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How to Prevent Earlobes from Sagging in Old Age

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Posted by Amanda Guerrero on March 6, 2013 at 9:44 am

EarlobeAs women age, it’s natural for certain parts of the body begin to sag or droop. Many women start taking countermeasures in their younger years to make sure that their arms stay firm and the skin on their face remains taut, but the ears are often forgotten. Just like other parts of the body, the skin on the ears also loosens over time. This, combined with years of wearing heavy earrings, can result in earlobes that look floppy and unattractive.

Though it’s impossible to change the fact that our ears will naturally stretch at least a little bit as we grow older, there are some things that can be done to limit the amount of sagging. In order to keep earlobes from aging, women can:

  • Apply the same moisturizers and sunscreen to the ears that are being used on the rest of the face.
  • Use skin care products that contain retinoid. They’re usually available by prescription only and can help preserve or regenerate collagen in the skin.
  • Wear light earrings, such as those made out of plastic. It’s a much lighter material and won’t place as much strain on the piercings.
  • Avoid wearing heavy earrings for long periods of time. If possible, they should be avoided altogether.

My earlobes are already droopy. Now what?

It may be too late to stop your earlobes from sagging, but there are still things you can do to repair them and improve their appearance. A simple fix for women with large piercing holes is to purchase earlobe support tape. The invisible stickers help take weight off of the earring hole and minimize the appearance of the piercing.

Earlobe reduction surgery is another option. The in-office procedure requires a local anesthetic, typically takes about 15 minutes each ear, and heals quickly.

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New CHR Study: No Evidence that PGS Increases IVF Success Rates

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Posted by Marie on November 19, 2012 at 10:58 am

Center for Human Reproduction - IVFNovember 19, 2012 (New York, NY) – There is no evidence that recent technical improvements in preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) improve IVF pregnancy chances, according to a paper just published online in the Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics1. The review, by two fertility specialists from New York’s Center for Human Reproduction (CHR), raises important questions, as this “new” PGS is actively marketed to patients as “proven” and “established” to increase IVF success rates.

In the late ‘90s, PGS was widely utilized in IVF in attempts to improve pregnancy chances. The assumption was it could eliminate genetically abnormal embryos before implantation, thereby raising implantation and pregnancy rates, and reducing miscarriage rates. For a number of years, thousands of women worldwide underwent PGS under this premise, until a number of investigators, including the authors of this new report, demonstrated that, in practice, PGS actually reduced IVF pregnancy rates, at least in older women. By 2008, the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and other authoritative bodies declared PGS ineffective in improving IVF outcomes.

In recent years, a number of important technical improvements were introduced to PGS, which, unquestionably, improved the accuracy of determining chromosomal abnormalities in embryos prior to transfer. Under the assumption that these improvements would finally confirm the widely held opinion that PGS will improve IVF pregnancy rates, a “new” form of PGS is now, once again, aggressively marketed by commercial interests.

After a thorough review of published studies and ongoing registered clinical trials, the paper concludes that there is no evidence that this reintroduction of PGS to IVF improves pregnancy rates. “As we already pointed out in 2008, evidence suggests that the real reason why PGS was ineffective in its first introduction and, likely, remains ineffective in its current reincarnation, is the wrong patient selection, and not the techniques utilized,” explains Norbert Gleicher, MD, Medical Director and Chief Scientist of CHR. “Until we better identify appropriate patient populations for PGS, new techniques are unlikely to benefit patients and, as previously, may actually reduce IVF pregnancy chances.”

“These new techniques, indeed, further complicate considerations about patient selection,” adds David H Barad, MD, Director of Clinical ART and Senior Scientist at CHR. “With the “new” PGS, embryos have to remain in culture for 5-6 days after fertilization, which many embryos of lesser quality do not survive. Some of these embryos would still lead to pregnancy if transferred on day-3, as in routine IVF cycles.” He continues: “Reported higher pregnancy rates with the ‘new’ PGS are misleading because they exclude patients who started IVF cycles but never made it to embryo transfer.”

The paper concludes that the “new” PGS still has to be considered “experimental” and patients should be advised accordingly. “Patients should be aware that PGS is not in any way proven to better pregnancy chances, and may actually do the opposite in some patients,” warns Dr. Gleicher.

1Gleicher N and Barad DH. A review of, and commentary on, the ongoing second clinical introduction of preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) to routine IVF practice. J Assist Reprod Genet 2012; epub ahead of print. (http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10815-012-9871-2/fulltext.html)

 

About Center for Human Reproduction
The Center for Human Reproduction (CHR, https://www.centerforhumanreprod.com/), located in New York City, is a leading clinical fertility and research centers in the world, having contributed many important innovations to the treatment of infertility. As “fertility center of last resort,” CHR routinely treats women from all over the world, with during 2011 over half coming from outside the New York tri-state area, approximately a quarter from overseas. Dr. Gleicher and Dr. Barad are available for further comments.

Contact:
Communications Manager
Center for Human Reproduction
212-994-4400 x.4491

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Research from CHR Offers Hope for Women with Treatment-Resistant Thin Endometrium

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Posted by Marie on November 15, 2012 at 10:31 am

Center for Human Reproduction November 15, 2012 (New York, NY) – Direct perfusion of the endometrial cavity with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) improves the thickness of the endometrial lining in IVF patients with too thin endometrium even after treatments, according to a new study just published online in the medical journal Human Reproduction(1).

In the study, 21 women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles at the Center for Human Reproduction (CHR) in New York City successfully expanded their initially inadequate endometrium after uterine perfusion with G-CSF. Specifically, in the 5 days between G-CSF perfusions and embryo transfers, patients increased their endometrial thickness from 6.4 ± 1.4 mm to 9.3 ± 2.1 mm. The result offers confirmatory evidence to an earlier, smaller report by the same research group on the positive effects of G-CSF on IVF patients with treatment-resistant, thin endometrium.

In natural menstrual cycles, endometrium develops on its own in preparation for embryo implantation. In IVF cycles, endometrium of at least 7 mm at the time of embryo transfer is considered necessary to achieve superior pregnancy rates. When endometrium is too thin and does not respond to conventional treatments, embryo transfer is often cancelled and embryos are frozen for transfer in a later cycle.

“Treatment-resistant thin endometrium is a fortunately rare, but frustrating, problem in IVF,” explains Norbert Gleicher, MD, Medical Director and Chief Scientist of CHR, the lead author of the study. “Affected patients, until now, at minimum, faced treatment delays and, not infrequently, if their endometrium could not be improved even in subsequent cycles, had no choice but to use a gestational carrier (surrogate).”

David H Barad, MD, MS, Director of Clinical ART and Senior Scientist at CHR, and another senior author of the study, adds: “This is why when in 2011 we reported our initial four cases in the literature, patients and colleagues took notice. One can still transfer embryos into the uterus with endometrial thickness under 7mm, but pregnancy chances will be very low. G-CSF perfusions really offer affected patients the opportunity to drastically improve IVF pregnancy chances.”

1Gleicher N et al. A pilot cohort study of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in the treatment of unresponsive thin endometrium resistant to standard therapies. Hum Reprod 2012; (http://humrep.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2012/10/17/humrep.des370.abstract)

 

About Center for Human Reproduction (CHR)
Located in New York City, CHR (http://www.centerforhumanreprod.com/) is a leading clinical fertility and research center in the world, having contributed many important innovations to the treatment of infertility. As “fertility center of last resort,” CHR treats patients worldwide, with, during 2011, over half coming from outside the New York tri-state area, approximately a quarter from overseas. Drs. Gleicher and Barad are available for further comments.

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Helpful Tips for Senior Bone Health

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Posted by Elizabeth Carrollton on October 15, 2012 at 11:25 am

Drugwatch.comTaking care of bone health is important for everyone, but it is crucial for seniors, since aging-related bone loss can cause serious problems. Weak bones often lead to debilitating issues, such as hip or spine fractures. Serious hip health issues, such as fractures, injuries and degenerative conditions like hip arthritis, are high on the list of problems that cause disability among adults over the age of 65. So taking measures to protect and improve bone health is important to ensure that your golden years are happy, healthy and active.

Why Bone and Hip Health Matters

Each year in the United States, 352,000 hip fractures occur. Age-related bone loss is a factor in many of those fractures. Hip fractures nearly always need surgical repair, and depending upon the type of fracture, hip replacement may be necessary. While those procedures are a blessing for many, recovery from hip surgery can be a slow and painful process, so prevention is definitely the better option.

Complications are another issue of concern, and have been more likely than usual in hip replacement procedures recently. Several hip implant systems have had high rates of failure and complications, including the DePuy ASR, Stryker Rejuvenate and ABG II, and Zimmer Durom Cup, and some of them have been recalled.

One of the more common problems caused by these devices is a condition called metallosis, which is caused by metallic implant debris. As this debris collects in the soft tissues around the implant, it can cause severe pain and inflammation, tissue death and bone loss, which can lead to implant loosening or failure. Many who were affected by complications and implant failures had to have revision surgeries to replace faulty implants and repair the damage they caused, and hip replacement lawsuits have been filed on behalf of hundreds of those injured patients.

Daily Exercise Strengthens and Protects Bones

Staying active is one of the most important things you can do to keep bones strong and healthy. Stress placed on the bones during exercise signals bone-building cells within the body that bones need to be strengthened to meet everyday demands, spurring those cells to ramp up production of new bone tissue. Daily weight-bearing exercise, such as walking, bicycling, swimming or aerobics stimulates daily production of new bone cells, slowing age-related bone loss.

Nutrition and Bone Health

Those bone-building cells need an array of nutrients to do their job. Minerals like calcium, phosphorus and magnesium are essential to bone and hip health, as are vitamins C, D, E and omega-3 essential fatty acids. A well-balanced diet that includes lean proteins, healthy fats, whole grains and lots of fruits and vegetables is important, since your body absorbs nutrients most efficiently when they come from foods.

However, maintaining optimal nutrition from diet alone can be challenging. Using a multivitamin supplement with minerals can help fill any nutritional gaps. Taking supplements of vitamin D, calcium and omega-3 might be wise as well, since many seniors aren’t getting enough of these nutrients in their daily diet.

 

Elizabeth Carrollton writes about defective medical devices and dangerous drugs for Drugwatch.com.

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BRCA1/2 Mutation and FMR1 Gene Study Has Potential Implications for Cancer Screening and Treatment

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Posted by Marie on September 13, 2012 at 10:26 am

New breast and ovarian cancer breakthrough from the CHRSeptember 12, 2012 (New York, NY) –BRCA1/2 gene mutations, widely associated with breast and ovarian cancer risks in women, are, in principle, lethal to human embryos, according to new research conducted by three teams of researchers from the Center for Human Reproduction (CHR) in New York City, the Medical University Vienna in Vienna, Austria, and the Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria. BRCA1/2-positive embryos will only survive when also carrying a specific FMR1 gene genotype.

In a paper just published in the prestigious online medical journal PLoS ONE1, the researchers examined the distribution of FMR1 genotypes and sub-genotypes amongst women with BRCA1/2 mutations and in a control population of infertile women. Unexpectedly, almost all the 99 carriers of BRCA1/2 mutations demonstrated a specific FMR1 genotype, the so-called “low” FMR1 allele, defined by less than 26 CGG triple nucleotides. In contrast, over 300 controls presented with a normal distribution of FMR1 genotypes and sub-genotypes.

The authors note that the most likely explanation for such a skewed distribution of FMR1 in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers is embryo lethality of BRCA1/2 in humans; only embryos carrying the “low” FMR1 allele are “rescued” from this embryo-lethality.

“We were very surprised by these results,” says David H. Barad, MD, MS, Director of Clinical ART and Senior Scientist at CHR, a senior author of the study. “Since approximately 25% of all women have low FMR1 genotypes, this observation, if confirmed, can greatly impact current cancer screening methods for BRCA1/2-associated cancers in women, and greatly reduce costs.”

“These findings also potentially explain the long-unexplained ‘BRCA-paradox,’” notes Norbert Gleicher, MD, Medical Director and Chief Scientist of CHR, and another senior author of the study. “BRCA-paradox” refers to the fact that BRCA1/2 mutations are anti-proliferative in embryonic tissue but proliferative in cancer tissues. Dr. Gleicher continues: “Confirmed, these findings could mean that ‘low’ FMR1 alleles desuppress the antiproliferative activity of BRCA1/2 in both tissues, in embryonic tissues allowing the embryo to survive, while in cancers having the negative effect of allowing cancer to proliferate. This, of course, could open major therapeutic options for improving embryo growth and inhibiting cancer growth.”

An Appellate Court recently reaffirmed Myriad Genetics’BRCA1/2 patent. Because of unusually high testing costs for BRCA1/2(ca. $3,000), breast cancer screening and ovarian cancer screening are currently recommended only for women with strong family histories of breast and ovarian cancers. This study suggests the possibility that much less costly FMR1 testing may be able to, at least partially, replace BRCA1/2 testing as a primary screening test.  The FMR1 test application utilized in this research is pending U.S. patents, and has been licensed to Women’s Laboratory Corporation, LLC, NY, NY.

1Weghofer et al, BRCA1/2 mutations appear embryo-lethal unless rescued by low (CGG n<26) FMR1 sub-genotypes: Explanation for the “BRCA paradox”? PLoS ONE 2012;http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0044753

Drs. Barad and Gleicher are available for further comments in New York City. Dr. Weghofer, Associate Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Vienna University, Visiting Associate Scientist at CHR and another senior author of the paper, is available for further comments from Vienna, Austria.

 

About the Center for Human Reproduction (CHR)
CHR (http://www.centerforhumanreprod.com/) is a leading international fertility center in New York City with worldwide reputation as “fertility center of last resort.” The reported study is only the most recent in a series of published papers by CHR investigators, for the first time linking the FMR1 gene in women to reproductive outcomes, but is the first paper linking the gene to female cancer risks.

Contact:
Communications Manager
Center for Human Reproduction
212-994-4400 x.4491

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Testosterone Supplementation for Diminished Ovarian Reserve to be Studied at New York Infertility Clinic

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Posted by Marie on August 20, 2012 at 11:03 am

CHR begins a study on diminished ovarian reserveAugust 20, 2012 (New York, NY) – Center for Human Reproduction (CHR), a leading fertility research and treatment center in New York City, has announced a new prospectively randomized controlled clinical trial to investigate the effects of testosterone supplementation in women with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR).

The study is designed to determine whether transdermal (applied through the skin) supplementation with testosterone in women with DOR may (i) objectively improve ovarian reserve parameters, (ii) improve egg quality and embryo quality, and (iii) improve IVF pregnancy rates if testosterone levels have remained low after six weeks of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) supplementation.

CHR introduced DHEA supplementation for women with DOR to the infertility field in 2004, and this treatment is now utilized worldwide. More recently, CHR investigators were able to produce evidence that the efficacy of DHEA is very likely mediated by the male hormone testosterone, to which DHEA is mostly converted in the body. The new randomized controlled trial will investigate whether women whose testosterone levels do not rise well after DHEA supplementation may benefit from direct testosterone administration.

“This study took longer than usual to get off the ground after approval by our center’s Institutional Review Board,” noted David H. Barad, MD, one of the principal investigators and Director of the Center’s Clinical Assisted Reproduction Program. “Since testosterone in this country is considered a controlled substance, we had to obtain permits from the State of New York and the Federal Government first.”

Norbert Gleicher, MD, another principal investigator and Medical Director of CHR, adds: “Androgens, like DHEA, are becoming increasingly important tools in treating women of all ages with poor ovarian reserve. We are now on track to determine how this is best done most effectively and individualized to each patient.”

 

About Center for Human Reproduction

The Center for Human Reproduction (CHR, http://www.centerforhumanreprod.com/), located in New York City, is one of the world’s leading fertility centers. Because of its worldwide reputation as “fertility center of last resort,” CHR has a worldwide patient following among women with DOR, whether due to advanced age, or due to premature ovarian aging (POA). Dr. Barad and Dr. Gleicher are available for further comments.

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Low DHEA Levels Linked to Aging, Infertility

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Posted by Health News Watch on July 27, 2012 at 2:18 pm

premature ovarian failureAn important, naturally produced steroid in female bodies, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), begins to decline after women enter their twenties and continues to do so through the aging process. Studies have shown low levels of DHEA can speed up a variety of health problems normally seen in older patients such as cancer, heart disease, dementia, and premature infertility.

DHEA is normally secreted by the adrenal gland. Over the last few decades, scientist have been working to reverse the cycle for women who suffer low DHEA levels and have developed various ways to use the hormone for infertility treatments.

Since 2000, DHEA supplementation has been used as a remedy for premature ovarian failure, also known as primary ovarian insufficiency, a condition where females lose ovarian function before the age of 40. According to New York’s Center for Human Reproduction, premature ovarian failure can affect women at various ages from teenage years to thirties.

Women with the condition are at a greater risk of a range of health issues, including osteoporosis, estrogen deficiency (hot flushes, vaginal dryness, etc.) and heart diseases. These issues can usually be managed well with hormonal replacement. However, in an infertility context, premature ovarian failure poses a challenge, as the loss of ovarian function means that the probability of pregnancy in women with the condition is greatly reduced.

Although it is sometimes called early menopause, premature ovarian failure is different from menopause because it is not a result of natural aging process of a woman. They are distinct because women with the condition may continue to have menstrual cycles, though they may be irregular, which means a small percentage of women with premature ovarian failure can conceive naturally.

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Hormone therapy treatment reduces menopausal effects

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Posted by Gabino Blanco on July 18, 2012 at 10:28 am

In 2002 a study performed by Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) found that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was not successful in alleviating or reducing menopausal effects and improving quality of life.  However, according to a 2012 study HRT has proved successful.  The popularity of the treatment is growing once again and visits to family doctor Houston will allow for patients to realise the best treatment for their particular situation, improving their quality of life.

The study is entitled “Quality of life and the role of menopausal hormone therapy” and it finds contradictory evidence which suggests that HRT has had positive effects on women when they have continued with the treatment.  The study highlights a number of different criticisms of HRT; however, it is to date one of the most successful methods of reducing menopausal effects.

Interestingly in a sample of women who stopped using HRT 89% noticed a return of symptoms with 74% of those claiming that they had actually worsened and 47% stating that in hindsight they would have not stopped HRT had they fully understood the actual risks and not those portrayed in WHI.  The study outlines that improvements were noted in: “depressed mood, anxiety, health perception, sexual interest, daily functioning and enjoyment” with it also noting deterioration “during follow-up in women not using HRT”.

Practices performed by bio-identical identical hormone replacement Houston incorporate the use of the most advanced systems to assist their patients in controlling the symptoms of menopause using natural bio-identical estrogen and progesterone.

HRT is effective in providing relief, although it is not a complete cure for menopausal symptoms, however, when used and adopted effectively it can have significant positive effects on the patient.  As the study concludes, “symptomatic menopausal women and their medical advisers need to be reassured that HRT can safely ameliorate most menopausal symptoms and, until this is realized, far too many women around menopause will continue to experience a reduced quality of life unnecessarily”.

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