Bridging the Social Distance: Offline to Online Social Support during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The severe impact of COVID-19 in the United States has forced many students to replace in-person socialization with online digital contact. In this study, we investigate the mental health impacts associated with this shift by examining properties of online interactions that may affect loneliness and perceived social support. Students were surveyed (N=827) across 97 universities across the US during their first full semester impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic (Fall 2020). Private online interactions (messaging, phone call, video call) were found to have a comparable correlation to social support as face-To-face interactions, but public online interactions (social media) were associated with more negative outcomes. Among private platforms, messaging had the strongest correlation with social support;and daily self-disclosure over messaging yielded social support levels that were 1.21x higher than rarely or never disclosing over this platform. We speculate that factors such as the level of privacy and peoples' feelings of control contributed to disclosure and perceived social support in online platforms. © 2022 ACM.

STATUS QUO – OR IS IT TIME TO RECONSIDER THE VITRIFICATION METHOD RELATIVE TO THE RISK OF EMBRYO DISEASE TRANSMISSION IN CRYOSTORAGE?

Objective: The current global pandemic has triggered concerns regarding the potential infectivity of the SARS-CoV-2 virus to blastomeres known to possess ACE-2 receptors. In 2010, Pomeroy and coauthors reviewed the negligible risks associated with the potential cross contamination of human reproductive tissues, gametes and embryos in cryostorage. The purpose of this investigation is to explore changes in ART lab practices over the last decade that could warrant a reassessment of the latter AAB/CRB embryo cryopreservation guidelines relative to disease transmission potential. Design: Retrospective analysis of clinical practices that may alter the way we look at acceptable risks in embryo vitrification (VTF) and cryostorage methods. Specifically, we will investigate the effectiveness of a validated closed VTF system relative to zona pellucida (ZP)-intact and non-intact blastocyst cryopreservation. Additionally, we will discuss the merits and need for safer cryostorage systems. Materials and Methods: Human blastocysts were vitrified in a closed, aseptic device system and rapidly-warmed and sucrose diluted using standard procedures. From 2009 to 2012, 90% of all vitrified blastocysts had an intact ZP without the need for pre-VTF collapsing due to the use of I.C.E. non-DMSO solutions (>7.9M glycerol/EG). Between 2012-2014 we transitioned into 100% of all embryos experiencing laser ZP ablation and or blastocyst biopsying procedures by 2015. The latter trophectoderm exposed blastocysts were effectively contained in flexipettes which were weld-sealed into CBS straws without risk to possible pathogen exposure in liquid nitrogen cryostorage. Chi-squared analysis was used to assess differences (p<0.05) in survival and pregnancy outcome data. Results: The routine application of ZP-exposed trophectoderm and blastocyst biopsying improved (p<0.05) our survival rates from 95% (1066 of 1126 BL) to 99.4% (3352 of 3373 BL) with increased (p<0.05) embryo implantation efficiency (46% vs 69% implantation using 1.91 vs 1.07 blastocysts/FET, respectively). Conclusions: The protective barrier of an intact ZP to potential pathogen exposures is no longer a clinical reality for cryopreserved blastocysts. Although we agree that the relative risks of embryo disease transmission in cryostorage remain negligible, why take any risks when highly effective closed VTF systems (ICE straw, HSV, μS-VF, VitriSafe) have been established over the last decade? Alternatively, we question whether the use of LN2-vapor storage tanks for open-VTF systems alleviates potential airborne viral cross-contamination, while they most certainly create a greater risk for potential embryo wastage as discussed by Pomeroy et al. (2010) and overtly realized by recent tank failure experiments and known catastrophic events. Finally, it is worth noting that embryos vitrified in an insulated straw environment are more resistant to detrimental additive temperature fluxes that can occur under sub-optimal cryostorage handling procedures. So, we ask, is it time to reconsider the status quo of embryo good tissue practices when viral pandemics are a reality? References: Pomeroy KO, Harris S, Conaghan J, Papadakis M, Centola G, Basuray R, Battaglia D. Storage of cryopreserved reproductive tissues: evidence that cross-contamination of infectious agents is a negligible risk. Fertil Steril. 2010;94:1181–1188.