Aurora magazine

The data show that pollution is the leading cause of male infertility. It is estimated that the number of sperm produced by each man has halved in the last 30 years. According to some participants at the Florence congress on PMA, the situation could even get worse. As exposure to fine particles increases, in fact, the risk of male infertility also increases.

The possible threats to male fertility are much more than what we tend to imagine. Thin powders cause about 60% of male infertility problems. The problem affects in particular men who live in large cities, or are exposed to large quantities of pollutants. The Pescia area in the province of Pistoia, for example, is very interested in the pollution caused by fertilizers and fertilizers. This was reported by Professor Luca Mencaglia of the PMA center of the South-East Asl Tuscany.

But there are also other factors among the culprits. Smoking and alcohol are among the main causes of infertility, together with pollution. Excessive exposure to heat and radiation can also be a problem, especially for workers and cooks. Furthermore, the plastic used for the packaging of water and food is another risk factor for both women and men. If left in the sun, water bottles can release synthetic estrogens. In the long run, these can cause infertility.

Source: ansa.it

According to a study led by Dr. Lakshmi Sukumaran, vaccinating during pregnancy is safe for the fetus. Children exposed prenatal to the vaccine showed the same levels of hospitalization and death of others. It follows that the vaccine does not damage the fetus and does not cause post-partum consequences.

The American ACIP has advised future mothers to make the flu vaccine and the Tdap against diphtheria and pertussis. There are indeed many studies that attest to the safety of vaccines during pregnancy. However, data concerning the long-term effects on infants exposed prenatally to the vaccine were in short supply.

Dr. Sukumaran's team analyzed data from 413,034 newborns born between 2004 and 2014. The mothers of some of these children had been vaccinated during pregnancy. The doctors then made a 1 to 1 comparison between children exposed to vaccines and those not exposed.

Of the children analyzed, about 25,222 were hospitalized in the first 6 months of life and 157 died. Among hospitalized children, 4,644 (18.4%) had a respiratory crisis, caused in 2.2% by influenza and in 3% by pertussis. In 9% of the deceased children the cause of death was a respiratory crisis.

Later, researchers sought a possible link between vaccines, hospitalization and death. No link between these factors emerged from the data, although follow-up was longer than that of similar studies.

Source: medscape.com

Researchers at the University of California have discovered an increase in the number of children with fetal alcohol syndrome in the US. They examined about 6,000 children from four regions: the Pacific Southwest, the Midwest, Rocky Mountain and the Southeast. The analyzes revealed a FAS rate between 1% and 5%.

To determine the precise number of cases, scientists used a comprehensive approach. The study lasted two years, during which the researchers interviewed both mothers and relatives. This allowed them to more precisely diagnose this syndrome with very complex traits. The large amount of different symptoms has in fact always made it difficult to obtain precise information on the FAS.

The previous data reported about 10 children per 1,000 affected by the syndrome. The study found instead that the frequency of fetal alcohol syndrome is between 11 and 50 children every 1,000. The lowest numbers were found in the Midwest, while the highest numbers in the Rocky Mountain area. According to the study, FAS numbers would be comparable to those of autism spectrum disorders.

Researchers diagnosed fetal alcohol syndrome in 222 children. Of these, only 2 had already received the diagnosis. Parents and teachers were aware that there was a problem, but they had not connected it to the FAS. This makes one think of how many cases of undiagnosed syndrome there are in circulation.

Source: universityofcalifornia.edu

In women with endometriosis, the analysis of immature cells of the immune system in the endometrium could predict the outcome of IVF. This is what a study by Trinity College in Dublin says.

Endometriosis is one of the main causes of infertility among women. It is suspected that alterations in the uterine environment impede the implantation of the embryo. Although the cause of the phenomenon is still unclear, it is suspected that it is in the immune system. In fact, pro-inflammatory immune cells are a crucial element in endometriosis. In addition, some studies have shown the possible role of uterine killer cells in all of this.

It is thought that the killer cells of the uterus contribute to the formation of new blood vessels during the development of the placenta. However, the relationship between these cells and the infertility of those suffering from endometriosis is still unclear. The Irish study then analyzed blood and endometrium samples from about 58 women with the disease.

Among the participants, 33 underwent assisted fertilization techniques, including: in vitro fertilization; intrauterine insemination; intracytoplasmic sperm injection; transfer of frozen embryos. Of these, 23 were pregnant and 10 were not. The other 25 study participants conceived naturally after having undergone endometriosis.

The analyzes revealed no significant differences in killer cell levels between women who conceived and those who did not. However, further analysis of the endometrium showed that the women who conceived had higher levels of killer progenitor cells. It is therefore likely that the levels of these cells show how many possibilities there are that the implantation of the embryo is successful.

Source: endometriosisnews.com