[The influence of emotional state and coping ability on the outcome of the assisted reproductive technology among infertile couples].

INTRODUCTION: Infertility and its treatment impose significant physical and emotional burden on infertile couples. The most commonly used assisted reproductive technology is the In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). Approximately one third of the treatments results in pregnancy. The aim of our study is to explore psychosocial factors that have an influence on the chance of IVF treatment success. METHODS: 104 infertile couples undergoing IVF treatment participated in our research, of which 49 couples achieved pregnancy after treatment and 55 couples did not. The emotional state was assessed by the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, the short form of the Beck Depression Inventory and the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. The coping abilities were measured by the short form of the Ways of Coping Inventory, the Psychological Immune Competence Inventory and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. The negative life events were assessed by the short and revised form of the Paykel's Life Events Scale. Data were collected at three occasions: at the beginning of the treatment (T1), before embryo transfer (T2), and before pregnancy test (T3). RESULTS: According to the most important results of the logistic regression analysis, the outcome of the treatment is negatively influenced by the female (p<0.01) and male age (p<0.05). For women, positive affectivity at T1, the Problem analysis coping strategy, the Sense of self-growth personality trait, the Personal competence and Tolerance of negative affect factors were found to be adaptive in respect of treatment success (p<0.05). For men, the IVF outcome was positively influenced by the lower level of depression at T1, the Problem analysis coping strategy and the Sense of control personality trait (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Emotional attitudes of couples towards childbearing and treatment and their coping mechanisms have an influence on the treatment outcome. Therefore, assessment and conscious shaping of these factors may increase the chance of successful treatment.

Association between Emotional State Changes in Infertile Couples and Outcome of Fertility Treatment.

Aims Infertility and its treatment are associated with considerable psychological distress for infertile couples. The aim of our study was to explore to what extent positive and negative affectivity and a predisposition to depression and anxiety appear in infertile couples during in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. We also aimed to explore how the emotional state of couples changed during IVF in relation to treatment outcomes. Method In our longitudinal study, 174 people (87 couples) were followed up during treatment by means of questionnaires. Their emotional state was assessed with PANAS, BDI-R, and STAI at the beginning of treatment, before embryo transfer, and before taking a pregnancy test. Couples who achieved pregnancy after treatment were included in the successful group (n = 82), while those who did not were included in the unsuccessful group (n = 92). Results We found more favorable emotional states in IVF couples compared to patient populations and the average population. In successful IVF couples, positive affectivity decreased, and negative affectivity increased in women until the time of embryo transfer. This was accompanied by an increase in positive affectivity in men, which remained until the time of the pregnancy test and provided emotional support to their partner. These results were confirmed by changes in the levels of depression. Conclusion Our study suggests the importance of couples' emotional dynamics for having a child and an association between couples' emotional reactions during IVF cycles and treatment success.

Preliminary Results of Radon Survey in the Kindergartens of V4 Countries.

The measurements of radon concentration were carried out in kindergartens of V4 countries (Hungary, Poland and Slovakia). RSKS detectors (Radosys Ltd., Hungary) were used for integrating measurement in indoor air. In total, 67 rooms in 20 kindergartens were measured. The survey was carried out in two periods from October 2015 to March 2016. The results show that radon concentration is less than 300 Bq m-3 in approximately 86.0% of cases in the first period and in 82.1% of cases in second period. However, rooms in kindergartens with radon concentration exceeding 1000 Bq m-3 were found in Slovakia.

Coping with infertility: Comparison of coping mechanisms and psychological immune competence in fertile and infertile couples.

This study compared coping strategies and psychological immunity of parents with a child conceived with assisted reproductive technology (n = 84) and parents with a naturally conceived child (n = 84) in a Hungarian fertility-age population. Results showed that in vitro fertilization parents are able to control their emotions in a better way than comparison couples. They interpret trials as challenges and consider themselves more worthy than the members of the control group. Our research confirms that consideration and management of psychological factors in treating infertility have an important preventive role to play.

[First detection of human astrovirus in gastroenteritis outbreak in Hungary]. / Humán astrovirus okozta gastroenteritisjárvány elso hazai igazolása.

UNLABELLED: Human astroviruses are one of the known pathogens of gastroenteritis in infants, children and rarely in elderly. It causes 4.2-7.3% of the sporadic gastroenteritis cases with diarrhea and vomiting in children. The etiological role of astrovirus has not been confirmed yet in outbreaks of gastroenteritis in Hungary. AIMS: The first description of the detection and molecular epidemiology of astrovirus in outbreaks of gastroenteritis in Hungary. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Stool samples originated from Komárom-Esztergom County, from a day-care center (nursery) where a gastroenteritis outbreak occurred in June, 2010. Astrovirus was detected by RT-PCR methods. The nucleotide sequence of the nearly complete genome was sequenced. Clinical and epidemiological data were collected by epidemiological investigation. RESULTS: Out of the 29 exposed persons (24 children and 5 adults) 7 (24.1%) children had gastroenteritis with diarrhea, and vomiting in one case, in the period of June 4-15, 2010. Bacterial pathogens, rotavirus, adenovirus and norovirus were not detected, but genotype 1 astrovirus could be identified in 3 (42.8%) stool samples (HQ398856). The nucleotide sequence of the astrovirus ORF1a/ORF1b/ORF2/3'UTR regions was determined. The source of the outbreak was presumably the firstly recognized ill child and the virus was spread by fecal-oral route with direct contact in the children community. CONCLUSIONS: Epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of the astrovirus outbreak in the nursery are described in details to prove that the possible etiological role of astroviruses in viral gastroenteritis which should not forget in order after rotaviruses, caliciviruses (norovirus and sapovirus) and enteric adenoviruses.