IVF websites often mum on embryo gene test risks

Fertility clinic websites aren't doing a great job of explaining the risks of testing an embryo for genetic disorders before it's implanted in the womb, researchers found.

The procedure, known as pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), can be used to test for 5,000 different genetic disorders and, more controversially, choose the sex of an infant. But it's not 100-percent reliable, and could, in rare cases, cause harm to the embryo or even destroy it.

Dr. Robert Klitzman of Columbia University and his colleagues took a look at the websites of 83 clinics offering PGD to investigate how fully they explained these risks. Twenty-two of the clinics were based at hospitals or universities, and the rest were private, freestanding clinics.

Just 35 percent of the websites Klitzman and his team surveyed mentioned the possibility that the test could miss the target diagnosis, while only 18 percent mentioned the risk that the procedure could destroy the embryo. Fourteen percent described PGD as "new" or "controversial."

There were also differences in the sorts of information provided by hospital- or university-affiliated clinics and that offered by private clinics. For example, 18 percent of private clinics were more likely to mention the controversial practice of selecting gender without a medical reason for doing so, while none of the university- or hospital-based clinics did.

However, the private clinics did provide more extensive information about the risks and benefits of PGD; this is possibly because university- or hospital-based clinics can rely on the prestige of their affiliated institution, Klitzman suggested.

And while private clinics may have been more forthcoming with this information, he added, their websites still left a lot to be desired; for example, just 43 percent mentioned the risk of missing a target diagnosis, and 21 percent noted that PGD posed risks to the embryo.

The information that clinics offer on their websites is, in essence, advertising, and should be seen as such by consumers, said Klitzman, who directs a new master's program in bioethics at Columbia. He recommended looking for citations -- for example, in a respected medical journal -- for any claims made on a site.

"This also speaks to the need for physicians to have time to go over material with patients," he added.

Pocho

Rather than trying to tame wild stallions, fearless Costa Rican fisherman Chito prefers a playful wrestle in the water with his best pal Pocho - a deadly 17ft crocodile.
The 52-year-old daredevil draws gasps of amazement from onlookers by wading chest-deep into the water, then whistling for his 980lb buddy - and giving him an affectionate hug.
Crazy Chito says: "Pocho is my best friend. This is a very dangerous routine but we have a good relationship. He will look me in the eye and not attack me.
"It is too dangerous for anyone else to come in the water. It is only ever the two of us."
Chito made friends with the croc after finding him with a gunshot wound on the banks of the Central American state's Parismina river 20 years ago.
He had been shot in the left eye by a cattle farmer and was close to death.
But Chito enlisted the help of several pals to load the massive reptile into his boat.
He says: "When I found Pocho in the river he was dying, so I brought him into my house.
"He was very skinny, weighing only around 150lb I gave him chicken and fish and medicine for six months to help him recover.
"I stayed by Pocho's side while he was ill, sleeping next to him at night. I just wanted him to feel that somebody loved him, that not all humans are bad.
"It meant a lot of sacrifice. I had to be there every day. I love all animals - especially ones that have suffered."
It took years before Chito felt that Pocho had bonded with him enough to get closer to the animal.
He says: "After a decade I started to work with him. At first it was slow, slow. I played with him a bit, slowly doing more.
"Then I found out that when I called his name he would come over to me."
At one point during his recovery, Chito left the croc in a lake near his house. But as he turned to walk away, to his amazement Pocho got out of the water and began to follow him home.
Chito recalls: "That convinced me the crocodile could be tame." But when he first fearlessly waded into the water with the giant reptile his family was so horrified they couldn't bear to watch. So instead, he took to splashing around with Pocho when they were asleep.
Four years ago Chito showed some of his tricks to friends, including getting the animal to close his eyes on command, and they convinced him to go public with a show.
Now he swims and plays with Pocho as well as feeding him at the lake near his home in the lowland tropical town of Sarapiqui .
The odd couple have now become a major tourist attraction, with several tour operators, including Crocodile Adventures, taking visitors on touring cruises to see the pair.
On the Crocodile Adventures website it describes the spectacle as: "One of the most amazing things that no cruise ship passenger will want to miss, the adventure show between the man and the crocodile."
American crocodiles, which inhabit North, Central and South America, can live to around 70 years old. It is estimated that Pocho is around 50 - almost the same age as his owner.
They are also said to be less aggressive than their Nile or Australian counterparts.
Chito, whose real name is Gilberto Shedden, was given hi nickname by friends, who also call him "Tarzan Tico" - Tico being a familiar word for a Costa Rican.
And he certainly plays up to the name, wearing a tattered pair of leopard-print shorts for his half-hour performances with Pocho.
A keen conservationist, he also offers boat tours, where he eagerly points out a variety of wildlife.
But he only charges a few dollars to watch the breathtaking crocodile show, claiming he does not want to cash in on Pocho.
He says: "He's my friend, I don't want to treat him like a slave or exploit him.
"I am happy because I rescued him and he is happy with me because he has everything he needs."

Classic Peanuts

The 2 Swedes & the English Language

Two Swedish sisters go into a photo place to get their picture taken. Not being very educated, they question each other on what the photographer is doing.

When he darkens the room and starts to go under the black cloth, one sister turns to the other and asks... "Vots he goink to do?"

Her sister answers, "Hes goink to focus!"

The second cries, "Bot of us?"

Forget Nano!

Start saving to buy this little flying wonder by the year 2015 ! Truly Flying Drive!

Terrafugia has completed flight testing of the Transition POC (Proof of Concept). Introducing the Transition®. Simply land at the airport, fold your wings up and drive home.

Dancing Around A Pole

This one is too funny not to share – apparently a true story.

Please read note to teacher at the bottom!

For homework, a class in NSW were asked to draw their parents at work.

This is Jessica's drawing:

Here's the letter the teacher received the next day:

Dear Mrs. Jackson,

I wish to clarify that I am not now, nor have I ever been, an exotic dancer.
I work at Bunnings* and I told my daughter how hectic it was last week after the floods hit.
I told her we sold out every single shovel we had and then I found one more in stock and several people were fighting over who would get it.
Her picture doesn't show me dancing around a pole. It's supposed to depict me selling the last shovel we had in the store.
From now on I will remember to check her homework before she hands it in.

Sincerely,
Erica Cameron

Transsexual seeks further IVF treatment after miscarriage

Ruben Noe Coronado, a 26 year old transsexual man from Spain, and his partner Esperanza Ruiz are to undertake a second round of IVF (in vitro fertilisation) treatment. Mr Coronado recently miscarried in the 18th week of pregnancy and lost the twins he was carrying.

Mr Coronado, born Estefania Coronado Jimenez, has been living as a man since the age of 18 when he decided to undergo gender reassignment before having his breasts surgically removed. However, Mr Coronado still has his female reproductive organs and interrupted his hormone treatments and delayed plans to have a full sex change, to become pregnant with his 43-year old partner who can no longer have children. The couple have spent years finding a IVF clinic that would treat them and finally had success with a clinic in Barcelona where they plan to have further treatment to become pregnant again.

It was discovered during a routine check-up the the twins had no heart beats and a scan showed that both of the babies had died. The doctors assessed that Mr Coronado's womb had not expanded enough for twins. They also emphasised that this was not related to testosterone injections the Mr Coronado usually administered as he had stopped taking the hormones to conceive and were no longer in his system.Mr Coronado said: 'We were devastated at losing our twins. Esperanza was desperate to be a mum and I was looking forward to being a dad'.

The couple has spent 16,000 Euros on IVF treatment but are eager to try again. Mr Coronado also said that: 'I want to help change people's prejudices, so more transsexual men can give birth in future'. Mr Coronado and Ms Ruiz are not the first transsexual couple in the public eye to have IVF treatment to become pregnant. Last year, a transsexual man in Oregon, US was photographed while pregnant with his daughter, who was then born in July 2008.