Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine

Infertility affects many reproductive-aged couples, with assisted reproductive technology (ART) offering hope but also significant emotional stress due to invasive procedures, hormonal fluctuations, uncertainty, and financial and emotional burden of repeated cycles. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), a common ART complication, may further aggravate psychological distress, yet its mental health impact remains understudied.

This longitudinal study included 1,429 women undergoing their first ART cycle at a reproductive center in China. Psychological assessments were conducted at four critical time points: before ART, post-surgery (early pregnancy), mid-pregnancy and late pregnancy. Validated scales (SAS, CES-D, CPSS, PSQI) measured anxiety, depression, stress, and sleep quality. OHSS was diagnosed per clinical guidelines. Generalized estimating equations (GEEs) assessed changes over time and the moderating effects of OHSS, adjusting for age, education level and income.

OHSS occurred in 9.2% of participants, who tended to be younger and have higher socioeconomic status. Anxiety peaked after surgery and remained elevated; stress declined steadily; sleep quality improved; depression rebounded slightly in late pregnancy. OHSS significantly intensified anxiety and stress but had no clear impact on depression or sleep.

Emotional responses during ART are dynamic. OHSS amplifies anxiety and stress, warranting integrated psychological support within ART programs, particularly for OHSS-affected women.

Zearalenone (ZEA), a fungal mycotoxin commonly found in various human foods, exhibits a structural similarity to naturally occurring estrogen, raising significant concerns regarding its reproductive toxicity. This study aimed to assess the impact of preconceptional ZEA exposure on male reproductive health and early embryonic development. Healthy B6D2F1 male mice were exposed to corn oil or varying doses of ZEA for two weeks. Our findings revealed that ZEA exposure caused a notable reduction in sperm count and motility, accompanied by significant weight loss in the high-dose group. Additionally, high-dose ZEA exposure induced oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and activation of the ERK and p38 MAPK signaling pathways. Furthermore, preconception paternal exposure to ZEA adversely affected in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes. Specifically, male mice exposed to high-dose ZEA exhibited significantly reduced fertilization rates and impaired embryonic development, resulting in embryonic arrest. Metabolic assessment of blastocysts demonstrated elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and a pronounced decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), indicating compromised developmental potential in blastocysts derived from sperm of ZEA-exposed males. In conclusion, this study highlights that high-dose ZEA exposure induces testicular damage, disrupts mitochondrial function, impairs early embryo quality post-IVF, and activates the p38/ERK MAPK signaling pathway.

Accurate diagnosis and treatment in poisoning cases necessitate the monitoring of diquat and paraquat concentrations. This study presents a competitive colloidal gold immunochromatographic assay (GICA) strip for qualitative detection, alongside hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (HILIC-UV) for quantitative assessment. Both methods underwent rigorous validation. The GICA strip achieved a detection limit of 20 ng/mL and demonstrated no cross-reactivity with glyphosate, deltamethrin, or dichlorvos in spiked serum samples. A compliance rate of 100 % confirmed its repeatability, validated by ten quality control samples at a concentration of 200 ng/mL. HILIC-UV exhibited a detection limit of 0.2 μg/mL and excellent linearity for paraquat and diquat in serum and urine across a range of 0.2-6.4 μg/mL (r² > 0.99). Accuracy ranged from 86.4 % to 111.4 %, with relative standard deviation (RSD) below 10.8 %. Sigma metrics for quality control samples varied from 4.47 to 6.09, establishing a 1-3 s/2/3-2 s/R-4s internal quality control scheme (n = 3, r = 1). A total of 24 patient specimens were subjected to dual testing with HILIC-UV and GICA strips. Among these, 21 samples from 17 patients tested positive, while three patients with confirmed glyphosate, deltamethrin, and dichlorvos poisoning tested negative, indicating complete consistency. Of the positive results, 11 patients were diagnosed with paraquat poisoning, and six with diquat poisoning, both of which significantly impair liver, kidney, and coagulation functions. Integrating GICA for rapid qualitative assessment with HILIC-UV for quantitative analysis enhances the identification of diquat and paraquat poisoning, making it particularly suitable for emergency diagnostics.