Evidence map›Paper›PMID 28081209›Full record

SynthesisPloS one2017

MTHFR C677T, A1298C and MS A2756G Gene Polymorphisms and Male Infertility Risk in a Chinese Population: A Meta-Analysis.

Zhengju Ren, Pengwei Ren, Bo Yang, Kun Fang, Shangqing Ren, Jian Liao, Shengzhuo Liu, Liangren Liu, Zhufeng Peng, Qiang Dong

Open access · goldAbstract readMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in PloS one, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
11citing papers in PubMed, 5 pooled it
1.0field-weighted citation impact, top 25% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

11 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 21 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. Pooled it
  5. Association ofAmerican journal of men's health
    Pooled it
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Review
  9. A Association ofInternational journal of fertility & sterility · 2021
    Article
  10. Article
  11. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Zhengju RenDepartment of Urology, Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Pengwei RenDepartment of Evidence-Based Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Bo YangDepartment of Urology, Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Kun FangDepartment of Urology, Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Shangqing RenDepartment of Urology, Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Jian LiaoDepartment of Urology, Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Shengzhuo LiuDepartment of Urology, Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Liangren LiuDepartment of Urology, Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Zhufeng PengDepartment of Urology, Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Qiang DongDepartment of Urology, Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Sichuan University · CNWest China Hospital of Sichuan University · CN

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMethylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene (MTHFR C677T and A1298C) and methionine synthase gene (MS A2756G) polymorphisms have shown an association with male infertility risk in several ethnic populations. Although several studies have evaluated these associations in Chinese populations, their small sample sizes and inconsistent outcomes have prevented strong conclusions. Therefore, the present meta-analysis was performed with published studies to evaluate the associations of the three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and male infertility in a Chinese population.

methodsWe conducted a search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), China biology medical literature (CBM), VIP, and Chinese literature (Wan Fang) databases up to May 31, 2016. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) were used to assess the strength of associations with a random-effect model or a fixed-effect model based on the heterogeneity analysis results. Sensitivity analysis was used to confirm the reliability and stability of the meta-analysis.

resultsA total of nine studies, including 1,713 cases and 1,104 controls, were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled results indicated that the MTHFR C667T polymorphism was significantly associated with increased risk of male infertility in the Chinese population in the allele model (T vs. C: OR = 1.47, 95%CI = 1.32-1.63), the dominant model (TT + CT vs. CC: OR = 1.51, 95%CI = 1.30-1.77), the additive model (TT vs. CC: OR = 2.08, 95%CI = 1.68-2.58) and the recessive model (TT vs. CT+CC: OR = 1.58, 95%CI = 1.31-1.90), whereas the MTHFR A1298C and MS A2756G polymorphisms were not risk factors. There was no significant heterogeneity in any genotype contrasts among the studies. The sensitivity analysis indicated that the results of this meta-analysis were relatively stable.

conclusionThis study suggests that the MTHFR C667T polymorphism may contribute to the genetic susceptibility to male infertility in the Chinese population, whereas MTHFR A1298C and MS A2756G polymorphisms may be unrelated to male infertility. Studies with larger sample sizes and representative population-based cases and well-matched controls are needed to validate our results.

Indexed as

Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide5-Methyltetrahydrofolate-Homocysteine S-MethyltransferaseAllelesChinaDatabases, FactualGenetic Predisposition to DiseaseGenotypeHumansInfertility, MaleMaleMethylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)Odds RatioRisk Factors5-Methyltetrahydrofolate-Homocysteine S-MethyltransferaseMethylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)

Identifiers

PMID28081209
PMCPMC5230789
OpenAlexW2578809036

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.