Background Although bacterial infections have been recognized as a possible cause of male infertility, the effect of bacterial infections on sperm quality and sperm DNA fragmentation remains controversial. The current study aimed to investigate the prevalence rate of bacterial infection in subfertile men and its effect on semen quality. Seminal fluid was collected from 172 male members of infertile couples attending the andrology infertility center and a group of 35 fertile subjects as a control. Sperm parameters and DNA fragmentation were evaluated based on the type of bacteria in all ejaculates. Results From the 172 patients investigated for infertility, 60 (34.88%) patients had a positive culture for pathogenic bacteria of different species. Leukocytospermia was significantly higher in infected samples in comparison with non-infected samples (p < 0.05). Sperm concentration and motility and morphology were significantly lower in infected than non-infected samples. Moreover, sperm DNA fragmentation was significantly higher in infected than non-infected samples. Besides, our results showed that sperm DNA fragmentation was correlated significantly with leukocytospermia (R: 0.22, p < 0.01). Conclusion The present study suggested that bacterial infection significantly correlated with leukocytospermia could impair male fertility potential through decreasing sperm motility, morphology, and DNA integrity.

Background: This study was undertaken to ascertain whether long-term occupational exposure to inhalational anesthetic, was associated with any significant alteration in the parameters of immune function. Materials and methods: This was a historical cohort study in which 30 male participants with at least one year of work experience in the operating room at the time of the study and 30 unexposed referent subjects were investigated. Exposure levels were quantified by measuring the urinary concentrations of nitrous oxide (N2O), isoflurane, and sevoflurane gases by headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Serum concentrations of interleukin-4 (IL-4), Th2-type cytokines, and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) were measured by the ELISA method. Additionally, an automated hematology analyzer was used for the white blood cell count and white blood cell differential test. The data were analyzed using SPSS software for Windows version 21. Results: Mean urinary concentrations of N2O, isoflurane, and sevoflurane were found to be 211.57±75.15, 4.06±0.96, and 19.51±12.96  ppb, respectively. In simplistic statistical data analysis, significant differences were noted between exposed and control groups as far as the mean serum cytokines levels (IFN-γ, IL-4) were concerned. Furthermore, after adjusting for important confounders, statistical analysis showed that the IFN-γ, IL-4, and the ratio of IFN-γ/IL-4 were significantly higher in the exposed group than in the referent subjects. Conclusion: These findings provide corroborative evidence to further substantiate the contention that exposure to anesthetics agents (N2O, isoflurane, and sevoflurane) is associated with subtle, subclinical, prepathological changes in the parameters of immune function. The long-term ramification of these changes requires further investigation.

Introduction:High blood pressure is one of the most common non-communicable diseases that is caused by unhealthy lifestyle. The aim of this study was to assess the lifestyle of people with hypertension and compare it with healthy people in Bandar-e-Lengeh city. Methods:In this cross-sectional descriptive-comparative study, 385 people (183 patients with a history of hypertension and 202 healthy people), who reffered to Bandar-e-Lengeh health centers in year 1398, were selected using a combined sampling method as the study sample. The data collection tool was a questionnaire with three parts including demographic information and disease history, clinical examinations, and LSQ lifestyle questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software and univariate and multivariate logistic regression. A P-Value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results:The results showed that the mean age in the group with hypertension was 55.30±13.16 years and in the healthy group it was 49.23±12.69 years. Among the life style dimensions, psychological health (R = 0.96 and P-Value <0.05) and avoiding the use of drugs and narcotics (R = 0.92 and 0.05). P-Value <0.05) had the highest correlation with the blood pressure. Conclusion:According to the findings, health can be improved by improving the dimensions of lifestyle. Therefore, health policymakers need to look at lifestyle dimensions to identify high-risk groups, increase screening efficiencies, and promote the health.

Background: From the general health perspective, the epidemiology of COVID-19 in Hormozgan Province, a region in the south of Iran marked by heavy traffic, can provide useful information to help control the epidemic of the disease in other provinces and the whole country. Objectives: Thus, the present research aimed to epidemiologically analyze COVID-19 patients and patients with severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) based on hospital data in Hormozgan Province. Methods: In the present observational, analytical, cross-sectional study, the epidemiologic data of all 2,055 patients with the symptoms of acute respiratory problems who visited hospitals in Hormozgan between February 20, 2020, and April 19, 2020, were analyzed and reported. Patients’ demographic information included gender, age, and background diseases. Tabulated data, frequencies, and percentages were used for descriptive statistics, and the chi-squared test and odds ratios were used for inferential statistics. Results: The ratios of male to female among people with COVID-19 and respiratory infection were 1.15 and 1.12, respectively. The mean age of the participants was 42.8 ± 21 years. The results revealed that contact with patients had the highest odds ratio (5.41 - 9.30, OR = 7.09) regarding COVID-19 as compared to SARI. Reduced sense of smell (1.86 - 12.87, OR = 4.89), muscular pain (1.24 - 2.14, OR = 1.63), coughs (1.14 - 1.86, OR = 1.46), and fever (1.14 - 1.83, OR = 1.45) showed to have the highest odds ratios concerning the symptoms. As for background diseases, cardiovascular disease (1.004 - 2.110, OR = 1.455), asthma (OR = 1.603, 1.040 - 2.473), and pulmonary chronic disease (1.456 - 3.854, OR = 2.369) had the highest odds ratios. Conclusions: The present findings showed a statistically significant correlation between age and affliction with COVID-19. Moreover, the most prevalent symptoms of the disease were reduced sense of smell, muscular pain, coughs, and fever, as already mentioned in similar studies. The present research showed that patients with cardiovascular disease, asthma, or chronic pulmonary disease had the highest risk of COVID-19.