SWITZERLAND: Assisted reproductive technologies cause VASCULAR DYSFUNCTION in children

Review article: Medical intelligence | Published 25 June 2014, doi:10.4414/smw.2014.13973
Cite this as: Swiss Med Wkly. 2014;144:w13973

Vascular dysfunction in children conceived by assisted reproductive technologies: underlying mechanisms and future implications

Stefano F. Rimoldi^a, Claudio Sartori^b, Emrush Rexhaj^a, David Cerny^a, Robert von Arx^a, Rodrigo Soria^a, Marc Germond^c, Yves Allemann^a, Urs Scherrer^a,d

^a Department of Cardiology and Clinical Research, Inselspital, University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland
^b Botnar Centre for Extreme Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital, Lausanne
^c Centre de Procréation Médicalement Assistée, Lausanne, Switzerland
^d Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Biología, Universidad de Tarapacá, Arica, Chile

Summary

Epidemiological studies in humans have demonstrated a relationship between pathological events during fetal development and increased cardiovascular risk later in life and have led to the so called “Fetal programming of cardiovascular disease hypothesis”. The recent observation of generalised vascular dysfunction in young apparently healthy children conceived by assisted reproductive technologies (ART) provides a novel and potentially very important example of this hypothesis. This review summarises recent data in ART children demonstrating premature subclinical atherosclerosis in the systemic circulation and pulmonary vascular dysfunction predisposing to exaggerated hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension. These problems appear to be related to the ART procedure per se. Studies in ART mice demonstrating premature vascular aging and arterial hypertension further demonstrate the potential of ART to increase cardiovascular risk and have allowed to unravel epigenetic alterations of the eNOS gene as an underpinning mechanism. The roughly 25% shortening of the life span in ART mice challenged with a western style high-fat-diet demonstrates the potential importance of these alterations for the long-term outcome. Given the young age of the ART population, data on cardiovascular endpoints will not be available before 20 to 30 years from now. However, already now cohort studies of the ART population are needed to early detect cardiovascular alterations with the aim to prevent or at least optimally treat cardiovascular complications. Finally, a debate needs to be engaged on the future of ART and the consequences of its exponential growth for public health.

Key words: in vitro fertilization; endothelium; epigenetic; eNOS; arterial hypertension; pulmonary hypertension; preeclampsia

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ROCHE: AUTOMATED URINE TESTING & MICROSCOPY

Roche Investor Update: Roche launches fully automated urine testing analyzer for enhanced result reliability and staff safety

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Roche launches fully automated urine testing analyzer for enhanced result reliability and staff safety 

Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced today the launch of cobas 6500, a fully automated urine testing system that consists of two modular analyzers combining urine strip testing and digital urinary microscopy. The system tests for 23 parameters to help diagnose diseases such as urinary tract infection, kidney disease, and diabetes.  The cobas 6500 offers the highest throughput on the market, ensures high-quality results and increases laboratory productivity significantly, while reducing manual steps and contamination risks for laboratory staff. 

“At the moment, many manual steps are still required for urine analysis. With the cobas 6500 we can offer fully automated urine testing to laboratories, processing more than one thousand urine samples per day, which is significantly more than what can be done today,” said Roland Diggelmann, COO of Roche Diagnostics. “Building on our 50 years of experience in urine analysis, Roche Diagnostics is now entering digital microscopy for urine testing, bringing even higher-quality solutions to the laboratories. This enables laboratories to generate faster and more reliable results for the benefit of people’s health.”

The system will be available in in Europe, the Asia Pacific region, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America. Roche is also planning to submit an application for the approval of the cobas 6500 in the United States. 

About urine analysis (urinalysis)

Urinalysis has been an important diagnostic tool for more than hundred years. Urine remains a key indicator of many diseases such as urinary tract infection, kidney disease and diabetes. Urinalysis can reveal serious damage that is asymptomatic in early stages yet treatable when identified in time. The urine test strip is a key diagnostic tool that yields quick and reliable information on pathological changes in the urine. Its diagnostic significance lies primarily in first-line diagnosis, screening during routine or preventive examinations, and treatment monitoring.

About cobas 6500
The cobas 6500 consists of two modular analyzers: The urine test strip analysis module quickly tests for the risk of diseases such as kidney disease and urinary tract infection. The second module replaces the manual steps involved in urine microscopy and allows for fully automated quantification and classification of urine particles such as blood cells by digital microscopy. The unit significantly speeds up the microscopy process with as many as 116 test samples per hour, while eliminating variability of test results, driving standardization. For flexible use, the two modules can be operated separately or together as a single platform.

HEINZ & KELLOGG leave Leaminton & London Ontario.

Possible cause is high demand by Unions for Medical perks. As example:new spectacles for the whole family every two years even if no refractive changes. (usually at $300/pair).

Retirement of CPSO REGISTRAR Dr.Rocco Vincent GERACE MD(Wester Ont. 1972)

Retirement of CPSO Registrar expected at age of sixty-seven.  Royal College of Ont  Dental Surgeons employs a Registrar who is a Lawyer with a Specialist Certificate in Health Law.: Irwin W FEFERGRAD CS,BCL,LLB.There are seven Lawyers in Ontario who are specialists  in Health Law..

Ontario Minister Health:,RHODES SCHOLAR Dr.E.W.HOSKINS Officer of Order Canada, Meritorious Service Cross ,BSc(Chem) MD(Hamilton) FRCPC(Comm.Med.)Dip.TM&H(Lond.) D.Phil(Oxon)

New Ont.Min.Health Aberdeen & Oxford Post-grad. Public Health expert Eric Williams HOSKINS.(born 1960:  Simcoe Composite Public school)). Has pt-time family practice in Toronto's Ethiopian area, @ 2009 Danforth. Married to Community Med.Specialist at Womens' College Hospital Samantha Joan NUTT MD(Hamilton1994), FRCP(C). One child (a son).

Ontario MOH capitulates to a mother's demand for OHIP $60,000/year payment for KALYDECO for 13y daughter.

Toronto Star: Mrs Beth VANSTONE's  media activity and personal visits to the Ontario Legislative assemblyshamed the Ministry of Health to agree to pay $60,000/year for IVACAFTOR (Kalydeco) to treat Cystic Fibrosis of 13y daughter.. The real cost is $300,000/year.. Mr VANSTONE's private insurance pays 50%; Boston VERTEX Pharm.Inc discounts 30%.. Thjs shows the importance in Ontario of PRIVATE insurance and persistence against OHIP "guidelines".