ABSTRACT
Background: SARS-CoV-2 is known to infect the testes and reduce the quality of spermatozoa so that it is at risk of causing male infertility. Data related to the effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection on sperm parameters from Southeast Asia, especially Indonesia, are still very limited, so it is necessary to investigate further which parameters are most affected by COVID-19. Destination: This study aims to compare the concentration, motility, morphology, and DNA fragmentation of spermatozoa in the COVID-19 survivor group and the non-COVID-19 survivor group in Indonesia. Method: This research was conducted at two fertility centers in Indonesia, namely BOCAH Indonesia, Primaya Hospital Tangerang, and the Laboratory of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Airlangga University, Surabaya. The research subjects were taken from two groups of volunteers, COVID-19 survivors, and non-COVID-19 survivors. The semen analysis was carried out including for all samples, including concentration, motility, and morphology-based on guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO) 2010. Meanwhile, spermatozoa DNA fragmentation was assessed using the sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) method.
ABSTRACT
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has spread worldwide, forcing governments to implement quarantines as a preventive measure against the spread of the virus. Quarantine causes changes in lifestyle and anthropometry status among communities. Objective: To describe the lifestyle and anthropometric status of medical students batch 2018 FM UA during the pandemic. Methods: This was a descriptive study using online questionnaires from September 2020 to February 2021. Results: There were variations in students’ anthropometry. Students’ average height is 161.110 cm, the average weight is 60.308 cm, the average body mass index is 23.193 cm, the average upper arm circumference is 27.846 cm, and the average abdominal circumference is 79.621 cm. Furthermore, 145 respondents (81.9%) stated that they experienced changes in their lifestyle during the pandemic. A total of 89 respondents (50.3%) continued to exercise and the other 88 respondents (49.7%) did not. Regarding the sleep pattern, 108 respondents (61%) had quite good sleep quality and 50 respondents (28.2%) had quite poor sleep quality. For the food consumption pattern, 46 respondents (26%) ate more sweet foods. Furthermore, 156 respondents (88.1%) did sedentary activities, with 77 respondents (43.5%) doing sedentary behavior for more than 6 hours a day. Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the anthropometric status of medical students batch 2018 FMUA varied;and tend to maintain their physical activity, have quite good sleep quality, prefer eating sweet foods, and do a sedentary behavior for a longer duration
ABSTRACT
Background. Several studies have shown the short-term effects of COVID-19 on semen quality, but not as many for the long-term effects. This follow-up study aims to explore the long-term effects of COVID-19 on male fertility by comparing semen parameters of patients recovering from COVID-19 infection. Methods. Fourteen subjects aged >18 years old who had a history of resolved COVID-19 infection with previous evidence of laboratory-confirmed positive SARS-CoV-2 nasopharyngeal PCR swab result, and had a previous history of infertility after COVID-19 infection based on the evidence of the semen analysis within 6 months or longer were recruited in this study. Analysis of the semen parameter of all fourteen subjects was performed, including semen volume, pH, sperm concentration, total, progressive, non-progressive, and immotile motility percentage, morphology percentage, leukocyte, erythrocyte, and immature sperm cells parameters. The semen analysis obtained from this current semen analysis was compared with individual baseline semen analysis results, which were obtained in the resolution phase of COVID-19 infection, 6 months or longer from the current semen analysis. Results. Mean pH decreased significantly in follow-up semen analysis, with baseline vs. follow-up 7.9 vs 7.4 (p=0.002;95%CI=0.3-0.67). Mean sperm concentration also decreased significantly, with baseline vs. follow-up 78.5 million/mL vs. 37.4 million/mL (p=0.013;95%CI=7.5-74.5). Lastly, mean immature sperm count is also decreased significantly, with baseline vs. follow-up 2.5 million/mL vs. 0.4 million/mL (p=0.006;95%CI=0.37-4.03). No significant difference was documented for other semen parameters. Conclusion. After 6-7 months of recovery from COVID-19 symptoms, follow-up semen analysis showed reduced sperm pH, sperm concentration, and immature sperm count. These findings indicate that COVID-19 infection could have a longer-term impact on male infertility. © 2022 Universidad Tecnica de Manabi. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Since its inception in 2019 from China, the novel Coronavirus has caused an unprecedented havoc in the economic and public health sector. Many countries were forced to close their borders and cross-border interactions in order to limit the spread of the disease. Furthermore, many economic and commercial activities were adversely affected as many businesses had to close. The only ones that the pandemic spared were the ones providing essential services. By March 2020, many public healthcare facilities had already been overrun. Other governments devised alternative means of managing significant cases of COVID-19, such as introducing home-based care to give room for more critical cases to be taken care of in intensive care units. It is imperative to identify the disease's risk factors to mitigate the unexpected devastation caused by the SARS-CoV-2. Global epidemiological results indicate that men, especially the elderly, are more susceptible to Coronavirus infection. The number of reported Coronavirus cases varies by gender, and this disparity continues to grow in favor of male participants until they reach the age of 60. Other studies have also established that men more than women are susceptible to coronavirus infection. Further, male patients diagnosed with coronavirus infection were shown to have an elevated mortality rate. SARS-CoV-2 is the Covid-19 pathogen that is transmitted via respiratory globules, through indirect or direct interaction. Evaluation of the genome has revealed that SARS-CoV-2 is 79% similar to SARS-CoV-2;they employ ACE2 receptors to attack cells, meanwhile it has been established that TMPRSS2 promotes ACE2, therefore causing more severe reactions in comparison to the other types of coronaviruses. Studies describe ACE2 as a gateway for viruses to enter cells. It is directly associated with the COVID-19 clinical symptoms. Research has shown that TMPRSS2 and ACE2 are expressed in the male reproductive system tract and testis and are controlled by testosterone. Thus, the male reproductive system has all the mechanism needed to bid SARs-CoV-2, and these possibilities raise the capability of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 as potential vectors of COVID-19. This review examines how the novel Coronavirus find its way into the human cells through known receptors such as ACE2, antibody Fcy R, etc. The examination is also done on the mechanisms of its spike proteins transition with the help of proteases such as cathepsins, Furin, and TMPRSS2. The study reviewed six articles selected based on PRISMA criteria.
ABSTRACT
Background: To curb Corona Virus Diseases 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and Hepatitis B further spread, the local Health Ministry collaborated with local communities to build COVID-19 and Hepatitis B Ambassador. This program utilizes the youth generation to support health promotion and health prevention. This study aims to evaluate the motivation, commitment, and knowledge of the youth generation as very few studies have attempted to analyze them. Methods: Fifty-seven participants who participated in the Ambassador program were voluntarily enrolled in the study. We conducted an online survey and presented them with a questionnaire while monitoring their progress in the live video call. The qualitative and quantitative data were analyzed statistically to find the correlation between the variables. Results: The youths' motivation for joining health programs comprises benefit-driven motivation and mostly altruistic motivation. Most of the youth participants gave a high number of commitment percentages and good opinions regarding both disease management by the local government. There is a significant correlation between the participants' commitment with their knowledge regarding Surabaya and COVID-19 (p<0.001), but not with hepatitis B (p=0.153). There is a significant positive correlation between participants' knowledge of Surabaya city with knowledge of COVID-19 (r=0.255;p=0.018) and Hepatitis B (r=0.331;p=0.003). The participants' age affects their commitment significantly (p<0.001). Conclusion: The motivation, commitment, and knowledge of the youth generation that joining the health ambassador program were correlated with each other. These findings might give an insight, especially for the government to encourage the youth generation to help supporting health promotion and health prevention. © 2021 Academia Nacional de Medicina. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has been a global challenge since its first encounter. It has changed the daily lives of families including the sexual behavior of couples due to public health concerns and government policy to restrict people’s movement. It has changed both interpersonal and partner relationships;the time availability at home, the continued presence of children at home, the fear of infection, and the inability to physically interact with others have changed most people’s sexual behavior. AIM: This study aims to evaluate sexual behavior changes in marriage people of Indonesia during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A cross-sectional online study was conducted, using self-constructed questionnaires. The convenience sample was collected from married males and females for at least 10 months from November 2020 to January 2021. The participants were asked 19 and 20 questions for female and male, respectively, which was an adaptation of the previous questionnaires. Furthermore, a study was conducted to analyze descriptively the changes of sexuality among married people before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: About 201 participants who completed the survey, 110 males (54.7%) and 91 females (45.3%) were included in the analyses. The mean age of participants was 37 years old. Most of the participants have middle to high socio-economy classes and have children at home. Shifting in the work schedule is the main reason to change sexual behaviors. Participants experienced significant changes in sexual behaviors and some sexual responses before and during the restriction time. CONCLUSION: The pandemic has changed sexual behaviors due to social restrictions in Indonesia. These findings imply messages about the consequences of the pandemic on sexual behaviors that may affect the sexual relationship, marriage stability, and physical health itself to fight coronavirus.