Background:The prevalence of obesity is alarming, with prevalence reported from 24 to 36% in developed worlds and a global estimate of adult obesity at over 11%. The relationship between obesity and infertility in men has been emphasized in multiple studies. However, there is a paucity of studies on the disparity between obese and overweight men fertility profiles. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the sex hormones distribution in overweight and obese men.Method: A retrospective case-control study on reproductive hormones in obese and overweight participants was conducted on 789 NHANES 2015-2016 survey data. Of the 789 participants, 229 were control, 270 were overweight, and 290 were obese between 18-80 years of age. We compared the mean plasma level of testosterone, estradiol, and Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) among the groups using one-way ANOVA and mean differences using Tamhane post hoc tests.Results: There was a significant increase in the mean testosterone, and SHBG levels in the control group compared with overweight and obese subjects. However, a significant increase in mean estradiol was observed in the obese compared with overweight and control groups. Interestingly, there was no significant difference in the estradiol level between the control and overweight groups. There was a significant increase in BMI in the obese group compared with overweight, and control groups. Conclusion:Obesity has negative feedback effects on testosterone and SHBG production. However, an unknown mechanism contributes to the lower estradiol level in overweight relative to obese men. Therefore, there is a need to research the molecular basis of fertility hormone metabolism in obese and overweight men.

Background: During this pandemic, many studies have been published on the virology, diagnosis, prevention, and control of the novel coronavirus. However, fewer studies are currently available on the quantitative future epidemiological impacts. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to forecast the COVID-19 morbidities and associated-mortalities among the top 20 countries with the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases globally prior to vaccination intervention. Method: We conducted a secondary data analysis of the prospective geographic distribution of COVID-19 cases data worldwide as of 10 April 2020. The historical data was forecasted using Exponential-Smoothing to detect seasonality patterns and confidence intervals surrounding each predicted value in which 95 percent of the future points are expected to fall based on the forecast. Results: The total mean forecasted cases and deaths were 99,823 and 8,801. Interestingly, the US has the highest forecasted cases, deaths, and percentage cases-deaths ratio of 45,338, 2 358, and 5.20% respectively. China has the lowest cases, deaths, and percentage cases-deaths ratio -267, -2, and 0.75% respectively. In addition, France has the highest forecasted percentage cases-deaths ratio of 26.40% with forecasted cases, and deaths of 6,246, and 1,649 respectively. Conclusion Our study revealed the possibility of higher COVID-19 morbidities and associated-mortalities worldwide.

The present study evaluates the interplay between age and sex on the relationship between MAP and brachial and central PP in young to middle-aged hypertensive patients. This is a cross-sectional study of hypertensive patients referred for radial pulse wave evaluation (Sphygmocor device). A total of 312 patients (69% under antihypertensive treatment), mean age 35 ± 9 years (16-49 years) and 134 ± 14 /82 ± 10 mmHg, with operator index > 70% were included. As shown in the figure, increasing age was associated with a progressive dissociation of central PP between subgroups of MAP below and above the mean (100 mmHg), reaching statistical significance in women only (P = 0.01 for the interaction between age and MAP). Higher MAP significantly boosted the age-related increase in AP (p = 0.01 in men and 0.049 in women for the interaction between age and MAP). The strength of the correlation between MAP and central PP increased with age more steeply in women than in men (see the table). Multiple regression analyses including the agexMAP interaction term confirmed the interaction between age and MAP on central PP in both sexes. In conclusion, the association between distending pressure and PP increases in strength from early adulthood to midlife. Women are more vulnerable to the effect of MAP on central pulsatility.