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Evidence Challenges Effectiveness Of Embryo Screening For Older Women
There is growing evidence that a procedure for identifying chromosomal abnormalities in embryos prior to in vitro fertilization is ineffective at helping older women become pregnant, the Wall Street Journal reports. The procedure -- known as pre-implantation genetic screening, or PGS -- is performed in dozen of U.S. fertility clinics and sometimes marketed to older women as a way to increase the odds of a healthy live birth. PGS involves extracting a single cell from a six-cell embryo and inspecting it for chromosomal abnormalities known as aneuploidies; unaffected embryos can then be implanted through IVF. Women older than age 35 have a higher risk of aneuploidies, in which embryos have fewer or more than the usual number of 23 pairs of chromosomes. Aneuploidies can trigger early miscarriage or certain genetics conditions, such as Down syndrome. Most medical experts agree that embryo screening is capable of significantly reducing the risk of Down syndrome and other serious chromosome-related illnesses. However, evidence from several studies increasingly suggests that the procedure does not increase older women"s chances of healthy live births. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine released an initial opinion about PGS in 2007, saying that available evidence does not support the use of embryo screening to increase live birth rates in older women. Andrew La Barbera, scientific director of the society, said, "Since that time, there have been several more trials that have reached the same conclusion." Another shortcoming is that most clinics can only test for fewer than half of the 23 chromosomes, meaning that many defects can go undetected. However, medical experts say that the use of PGS has increased in the two years since ASRM issued its recommendations. According to the Journal, PGS can add more than $2,000 to the roughly $10,000 cost of one IVF cycle. Very few health insurers cover PGS, though some pay for IVF. Some experts contend that studies showing a lack of clinical benefit from PGS do not use more efficient biopsy techniques that can prevent damage to the embryo. Santiago Munne, scientific director for Reprogenetics, said that the treatment is "effective." In a 2007 study, Munne and colleagues used PGS to reduce the rate at which patients miscarried. However, the chances of a woman getting pregnant largely were unchanged, which the authors said could be attributed to the small number of study participants (Naik, Wall Street Journal, 6/1).
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Moderately Reduced Carbohydrate Diet Keeps People Feeling Full Longer
A modest reduction in the amount of carbohydrates eaten, without calorie restriction and weight loss, appears to increase a sense of fullness, which may help people eat less, a preliminary study found. The results were presented at The Endocrine Society"s 91st Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.
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Contur Software Adds Further Chemistry Tools To Web-Based ELN
Contur Software, a leading provider of electronic laboratory notebook (ELN) systems, announced added chemistry functionality in iLabber, the company"s recently launched high-end ELN system available as an online service. Using a software as a service (SaaS) model, Contur Software is making iLabber available to individual researchers and smaller R&D organizations that previously have not been able to utilize the advantages of high-end ELN systems due to investments in hardware, licenses and maintenance.
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New American Medical Association AD Emphasizes Common Ground On Health Reform, Shares Vision To Fix Broken System

Underscoring the need for meaningful health system reform for America"s patients and physicians, the American Medical Association (AMA) is running an ad emphasizing common ground on health reform to remember what"s at stake - access to care for millions. The AMA ad runs nationally today in the Chicago Tribune, New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal. Online advertising will run in various medical trade publications. "This ad is a reminder of why the AMA is working for reform," said AMA President J. James Rohack, M.D. "Forty-seven million Americans don"t have health insurance, and physicians work day and night to provide patients with high-quality care within the confines of a broken system." "Recognizing that there is still much to be done to achieve the right health reforms, the AMA is using this opportunity to get the facts out and find common ground," said Dr. Rohack. "It"s time to shift our focus from arguing about differences to working together to resolve them. The AMA is committed to reform to make the system better for patients and physicians." The AMA ad lists the organization"s health-reform goals: - Protect the sacred relationship between patients and their physicians, without interference by insurance companies or the government - Provide affordable health insurance for all through a choice of plans and eliminates denials for pre-existing conditions - Promote quality, prevention and wellness initiatives - Repeal the Medicare physician payment system that harms seniors" access to care - Ease the crushing weight of medical liability and insurance company bureaucracy "Our system is at a point where the status quo is no longer acceptable," said Dr. Rohack. "The AMA takes its position at the center of the health-care debate as both an honor and serious responsibility." The AMA invites all patients and physicians to become involved in the health-reform debate. For more information, please visit http://www.ama-assn.org/go/reform. American Medical Association


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