The growing burden of male hypogonadism has raised concerns regarding the potential impact of modern lifestyles and environmental exposures on male reproductive health. Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is widely used for the treatment of male hypogonadism. However, prolonged TRT may suppress the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular (HPT) axis, resulting in reduced gonadotropin production, decreased intratesticular testosterone levels, impaired spermatogenesis, testicular atrophy, and compromised fertility. Current management strategies, including human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), can support recovery in some patients, but their effectiveness remains variable. This narrative review examines the emerging role of peptide and neuroendocrine strategies in TRT-induced reproductive suppression and functional male hypogonadism. A structured literature search was conducted to identify experimental, translational, and clinical studies investigating reproductive peptides and related neuroendocrine pathways. Particular attention was given to kisspeptin-based therapies, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-related approaches, neurokinin signaling pathways, and other developing interventions with potential relevance to male reproductive health. Current evidence suggests that peptide-based therapies may support endogenous hormonal signaling through targeted activation of the HPT axis. However, direct evidence demonstrating restoration of spermatogenesis or fertility following TRT-induced suppression remains limited, and important questions regarding long-term efficacy, safety, treatment protocols, and patient selection remain unresolved. Emerging peptide therapeutics represent a growing area of interest in reproductive endocrinology and may expand future treatment options for selected patients. Nevertheless, further well-designed clinical studies are required to establish their long-term efficacy, safety, and role in restoring reproductive function following TRT-induced suppression.
Ana-Maria Creţu, A. Kamar, A. Ciobîcă et al.· Frontiers in Reproductive He...· 0 citations
Ciprofloxacin (CIP), a widely prescribed fluoroquinolone antibiotic, has emerged as an environmental concern because of its persistence in aquatic systems, limited removal by conventional treatment processes, and role in the spread of antibiotic resistance. While biochar adsorption has gained attention for pharmaceutical removal, the use of cauliflower-leaf-derived biochar, particularly after chemical modification, has received limited investigation. Furthermore, studies integrating optimization of both biochar preparation and adsorption performance remain scarce. In the present study, raw cauliflower-leaf biochar (CLB10) and phosphoric-acid-modified biochar (PAM-CLB1.5) were evaluated for CIP removal from water using Response Surface Methodology based on a Box–Behnken experimental design. The optimized preparation conditions, i.e., pyrolysis time, temperature, and particle size for CLB10 were identified as 90 min, 475 °C, and 272.5 μm, respectively. Under optimized adsorption conditions, CLB10 achieved 78.43% CIP removal, whereas PAM-CLB1.5 exhibited substantially higher removal efficiency (97.54%), demonstrating the beneficial effect of phosphoric acid modification. Surface characterization showed that acid treatment enhanced pore development, increased specific surface area from 15.03 to 24.65 m2 g-1, and introduced phosphorus-containing functional groups that promoted stronger adsorbent–adsorbate interactions. CIP adsorption data were better described by the Langmuir isotherm model for both CLB10 and PAM-CLB1.5, suggesting predominant monolayer-type adsorption behavior under the investigated conditions. Kinetic data followed the pseudo-second-order model, indicating that adsorption was strongly influenced by surface-site-controlled interactions. Higher removal efficiency was attributed to the combined effects of pore filling, hydrogen bonding, electrostatic attraction, and π–π interactions. Regeneration experiments demonstrated satisfactory reusability, with the modified biochar retaining approximately 87% removal efficiency after five adsorption–desorption cycles. It was concluded that PAM-CLB1.5 could be used as an efficient adsorbent for the removal of CIP from water.
Qazi saliq, M. Rizwan, Sheeraz Ahmed Memon et al.· Frontiers in Chemistry· 0 citations
