DeCure's autonomous Rare AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for cryptorchidism — screening already-approved drugs against its 11-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleCryptorchidism maps to a 11-gene Open Targets module — the target space DeCure's AI scientist screens approved drugs against.
DeCure.ai methodSignature reversal (LINCS) plus network proximity (STRING) rank already-approved drugs likely to perturb this module — the same engine that produces DeCure.ai's repurposing hypotheses.
Repurposing thesisScreening approved medicines against this disease module, then publishing the evidence for the strongest candidate. Known pharmacology and human exposure data make the first question sharper — they do not establish safety or efficacy in a new indication.
Research record
01
ResearchComing soon
Candidate research + dossier — target rationale, drug-repurposing thesis and evidence pack.proof: Published dossier + on-chain hash
02
ValidationComing soon
In-vitro biological validation at a contract research org (CRO).proof: CRO contract + in-vitro report
03
Peer review & paperComing soon
Peer-reviewed paper published open-access (preprint + journal).proof: DOI + open-access link + on-chain hash
Current lead
No approved-drug candidate for cryptorchidism is corroborated in the literature DeepSearch retrieved. Some conditions are managed with non-pharmacological care — a device, surgery or physical therapy — rather than a medicine; that may be the case here, or the literature we found may simply be too sparse yet to support a drug-repurposing angle.
Molecular view
structural maintenance of chromosomes flexible hinge domain containing 1 (SMCHD1) — SMCHD1 is one of the genes genetically linked to this disease in Open Targets — shown as context, not as a drug target we're pursuing: no approved-drug candidate for this disease is yet corroborated in the literature we found.
Loading structure…
helix sheet atpdrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 6MW7 · 2.194 Å · ligand ADENOSINE-5'-TRIPHOSPHATE (ATP). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
Cryptorchidism remains a major cause of male infertility and is associated with germ cell tumours. Early recognition and surgery before one year of age are described as the most important interventions to reduce negative impact on both unilateral and bilateral cases. A 2013 review of the literature states that surgical repair at nine months of age shows benefit, and that compliance with this recommendation is demonstrated. The same review notes that unrepaired unilateral cryptorchid testes lack function in adulthood, and that the condition carries a higher risk of future gonadal malignancy. Further research is needed on causes, mechanisms of negative effects, and outcome factors to direct clinical management.
A 2009 study compared young men who had orchiopexy in the first year of life (Group A, n=13) with those operated on in the second year (Group B, n=16). Total sperm counts were clearly higher in Group A (52.3 ± 14.3 million/ml vs. 30.4 ± 23.5 million/ml, p=0.005), and sperm motility was also higher (36.2 ± 8.7% vs. 23.1 ± 15.7%, p=0.009). A clear inverse relationship was found between age at orchiopexy and both total sperm count (r=-0.394, p=0.034) and sperm motility (r=-0.382, p=0.041). The relationship between testis volume, position at surgery, uni/bilaterality, presence of Ad spermatogonia at biopsy, or pre-surgical treatment with LHRH and hCG and later fertility was not significant, which the authors partly attribute to the low number of patients.
A 1997 report notes that on CT scans obtained for male trauma patients, a significant number of cryptorchid testes were subsequently shown to be retractile testes. The authors state that cryptorchidism is associated with significant risks and, when found incidentally, needs to be differentiated from retractile testis and confirmed clinically.
What is still missing are larger prospective studies with sufficient statistical power to clarify which subgroups of patients (by age at surgery, testis position, uni/bilaterality, or biopsy findings) derive the most benefit, and to determine whether any medical intervention before or after surgery improves fertility or reduces malignancy risk beyond the effect of early orchiopexy alone. The 2013 review notes that analysis of data from the Danish national registry can be a valid research tool for future evaluation of outcome, but such registry-based work requires sustained funding and standardised long-term follow-up.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
Current Opinion in Endocrinology Diabetes and Obesity · 2013 · 71 citations
Cryptorchidism
AbstractPURPOSE OF REVIEW: Cryptorchidism remains a major cause of male infertility and can be associated with germ cell tumors. Recent reports regarding cause, diagnosis, treatment and outcome of this disorder continue to inform our understanding of this common and important problem. The frequency of the problem makes cryptorchidism an area where diagnostic knowledge is particularly important for healthcare professionals. RECENT FINDINGS: The literature reviewed in this article approach cryptorchidism from multiple aspects. Reports regarding cause include studies of molecular genetics, endocrine chemical disruptors, the association with galactosemia, the association with low birth weight, and for acquired cryptorchidism, the relationship to infant feeding. In regard to treatment, the benefit of surgical repair at 9 months of age and compliance with recommendations is demonstrated. Further reports continue to document the cryptorchidism's negative impact on fertility, the higher risk of future gonadal malignancy and the lack of function of the unrepaired unilateral cryptorchid testis in adulthood. Management considerations such as the benefit of testicular biopsy at orchiopexy are also reviewed. It was concluded from an analysis of data from the Danish national registry that this can be a valid research tool for future evaluation of the outcome after cryptorchidism. SUMMARY: Early recognition and surgery, before 1 year of age, remain the most important interventions to reduce the negative impact of both unilateral and bilateral cryptorchidism. Further research is needed to better understand causes of cryptorchidism and the mechanisms by which it exerts its negative effects and to clarify outcome factors to direct the best clinical management of cryptorchidism.
European Journal of Pediatric Surgery · 2009 · 69 citations
Sperm Count of Young Men Surgically Treated for Cryptorchidism in the First and Second Year of Life: Fertility is Better in Children Treated at a Younger Age
AbstractINTRODUCTION: Recent data has indicated the usefulness of performing orchiopexy in the first years of life. In this study, we evaluated testicular function in young men operated on for cryptorchidism in the first year of life. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the effects of such an early treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Testicular function was assessed in a group of young men operated for cryptorchidism during the first year of life (Group A, n=13) and during the second year of life (Group B, n=16). RESULTS: Total sperm counts were clearly higher in Group A (52.3+/-14.3 million/ml vs. 30.4+/-23.5 million/ml, p=0.005) as was sperm motility (36.2+/-8.7 vs. 23.1+/-15.7%, p=0.009). A clear inverse relationship was found between age at orchiopexy and total sperm count (r=-0.394, p=0.034) and sperm motility (r=-0.382, p=0.041). The relationship between volume of testes, position at surgery, uni/bilaterality of cryptorchidism, evidence of Ad spermatogonia at biopsy performed during surgery and treatment with LHRH and hCG performed before surgery and fertility was not significant. The latter findings may be partially explained by the low number of patients participating in the study and need further investigation. CONCLUSIONS: We obtained, for the first time, results showing the benefit of treating cryptorchidism during the first year of life rather than in the second year or even later.
Jornal de Pediatria · 2024 · 3 citations · open access
Evaluation of the level of information of pediatricians about the diagnosis and management of cryptorchidism
AbstractOBJECTIVE: Evaluate the level of information of pediatricians about the diagnosis and management of cryptorchidism. METHOD: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted using a form via the "Google Forms" platform. The study population included pediatricians and pediatric residents associated with the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics. Seven hundred twenty-eight responses were recorded and analyzed using IBM SPSS v21. RESULTS: 728 valid responses were obtained. Of these answers, only 20.5 % answered that the physical examination was sufficient for the diagnosis, and 79.4 % responded that they requested ultrasound as the best test to aid in diagnosing cryptorchidism. When questioned about the ideal age for referring a patient with cryptorchidism, the survey recorded 56.3 % of the responses defending the correct age as six months old, 30.2 % shortly after birth, and 13.2 % at two years old. Other topics were addressed in the form, such as the frequency of evaluation of testicular position and investigation for DDS, among others. Still, the answers to these questions were compatible with current manuals and guidelines on cryptorchidism. CONCLUSION: It is evident that the understanding of the professionals consulted about the diagnosis and management of cryptorchidism needs to be updated with the current practices adopted and that pediatricians, in general, must maintain periodic programs on this subject. Therefore, this topic should be part of a continuing education program with pediatric surgery.
American Journal of Roentgenology · 1997 · 0 citations
Retractile testis: an incidental CT finding in trauma patients.
AbstractOBJECTIVE: On CT scans obtained for male trauma patients at our institution, we have noted a significant number of cryptorchid testes that have subsequently been shown to be retractile. Our objective was to alert the clinician to this potentially significant finding. CONCLUSION: Cryptorchidism is associated with significant risks and, when found incidentally, needs to be differentiated from retractile tests and confirmed clinically.
AbstractIt summarizes the articles published in recent years. These articles offered a comprehensive review of international and domestic medical records of cryptorchidism. Various treatments, including hormonal therapy, open surgery, laparoscopy and microsurgical surgery, are discussed in detail. Moreover, the concept of early, systematic and standardized treatments is proposed for optimal clinical therapeutic effects.
Key words:
Cryptorchidism; Hormone
Disease module: DeepOracle (Open Targets). Structures: RDKit from PubChem SMILES. Literature: retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works (targeted per-candidate search), resolved on OpenAlex.
DeCure is a research and publication project, not medical advice and not a treatment. "DeCure for X" describes a research goal, not a claim that a cure exists. Backing a cure is a contribution to fund the research — it is not an investment, and confers no yield, royalty, equity or IP ownership. Papers are published open-access by the DeCure.ai DAO.
