Archive for Fertility News
My friend asked me to submit a “3 Things Thursday” for her blog (which is being turned into a book!) on farming and healthy eating. These three surprising things should help your health and fertility. Got a lot of feedback from my healthy (and fertile!) Korean American friends, who totally agree.
http://www.thequarteracrefarm.com/2010/08/three-things-thursday-author-marie-lee.html
Posted on August 18, 2010 | Filed under Fertility News | Permalink
Painful gas is common in almost all infants. Often painful gas is taken as colic. But colic is different from excess gas. When an infant is colicky it will cry for five or more hours for about three times in a week. In contrast painful gas will occur when the baby hasnt burped properly after …
Posted on August 18, 2010 | Filed under Fertility News | Permalink
Many new mothers find it difficult to produce sufficient breast milk for their babies. Good milk supply is also needed for newborns who have not yet learnt how to suck properly and therefore end up hungry often. Hence sufficient milk supply is important. However, new mothers should not lose their sleep over inadequate quantity of …
Posted on August 18, 2010 | Filed under Fertility News | Permalink
New mothers with no support system often end up neglecting their health. Many new mothers have endless tasks lined up in front of them laundry cleaning, house cleaning, cooking, entertaining friends and relatives and of course taking care of the new baby.As a result of so much work the new mothers hardly have time to …
Posted on August 18, 2010 | Filed under Fertility News | Permalink
Well, there is a hue of celebration as you have just discovered that you are pregnant. Especially for those who are first-time pregnant, pregnancy is a great journey which offers bundles of thrills and excitements as well as anxieties and apprehensions. Although the prospect of becoming a first-time mom can be the most exciting of …
Posted on August 18, 2010 | Filed under Fertility News | Permalink
So you have just discovered that you are pregnant! You have every reason to get thrilled and excited at the prospect of carrying a baby and becoming a mother. Well, pregnancy is also the time when a woman should take maximum care and precaution. So many changes internally take place during the course of pregnancy …
Posted on August 18, 2010 | Filed under Fertility News | Permalink
When a woman becomes pregnant, it is essential for her to start eating the most healthy and nutritious diet she possibly can. Many times, due to sudden cravings or morning sickness, women many not want to eat a balanced diet.However, for the health of both the mother and the child, the need for a diet …
Posted on August 18, 2010 | Filed under Fertility News | Permalink
When a woman is pregnant, her diet changes in a number of ways. Since the development of the child is dependent on a number of factors, one of the most important being the diet of the mother. There are a number of changes that women make to their diets after becoming pregnant but not all …
Posted on August 18, 2010 | Filed under Fertility News | Permalink
Looking after a baby 24 hours a day is a tiring and exhausting job. It challenges a new mom Physically and emotionally. So when you reach your bed after a long day sometimes a long night, then you just want to sleep. Sex does not figure in your priorities very soon. New mothers feel reluctant …
Posted on August 18, 2010 | Filed under Fertility News | Permalink
Fast-food restaurants could dish out anti-cholesterol drugs to fight the effects of fatty grub, the Daily Mirror has reported.
The news story is based on a research paper arguing the case for handing out free cholesterol-lowering statin drugs whenever someone buys fast food. Its authors say that providing “McStatin” tablets would cancel out the health risks of high-fat food and offer customers cardiovascular benefits. They based this on calculations comparing some of the harms of fast food against the benefits of statins.
It is difficult to know how seriously to take this study. The high sugar, salt and fat content of junk food has many negative health consequences beyond just increasing cholesterol. Taking a statin pill while continuing with an unhealthy diet will not address all of these.
Most importantly, statins are designed for longer-term use under medical supervision. They should not be dished out like ketchup.
Where did the story come from?
The study was carried out by researchers from Imperial College London and Imperial NHS Trust, London. No information is given about funding, although one of the authors is supported by a grant from the British Heart Foundation. The study was published in the peer-reviewedAmerican Journal of Cardiology.
The study was reported widely and fairly in the media. Several newspapers quoted the opinions of external experts, including some from the British Heart Foundation who were critical of its argument.
What kind of research was this?
The authors say that cardiovascular disease CVD remains a leading cause of illness and death, with the greatest problems lying with the at risk segment of the population that are unaware of their condition. Given the frequency of fast-food consumption and its adverse health consequences, they argue that the fast food industry is well-placed to offer advice and supplements to counteract the harm arising from the foods they sell. They propose that, like salt, ketchup and other sauces provided free of charge, a statin could be added to the items in the self-service tray, in combination with other healthy suggestions.
Their study attempts to compare the risk increase involved in eating fast foods with a high fat content against the risk reduction in taking statins daily. They constructed a model to juxtapose these two risks and attempted to compose a tariff comparing the level of statin needed to neutralise the cardiovascular risk from eating fast food.
What did the research involve?
To quantify the cardiovascular risk of a higher dietary fat intake, the researchers looked at a large cohort studyof nearly 47,000 men. The study found that the relative riskof heart attack and coronary artery disease was 23 higher in the men with the highest fat intake top 20 of the group. They consumed 89g total fat a day, while those in the bottom 20 with the lowest fat intake consumed 53g total fat a day. A similar trend was observed for trans fats.
To determine the relative risk reduction due to statins, the researchers used a recent meta-analysisof statins in the primary prevention of coronary artery disease, which included seven randomised controlled trialsand covered nearly 43,000 patients. The combined relative risk reduction across all the trials with use of statins was just under 30. They also quote a further study to show that statins taken regularly reduce the relative risk for a major cardiovascular event by 2070, depending on which drug and what dosage is taken.
The researchers then plotted the reduction in relative risk associated with different statin trials, against the increase in relative risk associated with consumption of foods of increasing total fat and trans fat content. They used a quarter-pounder burger 19g total fat, a quarter-pounder with cheese 26g total fat and a small milkshake 10g total fat from a fast-food chain as a proxy for foods with a high-fat content. They juxtaposed the high-fat content of these foods with the extent to which statins might offset the increased risk for cardiovascular disease associated with an unhealthy lifestyle.
What were the basic results?
The researchers calculate that:
The reduction of cardiovascular disease CVD risk associated with daily consumption of most statins with the exception of parvastatin was, on average, around 30.
The daily extra fat intake associated with a fast-food quarter-pounder with cheese and a small milkshake was calculated to increase the risk of CVD by just over 20.
On this basis, the researchers say that the CVD risk-reduction of a statin pill is greater than the risk increase of CVD after eating these foods.
How did the researchers interpret the results?
The researchers say their calculations show that statins can neutralise the increased risk for cardiovascular disease associated with the regular consumption of unhealthy foods. Individually, most of the statin regimes had the strength to counteract the risk caused by eating an additional 36g of total fat per day, with similar results found when they calculated consumption of transfats separately.
They argue that the fast-food industry could provide a McStatin sachet to sprinkle on a burger or into a milkshake at no extra charge. Food would also carry health warnings in the same way as cigarettes do currently, and advice on healthy lifestyle.
Conclusion
The studys comparison of the risks associated with a high-fat diet with the risk reduction for statins is interesting. However, there is no evidence to support its main contention that a statin taken every time someone has a fast-food meal would reduce the risk of heart disease. This argument is based on the following unproven assumptions:
In an unhealthy diet, each unhealthy meal eaten contributes directly to the increase in CVD risk.
Each statin tablet taken individually provides a reduction in CVD risk.
However, statins are designed for use in long-term cholesterol management programmes and virtually all studies on statins have looked at regular, rather than one-off use.
The way that lifestyle, in addition to other medical and genetic factors, affects the risk of heart disease is more complex than this study suggests. For example, there are several established risk factors for heart disease, including lifestyle habits such as diet, exercise and smoking. In turn, medical risk factors that may in part be influenced by these lifestyle factors include high body mass index, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. Further complicating these relationships is the influence of factors that cannot be modified, including family history, age and gender. Doctors usually consider all of these, as well as the risks attached to particular medications, when deciding with their patients whether drug treatment is appropriate.
When all of these things are taken into account, it is unclear how the researchers can conclude that statins taken only occasionally rather than prescribed regularly might help anyone. Dishing out a statin with every burger also does not seem to be a responsible measure when you consider that they are not suitable drugs for everyone, including those with liver disease, those who drink alcohol excessively, and pregnant and breastfeeding women. Statins are also not without adverse effects, which can be severe in rare cases.
Links To The Headlines Fast-food shops could dish out anti-cholesterol drugs. Daily Mirror, August 13 2010
Doctors want statins served with fast food. The Independent, August 13 2010
McStatin with your burger?The Daily Telegraph, August 13 2010
Statins with your burger? Doctors want heart pills on menu. The Guardian, August 13 2010
Statins should be handed out with burgers say researchers. Daily Express, August 13 2010
Links To Science Ferenczi EA, Asaria P, Hughes AD et al.Can a Statin Neutralize the Cardiovascular Risk of Unhealthy Dietary Choices? The American Journal of Cardiology Volume 106, Issue 4, 15 August 2010, pages 587-592
Posted on August 18, 2010 | Filed under Fertility News | Permalink
“The immune system may have a key role in the development of Parkinson’s disease,” reported BBC News. It said that a study has found an association between genes controlling immunity and the condition Parkinsons disease.
The news reports appear to be accurate. This well-conducted, genome-wide association study found that particular genetic variants involved in the immune system are associated with Parkinsons disease. While on its own, this region is only associated with a modest effect on Parkinsons disease risk, the cumulative effect of this new association and others already identified is thought to be quite substantial.
These findings may contribute to treatments or better detection of Parkinsons, but it is too soon to realise the full implications of these findings.
Where did the story come from?
The study was carried out by researchers from the New York State Department of Health and several other academic and medical centres in the USA. The work was funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, with support from several American organisations. The study was published in peer-reviewedmedical journal Nature Genetics.
What kind of research was this?
This genome-wide association studycompared the DNA of 2,000 people with Parkinsons disease to that of healthy controls to determine whether there were any differences between the groups. This type of study is often used to assess the genetic associations of diseases.
What did the research involve?
There were several parts to this study. Initially, 2,000 people with Parkinsons disease were recruited from several clinics in Oregon, Washington, Georgia and New York. The researchers also selected 1,986 controls people without the disease from the same population and geographical region as the cases.
The DNA of both groups were then profiled and compared to identify any genetic variants that were more common in the group with Parkinsons disease. As is usual with these study designs, the researchers then attempted to replicate their findings in independent samples. This analysis was repeated in another two separate samples.
The researchers then discuss the potential biological reasons for the associations between the genetic elements and the disease.
What were the basic results?
The results confirmed some already known associations between Parkinsons disease and two genetic regions, SNCA and MAPT. In addition, the research uncovered a new genetic variant called rs3129882 that was associated with Parkinsons disease. The variant lies in the HLA genetic region on chromosome 6. This part of the genome is involved in the production of proteins that assist the bodys immune system by recognising invading substances such as bacteria and viruses.
How did the researchers interpret the results?
The researchers conclude that their study has confirmed some known associations and detected a new association between another single-letter variation of the genetic code SNP in the HLA region of the genetic code and Parkinsons disease. Given that there are some immune-related features found in the brains of people with Parkinsons disease, the genetic association is biologically plausible and supports the involvement of the immune system. The researchersconclude that these offer new targets for drug development.
Conclusion
This study appears to be well-conducted, reliable research that furthers our understanding of this complex disease. Although other studies have identified several genetic risk factors for Parkinsons, and this new association has only a modest effect on Parkinsons disease risk, when considered together the cumulative effect is thought to be substantial.
The identified SNP was in a non-coding region of the genetic code, which means that it does not directly produce proteins itself, but interacts with the genetic code in some other way. There are four major regions that have now been associated with the disease eight potential variants and people who have four of the variants are at about double the risk for Parkinsons compared to those who have only one or none of the variants. It should be pointed out that the absolute risk of developing Parkinsons is actually quite small and even having all of these variants does not mean a person will get definitely the disease.
Dr Kieran Breen, director of research at Parkinsons UK, has put these findings in the context of other work, saying “This research, combined with Parkinson’s UK funded research at Oxford University into the role of inflammation, may lead to the development of new drug treatments for the condition.”
Other points of interest:
The researchers note that the people in the control group were on average 12 years older than those with Parkinsons. However, they say this disparity between the groups is actually a strength as it lowers the likelihood that the controls were too young to have had symptoms.
A further strength of the study is the adjustment in the analyses for several factors that may be confounders in the association between genes and Parkinsons disease, including age, gender and Jewish and European ancestry.
Links To The Headlines Parkinson’s disease linked to gene mutation.The Guardian, August 16 2010
Immune genes ‘key in Parkinson’s disease’.BBC News, August 16 2010
Links To Science Hamza TH, Zabetian CP, Tenesa A et al.Common genetic variation in the HLA region is associated with late-onset sporadic Parkinson’s disease. Nature Genetics 2010 published online August 15 2010
Posted on August 18, 2010 | Filed under Fertility News | Permalink
Paracetamol doubles asthma risk for teenagers, reported the Daily Mail. It said that adolescents who use the painkiller once a year can increase their risk of asthma by 50 compared with those who do not.
This newspaper story is based on very early research which on its own is fairly weak evidence for paracetamol increasing the risk of asthma. The study has a number of limitations and its design can only show an association between paracetamol and asthma, and not whether paracetamol caused the asthma. The researchers acknowledge this and call for further randomised controlled trials, a sensible conclusion given the preliminary nature of this study.
Where did the story come from?
The study was carried out by researchers from the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand and other academic and medical institutions from China, Malta and Germany. The researchers say that funding was provided by numerous sources throughout the world. The BUPA Foundation is listed as being the main source of funding. The study was published in the peer-reviewedmedical journal: American Journal of Respiratory Critical Care.
It is an overstatement on the part of the newspapers to claim that this study provides strong evidence that paracetamol doubles asthma risk for teenagers. This is preliminary evidence from a weak study design that may lead to further research.
What kind of research was this?
To aim of this study was to investigate the paracetamol use and the risk of asthma and other allergic disorders in 13- and 14-year-old children from different populations worldwide.
This was a cross-sectional studydesign using participants from a larger study the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood ISAAC. It involved 322,959 adolescents from research centres across 50 countries completing written and video questionnaires that assessed a number of factors including their asthma symptoms and their use of paracetamol in the previous 12 months. This data was then analysed to see whether there was an association between taking paracetamol and developing asthma.
What did the research involve?
A large number of children were recruited into the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood ISAAC from schools across the world. ISAAC is a cross-sectional study of two different age groups, six- to seven-year-olds and 13- to 14-year-olds. Each group completed two written questionnaires and a video questionnaire. Only the data from the older children are presented in the research paper.
The questionnaires asked about their asthma symptoms wheezing or whistling in the chest, symptoms of rhinoconjunctivitis sneezing, runny or blocked nose without associated cold or flu as well as watery, itchy eyes or eczema itchy rash. The researchers also collected information on the severity of the asthma. The children were asked whether they had taken paracetamol at least once a month, at least once over the previous 12 months, or never.
The researchers analysed whether there was any association between paracetamol-use and asthma symptoms or eczema or rhinoconjunctivitis for those who didnt report wheezing in the past 12 months. They also looked more closely at the link between paracetamol-use and different severities of asthma symptoms through further questions.
The questionnaires showed participants five scenes of clinical asthma, asking them to say whether or not they had ever experienced similar symptoms. The analyses of these results were adjusted for possible confounding factors, namely maternal education, maternal smoking, siblings and current fruit-and-vegetable consumption, as well as gender, region of the world, language and the countrys gross national income. Centres for which the data was less than 70 complete were excluded, leaving a total of 180,887 adolescents for the main analysis.
What were the basic results?
The results showed that using paracetamol in the previous 12 months was associated with an increased risk of currently having asthma symptoms. Compared with those who said they had not used paracetamol in the previous year, those reporting medium use once or more times a year were 1.43 times more likely to report asthma symptoms.
Those reporting high use one or more times a month were 2.51 times more likely to report asthma symptoms. In those reporting no wheeze in the previous 12 months, use of paracetamol was associated with symptoms of eczema and rhinoconjunctivitis.
How did the researchers interpret the results?
The researchers conclude that taking paracetamol may represent an important risk factor for the development or continuation of asthma, and other disorders such as eczema, in teenagers.
Conclusion
This is a large study, but despite its size it has several limitations that affect its interpretation. On its own itis fairly weak evidence for paracetamol increasing the risk of asthma.
The limitations include the following:
This is a cross-sectional study, a type of study design that cannot determine causal links between exposures and outcomes as it cannot show which came first, in this case whether paracetamol use preceded symptoms of wheeze.
This study does not establish whether the children had actually been diagnosed with asthma or whether they were suffering from other causes of wheeze.
It is likely that in many cases children were taking paracetamol to relieve pain or fever that may be associated with an illness causing wheeze symptoms. The researchers say that in many countries, acetaminophen paracetamol is marketed as the preferred analgesic and antipyretic of choice in persons with asthma.
The researchers have adjusted for some factors that may cause asthma, but there are a number of others that were not accounted for, including family history, recent infections, prematurity or low birth weight, or exposure to cigarettecigar smoke as a child the study adjusted for current maternal smoking.
Data was missing from a number of the centres so while the original sample of adolescents available was near to 300,000, more than 100,000 of them were excluded due to missing information. It is unclear how excluding a third of the original sample may have affected the outcomes.
While the researchers cite some studies that support their findings, it is not clear whether these are from a systematic review of studies into the topic. There are likely to be other studies that havent found any link. The researchers acknowledge some of the weaknesses of their study and are cautious in their conclusions, saying, It is not possible in a study of this design to determine whether the positive association observed was causal. They call for more research using a stronger design, such as a randomised controlled trial.
Links To The Headlines Paracetamol doubles asthma risk for teenagers, study finds.Daily Mail, August 15 2010
Paracetamol use linked to asthma in teenagers: research.The Daily Telegraph, August 15 2010
Links To Science Beasley RW, Clayton TO, Crane J et al.Acetaminophen Use and Risk of Asthma, Rhinoconjunctivitis and Eczema in Adolescents: ISAAC Phase Three. Respiratory and critical care medicine 2010 Published ahead of print on August 13
Posted on August 18, 2010 | Filed under Fertility News | Permalink
Test-tube fertilisation is the reason why more couples than previously now have the chance to become biological parents. However, the path to achieving this can be laborious and, for some, the treatment is unsuccessful. A thesis from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, indicates that people are more negatively affected than previously reported in studies of involuntary childlessness…
Posted on August 18, 2010 | Filed under Fertility News | Permalink
Intense social pressure to bear children and access to relatively affordable reproductive technology has spawned hundreds of infertility clinics across India, where a significant number of clients are women older than age 50, the Washington Post reports…
Posted on August 18, 2010 | Filed under Fertility News | Permalink
When a woman, or couple, and the Fertility Specialist determine that in vitro fertilization is the treatment of choice, there are several steps that must be taken to promote the greatest chance of success.
The primary steps in in vitro fertilization include:
1. Counseling – you will discuss the IVF process, risks and benefits, and outcome goals. Treatment consents will be signed, which may include consents for IVF and embryo transfer, micro-insemination, cryopreservation of resultant embryos and psychological treatmentevaluation.
2. Semen analysis – semen samples will be analyzed for: volume and consistently, sperm count, motility, structure and survivability
3. Testing – including ultrasound and hormone levels to establish baseline uterine and hormonal status, for the syncing of your IVF cycle
4. Fertility drugs – hormones will be provided to the woman, to stimulate egg production, including superovulation, where the ovaries produce more than one egg during a cycle. A greater number of eggs increases the chances for a successful IVF. Drugs will be added at different times during the IVF cycle, to prepare the uterus for implantation, promote egg and follicle development, and aid in egg retrieval or harvesting.
5. Egg Retrieval – eat or drink nothing 8 hours prior to your retrieval. Ultrasound is used to guide the needle as it enters the ovary for harvest, through the vaginal wall.
6. Fertilization – concentrated sperm is introduced to your eggs, in a petri dish or test tube
7. Transfer – with the use of a speculum, the procedure is similar to a Pap smear. An ultrasound guides placement of the embryos inside the uteris.
The steps related to IVF are fairly consistent, regardless of the Fertility Clinic that you use, due to the sequential nature of the human body in terms of fertility. Following the guidelines and instructions of your Fertility Specialist, will help to promote positive outcomes following IVF. For more Infertility tips, visit http:Infertility.lifetips.com
Posted on August 18, 2010 | Filed under Fertility News | Permalink
Losing weight after pregnancy seems to be a difficult task for most women.. Most women gain around 12 kilograms during their pregnancy period. Even though complete loss of this fat and returning to the exact pre-pregnancy bodies maybe impossible, it is possible for woman to get back into a very better shape and healthy body …
Posted on August 18, 2010 | Filed under Fertility News | Permalink
Parenthood is a beautiful feeling. It is wonderful to have a child with the one you love and build a life together. There is a wonderful feeling associated with a decision to start a family together. A sense of responsibility creeps in and you tend to make a lot of life changing decisions keeping in …
Posted on August 18, 2010 | Filed under Fertility News | Permalink
How to deal with food cravings during pregnancy? Should it be avoided?
Posted on August 18, 2010 | Filed under Fertility News | Permalink
It is essential to take care of teeth and gums of our little one from birth to give them a good base. This would not only help in protecting the teeth from cavities but will also make the teeth stronger for the whole life. Moreover, this will act as a first lesson for the baby …
Posted on August 18, 2010 | Filed under Fertility News | Permalink
Many women are worried about the safety of exercises during pregnancy. For some it is tiredness and fatigue that prevents them from exercising. Exercising during pregnancy is found necessary as it benefits the expectant mother in many ways. Before starting out your exercise program, be sure to take the professional advice of your physician, as …
Posted on August 18, 2010 | Filed under Fertility News | Permalink
Cometh the day of the arrival of a new member in your home as well as the entire family is all geared up and elated to welcome that newly born child on the earth. The cowboy shower invitations may very well be a memorable method to invite all the aunts and uncles to honor their …
Posted on August 18, 2010 | Filed under Fertility News | Permalink
Expecting a baby is probably the most momentous time for parents, especially for mother and when it comes to baby shower, people from different origins have distinct ways to celebrate it. Likewise, the African American baby shower invitations are a well-liked trend among the Afro American men and women.
The baby shower ceremony is celebrated with …
Posted on August 18, 2010 | Filed under Fertility News | Permalink
The many blessings of birth control there are no more teen pregnancies, the ability to decide how many children to have even if you are poor, so many more. It was 50 years ago that the FDA first approved the revolutionary “pill” and released it into the market. One of the first side effects …
Posted on August 18, 2010 | Filed under Fertility News | Permalink
What is The Clear Plan Easy Fertility Monitor?
The small hand held Clear Plan Easy Fertility Monitor is designed to help you manage your monthly menstrual cycle, gather hormonal samples by using Clear Plan Easy Fertility Test Sticks, analyzing your data, and then exhibit the results on it’s readable display screen. The day-to-day results indicate …
Posted on August 18, 2010 | Filed under Fertility News | Permalink
The luteal phase of the menstrual cycle spans from ovulation at midcycle until menstruation. The luteal phase should last for at least 12 to 14 days. A luteal phase which is less than 10 days will have difficulty producing an environment favorable for implantation. The luteal phase derives its name from the fact that the …
Posted on August 18, 2010 | Filed under Fertility News | Permalink
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