DECLINE IN SEMEN QUALITY
Type: Part of the educational program
Delivery mode: Seminar
Hours: 3
Instructor: Francesco Pallotti – Position: Professor
Program: Definition and historical trends of semen quality decline and its clinical relevance. Environmental determinants, lifestyle, and biological factors. Evaluation of semen quality (concentration, motility, morphology). Role of environmental toxins and endocrine disruptors. Impact of diet, obesity, smoking, alcohol, and stress. Genetic and epigenetic aspects (mutations, DNA methylation). Effects of systemic and local diseases. Intervention strategies: lifestyle modification, pharmacological therapy, assisted reproduction. Novel biomarkers and emerging technologies. Prevention and health education.
Final assessment: Oral examination
Date: Wednesday, 13/12/2023
ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS AND SPERMATOGENESIS
Type: Part of the educational program
Delivery mode: Seminar
Hours: 3
Instructor: Carla Lubrano – Position: Professor
Program: Definition and sources of endocrine disruptors. Mechanisms of action on spermatogenesis: hormonal effects and direct toxicity. Impact on sperm quality and quantity (motility, morphology, concentration). Epidemiological evidence in male fertility. Exposure and epigenetic alterations. Methods for assessing exposure and biological effects. Preventive and therapeutic strategies. Role of regulation and public health policies. Challenges and future directions. Awareness and education.
Final assessment: Oral examination
Date: Wednesday, 17/01/2024
QUALITY CONTROL IN SEMINOLOGY
Type: Part of the educational program
Delivery mode: Seminar
Hours: 3
Instructor: Francesco Pallotti – Position: Professor
Program: Importance and objectives of quality control in seminology. Standards and guidelines (WHO, CAP, etc.). Semen parameters and standardized operating procedures. Calibration and maintenance of equipment. Management of reagents and consumables. Internal quality control: monitoring and statistical analysis. External quality assessment programs. Management of non-conformities and continuous improvement. Staff training and best practices.
Final assessment: Oral examination
Date: Wednesday, 14/02/2024
SPERM CHROMATIN INTEGRITY
Type: Part of the educational program
Delivery mode: Seminar
Hours: 3
Instructor: Donatella Paoli – Position: Professor
Program: Basic concepts and relevance to fertility. Structure and compaction of sperm chromatin and associated proteins. Environmental and genetic determinants. Evaluation techniques (SCSA, TUNEL, Comet assay). Correlation with semen parameters. Impact on fertilization, embryo development, and pregnancy outcomes. Improvement strategies (lifestyle, treatments, sperm selection). Diagnostic and therapeutic role. Recent evidence. Future perspectives and personalized therapies.
Final assessment: Oral examination
Date: Wednesday, 13/03/2024
METHYLATION PROFILES OF THE MALE GAMETE
Type: Part of the educational program
Delivery mode: Seminar
Hours: 3
Instructor: Donatella Paoli – Position: Professor
Program: DNA methylation: basic concepts and gene regulation. Methylation patterns in the male gamete and differences compared with the female gamete. Techniques (bisulfite sequencing, NGS). Role in spermatogenesis. Association with male infertility. Impact of environment and lifestyle. Transgenerational epigenetic inheritance. Therapeutic approaches and modulation. Ethical aspects and future implications. Clinical applications in andrology.
Final assessment: Oral examination
Date: Wednesday, 10/04/2024
EPIGENETICS AND FERTILITY
Type: Part of the educational program
Delivery mode: Seminar
Hours: 3
Instructor: Paola Grammatico – Position: Professor
Program: Epigenetic mechanisms and gene regulation. Role of epigenetics in fertility. Epigenetic modifications in sperm and oocytes (DNA methylation, histones, non-coding RNA). Impact on gamete quality and embryo development. Effects of diet, toxins, and stress. Epigenetics and assisted reproduction (imprinting). Diagnostic tools and biomarkers. Therapeutic approaches. Research challenges. Future perspectives and personalized reproductive medicine.
Final assessment: Oral examination
Date: Wednesday, 24/04/2024
MICRORNAS IN SEMINAL FLUID
Type: Part of the educational program
Delivery mode: Seminar
Hours: 3
Instructor: Donatella Paoli – Position: Professor
Program: Biogenesis and function of microRNAs. Characteristics and profiles in seminal fluid. Role in spermatogenesis and epigenetic transmission. Analytical techniques (sequencing, qPCR, microarrays). Correlation with sperm concentration, motility, and morphology. Association with infertility and sexual dysfunction. miRNAs as biomarkers. Impact of environment and lifestyle. Targeted therapies and miRNA manipulation: future perspectives. Challenges for clinical implementation.
Final assessment: Oral examination
Date: Wednesday, 15/05/2024
ANTI-SPERM AUTOIMMUNITY
Type: Part of the educational program
Delivery mode: Seminar
Hours: 3
Instructor: Francesco Pallotti – Position: Professor
Program: Definition and epidemiology. Immunological mechanisms (anti-sperm antibodies and immune responses). Risk factors. Diagnosis: antibody testing and semen analysis. Impact on motility, function, and fertilizing capacity. Therapies: pharmacological and assisted reproduction. Role of surgery. Psychosocial aspects. Research challenges. Future perspectives in diagnosis and treatment.
Final assessment: Oral examination
Date: Wednesday, 12/06/2024
METABOLISM AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE
Type: Part of the educational program
Delivery mode: Seminar
Hours: 3
Instructor: Ilaria Barchetta – Position: Professor
Program: Interaction between metabolism and cardiovascular diseases: atherosclerosis and hypertension. Role of lipid and glucose metabolism. Impact of metabolic dysfunction on the cardiovascular system. New metabolic-targeted therapies for prevention. Prevention and management with a metabolic focus.
Final assessment: Oral examination
Date: Wednesday, 26/06/2024
METABOLIC SYNDROME
Type: Part of the educational program
Delivery mode: Seminar
Hours: 3
Instructor: Stefania Mariani – Position: Professor
Program: Definition, diagnostic criteria, and epidemiology. Components: abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, hyperglycemia. Pathophysiology: insulin resistance, inflammation, endothelial dysfunction. Clinical implications: risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Diagnostic approaches. Management: lifestyle, diet, physical activity. Pharmacological therapies targeting individual components and cardiometabolic risk. Prevention and population-level interventions. Complications and comorbidities (fatty liver disease, PCOS, OSA). Research and future developments.
Final assessment: Oral examination
Date: Wednesday, 10/07/2024
NEUROENDOCRINE TUMORS
Type: Part of the educational program
Delivery mode: Seminar
Hours: 3
Instructor: Antongiulio Faggiano – Position: Professor
Program: Definition, classification, and epidemiology. Biology and pathogenesis. Clinical presentation and paraneoplastic syndromes. Biochemical, imaging, and biopsy diagnostics. WHO classification and TNM staging. Management: surgery, medical and targeted therapies. Somatostatin analogues, TKIs, PRRT. Monitoring and follow-up. Challenges and future perspectives.
Final assessment: Oral examination
Date: Wednesday, 24/07/2024
EXPERIMENTAL NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
Type: Part of the educational program
Delivery mode: Seminar
Hours: 3
Instructor: Elisa Giannetta – Position: Professor
Program: Foundations and history of neuroendocrinology. Interactions between the nervous and endocrine systems and feedback mechanisms. Neuroendocrine imaging: PET, fMRI, SPECT, advanced molecular imaging. Research and clinical applications: neural circuits, localization of neuroendocrine tumors, therapy monitoring. Novel therapies: advanced pharmacological and molecular approaches. Targeted treatments and lifestyle interventions. Challenges and future directions: integration of imaging and therapy.
Final assessment: Oral examination
Date: Wednesday, 11/09/2024
ANDROGEN INSENSITIVITY SYNDROME
Type: Part of the educational program
Delivery mode: Seminar
Hours: 3
Instructor: Francesco Lombardo – Position: Professor
Program: Introduction to androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS): definition and classification. Genetic and biochemical basis: androgen receptor mutations. Pathophysiology and impact on sexual development. Clinical classification: complete, partial, and mild forms. Diagnosis: clinical signs, laboratory testing, imaging. Medical management: hormone therapy and surgery. Psychosocial aspects: gender identity and psychological support. Fertility and reproductive options. Research and future developments. Ethical and legal considerations.
Final assessment: Oral examination
Date: Wednesday, 25/09/2024
VARICOCELE AND SPERMATOGENESIS
Type: Part of the educational program
Delivery mode: Seminar
Hours: 3
Instructor: Daniele Gianfrilli – Position: Professor
Program: Introduction to varicocele: definition, prevalence, and impact on fertility. Anatomy and pathophysiology. Effects on spermatogenesis: thermal, oxidative, and hormonal mechanisms. Diagnosis: physical examination, Doppler ultrasound, imaging. Correlation between varicocele grade and spermatogenic impairment. Treatment: surgical (ligation, embolization) and non-surgical approaches. Impact on fertility outcomes. Post-treatment monitoring. Controversies and treatment indications. Future perspectives: biomarkers, innovative therapies, personalized management.
Final assessment: Oral examination
Date: Wednesday, 09/10/2024
Seminars
• 15/12/2023 – Alessio Ugolini, MD Mechanisms of immunosuppression in glioblastoma: neutrophil metabolism as a potential therapeutic target
• 03/04/2024 – Prof. Clara Balsano, Prof. Pierpaolo Vittorini, Dr. Ivan Letteri Big Data, AI and Healthcare: diagnostic and prognostic algorithms
• 11/06/2024 – Dolores Di Vizio (Visiting Professor) Biology and Translational Significance of Cancer-Derived Extracellular Vesicles
• 08/07/2024 – Prof. Ashley Grossman Academic perspectives for PhD holders – “An academic future?”
• 14/10/2024 High-resolution spatial transcriptomics in 3D