BPA exposure linked to reduced egg quality in women

A small-scale University of California, San Francisco-led study has identified the first evidence in humans that exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) may compromise the quality of a woman’s eggs retrieved for in vitro fertilization (IVF). As blood levels of BPA in the women studied doubled, the percentage of eggs that fertilized normally declined by 50 percent, according to the research team.

The chemical BPA, which makes plastic hard and clear, has been used in many consumer products such as reusable water bottles. It also is found in epoxy resins, which form a protective lining inside metal food and beverage cans.

“While preliminary, the data indicate the negative effect of BPA on reproductive health and the importance of allocating more funding to further investigate why such environmental contaminants might be disrupting fertility potential,” said Dr. Victor Y. Fujimoto, lead study author and professor in the UCSF Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, who also is on the faculty of the UCSF Center for Reproductive Health.

In the study, BPA levels and fertilization rates were analyzed for 26 women undergoing IVF during 2007 and 2008 at the UCSF Center for Reproductive Health. The women were a subgroup of a larger study evaluating the effect on reproductive health of trace exposures to toxic metals — mercury, cadmium and lead.

“Given the widespread nature of BPA exposure in the U.S., even a modest effect on reproduction is of substantial concern,” said Michael S. Bloom, senior author and an assistant professor in the departments of Environmental Health Sciences, and Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the School of Public Health of the University at Albany, State University of New York. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found BPA in the urine of nearly everyone tested in a 2004 analysis of the U.S. population.

BPA is gaining global attention as an environmental contaminant that impacts health owing to its widespread exposure and endocrine-disrupting properties, according to the researchers. An endocrine disruptor is a synthetic chemical that when absorbed into the body either mimics or blocks hormones and interferes with the body’s normal functions.

Previous studies in mouse models have indicated that BPA levels alter the DNA of eggs, and a 2010 study in humans demonstrated BPA urinary concentrations to be inversely associated with the number of eggs retrieved during an IVF cycle.

“Unfortunately, at this time there is no clinically-available test to determine BPA levels in women,” Fujimoto said. “Despite the limited evidence, a cautious approach for women who are considering IVF treatment would be to reduce their exposure to BPA through modifications in lifestyle and diet.”

Earlier this year, an alliance of partners led by the UCSF Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment launched an online resource called Toxic Matters to help consumers make smarter decisions about substances that can harm general and reproductive health.

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) supplementation in infertility?

In 2005, the Center for Human Reproduction (CHR) first introduced dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) supplementation to the infertility field and reported that DHEA had increased egg numbers in women with “older” ovaries going through IVF treatment (Fertility and Sterility). CHR researchers have since reported that DHEA treatment has much broader benefits in the treatment of female infertility - a finding recently confirmed by a study from Israel.

A recent worldwide survey of in vitro fertilization (IVF) centers concluded that approximately one-third have introduced DHEA supplementation into their treatment regimens for women with so-called diminished ovarian reserve.

Investigators at CHR now report to have elucidated at least one of the mechanisms by which DHEA exerts beneficial effects on egg and embryo quality, thereby improving pregnancy chances and reducing miscarriages after IVF. The mechanism involves improvement of chromosomal integrity of embryos.

It is well known that as women age, the risk of chromosomal abnormalities in pregnancies and offspring increases. Most chromosomal abnormalities in embryos result in miscarriages. Collaborating in 2009 with colleagues from Toronto, Canada, investigators from CHR reported unexpectedly low spontaneous miscarriage rates in pregnancies conceived on DHEA supplementation. They suspected that such low miscarriage rates had to be the consequence of lower aneuploidy (chromosomal abnormalities), but proof was lacking.

In a recently published study, investigators from CHR now, for the first time, confirmed that DHEA reduces chromosomal abnormalities (aneuploidy) in embryos through preimplantation genetic screening (PGS). The greatest reduction in aneuploidy (22%) was observed with 4-12 weeks of DHEA supplementation prior to IVF.

Norbert Gleicher, CHR’s Medical Director, comments: “This is the first direct evidence that DHEA beneficially affects egg and embryo quality by reducing chromosomal abnormalities.” He continues: ”It appears likely, however, that this is not the only way by which DHEA exerts its positive effects on older ovaries. Indeed, DHEA may only be a forerunner for a whole new family of infertility drugs, which, ultimately, still may allow older women to conceive through well-designed infertility treatments.”

David H. Barad, Clinical Director of CHR’s IVF Program, adds: “Our finding may have implications far beyond infertility because it suggests that beneficial effects of DHEA supplementation on embryos' chromosomal health could also be extended to normally fertile older women.” DHEA supplementation, like taking folic acid to prevent neural tube defects, could become routine in prenatal care.

Football Freaks!

And You Want To Travel To The USA?

Epic Parental Fail

Triplets land their dad behind bars!

Hong Kong police were on Thursday investigating a surrogacy case believed to involve the son of a land tycoon who recently announced the birth of triplet sons by a California-based woman.
47 year old Henderson Land Company's Executive Director Peter Lee Ka Kit gets double happiness within a month. First it was rumored that he has intentions on acquiring TVB, the news wasn't even been confirmed yet and he's already been promoted to a father of boy triplets, fulfilling his father's 4th Uncle Lee Shau Kee's dream. 4th Uncle even took out HK$1 million to give out to his employees. Also, 4th Uncle's three grandsons are named Lee Chi Sun, Lee Chi Yan and Lee Chi Yung are all very lucky, matching well with their grandfather and father.
Have always kept a low-profile, recently Peter suddenly comes into the spotlight, stealing his sister-in-law and also actress Cathy Tsui's limelight. In 2006, when 4th Uncle's second son Lee Ka Shing married Cathy, he opened his golden mouth and said he wanted a grandson, unfortunately Cathy only gave him two grand daughters.
Peter's 3 sons are born Year of the Tiger, and Peter is a rabbit, born in 1963. According to fortune teller master Mak Ling Ling, rabbit matches tiger very well, the father-son relationship will be really good. The babies were born in July, which makes them the summer tigers, very good fortune. As tigers are loners, but they are triplets and will be very independent. When the triplets get older, they can develop very well on their own. Mak Ling Ling saw the pictures of the triplets, they all have long ears attached to cheeks and wide foreheads, is a face of good blessings.
The 47-year-old millionaire bachelor said the babies had been born in the United States to a surrogate mother but kept the birth mother's identity secret. News reports claimed the surrogacy had been arranged by a Californian surrogacy agent, prompting public discussion and some criticism. Commercial surrogacy, in which a woman is paid to carry and give birth to a baby, is outlawed in Hong Kong.Police have also confirmed an investigation is under way but declined to give further details.
The investigation came to light after lawmaker Cyd Ho raised the issue at a meeting of the Legislative Council Wednesday.
Ho asked Chow if it was illegal for a Hong Kong resident to hire a surrogate mother overseas, referring specifically to a Hong Kong man who had issued a press release announcing the birth of three sons by a surrogate mother in the United States.
In response, Chow pointed out the law prohibited the making and receiving of any payment relating to a surrogacy arrangement regardless of whether it was made or received in Hong Kong or elsewhere.
"While we will not comment on individual cases reported in the media, we can confirm that referral concerning suspected surrogacy arrangements has been made to the police for consideration as to whether investigation and law enforcement action are required," Chow said.

From The London Times: A Well-Planned Retirement

Outside England 's Bristol Zoo there is a parking lot for 150 cars and 8 buses. For 25 years, it’s parking fees were managed by a very pleasant attendant.

The fees were for cars (£1.40),for buses (about £7).

Then, one day, after 25 solid years of never missing a day of work, he just didn't show up; so the Zoo Management called the City Council and asked it to send them another parking agent.

The Council did some research and replied that the parking lot was the Zoo's own responsibility.

The Zoo advised the Council that the attendant was a City employee.

The City Council responded that the lot attendant had never been on the City payroll!

Meanwhile, sitting in his villa somewhere on the coast of Spain or France or Italy ... is a man who'd apparently had a ticket machine installed completely on his own and then had simply begun to show up every day, commencing to collect and keep the parking fees, estimated at about £560 per day -- for 25 years.

Assuming 7 days a week, this amounts to just over 7 million pounds ... and no one even knows his name!

A perfect example of government mismanagement.