MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'fragmentation'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 03:33:44 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5069555&cid=t_244884_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F07%2Fivf-science-and-pseudscience.html Medicine is not an exact science. It’s not possible for us to predict what the outcome of an IVF cycle is. While we are very good at making embryos in the lab, once we transfer the embryos into the uterus we still cannot predict which embryo will become a baby & which one won’t. When an IVF cycle fails , especially after the transfer of Grade A embryos, the first question the patient is going to ask is - Why did the cycle fail? When this happens , a lot of doctors become very defensive because they feel the patient is blaming them for the failure. This is why they are reluctant to tell the truth , which is - We really don’t know because we don’t have the technology to be able to answer this question. This is the honest scientific answer ! After all, human reproduction is an ine... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5069555 Wed, 27 Jul 2011 03:05:00 +0100 5069555 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062317&cid=t_244884_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F07%2Fis-it-egg-or-sperm.html Whenever an IVF cycle fails, the commonest question patients ask is - was there a problem with the eggs ? or with the sperm ?Logically, one would expect the answer to be 50-50 - after all, both are gametes which contribute the 50% of the DNA to the embryo.In fact, this is one of the reason there are so many tests for testing sperm "quality" - ranging from the zona free hamster egg penetration assay ( which is now obsolete) to the newer sperm DNA fragmentation tests ( which are very fashionable and popular right now, but will also soon get relegated to the dustbin).However, these tests are useless in clinical practise.Why do I say so ?Let's consider a couple who does ICSI treatment for a low sperm count, and gets poor quality embryos . They are disheartened and upset, so they get a second o... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062317 Mon, 25 Jul 2011 02:46:00 +0100 5062317 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4953026&cid=t_244884_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F06%2Fwhy-were-my-embryos-of-such-poor.html While a good IVF clinic is good at making good embryos, sometimes we will encounter patients whose embryos are all of poor quality.What's a poor quality embryo ? This is one which divides slowly ( for example, one which has only 4 cells on Day 3) ; or one which has a lot of fragments. ( This is why you must ask your clinic for photos of your embryos, so you have documentation of the quality of your embryos ! )Why does this happen - and what can you do about it if it happens to you ?Remember that there are only 3 variables which influence embryo quality - eggs; sperm and the lab. This means that poor quality embryos could only be because of the 3 following reasons:poor quality eggs;poor quality sperm; ora poor quality labSurprisingly, experience has shown us that the sperm are not important... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4953026 Mon, 20 Jun 2011 04:00:00 +0100 4953026 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4636505&cid=t_244884_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F03%2Fsperm-dna-fragmentation-assessment-is_17.html All infertile couples know that the sperm plays a vitally important role in fertility. However, there's still a lot of confusion ! If we need only one sperm to fertilise an egg during ICSI, does the sperm count and motility really matter ? And if it does, how and why ?The fact that the WHO has kept on changing the definition of what a normal sperm count just testifies to the fact that experts are as confused as patients are. This is especially true when we consider 3 contentious areas. While it's true that the sperm provides 50% of the child's DNA, can it be responsible for:failed fertilisation after ICSI ?poor qualty embryos ?miscarriages ?In order to drill down further into when the sperm can be responsible for reproductive problems, researchers have developed sophisticated tests to anal... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4636505 Thu, 17 Mar 2011 03:46:00 +0100 4636505 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4338047&cid=t_244884_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F01%2Fhow-your-doctor-can-reduce-your.html Infertile patients expect that their doctors will provide them with treatment to improve their chances of having a baby. Tragically, some medical procedures can actually end up reducing your fertility !Here's a list of the top ten procedures which can actually harm you, rather than help you ! If your doctor advises any of these, please get a second opinion before agreeing !1. D&C ( dilatation and curettage) . This is a "minor" surgical procedure in which the doctor dilates the mouth of the uterus ( the cervix) and scrapes the uterine lining using a curette( curettage). This endometrial tissue is then sent for pathological examination. In the past, when doctors had very little to offer to their patients, this used to be the mainstay of the treatment of an infertile couple. In fact, even... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4338047 Wed, 12 Jan 2011 02:38:00 +0100 4338047 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4281363&cid=t_244884_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F12%2Fquality-of-doctors-answers-depend-upon.html Recently I witnessed an infertile couple who had over three heavy files bulging along with medical tests and reviews. They may have visited more than ten infertility experts who tried every single possible examination under the sun to attempt to discover what their issue was. The lady had been examined for antisperm antibodies, NK cells , hostile cervical mucus, tuberculosis, chlamydia, sperm DNA fragmentation… you name it, and she had had the examination done. Every single gynaecologist had repeated test after test, however every result had been normal. They were at their wit’s end. “Why can’t I get pregnant , doctor , if things are all normal ?” was her plaintive cry.I was surprised about how little she had learned after going to numerous doctors. Rather than understanding from... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4281363 Thu, 23 Dec 2010 04:57:00 +0100 4281363 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2463051&cid=t_244884_107_f&fid=36698&url=http%3A%2F%2Fminingdrugs.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F06%2Fgoogle-wave-drug-design-federation.html "The Google Wave Federation Protocol may succeed email (an innovation from 1965), as the dominant form of Internet communication."[Google Wave Federation Protocol @WP]Google launched Google Wave. It is a mind-blowing technical platform, which might just "change" publishing, health support of patients and physicians, and any other industry, where knowledge workers are suffering from keeping found things found (KFTF) and collaboration security (see conference blogging, libel law, compliant commenting, medicine 2.0 danger). I do not think the GWave will replace collaboration tools, but it might enrich them, by facilitating information moderation and bridging (for all peers and channels).You can check first the Google Wave presentation (almost 1.5 hours), or continue reading below.What is the ... Mining Drug Space blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2463051 Sun, 07 Jun 2009 17:02:00 +0100 2463051 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=551444&cid=t_244884_140_f&fid=35440&url=http%3A%2F%2Fspiritualemergency.blogspot.com%2F2006%2F01%2Fspirituality-trauma.html Traumatic experiences force victims to face issues lying outside the boundaries of personal and collective frames of reference. As a result they are forced to confront psychological and spiritual challenges that are unfamiliar to the average person. Therapists need to recognise that organisations of self and God are often thrown into question or destroyed by experiences of trauma. The deconstructive power of trauma exposes the lack of substance and cohesiveness that comprises identity and images of God.Initially, trauma is grounded in pain, loss, and fear. Often it leads to breakdowns. Ultimately, with proper support and guidance, it has the potential to transform individuals into compassionate and deeply spiritual beings. Traumatic events expose victims to aspects of life that most would ... Spiritual Emergency blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=551444 Wed, 11 Jan 2006 02:27:00 +0100 551444 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=551443&cid=t_244884_140_f&fid=35440&url=http%3A%2F%2Fspiritualemergency.blogspot.com%2F2006%2F01%2Fspirituality-that-transforms.html In a series of books (e.g., A Sociable God, Up from Eden, and The Eye of Spirit), I have tried to show that religion itself has always performed two very important, but very different, functions.One, it acts as a way of creating meaning for the separate self: it offers myths and stories and tales and narratives and rituals and revivals that, taken together, help the separate self make sense of, and endure, the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. This function of religion does not usually or necessarily change the level of consciousness in a person; it does not deliver radical transformation. Nor does it deliver a shattering liberation from the separate self altogether. Rather, it consoles the self, fortifies the self, defends the self, promotes the self. But two, religion has also ser... Spiritual Emergency blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=551443 Wed, 11 Jan 2006 02:23:00 +0100 551443