Pregnancy Against All Odds

When Dr Firuza Parikh came back from the US to set up India's first private in vitro fertilisation (IVF) centre at Mumbai's Jaslok Hospital in the early '90s, her colleagues at the Yale School of Medicine were stunned: "Infertility in India?"

But over the years the queue outside her clinic kept getting longer. With about 10-15 per cent of Indians facing fertility problems, Parikh has delivered over 5,000 babies through assisted reproduction. Parikh, the director at the department of assisted reproduction and genetics, Jaslok, has just come out with a book to help young, hopeful parents conceive. Extracts from an interview:

Q: Why is infertility becoming a big issue in urban India?

A: Urban India suffers from what I call "voluntary infertility". A lot of couples have demanding jobs, they come back home exhausted, perhaps eat take-away food from fast-food outlets and drop off to sleep-to be functional the next day. This is a story that I hear from couples regularly. Also a lot of educated women defer marriage till they can afford a maid, a driver, a three bedroom flat. By the time they reconcile to the thought of having a baby their biological clocks have already slowed down. Then they have to make a baby "happen."

Q: Is male infertility a serious threat?

A: It accounts for 40 per cent of all infertility, primarily due to sperm defects. Sometimes this is brought on by external factors like tight innerwear, very hot baths, smoking, exposure to radiation and toxic chemicals. Sometimes there's a physiological basis-diabetes, hypothyroidism or genetic aberrations.

Q: What about infertility in women?

A: I see many young women who show signs and symptoms of polycystic ovaries, a condition associated with metabolic disorders and obesity. From job pressure to vehicular pollution, postponing parenthood to sexual liberation, fast food to sedentary lifestyle, all have been linked to infertility.

Conception Timeline

A: woman's fertility peaks between age 27 and 34. That's the best time to have the first baby. The best time to get pregnant? Watch out for the narrow window of time during ovulation, two weeks into the menstrual cycle. The life of a human egg is about 36 hours, while a sperm can survive in a woman's body for about 48 hours.

30% more chances of conception every month if a couple engages in unprotected sex at least three times a week.

Myth : Daily sex increases chances of pregnancy

Reality : No it doesn't. It may, in fact, bring down sperm count on the day of ovulation.

Source: The Complete Guide to Becoming Pregnant. Dr. Firuza R. Parikh. Random House India. 2011

Reproduced From India Today. © 2011. LMIL. All rights reserved.

AB+ve Blood Type

People with blood type AB are hard to categorize. They can have characteristics on both ends of the spectrum at the same time. For instance, they are both shy and outgoing. They easily switch from one opposite to another. AB people are trustworthy and responsible, but can't handle it when too much is asked of them. They don't mind doing favors or helping out, as long as its on their own conditions. People with this blood type are interested in art and metaphysics.

AB is considered the worst blood type. In predictability-loving Japan, they're loose cannons. They also like to set their own conditions and reserve the right to drop out when things don't meet their expectations. They're known to be sensitive and considerate—at times—but it just isn't enough to balance out the flaws in this blood type. For a while, some companies tried dividing their employees into work groups based on blood type, and no one wanted to work with the AB group. Anime villains are likely to be type AB.

Uchiha Sasuke, Hongo Yui, Tomo, Trowa Barton, Kenshin

A is most compatible with A and AB.

B is most compatible with B and AB.

AB is most compatible with AB, B, A, and O.

O is most compatible with O and AB.

B+ve Blood

Type B is creative and excitable;

Type B "Active"

Population
Roughly 9% of the world is B +ve and 2% B -ve.

Traits
Cheerful, Optimistic, Active, Sensitive, Kind, Forgetful, unorganized, Noisy, Egocentric

Energetic and have the drive to reach towards goals. May be workaholics. Not the best team players and are individualistic. Do things at one's own pace. Strong personality adventurous. Likes to get one's own way. Are Sociable and enjoy entertaining.

Like to touch or be touched by others.

According to a Japanese institute that does research on blood types, there are certain personality traits that seem to match up with certain blood types. How do you rate? TYPE B
You're a rugged individualist, who's straightforward and likes to do things your own way. Creative and flexible, you adapt easily to any situation. But your insistence on being independent can sometimes go too far and become a weakness.

Personality Traits By Blood Type - A Japanese Concept

Guest Author - Melanie Shintaku

Type B:
Goal oriented and strong minded, type B's will start a task and continue it until completed, and completed well. Type B's are the individualists of the blood group categories and find their own way in life.

TYPE B'
Blood Type B's often described themselves in ways related to the following characteristics: subjective, easygoing, creative, original and flexible. In another study, Type B's scored significantly higher on "intuiting," indicating a preference or sixth sense information; and they scored high on the "intuiting/feeling" combination, indicating that they tend to be insightful, mystical, idealistic, creative, globally-oriented, people-oriented and good at imagining. They also reported that they learned best through listening, then reflecting on and interpreting what they had observed. Perhaps the nomadic life of the steppes contributed to long hours given over to talk as well as ample time for meditation and reflection. Type B's can be very goal-oriented and often complete the ambitious tasks set before them. Outgoing and very charming, you’re good at reading people and providing support. Though critical of appearance (but not your own), you aren’t picky and are unlikely to dwell over the little things.
Type Bs are impulsive individualists who often create their own path in life. You are very strong and optimistic. B is most compatible with B and AB lovers. Common

Blood type B individuals tend to be balanced: thoughtful like A's and yet ambitious like O's. They are empathetic, easily understanding others' points of view, yet often hesitating to challenge or confront. Flexible, they make good friends.

If you find one AB for a friend, consider yourself lucky! Youll enjoy some exciting times together! Sometimes it is difficult to be with an AB.
Note: B is most compatible with B and AB lovers

People with blood type B are the most practical of the blood groups. They are specialists in what they do. When they start a project, they spend extra time understanding and trying to follow directions than others might. When they are doing something, all of their attention is focused on it. They tend to stick to a goal and follow it through to the end, even if it seems impossible. They tend to be less than cooperative, as they like to follow their own rules and their own ideas. They are individualists. B type people pay attention to their thoughts a little more than their feelings, and therefore can sometimes seem cold and serious.

People with blood type B are often considered more relaxed, freewheeling, and unconventional than other types, although not necessarily to an unacceptable degree. In anime, the genki, off-the-wall types are type B, along with any kind of well-intended character who's ruled by their impulses.

Paracetamol with coffee lethal for liver

New York, Agencies:
Caffeine triples the amount of a toxic by-product created when the pain killer is broken down. The toxin is the same as the one responsible for liver damage and liver failure in toxic reactions involving alcohol and paracetamol, scientists said.

Consuming coffee and paracetamol at the same time can increase the risk of liver damage, a recent research said.

Caffeine triples the amount of a toxic by-product created when the pain killer is broken down. The toxin is the same as the one responsible for liver damage and liver failure in toxic reactions involving alcohol and paracetamol, scientists said.Consumers have been warned by the health experts for years that drinking excess alcohol while taking paracetamol can trigger a toxic interaction and could cause liver failure, or even death. However, this is the first time scientists have reported a potentially harmful interaction if the painkiller is taken with caffeine, according to the American researchers.

A study published in the ACS’ Chemical Research in Toxicology journal suggests that people taking paracetamol should limit the amount of caffeine. The study tested the effects of paracetamol and caffeine on E coli bacteria genetically engineered to express a key human enzyme in the liver that detoxifies many prescription and non-prescription drugs. “People should be informed about this potentially harmful interaction,” ACS journal’s author and chemist Sidney Nelson said.

“The bottom line is that you don’t have to stop taking paracetamol or stop taking caffeine products, but you do need to monitor your intake more carefully when taking them together, especially if you drink alcohol,” he added. People who drink a lot of alcohol were also at higher risk because alcohol can trigger the production of another enzyme that also produces the liver toxin, study suggested.

STORM IN COFFEE CUP
* Caffeine reacts with painkillers to triple the toxin levels and cause liver damage.
* In large amounts the effects could be fatal.
* This is the first time scientists have reported this potentially harmful interaction.
* People taking paracetamol should limit caffeine amount.

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