At the end of 2019 a novel virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), causing severe acute respiratory syndrome expanded globally from Wuhan, China. In March 2020 the World Health Organization declared the SARS-Cov-2 virus a global pandemic. We performed a narrative review to describe existing literature with regard to Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, management and future perspective. MEDLINE, EMBASE and Scopus databases were searched for relevant articles. Although only when the pandemic ends it will be possible to assess the full health, social and economic impact of this global disaster, this review represents a picture of the current state of the art. In particular, we focus on public health impact, pathophysiology and clinical manifestations, diagnosis, case management, emergency response and preparedness.

How do day and night scrotal temperatures, spermatogenesis parameters, sex hormones and intratesticular perfusion in obese men and men with a varicocele compare with healthy controls? Compared with healthy controls, 24-h monitoring of scrotal temperature in men with a varicocele and obese men showed higher temperatures and this condition was related to a significant alteration of spermatogenesis and stasis of testicular perfusion. Several studies have shown that increased scrotal temperature has dramatic effects on spermatogenesis. Scrotal hyperthermia by exposure to sauna is able to induce a significant alteration of sperm production. In a case–control study, data were collected over a period of 2 years from 60 subjects with risk factors for testicular heating and 20 healthy subjects who consecutively attended an andrology unit as participants in an infertility prevention program. Forty subjects with a left varicocele, 20 obese men and 20 healthy subjects who served as controls, were evaluated for testicular volumes, sex hormones, sperm parameters, sperm aneuploidies, mean transit time (MTT) of intratesticular blood and 24-h scrotal temperature monitoring by a cutaneous thermochip. Subjects with a varicocele were further subgrouped on the basis of normo or oligozoospermia (VN and VO). Student's t-test was used for statistical analysis. We found a significant increase in 24-h mean scrotal temperature in obese men and men with a varicocele compared with controls (both P < 0.01). This increase in scrotal temperature was associated with impaired sperm parameters and higher FSH plasma levels compared with controls. Dynamic evaluation of scrotal temperatures showed wide fluctuations in controls, but little variation in obese men and men with a varicocele. Men with VO had left and right increase in scrotal temperatures (the right was increased also versus VN, P < 0.01) (both P < 0.001). Men with VN showed a left scrotal temperature higher than controls (P < 0.01) and a right scrotal temperature no different from controls (34.92 ± 0.53 and 34.66 ± 0.65, respectively). Mean MTT values recorded in men with VO were significantly higher than men with VN and obese men (both P < 0.001). Different lifestyle, diet, occupation, stress level and environmental temperatures due to seasonal conditions are major limitations of this study. Our data suggested for the first time that dynamic evaluation of scrotal temperatures seems to reflect alterations of testicular function and perfusion in obese men and men with a varicocele. In these clinical conditions, spermatogenic impairment and scrotal heating seem to be related to different mechanisms. The dynamic evaluation of scrotal temperature in subjects with risk factors for testicular heating could allow the identification of subjects needing treatment or a change in lifestyle. No external funding was sought for this study, and the authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

Depression in tuberculosis increases the risk for adverse health outcomes. However, little is known about comorbid depression and tuberculosis in the general population. Thus, we assessed the association between depression and tuberculosis, and the decrements in health status associated with this comorbidity in 48 low- and middle-income countries. Cross-sectional, community-based data from the World Health Survey on 242,952 individuals aged ≥ 18 years were analyzed. Based on the World Mental Health Survey version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview, past 12-month depression was categorized into depressive episode, brief depressive episode, subsyndromal depression, and no depression. Health status across six domains (cognition, interpersonal activities, sleep/energy, self-care, mobility, pain/discomfort) was assessed. Multivariable logistic and linear regression analyses were performed to assess the associations. The prevalence of depressive episode among those with and without tuberculosis was 23.7% and 6.8%, respectively (P < 0.001). Tuberculosis was associated with a 1.98 (95% CI 1.47–2.67), 1.75 (95% CI 1.26–2.42), and 3.68 (95% CI 3.01–4.50) times higher odds for subsyndromal depression, brief depressive episode, and depressive episode, respectively. Depressive episode co-occurring with tuberculosis was associated with significantly worse health status across all six domains compared to tuberculosis alone. Interaction analysis showed that depression significantly amplifies the association between TB and difficulties in self-care but not in other health domains. Depression is highly prevalent in adults with tuberculosis, and is associated with worse health status compared to tuberculosis without depression. Public health efforts directed to the recognition and management of depression in people with tuberculosis may lead to better outcomes.