← all papers · biomarkers (66) Science journalism, not medical advice.
- TRT and Heart Risk: Is a Gel Safer Than a Shot?2026-07-05
Low testosterone tracks with worse blood vessel markers, and TRT improves most of them, but gel vs. injection safety claims are still unproven
Circulating Markers of Cardiovascular Health in Hypogonadism Before and After Testosterone Therapy: Molecular Aspects and Formulation Comparison hypogonadism testosterone therapy cardiovascular disease vascular health biomarkers narrative review
- A Gut Bug That Flags Kidney Stone Return2026-06-29
A Chinese prospective study found Escherichia-Shigella gut abundance, family history, and creatinine predicted stone recurrence with AUC 0.943 in validation.
Development and Validation of a Predictive Model for Calcium Oxalate Kidney Stone Recurrence Integrating Gut Microbiome and Clinical Features kidney stones gut microbiome biomarkers cohort study
- Two Standard Methods Get Penile Physics Backwards2026-06-29
Two common elastography methods gave physiologically reversed results in penile stiffness imaging; a filtering fix corrected them across all 6 patients
Reverberant Wavefield Characterization and Directional Filtering for Penile Vibro-Elastography: A Pilot Feasibility Study in Post-Prostatectomy Erectile Dysfunction erectile dysfunction surgical outcomes biomarkers prostate cancer
- Shockwave Therapy Works, But Not How They Thought2026-06-23
Radial shockwave therapy improved erectile function in 44% of 48 men with vasculogenic ED, but left cavernosal oxidative stress markers unchanged
Evaluation of Cavernosal Oxidative Biomarkers Following Radial Li-ESWT in Vasculogenic Erectile Dysfunction erectile dysfunction oxidative stress vascular health biomarkers
- The Testicular Tumor That Fools Every Blood Test2026-06-19
A 21-year-old's painless testicular mass turned out to be a tumor type so rare it accounts for under 1% of testicular neoplasms — and all standard tumor markers came back normal.
Primary Testicular Neuroendocrine Tumor: Diagnostic Challenges and WHO 2022 Classification Insights case report testicular cancer testicular disease pathology biomarkers
- New Ultrasound Spots Fertility Treatment Response Early2026-06-18
A super-resolution ultrasound scan detected testicular treatment response before blood hormone tests did
Ultrasound localisation microscopy tracks testicular microvascular adaptations to endocrine function in male infertility hypogonadism male infertility biomarkers case-control study
- One Testosterone Test Isn't Enough for ED2026-06-16
Lab review argues most ED workups over-order hormones and under-order glucose and lipids
High-value laboratory testing in erectile dysfunction, reduced sexual desire, and suspected hypogonadism: analytical pitfalls and selective biomarker use erectile dysfunction hypogonadism testosterone biomarkers narrative review
- Could a Blood Test Replace Testicular Biopsy?2026-06-15
A 2026 narrative review maps the landscape of non-invasive biomarkers for azoospermia diagnosis, covering small RNAs, proteomics, genetic markers, and imaging
Research Progress on the Pathogenesis and Diagnostic Biomarkers of Azoospermia male infertility biomarkers genetics genomics spermatogenesis narrative review
- Why Won't Testicular Cancer Respond to Immunotherapy?2026-06-11
Checkpoint inhibitors largely fail in testicular germ cell tumors despite PD-L1 expression and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes — a review argues miRNAs may explain why
MicroRNAs and Immunotherapy in Testicular Germ Cell Tumors: Opportunities and Challenges for Modulation of the Immune Microenvironment testicular cancer immunology biomarkers narrative review
- Folate Doesn't Move the Needle on Kidney Stones2026-05-29
Folate intake and circulating folate markers had no significant association with kidney stone disease in 9,208 US adults after adjusting for confounders.
Association Between Dietary and Circulating Folate Markers and Kidney Stones in American Adults: A Cross-Sectional NHANES Analysis kidney stones cross-sectional epidemiology biomarkers
- Oxidative Lipid Damage Markers: A New IVF Yardstick?2026-05-23
A narrative review argues F2-isoprostanes and isofurans could be stable, reliable markers of reproductive oxidative damage — but admits the evidence base is thin
Isoprostanes and Isofurans in Infertility and Assisted Reproduction: What Do We Know So Far? oxidative stress infertility male infertility biomarkers narrative review semen quality
- Immune War in the Testis — Mostly Mouse Data2026-05-12
A review proposes that a shared immune-inflammatory cascade disrupts sperm production — then admits most evidence comes from animals, not men.
Immunological Mechanisms and Precision Stratification in Male Infertility immunology male infertility inflammation oxidative stress narrative review biomarkers spermatogenesis
- Frailty Score Predicts ED—But Only Moderately2026-05-08
Frail men had 22% higher odds of ED vs. non-frail men in a 1,372-person NHANES analysis; predictive accuracy was moderate (AUC 0.662)
Association Between Frailty Index and Erectile Dysfunction: A Cross-Sectional Study Using NHANES 2001 to 2004 Data erectile dysfunction cross-sectional epidemiology biomarkers
- Semen Inflammation Signals Sperm DNA Damage — With Caveats2026-05-06
High sperm DNA fragmentation correlated with elevated NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-1β, and IL-18 — but the protein data came from only 5 men per group
Inflammasome-Related Markers and Long Non-Coding RNAs in Seminal Plasma: Associations with Sperm DNA Fragmentation and Male Infertility male infertility DNA fragmentation inflammation biomarkers epigenetics oxidative stress
- Inside Infertile Sperm: The Missing Power Switch2026-05
In sperm from oligoasthenospermic men, ATP synthase subunits dropped significantly while cytochrome c oxidase rose — in just 17 men
High-Resolution Imaging Reveals Mitochondrial Protein Imbalance in Sperm of Oligoasthenospermic Men male infertility semen quality biomarkers oxidative stress
- Your Genes, Not Your Diet, May Drive Low Phosphate2026-04-30
Narrative review argues that low phosphate in stone formers is driven by genetic defects in kidney transporters, not diet—and that supplementation may cut recurrence.
Hypophosphatemia in Kidney Stone Formers kidney stones genetics narrative review biomarkers
- Five Pregnancy Factors Predict Hypospadias Risk2026-04-27
Five obstetric factors — gestational hypertension, abnormal placenta, and preterm birth among them — predicted hypospadias with AUC 0.857 in temporal validation
Risk Factor Analysis and Nomogram Predictive Model Construction for Neonatal Hypospadias: A Large-Scale Multicenter Study in East China hypospadias pediatric urology pregnancy biomarkers
- Hypospadias Hints at Hidden Testicular Problems2026-04-22
113 Danish infants with hypospadias showed reduced Sertoli and Leydig cell markers during minipuberty, regardless of defect severity
Reproductive Hormones During Minipuberty Suggest Subtle Testicular Impairments in Boys With Hypospadias hypospadias pediatric urology testosterone biomarkers
- Chemo Wrecks Testes — A Gut Molecule Probably Won't Fix It2026-04-19
Doxorubicin scrambles testicular metabolism in mice; a gut-derived molecule reduced cell-dish damage, but the human genetic signal didn't survive correction for multiple comparisons
Metabolomics and Exploratory Mendelian Randomization Identify Indole-3-Propionic Acid Associated with Doxorubicin-Induced Testicular Injury animal study male infertility oxidative stress biomarkers
- ED as an Early Warning Sign for Heart Damage2026-04-18
Review paper argues ED can show up 2-5 years before heart disease, or within months on certain cancer drugs
Erectile dysfunction as an early biomarker of cardiovascular toxicity: Mechanisms and clinical implications erectile dysfunction cardiovascular disease biomarkers narrative review
- Testicular Calcifications Are Only Scary With Baggage2026-04-15
65 studies reviewed: isolated testicular microlithiasis carries minimal cancer risk on its own — the company it keeps is what matters
From Incidentaloma to Actionable Insight: A Clinical-Molecular-Imaging Framework for Risk-Stratified Management of Testicular Microlithiasis testicular cancer testicular disease scoping review biomarkers screening
- Malnutrition Splits Non-Seminoma Survival: 16% vs 97%2026-04-10
Non-seminoma patients with depleted metabolic profiles had 16.1% five-year survival vs 97.4% in those with preserved profiles
Metabolic Profile and Skeletal Muscle as Predictors of Survival in Testicular Germ Cell Tumors testicular cancer biomarkers survivorship cohort study
- Eye Autoimmunity to ED: Pure Speculation2026-04-08
A hypothesis paper proposes that autoimmune retinopathy might damage circadian-regulating retinal cells and thereby impair testosterone and nitric oxide signaling — no data included
A Hypothetical Circadian–Endocrine Pathway Linking Melanopsin-Expressing ipRGC Dysfunction in Autoimmune Retinopathy to Sexual Dysfunction erectile dysfunction sexual dysfunction immunology biomarkers
- Could Infertility Predict Brain Disease? Too Soon to Tell2026-04-02
13-study systematic review finds preliminary mechanistic overlap between male infertility and neurodegeneration — no prospective evidence yet
Male Infertility and Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Systematic Review of Associations and Molecular Mechanisms systematic review male infertility neurodegenerative diseases oxidative stress biomarkers
- Dog Tumor Marker Study Oversells Its Findings2026-03-31
87% of canine testicular seminomas expressed ezrin; higher expression correlated with the more invasive diffuse subtype (n=23)
Histomorphological Features and Ezrin Expression in Testicular Seminomas in Dogs: An Association with Potential Prognostic Value animal study testicular cancer pathology biomarkers
- A Mouse "Space Sperm" Study Finds a Fertility Protein2026-03-31
Mouse and cell study ties a mitochondrial peptide to sperm cell survival under simulated microgravity stress
Mitochondrial-Derived Peptide MOTS-c Targets SLC7A11 to Preserve Spermatogenesis by Suppressing Ferroptosis male infertility spermatogenesis oxidative stress animal study biomarkers
- Four Blood Ratios, Kidney Stones, Mixed Signals2026-03-27
Four composite blood ratios tied to kidney stone prevalence in 27K Americans — but one of the four didn't hold up under scrutiny
Association Between Novel Indicators for Inflammation and Metabolism and Kidney Stones: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of NHANES 2007-2018 kidney stones inflammation biomarkers cross-sectional metabolic syndrome
- Infant Hormone Window Predicts Adult Fertility2026-03-26
Hormone levels at 1–3 months of life predict adult reproductive capacity and can flag hypogonadism before symptoms appear
Clinical Implications of Minipuberty pediatric urology hypogonadism biomarkers infertility
- A Body Measurement Tracks Hypospadias Severity2026-03-21
Boys with hypospadias have shorter anogenital distance (SMD −1.24), with the gap widening as severity increases across 6,905 infants
Association Between Anogenital Distance and Hypospadias: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis hypospadias meta-analysis pediatric urology biomarkers environmental exposure
- One Blood Test Stands Out — But Should It?2026-03-19
In 198 Ghanaian ART patients, only serum chloride differed between pregnancy and non-pregnancy groups — a marginal gap within normal range
Male Factors Associated With Success Following Assisted Reproduction Technology Among Infertile Couples in Ghana male infertility semen quality cross-sectional biomarkers pregnancy
- The Testicular Tumor Hiding Behind Wrong Diagnoses2026-03-19
A review of an ultra-rare testicular malignancy, defined by EWSR1::ATF1 gene fusions, that has been routinely misclassified as other tumor types
Inflammatory and Nested Testicular Sex Cord Tumors: Clinical and Molecular Characterization testicular cancer genetics pathology biomarkers
- Male Fertility Prevention: Everything but the Numbers2026-03-18
Narrative review maps primary-to-tertiary prevention in male reproductive health — broad scope, no original data, no quantified effect sizes
Preventive Strategies and Biomarkers in Male Reproductive Health from Multidisciplinary Perspective: Narrative Review male infertility biomarkers infertility screening evidence quality
- FSH, Not Just Testosterone, May Drive Muscle Loss2026-03-17
Men with Klinefelter syndrome had significantly less lean mass than Kallmann men (ALMI 7.28 vs 8.37 kg/m²), implicating FSH
Body Composition by DXA in Patients with Klinefelter and Kallmann Syndrome: The Kama Study hypogonadism testosterone therapy genetics biomarkers
- PE, Anxiety, and SSRIs: One Broken System2026-03-17
A 2026 narrative review maps how serotonin and BDNF link premature ejaculation to comorbid anxiety and depression — and makes a pitch for TCM adjuncts
Role of 5-HT and BDNF in Premature Ejaculation With Anxiety or Depression sexual dysfunction antidepressants traditional chinese medicine biomarkers
- Why Is One-Third of Male Infertility Unexplained?2026-03-14
Male infertility causes 20–30% of all infertility cases globally, yet 30–40% of cases have no identified cause
Epidemiology, Etiopathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Male Infertility — Current Trends and Future Directions: A Narrative Review male infertility epigenetics environmental exposure biomarkers
- Mood, Not Birth Method, Drives Postpartum Sexual Dysfunction2026-03-14
Sexual function scores hit a nadir 6–8 weeks postpartum and depression predicted decline better than delivery mode or breastfeeding
Longitudinal Trajectories and Psychosocial Predictors of Postpartum Sexual Dysfunction from Early Pregnancy to 12 Months Postpartum sexual dysfunction women's health pregnancy biomarkers
- Penile Cancer's RNA Biomarkers: Big Promise, Small Studies2026-03-13
A Brazilian review catalogs miRNAs tied to penile cancer progression and HPV status — but the underlying studies are nearly all too small and descriptive to act on
MicroRNAs in Penile Cancer: Challenges, Opportunities, and Translational Perspectives penile cancer biomarkers genomics HPV narrative review
- Three Metabolic Flags for Silent Heart Damage in ED Men2026-03-09
Dyslipidemia more than doubled the odds of diastolic heart dysfunction in 398 men with ED; BMI was the only factor linking to both types
Risk Factors Associated with Cardiac Dysfunction in Men with Erectile Dysfunction erectile dysfunction cardiovascular disease cross-sectional metabolic syndrome biomarkers
- Poor Sperm, Worse Health: The Iceberg Below2026-03-06
Review argues 1–6% of infertile men have undetected life-threatening pathology, yet workup stops at semen analysis
Is Male Infertility an Early Warning of More Serious Diseases? male infertility genetics semen quality biomarkers
- Old Prostate Exam Survives the MRI Era2026-03-03
A 164-patient retrospective found suspicious DRE was present in 48.5% of clinically significant prostate cancer cases and correlated with advanced pathological stage (≥pT3)
In the Era of mpMRI and PSMA PET/CT: Does Digital Rectal Examination Still Matter? prostate cancer screening retrospective cohort surgical outcomes biomarkers
- The 'We Don't Know' Label Hiding Oxidative Damage2026-03-03
Up to 40% of male infertility is labeled "idiopathic" — this review argues that's a diagnostic failure, not a biological reality
Idiopathic Male Infertility Revisited: Can Redox Endophenotypes Reframe the 'Idiopathic' Label? male infertility oxidative stress biomarkers spermatogenesis
- Mom's Diet Shapes Her Son's Sperm, in Cattle2026-03
Genetics explains only ~15% of male infertility; a cattle review argues epigenetic marks fill the gap — and pass across generations
Bull Fertility and Epigenetics: Exploring Influences Beyond Genetics animal study male infertility genetics epigenetics biomarkers
- AMH Flags Azoospermia But Can't Predict Sperm Count2026-02-20
AMH is lower in men with non-obstructive azoospermia, but doesn't independently predict sperm concentration once FSH and testicular volume are accounted for
Serum Antimüllerian Hormone as a Biomarker of Functional Testicular Reserve: A Comparative Analysis male infertility biomarkers semen quality infertility
- Male Infertility Tests Haven't Changed in a Decade2026-02-20
A review of upcoming fertility tests genomics, AI, imaging with zero new data of its own
Emerging Diagnostics Tools for Severe Male Infertility and Non-obstructive Azoospermia male infertility genomics artificial intelligence biomarkers narrative review
- Does Iron Boost Testosterone? Barely2026-02-20
Serum iron associates with testosterone in middle-aged men — but the causal story is murkier than the headline suggests
Serum Minerals and Male Age-related Hypogonadism: Multimodal Evidence Decoding Associations and Intervention Strategies iron metabolism biomarkers genetics hypogonadism
- Blood Test Predicts Who Survives Salvage Chemo for Testicular Cancer2026-02-19
In relapsed germ cell tumors, a liquid biopsy tumor fraction above threshold predicted significantly worse OS; miR-371a-3p did not.
Impact of Circulating Tumor DNA and Copy-Number Alterations on Clinical Outcome in Relapsed/Refractory Germ Cell Tumors Treated With Salvage High-Dose Chemotherapy testicular cancer biomarkers genomics cohort study
- Inflammation Scores Track With Lower Testosterone2026-02-18
In 7,576 men from NHANES, higher composite inflammation scores independently predicted lower total and free testosterone — but the age-stratified FT findings raise questions
Association Between Chronic Inflammation Status and Serum Testosterone and Free Testosterone in Adult Males cross-sectional testosterone hypogonadism biomarkers inflammation
- Can a Blood Draw Replace Testicular Cancer Imaging?2026-02-11
Rising TGCT incidence, murky risk factors, and two emerging biomarkers — a military urology team surveys the field
Decoding testicular germ cell tumors: integrating risk, biology, and biomarkers into future care testicular cancer biomarkers genetics
- Insulin Resistance Linked to Softer Erections2026-02-11
Higher TyG index — a proxy for insulin resistance — correlated weakly with lower penile rigidity on objective testing (r = −0.22 at best)
Association Between Triglyceride-Glucose Index and AVSS-RigiScan Test Parameters in Men With Erectile Dysfunction erectile dysfunction metabolic syndrome biomarkers vascular health
- Why Some Sperm Can't Swim: A Molecular Tag2026-02-09
Kmal levels were significantly elevated in asthenozoospermic men and inversely correlated with progressive motility across 94 participants
Lysine Malonylation Regulates Human Sperm Motility male infertility semen quality spermatogenesis biomarkers
- Single-Cell Map Reveals Penile Cancer's Immune Blind Spots2026-02-04
A 66,421-cell atlas of penile squamous cell carcinoma identifies SEMA3C-high tumor cells and exhausted T cells as key drivers of metastasis
Decoding the Cellular Heterogeneity and Malignant Progression of Human Penile Squamous Cell Carcinoma by Single-Cell RNA Sequencing penile cancer biomarkers immunology genetics
- Sertoli vs. Leydig: New Marker, Tiny Sample2026-02-03
LEF1 stained positive in all 5 Sertoli cell tumors and zero of 12 Leydig cell tumors — promising signal, absurdly small dataset
LEF1 and IL13RA2 in Testicular Sex Cord-Stromal Tumors: LEF1 as a Potential Diagnostic Marker for Sertoli Cell Tumors testicular cancer pathology biomarkers retrospective cohort
- Rare Testicular Tumors Get Diagnostic Clarity2026-01-26
Review maps how BAP1 and MTAP immunostaining now separate benign from malignant mesothelial lesions of the tunica vaginalis
Mesothelial Lesions of the Testis: A Review pathology testicular disease testicular cancer biomarkers
- A Stain That Spots Penile Precancer2026-01-20
New IHC marker GATA3 lost in 87–100% of HPV-independent penile intraepithelial neoplasia, potentially resolving a longstanding diagnostic ambiguity
GATA3 Is Underexpressed in Penile Neoplasia: Potential Implications in Diagnosis and Pathogenesis penile cancer pathology biomarkers HPV
- 55 Men, OR of 21 — Color Me Skeptical2026-01-07
An enzyme involved in oxidative stress showed lower activity in infertile men — in a study of 55 total subjects
Enzymatic and Genetic Evaluation of Butyrylcholinesterase in Male Infertility male infertility genetics oxidative stress biomarkers case-control study
- New Blood Marker Flags ED — At 71% Accuracy2026-01-05
sTWEAK, an inflammatory cytokine, rose with ED severity in 90 patients vs. 90 controls — AUC 0.776, 71% sensitivity and specificity
New biomarker for erectile dysfunction: Soluble tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis erectile dysfunction biomarkers vascular health cardiovascular disease
- Semen Vesicles May Diagnose Infertility2025-12-31
Seminal exosomes carry RNA that may help diagnose male infertility — but this review is thin on specifics
Exosomal ncRNAs in Seminal Fluid: Unraveling Their Regulatory Roles in Male Infertility male infertility biomarkers
- PET Scans Outperform CT for Penile Cancer Staging2025-11-29
Review finds FDG PET/CT beats conventional imaging for lymph node staging in penile cancer, though evidence base remains limited.
The Value of FDG PET/CT in Penile Cancer: An Update penile cancer biomarkers surgical outcomes evidence quality
- Penile Cancer Staging Overtreats 80% of Patients2025-11-20
Review argues current DSNB guidelines trigger full lymph node dissection in over 80% of men who wouldn't benefit from it
Sentinel Node Mapping in Penile Cancer: An Update on Methods and Pitfalls penile cancer surgical outcomes evidence quality biomarkers
- Ureaplasma Hits Sperm DNA Without Tanking the Count2025-11-11
UU infection correlated with higher DNA fragmentation index and more abnormal morphology, but most routine semen parameters were unchanged
Effects of Ureaplasma urealyticum Infection on Sperm DNA and Semen Quality male infertility semen quality infertility biomarkers
- A Blood Test May Soon Detect Testicular Cancer2025-10-22
miR-371a-3p is approaching clinical use as a noninvasive diagnostic marker for testicular germ cell tumors
Testicular Germ Cell Tumors and Molecular Biomarkers testicular cancer biomarkers
- The Vote That Ended PeIN Grading2025-08-20
112 pathologists surveyed on how to classify penile precancer; 82% ultimately voted to abandon grading after starting nearly split 51/49
International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) Multidisciplinary Consensus on Premalignant and Putative Precursor Lesions of Penile Cancer: Working Group 5 Report on Terminology, Grading, and Molecular Testing Practices penile cancer HPV pathology biomarkers
- Does Your Gut Decide If a PE Drug Works?2025-07-22
Men who responded to dapoxetine had different gut bacteria than non-responders, but the link was weak
Uncovering novel therapeutic targets for premature ejaculation from gut microbiota: A prospective high-throughput sequencing study premature ejaculation gut microbiome biomarkers cohort study
- Genetics Flags Two New ED Drug Targets2025-06-15
Mendelian randomization across ~325K individuals flagged two candidate drug targets for ED, both expressed in penile endothelial and smooth muscle cells
Identification of potential drug targets for erectile dysfunction with single-cell RNA sequencing: A Mendelian randomization study erectile dysfunction genetics vascular health biomarkers
- Stone Formers' Own Urine Grows More Stones2025-05-23
Urine proteins from calcium oxalate stone patients actively promote crystal formation in vitro, while healthy urine proteins inhibit it — with ~2.5x more oxidized proteins driving the difference.
Urinary Proteins from Stone Formers Promote Calcium Oxalate Crystallization, Growth and Aggregation via Oxidative Modifications kidney stones biomarkers oxidative stress
- One Hormone Test to Find Where Hypogonadism Starts2025-01-20
A narrative review proposes kisspeptin stimulation as the first viable way to tell whether low testosterone originates in the hypothalamus or pituitary.
Kisspeptin as a test of hypothalamic dysfunction in pubertal and reproductive disorders. hypogonadism narrative review biomarkers infertility testosterone