scholarly journals Postponing Pregnancy Through Oocyte Cryopreservation for Social Reasons: Considerations Regarding Clinical Practice and the Socio-Psychological and Bioethical Issues Involved

Medicina ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 54 (5) ◽  
pp. 76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mara Simopoulou ◽  
Konstantinos Sfakianoudis ◽  
Panagiotis Bakas ◽  
Polina Giannelou ◽  
Christina Papapetrou ◽  
...  

Oocyte freezing for ‘social reasons’ refers to women of reproductive age who are aiming to prolong, protect and secure their fertility. The term emerged to describe application of the highly promising technique, namely vitrification on oocytes retrieved through controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) from women intending to preserve their fertility for social reasons. These women opt to cryopreserve their oocytes at a point in their life when they need to postpone childbearing on the grounds of so called ‘social’ reasons. These reasons may include a highly driven career, absence of an adequate partner, financial instability, or personal reasons that make them feel unprepared for motherhood. This is a sensitive and multifaceted issue that entails medical, bioethical and socio-psychological components. The latest trend and the apparent increase noted on oocyte freezing for ‘social reasons’ has prompted our team of fertility specialists, embryologists, obstetricians, gynecologists and psychologists to proceed with a thorough, critical and all-inclusive comprehensive analysis. The wide range of findings of this analysis involve concerns of embryology and epigenetics that shape decisions made in the IVF laboratory, issues regarding obstetric and perinatal concerns on the pregnancy concluding from these oocytes and the respective delivery management and neonatal data, to the social and bioethical impact of this trend’s application. This literature review refers to matters rising from the moment the ‘idea’ of this option is ‘birthed’ in a woman’s thoughts, to proceeding and executing it clinically, up until the point of the pediatric follow up of the children born. We aim to shed light to the controversial issue of oocyte freezing, while objectively exhibit all aspects regarding this complex matter, as well as to respectfully approach how could the prospect of our future expectations be shaped from the impact of its application.

2021 ◽  
pp. 141-146
Author(s):  
Reda Youssef ◽  
Gamal Sayed Ahmed ◽  
Samir Alhyassat ◽  
Sanaa Badr ◽  
Ahmed Sabry ◽  
...  

Dysgerminoma is an uncommon malignant tumor arising from the germ cells of the ovary. Its association with pregnancy is extremely rare, with a reported incidence of about 0.2–1 per 100,000 pregnancies. Women in the reproductive age group are more commonly affected. It can be extremely rare to conceive naturally, without assisted reproductive interventions, in cases with ovarian dysgerminoma. If a pregnancy does occur with a concurrent dysgerminoma, it is even more unusual to carry the pregnancy to viability or childbirth without fetal or maternal compromise. We report a case of right ovarian dysgerminoma in a young female with a viable intrauterine pregnancy at 10 weeks, which is rarely diagnosed and managed at this gestational age. Numerous factors played a role in her favorable outcome, including early suspicion by ultrasound and presenting history, surgery, histopathological assessment, imaging, and involvement of the multidisciplinary oncology team. Ovarian neoplasms may rapidly increase in size within a short period with little or no symptoms. This poses a diagnostic challenge for obstetricians and oncologists. Hence, we aimed to evaluate the role of imaging in pregnancy using ultrasound as an imaging modality for both early detection of ovarian neoplasms and for follow-up. In conclusion, patients with ovarian dysgerminoma in pregnancy can have favorable outcomes. Treatment should be individualized on a case-to-case basis, depending on many factors; cancer stage, previous reproductive history, the impact of imaging in staging or follow-up of tumor on the fetus, fetal gestational age, and whether termination of the pregnancy can improve survival or morbidity for the mother.


2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carole Woolford-Hunt ◽  
Marlene Murray ◽  
Tevni Guerra ◽  
Kristina Beenken-Johnson

We live in a world where awareness of ethnic and cultural diversity is an ever increasing reality. Business and education turn to the social sciences to inform them about how to manage and optimize cross-cultural interactions. Although much research has been done on the impact of cross-cultural interactions on a wide range of variables, one less researched area is the endocrine response to cross-cultural interactions. In this study we set out to investigate the endocrine response to cross cultural interactions and the impact of these interactions on perceived differences. To do so we measured the pre and post levels of the stress hormone cortisol of individuals communicating in dyads for 15 minutes. Results showed a significant impact of ethnic interaction on perceived differences and cortisol levels. Practical implications of these findings could have application in the areas of education, psychology, business and human relations in general. Implications for further research are discussed.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1959 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 752-752
Author(s):  
CHARLES D. MAY

This is not a book that lends itself to review, but it should be known to those engaged in teaching diverse aspects of pediatrics. As the title implies, it is a collection of readings in medical care. The material covers a wide range of topics on the social and public health aspects of medicine and the hospital, office and home care of patients. It is a useful source of reference material to acquaint the student with his future position in the community and the impact of economic circumstances on medical care.


Circulation ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 125 (suppl_10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dexter Canoy ◽  
Benjamin J Cairns ◽  
Angela Balkwill ◽  
Jayne Green ◽  
Lucy Wright ◽  
...  

Background: Higher body-mass index (BMI) has been associated with increased risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality but its association with incident CHD is less investigated, and data for women are limited. Methods: We examined the prospective relation between BMI and incident CHD (first CHD hospitalization or death) in 1.2 million women aged ≥50 years without prior CHD, who were recruited through a national breast screening programme in 1996 to 2001 and followed for an average of 9 years (48,842 events with 10.7 million person-years of follow-up). Absolute and relative risks (using Cox regression) associated with higher BMI were estimated. Results: After excluding the first 4 years of follow-up, there were 32,465 events (5.9 million person-years) including 3,345 CHD deaths. The adjusted relative risk per 5 kg/m 2 BMI difference was 1.24 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.22 to 1.25]. CHD risk increased linearly across a wide range of BMI, with no apparent excess risk in the lower end of BMI distribution. The relation persisted after excluding current smokers or limiting cases to myocardial infarction only. For women in this cohort, the 20-year cumulative risk of CHD from age 55 to 74 years (95% CI) ranged from 9% (8 to10) to 18% (16 to 20) for women with BMI of 20 to 22.5 kg/m 2 and ≥35 kg/m 2 , respectively. Never smokers with BMI ≥35 kg/m 2 had comparable cumulative risk to current smokers with BMI of 20 to 22.5 kg/m 2 . Conclusion: In this large cohort of women, the impact of excess weight on CHD morbidity and mortality is substantial. Measures to prevent and control excess weight and other CHD risk factors are needed to help reduce CHD burden in women.


Author(s):  
Eric Taylor

Over time, concepts have evolved from the idea of a constitutional basis for behavioural problems, through unitary neurological formulations, to the recognition of neurocognitive heterogeneity and the impact of the social environment. Diagnoses have altered accordingly. ADHD and hyperkinetic disorder have different historical traditions, and still generate international differences in practice; however, they have succeeded in keeping research and clinical practice in touch with each other. This chapter takes a historical approach to describe the influences on the development of the concepts. Concepts are still changing, in response both to the historical context and to improving scientific knowledge. It may well be that recognition of heterogeneity at neural, psychological, and genetic levels will lead to more and better differentiated behavioural concepts. For the moment, however, the clinical utility of diagnosis based on observable behaviour is likely to maintain ADHD as the dominant idea organizing the field.


Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 3102
Author(s):  
Jingqi Song ◽  
Ji Zhang ◽  
Wafaie Fawzi ◽  
Yangmu Huang

This study aimed to examine the impact of a wide range of demographic, socioeconomic, and community factors on the double burden of malnutrition among women of reproductive age using longitudinal data. We used data about 11,348 women of reproductive age who participated in the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS), a longitudinal survey, between 1989 and 2015. Nutritional outcomes were categorized into four groups, namely underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obesity, with normal weight as reference. A multinomial logit model was fitted due to geographic clustering and repeated observations of individuals. The prevalence of underweight decreased over time from 1991 but has tended to rise again since 2004, while the prevalence of overweight/obesity continued to rise between 1991 and 2015. Improved individual factors, socioeconomic status, and community urbanization reduced the risk of underweight but elevated the risk of overweight and obesity. The medium levels, rather than the highest levels, of household income and community urbanization are associated with a higher risk of overweight and obesity. The notable increase in underweight prevalence is a cause for concern to be addressed along with efforts to curb the rising tide of overweight. In order to enhance the nutritional status of women of reproductive age, it is essential to improving the community environment, levels of education, and living environment from a wider context. Long-term and targeted plans are urgently needed for nutrition improvements among the different populations.


Reproduction ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 153 (1) ◽  
pp. R15-R27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brittany Y Jarrett ◽  
Marla E Lujan

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common cause of ovulatory dysfunction affecting women of reproductive age. Obesity and insulin resistance are thought to potentiate disruptions in antral follicle development that result in chronic anovulation, and as such, have become important therapeutic targets of dietary interventions aimed at weight loss. Caloric restriction has been shown to promote sporadic ovulation in obese women with PCOS, but improvements have occurred across a wide range of patients and little has been garnered about the factors that distinguish responders from non-responders. Further, few studies have evaluated the likelihood for modest weight loss to restore normal ovulatory cyclicity in PCOS. Consensus regarding the impact of dietary intervention on ovulation has been limited by variability in the measures used to characterize and report ovulatory status across studies. In response, this review provides an assessment of the evidence surrounding the effectiveness of hypocaloric dietary intervention to normalize ovulatory function in PCOS. The impact of physiological vs methodological factors on the evaluation of ovulatory status is discussed, and recommendations to strengthen future studies in this area are provided. Ultimately, further research is needed to understand the optimal dietary or lifestyle approaches that promote ovulation and sustained improvements in reproductive function in PCOS.


2013 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 239-259
Author(s):  
Aliaksandr Dalhouski

Aliaksandr Dalhouski Belarus after the Chernobyl Disaster: From Silence to Neglect The accident at Chernobyl was an anthropogenic disaster. In the period of the suppression of the disaster’s consequences (1986-1988), the Chernobyl accident was not perceived by the majority of Belarusians as a nation-wide tragedy. At the same time, those living in the Belorussian SSR did not possess civil rights, which prevented them from demanding compensation as a result of inflicted harm, and also they were denied full information about the impact of the disaster on the environment and human health. Such phenomena were a consequence of the state’s suppression of the disaster’s consequences as well as the weak ecological and legal consciousness of the victims in the BSSR. In the period of growing democracy (1989-1991), civic engagement came to the fore and created the perception of the catastrophe a nationwide tragedy. The protest movement forced the government to enact Chernobyl legal legislation. Within the framework of this legislation, massive resettlement was undertaken and a wide range of privileges were granted. With the emergence of an independent and authoritarian regime in the new state of Belarus in the early 1990s, the risks of radiation were downplayed by the social concerns of post-Soviet society, in which the Belarusian regime of President Alexander Lukashenko lessened the importance of the Chernobyl catastrophe.


2011 ◽  
Vol 71-78 ◽  
pp. 465-469
Author(s):  
Bai Tao Mao

A city high-rise building of the environmental balance, and its prominent position in the image and the place has a special symbol. However, high-rise buildings developed to reduce the symbolic value that it has attributed to the relevant system of architectural forms. As more and more dense urban high-rise buildings stand, we should be carefully evaluated: its ecological evvironment, will be the effect? Because of its height and volume, a high-rise building than in the top or bottom is likely in terms of physical environment on the social environment and the impact is much greater. Disturb the existing high-rise buildings in varying degrees between the various functions of the city, increasing the city high-rise buildings in the moment, how to properly control the rapid of high-rise buildings in order to maintain a sustainable ecosystem, is a question worth considering.


Author(s):  
Lidia Smola

It is devoted to the problem of analyzing memes as a tool of information warfare. The article analyzes the history and origin of the study of memes as a phenomenon of information interaction and social technology. Memes can be interpreted as: image, idea, symbol, action, any cultural information copied by one person from another; the collective unconscious at the moment of acquiring verbal and visual form; specially created information message, which is distributed in the information space and is intended to form the necessary picture of the human world and make appropriate decisions. The meme influences the perception of reality and drives action. Different types, types of memes and their characteristics are considered. There is a diversity of spread of this phenomenon: global Internet memes, understandable to a wide range of people, and local memes that require specific awareness (gaming, hacking, scientific, professional). Emphasis is placed on the use of memes in contemporary armed conflicts. The information war, combined with the peculiarities of the modern information society, led to the use of new technologies to influence the mass consciousness, in particular, memetic weapons. The article analyzes memetic weapons as a technology of using memes for the distribution of beneficial information in the information space of the object of information confrontation. Particular attention was paid to the analysis of the perceptions of memes by ATO participants and volunteers. The urgency of the problem is determined by the need to analyze the impact of ideas reflected in Internet memes on the mass consciousness during the Russo-Ukrainian war. Within the framework of the Polish-Ukrainian project "Crisis Intervention – Support for NGOs in Ukraine Working with ATO Soldiers and Their Families", 20 flexible interviews were conducted. The focus of the study may be to analyze the perception and functioning of political Internet memes on social media. Empirical studies of the influence of Internet memes on the structural components of the psyche of Internet users are also promising. The war in eastern Ukraine reaffirmed the paradigm shift of modern warfare, demonstrated the thoroughness of a thorough study of the phenomenon and the need to develop entirely new approaches to the realization of political and military goals.


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