European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - September 12, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday september 12, 1986 the stars and stripes Pale 9 study warns women about marijuana smoking 1 cigarette could prevent pregnancy Boston Dpi a new study suggest that smok ing one marijuana cigarette can suppress a key female hormone enough to prevent pregnancy trigger a spontaneous abortion or possibly cause babies to be born underweight. The Bottom line is that pregnant women or women who want to become pregnant should t smoke  said or. Jack h. Mendelson director of Harvard medical school s alcohol and drug abuse Center. Previous studies have linked marijuana use by women to problems with Fertility and animal research indicated thai the substance in marijuana that produces feelings of euphoria could affect certain hormones. Mendelson said his study demonstrated for the first time that marijuana smoking can suppress female Dor Mono in humans he said. For the study researchers look blood samples from16 women Ages 21 to 35 while they smoked a Normal one Gram marijuana cigarette and when they smoked a marijuana cigarette from which tetrahydrocannabinol the had been removed. The researchers found that women who smoked marijuana in the second phase of their menstrual Cycle known As the Luteal phase experienced a 40 percent to 60 percent drop in their Levels of Lute Iniz my hormone. The Lule ionizing hormone stimulates the ovary to pro Duce another hormone known As progesterone which is needed to allow the embryo to Lodge in the Wall of the uterus and to maintain the fetus As it develops Mendel son said. He said a pack of adequate amounts of the hormone could prevent a woman from becoming pregnant cause a spontaneous abortion by prompting the fertilized egg to dislodge or possibly inhibit the development of the fetus. Although no serious birth defects have been associated with marijuana smoking babies often Are bom underweight and seem to experience some signs of inhibited growth Mendelson said. A woman who wants to get pregnant might find she is having difficulty because she is smoking Mendelson said in a Telephone interview. She May also experience a spontaneous abortion or possibly produce a baby thai fails to  researchers believe the the in marijuana has a effect on the pituitary gland which controls the production of hormone in the body. In a related study researchers also found that chronic marijuana smoking appears to decrease the capacity of the lungs More than heavy cigarette smoking Mendel son said. Researchers compared is women who smoked an average of one or two cigarettes a Day for at least 10 years to 27 non smokers and 26 women who smoked an average of a pack of cigarettes a Day. Marijuana smoking was found to reduce the capacity of the lungs by 26 percent. Cigarette smoking by com Parison has been found to reduce lung capacity by an average of 10 percent female infanticide a problem in China peking up female infanticide has become a serious problem in China where most couples Are Only allowed to have one child and boys Are traditionally preferred the China Legal news said thursday the newspaper blamed the phenomenon on centuries old Feudal altitudes which have also led to child betrothal wife beating and other problems in family life. The women s association of Western Chongqing City said that in 1984 there was a total of 2,800 cases in the municipal Ity involving the drowning of female infants or maltreatment of women who bad Given birth to a girl. It did not mention the rigid one child per couple regulations but officials have admitted the policy has prompted some parents particularly in Rural areas to kill their infant daughters so they can try again for a son. Under current birth control measures women Wilh one child who become pregnant Are instructed to abort or face a Fine equivalent to several yews wages. Between 25 and 40percent of pregnancies in China end in abortion foreign population experts  newspaper gave no More details of the infanticide problem but discussed the harmful influence of Feudal attitudes on marriage customs and family life. It said the phenomenon of infant marriages has been eliminated since the 1949 communist takeover in China but in recent years Young children and even babies have been betrothed by their parents this has happened not just in the Interior but also in the relatively advanced coastal areas the report said. Clinic announces pregnancies from Frozen embryo technique by the Cox news service Atlanta a suburban Atlanta travel consultant and a businesswoman from Florida Are carrying children whose lives began in cold Stor age the first pregnancies on the East coast to result from Frozen human embryos an Atlanta infertility clinic announced tuesday. The embryos were conceived in a dish Quick Frozen in a Laboratory Al reproductive biology associates and thawed months later for implantation in each Mother s womb. The ability to freeze human embryos is significant Advance Over the Standard test tube technology used to conceive children out Side the womb. By freezing and storing unused embryos doctors May spare women the pain inconvenience and expense of having eggs retrieved month after month. It feels great,1 said Debbie Heller 34, a Hospital Supply purchasing supervisor in Ocala Fla who expects her child in april. We definitely wanted a baby and this was the last re sort. Finally being pregnant makes All those years of trying  the second couple who requested anonymity live in Dekalb county. Their child is sex peeled to arrive in january. Heller s pregnancy represents the trial of a new technique in which doctors freeze the fertilized egg immediately Afler insemination but before the parents genetic material has merged to form an embryo. Researchers believe the newly fertilized egg known As a zygote has a much greater Chance of surviving the freezing process and May improve the Success rate for Frozen embryo transfers. It is the first time the tech Nique has been attempted in the United states Only the second time in the world. We Are now Able to freeze embryos immediately after fertilization said or. Jacques Cohen the clinic s scientific director. We expect the new technique to increase the total pregnancy rate to 35 percent compared Wilh an Overall Success Rale for in Vitro fertilization of 22 percent. So far embryo freezing has resulted in Only two births in the United Stales and Only 30  oldest child Bor from a Frozen embryo is now Zvi years old. Several deep freeze pregnancies were announced earlier this year Al clinics in Cali fornia and Louisiana. As far As 1 can Tell All of these children Are developing normally said Cohen who collaborated with the English scientists who pioneered the Frozen embryo technique. Frozen embryos can be stored for a very Long time probably indefinitely Cohen said. It ingoing to become very common in the next few years the clinic s doctors transferred a Frozen embryo for a third couple earlier this week but the Success of the procedure is still Uncertain. Several other patients currently an awaiting embryo transfers. The clinic charges 15,000 for the initial procedure and $1,500 for each subsequent attempt with a Frozen embryo. Firm s claims for lamp labelled Gross deception Washington a a manufacturer s claims that its fluorescent lamp can cure the Winter blues reduce cavities and possibly enhance sex life Are a Gross deception of the consumer the food and drug administration said wednesday. The Agency reiterated its charge thai the advertising claims made by the Duro test corp. Of North Bergen nj., for its Vila Lite fluorescent lamp amounted to a health fraud. The Agency it Rel published the health fraud notice two weeks ago. It elaborated on its concerns in a talk paper made available to news organizations wednes  company went to Federal court in new Jersey on aug. 2s seeking a temporary restraining order against the Fra to Stop distribution of the health fraud notice but it was rebuffed. It later withdrew a separate request for a preliminary injunction. The Fra said it is discussing possible Labelling Revi Lions with Duro test in an attempt to resolve the Dis Pute without further litigation. Ray Mcgruther president of Duro test said the Vita Lite was not at All a health fraud. He said the Fra action followed a misunderstanding about Vita Lite s promotional literature. He said he expects to submit new material by Friday Hal will meet with the Agency s approval. Luke Thorington Dura test s vice president of engineering and father of the Vita Lite said the firm has sold the Vita Lite since 1967 and has always complied with Federal regulations. It s just been a difficult Row to Hoe because neither Side knows How to describe a general purpose fluorescent Light in terms of medical devices be said. The Fra said promotions for Vita life a full spec Trum lamp designed to simulate natural sunlight claim ii improves visual acuity reduces fatigue enhances Calcium absorption makes people feel better helps fight the Winter blues and lights contamination by Micro organisms such claims Are unsubstantiated the Agency said adding much More research is required before firms could justify medical claims for non prescription use of full spectrum lamps. Light therapy As a treatment for Winter depression is stir experimental and should not be attempted with out professional clinical supervision it Iago the Fra said recent studies on Winter blues suggested no advantage to full spectrum lights compared to Ordinary Cool White fluorescent bulbs or standing in the  Vita Lite also makes claims for increased sexual Potency in male turkeys fewer dental caries in hamsters and growth of vital organs in rats which the Fra said might make unwary Consumers think they could gain similar dental or sexual  Thorington said his company has extremely believable scientific backup for All the claims but added what we think we did wrong was. Generalizing  us ads were intended to inform buyers of Vita Lite a demonstrated photo biologic effect not to make any therapeutic medical claims he said. Mcgruther said Duro test accounts for 2 percent of he . Lighting Market with Vila Lite accounting for 60 percent of its sales primarily to institutional com Mercial and Industrial customers