IVF influences baby's sex: study

While the probability of having a boy varied depending on the type of technology used, there was no imbalance overall, say researchers

Australian researchers have shown that assisted reproductive technology influences male-female birth ratios.

Trends have been reported in the past, but often the statistics have been drawn by simply looking at individual clinics.

But a new study from the University of New South Wales has examined data on almost 13,400 babies born using single embryo transfer in Australia and New Zealand between 2002 and 2006.

The research appears today in the International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

For some assisted reproductive technologies (ART), boys accounted for 56 per cent of live births, while for other techniques boys accounted for 48 per cent.

The report's author, PhD candidate Jishan Dean, says while the probability of having a boy varied depending on the type of ART used, there was no imbalance overall.

"For each year, the sex ratio at birth is actually no different from whatever the general rates in Australia [are]," she said.

"But, if in the future, for example, most people want to have an ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection), cleverly staged embryo transfer, that may cause the problem because that particular procedure would have less boys.

"On the other hand, if IVF blastocysts become the dominant type of treatment - that will create more boys."

Ms Dean said she believes the diagnosis of the different treatments will even out over time.

Sex selection

Ms Dean also warned people not to choose one type of treatment over the other depending on whether they want a boy or girl.

"I'm worried about that they are using this in the wrong way, because this research only gives you a probability and is not really giving you any guarantees," she said.

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) bans deliberate sex selection.

But the study's co-author, Professor Michael Chapman, who is also a senior specialist with IVF Australia, says the new research may lead to sex selection tools

"That opens up the whole debate about social sex selection, which then I think NHMRC are about to review their current ethical guideline which says that it's banned in Australia," he said.

"But there is a significant community groundswell that it should be permitted since we have the technology."

Professor Chapman says the fertility treatments used at the moment will not have a significant impact on gender balance.

"IVF is 3.5 per cent of the birth rate in Australia and these results, where we've got a very high male birth rate in a particular group of patients, are merely a small proportion of those," he said.

Source http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/09/29/3025051.htm?site=sydney

Gillard promises to target suicide hotspots

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has promised rapid funding measures to make suicide hotspots around Australia more safe.

Ms Gillard told a lunch for Lifeline in Sydney that the Government would honour election commitments to mental health and suicide prevention services.

She paid tribute to mental health advocates and counselling services that have fostered public discussions of the issues.

"Mental illness is no less debilitating than sickness of the body and no less worthy of our care and concerns," she said.

"I'm determined that as a government and as a community we step up our efforts to address the scourge of mental illness, which too often ends in the devastating contemplation of suicide."

Ms Gillard says the Gap in eastern Sydney is one suicide hotspot where the Government will move quickly to fund works to improve safety.

Source http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/09/24/3021591.htm

Depression, heart disease combo most deadly

A new research suggests that the depression and heart disease combo is far more lethal than having either of these conditions in isolation.

Previous research has indicated that people, who are depressed, but otherwise healthy, are more likely to develop coronary heart disease, irrespective of what other risk factors they might have.

The authors have concluded their findings on just under 6,000 middle aged adults, whose mental and physical health were tracked for an average of five and a half years.

Around one in seven of the 6,000 (14.9pc) scored highly on a depressive symptom scale. And one in five (20pc) of those with established heart disease were depressed compared with one in seven (14pc) of those without heart problems.

During the five and a half year monitoring period, 170 people died. Heart attack or stroke accounted for 47 of these deaths.

Those with coronary heart disease alone were 67pc more likely to die of all causes, while those who were depressed, but otherwise healthy, were twice as likely to do so as those who had neither condition.

But those who were both depressed and had heart disease were almost five times as likely to die as their mentally and physically healthy peers.

After taking account of age and sex, and other relevant influential factors, the combination of depression and heart disease tripled the risk of death from all causes and quadrupled the risk of dying from a heart attack or a stroke.

The results emphasized the need for healthcare professionals to pay more attention to depression in their cardiac patients in the study.

Source http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health/Depression-heart-disease-combo-most-deadly/articleshow/6565435.cms

One person dies of swine flu in Chennai

Swine flu claimed one more life in Chennai on Friday morning. Four persons are currently in the special ward of the Government General Hospital, undergoing treatment.

The deceased, Mohanavelu Palanichamy (39), worked as a Assistant Public Relations Officer at the Secretariat.

Hospital authorities said Mohanavelu had been admitted to a private hospital in Triplicane and treated for viral infection for 10 days. He was discharged when his condition improved but a day later had to be readmitted with worsening symptoms to the same hospital where investigations revealed that he was infected with the H1N1 infection.

According to Dean J. Mohanasundaram, who met the press on Friday at the hospital, Mr. Mohanavelu was “admitted to a private hospital in Triplicane for complaints of cough, fever, breathlessness for 10 days and treated for viral infection”.

His chest x-ray showed bilateral fluffy opacities. “As the patient’s condition deteriorated and the oxygen saturation was low, he was intubated and put on a ventilator,” the Dean said. “In spite of this, his condition deteriorated and he was referred to the GH in a state of ET tube intubation and ambu bag ventilation for further management.”

The patient was started on Tamiflu, steroids, antibiotics and IV fluids.

“Despite our treatment and ventilator support, the patient’s condition deteriorated and he expired around 6.45 a.m. on Friday.”

The cause of death was registered as acute respiratory distress syndrome, bilateral bronchopneumonia — H1N1 infection and cardio respiratory arrest.

The dean, however, ruled out fears of an epidemic in the city and State and said a sufficient dosage of the nasal vaccine (costing Rs.160) and injection (Rs.300) were available in the State-run hospitals. To a question on the availability of the drug in private hospitals, he said there was enough supply of the medicines.

Medical teams have been despatched to Big Street in Triplicane to test persons in and around the deceased official’s home, said C. Veni, Medical Superintendent.

Source http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Chennai/article625078.ece

Smoking Leads to Lung and Oral Cancers in India

Experts have come down heavily on smokers in the country.

Speaking at the inauguration of Apollo Hospitals’ special cancer detection program in association with Rotary Club of Madras Midtown, the hospital’s oncologist Dr Raja said that nearly all of the lung and oral cancer cases in the country are caused by smoking.

The chairperson of the Apollo Hospitals Group, Prathap C. Reddy added that more than eight lakh new cases of lung or oral cancer are being registered in the country each year with India accounting for 25 lakh people who are suffering from cancer.

Nearly 5.5 lakh people die due to cancer with diabetes and heart disease cases also on the rise. Dr Reddy went on to add that the hospital’s new cancer detection program could help in identifying the disease at an early stage and thousands of lives could be saved by early treatment.

Read more: http://www.medindia.net/news/Smoking-Leads-to-Lung-and-Oral-Cancers-in-India-73691-1.htm

Mushroom drug fights cancer patients anxiety

A 'magic mushroom' drug can improve the quality of life of patients with advanced cancer by reducing anxiety.

Research in the US has shown that one session with the drug, psilocybin, elevated mood and lessened anxiety in the patient group for up to six months.

Psilocybin is the key ingredient in 'magic mushrooms', and is classified as an illegal Class A drug in Britain, reports the Telegraph.

The drug has mind-altering effects including enhancement of colours and hallucinations, according to the journal Archives of General Psychiatry.

Charles Grob, from the LA BioMed Research Institute in Los Angeles, California, said: 'We are working with a patient population that often does not respond well to conventional treatments.'

'Following their treatments with psilocybin, the patients and their families reported benefit from the use of this hallucinogen in reducing their anxiety,' said Grob.

'This study shows psilocybin can be administered safely, and that further investigation of hallucinogens should be pursued to determine their potential benefits,' said Grob.

The pilot study involving a group of volunteers aged 36 to 58 years, builds on work in the 1950s and 1960s which found that psychedelic drugs could benefit advanced-stage cancer patients, reducing anxiety and the need for pain medication.

The early research was abandoned in the 1970s after a legal clampdown on the recreational use of hallucinogenic drugs such as (lysergic acid diethylamide) LSD.

All of the current study volunteers had advanced cancers and were suffering from anxiety.

Participants were given either a psilocybin dose of 0.2 milligram per kg of body weight, or a placebo (simulated medical intervention) during two experimental sessions several weeks apart.

Their progress was monitored over the next six months using standard screening tests for measuring anxiety and depression.

The researchers wrote: 'Safe physiological and psychological responses were documented during treatment sessions. We also observed no adverse psychological effects from the treatment.'

Source http://sify.com/news/mushroom-drug-fights-cancer-patients-anxiety-news-international-kjhpEdcjfhe.html

Coffee's the secret to long life

Sipping a hot cup of coffee daily could give you more than a healthful lift of energy. The drink helps people live longer by warding off heart disease, a study has revealed.

Researchers at the University of Athens have carried out the study and found that drinking a cup of coffee everyday improves elasticity of the arteries, which can stave off heart disease, the 'Daily Mail' reported.

In fact, the researchers have based their findings on an analysis of 485 people with high blood pressure.

The subjects of the study were all aged between 65 and 100 and longterm inhabitants of Greek island of Ikaria. It is known as the "land of longevity" and a third of residents reach the age of 90.

Dr Christina Chrysohoou, who led the study, said there was conflicting evidence about the effect of coffee drinking on heart health, with some research showing it aggravated high blood pressure.

"But drinking coffee is a deeply embedded social tradition in Greek culture which made it imperative to probe on this island of 'high life-expectancy," she said.

In the study, the subjects' arteries were assessed for distensibility -- or elasticity. The 56 per cent who were moderate coffee drinkers consuming between one and two cups a day, had best arterial health, with their blood vessels behaving like those found in younger people.

Their arteries were more elastic than those measured in people who drank little or no coffee. Around one in 10 who drank three or more cups a day had the least elasticity.

Dr Chrysohoou said moderate coffee drinkers consumed 25-50ml of coffee a day. Typically they were drinking strong Greek coffee but other types might work as well.

She suggested that ingredients such as caffeine and antioxidants may partly improve arterial function by increasing the ability to take up nitric oxide, which is impaired in hypertensive patients.

Read more: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health/Coffees-the-secret-to-long-life/articleshow/6473917.cms