss their potential as disease therapeutics. Finally, future challenges and research directions for the clinical translation of medicinal plant extracellular vesicles are also discussed, and we expect that continued development based on medicinal plant extracellular vesicles will facilitate the clinical application of herbal preparations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoliang Liu
- Department of Urology, Jiujiang University Clinic College/Hospital, Jiujiang, Jiangxi, People’s Republic of China
| | - Kecheng Lou
- Department of Urology, Lanxi People’s Hospital, Jinhua, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yunmeng Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Jiujiang College Hospital, Jiujiang, Jiangxi, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chuanxiao Li
- Department of Urology, Jiujiang University Clinic College/Hospital, Jiujiang, Jiangxi, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shenghong Wei
- Department of Urology, Jiujiang University Clinic College/Hospital, Jiujiang, Jiangxi, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shangzhi Feng
- Department of Urology, Jiujiang University Clinic College/Hospital, Jiujiang, Jiangxi, People’s Republic of China
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