Evaluation of young adults conceived via IVF shows them to be “happy and well adjusted”

A study published on-line this month in the journal Fertility and Sterility shows that young adults conceived via IVF were generally as happy and well adjusted as their peers.

Researchers at Eastern Virginia Medical School’s Jones Institute of Reproductive Medicine questioned a cohort of young adults conceived in that program’s clinic between 1981 and 1990. The Jones Institute was a pioneering center for reproductive medicine, achieving the first IVF birth in the United States in 1981. Researchers contacted the young adults via their parents and received a 31 percent (n=173) response rate to their 90 item questionnaire.

The results showed that when compared to other young adults, the IVF conceived were found to be “healthy and well adjusted with no prevalence of increased susceptibility to chronic diseases.” However the reported incidence of clinical depression and especially ADD/ADHD were higher among IVF offspring.

“This is a significant study and one of a number of long term outcomes studies that are currently being done.” Said James Goldfarb, President of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART). “It is comforting to see that the data bears out what we have believed, that children conceived via IVF are generally as healthy as other children, even as those children become adults. While the findings of increased depression and ADD/ADDH is notable, other studies have not shown these increases. We need to continue to do the research that will allow us to discover if there are any areas of concern for IVF children. ” Dr. Goldfarb added.

For more information about In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) please do not hesitate to contact us.

Obese Teens Who Receive Gastric Banding Achieve Significant Weight Loss

Chicago — A higher percentage of severely obese adolescents who received laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding lost more than 50 percent of excess weight and experienced greater benefits to health and quality of life compared to those in an intensive lifestyle management program, according to a study in the February 10 issue of JAMA.

Adolescent obesity is a serious health challenge globally. In the U.S., more than 17.4 percent, or more than 5 million adolescents were obese in 2004, an increase from 14.8 percent in 2000. Obesity is associated with both immediate and late health effects and reduced life expectancy, according to background information in the article. Lifestyle programs that have included changes in diet, exercise, and behavior to promote weight loss often have poor results. “Bariatric surgery is now extensively used for adults and is being evaluated for adolescents,” the authors write. “Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (gastric banding) has the potential to provide a safe and effective treatment.”

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How to lower childhood obesity

Family meals, adequate sleep and limited TV may lower childhood obesity

Columbus, Ohio – A new national study suggests that preschool-aged children are likely to have a lower risk for obesity if they regularly engage in one or more of three specific household routines: eating dinner as a family, getting adequate sleep and limiting their weekday television viewing time.

In a large sample of the U.S. population, the study showed that 4-year-olds living in homes with all three routines had an almost 40 percent lower prevalence of obesity than did children living in homes that practiced none of these routines.

Other studies have linked obesity to the individual behaviors of excessive TV viewing, a lack of sleep and, to a lesser extent, a low frequency of family meals. But this is the first study to assess the combination of all three routines with obesity prevalence in a national sample of preschoolers.

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Study Finds Ponseti Method of Clubfoot Correction Leads to Lower Surgical Rates and Less Revision Surgery

Less serious recurrence seen with Ponseti casting method

Rosemont, IL – Clubfoot affects one in a thousand babies born in the United States, but with proper corrective treatment and follow-up, infants born with clubfoot can have feet compatible with an active, normal lifestyle. A new study in the February 2010 issue of The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS) compared two common treatment options for clubfoot – Ponseti method and surgical treatment.

“While more conservative treatment methods have become popular in the United States over the last several years, surgical treatment has been the primary option in New Zealand until quite recently,” explained Matthew Halanski, MD, who authored the study with mentors at the Starship Children’s Hospital in Auckland, New Zealand.

“This is the first controlled prospective study to compare the short-term outcomes for clubfeet treated either surgically or with the Ponseti method,” continued Dr. Halanski.

Fifty-five patients with 86 clubfeet were treated as part of the study. Forty patients’ feet were treated with the Ponseti method. Forty-six were treated with surgery and casting. The average number of casts per patient was six in the Ponseti Group and 13 in the surgical group.

The study found that among the patients treated:

* Fifteen feet in the Ponseti group had a recurrence requiring some surgery. Four of these feet had a major recurrence and 11 had a minor recurrence.

* Fourteen feet in the surgical group required revision (follow-up) surgery.

* Only one foot in the Ponseti group required revision surgery.

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Plastic Surgery Statistics: Male Breast Reduction nearly doubles in 2009 in UK

Despite Recession 36,482 Aesthetic Surgery Procedures Took Place in the UK

London, UK – The economy may have been sagging but the nation still found ways to remain uplifted during 2009, according to the latest audit figures from the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (www.baaps.org.uk), the not-for-profit organisation established for the advancement of education and practice of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery for public benefit. The number of surgical procedures last year exceeded 36,400 –a slow but steady rise of 6.7% from 2008, despite the financial downturn. The most impressive stats have been recorded specifically in male surgery, the demand for which has grown by 21% overall, with the number of gynaecomastia (or ‘man-boob’) ops alone having shot up by 80%.

Highlights:

* 36,482 surgical procedures were carried out by BAAPS members in 2009, a 6.7% increase from 2008, when 34,187 were performed
* Women had 32,859 procedures in 2009, up from 31,183 (a modest increase of over 5%) but interest in male surgery far outstripped them with a 21% rise overall (from 3,004 last year to 3,623)
* The number of male breast reduction or gynaecomastia ops (‘man boobs’) nearly doubled from 323 to 581, a staggering 80% increase and moving from 5th most popular procedure for men to 3rd
* Breast reduction surgery proved popular among women as well, rising by 17% from 3522 to 4122
* Male brow lifts rose quite considerably (up 51%), from 72 to 109, as well as male facelifts which went up by nearly a quarter (23%) and male tummy tucks (up 20%)
* Rhinoplasty (or ‘nose jobs’) proved very popular with both sexes, increasing by 25% overall, thus rising from 7th most popular procedure to 5th
* Although facelifts actually fell in demand by 8% among women, the steadfast rise in brow lifts, eyelid surgery and nose jobs suggests patients may have sought cheaper and more targeted rejuvenation procedures
* Breast augmentation remains the most popular procedure with 8,565 performed this year (up just 1% from 2008)

Before and after a male breast reduction surgery (gynecomasty)

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Society more open than ever about cosmetic surgery

Consumer survey results indicate ‘having work done’ not taboo anymore

Chicago – Cosmetic surgery is everywhere these days: TV, magazines, Internet and more. And according to new data, society is indeed more comfortable talking about cosmetic surgery than ever before.

In a survey released today by the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, 71 percent of respondents think society is less judgmental about cosmetic surgery than it was just five years ago. Furthermore, about 62 percent said society’s attitude toward cosmetic surgery made them feel more comfortable about getting a procedure.

Before and after a tummy tuck surgery

“This is a confirmation of what many of us have felt for a long time – that cosmetic surgery has become mainstream,” said Dr. Mark Berman, AACS President-Elect. “A variety of factors have contributed to the normalization of our industry, but the bottom line is that people are not afraid to talk openly about cosmetic surgery anymore.”

According to the survey, the most accepted invasive procedures are breast augmentation (42.4%), facelift (32.2%) and tummy tuck (32.1%). Among non-invasive procedures, the most accepted are laser hair removal (61.9%) and Botox (61.6%). Additionally, 52 percent of respondents said they would tell family about having invasive cosmetic surgery.

Before and after a breast augmentation surgery

About 20 percent said they would consider getting cosmetic surgery in the future, while about 22 percent were unsure if they would. Respondents under the age of 40 were nearly twice as likely to consider having a procedure in the future.

“It’s been a long road but thanks to the hard work of so many, cosmetic surgery is rightfully gaining acceptance in our society,” said Dr. Patrick McMenamin, AACS President. “We’ve reached a point where people are no longer quiet about having a cosmetic procedure and that is important to all of us.”

Before and after a facelift surgery (rhytidectomy)

Source: American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery