Passage 1 In vitro fertilization: four decades of reflections and promises The announcement of the birth of louise brown in 1978 through in vitro fertilization (Vf) was a major milestone in the treatment of infertile couples This historic moment was eloquently encapsulated by Howard Jones who observed: " Eleven forty-seven p. m. Tuesday, July 25, 1978, was surely a unique moment in the life of Patrick Steptoe. This was the hour and minute he delivered Louise Brown, the worlds first baby, meticulously, lovingly, and aseptically conceived in the laboratory, but popularly referred to as the worlds first test tube baby. This midnight minute was surely a mighty moment, not only for Patrick Steptoe, but also for his scientific partner, Robert Edwards, and for their associates". The importance of this birth to scientists, clinicians and most particularly infertile patients throughout the world cannot be overstated This milestone is considered to be one of the major medical/scientific achievements of the twentieth century. It was the culmination of many years of work that had been simultaneously carried out in a number of centers worldwide, principally the United Kingdom, the United States and australia Most of the background originated from Robert Edwards' long and enduring efforts over the previous 20 years THE STORY OF ROBERT EDWARDS. NOBEL LAUREATE IN MEDICINE 2010. AND THE FIRST HUMAN IVF Edwards' interest in human IVF arose during his graduate studies at Edinburgh University in the early 1950s. The fundamental basis of reproductive physiology intrigued Edwards, and early in his career he conducted numerous experiments in mice exploring meiosis, ovulation fertilization, cleavage of embryos to the blastocyst stage, implantation, fetal growth to full term and studies on altering the chromosomal complements in embryos. This comprehensive enthusiasm for spermatozoa and eggs later proved his real ambition, which was to work with human gametes and embryos and on human infertility. An intriguing possibility emerged from his studies namely that infertile couples might be helped to have their own children by means of IVF. However. at that time human ivf was regarded as an impossibility. The thought of bringing human fertilization and embryology into scientific and medical practice was regarded with incredulity Lesley Brown was the second patient Patrick Steptoe, a gynecologist, and Robert edwards treated in a natural cycle; her single oocyte was aspirated laparoscopically, inseminated quickly and transferred precisely when it reached the eight-cell stage. Edwards hoped that earlier transfer would benefit from the embryos spending less time in vitro. After a successful pregnancy, Louise Brown was born on 25 July 1978 on a momentous evening in Oldham. In the
Passage 1 In Vitro Fertilization: Four Decades of Reflections and Promises The announcement of the birth of Louise Brown in 1978 through in vitro fertilization (IVF) was a major milestone in the treatment of infertile couples. This historic moment was eloquently encapsulated by Howard Jones who observed: “Eleven forty-seven p.m. Tuesday, July 25, 1978, was surely a unique moment in the life of Patrick Steptoe. This was the hour and minute he delivered Louise Brown, the world’s first baby, meticulously, lovingly, and aseptically conceived in the laboratory, but popularly referred to as ‘the world’s first test tube baby’. This midnight minute was surely a mighty moment, not only for Patrick Steptoe, but also for his scientific partner, Robert Edwards, and for their associates”. The importance of this birth to scientists, clinicians and most particularly infertile patients throughout the world cannot be overstated. This milestone is considered to be one of the major medical/scientific achievements of the twentieth century. It was the culmination of many years of work that had been simultaneously carried out in a number of centers worldwide, principally the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia. Most of the background originated from Robert Edwards’ long and enduring efforts over the previous 20 years. THE STORY OF ROBERT EDWARDS, NOBEL LAUREATE IN MEDICINE 2010, AND THE FIRST HUMAN IVF Edwards’ interest in human IVF arose during his graduate studies at Edinburgh University in the early 1950s. The fundamental basis of reproductive physiology intrigued Edwards, and early in his career he conducted numerous experiments in mice exploring meiosis, ovulation, fertilization, cleavage of embryos to the blastocyst stage, implantation, fetal growth to full term and studies on altering the chromosomal complements in embryos. This comprehensive enthusiasm for spermatozoa and eggs later proved his real ambition, which was to work with human gametes and embryos and on human infertility. An intriguing possibility emerged from his studies, namely that infertile couples might be helped to have their own children by means of IVF. However, at that time human IVF was regarded as an impossibility. The thought of bringing human fertilization and embryology into scientific and medical practice was regarded with incredulity. Lesley Brown was the second patient Patrick Steptoe, a gynecologist, and Robert Edwards treated in a natural cycle; her single oocyte was aspirated laparoscopically, inseminated quickly and transferred precisely when it reached the eight-cell stage. Edwards hoped that earlier transfer would benefit from the embryos spending less time in vitro. After a successful pregnancy, Louise Brown was born on 25 July 1978 on a momentous evening in Oldham. In the
words of Edwards, It is hard to put into words what the occasion of her birth meant to me, and to our wonderful supportive team Today, IVF is recognized as an established therapy throughout the world To date it is estimated that some four million children have been born as a result of this procedure. Louise Brown and several other Ivf children have become mothers themselves, to-date all conceiving naturally, thus providing evidence of the safety and success of IVF therapy. Today, Robert Edwards vision is a reality which continues to bring joy to infertile couples all over the world. It is regrettable that patrick Steptoe was not able to share the honor of receiving the 2010 Nobel Prize in Medicine together with his colleague Robert HIGHLIGHT OF IVF MILESTONES The path to achieving the first successful human IVf procedure was paved with a rich history of novel scientific achievements. Once established as a viable procedure, IVF technology advanced rapidly. The next decade witnessed many robust innovations. Cryopreservation was introduced in the early 1980s The birth of the first cryopreserved embryo baby was reported in 1983. During he same year, the first successful delivery following embryo donation occurred By 1985, there were many other "firsts'"in the field, including the first pregnancy by IVF using sperm aspirated from the epididymis, the first description of culture media(first published as a formula entitled Human Tubal Fluid) designed to mimic the in vivo environment to which the embryo is exposed, and the first delivery resulting from gestational surrogacy Micromanipulation of human oocytes and embryos was introduced in the late 1980s, leading to the first reported pregnancy after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI CURRENT IVF STATUS Worldwide, more than 70 million couples are afflicted with infertility Since the first successful Ivf procedure in 1978, the use of this and related technologies has expanded to become commonplace around the globe. Over the past decade, the use of assisted reproductive technology (ART) services has increased at a rate of 5-10% annually The transfer of multiple embryos in a single cycle increases the rates of multiple births. Because of the increased social costs and health risks associated with multiple births, legislation or guidelines from professional societies have been introduced in many countries restricting the number of embryos that may be transferred per IVF cycle in an effort to limit the incidence of multiple gestations FUTURE OF IVF
words of Edwards, “It is hard to put into words what the occasion of her birth meant to me, and to our wonderful supportive team.” Today, IVF is recognized as an established therapy throughout the world. To date it is estimated that some four million children have been born as a result of this procedure. Louise Brown and several other IVF children have become mothers themselves, to-date all conceiving naturally, thus providing evidence of the safety and success of IVF therapy. Today, Robert Edwards’ vision is a reality which continues to bring joy to infertile couples all over the world. It is regrettable that Patrick Steptoe was not able to share the honor of receiving the 2010 Nobel Prize in Medicine together with his colleague Robert Edwards. HIGHLIGHT OF IVF MILESTONES The path to achieving the first successful human IVF procedure was paved with a rich history of novel scientific achievements. Once established as a viable procedure, IVF technology advanced rapidly. The next decade witnessed many robust innovations. Cryopreservation was introduced in the early 1980s. The birth of the first cryopreserved embryo baby was reported in 1983. During the same year, the first successful delivery following embryo donation occurred. By 1985, there were many other “firsts” in the field, including the first pregnancy by IVF using sperm aspirated from the epididymis, the first description of culture media (first published as a formula entitled Human Tubal Fluid) designed to mimic the in vivo environment to which the embryo is exposed, and the first delivery resulting from gestational surrogacy. Micromanipulation of human oocytes and embryos was introduced in the late 1980s, leading to the first reported pregnancy after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). CURRENT IVF STATUS Worldwide, more than 70 million couples are afflicted with infertility. Since the first successful IVF procedure in 1978, the use of this and related technologies has expanded to become commonplace around the globe. Over the past decade, the use of assisted reproductive technology (ART) services has increased at a rate of 5–10% annually. The transfer of multiple embryos in a single cycle increases the rates of multiple births. Because of the increased social costs and health risks associated with multiple births, legislation or guidelines from professional societies have been introduced in many countries restricting the number of embryos that may be transferred per IVF cycle in an effort to limit the incidence of multiple gestations. FUTURE OF IVF
The future of ART/TVF is encouraging. Pregnancy rates associated with IVF are high compared to those seen in the early days of the procedure. The current efficiency of IVF is more cost-effective and efficacious in achieving pregnancy than other modalities, such as injectable gonadotropins coupled with ntra uterine insemination (IUD, which traditionally some have preferred. The increased efficiency of IVf has also resulted in an increased rate of multiple gestations. Recent data suggest that single embryo transfer, coupled witl subsequent frozen embryo transfer, results in equivalent pregnancy rates compared with the transfer of multiple embryos, without an increase in multiple pregnancy rates. Therefore, a trend toward single embryo transfer is likely to increase in the future Although the development and implementation of ivf have offered the ope to infertile couples the world over, it is vital that we as a global community strictly monitor the development of applications of this technolog. to ensure that ethical abuses do not emerge Vocabulary infertile a.不能生育的 encapsulate vi.总结,概况 meticulously ad:.一丝不苟地 aseptically ad:.无菌地 conceive v.怀孕 meIosis n.减数分裂 cleavage n.(胚胎)卵裂,分裂 chromosomal a.染色体的 oocyte n.卵母细胞 aspirate vi.用吸管将体腔中液体抽出,抽吸 laparoscopically ad:(借助)腹腔镜 Inseminate v.使受精 viable a.切实可行的 cryopreservation n.冷冻保存,低温储藏 tubal a.输卵管的 surrogacy n.代孕 micromanipulation n.显微操纵(术) intracytoplasmic a.胞浆内的 commonplace a.普通的,平常的 ethical a.伦理的
The future of ART/IVF is encouraging. Pregnancy rates associated with IVF are high compared to those seen in the early days of the procedure. The current efficiency of IVF is more cost-effective and efficacious in achieving pregnancy than other modalities, such as injectable gonadotropins coupled with intra uterine insemination (IUI), which traditionally some have preferred. The increased efficiency of IVF has also resulted in an increased rate of multiple gestations. Recent data suggest that single embryo transfer, coupled with subsequent frozen embryo transfer, results in equivalent pregnancy rates compared with the transfer of multiple embryos, without an increase in multiple pregnancy rates. Therefore, a trend toward single embryo transfer is likely to increase in the future. Although the development and implementation of IVF have offered the hope to infertile couples the world over, it is vital that we as a global community strictly monitor the development of applications of this technology to ensure that ethical abuses do not emerge. Vocabulary infertile a. 不能生育的 encapsulate vt. 总结，概况 meticulously adv. 一丝不苟地 aseptically adv. 无菌地 conceive vt. 怀孕 meiosis n. 减数分裂 cleavage n. （胚胎）卵裂，分裂 chromosomal a. 染色体的 oocyte n. 卵母细胞 aspirate vt. 用吸管将体腔中液体抽出，抽吸 laparoscopically adv. （借助）腹腔镜 inseminate vt. 使受精 viable a. 切实可行的 cryopreservation n. 冷冻保存，低温储藏 tubal a. 输卵管的 surrogacy n. 代孕 micromanipulation n. 显微操纵（术） intracytoplasmic a. 胞浆内的 commonplace a. 普通的，平常的 ethical a. 伦理的
Reading Comprehension Directions: There are four suggested answers to each of the following questions. Choose the best one according to the passage you have just read. 1. The first test tube baby was delivered by A. Louise brown B. Howard Jones C. Patrick Steptoe D. Robert edwards 2. Retrospecting the mighty moment of Louise's birth, the author seems to A. its meaning to robert edwards and his associates B. its achievement as a collaborative efforts C. its significance to the science community D. its importance to the infertile couples 3. Which of the following statements is NOT true about Robert Edwards? A. He graduated from Edinburgh University. B. His research encountered much incredulity C. He cooperated with Patrick Steptoe in the birth of Louise Brown D. He conducted numerous experiments in humans before Lesley Brown 4. The order of procedures in a typical IVF should be A. aspiration, insemination, transfer, and pregnancy B. pregnancy, aspiration, insemination, and transfer piration, pregr and transfe D. transfer, insemination, aspiration, and pregnancy 5. All of the following are innovations based on IVF EXCEPT B. artificial insemination C. Human Tubal Fluid cryopreservation 6. Compared with IUl, IVF A. is less efficient B. is les C. is traditionally more popular D. is more likely to result in multiple gestations
Reading Comprehension Directions: There are four suggested answers to each of the following questions. Choose the best one according to the passage you have just read. 1. The first test tube baby was delivered by _________. A. Louise Brown B. Howard Jones C. Patrick Steptoe D. Robert Edwards 2. Retrospecting the mighty moment of Louise’s birth, the author seems to emphasize _________. A. its meaning to Robert Edwards and his associates B. its achievement as a collaborative efforts C. its significance to the science community D. its importance to the infertile couples 3. Which of the following statements is NOT true about Robert Edwards? A. He graduated from Edinburgh University. B. His research encountered much incredulity. C. He cooperated with Patrick Steptoe in the birth of Louise Brown. D. He conducted numerous experiments in humans before Lesley Brown. 4. The order of procedures in a typical IVF should be __________. A. aspiration, insemination, transfer, and pregnancy B. pregnancy, aspiration, insemination, and transfer C. insemination, aspiration, pregnancy, and transfer D. transfer, insemination, aspiration, and pregnancy 5. All of the following are innovations based on IVF EXCEPT _______. A. sperm aspiration B. artificial insemination C. Human Tubal Fluid D. cryopreservation 6. Compared with IUI, IVF ________. A. is less efficient B. is less expensive C. is traditionally more popular D. is more likely to result in multiple gestations
Passage 2 Expecting the Expected Expectations are the anticipation of our experiences, from the mundane What? Were out of milk? to the emergency department patient's"What? You want to admit me to the hospital? We as humans like to try to predict the future: it makes us feel more in control of our destiny when we re frequentl just bystanders of chance. People love to talk about their cars as reliable because they like having their expectation met that the car is going to start when they turn the key. People will tell you how they got seated at a really nice restaurant without a reservation because their expectation was so low that they would ever get a table It's really the same in the ED. You read a triage note of a patient with six seemingly unrelated complaints, and your stomach fills with dread. You look at your watch and figure,Yeah, I've got 30 minutes to spare, and march in About 30 seconds in, you immediately realize they ' re actually all related issues and you make the diagnosis of carbon monoxide poisoning in five minutes Low expectations, high yield. Or the patient who the nurse warns you is"al drama, and you walk in the room, and find the patient actually to be quite reasonable and pleasant Wow that wasn't so bad So why not use this to our advantage? We can set appropriate expectations for our patients, our colleagues, and even ourselves -to make sure everyone is on the same page, knows what's expected and reasonable, and what may happen in the emergency department PATIENTS At wit's end, on a busy, post-holiday tuesday, a patient with a runny nose and cough came up to my friend Lisa to complain about having waited an hour without being seen. In a very direct but polite tone, Lisa told the man, "Sir, if you think that that's unreasonable on a day like today with very, very sick patients, I think you need to adjust your expectations. (I, of course, started laughing because Im a jerk like that, but I think Lisas intent was spot on.) We should make sure patients know a time frame and course, and understand thatthat time course may change. Under-promise and over-deliver is a well known business strategy, but I think it's pretty appropriate in medicine as well. Letting them know that blood work and a Ct scan usually takes three hours but can be longer if we have critically ill or trauma patients gives patients a time frame before they start giving you the stink eye. You can also let patients know immediately that they' re going to be admitted regardless of the workup in the ed so that can sink in from the very beginning(especially when they were expecting to go home. ) Similarly, I've found that with VIP patients(who are not used to having a stranger direct them and make decisions about them, it
Passage 2 Expecting the Expected Expectations are the anticipation of our experiences, from the mundane “What? We’re out of milk?” to the emergency department patient’s “What? You want to admit me to the hospital?” We as humans like to try to predict the future; it makes us feel more in control of our destiny when we’re frequently just bystanders of chance. People love to talk about their cars as reliable because they like having their expectation met that the car is going to start when they turn the key. People will tell you how they got seated at a really nice restaurant without a reservation because their expectation was so low that they would ever get a table. It’s really the same in the ED. You read a triage note of a patient with six seemingly unrelated complaints, and your stomach fills with dread. You look at your watch and figure, “Yeah, I’ve got 30 minutes to spare,” and march in. About 30 seconds in, you immediately realize they’re actually all related issues, and you make the diagnosis of carbon monoxide poisoning in five minutes. Low expectations, high yield. Or the patient who the nurse warns you is “all drama,” and you walk in the room, and find the patient actually to be quite reasonable and pleasant. Wow, that wasn’t so bad. So why not use this to our advantage? We can set appropriate expectations — for our patients, our colleagues, and even ourselves — to make sure everyone is on the same page, knows what’s expected and reasonable, and what may happen in the emergency department. PATIENTS At wit’s end, on a busy, post-holiday Tuesday, a patient with a runny nose and cough came up to my friend Lisa to complain about having waited an hour without being seen. In a very direct but polite tone, Lisa told the man, “Sir, if you think that that’s unreasonable on a day like today with very, very sick patients, I think you need to adjust your expectations.” (I, of course, started laughing because I’m a jerk like that, but I think Lisa’s intent was spot on.) We should make sure patients know a time frame and course, and understand that that time course may change. “Under-promise and over-deliver” is a well known business strategy, but I think it’s pretty appropriate in medicine as well. Letting them know that blood work and a CT scan usually takes three hours but can be longer if we have critically ill or trauma patients gives patients a time frame before they start giving you the stink eye. You can also let patients know immediately that they’re going to be admitted regardless of the workup in the ED so that can sink in from the very beginning (especially when they were expecting to go home.) Similarly, I’ve found that with VIP patients (who are not used to having a stranger direct them and make decisions about them), it