Analysis of the levels of hope and influencing factors in infertile women with first-time and repeated IVF-ET cycles

Purpose To explore the hope levels and influencing factors in infertile women undergoing first-time and repeated in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycles. Methods This study was a cross-sectional and convenient sampling study conducted among patients undergoing IVF-ET from January to June 2019. Patients were divided into first-time and repeated groups by the number of IVF-ET cycles, and then a questionnaire survey was administered. The questionnaire included demographic information, Herth hope index (HHI) scale, Locke-Wallace short marital-adjustment test scale and social support rating scale. Multiple linear regression was used to analyse the influencing factors associated with hope levels. Results A total of 298 IVF-ET patients were recruited for the study, including 150 (50.3%) in the first-time cycle group and 148 (49.7%) in the repeated cycle group. The HHI score of the repeated cycle group was significantly lower than that of the first-time cycle group (34.4 ± 3.5 vs. 37.5 ± 3.7, P < 0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that repeated IVF-ET and age were independently negatively correlated with HHI, with standardized coefficient β values of − 0.895 and − 0.223, respectively (both P < 0.001). High education level (P = 0.002), high monthly income (P = 0.020), high degree of short marital-adjustment test (P < 0.001) and social support rating (P < 0.001) were independently positively correlated with HHI. Conclusion Infertile women undergoing repeated IVF-ET have low hope levels. Maintaining a good marriage adjustment and establishing a good social support and relationship network could effectively improve their hope levels.

Analysis on the Levels of Hope and Influencing Factors of Infertile Women with First-time and Repeated IVF-ET Cycle

Purpose: To explore the hope level and influencing factors of infertile women with first-time and repeated in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET).Methods: Patients were divided into First (first-time) and Repeat (≥2 cycles) groups, then questionnaire survey was conducted. The questionnaire included demographic information, Herth hope index (HHI) scale, Locke-Wallace short marital-adjustment test scale and social support rating scale. Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the associated influencing factors with hope level.Results: A total of 298 IVF-ET patients were recruited in the study, including 150 (50.3%) in the first cycle and 148(49.7%) in the repeated cycle. The HHI score of the repeated cycle was significantly lower than that of the first cycle (34.4 ± 3.5 vs. 37.5± 3.7, P<0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that repeated IVF-ET and age was independently negatively correlated with HHI, with a standardized coefficient β of -0.895 and -0.223, both P＜0.001. While high education level (P=0.002), high monthly income(P=0.020), high degree of short marital-adjustment test(P＜0.001) and social support rating(P＜0.001) were independently positively correlated with HHI.Conclusion: The infertile women with repeated IVF-ET have a low hope level. Maintaining a good marriage adjustment, establishing a good social support and relationship network, may effectively improve their hope level.

The effect of myths about sexuality and the level of knowledge about sexuality on the marital satisfaction in married couples

To look into the effect of sexual myths and level of knowledge about sexuality on marital satisfaction in married couples. The study was carried on with 104 voluntary respondents; 57 of which are married women and 47 are married men. The data has been collected with Personal Information Questionnaire, Marital Adjustment Test, Sexual Myths Analysis Questionnaire and The Golombok Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction (GRISS), data has been analyzed with SPSS 15.0 software package (Statistical Package for Social Sciences). According to these findings, as the belief in sexual myths increases, the sexual satisfaction decreases; yet the increase in the belief in sexual myths does not affect the marital satisfaction. The findings implicate that as the knowledge about sexuality increases, the sexual satisfaction increases while the marital satisfaction decreases. As the number of sexual myths increases, marital adjustment decreases. The findings don’t show any significant correlation between sexual satisfaction and marital adjustment.

The Impact of Lockdown on Couples’ Sex Lives

Background: the aim of this study was to perform an Italian telematics survey analysis on the changes in couples’ sex lives during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown. Methods: a multicenter cross sectional study was conducted on people sexually active and in stable relationships for at least 6 months. To evaluate male and female sexual dysfunctions, we used the international index of erectile function (IIEF-15) and the female sexual function index (FSFI), respectively; marital quality and stability were evaluated by the marital adjustment test (items 10–15); to evaluate the severity of anxiety symptoms, we used the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale. The effects of the quarantine on couples’ relationships was assessed with questions created in-house. Results: we included 2149 participants. The sex lives improved for 49% of participants, particularly those in cohabitation; for 29% it deteriorated, while for 22% of participants it did not change. Women who responded that their sex lives deteriorated had no sexual dysfunction, but they had anxiety, tension, fear, and insomnia. Contrarily, men who reported deteriorating sex lives had erectile dysfunctions and orgasmic disorders. In both genders, being unemployed or smart working, or having sons were risk factors for worsening the couples’ sex lives. Conclusion: this study should encourage evaluation of the long-term effects of COVID-19 on the sex lives of couples.

Attachment Styles and Marital Quality Between Spouses

The research was aimed to study the relationship between attachment styles and marital quality between spouses. A total number of 52 spouses representing teachers from Sekolah Menengah Agama Daeratul Ma'arifil Wataniah 1 (SMA DMW 1), in Peninsular Malaysia's northwest coast, participated in this study. There were two sets of questionnaires used in this study: Experience in Close Relationship (ECR) and Marital Adjustment Test (MAT). The results showed that there was a significant relationship between attachment styles and spouses' styles. However, there is no relationship between marital satisfaction among spouses, and there is also no relationship between attachment styles and marital satisfaction among spouses. Future research is suggested to enhance the research by moving beyond self-report instruments to develop alternative methods of assessment as some of the questions should be more specifically suitable in Malaysian culture.

Optimization of NOx emission control based on high sulfur coal combustion

Combined with the operation of an 800MW supercritical boiler burning high sulfur coal, in order to control the emission of nitrogen oxides, the optimization adjustment of ammonia injection and NOx emission reduction based on combustion adjustment is proposed. According to the test of the inlet and outlet of denitration system under 800 MW condition, the parameters of NOx, O2, NH3, wind speed and so on at the inlet and outlet of denitration system are tested, and the ammonia injection manual valve is adjusted according to the test results. After adjustment, the NOx distribution at the outlet of denitration system is uniform, and the ammonia injection quantity is reduced. After adjustment, the flow field under 800 MW and 500 MW conditions is tested, and the flow field distribution under the two conditions is uniform. The adjustment test has achieved the expected effect.

Influence of moderate cigarette-smoking on the peri-implant clinicoradiographic inflammatory parameters around cement- and screw-retained dental implants

The aim was to assess the influence of moderate cigarette-smoking on the clinical (bleeding on probing [BoP] and probing depth [PD]) and radiographic (crestal bone resorption [CBR]) around cement- and screw-retained dental implants at 5 years’ follow-up. A questionnaire was used to collect information about age, gender, smoking history, duration of implants in function, jaw location of the implant, and daily toothbrushing and flossing. Peri-implant BoP, PD and CBR were measured in all groups. Group comparisons were performed using one-way analysis of variance and for multiple comparisons, the Bonferroni Post hoc adjustment test was performed. Level of significance was set at P&lt;0.05. Forty-eight patients (25 smokers and 23 non-smokers) had cement-retained dental implants; and 48 (24 smokers and 24 non-smokers) had screw-retained dental implants. Among patients with cement and screw-retained dental implants, PD (P&lt;0.05) and CBR (P&lt;0.05) were significantly higher among smokers than non-smokers. The peri-implant sites that demonstrated BoP were statistically significantly higher among non-smokers (P&lt;0.05) than smokers among patients with cement- and screw-retained dental implants. There was no statistically significant difference in peri-implant PD and CBR among smokers with cement- and screw-retained dental implants. Among non-smokers with cement and screw-retained dental implants, there was no statistically significant difference in BoP, PD and CBR. Cigarette-smoking is associated with an increased PD and CBR around cement- and screw-retained dental implants. Cigarette-smoking increases peri-implant soft tissue inflammation as well as loss of crestal bone and this relationship is independent of the type of implant retention protocol used.The author recommends that cement- and screw-retained dental implants are suitable for prosthesis restoration in non-smokers. Further studies on dual-smokers (individuals smoking cigarettes and other forms of tobacco products) are needed related to the clinicoradiographic inflammatory parameters around cement- and screw-retained dental implants

Effect of Cleanser Solutions on the Retention Force of O’ring Attachment: An in Vitro Study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of cleaning solutions on the retention force of o-ring-type overdenture attachments. The effect of four solutions on nitrile rings were evaluated: Cepacol (C), Cepacol with fluoride (CF), Listerine (L) and 0.05% sodium hypochlorite (SH); deionized water (DW) was used as a control. Matrices containing two implants and abutments and acrylic specimens with the metal capsules were obtained and divided into the groups. A simulation of 90 overnight immersions (8 h) was performed, and the tensile strength value was obtained at the beginning (T0) and in every 30 days (T1, T2 and T3) (n=6). In order to analyze o-ring surface damage after the immersions, a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used (n=1). For statistical analysis of the results, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and multiple comparisons with Bonferroni adjustment (test power=1.000; a=0.05) were used. There was a significant difference for the factors time (p<0.001), solution (p<0.001) and for the interaction time × solution (p<0.001). Considering the times of each solution, only for DW there was no significant loss of retention over time. Comparing the solutions in each moment, there was no difference among the solutions in T0. From T1, CF and SH provided less retention than DW (p<0.005). Through SEM it was possible to observe changes in the surface of the CF and SH nitrile o-rings. CF and SH should be avoided due to deleterious action in o-rings.