The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on semen quality of uninfected men.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread rapidly worldwide since its discovery in December 2019. Research published since the COVID-19 outbreak has focused on whether semen quality and reproductive hormone levels are affected by COVID-19. However, there is limited evidence on semen quality of uninfected men. This study aimed to compare semen parameters among uninfected Chinese sperm donors before and after the COVID-19 pandemic to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic-related stress and lifestyle changes on uninfected men. RESULTS: All semen parameters were non-significant except semen volume. The average age of sperm donors was higher after the COVID-19 (all P < 0.05). The average age of qualified sperm donors increased from 25.9 (SD: 5.3) to 27.6 (SD: 6.0) years. Before the COVID-19, 45.0% qualified sperm donors were students, but after the COVID-19, 52.9% were physical laborers (P < 0.05). The proportion of qualified sperm donors with a college education dropped from 80.8 to 64.4% after the COVID-19 (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Although the sociodemographic characteristics of sperm donors changed after the COVID-19 pandemic, no decline in semen quality was found. There is no concern about the quality of cryopreserved semen in human sperm banks after the COVID-19 pandemic.

RéSUMé: CONTEXTE: La maladie due au Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) s'est propagée rapidement dans le monde entier depuis sa découverte en décembre 2019. Les recherches publiées depuis l'éclosion de la COVID-19 se sont concentrées sur la question de savoir si la qualité du sperme et les niveaux d'hormones reproductives étaient affectés par la COVID-19. Il existe, cependant, peu de preuves sur la qualité du sperme des hommes non infectés. Cette étude visait à comparer, avant et après la pandémie de COVID-19, les paramètres du sperme chez les donneurs de sperme Chinois non infectés, afin de déterminer l'impact du stress lié à la pandémie de COVID-19 et aux changements de mode de vie sur les hommes non infectés. RéSULTATS: Toutes les valeurs des paramètres du sperme étaient non significatives, à l'exception du volume de sperme. L'âge moyen des donneurs de sperme était plus élevé après la COVID-19 (tous p < 0,05). L'âge moyen des donneurs de sperme admissibles est passé de 25,9 ans (ET : 5,3) à 27,6 ans (ET : 6,0). Avant la COVID-19, 45 % des donneurs de sperme admissibles étaient des étudiants, mais après la COVID-19, 53 % étaient des travailleurs physiques (p < 0,05). La proportion de donneurs de sperme admissibles ayant fait des études secondaires est passée de 80,8 % à 64,4 % après la COVID-19 (p < 0,05). CONCLUSION: Bien que les caractéristiques sociodémographiques des donneurs de sperme aient changé après la pandémie de COVID-19, aucune baisse de la qualité du sperme n'a été constatée. Il n'y a aucune préoccupation quant à la qualité du sperme cryoconservé dans les banques de sperme humain après la pandémie de COVID-19. MOTS-CLéS: COVID-19, Qualité du Sperme, Donneur de Sperme, Banque de Sperme humain.

Age and gender differences in ACE2 and TMPRSS2 expressions in oral epithelial cells.

BACKGROUND: SARS-CoV-2, which has brought a huge negative impact on the world since the end of 2019, is reported to invade cells using the spike (S) protein to bind to angiotensin-converting enzyme II (ACE2) receptors on human cells while the transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) is the key protease that activates the S protein, which greatly facilitates the entry of SARS-CoV-2 into target cells. In our previous study, it was observed that the positive rate of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acids in saliva was higher in male and the elderly COVID-19 patients, suggesting that the susceptibility of oral tissues to SARS-CoV-2 may be related to gender and age. This research aimed to further investigate the SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility in oral tissues and influencing factors from the perspective of ACE2 and TMPRSS2, which were two proteins closely associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. METHODS: Immunofluorescence was used to find the localization of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 in oral mucosal tissues. Transcriptomic sequencing data of several datasets were then collected to analysis the relationship between the expressions of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 with the age and gender of patients. Furthermore, oral tissues from patients with different ages and genders were collected. Immunohistochemistry staining, qRT-PCR and western blot were performed to explore the relationship between expression levels of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 and patient age as well as gender. RESULTS: The results showed that the two proteins were able to be co-expressed in the epithelial cells of oral tissues, and their expression levels were higher in the relatively elderly group than those in relatively younger group. Male oral epithelial cells exhibited higher level of TMPRSS2. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings comprehensively confirmed the existence of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 in oral tissues and clarify the relationship between the expression levels with human age and gender for the first time, providing evidence for possible entry routes of SARS-CoV-2 and the influencing factors of SARS-CoV-2 colonization in oral cavity. Thus, the oral mucosa might be at potential risk of infection by SARS-CoV-2, especially in male or elderly patients. Using saliva to detect the nucleic acids of SARS-CoV-2 may be more accurate for elder male COVID-19 patients.

Stressors Among Chinese Frontline Health Care Workers Exposed to COVID-19 and Associated Mental Health Outcomes.

The current study aimed to identify the main stressors inherent to caring for patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and associated mental health outcomes among frontline health care workers. Data were collected via an online questionnaire from 651 frontline health care workers providing direct medical services for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. Participants reported the stressors inherent to caring for patients with COVID-19, including depression, anxiety, and insomnia. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression analysis. The most common stressors were "Worry about being negligent and endangering coworkers" (76.2%), "Worry about getting infected" (74.7%), and "Protective gear causing physical discomfort" (73.6%). "Conflict between duty and safety" and "Protective gear causing physical discomfort" were linked to high risk of depression, anxiety, and insomnia. Findings suggest that frontline health care workers may develop adverse mental health outcomes in the face of certain stressors, requiring targeted interventions. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 60(1), 17-22.].