Although live births from frozen eggs are still only counted in the hundreds, some IVF clinics are quietly optimistic that problems can be overcome, says a report in New Scientist. "There are no guarantees. But a woman is more likely to get pregnant at 40 with one of her eggs frozen in her early 30s than with her 40-year-old eggs," says Dr Gillian Lockwood, of Midland Fertility Services in the UK.

The debate over egg freezing is not just about its ethical consequences. Because many of the eggs do not survive thawing and because there is a higher rate of loss during pregnancy, some doctors worry that they might be creating a false sense of security amongst clients about their fertility. Nor do doctors know whether it is safe for the baby. Early fears about chromosome damage have faded, but little is known about the risks. And because animal eggs are so different, there have been no animal tests. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine still says that it is an experimental technique and that it should not be widely offered to patients.

The prospect of widespread adoption of egg freezing could also change social norms. Although it is widely touted as a remedy for infertility after women are treated for cancer, IVF clinics' marketing will probably target women who wish to delay childbirth until after they have achieved their professional goals. In fact, fear of social change is the main reason why egg-freezing is not being promoted more strongly, says Dr Lockwood. "The idea that healthy women should be able to control their own reproduction still frightens people," she says. ~ New Scientist, Mar 21   

MORE DOUBTS ABOUT ADULT STEM CELL PAPER

Even more questions are being asked about a high-profile paper in Nature which claimed that a type of adult stem cell was as versatile as human embryonic stem cells. In June 2002 Catherine Verfaillie, of the University of Minnesota, characterised multipotent adult progenitor cells (MAPCs) which seemed to be able to grow into most of the body's tissues. However, her results were difficult to reproduce and were greeted with much scepticism amongst her colleagues.

Digging through Verfaillie's data in several papers, New Scientist discovered that some of the images in her ground-breaking paper were flawed. Now its investigative journalists have pushed the lode of errors even deeper by studying a patent relating to MAPCs granted to a company in Cleveland, Athersys. Once again, images had been modified and used to support different conclusions. Investigations are continuing, but it appears possible that one of Verfaillie's junior colleagues may have fudged results. Investigations are continuing. ~ New Scientist, Mar 21   

STEM CELLS SPEED GROWTH OF LIVER

The result? The addition of the stem cells meant that patients' livers grew twice as fast and that they were able to undergo surgery 18 days earlier. The doctors were elated. "Based on our results, we also believe that adult stem cell administration may be a promising therapy for regenerating livers damaged by other chronic and acute diseases," said co-author Dr Jan Schulte am Esch. ~ Science Daily, Mar 27   

RULES TO BE TIGHTENED FOR US ORGAN TRANSPLANT CENTRES

The problem in the US is not a lack of transplant centres, but a lack of organs. A number of specialists strongly believe that there are too many substandard hospitals where too few operations were done to maintain their competence. A crusading Los Angeles Times has blown the whistle on bad programs in California. One, UCI Medical Center in Orange, had to close its liver transplant unit because it did not have a full-time transplant surgeon and people on its waiting list were dying. Kaiser Permanente closed its kidney transplant program in San Francisco because hundreds had been endangered by delays or by losing track of patients. ~ Los Angeles Times, Mar 22   

US PUSH FOR TAX BREAKS FOR ORGAN DONORS

But tax breaks are tantamount to payment, contend some experts, so why not increase the number of donations by offering direct payments? A report last year published by the Washington- based Institute of Medicine, rejected the idea of paying for organs, but backed tax breaks. What's the difference? Tax breaks are a way of removing barriers to donation, not financial compensation, says co-author James DuBois, of St Louis University. ~ Washington Post, Mar 20   

ARE RATS CONSCIOUS?

Rats can reflect on their own knowledge, according to scientists at the University of Georgia. This study is the first to show that a non-primate species has metacognition -- a proposal that may well be controversial. "This kind of research may change how we think about cognition and memory in animals," said Associate Professor Jonathon Crystal.

The study involved what is called a "duration-discrimination" test. The rats were offered rewards for classifying a signal as short or long. The right answer led to a large food reward, while a wrong answer led to no reward at all. The twist was that the rats were given the chance to decline the test completely. If they made that choice, they got a small reward anyway.

"If rats have knowledge about whether they know or don't know the answer to the test, we would expect them to decline most frequently on difficult tests," said Crystal. "They would also show the lowest accuracy on difficult tests that they can't decline. Our data showed both to be true, suggesting the rats have knowledge of their own cognitive states."

The research will also open new lines of inquiry about the differences between humans and animals. "Does it mean, for example, that rats are 'conscious', and could that also be true of other non- primates?" ask the researchers. ~ London Telegraph, Mar 12; Eureka Alert, Mar 8   

A NEW TWIST TO SANCTITY OF LIFE

Harris's argument rests on certain thought-provoking assumptions. As a utilitarian, he believes that doing good is a matter of maximising benefits rather than doing intrinsically good actions. And these benefits should be extended first to existing people, not potential ones. Together these lead toward a focus on enhancing the lives of baby-boomers rather than defending and creating new lives. ~ Rejuvenation Research, March   

CALIFORNIA FACES SENIORS SUICIDE CRISIS

Euthanasia commentator Wesley J. Smith points out the implications for California's debate over assisted suicide in his blog. If it were legalised, he says, the state would be telling people that "suicide is an acceptable answer to the problems of human suffering and difficulty". And activists would promote euthanasia for the elderly and those who are sick of life. ~ Contra Costa Times, Mar 25; Secondhand Smoke, Mar 26   

IF YOU'VE GOT THE BLAHS, WE'VE GOT THE DRUGS

If you feel that ordinary life has been over-medicalised by rapacious drug companies, you'll find an ally at the website for the drug Havidol. Created by Australian artist Justine Cooper, the fake website advertises medication for a newly recognised disorder, "Dysphoric Social Attention Consumption Deficit Anxiety Disorder" (DSACDAD). "No prescription drug can promise endless happiness," says its blurb. "However given HAVIDOL's track record, and Future PHARMS commitment to perfecting life through chemistry, terminal happiness has become a real possibility."

Ms Cooper is mocking not only the drug industry for pathologising everyday life and creating drugs for imaginary disorders, but also the nagging feeling in a consumer-oriented society that "more is not enough". If they take her drug, patients will report renewed interest in themselves, an increased ability to spend, a return to former self esteem levels and a surge in well-being -- and drinking alcohol is not contra-indicated. However, the drug's information sheet stresses that patients must continue to purchase Havidol "indefinitely to minimise the chance of renewed suffering due to relapse or recurrence". ~ www.havidol.com   

IN BRIEF: IVF error; California; FDA; egg advertisement

California stem cells: The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, a US$3 billion initiative, has won another battle in its long slog through the courts to open its doors for business. A state appeals court in San Francisco has denied a request to hold a hearing on its constitutionality. ~ Union-Tribune, Mar 21

FDA advisers: Under new regulations, experts retained by the US Food and Drug Administration will be barred from advisory committees if they receive more than US$50,000 from a company or a competitor whose product is being discussed. A "significant number" of the experts will be affected by the new policy. ~ New York Times, Mar 22

Advertising: A childless British couple has placed advertisements on 50 London buses for eggs so that the 54-year-old wife can become pregnant. Richard, 48, and Linda Weeks have been married for 14 years and have spent a small fortune on IVF without success. Now doctors have told here that she will not receive treatment after she turns 55. "We'll never be a mummy and daddy unless a wonderful woman aged 36 or under can help us by donating some of her eggs. You are our only chance of happiness," says the advertisement. ~ Independent, Mar 26   

 

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