Najat Mutar Euraebi Al-salami

Background: Most testicular sperm retrieval procedures in non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) fail. Reliable pre-operative predictors remain undefined, and Iraqi data are scarce. Objective: To evaluate clinical and hormonal predictors of successful testicular sperm retrieval in Iraqi men with NOA. Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study enrolled 85 men with NOA undergoing conventional testicular sperm extraction at Al-Sadr Medical City in Najaf, Iraq (November 2025–May 2026). Age, body mass index (BMI), infertility duration and serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone, prolactin and inhibin B were compared between retrieval groups using Mann–Whitney U tests, univariate logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic analysis. Results: Sperm were retrieved in 29/85 men (34.5%). Successful retrieval was associated with older age (33.62 ± 8.39 vs. 29.96 ± 5.85 years, p = 0.042), lower FSH (7.04 ± 4.48 vs. 11.59 ± 8.30 mIU/mL, p = 0.008) and lower LH (4.67 ± 2.35 vs. 7.61 ± 5.19 mIU/mL, p = 0.037). Discrimination was fair (area under the curve: FSH 0.676, LH 0.639). BMI, infertility duration, testosterone, prolactin and inhibin B were not predictive. Conclusions: FSH and LH were associated with retrieval outcome but discriminated only fairly. They should inform counselling, not exclude men from surgery.

ABSTRACT: Background: Bone healing depends on a well-balanced and highly coordinated process of inflammation, repair, and bone remodeling. Portulaca oleracea and gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) have demonstrated potential applications in wound healing in soft tissues; however, their potential in hard-tissue bone regeneration has yet to be studied in comparison with each other and within the context of biocompatibility. Objective: to assess and compare the anti-inflammatory and biocompatibility effects of Portulaca oleracea extract and Au-NPs on early bone healing in a standardized defect model of tibia of the rabbit. Materials and Methods: Cortical bone defects were surgically created in the tibiae of rabbits and assigned to three independent groups: topical Portulaca oleracea extract treatment, Au-NP treatment, and untreated control. Histological and histomorphometric assessments were conducted at critical early time points (days 3 and 7 post-surgery) to determine the inflammatory cell dynamics, proliferation of fibroblasts, osteoblast and osteocyte activity, and neovascularization. Results: Morphometric analysis of the bone defect area showed that the application of Portulaca oleracea extract and gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) had a significant effect on the process of tissue healing and osteogenesis. All experimental groups had a significant decrease in the number of inflammatory cells and a significant increase in blood