Public release date: 3-Jul-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Christine Bauquis christine@eshre.eu 32-499-258-046 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology

Istanbul, 3 July 2012: Cigarette smoke reduces the production of a Fallopian tube gene known as "BAD", which helps explain the link between smoking and ectopic pregnancy. The finding, from scientists led by Drs Andrew Horne and Colin Duncan at the Medical Research Council (MRC) Centre for Reproductive Health in Edinburgh, UK, was described today at the annual meting of ESHRE (European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology) in Istanbul.

Ectopic pregnancy - when the embryo implants outside the uterus and in the Fallopian tube - occurs in up to 2% of all pregnancies and is the most common cause of maternal death in early pregnancy. There is currently no way to prevent an ectopic pregnancy, and the condition must be treated by abdominal surgery or, when the ectopic is small and stable, by injection of a drug called methotrexate.

In presenting background information to the study, Dr Horne explained that ectopic pregnancy is the result of a combination of factors affecting the transport of the developing embryo from the Fallopian tube to the uterus and changes in the tubal environment which allow early implantation to occur. Smoking is known to be a major risk factor, but how smoking changes the environment of the Fallopian tube for an ectopic pregnancy to occur has so far remained largely unknown.

For the purpose of this study, Dr Horne's group first exposed cells from the Fallopian tube to a breakdown product of nicotine called cotinine. They then showed that cotinine had a negative effect on genes known to be associated with cell death (or apoptosis), and in particular with a gene called BAD. In a further study the researchers showed that BAD expression was reduced in the Fallopian tube of women who were smokers.

Dr Horne explained that changes in the production of BAD and related genes are seen in the uterus as it prepares for normal implantation of the embryo and early pregnancy. A reduction in the expression of BAD is normally seen in the cells of the uterus just before the embryo implants.

The results of this study, said Dr Horne, suggest that the reduced production of the BAD gene in the Fallopian tube leads to an environment like that of the uterus, which encourages and allows ectopic pregnancy to occur. "So our research," he added, "may in future help scientists find ways to prevent ectopic pregnancy, diagnosis it better, and treat it earlier."

He went on: "The research is exciting because it provides new scientific evidence to help understand why women who smoke are more likely to have ectopic pregnancies. It appears that smoking reduces the production of genes such as BAD which are involved in the control of cell death and promote an environment in the Fallopian tube which is attractive to the developing embryo.

"The information gained from this study can also be applied to other conditions caused by smoking, and could help us prevent or treat them better in the long term."

Continued here:
Why smoking is 'BAD' for the Fallopian tube -- and increases the risk of ectopic pregnancy

July 3, 2012

redOrbit Staff & Wire Reports Your Universe Online

According to research presented this week at the 28th annual meeting of European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) meeting, the number of babies born as a result of assisted reproduction technologies (ART) has reached an estimated 5 million since the worlds first, Louise Brown, was born in July 1978.

The calculations are based on the number of IVF and ICSI treatment cycles recorded worldwide up to 2008 and estimates added for the next three years. The collective total of births was put at 4.6 million in 2011, and in 2012 has now reached an estimated 5 million.

Dr David Adamson, from Fertility Physicians of Northern California, USA, and Chairman of International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ICMART), commented: It means that this technology has been highly successful in treating infertile patients. Millions of families with children have been created, thereby reducing the burden of infertility.

The technology has improved greatly over the years to increase pregnancy rates. The babies are as healthy as those from other infertile patients who conceive spontaneously. The technology is available globally in many different cultures. The major barriers to access are economic, and societal in some situations. With these accomplishments as a technology, and with recognition of Professor Robert Edwards as a Nobel Laureate, IVF is firmly established now in the mainstream of medicine.

Other ICMART information shows that around 1.5 million ART cycles are now performed worldwide each year, producing approximately 350,000 babies. The two most active countries of the world are the USA and Japan, but the most active region by far is Europe.

European data to be presented at the ESHRE congress are from 2009 and show that demand for treatment continues to grow, from 532,260 in 2008 to 537,287 in 2009.

The average availability of ART in Europe is close to 1000 cycles/million inhabitants, but this figure varies greatly between countries and is largely dependent on local state funding policies. For example, availability in Europe is greater than in the USA but less than in Australia.

Dr Anna Pia Ferraretti, chairman of ESHREs IVF Monitoring Consortium, said that the global need for ART is estimated to be at least 1500 cycles/million population per year, a figure only seen in Denmark (2726 cycles/million), Belgium (2562 cycles), Czech Republic (1851 cycles), Slovenia (1840 cycles), Sweden (1800 cycles), Finland (1701 cycles) and Norway (1780 cycles). Countries with much lower availability included Austria (747 cycles/million), Germany (830 cycles), Italy (863 cycles) and UK (879 cycles).

See the original post here:
5 Million IVF And ICSI Babies Worldwide

Public release date: 3-Jul-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Christine Bauquis christine@eshre.eu 32-499-258-046 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology

Istanbul, 3 July 2012: Women with a higher intake of dietary saturated fats have fewer mature oocytes available for collection in IVF, according to results of a study from the Harvard School of Public Health funded by the US National Institutes of Health. The study investigated the effect of dietary fat (classified as total, saturated, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, omega 6, omega 3 and trans) on a range of preclinical and clinical outcomes in women having IVF. Results showed that the intake of saturated fat was inversely related to the number of mature oocytes retrieved, while polyunsaturated fat consumption was inversely associated with early embryo quality.(1)

Dietary fat intake has been previously studied for its effect on reproductive health; for example, a high intake of trans-fats has been associated with ovulatory infertility (as in polycystic ovary syndrome) and miscarriage, while saturated fats have been related to lower sperm concentrations. But so far little has been known about the effect of dietary fat intake on the outcome of fertility treatment.

The results of this study were presented today at the annual meeting of ESHRE (European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology) by Dr Jorge Chavarro, Assistant Professor of Nutrition and Epidemiology at Harvard School of Public Health, USA.

The study took place among 147 women having IVF at the Massachusetts General Hospital Fertility Center. Preclinical assessments included oocyte development, fertilisation, embryo quality and cleavage rate, while clinical outcomes (pregnancy, live birth) were recorded in all women who had embryo transfer. The women were also categorised into tertiles of fat intake, with outcomes compared in relation to the lowest tertile. Results were controlled for other sources of energy, infertility diagnosis, ovarian stimulation protocol, body mass index (BMI) and smoking status.

Following statistical analysis it was found that women with higher intakes of total fat had fewer metaphase II (MII) oocytes retrieved than women in the lowest tertile. This association was driven by intake of saturated fat, said Professor Chavarro. Women in the highest tertile of saturated fat intake had on average 9.3 MII oocytes, while those with the lowest intake had 11.6 MII oocytes.

"Only MII oocytes can be used for IVF," he explained. "Thus, having fewer mature oocytes can mean fewer embryos to choose from for fresh transfer or future transfer following cryopreservation, particularly among women who respond poorly to ovarian stimulation."

Polyunsaturated fat consumption was found inversely related to embryo quality. Women in the highest tertile of polyunsaturated fat intake had a higher proportion of poor quality embryos and more slowly cleaving embryos than had women in the lowest tertile of intake.

Fat consumption was also associated with clinical outcomes. Higher intakes of monounsaturated fat were related to higher odds of live birth. The odds of a live birth after embryo transfer in women with the highest intake of monounsaturated fat were 3.45 times higher than those of women with the lowest intake.

Go here to see the original:
A high intake of certain dietary fats associated with lower live birth rates in IVF

FORT COLLINS - Construction has begun on a 12,200-square-foot Equine Reproduction Laboratory at Colorado State University less than a year after fire destroyed the original main laboratory building.

For 30 years, researchers at the Equine Reproduction Laboratory have developed reproductive techniques benefiting horses and preserving bloodlines. Multiple techniques used today in human and animal reproduction assistance were pioneered at the laboratory, including semen freezing and cooling, embryo transfer and other advanced reproductive procedures.

Despite the fire, client services, teaching and research activities have continued in other buildings on the grounds. More than 500 client horses are examined annually at the ERL.

Construction is expected to be completed by March 2013 in time for the main part of the breeding season.

Insurance proceeds will cover some construction costs, but fundraising for the project is ongoing. For naming opportunities and more information about donating to rebuilding efforts, go to http://www.cvmbs.colostate.edu/ns/_news/csu-equine-laboratory-support/index.aspx.

Read more:
Equine Reproduction Laboratory construction to begin at Colorado State University

01-07-2012 00:58

Go here to see the original:
Human Reproduction 1947 - Video

MENLO PARK, CA--(Marketwire -07/02/12)- Auxogyn, Inc., a company focused on revolutionizing the field of reproductive health, today presented data showing the ability of its flagship product, the Early Embryo Viability Assessment (Eeva) Test, to predict embryo advancement with a new level of accuracy. The Eeva Test uses intelligent computer vision software to measure key parameters from video images and predicts with high accuracy at the cleavage stage which embryos will likely grow to the blastocyst stage. These clinical data were presented today at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) Annual Meeting in Istanbul, Turkey.

In a prospective multi-center cohort study of 160 patients and close to 1,800 embryos, the Eeva Test was able to predict blastocyst formation at the cleavage stage with 85 percent specificity, reducing the false positive rate from 43 percent to 15 percent compared with traditional morphology selection. Eeva also demonstrated the ability to track and analyze cell division timings with greater than 90 percent accuracy. Additionally, Eeva was able to increase the consistency of embryo assessment across embryologists.

"Remarkably, we found that Eeva may in fact improve embryo selection for cleavage-stage transfer," said David Adamson, M.D., adjunct clinical professor at Stanford University, associate clinical professor at UCSF, director of Fertility Physicians of Northern California and principal investigator of the Eeva study. "Eeva provided early insights that we expect will prove to be valuable for cycle consultation and planning of future treatment with our patients. The ability to predict with an increased degree of accuracy appears to be outstanding and will change the way we care for our IVF patients."

"We are delighted that these study results both confirm the groundbreaking discovery published by Stanford University in Nature Biotechnology and demonstrate the clinical value that Eeva provides to reproductive specialists and their patients," said Lissa Goldenstein, president and chief executive officer of Auxogyn. "These data, which we included in both our CE and FDA regulatory filings, represent significant progress in our commitment to the rigorous study and validation of our technology, which we believe is essential in the IVF field."

"Given our progress to date, we expect to receive CE clearance for Eeva in the EU imminently," added Ms. Goldenstein. "We are also on track to submit our 510(k) filing to the FDA this month."

About IVFInfertility affects one of every six couples, but little or no new scientific and clinical breakthroughs in reproductive health have occurred in decades. The demand for assisted reproduction tools and procedures is growing by approximately 10 percent per year due to higher infertility rates caused by an increasing maternal age as more women are starting families later in life. The demand is growing despite the fact that, in the U.S., the cost per cycle is between $13,000 and $15,000, and only one-third of cycles result in a live birth. This necessitates the transfer of multiple embryos and/or conducting multiple cycles, leading to greater physical, emotional, practical and financial costs, before determining if pregnancy can be achieved.

About the Eeva TestAuxogyn's non-invasive, Early Embryo Viability Assessment (Eeva) Test is designed to improve IVF outcomes by providing clinicians and patients with objective information that will enable them to more confidently select embryo(s) for transfer. Eeva's proprietary software automatically analyzes embryo development against scientifically and clinically validated cell-division parameters. With Eeva's quantitative data for each embryo's potential development, IVF clinics may be able to optimize the treatment path for their patients undergoing IVF procedures. Eeva is limited by United States law to investigational use and is under clinical investigation in the European Union.

About AuxogynAuxogyn is revolutionizing the field of reproductive medicine by translating scientific discoveries in early embryo development into clinical tools. The Company's flagship product, the Eeva Test, delivers consistent, objective and quantitative information regarding embryo viability that reproductive endocrinologists and infertility patients can use to make important treatment decisions. Auxogyn is privately held and funded by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Merck Serono Ventures, SR One and TPG Biotech. For more information regarding Auxogyn please visit http://www.auxogyn.com.

See the original post:
Auxogyn Presents New Data Showing the Ability of Eeva(TM) to Non-Invasively Predict Embryo Advancement With Increased ...

Public release date: 2-Jul-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Christine Bauquis christine@eshre.eu 32-499-258-046 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology

Istanbul, 2 July 2012: While many small studies have shown a relationship between infertility and psychological distress, reporting a high prevalence of anxiety, mood disorders and depressive symptoms, few have studied the psychological effect of childlessness on a large population basis. Now, based on the largest cohort of women with fertility problems compiled to date, Danish investigators have shown that women who remained childless after their first investigation for infertility had more hospitalisations for psychiatric disorders than women who had at least one child following their investigation.

The results of the study were presented today at the annual meeting of ESHRE (European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology) by Dr Birgitte Baldur-Felskov, an epidemiologist from the Danish Cancer Research Center in Copenhagen.

Most studies of this kind have been based on single clinics and self-reported psychological effects. This study, however, was a nationwide follow-up of 98,737 Danish women investigated for infertility between 1973 and 2008, who were then cross-linked via Denmark's population-based registries to the Danish Psychiatric Central Registry. This provided information on hospitalisations for psychiatric disorders, which were divided into an inclusive group of "all mental disorders", and six discharge sub-groups which comprised "alcohol and intoxicant abuse", "schizophrenia and psychoses", "affective disorders including depression", "anxiety, adjustment and obsessive compulsive disorder", "eating disorders", and "other mental disorders".

All women were followed from the date of their initial fertility investigation until the date of psychiatric event, date of emigration, date of death, date of hospitalisation or 31st December 2008, whichever came first. Such studies, said Dr Baldur-Felskov, could only be possible in somewhere like Denmark, where each citizen has a personal identification number which can be linked to any or all of the country's diagnostic registries.

Results of the study showed that, over an average follow-up time of 12.6 years (representing 1,248,243 woman-years), 54% of the 98,737 women in the cohort did have a baby. Almost 5000 women from the entire cohort were hospitalised for a psychiatric disorder, the most common discharge diagnosis being "anxiety, adjustment and obsessive compulsive disorders" followed by "affective disorders including depression".

However, those women who remained childless after their initial fertility investigation had a statistically significant (18%) higher risk of hospitalisations for all mental disorders than the women who went on to have a baby; the risk was also significantly greater for alcohol/substance abuse (by 103%), schizophrenia (by 47%) and other mental disorders (by 43%). The study also showed that childlessness increased the risk of eating disorders by 47%, although this was not statistically significant.

However, the most commonly seen discharge diagnosis in the entire cohort (anxiety, adjustment and obsessive compulsive disorders) was not affected by fertility status.

Commenting on the study's results, Dr Baldur-Felskov said: "Our study showed that women who remained childless after fertility evaluation had an 18% higher risk of all mental disorders than the women who did have at least one baby. These higher risks were evident in alcohol and substance abuse, schizophrenia and eating disorders, although appeared lower in affective disorders including depression.

Go here to read the rest:
Childless women with fertility problems at higher risk of hospitalization for psychiatric disorders

Public release date: 2-Jul-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Christine Bauquis christine@eshre.eu 32-499-258-046 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology

Istanbul, 2 July 2012: The state funding of fertility treatment through public reimbursement policies has a direct influence on national birth rates. Lower levels of reimbursement are correlated with higher unmet needs for treatment, while more generous reimbursement policies increase access to treatment and may even make a measurable contribution to national birth rates.

The findings come from a study reported here today at the annual meeting of ESHRE (European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology). The results, says health economist Dr Mark Connolly from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, reflect the wide variety of reimbursement policies throughout Europe and come at a time when many national and local authorities have made plans to cut back their IVF funding as a cost-cutting initiative.(1)

Dr Connolly and colleagues quantified the reimbursement policies of 23 European countries, using an index score ranging from 0 to 18; the higher index scores indicated fuller state funding/reimbursement for treatment. The countries with the most generous funding policies were Belgium, France and Slovenia (with scores between 14 and 18); those with the least generous were the UK, Russia and Ireland (all with scores under 3).

These index scores were then correlated with treatment practice and outcomes in each of the 23 countries. Results first showed a significant relationship between the level of reimbursement and the annual contribution of assisted reproduction (ART) births to national birth numbers. " This finding," said Dr Connolly, "has important policy implications for national authorities concerned about ageing populations and interested in policies for influencing national birth rates. Although the influence on birth rates is small, the relationship is positive and provides an opportunity to compare with other policies implemented by local and national governments to influence birth rates."(2)

Results also showed that in countries with higher levels of reimbursement a higher volume of ART cycles is performed. For example, ESHRE monitoring data for 2008 showed that more ART cycles per million population were performed in Belgium and Denmark (2479 and 2450 ART cycles per million population in 2008) than in Germany, Italy and UK (801, 807 and 825 cycles). "If one considers medical need is similar across countries," said Dr Connolly, "then the data here suggest a great unmet need in those countries with limited reimbursement."

However, the study did not show any significant relationship between reimbursement policies and access to care for women of different age groups. This would suggest, said Dr Connolly, that there is no oversupply of treatment in countries with generous state funding. "This is a welcome finding," he added, "because it suggests treatment is based on medical need and not simply on the availability and accessibility of reimbursed treatment."

While the study did not find correlations between reimbursement and patient age (or deliveries per cycle, or multiple embryo transfers), there was a trend towards more singleton deliveries in countries with higher levels of reimbursement, suggesting that results in poorly reimbursed countries are more dependent on a single cycle of treatment than on single embryo transfers in cumulative cycles.

The authors of the study hope that health ministries at this difficult economic time consider the broader implications of access to fertility care and the cost consequences of not funding. As shown by this study, limited funding for ART will result in fewer children being born each year and inequitable access to treatment.

Read the original:
Higher levels of public reimbursement positively influence national birth rates and reduce unmet needs in subfertile ...

ScienceDaily (July 2, 2012) The number of babies born as a result of assisted reproduction technologies (ART) has reached an estimated total of 5 million since the world's first, Louise Brown, was born in July 1978. The figures were presented at the 28th annual meeting of ESHRE (European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology), which began 1st July, in Istanbul, Turkey.

The calculation was made for a presentation at the congress from ICMART (International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technologies) and was based on the number of IVF and ICSI treatment cycles recorded worldwide up to 2008 with estimations added for the following three years. The cumulative total of births was put at 4.6 million last year, and this year has now reached an approximate total of 5 million.

Commenting on this remarkable milestone, Dr David Adamson, from Fertility Physicians of Northern California, USA, and Chairman of ICMART, said: "It means that this technology has been highly successful in treating infertile patients. Millions of families with children have been created, thereby reducing the burden of infertility.

"The technology has improved greatly over the years to increase pregnancy rates. The babies are as healthy as those from other infertile patients who conceive spontaneously. The technology is available globally in many different cultures. The major barriers to access are economic, and societal in some situations. With these accomplishments as a technology, and with recognition of Professor Robert Edwards as a Nobel Laureate, IVF is firmly established now in the mainstream of medicine."

Other ICMART data indicate that around 1.5 million ART cycles are now performed globally each year, producing around 350,000 babies. This number continues to rise. The two most active countries of the world are the USA and Japan, but the most active region by far is Europe.

The picture in Europe

The latest European data to be presented at the ESHRE congress are for 2009, and show that demand for treatment -- as expressed in treatment cycles performed in European countries -- continues to grow, from 532,260 in 2008 to 537,287 in 2009.

The average availability of ART in Europe is close to 1000 cycles/million inhabitants, but this figure varies greatly between countries and is largely dependent on local state funding policies. Availability in Europe is greater than in the USA but less than in Australia.

Dr Anna Pia Ferraretti, chairman of ESHRE's IVF Monitoring Consortium, said that the global need for ART is estimated to be at least 1500 cycles/million population per year, a figure only seen in Denmark (2726 cycles/million), Belgium (2562 cycles), Czech Republic (1851 cycles), Slovenia (1840 cycles), Sweden (1800 cycles), Finland (1701 cycles) and Norway (1780 cycles). Countries with much lower availability included Austria (747 cycles/million), Germany (830 cycles), Italy (863 cycles) and UK (879 cycles).

Success rates from a single "fresh" treatment cycle of IVF and ICSI -- as first indicated in data for 2008 presented last year -- seem to have stabilised, at around 32% pregnancy rate per embryo transfer (and 28% per aspiration). Dr Ferraretti said there had been a notable decline in the number of embryos transferred, with cumulative delivery rates, which include the transfer of frozen/thawed embryos from the same stimulation cycle, now representing "the best indicator of outcome." By using this endpoint, she explained, delivery rates can increase substantially while maintaining a very low multiple rate.

See more here:
World's number of IVF and ICSI babies has now reached a calculated total of 5 million

In-vitro fertilisation (IVF) has given the world about five million new people since the first test tube baby was born in England 34 years ago.

AS the initial controversy over man's scientific manipulation of nature has faded, about 350,000 babies conceived in petri dishes are now born every year, the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) said on Monday.

That represents about 0.3 per cent of the 130-million babies added to the world population annually.

"Millions of families with children have been created, thereby reducing the burden of infertility," said David Adamson, chairman of the International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ICMART).

IVF, which involves placing an egg and sperm together in a petri dish for conception, and a sub-category known as ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) where the sperm is inserted with a micro-needle directly into the egg, have become commonplace.

But it has proven controversial over the years, with some fearing it paved the way for so-called designer babies whose characteristics are chosen by parents.

The Vatican considers it immoral because of the wastage of a large number of embryos, and the procedure has been criticised for allowing women to have children until a much older age.

The five million milestone "justifies all the legal and moral battles, the ethical debates and hard-fought social approval," said Simon Fishel, a member of the team that helped conceive the world's first IVF baby, Louise Brown, born in 1978.

The birth estimate was done by ICMART for the 28th annual meeting of ESHRE which opened in Istanbul, Turkey, on Sunday.

It is based on the number of IVF and ICSI treatments recorded worldwide up to 2008, and estimates for the years thereafter for which confirmed figures are not yet available.

Read the original post:
World has 5 million test tube people

Public release date: 1-Jul-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Christine Bauquis christine@eshre.eu 32-499-258-046 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology

Istanbul, 1 July 2012: The number of babies born as a result of assisted reproduction technologies (ART) has reached an estimated total of 5 million since the world's first, Louise Brown, was born in July 1978. The figures will be presented this week at the 28th annual meeting of ESHRE (European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology), which begins today, 1st July, in Istanbul, Turkey.

The calculation was made for a presentation at the congress from ICMART (International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technologies) and was based on the number of IVF and ICSI treatment cycles recorded worldwide up to 2008 with estimations added for the following three years. The cumulative total of births was put at 4.6 million last year, and this year has now reached an approximate total of 5 million.

Commenting on this remarkable milestone, Dr David Adamson, from Fertility Physicians of Northern California, USA, and Chairman of ICMART, said: "It means that this technology has been highly successful in treating infertile patients. Millions of families with children have been created, thereby reducing the burden of infertility.

"The technology has improved greatly over the years to increase pregnancy rates. The babies are as healthy as those from other infertile patients who conceive spontaneously. The technology is available globally in many different cultures. The major barriers to access are economic, and societal in some situations. With these accomplishments as a technology, and with recognition of Professor Robert Edwards as a Nobel Laureate, IVF is firmly established now in the mainstream of medicine."

Other ICMART data indicate that around 1.5 million ART cycles are now performed globally each year, producing around 350,000 babies. This number continues to rise. The two most active countries of the world are the USA and Japan, but the most active region by far is Europe.

The picture in Europe

The latest European data to be presented at the ESHRE congress are for 2009, and show that demand for treatment - as expressed in treatment cycles performed in European countries - continues to grow, from 532,260 in 2008 to 537,287 in 2009.

The average availability of ART in Europe is close to 1000 cycles/million inhabitants, but this figure varies greatly between countries and is largely dependent on local state funding policies. Availability in Europe is greater than in the USA but less than in Australia.

Original post:
The world's number of IVF and ICSI babies has now reached a calculated total of 5 million

(GENEVA) - The European Union will lead calls for the appointment of a UN human rights investigator to Belarus in the wake of a report condemning serious violations there.

The UN Human Rights Council will discuss on Wednesday a report by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) which says the situation there has "significantly deteriorated" since the 2010 presidential election when a crackdown on protesters and opposition saw hundreds detained.

The EU, supported by the United States, will on Thursday lodge a resolution requesting the assignment of a special rapporteur.

The council's 47 members are then expected to vote on the issue at the end of its current sitting, on either July 5 or 6.

The UN rights body previously appointed a special rapporteur in 2004 but the mandate was discontinued in 2007 at the request of the government.

In June last year the council adopted a resolution condemning rights violations before and after the presidential election.

US ambassador to the council Eileen Donahoe said there was a need to step up action against the government of Alexander Lukashenko amid its continued lack of cooperation with the OHCHR and "the further degradation" of the rights situation.

"The United States believes the next step should be the creation of a Special Rapporteur to continue to investigate and put a spotlight on the situation in Belarus," the ambassador told reporters in Geneva last week.

In its latest report covering December 2010 to March this year, the OHCHR highlighted allegations of the torture of detainees and pressure on defence lawyers.

"Since the election, the human rights situation has further deteriorated, particularly the rights to freedoms of association, assembly and expression, and the right to a fair trial," it said.

Read more:
EU wants UN rights probe in Belarus

BEVERLY, MA and TORONTO--(Marketwire -06/29/12)- Hamilton Thorne Ltd. (HTL.V), a leading provider of precision laser devices and advanced image analysis systems for the fertility, stem cell and developmental biology research markets, today announced that the Company will be showcasing two of its premier clinical products at the 28th Annual Meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) taking place in Istanbul, Turkey from July 1-4, 2012. Hamilton Thorne will be demonstrating its new IMSI-Strict imaging and analysis software and the FDA cleared and CE marked Multi-Pulse software at the Company's ESHRE booth # B19.

During the conference, Hamilton Thorne will announce the official commercial launch of its much anticipated IMSI-Strict imaging and analysis software. IMSI-Strict is the only automated software solution for live sperm morphology analysis under high magnification. IMSI-Strict combines Tygerberg Strict Criteria with motile sperm organelle morphology examination (MSOME) and provides software-based categorization using head size, head shape, mid-piece, and number of vacuoles. Using these analyzed parameters, sperm are assigned to one of three easy-to-determine categories: normal, sub-normal or abnormal.

Benefits of IMSI-Strict Software:

The Company will also highlight its Multi-Pulse software that recently received FDA clearance and a CE mark for performing embryo biopsy in clinical settings. The Multi-Pulse software comes standard with Hamilton Thorne's LYKOS clinical laser system, and provides rapid, repeated firing of the laser to facilitate removal of cells from an embryo during the trophectoderm biopsy process. Trophectoderm biopsy is considered one of the best methods used to remove cells from the embryos of patients undergoing pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) to screen for genetic disease or aneuploidy. The significant advantage of Multi-Pulse is that one press of the remote footswitch initiates multiple laser pulses in rapid succession for fast and easy cell separation, thereby limiting the amount of time the embryo spends outside the incubator.

"We are proud to officially launch the commercial availability of our IMSI Strict image and analysis system, the Company's best-in-class sperm morphology analysis product, as well as showcase our new Multi-Pulse software during this renowned fertility conference," said David Wolf, President and Chief Executive Office of Hamilton Thorne, Ltd. "With both Hamilton Thorne products on the market, we are providing clinicians with advanced and precise tools to dramatically increase successful fertility outcomes and enable important clinical procedures such as embryo biopsy."

Currently available in Europe for clinical procedures, IMSI-Strict is only available in the United States for research use, and not to be used for diagnostic purposes. In addition to IMSI-Strict and Multi-Pulse, Hamilton Thorne will be displaying the entire clinical laser product line at ESHRE, including our new LYKOS laser system. To view Hamilton Thorne's premier fertility products that will be on display at ESHRE, please click on this link for a highlights video: http://youtu.be/JqsQCIk8osA.

About Hamilton Thorne Ltd. (www.hamiltonthorne.com)

Hamilton Thorne designs, manufactures and distributes precision laser devices and advanced imaging systems for the fertility, stem cell and development biology research markets. It provides novel solutions for Life Science that reduce cost, increase productivity, improve results and enable research breakthroughs in regenerative medicine, stem cell research and fertility markets. Hamilton Thorne's laser products attach to standard inverted microscopes and operate as robotic micro-surgeons, enabling a wide array of scientific applications and IVF procedures. Its imaging systems improve outcomes in human IVF clinics and animal breeding facilities and provide high-end toxicology analyses.

Hamilton Thorne's growing customer base includes pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, fertility clinics, university research centers, and other commercial and academic research establishments worldwide. Current customers include world-leading research labs such as Harvard, MIT, Yale, McGill, DuPont, Monsanto, Charles River Labs, Jackson Labs, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, and Oxford and Cambridge.

Neither the Toronto Venture Exchange, nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the exchange), accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

See original here:
Hamilton Thorne Showcases Two New Products for Fertility Clinics at ESHRE 2012

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/whnkxx/textbook_of_assist) has announced the addition of the "Textbook of Assisted Reproductive Techniques: Clinical Perspectives" book to their offering.

Textbook of Assisted Reproductive Technologies has become a classic comprehsive reference for the whole team at the IVF clinic. The fourth edition comes more conveniently as a set of two separate volumes, one for laboratory aspects and the other for clinical applications.

The text has been extensively revised, with the addition of several important new contributions on clinical applications, including new chapters on lifestyle factors, tailored ovarian stimulation, frozen-thawed embryo transfer, viral disease, and religious perspectives. As before, methods, protocols, and techniques of choice are presented by eminent international experts.

Key Topics Covered:

Introduction to Third Edition. Robert Edwards: The path to IVF. IX Quality Management Systems

- Quality management in reproductive medicine. X Patient Investigation and the Use of Drugs

- Lifestyle, periconception, and fertility.

- Indications for IVF treatment: from diagnosis to prognosis.

- Initial investigation of the infertile couple.

More here:
Research and Markets: Textbook of Assisted Reproductive Techniques: Clinical Perspectives

Public release date: 20-Jun-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Karthika Muthukumaraswamy karthika@siam.org 267-350-6383 Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics

Philadelphia June 20, 2012Malaria affects over 200 million individuals every year and kills hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. The disease varies greatly from region to region in the species that cause it and in the carriers that spread it. It is easily transmitted across regions through travel and migration. This results in outbreaks of the disease even in regions that are essentially malaria-free, such as the United States. Malaria has been nearly eliminated in the U.S. since the 1950s, but the country continues to see roughly 1,500 cases a year, most of them from travelers. Hence, the movement or dispersal of populations becomes important in the study of the disease.

In a paper published this month in the SIAM Journal on Applied Mathematics, authors Daozhou Gao and Shigui Ruan propose a mathematical model to study malaria transmission.

"Malaria is a parasitic vector-borne disease caused by the plasmodium parasite, which is transmitted to people via the bites of infected female mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles," says Ruan. "It can be easily transmitted from one region to another due to extensive travel and migration."

The life cycle of plasmodium involves incubation periods in two hosts, the human and the mosquito. Therefore, mathematical modeling of the spread of malaria usually focuses on the feedback dynamics from mosquito to human and back. Early models were based on malaria parasites' population biology and evolution. But increased computing power in recent years has allowed models for the disease to become more detailed and complex.

Mathematical models that study transmission of malaria are based on the "reproduction number," which defines the most important aspects of transmission for any infectious disease. Specifically, it is calculated by determining the expected number of infected organisms that can trace their infection directly back to a single organism after one disease generation. The solution to controlling the disease is to arrive at a reproduction number at which the disease-free state can be established and maintained.

Previous studies used ordinary differential equations to model the transmission of malaria, in which human populations are classified as susceptible, exposed, infectious and recovered. Likewise, mosquito populations are divided into susceptible, exposed and infectious groups. The threshold below which the disease-free equilibrium can be maintained is determined by varying these parameters.

In order to analyze transmission rates of malaria between regions, multi-patch models are used, where each region is a "patch." These models study how the reproduction number is affected by dispersal or movement of exposed and infectious individuals from region to region.

The authors in this paper model the transmission dynamics of malaria between humans and mosquitoes within a patch, and then go on to examine how population dispersal between patches or regions affects the spread of malaria in a two-patch model.

Here is the original post:
The math of malaria

Grand Rapids Medical Mile, which includes the new Michigan State University College of Human Medicine complex. Matt Roush photo

GRAND RAPIDS The Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and Grand Valley State University have agreed to establish a cooperative program of premedical and medical education by which Grand Rapids Community College students who transfer as undergraduate premedical students to GVSU will have the opportunity to be granted an early assurance of admission to MSUs med school.

The Early Assurance Program became official at an agreement signing ceremony held Monday at GRCC.

Gilda Gely, GRCC provost; Gayle R. Davis, GVSU provost and vice president for Academic Affairs; Kim Wilcox, MSU provost; and Marsha D. Rappley, dean of the MSU College of Human Medicine, were joined by other school administrators at the signing.

The EAP will provide an enhanced opportunity for admission to medical school for GRCC students transferring to GVSU as pre-medical students who are interested in serving traditionally underserved populations. These students will receive academic advising directed at admission to MSU College of Human Medicine, and will be enrolled in a program of enriching clinical and service experiences in preparation for admission.

Under the agreement, MSU College of Human Medicine is increasing the number of EAP seats it reserves at the medical school for GVSU from five seats to six seats, in order to include an opportunity for students that have transferred from GRCC to GVSU as pre-med students. According to MSU administrators, in the fall of 2011 they received more than 6,250 applicants for the 200 seats available for first-year students. In addition to GRCC and GVSU, 11 other colleges and universities, including Michigan State University, participate with the EAP. GRCC is the first community college to be part of an Early Assurance Program agreement.

Preference for EAP admission will be given to those former GRCC students who now apply as a GVSU student and may not otherwise be familiar with what goes into preparing for premedical and medical school application processes.

These students must also meet one or more of the following criteria: are a first generation college student graduate from an underserved high school as defined by the U.S. Dept. of Education are eligible for or a recipient of an undergraduate Pell or institutional need-based grant graduate from an underserved (health professional shortage) urban or rural area demonstrate interest in a high need medical specialty area

Nick Monsma, a senior at GVSU, attended the signing. He will be the first student to enroll in the program. Monsma, a Grand Rapids native, attended GRCC then transferred to Grand Valley. He was admitted to the MSU CHM in the spring and will begin classes in the fall of 2013.

I think this is an amazing opportunity; Im looking forward to going to school at Michigan State, Monsma, a biomedical sciences major, said.

Read more from the original source:
Partnership Provides Enhanced Opportunity For MSU Medical School

BACKGROUND

Mitochondrial disorders are often fatal multisystem disorders, partially caused by heteroplasmic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) point mutations. Prenatal diagnosis is generally not possible for these maternally inherited mutations because of extensive variation in mutation load among embryos and the inability to accurately predict the clinical expression. The aim of this study is to investigate if PGD could be a better alternative, by investigating the existence of a minimal mutation level below which the chance of an embryo being affected is acceptably low, irrespective of the mtDNA mutation.

METHODS

We performed a systematic review of muscle mutation levels, evaluating 159 different heteroplasmic mtDNA point mutations derived from 327 unrelated patients or pedigrees, and reviewed three overrepresented mtDNA mutations (m.3243A>G, m.8344A>G and m.8993T>C/G) separately.

RESULTS

Mutation levels were included for familial mtDNA point mutations only, covering all affected (n = 195) and unaffected maternal relatives (n = 19) from 137 pedigrees. Mean muscle mutation levels were comparable between probands and affected maternal relatives, and between affected individuals with tRNA- versus protein-coding mutations. Using an estimated a priori prevalence of being affected in pedigrees of 0.477, we calculated that a 95% or higher chance of being unaffected was associated with a muscle mutation level of 18% or less. At a mutation level of 18%, the predicted probability of being affected is 0.00744. The chance of being unaffected was lower only for the m.3243A>G mutation (P < 0.001). Most carriers of mtDNA mutations will have oocytes with mutation levels below this threshold.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data show, for the first time, that carriers of heteroplasmic mtDNA mutations will have a fair chance of having healthy offspring, by applying PGD. Nevertheless, our conclusions are partly based on estimations and, as indicated, do not provide absolute certainty. Carriers of mtDNA should be informed about these constraints.

Source:
http://humupd.oxfordjournals.org/rss/current.xml

BACKGROUND

Thyroid disorders are associated with pregnancy complications. Universal screening is currently not recommended because of a lack of evidence on the effectiveness of treatment. Women with hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism evidently require treatment but this is less clear for women with subclinical hypothyroidism and thyroid autoimmunity. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review to provide a comprehensive overview on the available treatment interventions.

METHODS

Relevant studies were identified by searching Medline, EMBASE and Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, published until December 2011.

RESULTS

From a total of 7334 primary selected titles, 22 articles were included for the systematic review and 11 were appropriate for meta-analyses. Eight studies reported on hyperthyroidism. Propylthiouracil (PTU) and methimazole reduce the risk for preterm delivery [risk ratio (RR): 0.23, confidence interval (CI): 0.1–0.52], pre-eclampsia (RR: 0.23, CI: 0.06–0.89) and low birthweight (RR: 0.38, CI: 0.22–0.66). The nine studies that reported on clinical hypothyroidism showed that levothyroxine is effective in reducing the risk for miscarriage (RR: 0.19, CI: 0.08–0.39) and preterm delivery (RR: 0.41, CI: 0.24–0.68). For treatment of subclinical hypothyroidism, current evidence is insufficient. The five studies available on thyroid autoimmunity showed a not significant reduction in miscarriage (RR: 0.58, CI: 0.32–1.06), but significant reduction in preterm birth by treatment with levothyoxine (RR: 0.31, CI: 0.11–0.90).

CONCLUSION

For hyperthyroidism, methimazole and PTU are effective in preventing pregnancy complications. For clinical hypothyroidism, treatment with levothyroxine is recommended. For subclinical hypothyroidism and thyroid autoimmunity, evidence is insufficient to recommend treatment with levothyroxine. The overall lack of evidence precludes a recommendation for universal screening and is only justified in a research setting.

Source:
http://humupd.oxfordjournals.org/rss/current.xml

BACKGROUND

Prenatal screening and diagnosis of chromosomal abnormalities especially Down's syndrome in IVF pregnancies are complicated by higher maternal age, a high multiple pregnancy rate, a high risk of a vanishing twin and an increased risk of chromosomal abnormalities, particularly in pregnancies after ICSI. The aim of the present systematic review was to evaluate the findings of first trimester screening for chromosomal abnormalities in IVF/ICSI singleton and twin pregnancies.

METHODS

A systematic MESH-term search in MEDLINE using PubMed and the Cochrane Library was performed until May 2011, with no earlier date limit.

RESULTS

The electronic search retrieved 562 citations, 96 of which were evaluated in detail and 57 were then excluded for not meeting the selection criteria. A total of 61 articles were finally selected for review. Our analysis of the data shows that, for IVF/ICSI singletons, combined first trimester prenatal screening based on maternal age, nuchal translucency scan and biomarkers is appropriate. However, biomarkers seem to be altered, causing a higher false-positive rate, in IVF/ICSI singleton gestations. Correction factors have been developed and should be used when screening for Down's syndrome in singleton pregnancies. With regard to IVF/ICSI twin pregnancies, biomarker values seem to be dependent on chorionicity as well as gestational age. Whether the use of a correction factor for mode of conception in the risk calculations for Down's syndrome in twin pregnancies is valid has not been fully elucidated. In vanishing twin pregnancies with a second gestational sac with a dead fetus, first trimester screening should be based solely on the maternal age and the nuchal translucency scan as biomarkers are significantly altered in these cases.

CONCLUSIONS

First trimester prenatal screening after IVF/ICSI treatment requires specific precautions in both singleton and twin pregnancies.

Source:
http://humupd.oxfordjournals.org/rss/current.xml

BACKGROUND

Although several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have examined the effect of misoprostol prior to hysteroscopy for cervical dilatation, no solid conclusion has been reached. We therefore set out to perform a meta-analysis of RCTs.

METHODS

We searched MEDLINE, the ISI Web of Science and the Cochrane Library to identify RCTs comparing misoprostol versus placebo or control prior to hysteroscopy. No restrictions on language or time were applied. Relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for all dichotomous outcomes, whereas mean differences (MDs) and 95% CIs were calculated for continuous outcomes using the Mantel–Haenszel or DerSimonian–Laird model according to the heterogeneity.

RESULTS

Of the initial 141 potentially relevant articles that were retrieved, 21 RCTs involving 1786 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Subgroup analyses were performed according to menopausal status and according to whether diagnostic or operative hysteroscopy was performed. Premenopausal women treated with misoprostol had a significantly lower risk for further cervical dilatation in the diagnostic setting [RR (95% CI): 0.56 (0.34–0.92)] and a significantly lower risk for cervical laceration in the operative setting [RR (95% CI): 0.22 (0.09–0.54)], compared with placebo. In contrast, post-menopausal patients did not experience any clear benefit from misoprostol compared with placebo regarding the need for further cervical dilatation [RR (95% CI): 0.99 (0.76–1.30)] and the cervical laceration rate [RR (95% CI): 1.15 (0.40–3.29)]. In addition, the mean cervical width prior to hysteroscopy was significantly higher in premenopausal women treated with misoprostol compared with placebo [MD (95% CI): 2.47 mm (1.81–3.13)] but did not differ among post-menopausal patients [MD (95% CI): 0.39 mm (–0.42 to 1.21)].

CONCLUSIONS

Misoprostol prior to hysteroscopy appears to facilitate an easier and uncomplicated procedure only in premenopausal women.

Source:
http://humupd.oxfordjournals.org/rss/current.xml