Outdoor Atmospheric Micro-/Nanomineral-Mediated Organochlorine Pesticides in Sichuan Basin, China: Adsorption, Occurrence, and Risk Assessment.

Atmospheric micro-/nanominerals play an important role in the adsorption, enrichment, and migration of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs). In the present study, the correlations between OCPs and minerals in outdoor atmospheric dustfall were investigated, and the correlations were used to speculate the source of p,p'-(dicofol+dichlorobenzophenone [DBP]), which is the sum of p,p'-dicofol and p,p'-DBP. Atmospheric dustfall samples were collected from 53 sites in the Chengdu-Deyang-Mianyang economic region in the Sichuan basin. In this region, 24 OCPs were analyzed by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The average concentration of 24 OCPs was 51.2 ± 27.4 ng/g. The results showed that the concentration of Σ24 OCPs in urban areas was higher than that in suburban areas (p < 0.05). Minerals in atmospheric dustfall were semiquantitatively analyzed by X-ray diffraction. The primary minerals were quartz, calcite, and gypsum. A Spearman correlation analysis of OCPs and minerals showed that low-volatility OCPs could be adsorbed by minerals in atmospheric dustfall. A density functional theory simulation verified that p,p'-(dicofol+DBP) in atmospheric dustfall was primarily derived from the p,p'-dicofol adsorbed by gypsum. Isomeric ratio results suggested that the samples had weathered lindane and chlordane profiles and confirmed that residents in the Sichuan basin used technical dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane. Finally, the OCPs were evaluated to determine the potential risk of cancer in adults and children from OCP exposure. Exposure to OCPs via atmospheric dustfall was safe for adults. The cancer risk for children exposed to OCPs was slightly lower than the threshold value (10-6 ) under a high dust ingestion rate, which poses a concern. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:594-604. © 2022 SETAC.

Outcomes of embryo transfers performed by Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility fellows vs. faculty: an 11-year retrospective review.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) and live birth rate (LBR) of embryo transfer episodes (ETEs) performed by Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility fellows vs. those of ETEs performed by faculty physicians. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort analysis. SETTING: Academic reproductive endocrinology and infertility practice. PATIENT(S): In total, 3,073 ETEs for 1,488 unique patients were performed by fellows or faculty physicians between January 2009 and January 2020. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Clinical pregnancy rate and LBR. RESULT(S): Fifteen fellows performed 1,225 (39.9%) of 3,073 ETEs after completing 30 mock transfers. On comparing outcomes among fellowship years (FY1, FY2, and FY3), CPR (44.1% vs. 43.2% vs. 45.7%, respectively, P = .83) and LBR (39.1% vs. 38.1% vs. 38.4%, respectively, P = .97) were not significantly different. Fellowship year 1 fellows' initial 30 ETEs vs. all the remaining FY1 ETEs had a significantly higher CPR (48.1% vs. 40.5%, respectively, P = .030) and LBR (45.4% vs. 34.3%, respectively, P = .001). There were no significant differences between faculty versus fellow ETEs in terms of CPR (43.0% vs. 45.0%, respectively, P = .30) or LBR (37.3% vs. 39.8%, respectively, P = .16), even after adjusting for patient age, body mass index, primary infertility diagnosis, autologous vs. donor oocyte, fresh vs. frozen embryo, number of embryos transferred, type of transfer catheter, and year of transfer (P = .32 for CPR, P = .22 for LBR). CONCLUSION(S): Appropriately trained FY1 fellows had success rates maintained throughout all FYs. There were no significant differences in clinical outcomes between fellow- and faculty-performed transfers. These data demonstrated that allowing fellows to perform live embryo transfers is not detrimental to clinical outcomes.

The ethical, legal, and social issues impacted by modern assisted reproductive technologies.

Background. While assisted reproductive technology (ART), including in vitro fertilization has given hope to millions of couples suffering from infertility, it has also introduced countless ethical, legal, and social challenges. The objective of this paper is to identify the aspects of ART that are most relevant to present-day society and discuss the multiple ethical, legal, and social challenges inherent to this technology. Scope of Review. This paper evaluates some of the most visible and challenging topics in the field of ART and outlines the ethical, legal, and social challenges they introduce. Major Conclusions. ART has resulted in a tectonic shift in the way physicians and the general population perceive infertility and ethics. In the coming years, advancing technology is likely to exacerbate ethical, legal, and social concerns associated with ART. ART is directly challenging society to reevaluate the way in which human life, social justice and equality, and claims to genetic offspring are viewed. Furthermore, these issues will force legal systems to modify existing laws to accommodate the unique challenges created by ART. Society has a responsibility to ensure that the advances achieved through ART are implemented in a socially responsible manner.

In vitro fertilization: four decades of reflections and promises.

BACKGROUND: In 2010, Robert Edwards was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine for his pioneering work in the development of in vitro fertilization, a field that has touched millions of lives across the globe. Edwards dedicated his career to helping couples overcome infertility. He first established principles of early embryo development that served as the foundation for his later work. In the 1960s, he achieved the first human fertilized oocyte in vitro while at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. He then continued his work at Cambridge University. In 1978, the world witnessed the birth of the first "test tube baby". This achievement is a landmark not only in the reproductive sciences but also in the history of mankind's technological evolution. SCOPE OF REVIEW: This article outlines the development and progression of IVF from its infancy to the refined and broadly utilized technology offered to patients today. We describe the evolution of the field and the current state of IVF, including its current technological and social challenges. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS: We congratulate Professor Edwards for his well-deserved recognition as Nobel Laureate in Medicine. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: This article is a tribute to Edwards for his exceptional accomplishments in this specific and rewarding field of modern medicine.