"Diabetes is linked to breast size," is the headline in The Sun. The report below goes on to say that "women who wear a large bra size are much more likely to develop diabetes than women with an A cup". Type 2 diabetes is often linked to lifestyle factors, such as obesity and a lack of exercise but "even after adjusting for such factors and any family history, researchers found that the risk was still high", the newspaper adds.
The newspaper story is based on a study involving data from more than 90,000 women in Canada. Researchers looked at women's cup size and the rates of diabetes developing over 20 years. A link between breast size and diabetes was seen, but the researchers are unable to say from this study if the relationship is simply due to the overall weight or waist circumference increase you might expect in women who had larger than average breast size, as the link between obesity and diabetes is well known.
Where did the story come from?
Dr Joel Ray from the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, University of Toronto, Canada and colleagues from the Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard Medical School and the Institute for Health Sciences in the Netherlands carried out this study. This study, the analysis and the Nurses' Health Study II were supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Research Division at St Michael's Hospital, Toronto and the US National Institutes of Health. It was published in the peer-reviewed: The Journal of the Canadian Medical Association.
What kind of scientific study was this?
This was a secondary analysis of data collected from a prospective cohort study, the Nurses' Health Study II, which aimed to study risk factors for breast cancer among women and began in 1989.
In this study, researchers looked at data collected from about 92,000 women (average age 38 years) and used the answers to questionnaires (which were completed every two years) to detect the cases of type 2 diabetes. The women were asked whether they had been diagnosed with diabetes, what their blood test results were, and what medications they were receiving for their diabetes.
The women's bra cup sizes at the age of 20 was taken from the answers given in the 1993 questionnaire and categorized as A or less, B, C and D or more. The researchers excluded women who had a diagnosis of diabetes at the start of the study or who had had diabetes during pregnancy. They also excluded over 20,000 more women who had no information recorded about breast size, or other details that the researchers required for the study.
The researchers used statistical models to adjust for other factors which can affect diabetes including the age when periods started, the number of children the women had had, the degree of physical activity, current body mass index (BMI) and their BMI at aged 18 and details of smoking, diet, multivitamin use and any family history of diabetes.
What were the results of the study?
A total of 1,844 new cases of type 2 diabetes arose during the study, at an average age of 44.9 years. When the researchers adjusted for age alone, the chances of developing diabetes increased in women with larger cup sizes compared with those with bra cup size of A or less; the increase in risk was proportional to the cup size (about double for B cup, four times for C and five times for women with D cup or more).
All these increases were reduced to less than a doubling in risk when the researchers adjusted for the other factor for which they had available information. such as the age when periods started, the number of children, the degree of physical activity, current BMI, BMI at age 18, and details of smoking, diet, multivitamin use and any family history of diabetes. These adjustments left the increase in risk of developing diabetes at between 30% and 80%, depending on which cup size was being looked at.
What interpretations did the researchers draw from these results?
The researchers say, "a large bra cup size at age 20 may be a predictor of type 2 diabetes in middle-aged women". However, they add that the question as to whether this link is independent of traditional indicators of obesity remains to be determined.
What does the NHS Knowledge Service make of this study?
Conclusions from this research are limited by the very strong association shown between body mass index (BMI) and the risk of developing diabetes. This is illustrated by the large fall in the risk of developing diabetes when the researchers added an adjustment for the known risk factors for type 2 diabetes into their statistical model.
Asking women their breast cup size may be a useful alternative to measuring their weight, BMI or waist circumference, but it remains to be seen if the link shown here is anything other than the well-researched link between being overweight and diabetes.
Links to the headlines
Diabetes linked to breast size. The Sun, January 31 2008
Women with larger breasts 'have higher diabetes risk . Daily Mail, January 31 2008
Large breasts at 20 linked to diabetes in middle age. The Scotsman, January 31 2008
Links to the science
Breast size and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Ray JG, Mohllajee AP, van Dam RM, Michels KB.
CMAJ 2008; 178(3)
This news comes from NHS Choices
четверг, 7 июня 2012 г.
четверг, 31 мая 2012 г.
Women's Study Finds Longevity Means Getting Just Enough Sleep
A new study, derived from novel sleep research conducted by University of California, San Diego researchers 14 years earlier, suggests that the secret to a long life may come with just enough sleep. Less than five hours a night is probably not enough; eight hours is probably too much.
A team of scientists, headed by Daniel F. Kripke, MD, professor emeritus of psychiatry at UC San Diego School of Medicine, revisited original research conducted between 1995 and 1999. In that earlier study, part of the Women's Health Initiative, Kripke and colleagues had monitored 459 women living in San Diego (ranging in age from 50 to 81) to determine if sleep duration could be associated with mortality. Fourteen years later, they returned to see who was still alive and well.
Of the original participants, 444 were located and evaluated. Eighty-six women had died. Previous studies, based upon questionnaires of people's sleep habits, had posited that sleeping 6.5 to 7.5 hours per night was associated with best survival. Kripke and colleagues, whose 1990s research had used wrist activity monitors to record sleep durations, essentially confirmed those findings, but with a twist.
"The surprise was that when sleep was measured objectively, the best survival was observed among women who slept 5 to 6.5 hours," Kripke said. "Women who slept less than five hours a night or more than 6.5 hours were less likely to be alive at the 14-year follow-up."
The findings are published online in the journal Sleep Medicine.
Kripke said the study should allay some people's fears that they're not getting enough sleep. "This means that women who sleep as little as five to six-and-a-half hours have nothing to worry about since that amount of sleep is evidently consistent with excellent survival. That is actually about the average measured sleep duration for San Diego women."
Researchers uncovered other interesting findings as well. For example, among older women, obstructive sleep apnea (pauses in breathing during sleep) did not predict increased mortality risk. "Although apneas may be associated with increased mortality risk among those under 60, it does not seem to carry a risk in the older age group, particularly for women," Kripke said.
Co-authors of the study include Robert D. Langer of the Jackson Hole Center for Preventive Medicine; Jeffrey A. Elliot and Katharine M. Rex of the UCSD Department of Psychiatry; and Melville R. Klauber of the UCSD Department of Family and Preventive Medicine.
Source: University of California
A team of scientists, headed by Daniel F. Kripke, MD, professor emeritus of psychiatry at UC San Diego School of Medicine, revisited original research conducted between 1995 and 1999. In that earlier study, part of the Women's Health Initiative, Kripke and colleagues had monitored 459 women living in San Diego (ranging in age from 50 to 81) to determine if sleep duration could be associated with mortality. Fourteen years later, they returned to see who was still alive and well.
Of the original participants, 444 were located and evaluated. Eighty-six women had died. Previous studies, based upon questionnaires of people's sleep habits, had posited that sleeping 6.5 to 7.5 hours per night was associated with best survival. Kripke and colleagues, whose 1990s research had used wrist activity monitors to record sleep durations, essentially confirmed those findings, but with a twist.
"The surprise was that when sleep was measured objectively, the best survival was observed among women who slept 5 to 6.5 hours," Kripke said. "Women who slept less than five hours a night or more than 6.5 hours were less likely to be alive at the 14-year follow-up."
The findings are published online in the journal Sleep Medicine.
Kripke said the study should allay some people's fears that they're not getting enough sleep. "This means that women who sleep as little as five to six-and-a-half hours have nothing to worry about since that amount of sleep is evidently consistent with excellent survival. That is actually about the average measured sleep duration for San Diego women."
Researchers uncovered other interesting findings as well. For example, among older women, obstructive sleep apnea (pauses in breathing during sleep) did not predict increased mortality risk. "Although apneas may be associated with increased mortality risk among those under 60, it does not seem to carry a risk in the older age group, particularly for women," Kripke said.
Co-authors of the study include Robert D. Langer of the Jackson Hole Center for Preventive Medicine; Jeffrey A. Elliot and Katharine M. Rex of the UCSD Department of Psychiatry; and Melville R. Klauber of the UCSD Department of Family and Preventive Medicine.
Source: University of California
четверг, 24 мая 2012 г.
Free Women's Heart Screening Presented By Rush University Medical Center And The 2 BigHearts Foundation
Rush University Medical Center, in conjunction with the 2 BigHearts Foundation, is offering a free women's heart screening to help women assess their cardiovascular risks. The screening includes an echocardiogram, an ECG, fasting blood sugar, lipid panel, height/weight/blood pressure, evaluation of waist circumference and BMI, health risk assessment, and a consultation with a cardiologist or cardiology clinician.
The free women's heart screenings will be offered at Rush by appointment only on Saturday, May 3, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Space is limited and people must register for an appointment time by calling (888) 352-RUSH. Eligibility is limited to women 21 years of age or older who have not participated in a prior screening and are not currently receiving cardiac medical care.
The funding for the screening is a combined effort of Rush and the 2 BigHearts Foundation. Jim Clarke formed 2 BigHearts after the sudden deaths of his wife and his sister-in-law on the very same day from heart disease. Both Gigi Clarke and Sally Czechanski suffered cardiac trauma as a direct result of cardiomyopathy, or an enlarged heart muscle. The foundation strives to increase awareness of this issue of heart disease in women.
"By telling the story of my wife and her sister I hope to stress that a similarly tragic scenario is avoidable with proper heart health education," said Clarke. "Had we known about their condition, both Gigi and Sally could have sought treatment that might have saved their lives."
This is the third free screening offered by Rush and 2 BigHearts. Results from these screenings illustrate why future screenings are so crucial to women's cardiovascular health. Out of 274 women screened, eight percent found out they had a heart abnormality and needed to see a physician. Abnormal lipid results were found in 59 percent of the women who were advised to make either lifestyle/behavior changes and/or follow-up with a physician. Of these women, 92 percent plan to make lifestyle changes related to the results of the screening, and said they plan to discuss results with their physician.
The screening at Rush includes an echocardiogram, a non-invasive ultrasound that creates images of the heart. This allows heart specialists to view the size of the heart and its motion as it beats.
Participants will also receive an electrocardiogram (ECG). In this noninvasive test, electrode patches are attached to the skin to measure electrical impulse from the heart. An ECG can show disturbances in the electrical activity of the heart, which may identify abnormal heart rhythms and areas of injury.
The screening will also focus on risk factors for women which include, high blood pressure, high total and LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, being overweight, being physically inactive, age (55 and older), and family history.
"I tell women who have several risk factors that they need to know their own bodies and how they feel when there's nothing wrong. If there is a change, such as unexplained extreme fatigue, it may be a sign that something is wrong and they should seek medical help," said cardiologist Dr. Anabelle Volgman, medical director of the Rush Heart Center for Women.
Many women ignore symptoms of cardiovascular disease because unlike the classic severe chest pain men often describe, women's symptoms tend to be more nonspecific - fatigue, nausea and shortness of breath. Women are urged to call 9-1-1 if there is sudden chest discomfort or extreme fatigue that lasts more than a few minutes.
To reduce your risk for heart disease, Volgman suggests a heart-healthy diet and regular exercise to help maintain a healthy weight and avoid diabetes. Smokers need to quit. If blood pressure and cholesterol can't be controlled through diet and exercise alone, medications can help. Prevention is important because more women than men die within the first year after a heart attack.
At the Rush Heart Center for Women, women with heart problems are diagnosed and treated with great sensitivity and innovation by a team of cardiologists, nurse practitioners, nurses, nutritionists and cardiothoracic surgeons who are supported by the comprehensive resources of a world-class academic medical center. Rush University Medical Center encompasses the more than 600 staffed-bed hospital (including Rush Children's Hospital), the Johnston R. Bowman Health Center and Rush University. Rush is noted for bringing together clinical care and research to address major health problems, including arthritis and orthopedic disorders, cancer, heart disease, mental illness, neurological disorders and diseases associated with aging.
The free women's heart screenings will be offered at Rush by appointment only on Saturday, May 3, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Space is limited and people must register for an appointment time by calling (888) 352-RUSH. Eligibility is limited to women 21 years of age or older who have not participated in a prior screening and are not currently receiving cardiac medical care.
The funding for the screening is a combined effort of Rush and the 2 BigHearts Foundation. Jim Clarke formed 2 BigHearts after the sudden deaths of his wife and his sister-in-law on the very same day from heart disease. Both Gigi Clarke and Sally Czechanski suffered cardiac trauma as a direct result of cardiomyopathy, or an enlarged heart muscle. The foundation strives to increase awareness of this issue of heart disease in women.
"By telling the story of my wife and her sister I hope to stress that a similarly tragic scenario is avoidable with proper heart health education," said Clarke. "Had we known about their condition, both Gigi and Sally could have sought treatment that might have saved their lives."
This is the third free screening offered by Rush and 2 BigHearts. Results from these screenings illustrate why future screenings are so crucial to women's cardiovascular health. Out of 274 women screened, eight percent found out they had a heart abnormality and needed to see a physician. Abnormal lipid results were found in 59 percent of the women who were advised to make either lifestyle/behavior changes and/or follow-up with a physician. Of these women, 92 percent plan to make lifestyle changes related to the results of the screening, and said they plan to discuss results with their physician.
The screening at Rush includes an echocardiogram, a non-invasive ultrasound that creates images of the heart. This allows heart specialists to view the size of the heart and its motion as it beats.
Participants will also receive an electrocardiogram (ECG). In this noninvasive test, electrode patches are attached to the skin to measure electrical impulse from the heart. An ECG can show disturbances in the electrical activity of the heart, which may identify abnormal heart rhythms and areas of injury.
The screening will also focus on risk factors for women which include, high blood pressure, high total and LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, being overweight, being physically inactive, age (55 and older), and family history.
"I tell women who have several risk factors that they need to know their own bodies and how they feel when there's nothing wrong. If there is a change, such as unexplained extreme fatigue, it may be a sign that something is wrong and they should seek medical help," said cardiologist Dr. Anabelle Volgman, medical director of the Rush Heart Center for Women.
Many women ignore symptoms of cardiovascular disease because unlike the classic severe chest pain men often describe, women's symptoms tend to be more nonspecific - fatigue, nausea and shortness of breath. Women are urged to call 9-1-1 if there is sudden chest discomfort or extreme fatigue that lasts more than a few minutes.
To reduce your risk for heart disease, Volgman suggests a heart-healthy diet and regular exercise to help maintain a healthy weight and avoid diabetes. Smokers need to quit. If blood pressure and cholesterol can't be controlled through diet and exercise alone, medications can help. Prevention is important because more women than men die within the first year after a heart attack.
At the Rush Heart Center for Women, women with heart problems are diagnosed and treated with great sensitivity and innovation by a team of cardiologists, nurse practitioners, nurses, nutritionists and cardiothoracic surgeons who are supported by the comprehensive resources of a world-class academic medical center. Rush University Medical Center encompasses the more than 600 staffed-bed hospital (including Rush Children's Hospital), the Johnston R. Bowman Health Center and Rush University. Rush is noted for bringing together clinical care and research to address major health problems, including arthritis and orthopedic disorders, cancer, heart disease, mental illness, neurological disorders and diseases associated with aging.
четверг, 17 мая 2012 г.
Parenting Stress Affects New Mothers' Postpartum Lifestyle
Post-pregnancy excess weight is likely caused by the impact of new parenthood stress on physical activity, Georgia Health Sciences University researchers say.
In a study of 60 first-time mothers, researchers linked higher post-pregnancy body mass index - weight in relation to height - to a combination of a high BMI before pregnancy, excessive weight gain during pregnancy, parenting stress and a sedentary lifestyle, according to a study published in Women & Health.
The study gauged parental stress by asking participants to rate statements such as "I feel like I have less time to myself" and "I enjoy being a parent." They were also asked to recall their physical activity over the previous 24 hours, categorizing that activity from light to vigorous.
"Sedentary lifestyle, or a low amount of physical activity, was most influenced by the type of parenting stress the mothers reported," says Dr. Deborah Young-Hyman, behavioral psychologist with the Georgia Prevention Institute. "More parenting stress, especially depression, was associated with less physical activity and a higher postpartum BMI."
Interestingly, social interaction, generally considered a measure of well-being, correlated with a higher body mass index, she noted.
"We think women are socializing with their friends, not isolating themselves, but they are doing sedentary things like talking on the phone, watching television or hanging out at home, instead of taking their babies on a walk together."
New moms with a higher BMI did report more depressive symptoms, but overall felt competent as parents. Those with lower BMIs reported more physical activity and less depressive symptoms.
"We know that physical activity improves your mood and helps you lose weight, but no one has ever asked how physical activity is related to parenting stress in first-time moms," Young-Hyman said.
Lack of stress may modulate weight after childbirth because relaxed moods are associated with lower caloric intake and higher activity, she said, noting that caloric intake is the number-one driver of weight gain.
"The bottom line is that parenting stress does impact the postpartum lifestyles of new moms," she said.
Based on a current study tracking how first-time mothers adjust to parenthood, researchers will develop an intervention to help new moms create healthy lifestyles for both themselves and their babies - preventing overweight mothers and children.
Source:
Georgia Health Sciences University
In a study of 60 first-time mothers, researchers linked higher post-pregnancy body mass index - weight in relation to height - to a combination of a high BMI before pregnancy, excessive weight gain during pregnancy, parenting stress and a sedentary lifestyle, according to a study published in Women & Health.
The study gauged parental stress by asking participants to rate statements such as "I feel like I have less time to myself" and "I enjoy being a parent." They were also asked to recall their physical activity over the previous 24 hours, categorizing that activity from light to vigorous.
"Sedentary lifestyle, or a low amount of physical activity, was most influenced by the type of parenting stress the mothers reported," says Dr. Deborah Young-Hyman, behavioral psychologist with the Georgia Prevention Institute. "More parenting stress, especially depression, was associated with less physical activity and a higher postpartum BMI."
Interestingly, social interaction, generally considered a measure of well-being, correlated with a higher body mass index, she noted.
"We think women are socializing with their friends, not isolating themselves, but they are doing sedentary things like talking on the phone, watching television or hanging out at home, instead of taking their babies on a walk together."
New moms with a higher BMI did report more depressive symptoms, but overall felt competent as parents. Those with lower BMIs reported more physical activity and less depressive symptoms.
"We know that physical activity improves your mood and helps you lose weight, but no one has ever asked how physical activity is related to parenting stress in first-time moms," Young-Hyman said.
Lack of stress may modulate weight after childbirth because relaxed moods are associated with lower caloric intake and higher activity, she said, noting that caloric intake is the number-one driver of weight gain.
"The bottom line is that parenting stress does impact the postpartum lifestyles of new moms," she said.
Based on a current study tracking how first-time mothers adjust to parenthood, researchers will develop an intervention to help new moms create healthy lifestyles for both themselves and their babies - preventing overweight mothers and children.
Source:
Georgia Health Sciences University
четверг, 10 мая 2012 г.
Women, Space Travel and Infection: Female Immune Response on Extended Missions
A bed-rest study with female participants will help scientists understand changes to the immune response and decreased
resistance to infection in space.
Investigators with the National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) are researching the immune system as part of the
Women's International Space Simulation for Exploration (WISE), a collaborative venture that includes NASA, the European Space
Agency, the Centre National D'?tudes Spatiales (French Space Agency) and the Canadian Space Agency. The study is being
carried out by the French Institute for Space Medicine and Physiology (MEDES) in Toulouse, France.
"It is clear from existing data that space flight conditions alter immune responses," said Dr. Gerald Sonnenfeld, a
researcher on the NSBRI's Immunology, Infection and Hematology Team. "Space has such limited access; to research the immune
response, we use a bed-rest model because it provides conditions similar to space conditions - fluid shift to the head and a
lack of weight-bearing on the lower limbs."
Changes in immunity could have serious effects on an astronaut's ability to resist infection and the development of tumors.
Possible causes for a compromised immune system include exposure to radiation and the effects of microgravity. With current
expeditions to the International Space Station for extended periods and future exploration missions to the moon and Mars,
astronauts will be exposed to chronic radiation that could result in serious health problems.
To help unravel the infection-resistance issue, Sonnenfeld is researching the overall impact of the body's immune response
under space-like conditions. Through tests taken before, during and after bed rest, he will gauge whether participants' white
blood cells divide normally and whether messengers of the immune system, called cytokines, are produced. Sonnenfeld also will
study the frequency by which latent viruses are reactivated and whether participants mount an immune response to a harmless
vaccine, phiX174, that is introduced during the study.
"In the past, most bed-rest studies for immunity have been carried out on men. It is significant to be part of the
international WISE study because scientists and the space community want valid conclusions about effects on women," said
Sonnenfeld, who is also vice president for research at Binghamton University, State University of New York.
The study involves 24 healthy, non-smoking female volunteers between the ages of 25 and 40. Candidates in the first phase
came from the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, The Netherlands and Poland. Recruitment for another 12
volunteers, who are needed for the second campaign, is currently ongoing (medes.fr). Each subject is assigned to one of three groups, which include bed rest, bed rest
with a series of exercises targeting the lower body, and bed rest with a nutritional supplement. Participants lie with their
heads tilted six degrees below horizontal so that their feet are slightly higher than their heads.
During the study, researchers begin by collecting physiological data to serve as a baseline. Blood samples, urine samples and
saliva swabs are taken at specified intervals during the 60 days of bed rest. After the bed-rest period, similar tests are
taken for comparison. Participants will return to measure how their bodies recovered for up to three years.
"The data garnered by this study is not only historic, it will be valuable in international efforts to plan long-duration
missions," Sonnenfeld said. "It could help determine how exercise and nutritional countermeasures for other space
flight-induced problems including bone and muscle loss influence the immune system, making researchers better able to
coordinate solutions to the challenges of human space flight."
Sonnenfeld's team also is composed of Dr. Janet Butel of Baylor College of Medicine, Dr. William Shearer of Texas Children's
Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine, Dr. David Niesel of the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, and Drs.
Michel Abbal and Antoine Blancher of the Universit? Paul Sabatier in Toulouse.
NSBRI, funded by NASA, is a consortium of institutions studying the health risks related to long-duration space flight. The
Institute's research and education projects take place at more than 70 institutions across the United States.
National Space Biomedical Research Institute
One Baylor Plaza, NA-425
Houston, TX 77030-3498
United States
nsbri
resistance to infection in space.
Investigators with the National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) are researching the immune system as part of the
Women's International Space Simulation for Exploration (WISE), a collaborative venture that includes NASA, the European Space
Agency, the Centre National D'?tudes Spatiales (French Space Agency) and the Canadian Space Agency. The study is being
carried out by the French Institute for Space Medicine and Physiology (MEDES) in Toulouse, France.
"It is clear from existing data that space flight conditions alter immune responses," said Dr. Gerald Sonnenfeld, a
researcher on the NSBRI's Immunology, Infection and Hematology Team. "Space has such limited access; to research the immune
response, we use a bed-rest model because it provides conditions similar to space conditions - fluid shift to the head and a
lack of weight-bearing on the lower limbs."
Changes in immunity could have serious effects on an astronaut's ability to resist infection and the development of tumors.
Possible causes for a compromised immune system include exposure to radiation and the effects of microgravity. With current
expeditions to the International Space Station for extended periods and future exploration missions to the moon and Mars,
astronauts will be exposed to chronic radiation that could result in serious health problems.
To help unravel the infection-resistance issue, Sonnenfeld is researching the overall impact of the body's immune response
under space-like conditions. Through tests taken before, during and after bed rest, he will gauge whether participants' white
blood cells divide normally and whether messengers of the immune system, called cytokines, are produced. Sonnenfeld also will
study the frequency by which latent viruses are reactivated and whether participants mount an immune response to a harmless
vaccine, phiX174, that is introduced during the study.
"In the past, most bed-rest studies for immunity have been carried out on men. It is significant to be part of the
international WISE study because scientists and the space community want valid conclusions about effects on women," said
Sonnenfeld, who is also vice president for research at Binghamton University, State University of New York.
The study involves 24 healthy, non-smoking female volunteers between the ages of 25 and 40. Candidates in the first phase
came from the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, The Netherlands and Poland. Recruitment for another 12
volunteers, who are needed for the second campaign, is currently ongoing (medes.fr). Each subject is assigned to one of three groups, which include bed rest, bed rest
with a series of exercises targeting the lower body, and bed rest with a nutritional supplement. Participants lie with their
heads tilted six degrees below horizontal so that their feet are slightly higher than their heads.
During the study, researchers begin by collecting physiological data to serve as a baseline. Blood samples, urine samples and
saliva swabs are taken at specified intervals during the 60 days of bed rest. After the bed-rest period, similar tests are
taken for comparison. Participants will return to measure how their bodies recovered for up to three years.
"The data garnered by this study is not only historic, it will be valuable in international efforts to plan long-duration
missions," Sonnenfeld said. "It could help determine how exercise and nutritional countermeasures for other space
flight-induced problems including bone and muscle loss influence the immune system, making researchers better able to
coordinate solutions to the challenges of human space flight."
Sonnenfeld's team also is composed of Dr. Janet Butel of Baylor College of Medicine, Dr. William Shearer of Texas Children's
Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine, Dr. David Niesel of the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, and Drs.
Michel Abbal and Antoine Blancher of the Universit? Paul Sabatier in Toulouse.
NSBRI, funded by NASA, is a consortium of institutions studying the health risks related to long-duration space flight. The
Institute's research and education projects take place at more than 70 institutions across the United States.
National Space Biomedical Research Institute
One Baylor Plaza, NA-425
Houston, TX 77030-3498
United States
nsbri
четверг, 3 мая 2012 г.
Intimacy And Sexuality After Cancer: Questions Answered And Concerns Addressed
Today The Women's Sexual Health Foundation (TWSHF) released an issue of the Women's Sexual Health Foundation Journal devoted entirely to women's sexuality and cancer, a topic the Foundation frequently addresses with healthcare professionals, cancer patients and survivors. This journal, entitled Women's Sexuality and Cancer, is available as a free download on the Foundation's website, TWSHF.
Intimacy and sexuality are important quality of life elements that can be negatively impacted by cancer and its treatment. Women with cancer, regardless of age, race, gender or socioeconomic background, have questions and often don't know where to turn for the answers. The Women's Sexual Health Journal Intimacy and Sexuality after Cancer is authored by two experts in this field - Sage Bolte, an Oncology Counselor at Life with Cancer® in Fairfax, Virginia and Peggy Lipford McKeal, PhD. LMHC. The introduction is The Women's Sexual Health Foundation founder and Executive Director, Lisa Martinez, RN, JD, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007, four years after she established the Foundation.
"The articles authored by these two psychotherapists who work with women with cancer give us a close up view of the sexual issues with which women with breast and other women's cancers commonly struggle," comments Stephanie Buehler, MPW, PsyD, CST, and Editor of The Women's Sexual Health Journal. "It is my hope that they will inspire women, their partners, and practitioners to talk openly about sexual experiences and sexual challenges without fear of embarrassment."
In Sage Bolte's journal article, Cancer and Sexuality, she reports that 21%-39% of the more than 2.1 million women in the United States who are breast cancer survivors will be impacted by sexual dysfunction. The percentage may even be higher for those on hormone treatments and even higher for women diagnosed with gynecological cancers. "The impact of cancer and its treatments on a woman's sexuality are significant. Side effects like pain and fatigue often impact a woman's sexual function, sexual identity and feelings of attractiveness."
The Women's Sexual Health Foundation understands that there is a great need to bring educational information, from both the physical and psychological perspective, to women who traditionally have received little information in this area. And in turn this same information needs to get into the hands of healthcare providers. The Journal is designed to support women and the professionals who treat them.
"It is typical for these health practitioners to discuss everything but sexual health," writes Dr. McKeal in her article Intimacy and Sexuality after Cancer. "They normally leave it to the woman to ask. The medical community, focusing on illness and improved health does not treat pleasure or its deficit."
Dr. McKeal's article also reports insights and advice shared by women in Gynecological Cancers Support groups. "Women who were interviewed agreed that prior to treatments education about the likely side effects to sexuality should be a priority in every office associated with oncology treatments." McKeal sites the benefits of sexuality topics being discussed in a support group setting where women have the opportunity to share solutions.
"Life does change after cancer, but that does not mean women cannot reclaim many aspects of the quality of the life they had before cancer," states Lisa Martinez RN, JD. "You are not alone if you have had intimacy difficulties since your cancer diagnosis and treatment. So if you have a concern, you should raise it with your healthcare team." Martinez also states that if your doctor cannot help you, then ask for a referral to someone who can. More and more healthcare professionals are developing the expertise to help women with sexual function and intimacy difficulties. A list of websites and other resources concerning sexuality and cancer for both healthcare professionals and male and female patients is made available in the journal.
A free downloadable version of The Women's Sexual Health Journal on Women's Sexuality and Cancer is available on the Foundation's website, TWSHF.
About The Women's Sexual Health Journal
The Women's Sexual Health Journal is an on-line quarterly journal available through The Women's Sexual Health Foundation. It contains personal stories about women and their sexual health difficulties, and articles on sexual medicine, health, and research topics that receive little attention in medical schools and healthcare providers' training. For more information about the journal go to TWSHF.
About The Women's Sexual Health Foundation
TWSHF is an international non-profit organization whose primary mission is to educate the public and healthcare professionals on women's sexual health. The Foundation has numerous resources for the public and healthcare professionals at www.TWSHF, including educational brochures in English, German and Spanish and The Women's Sexual Health Journal.
The Women's Sexual Health Foundation
Intimacy and sexuality are important quality of life elements that can be negatively impacted by cancer and its treatment. Women with cancer, regardless of age, race, gender or socioeconomic background, have questions and often don't know where to turn for the answers. The Women's Sexual Health Journal Intimacy and Sexuality after Cancer is authored by two experts in this field - Sage Bolte, an Oncology Counselor at Life with Cancer® in Fairfax, Virginia and Peggy Lipford McKeal, PhD. LMHC. The introduction is The Women's Sexual Health Foundation founder and Executive Director, Lisa Martinez, RN, JD, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007, four years after she established the Foundation.
"The articles authored by these two psychotherapists who work with women with cancer give us a close up view of the sexual issues with which women with breast and other women's cancers commonly struggle," comments Stephanie Buehler, MPW, PsyD, CST, and Editor of The Women's Sexual Health Journal. "It is my hope that they will inspire women, their partners, and practitioners to talk openly about sexual experiences and sexual challenges without fear of embarrassment."
In Sage Bolte's journal article, Cancer and Sexuality, she reports that 21%-39% of the more than 2.1 million women in the United States who are breast cancer survivors will be impacted by sexual dysfunction. The percentage may even be higher for those on hormone treatments and even higher for women diagnosed with gynecological cancers. "The impact of cancer and its treatments on a woman's sexuality are significant. Side effects like pain and fatigue often impact a woman's sexual function, sexual identity and feelings of attractiveness."
The Women's Sexual Health Foundation understands that there is a great need to bring educational information, from both the physical and psychological perspective, to women who traditionally have received little information in this area. And in turn this same information needs to get into the hands of healthcare providers. The Journal is designed to support women and the professionals who treat them.
"It is typical for these health practitioners to discuss everything but sexual health," writes Dr. McKeal in her article Intimacy and Sexuality after Cancer. "They normally leave it to the woman to ask. The medical community, focusing on illness and improved health does not treat pleasure or its deficit."
Dr. McKeal's article also reports insights and advice shared by women in Gynecological Cancers Support groups. "Women who were interviewed agreed that prior to treatments education about the likely side effects to sexuality should be a priority in every office associated with oncology treatments." McKeal sites the benefits of sexuality topics being discussed in a support group setting where women have the opportunity to share solutions.
"Life does change after cancer, but that does not mean women cannot reclaim many aspects of the quality of the life they had before cancer," states Lisa Martinez RN, JD. "You are not alone if you have had intimacy difficulties since your cancer diagnosis and treatment. So if you have a concern, you should raise it with your healthcare team." Martinez also states that if your doctor cannot help you, then ask for a referral to someone who can. More and more healthcare professionals are developing the expertise to help women with sexual function and intimacy difficulties. A list of websites and other resources concerning sexuality and cancer for both healthcare professionals and male and female patients is made available in the journal.
A free downloadable version of The Women's Sexual Health Journal on Women's Sexuality and Cancer is available on the Foundation's website, TWSHF.
About The Women's Sexual Health Journal
The Women's Sexual Health Journal is an on-line quarterly journal available through The Women's Sexual Health Foundation. It contains personal stories about women and their sexual health difficulties, and articles on sexual medicine, health, and research topics that receive little attention in medical schools and healthcare providers' training. For more information about the journal go to TWSHF.
About The Women's Sexual Health Foundation
TWSHF is an international non-profit organization whose primary mission is to educate the public and healthcare professionals on women's sexual health. The Foundation has numerous resources for the public and healthcare professionals at www.TWSHF, including educational brochures in English, German and Spanish and The Women's Sexual Health Journal.
The Women's Sexual Health Foundation
четверг, 26 апреля 2012 г.
Interaction Of Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs And Hormone Replacement Therapy
Any cardio protective effect of hormone replacement therapy may be inhibited if women are taking a particular type of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
pain killer, report researchers led by Garret FitzGerald from University of Pennsylvania in a paper published this week in PLoS Medicine.. The
researchers examined the medical records of 1,673 women aged between 50 and 84 years from the UK's General Practice Research Database who had heart
attacks or who died from coronary heart disease and compared them with 7,005 control women. Current use of hormone replacement therapy was associated
with a significantly lower risk of heart attack than non-use; with an odds ratio of 0.78. However, in women who used traditional nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, which variably inhibit both cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2, at the same time as hormone
replacement therapy, the chance of heart attack among this group of women, as compared to nonusers of these NSAIDs and hormone replacement therapy,
was 1.5, which was not significantly different.
There is conflicting evidence from previous work about whether hormone replacement therapy protects against heart disease in women. In addition, any
beneficial effect of hormone replacement therapy on the heart might be counteracted by NSAIDs which inhibit COX-2. Inhibition of COX-2 prevents
production of prostacyclin, which has a role in preventing blood clotting. As estrogen acts to increase production of prostacyclin; it is possible
that the effect of hormone replacement therapy on the heart is counteracted by these NSAIDs.
The authors conclude that "these observations, based on small numbers, are provocative rather than conclusive and are not intended to guide clinical
practice, but rather to prompt additional research." Ultimately determination of the clinical implications of these findings will need to be
addressed in future trials.
Garcia Rodr?±guez LA, Egan K, FitzGerald GA (2007)
Traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and postmenopausal hormone therapy: A drug - drug interaction?
PLoS Med 4(5): e157. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.0040157
Link here.
About PLoS Medicine
Medicine is an open access, freely available international medical journal. It publishes original research that enhances our understanding of
human health and disease, together with commentary and analysis of important global health issues.
www.plosmedicine
About the Public Library of Science
The Public Library of Science (PLoS) is a non-profit organization of scientists and physicians committed to making the world's scientific and medical
literature a freely available public resource.
www.plos
pain killer, report researchers led by Garret FitzGerald from University of Pennsylvania in a paper published this week in PLoS Medicine.. The
researchers examined the medical records of 1,673 women aged between 50 and 84 years from the UK's General Practice Research Database who had heart
attacks or who died from coronary heart disease and compared them with 7,005 control women. Current use of hormone replacement therapy was associated
with a significantly lower risk of heart attack than non-use; with an odds ratio of 0.78. However, in women who used traditional nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, which variably inhibit both cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2, at the same time as hormone
replacement therapy, the chance of heart attack among this group of women, as compared to nonusers of these NSAIDs and hormone replacement therapy,
was 1.5, which was not significantly different.
There is conflicting evidence from previous work about whether hormone replacement therapy protects against heart disease in women. In addition, any
beneficial effect of hormone replacement therapy on the heart might be counteracted by NSAIDs which inhibit COX-2. Inhibition of COX-2 prevents
production of prostacyclin, which has a role in preventing blood clotting. As estrogen acts to increase production of prostacyclin; it is possible
that the effect of hormone replacement therapy on the heart is counteracted by these NSAIDs.
The authors conclude that "these observations, based on small numbers, are provocative rather than conclusive and are not intended to guide clinical
practice, but rather to prompt additional research." Ultimately determination of the clinical implications of these findings will need to be
addressed in future trials.
Garcia Rodr?±guez LA, Egan K, FitzGerald GA (2007)
Traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and postmenopausal hormone therapy: A drug - drug interaction?
PLoS Med 4(5): e157. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.0040157
Link here.
About PLoS Medicine
Medicine is an open access, freely available international medical journal. It publishes original research that enhances our understanding of
human health and disease, together with commentary and analysis of important global health issues.
www.plosmedicine
About the Public Library of Science
The Public Library of Science (PLoS) is a non-profit organization of scientists and physicians committed to making the world's scientific and medical
literature a freely available public resource.
www.plos
четверг, 19 апреля 2012 г.
The American College Of Obstetricians And Gynecologists Supports Women's Access To Universal Health Care
During Cover the Uninsured Week, The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists reiterates its position that all women should be guaranteed a package of essential benefits that includes primary and preventive care, pregnancy-related and infant care, medically and surgically necessary services, prescription drugs, and catastrophic care. The essential principles for achieving universal care that meets women's lifetime health needs are defined in its Health Care for Women, Health Care for All: A Reform Agenda.
Health insurance is a basic necessity for women, but too many women remain uninsured. Currently, 18 percent of women in the US have no health insurance, a number that is poised to rise if the status quo does not change. As the economy continues to struggle and rising health insurance costs cause more employers to reduce or drop coverage, more women will face the hard decision to either pay for increasingly expensive premiums from already strained household budgets or drop insurance coverage altogether.
Living without insurance can lead to negative health outcomes for women of all ages. Uninsured women are less likely to receive critical preventive health care and screening tests, such as clinical breast exams and Pap tests, than women who have insurance. They are also more likely to receive diagnoses at more advanced disease stages and tend to receive less medical intervention once diagnosed.
Being uninsured also affects the next generation. Thirteen percent of pregnant women are uninsured and, generally, women between the ages of 19-44 are more likely to be living without insurance. Reproductive-age women without health insurance stand to miss out on preconception and prenatal care that can help ensure the best outcomes possible for both mother and baby. And while programs are available to provide insurance to children, nearly 20 percent remain uninsured.
Though coverage may be hard to find, uninsured women should not forgo screening exams, prescribed medications, and ongoing care for preexisting medical conditions. The College encourages women to tap resources that provide health care to the uninsured, such as those listed below:
- The Planned Parenthood Federation of America offers affordable and comprehensive women's health care including contraceptive services, STD screenings, breast exams, and routine physicals (see here).
- The National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (see here) provides free mammograms and Pap tests to uninsured, underinsured, and low-income women who qualify.
- Many pharmaceutical companies offer assistance to patients who can't afford their medication. Women can check with individual drug manufacturers for more details.
- The Bureau of Primary Health Care website allows searches for free or low-cost health care clinics by state and city.
- The Insure Kids Now! website offers links to programs that provide low- or no-cost health insurance coverage for children and pregnant women by state.
- The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation provides state resources for finding insurance (see here).
- The American Academy of Dermatology has a database of dermatologists by state who offer free skin cancer screenings (see here).
- Find free or low-cost eye exams through the American Academy of Ophthalmology hotline service (800-222-EYES).
- Community health fairs often offer free screenings, such as blood pressure and cholesterol tests.
- State and city health departments may have information on locations offering free flu shots.
For more information, visit covertheuninsured.
Source
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Health insurance is a basic necessity for women, but too many women remain uninsured. Currently, 18 percent of women in the US have no health insurance, a number that is poised to rise if the status quo does not change. As the economy continues to struggle and rising health insurance costs cause more employers to reduce or drop coverage, more women will face the hard decision to either pay for increasingly expensive premiums from already strained household budgets or drop insurance coverage altogether.
Living without insurance can lead to negative health outcomes for women of all ages. Uninsured women are less likely to receive critical preventive health care and screening tests, such as clinical breast exams and Pap tests, than women who have insurance. They are also more likely to receive diagnoses at more advanced disease stages and tend to receive less medical intervention once diagnosed.
Being uninsured also affects the next generation. Thirteen percent of pregnant women are uninsured and, generally, women between the ages of 19-44 are more likely to be living without insurance. Reproductive-age women without health insurance stand to miss out on preconception and prenatal care that can help ensure the best outcomes possible for both mother and baby. And while programs are available to provide insurance to children, nearly 20 percent remain uninsured.
Though coverage may be hard to find, uninsured women should not forgo screening exams, prescribed medications, and ongoing care for preexisting medical conditions. The College encourages women to tap resources that provide health care to the uninsured, such as those listed below:
- The Planned Parenthood Federation of America offers affordable and comprehensive women's health care including contraceptive services, STD screenings, breast exams, and routine physicals (see here).
- The National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (see here) provides free mammograms and Pap tests to uninsured, underinsured, and low-income women who qualify.
- Many pharmaceutical companies offer assistance to patients who can't afford their medication. Women can check with individual drug manufacturers for more details.
- The Bureau of Primary Health Care website allows searches for free or low-cost health care clinics by state and city.
- The Insure Kids Now! website offers links to programs that provide low- or no-cost health insurance coverage for children and pregnant women by state.
- The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation provides state resources for finding insurance (see here).
- The American Academy of Dermatology has a database of dermatologists by state who offer free skin cancer screenings (see here).
- Find free or low-cost eye exams through the American Academy of Ophthalmology hotline service (800-222-EYES).
- Community health fairs often offer free screenings, such as blood pressure and cholesterol tests.
- State and city health departments may have information on locations offering free flu shots.
For more information, visit covertheuninsured.
Source
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
четверг, 12 апреля 2012 г.
Blogs Comment On Health Reform, Appropriations Bill, Military Abortion Ban
The following summarizes selected women's health-related blog entries.
~ "Shocker: Nelson Rejects Abortion Compromise," Amy Sullivan, Time's "Swampland": Sullivan says that in her efforts to blog about a potential abortion compromise in the Senate, she "couldn't get past one basic fact: there was no possible abortion compromise that could ever win Ben Nelson's vote." She adds, "We could pretend otherwise, but it just wasn't so." A "red flag should have been the fact that Nelson sent [Sen. Robert] Casey's (D-Pa.) proposed language to antiabortion groups in Nebraska for their review," Sullivan writes. Although there is "nothing wrong with running legislative language by people who closely cover the issue," it does "indicate that what's at stake here is not Nelson's personal comfort with the separation of government funds from abortion procedures so much as the comfort of interest groups with his pro-life credentials," she continues. "So now we're back where we started," and "it remains completely unclear" what Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) would need to do to gain a Republican vote to offset Nelson's, Sullivan says (Sullivan, "Swampland," Time, 12/17).
~ "The Welcome End of Abstinence-Only Sex Education," Bonnie Erbe, U.S. News & World Report's "Thomas Jefferson Street": "[N]ormalcy is about to return" on the issue of sex education, as the fiscal year 2010 omnibus appropriations bill (HR 3288) " just approved by Congress eliminates funding for abstinence-only education," Erbe writes. "Back to the future we go," she continues, noting that "[t]here was a time in America when there was no such thing as abstinence-only education." According to Erbe, "Biologically accurate sex education has always taught teens that the only completely reliable way" to avoid sexually transmitted infections is "to abstain from sex." She writes, "But can you imagine what would happen if liberals tried to press a version of sex education that only encouraged teens to have sex, without teaching them how to avoid [STIs] and pregnancy?" Erbe says, "That would be the polar opposite of 'abstinence-only' education. And yet the public would be in an uproar" (Erbe, "Thomas Jefferson Street," U.S. News & World Report, 12/16).
~ "Choice in the Military: Crocodiles or Piranhas," Kate Harding, Salon's "Broadsheet": Prohibiting women in the military from receiving abortion services "does not stop women from seeking to end unwanted pregnancies; it drives them to risk their own lives and health to do so," Harding writes, noting that attempts at self-abortion have "continued ... thanks to restrictions on when and where abortions can be performed and who pays for them." Harding discusses Kathryn Joyce's recent article in Religion Dispatches examining the effects of the ban on abortion services at military hospitals, which Joyce says creates "just one more category of women ... who fall into the canyons created by sweeping bans on federal funding for abortion." Antiabortion-rights provisions in health care reform legislation "threaten to add middle-class women to the list -- meaning we'd essentially be right back in 1972, with safe abortion services available only to wealthy women who can afford to skirt the restrictions," Harding writes. While the military ban "may seem like a low-priority issue to pro-choice activists who aren't among the 200,000 female service members ... directly affected by it," it is a "sobering example of how cutting off access to abortion services endangers people's health and lives," she says (Harding, "Broadsheet," Salon, 12/15).
~ "While Lieberman Screws Over Public Options, Nelson Still in Control of Abortion Coverage for Millions of Women," Jodi Jacobson, RH Reality Check: Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) "is back in the saddle" after the Senate rejected his amendment prohibiting federally subsidized insurance plans from covering abortion services, a proposal similar to an amendment by Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) that the House approved in November, Jacobson writes. Nelson is "apparently negotiating abortion language behind closed doors" with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Sen. Robert Casey (D-Pa.), Jacobson says, adding that Nelson recently said on CBS' "Face the Nation" that he "still [has] the unique issue of abortion" and that he cannot support the Senate's bill if the current language is not changed. Jacobson writes, "Actually, no. It is women that have the 'unique' issue of pregnancy, childbirth and the unique choices that come with their biological capacity for reproduction." She adds that the "only 'unique' thing about Nelson (and Stupak) is that it is uniquely disturbing that a bunch of white male senators and congressman who will never be at risk of pregnancy are struggling so hard to impose their religious and ideological views on the entire population of women" (Jacobson, RH Reality Check, 12/16).
~ "Could Ben Nelson Kill Health Care Reform?" Max Fisher, Atlantic Monthly's "The Atlantic Wire": On Tuesday, Nelson told reporters "that he may not support health care reform as it stands now" because he is not satisfied with the provisions regarding abortion coverage under federally subsidized insurance plans, Fisher writes. He asks, "With one vote the difference between passing and failing, ... could the loss of Nelson [be] reform's death knell?" Fisher examines five recent blog postings regarding the issue, including the role of Sen. Olympia Snowe's (R-Maine) vote and rumors that the closure of an Air Force base in Nebraska is being used as a bargaining chip with Nelson (Fisher, "The Atlantic Wire," Atlantic Monthly, 12/16).
~ "Catholic Bishops Hold the Line on Abortion Language," Jordan Fabian, The Hill's "Blog Briefing Room": The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on Tuesday "reiterated its support for the addition of more stringent abortion language into the Senate's health care bill," after sending a letter to senators over the weekend "asking them once again to insert abortion language similar" to Nelson's rejected amendment, Fabian writes. The letter, signed by Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, said, "Health care reform is too urgently needed to be placed at risk by one lobbying group's insistence on changing the law." It also said, "Before the Senate considers final votes on its health care reform legislation, please incorporate into this bill the longstanding and widely supported policies of current law" (Fabian, "Blog Briefing Room," The Hill, 12/15).
~ "How Health Care Reform Means More Access to Abortion, Not Less," Daniel Hemel, Double X: "No one seems to have much noticed, but the health care bills winding their way through Congress will do more to expand abortion access in low-income communities than any single step since the Supreme Court's 1973 ruling in Roe v. Wade," Hemel, a Yale Law School student, writes. Hemel explains how under the Senate (HR 3590) and House (HR 3962) health reform bills, Medicaid coverage will be expanded to more people. Although the Medicaid expansion itself "won't increase abortion access" because of the Hyde Amendment's ban on states' use of federal Medicaid money for abortion services, the fact that Medicaid is a "joint federal-state program" means increased access, he argues. "[I]n 13 states, courts have ordered state governments to use their own money to fund abortions for women who receive Medicaid -- of whom there will be millions more post-health care reform," Hemel says, adding that the Hyde Amendment "doesn't stop the states from paying for abortion on their own." According to Hemel, "30% of Americans live in states under court order to cover abortion costs for Medicaid recipients" (Hemel, Double X, 12/15).
Reprinted with kind permission from nationalpartnership. You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.
© 2009 The Advisory Board Company. All rights reserved.
четверг, 5 апреля 2012 г.
European Commission Approves GARDASIL(R), Merck's Cervical Cancer Vaccine
GARDASIL(R) [Quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus (Types 6, 11, 16, 18) Recombinant Vaccine], the cervical cancer vaccine from Merck & Co., Inc., has been granted a license by the European Commission. GARDASIL has been approved as the first and only vaccine in the European Union (EU) for use in children and adolescents aged 9 to 15 years and in adult females aged 16 to 26 years for the prevention of cervical cancer, high-grade cervical dysplasias/precancers [cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN 2/3)], high-grade/precancerous vulvar dysplastic lesions (VIN 2/3) and external genital warts (condyloma acuminata) caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6, 11, 16 and 18. This license applies to the 25 countries that are members of the EU, including the five largest which are France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom.
GARDASIL will be marketed by Sanofi Pasteur MSD (SPMSD), a joint venture between Sanofi Pasteur and Merck & Co., Inc, in 19 European countries including 15 in the EU. In the remaining Central and Eastern European countries, GARDASIL will be marketed by Merck Sharp & Dohme as either GARDASIL or SILGARD(R).
Cervical cancer is the second most common cause of death from cancer (after breast cancer) among young women (15 to 44 years) in Europe. Approximately 33,500 women are diagnosed with, and 15,000 women die from cervical cancer each year (40 each day) in Europe.
Worldwide Availability of GARDASIL
On June 8, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved GARDASIL to prevent cervical cancer and vaginal and vulvar pre-cancers caused by HPV types 16 and 18 and to prevent low-grade and pre-cancerous lesions and genital warts caused by HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18. GARDASIL is approved in the United States for 9- to 26-year-old girls and women. GARDASIL is also approved for use in several countries throughout the world including Mexico, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Brazil and two countries in Africa. Additional applications for GARDASIL are currently under review with regulatory agencies in more than 50 countries around the world. Additionally, Merck is actively working to accelerate the availability of GARDASIL in the developing world: in December, Merck announced a partnership with India's Council of Medical Research to study GARDASIL. Merck is also working with PATH and the Gates Foundation to develop HPV vaccination programs that will facilitate the introduction of GARDASIL to the most impoverished nations. Merck will make our new vaccines, including GARDASIL, available at dramatically lower prices to developing world countries.
Selected important information about GARDASIL
GARDASIL is contraindicated in individuals who are hypersensitive to the active substances or to any of the excipients of the vaccine. As with any vaccine, vaccination with GARDASIL may not result in protection in all vaccine recipients. GARDASIL is not intended to be used for treatment of active genital warts; cervical cancer; CIN, VIN, or VaIN. GARDASIL has not been shown to protect against disease due to non-vaccine HPV types. The health-care provider should inform the patient, parent or guardian that vaccination does not substitute for routine cervical cancer screening. Women who receive GARDASIL should continue to undergo cervical cancer screening per standard of care.
Vaccine-related adverse experiences that were observed in clinical trials at a frequency of at least 1.0 percent among recipients of GARDASIL and also greater than those observed among recipients of placebo, respectively, were pain (83.9 percent vs. 75.4 percent), swelling (25.4 percent vs. 15.8 percent), erythema (24.6 percent vs. 18.4 percent), fever (10.3 percent vs. 8.6 percent), nausea (4.2 percent vs. 4.1 percent), pruritis (3.1 percent vs. 2.8 percent) and dizziness (2.8 percent vs. 2.6 percent).
Other Information about GARDASIL
In 1995, Merck entered into a license agreement and collaboration with CSL Limited relating to technology used in GARDASIL. GARDASIL also is the subject of other third-party licensing agreements.
About Merck
Merck & Co., Inc. is a global research-driven pharmaceutical company dedicated to putting patients first. Established in 1891, Merck currently discovers, develops, manufactures and markets vaccines and medicines to address unmet medical needs. The Company devotes extensive efforts to increase access to medicines through far-reaching programs that not only donate Merck medicines but help deliver them to the people who need them. Merck also publishes unbiased health information as a not-for-profit service. For more information, visit merck.
Forward-Looking Statement
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management's current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties, which may cause results to differ materially from those set forth in the statements. The forward-looking statements may include statements regarding product development, product potential or financial performance. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed, and actual results may differ materially from those projected. Merck undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Forward-looking statements in this press release should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect Merck's business, particularly those mentioned in the cautionary statements in Item 1 of Merck's Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2005, and in its periodic reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K, which the Company incorporates by reference.
GARDASIL(R) and SILGARD(R) are registered trademarks of Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, N.J., U.S.A.
About Merck
merck
View drug information on Gardasil.
GARDASIL will be marketed by Sanofi Pasteur MSD (SPMSD), a joint venture between Sanofi Pasteur and Merck & Co., Inc, in 19 European countries including 15 in the EU. In the remaining Central and Eastern European countries, GARDASIL will be marketed by Merck Sharp & Dohme as either GARDASIL or SILGARD(R).
Cervical cancer is the second most common cause of death from cancer (after breast cancer) among young women (15 to 44 years) in Europe. Approximately 33,500 women are diagnosed with, and 15,000 women die from cervical cancer each year (40 each day) in Europe.
Worldwide Availability of GARDASIL
On June 8, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved GARDASIL to prevent cervical cancer and vaginal and vulvar pre-cancers caused by HPV types 16 and 18 and to prevent low-grade and pre-cancerous lesions and genital warts caused by HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18. GARDASIL is approved in the United States for 9- to 26-year-old girls and women. GARDASIL is also approved for use in several countries throughout the world including Mexico, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Brazil and two countries in Africa. Additional applications for GARDASIL are currently under review with regulatory agencies in more than 50 countries around the world. Additionally, Merck is actively working to accelerate the availability of GARDASIL in the developing world: in December, Merck announced a partnership with India's Council of Medical Research to study GARDASIL. Merck is also working with PATH and the Gates Foundation to develop HPV vaccination programs that will facilitate the introduction of GARDASIL to the most impoverished nations. Merck will make our new vaccines, including GARDASIL, available at dramatically lower prices to developing world countries.
Selected important information about GARDASIL
GARDASIL is contraindicated in individuals who are hypersensitive to the active substances or to any of the excipients of the vaccine. As with any vaccine, vaccination with GARDASIL may not result in protection in all vaccine recipients. GARDASIL is not intended to be used for treatment of active genital warts; cervical cancer; CIN, VIN, or VaIN. GARDASIL has not been shown to protect against disease due to non-vaccine HPV types. The health-care provider should inform the patient, parent or guardian that vaccination does not substitute for routine cervical cancer screening. Women who receive GARDASIL should continue to undergo cervical cancer screening per standard of care.
Vaccine-related adverse experiences that were observed in clinical trials at a frequency of at least 1.0 percent among recipients of GARDASIL and also greater than those observed among recipients of placebo, respectively, were pain (83.9 percent vs. 75.4 percent), swelling (25.4 percent vs. 15.8 percent), erythema (24.6 percent vs. 18.4 percent), fever (10.3 percent vs. 8.6 percent), nausea (4.2 percent vs. 4.1 percent), pruritis (3.1 percent vs. 2.8 percent) and dizziness (2.8 percent vs. 2.6 percent).
Other Information about GARDASIL
In 1995, Merck entered into a license agreement and collaboration with CSL Limited relating to technology used in GARDASIL. GARDASIL also is the subject of other third-party licensing agreements.
About Merck
Merck & Co., Inc. is a global research-driven pharmaceutical company dedicated to putting patients first. Established in 1891, Merck currently discovers, develops, manufactures and markets vaccines and medicines to address unmet medical needs. The Company devotes extensive efforts to increase access to medicines through far-reaching programs that not only donate Merck medicines but help deliver them to the people who need them. Merck also publishes unbiased health information as a not-for-profit service. For more information, visit merck.
Forward-Looking Statement
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management's current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties, which may cause results to differ materially from those set forth in the statements. The forward-looking statements may include statements regarding product development, product potential or financial performance. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed, and actual results may differ materially from those projected. Merck undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Forward-looking statements in this press release should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect Merck's business, particularly those mentioned in the cautionary statements in Item 1 of Merck's Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2005, and in its periodic reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K, which the Company incorporates by reference.
GARDASIL(R) and SILGARD(R) are registered trademarks of Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, N.J., U.S.A.
About Merck
merck
View drug information on Gardasil.
четверг, 29 марта 2012 г.
Removal of Ovaries During Hysterectomy Might Increase Risk of Heart Disease, Premature Death, Study Says
More than half of the approximately 615,000 women who undergo hysterectomy each year in the US also have their ovaries removed in order to eliminate their risk of developing ovarian cancer, but a study published in the Aug 1 issue of... Obstetrics & Gynecology suggests that the negative side effects of oophorectomy before age 65 might outweigh the benefits, the AP/Long Island Newsday reports (Stengle, AP/Long Island Newsday, 8/1). William Parker, a clinical professor at the University of California-Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine, and colleagues analyzed previously published data on the absolute and relative risk of ovarian cancer, coronary heart disease, hip fracture, breast cancer and stroke for women who had undergone hysterectomy with and without oophorectomy. The researchers then developed a model to predict the optimal course of action for maximizing the survival of women at average risk of developing ovarian cancer (Parker et al., Obstetrics & Gynecology, 8/1). According to the model, prophylactic removal of the ovaries -- which continue to produce small amounts of hormones even after a woman experiences menopause -- does not provide a health benefit, regardless of a woman's age at surgery. In addition, women who have their ovaries removed before age 65 could be at increased risk of heart disease because of the lack of estrogen in the body, Parker said (AP/Long Island Newsday, 8/1). Overall, the younger a woman is when she has her ovaries removed, the more substantial the negative impact on her health and her chances of living to age 80. The researchers conclude that patients and their doctors should weigh the benefits and drawbacks of oophorectomy before deciding to go ahead with the procedure (Goldberg, Boston Globe, 8/1). In an accompanying Obstetrics & Gynecology editorial, reproductive endocrinologist David Olive writes that although the study is not definitive in resolving the value of prophylactic oophorectomy, the findings are "sure to provide significant impact upon clinical practice." The percentage of hysterectomies performed with prophylactic oophorectomies has more than doubled from 25% in 1965 to 55% in 1999, according to national statistics (Rabin, Long Island Newsday, 8/2).
"Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at kaisernetwork/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
"Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at kaisernetwork/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
четверг, 22 марта 2012 г.
Does Timing Matter In Hormone Therapy?
Study highlights:
Women who began hormone therapy soon after menopause did not show reduced blood vessel function raising the question of whether the negative effects of hormone therapy in recent trials might be avoided in younger patients.
Results of ongoing rigorous, randomized and controlled studies of younger menopausal women on hormone therapy are needed before considering changes to current guidelines.
The results of this small, observational study do not suggest that women entering menopause should start hormone therapy.
Hormone therapy may have different effects on blood vessels if it is started early in menopause as opposed to later, researchers suggested at the American Heart Association's Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology Annual Conference 2008.
"Abnormal endothelial function is a marker of early heart disease. We have found that endothelial function is just as good, if not slightly better, among women who have risk factors for heart disease and have taken hormone therapy around menopause onset as it is among women who are about the same ages but have no risk factors for heart disease and are not taking hormone therapy," said James Arrowood, M.D., lead author of the study and associate professor of internal medicine and cardiology at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center in Richmond, Va.
"Previous findings in randomized controlled trials suggesting that hormone therapy could be deleterious to cardiovascular health were conducted in women who started taking hormones years after menopause onset versus observational studies of women initiating hormone treatment around the time that menopause began suggesting cardiovascular benefit."
Conducting an observational trial, Arrowood and colleagues analyzed four groups of postmenopausal women (127 total), average ages 52 to 54 years:
One group was not on hormone therapy, had no heart disease risk factors and was an average 8.1 years postmenopausal.
Another group had risk factors for coronary disease (such as smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes), was not on hormone therapy and was an average 9.3 years postmenopausal.
Two groups had heart disease risk factors and were on hormone therapy: one was on estrogen alone and was an average of 11.7 years postmenopausal and the other was on estrogen plus progestin therapy and was an average 7.6 years postmenopausal. The estrogen group was an average 10.1 years on hormone therapy and the estrogen plus progestin group was an average 6.6 years on hormone therapy.
"The years that they were postmenopausal and years on hormone replacement indicate that the hormone therapy was started around the time of menopause onset," Arrowood said.
The researchers measured flow mediated dilation (FMD), which is a measure of how well the endothelium (the layer of cells that form the inner lining of blood vessels) functions. Keeping in mind that the higher the percentage the better the endothelial function:
The no-risk, no hormone group measured an average 7.4 percent FMD.
The no hormone group with risk factors measured an average 5 percent FMD.
The estrogen group with risk factors measured an average 7.7 percent FMD.
The estrogen-progestin group with risk factors measured an average 8.1 percent FMD.
"Essentially, the hormone therapy groups with risk factors for heart disease had similar endothelial function as the no-risk, no-hormone group of women," Arrowood said. "And they had better endothelial function than women with cardiovascular risk factors who were not on hormone therapy. We also found that it doesn't seem to matter for this measure of blood vessel function whether women are taking estrogen or estrogen and progestin." Women who have had a hysterectomy do not need to take a progestin with their estrogen, but those with an intact uterus do.
"The results of this study do not suggest that women starting menopause should start hormone therapy. Current guidelines say that women should not take hormone therapy to improve their cardiovascular risk and that hormone therapy is only recommended for symptoms of menopause and should be taken at the lowest dose and for the shortest time possible. Other ongoing rigorous, randomized and controlled studies looking at younger menopausal women on hormone therapy may help to clarify our results."
The American Heart Association does not advise women take postmenopausal hormone therapy (PHT, formerly called hormone replacement therapy or HRT) or selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease or stroke.
The study was funded by American Heart Association - Virginia Affiliate (now Mid-Atlantic Affiliate) and in part by National Center and was supported by the General Clinical Research Center at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Co-authors are: Jonathan Potfay, M.D.; Cheryl Stacklin, B.S.N.; Rhonda P. Poole, R.D.C.S.; and Frances P. Fua, M.D.
The American Heart Association strongly supports the HEART for Women Act, bipartisan legislation pending in Congress which would help ensure that heart disease and stroke are more widely recognized and more effectively treated in women. It would also authorize grants to educate healthcare professionals about the prevalence and unique aspects of care for women in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
Statements and conclusions of abstract authors that are presented at American Heart Association/American Stroke Association scientific meetings are solely those of the abstract authors and do not necessarily reflect association policy or position. The association makes no representation or warranty as to their accuracy or reliability.
The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association receives funding primarily from individuals. In addition, foundations and corporations - including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies - make donations and fund specific American Heart Association/American Stroke Association programs and events. Revenues from pharmaceutical and device corporations are disclosed at americanheart/.
NR08-1048 (ATVB 08/Arrowood)
Source: Karen Astle
American Heart Association
Women who began hormone therapy soon after menopause did not show reduced blood vessel function raising the question of whether the negative effects of hormone therapy in recent trials might be avoided in younger patients.
Results of ongoing rigorous, randomized and controlled studies of younger menopausal women on hormone therapy are needed before considering changes to current guidelines.
The results of this small, observational study do not suggest that women entering menopause should start hormone therapy.
Hormone therapy may have different effects on blood vessels if it is started early in menopause as opposed to later, researchers suggested at the American Heart Association's Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology Annual Conference 2008.
"Abnormal endothelial function is a marker of early heart disease. We have found that endothelial function is just as good, if not slightly better, among women who have risk factors for heart disease and have taken hormone therapy around menopause onset as it is among women who are about the same ages but have no risk factors for heart disease and are not taking hormone therapy," said James Arrowood, M.D., lead author of the study and associate professor of internal medicine and cardiology at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center in Richmond, Va.
"Previous findings in randomized controlled trials suggesting that hormone therapy could be deleterious to cardiovascular health were conducted in women who started taking hormones years after menopause onset versus observational studies of women initiating hormone treatment around the time that menopause began suggesting cardiovascular benefit."
Conducting an observational trial, Arrowood and colleagues analyzed four groups of postmenopausal women (127 total), average ages 52 to 54 years:
One group was not on hormone therapy, had no heart disease risk factors and was an average 8.1 years postmenopausal.
Another group had risk factors for coronary disease (such as smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes), was not on hormone therapy and was an average 9.3 years postmenopausal.
Two groups had heart disease risk factors and were on hormone therapy: one was on estrogen alone and was an average of 11.7 years postmenopausal and the other was on estrogen plus progestin therapy and was an average 7.6 years postmenopausal. The estrogen group was an average 10.1 years on hormone therapy and the estrogen plus progestin group was an average 6.6 years on hormone therapy.
"The years that they were postmenopausal and years on hormone replacement indicate that the hormone therapy was started around the time of menopause onset," Arrowood said.
The researchers measured flow mediated dilation (FMD), which is a measure of how well the endothelium (the layer of cells that form the inner lining of blood vessels) functions. Keeping in mind that the higher the percentage the better the endothelial function:
The no-risk, no hormone group measured an average 7.4 percent FMD.
The no hormone group with risk factors measured an average 5 percent FMD.
The estrogen group with risk factors measured an average 7.7 percent FMD.
The estrogen-progestin group with risk factors measured an average 8.1 percent FMD.
"Essentially, the hormone therapy groups with risk factors for heart disease had similar endothelial function as the no-risk, no-hormone group of women," Arrowood said. "And they had better endothelial function than women with cardiovascular risk factors who were not on hormone therapy. We also found that it doesn't seem to matter for this measure of blood vessel function whether women are taking estrogen or estrogen and progestin." Women who have had a hysterectomy do not need to take a progestin with their estrogen, but those with an intact uterus do.
"The results of this study do not suggest that women starting menopause should start hormone therapy. Current guidelines say that women should not take hormone therapy to improve their cardiovascular risk and that hormone therapy is only recommended for symptoms of menopause and should be taken at the lowest dose and for the shortest time possible. Other ongoing rigorous, randomized and controlled studies looking at younger menopausal women on hormone therapy may help to clarify our results."
The American Heart Association does not advise women take postmenopausal hormone therapy (PHT, formerly called hormone replacement therapy or HRT) or selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease or stroke.
The study was funded by American Heart Association - Virginia Affiliate (now Mid-Atlantic Affiliate) and in part by National Center and was supported by the General Clinical Research Center at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Co-authors are: Jonathan Potfay, M.D.; Cheryl Stacklin, B.S.N.; Rhonda P. Poole, R.D.C.S.; and Frances P. Fua, M.D.
The American Heart Association strongly supports the HEART for Women Act, bipartisan legislation pending in Congress which would help ensure that heart disease and stroke are more widely recognized and more effectively treated in women. It would also authorize grants to educate healthcare professionals about the prevalence and unique aspects of care for women in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
Statements and conclusions of abstract authors that are presented at American Heart Association/American Stroke Association scientific meetings are solely those of the abstract authors and do not necessarily reflect association policy or position. The association makes no representation or warranty as to their accuracy or reliability.
The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association receives funding primarily from individuals. In addition, foundations and corporations - including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies - make donations and fund specific American Heart Association/American Stroke Association programs and events. Revenues from pharmaceutical and device corporations are disclosed at americanheart/.
NR08-1048 (ATVB 08/Arrowood)
Source: Karen Astle
American Heart Association
четверг, 15 марта 2012 г.
Women Lose Weight At Least A Decade Before Developing Dementia
Women who have dementia start losing weight at least 10 years before the disease is diagnosed, according to a study published in the August 21, 2007, issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
The researchers examined the records of 481 people with dementia and compared them to 481 people of the same age and gender who did not have dementia. The average weight was the same for those in the two groups from 21 to 30 years before the year the disease was diagnosed. But the women who would later develop dementia started losing weight up to 20 years before the disease was diagnosed. On average, those with dementia weighed 12 pounds less than those without the disease the year the disease was diagnosed.
"One explanation for the weight loss is that, in the very early stages of dementia, people develop apathy, a loss of initiative, and also losses in the sense of smell," said study author David Knopman, MD, of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, and member of the American Academy of Neurology. "When you can't smell your food, it won't have much taste, and you might be less inclined to eat it. And, apathy and loss of initiative may make women less likely to prepare nutritious meals and more likely to skip meals altogether."
Unlike women, men in this study who later developed dementia did not lose weight in the years before diagnosis. Knopman said the difference could be due to hormones, but a social reason seems just as likely.
"Middle-aged and elderly men are less likely to be preparing their own meals," he said. "Their spouses or adult children were more likely making meals for them, which would lessen the effect of the apathy, loss of initiative and loss of sense of smell."
The study conflicts with others suggesting that obesity in middle-age may be a risk factor for dementia. Obesity is also associated with diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease, which are risk factors for dementia. "We'll need to do more research to look into these differences," Knopman said.
The study was supported by grants from the National Institute on Aging.
The American Academy of Neurology, an association of more than 20,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to improving patient care through education and research. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis.
For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit aan.
American Academy of Neurology (AAN)
1080 Montreal Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55116
United States
neurology
The researchers examined the records of 481 people with dementia and compared them to 481 people of the same age and gender who did not have dementia. The average weight was the same for those in the two groups from 21 to 30 years before the year the disease was diagnosed. But the women who would later develop dementia started losing weight up to 20 years before the disease was diagnosed. On average, those with dementia weighed 12 pounds less than those without the disease the year the disease was diagnosed.
"One explanation for the weight loss is that, in the very early stages of dementia, people develop apathy, a loss of initiative, and also losses in the sense of smell," said study author David Knopman, MD, of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, and member of the American Academy of Neurology. "When you can't smell your food, it won't have much taste, and you might be less inclined to eat it. And, apathy and loss of initiative may make women less likely to prepare nutritious meals and more likely to skip meals altogether."
Unlike women, men in this study who later developed dementia did not lose weight in the years before diagnosis. Knopman said the difference could be due to hormones, but a social reason seems just as likely.
"Middle-aged and elderly men are less likely to be preparing their own meals," he said. "Their spouses or adult children were more likely making meals for them, which would lessen the effect of the apathy, loss of initiative and loss of sense of smell."
The study conflicts with others suggesting that obesity in middle-age may be a risk factor for dementia. Obesity is also associated with diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease, which are risk factors for dementia. "We'll need to do more research to look into these differences," Knopman said.
The study was supported by grants from the National Institute on Aging.
The American Academy of Neurology, an association of more than 20,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to improving patient care through education and research. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis.
For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit aan.
American Academy of Neurology (AAN)
1080 Montreal Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55116
United States
neurology
четверг, 8 марта 2012 г.
FDA Approves Lysteda To Treat Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Lysteda tablets (tranexamic acid), the first non-hormonal product cleared to treat heavy menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia). Lysteda works by stabilizing a protein that helps blood to clot.
Heavy menstrual bleeding is reported each year by about 3 million U.S. women of reproductive age. Women with uterine fibroids may experience heavy menstrual periods. But in most cases, there is no underlying health condition associated with the condition.
"Menorrhagia can be incapacitating for some women," said Kathleen Uhl, M.D., FDA's associate commissioner of women's health. "Heavy menstrual periods can cause pain, mood swings, and disruptions to work and family life."
Tranexamic acid was first approved by the FDA in 1986 as an injection, under the brand name Cyklokapron, and is used to reduce or prevent bleeding during and following tooth extraction in patients with hemophilia, a hereditary bleeding disorder caused by the lack of a blood clotting factor.
The most common adverse reactions reported during clinical trials by patients using Lysteda included headache, sinus and nasal symptoms, back pain, abdominal pain, muscle and joint pain, muscle cramps, anemia, and fatigue. There was a statistically significant reduction in menstrual blood loss in women who received Lysteda, compared with those taking an inactive pill (placebo).
Use of Lysteda while taking hormonal contraceptives may increase the risk of blood clots, stroke, or heart attack, according to Scott Monroe, M.D., director of the Division of Reproductive and Urologic Products in the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. Women using hormonal contraception should take Lysteda only if there is a strong medical need, and if the benefit of treatment will outweigh the potential increased risk.
Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration
View drug information on Lysteda.
Heavy menstrual bleeding is reported each year by about 3 million U.S. women of reproductive age. Women with uterine fibroids may experience heavy menstrual periods. But in most cases, there is no underlying health condition associated with the condition.
"Menorrhagia can be incapacitating for some women," said Kathleen Uhl, M.D., FDA's associate commissioner of women's health. "Heavy menstrual periods can cause pain, mood swings, and disruptions to work and family life."
Tranexamic acid was first approved by the FDA in 1986 as an injection, under the brand name Cyklokapron, and is used to reduce or prevent bleeding during and following tooth extraction in patients with hemophilia, a hereditary bleeding disorder caused by the lack of a blood clotting factor.
The most common adverse reactions reported during clinical trials by patients using Lysteda included headache, sinus and nasal symptoms, back pain, abdominal pain, muscle and joint pain, muscle cramps, anemia, and fatigue. There was a statistically significant reduction in menstrual blood loss in women who received Lysteda, compared with those taking an inactive pill (placebo).
Use of Lysteda while taking hormonal contraceptives may increase the risk of blood clots, stroke, or heart attack, according to Scott Monroe, M.D., director of the Division of Reproductive and Urologic Products in the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. Women using hormonal contraception should take Lysteda only if there is a strong medical need, and if the benefit of treatment will outweigh the potential increased risk.
Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration
View drug information on Lysteda.
четверг, 1 марта 2012 г.
ACOG Welcomes New Federal Regulations Requiring Free Preventive Health Care Services
The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) supports the federal regulations issued on July 14 requiring new private health plans to provide free preventive health services to their enrollees, particularly as it pertains to women's health. ACOG worked closely with Congress to win inclusion of this important part of the Affordable Care Act and applauds the Obama Administration for working so effectively in bringing this protection to our patients.
The new regulations, issued jointly by the US Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury, will enable women to get the recommended screenings and immunizations to keep them healthy without worrying about co-payments and deductibles. Health plans will now be required to cover preventive care provided to women under both the US Preventive Services Task Force recommendations and new guidelines being developed by an independent group of experts, including doctors, nurses, and scientists, expected to be issued by August 1, 2011.
Preventive services guaranteed in these regulations will help women have a healthy pregnancy and help safeguard them from obesity, heart disease, and breast and cervical cancers.
ACOG recognizes, too, that important work lies ahead. "Last week, I met with the White House and encouraged the Administration to ensure that family planning and contraception, well-women visits, and prenatal counseling are included in the comprehensive guidelines it is developing for women's preventive services," said Richard N. Waldman, MD, ACOG President. "These guidelines should incorporate scientifically and medically sound recommendations from ACOG and should be updated as new science emerges."
As the nation's largest group of physicians providing health care for women, ACOG strongly supports preventive care. Wider access to cervical cancer screening, mammography, prenatal tests, and routine vaccinations will help reduce disparities, prevent diseases, and save lives.
Source:
American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
The new regulations, issued jointly by the US Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury, will enable women to get the recommended screenings and immunizations to keep them healthy without worrying about co-payments and deductibles. Health plans will now be required to cover preventive care provided to women under both the US Preventive Services Task Force recommendations and new guidelines being developed by an independent group of experts, including doctors, nurses, and scientists, expected to be issued by August 1, 2011.
Preventive services guaranteed in these regulations will help women have a healthy pregnancy and help safeguard them from obesity, heart disease, and breast and cervical cancers.
ACOG recognizes, too, that important work lies ahead. "Last week, I met with the White House and encouraged the Administration to ensure that family planning and contraception, well-women visits, and prenatal counseling are included in the comprehensive guidelines it is developing for women's preventive services," said Richard N. Waldman, MD, ACOG President. "These guidelines should incorporate scientifically and medically sound recommendations from ACOG and should be updated as new science emerges."
As the nation's largest group of physicians providing health care for women, ACOG strongly supports preventive care. Wider access to cervical cancer screening, mammography, prenatal tests, and routine vaccinations will help reduce disparities, prevent diseases, and save lives.
Source:
American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
четверг, 23 февраля 2012 г.
Giving Birth To A Boy Is More Likely To Reduce Quality Of Life And Increase Severe Post-Natal Depression
Giving birth to a boy can lead to higher levels of severe post-natal depression (PND)
and reduced quality of life than having a girl, according to research published in the
February issue of Journal of Clinical Nursing.
A team of researchers led by Professor Claude de Tychey, from Universite Nancy 2,
France, found that just under a third of the 181 women they studied four to eight
weeks after delivery had PND.
Nine per cent of the women in the study - carried out in a French community where
they didn't face cultural pressures over the sex of their baby - had severe PND and
just over three-quarters of those had given birth to boys.
The team also discovered that, even if women didn't have postnatal depression,
giving birth to a boy was significantly more likely to reduce their quality of life than
delivering a girl.
"Post-natal depression is very common and poses a major public health problem,
especially if it is not diagnosed and treated" stresses Professor de Tychey.
"When we launched our research, our main aim was to study the effect that gender
has on PND. But the overwhelming finding of the study was the fact that gender
appears to play a significant role in reduced quality of life as well as an increased
chance of severe PND."
The researchers measured the women's quality of life using a validated
questionnaire containing 36 questions. This asked the women to score eight
dimensions of their health - physical functioning, physical role, bodily pain, mental
health, emotional role, social functioning, vitality and general health - using a 100-
point scale.
The results were then collated into male and female births and whether the woman
had no, mild or severe PND. Scores were also calculated for their overall physical
and mental health. This provided 60 separate quality of life scores.
When the researchers looked at overall results they discovered that:
- Women who had given birth to a boy reported lower quality of life scores in 70
per cent of cases compared with women who had delivered a girl, regardless
of whether they suffered from PND.
- When the 10 quality of life scores were added together in each category,
women who had no PND had the highest quality of life scores - 713 points for
women who had given birth to girls and 648 for women who had delivered
boys.
- When the researchers looked at women with PND, they found higher quality
of life scores for women who had delivered girls - 567 if the PND was mild
and 541 if it was severe. Women who had delivered boys scored lower totals
of 539 if the PND was mild and 498 if it was severe.
The figures also enabled the researchers to compare the gender differences for
women with no, mild and severe PND. This showed that:
- Gender differences were greatest in women who had no PND. If they had
given birth to a boy they had lower quality of life scores in 90 per cent of
categories than those who had delivered girls.
- Women with PND also reported lower quality of life scores if they had had a
boy - these were lower in 50 per cent of categories if the PND was mild and
in 70 per cent of categories if the PND was severe.
"These figures show very clearly that having a boy resulted in lower quality of life
scores in all cases" says Professor de Tychey.
"We also discovered that being a first-time mother had no effect on quality of life
scores. Women had the same general scores regardless of whether the recent birth
was their first or second baby."
Just over half of the women who took part (52 per cent) had given birth to boys. 61
per cent of the babies included in the study were first babies (55 boys and 56 girls)
and the remainder were second babies.
Women having their second baby were slightly more likely to have had a girl the first
time around (59 per cent). The women's ages ranged from 19 to 40 and averaged
29.
"Post-natal depression can have a considerable impact on women as it can affect
both their physical and mental health" stresses Professor de Tychey.
"Previous studies have shown that women who live in cultures where greater value is
placed on sons are more likely to suffer from PND if they give birth to a girl.
"However, we believe that this study - carried out in a French community where
women didn't face cultural pressures over the sex of their baby - is the first to show
that women who give birth to boys are more likely to suffer from severe PND and
reduced quality of life. Further research is needed to find out why this happens.
"We believe that our findings have important public health consequences, as they
point to the need for developing prevention and early psychotherapeutic
programmes for women giving birth to boys."
Notes
- Quality of life, postnatal depression and baby gender. de Tychey et al. Journal of
Clinical Nursing. 17.3, 312-322. (February 2008).
- Founded in 1992, Journal of Clinical Nursing is a highly regarded peer reviewed
Journal that has a truly international readership. The Journal embraces experienced
clinical nurses, student nurses and health professionals, who support, inform and
investigate nursing practice. It enlightens, educates, explores, debates and
challenges the foundations of clinical health care knowledge and practice worldwide.
Edited by Professor Roger Watson, it is published 10 times a year by Blackwell
Publishing Ltd, part of the international Blackwell Publishing group.
blackwellpublishing/jcn
- About Wiley-Blackwell
Wiley-Blackwell was formed in February 2007 as a result of
the acquisition of Blackwell Publishing Ltd. by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., and its
merger with Wiley's Scientific, Technical, and Medical business. Together, the
companies have created a global publishing business with deep strength in every
major academic and professional field. Wiley-Blackwell publishes approximately
1,400 scholarly peer-reviewed journals and an extensive collection of books with
global appeal. For more information on Wiley-Blackwell, please visit
blackwellpublishing or interscience.wiley.
and reduced quality of life than having a girl, according to research published in the
February issue of Journal of Clinical Nursing.
A team of researchers led by Professor Claude de Tychey, from Universite Nancy 2,
France, found that just under a third of the 181 women they studied four to eight
weeks after delivery had PND.
Nine per cent of the women in the study - carried out in a French community where
they didn't face cultural pressures over the sex of their baby - had severe PND and
just over three-quarters of those had given birth to boys.
The team also discovered that, even if women didn't have postnatal depression,
giving birth to a boy was significantly more likely to reduce their quality of life than
delivering a girl.
"Post-natal depression is very common and poses a major public health problem,
especially if it is not diagnosed and treated" stresses Professor de Tychey.
"When we launched our research, our main aim was to study the effect that gender
has on PND. But the overwhelming finding of the study was the fact that gender
appears to play a significant role in reduced quality of life as well as an increased
chance of severe PND."
The researchers measured the women's quality of life using a validated
questionnaire containing 36 questions. This asked the women to score eight
dimensions of their health - physical functioning, physical role, bodily pain, mental
health, emotional role, social functioning, vitality and general health - using a 100-
point scale.
The results were then collated into male and female births and whether the woman
had no, mild or severe PND. Scores were also calculated for their overall physical
and mental health. This provided 60 separate quality of life scores.
When the researchers looked at overall results they discovered that:
- Women who had given birth to a boy reported lower quality of life scores in 70
per cent of cases compared with women who had delivered a girl, regardless
of whether they suffered from PND.
- When the 10 quality of life scores were added together in each category,
women who had no PND had the highest quality of life scores - 713 points for
women who had given birth to girls and 648 for women who had delivered
boys.
- When the researchers looked at women with PND, they found higher quality
of life scores for women who had delivered girls - 567 if the PND was mild
and 541 if it was severe. Women who had delivered boys scored lower totals
of 539 if the PND was mild and 498 if it was severe.
The figures also enabled the researchers to compare the gender differences for
women with no, mild and severe PND. This showed that:
- Gender differences were greatest in women who had no PND. If they had
given birth to a boy they had lower quality of life scores in 90 per cent of
categories than those who had delivered girls.
- Women with PND also reported lower quality of life scores if they had had a
boy - these were lower in 50 per cent of categories if the PND was mild and
in 70 per cent of categories if the PND was severe.
"These figures show very clearly that having a boy resulted in lower quality of life
scores in all cases" says Professor de Tychey.
"We also discovered that being a first-time mother had no effect on quality of life
scores. Women had the same general scores regardless of whether the recent birth
was their first or second baby."
Just over half of the women who took part (52 per cent) had given birth to boys. 61
per cent of the babies included in the study were first babies (55 boys and 56 girls)
and the remainder were second babies.
Women having their second baby were slightly more likely to have had a girl the first
time around (59 per cent). The women's ages ranged from 19 to 40 and averaged
29.
"Post-natal depression can have a considerable impact on women as it can affect
both their physical and mental health" stresses Professor de Tychey.
"Previous studies have shown that women who live in cultures where greater value is
placed on sons are more likely to suffer from PND if they give birth to a girl.
"However, we believe that this study - carried out in a French community where
women didn't face cultural pressures over the sex of their baby - is the first to show
that women who give birth to boys are more likely to suffer from severe PND and
reduced quality of life. Further research is needed to find out why this happens.
"We believe that our findings have important public health consequences, as they
point to the need for developing prevention and early psychotherapeutic
programmes for women giving birth to boys."
Notes
- Quality of life, postnatal depression and baby gender. de Tychey et al. Journal of
Clinical Nursing. 17.3, 312-322. (February 2008).
- Founded in 1992, Journal of Clinical Nursing is a highly regarded peer reviewed
Journal that has a truly international readership. The Journal embraces experienced
clinical nurses, student nurses and health professionals, who support, inform and
investigate nursing practice. It enlightens, educates, explores, debates and
challenges the foundations of clinical health care knowledge and practice worldwide.
Edited by Professor Roger Watson, it is published 10 times a year by Blackwell
Publishing Ltd, part of the international Blackwell Publishing group.
blackwellpublishing/jcn
- About Wiley-Blackwell
Wiley-Blackwell was formed in February 2007 as a result of
the acquisition of Blackwell Publishing Ltd. by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., and its
merger with Wiley's Scientific, Technical, and Medical business. Together, the
companies have created a global publishing business with deep strength in every
major academic and professional field. Wiley-Blackwell publishes approximately
1,400 scholarly peer-reviewed journals and an extensive collection of books with
global appeal. For more information on Wiley-Blackwell, please visit
blackwellpublishing or interscience.wiley.
четверг, 16 февраля 2012 г.
IVF Success Enhanced By New Method Of Assessing Women's Eggs
Many couples who have trouble conceiving a child have turned to a process known as in vitro fertilization. The resulting embryos are then transferred back into the woman or placed in storage. More than 400,000 embryos are currently in storage in the United States. The quality of the egg is often the single greatest factor in the viability of the embryo, yet fertility experts lack a good method for assessing the eggs.
Barry Behr, PhD, HCLD, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Stanford University School of Medicine and director of Stanford's IVF laboratory, recently published findings on a way to "profile" the eggs to determine which are more likely to result in pregnancies.
The question:
Can a non-invasive test of a woman's eggs be used to predict in vitro fertilization success?
Background:
In vitro fertilization involves retrieving eggs from a woman's ovaries and fertilizing the eggs in a dish by incubating them with sperm or injecting sperm directly into them. The resulting embryos are then transferred back into the woman or placed in storage. The quality of the egg is often the single biggest determinant in the viability of the embryo.
The need:
There is currently no good tool to available to assess eggs. "We would stand on our head and hop on our left leg if we could find a way to give us some information about viability of embryo," said Behr.
The technology:
Metabolomic testing reveals trace molecules remaining after an array of cellular processes. Previous studies have shown that metabolomic profiling can be used to identify unique biomarkers left behind by embryos in culture, which foretell the embryos with the highest reproductive potential in IVF. "Think of it as a sort of smog test for the embryo," said Behr. "It tells you how clean the engine is burning, and whether there are any problems."
The study:
The study involved extracting eggs from 43 women, incubating them in culture for three hours and then examining their metabolomic results before fertilization. The researchers then documented what happened to each egg: Whether it was fertilized, the quality of the resulting embryo on days three and five, and whether it led to a successful pregnancy.
Publication:
The study appeared in the February issue of Reproductive Biomedicine Online. Behr is the senior author; Jennifer Dasig, an embryologist at Stanford, is one of the co-authors.
The findings:
The researchers established a correlation between the number of particular trace elements left behind by the eggs and both embryo viability and pregnancy rates. "This shows we can predict embryo development and viability from the egg," said Behr.
What's next:
This is the first study to demonstrate that metabolomic profiling of the egg can generate important information about the resulting embryo. More studies are needed to confirm the results and to test in greater numbers.
Implications:
If future studies confirm these results, the test could someday be used to predict the success of IVF and help determine which eggs should be selected for fertilization or to be frozen, Behr said. Using only the best-quality eggs would lead to the creation of fewer embryos and eliminate the need to keep large quantities of embryos in storage. This could also help doctors avoid the practice of implanting numerous embryos into a woman, which sometimes leads to the birth of twins, triplets and higher-order multiples.
Notes:
Disclosure:
Behr is on the scientific advisory board of Molecular Biometrics, which funded the study.
The Stanford University School of Medicine consistently ranks among the nation's top 10 medical schools, integrating research, medical education, patient care and community service. For more news about the school, please visit mednews.stanford.edu. The medical school is part of Stanford Medicine, which includes Stanford Hospital & Clinics and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital.
Source: Michelle Brandt
Stanford University Medical Center
Barry Behr, PhD, HCLD, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Stanford University School of Medicine and director of Stanford's IVF laboratory, recently published findings on a way to "profile" the eggs to determine which are more likely to result in pregnancies.
The question:
Can a non-invasive test of a woman's eggs be used to predict in vitro fertilization success?
Background:
In vitro fertilization involves retrieving eggs from a woman's ovaries and fertilizing the eggs in a dish by incubating them with sperm or injecting sperm directly into them. The resulting embryos are then transferred back into the woman or placed in storage. The quality of the egg is often the single biggest determinant in the viability of the embryo.
The need:
There is currently no good tool to available to assess eggs. "We would stand on our head and hop on our left leg if we could find a way to give us some information about viability of embryo," said Behr.
The technology:
Metabolomic testing reveals trace molecules remaining after an array of cellular processes. Previous studies have shown that metabolomic profiling can be used to identify unique biomarkers left behind by embryos in culture, which foretell the embryos with the highest reproductive potential in IVF. "Think of it as a sort of smog test for the embryo," said Behr. "It tells you how clean the engine is burning, and whether there are any problems."
The study:
The study involved extracting eggs from 43 women, incubating them in culture for three hours and then examining their metabolomic results before fertilization. The researchers then documented what happened to each egg: Whether it was fertilized, the quality of the resulting embryo on days three and five, and whether it led to a successful pregnancy.
Publication:
The study appeared in the February issue of Reproductive Biomedicine Online. Behr is the senior author; Jennifer Dasig, an embryologist at Stanford, is one of the co-authors.
The findings:
The researchers established a correlation between the number of particular trace elements left behind by the eggs and both embryo viability and pregnancy rates. "This shows we can predict embryo development and viability from the egg," said Behr.
What's next:
This is the first study to demonstrate that metabolomic profiling of the egg can generate important information about the resulting embryo. More studies are needed to confirm the results and to test in greater numbers.
Implications:
If future studies confirm these results, the test could someday be used to predict the success of IVF and help determine which eggs should be selected for fertilization or to be frozen, Behr said. Using only the best-quality eggs would lead to the creation of fewer embryos and eliminate the need to keep large quantities of embryos in storage. This could also help doctors avoid the practice of implanting numerous embryos into a woman, which sometimes leads to the birth of twins, triplets and higher-order multiples.
Notes:
Disclosure:
Behr is on the scientific advisory board of Molecular Biometrics, which funded the study.
The Stanford University School of Medicine consistently ranks among the nation's top 10 medical schools, integrating research, medical education, patient care and community service. For more news about the school, please visit mednews.stanford.edu. The medical school is part of Stanford Medicine, which includes Stanford Hospital & Clinics and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital.
Source: Michelle Brandt
Stanford University Medical Center
четверг, 9 февраля 2012 г.
Prevalence Of Positive Potassium Sensitivity Test Which Is An Indicator Of Bladder Epithelial Permeability Dysfunction In A Fixed Group Of Women
UroToday - Intravesical Potassium Chloride Screening Positive In 32.8% of Female Turkish Textile Workers
How many unselected women in a population would have a BPS/IC if one considers a positive KCl test as a definitive standard? Six years ago Parsons answered this question for an American population1, determining that 74% of women with a pelvic pain, frequency, urgency scale (PUF) of 10-14 will have a positive potassium test. Based on PUF scores in medical students attending his lectures in San Diego, he reported a prevalence of possible interstitial cystitis in the young adult female population of up to 22%.
Sahinkanat and colleagues in Kahraman Maras, Turkey gave the PUF questionnaire to all female workers in two textile factories, and then took volunteers from groups with "positive" and "negative" PUF scores and administered Parson's standard intravesical potassium test. In this study, the results were even more startling. Over 38% of female textile workers had a positive PUF score, in this case defined as >7. The rate of positive potassium sensitivity testing (PST) in this group was 86.2%. In the group with a PUF less than 7, positive PST testing occurred in 9.1%. The authors estimate that 32.8% of the women in Turkey would have a positive potassium sensitivity test based on their data. Parsons, using similar parameters in unselected female medical students, calculated 30.6% had probable interstitial cystitis2.
The values calculated on the basis of the PUF questionnaire and potassium sensitivity testing for the prevalence of BPS/IC are 100 times those of recent population based studies using the O'Leary-Sant Interstitial Cystitis Symptom Score3, 4 The results certainly seem to lack a certain degree of face validity to this reviewer, yet are very provocative. Just what the PUF scale and potassium sensitivity test are identifying remains to be fully elucidated.
Tayfun Sahinkanata, Alanur G??venb, Hasan Ekerbicerc, Murat Arald
Reference List
(1) Parsons CL, Dell J, Stanford EJ et al. Increased prevalence of interstitial cystitis: previously unrecognized urologic and gynecologic cases identified using a new symptom questionnaire and intravesical potassium sensitivity. Urology 2002 October;60(4):573-8.
(2) Parsons CL, Tatsis V. Prevalence of interstitial cystitis in young women. Urology 2004 November;64(5):866-70.
(3) Leppilahti M, Sairanen J, Tammela TL, Aaltomaa S, Lehtoranta K, Auvinen A. Prevalence of clinically confirmed interstitial cystitis in women: a population based study in Finland. J Urol 2005 August;174(2):581-3.
(4) Temml C, Wehrberger C, Riedl C, Ponholzer A, Marszalek M, Madersbacher S. Prevalence and correlates for interstitial cystitis symptoms in women participating in a health screening project. Eur Urol 2007 March;51(3):803-8.
Urol Int 2008;80:52-56 Epub
doi: 10.1159/000111730
Reported by UroToday Contributing Editor Philip M. Hanno, MD, MPH Professor of Urology Division of Urology, Department of Surgery Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania Medical Director Department of Clinical Effectiveness and Quality Improvement University of Pennsylvania Health System Philadelphia, PA
Link to Full Abstract
UroToday - the only urology website with original content global urology key opinion leaders actively engaged in clinical practice.
To access the latest urology news releases from UroToday, go to:
www.urotoday
Copyright © 2008 - UroToday
How many unselected women in a population would have a BPS/IC if one considers a positive KCl test as a definitive standard? Six years ago Parsons answered this question for an American population1, determining that 74% of women with a pelvic pain, frequency, urgency scale (PUF) of 10-14 will have a positive potassium test. Based on PUF scores in medical students attending his lectures in San Diego, he reported a prevalence of possible interstitial cystitis in the young adult female population of up to 22%.
Sahinkanat and colleagues in Kahraman Maras, Turkey gave the PUF questionnaire to all female workers in two textile factories, and then took volunteers from groups with "positive" and "negative" PUF scores and administered Parson's standard intravesical potassium test. In this study, the results were even more startling. Over 38% of female textile workers had a positive PUF score, in this case defined as >7. The rate of positive potassium sensitivity testing (PST) in this group was 86.2%. In the group with a PUF less than 7, positive PST testing occurred in 9.1%. The authors estimate that 32.8% of the women in Turkey would have a positive potassium sensitivity test based on their data. Parsons, using similar parameters in unselected female medical students, calculated 30.6% had probable interstitial cystitis2.
The values calculated on the basis of the PUF questionnaire and potassium sensitivity testing for the prevalence of BPS/IC are 100 times those of recent population based studies using the O'Leary-Sant Interstitial Cystitis Symptom Score3, 4 The results certainly seem to lack a certain degree of face validity to this reviewer, yet are very provocative. Just what the PUF scale and potassium sensitivity test are identifying remains to be fully elucidated.
Tayfun Sahinkanata, Alanur G??venb, Hasan Ekerbicerc, Murat Arald
Reference List
(1) Parsons CL, Dell J, Stanford EJ et al. Increased prevalence of interstitial cystitis: previously unrecognized urologic and gynecologic cases identified using a new symptom questionnaire and intravesical potassium sensitivity. Urology 2002 October;60(4):573-8.
(2) Parsons CL, Tatsis V. Prevalence of interstitial cystitis in young women. Urology 2004 November;64(5):866-70.
(3) Leppilahti M, Sairanen J, Tammela TL, Aaltomaa S, Lehtoranta K, Auvinen A. Prevalence of clinically confirmed interstitial cystitis in women: a population based study in Finland. J Urol 2005 August;174(2):581-3.
(4) Temml C, Wehrberger C, Riedl C, Ponholzer A, Marszalek M, Madersbacher S. Prevalence and correlates for interstitial cystitis symptoms in women participating in a health screening project. Eur Urol 2007 March;51(3):803-8.
Urol Int 2008;80:52-56 Epub
doi: 10.1159/000111730
Reported by UroToday Contributing Editor Philip M. Hanno, MD, MPH Professor of Urology Division of Urology, Department of Surgery Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania Medical Director Department of Clinical Effectiveness and Quality Improvement University of Pennsylvania Health System Philadelphia, PA
Link to Full Abstract
UroToday - the only urology website with original content global urology key opinion leaders actively engaged in clinical practice.
To access the latest urology news releases from UroToday, go to:
www.urotoday
Copyright © 2008 - UroToday
четверг, 2 февраля 2012 г.
Ill. Gov. Blagojevich Announces Expansion Of No-Cost Breast, Cervical Cancer Screening Program For Uninsured Women
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) on Sunday announced that the income eligibility limit for the Illinois Department of Public Health's Breast and Cervical Cancer Program -- which provides some uninsured women with no-cost screenings for the cancers -- will be raised from 200% to 250% of the federal poverty level, the Edwardsville Intelligencer reports (Capel, Edwardsville Intelligencer, 5/16). The program provides eligible women between the ages of 40 and 64 with mammograms and breast exams at no cost, and it provides eligible women between the ages of 35 and 64 with no-cost pelvic exams and Pap tests (Chicago Sun-Times, 5/15). Uninsured younger women who have annual incomes too high to qualify but show symptoms of breast or cervical cancer also can be considered for the program on a case-by-case basis (Belleville News-Democrat, 5/15). Blagojevich's plan also allows eligible women who were diagnosed with cancer outside the program to receive treatment services at no cost. Such women previously were not allowed to participate. The recently approved state budget includes $3.6 million in new funding and $2 million in federal funding for the program. The program has provided about 150,000 breast and cervical cancer screenings since 1995, and 425 women currently are enrolled in the program (Blagojevich release, 5/14).
"Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at kaisernetwork/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
"Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at kaisernetwork/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
четверг, 26 января 2012 г.
Free Mammograms Available Through Minnesota Department Of Health
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) will offer free mammograms through a televised phone bank on CBS affiliate KEYC-TV and Fox affiliate NEYC-TV in Mankato on Wednesday, April 8. The mammograms are offered through the Sage Screening Program, a state and federally funded program that provides free breast and cervical cancer screenings to uninsured and underinsured women age 40 and older. Newly enrolled women in the program will also receive $20 for being screened.
Messages stressing the importance of detecting breast cancer early and encouraging women to take advantage of the screening program will also run throughout the event. MDH toll-free number, 1-888-6HEALTH (1-888-643-2584), will be answered from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on April 6 and 7, and from 8 a.m. to 10:45 p.m. on April 8. Voice messages can be left anytime outside of these hours.
Through this event, MDH hopes to make more women in the Mankato area aware of this free program. "We think there are many women in this part of the state who are not receiving these life-saving screening tests because they have no health insurance or their insurance has deductibles or co-payments they cannot meet. Sage can help," said Jonathan Slater, chief of Cancer Control at MDH.
Sage has a network of more than 400 local health care providers statewide, and has served nearly 114,000 women since 1991. Approximately 1,400 women have been diagnosed and treated for breast and cervical cancer through the Sage program.
This year, it is estimated that 3,500 Minnesotan women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and approximately 650 Minnesota women will die from the disease. Annual mammography has been reported to reduce breast cancer deaths in women age 40 and older by detecting the disease in its earliest stages when it is most easily treated.
Women seeking eligibility information about the free mammography program-or women who want to make an appointment for a free mammogram-should call Sage at 1-888-6-HEALTH. For women who live in neighboring states or those whose incomes exceed Sage's guidelines, call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 to learn of other free and low-cost programs.
For more information, visit mnsage.
Source
Minnesota Department of Health
Messages stressing the importance of detecting breast cancer early and encouraging women to take advantage of the screening program will also run throughout the event. MDH toll-free number, 1-888-6HEALTH (1-888-643-2584), will be answered from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on April 6 and 7, and from 8 a.m. to 10:45 p.m. on April 8. Voice messages can be left anytime outside of these hours.
Through this event, MDH hopes to make more women in the Mankato area aware of this free program. "We think there are many women in this part of the state who are not receiving these life-saving screening tests because they have no health insurance or their insurance has deductibles or co-payments they cannot meet. Sage can help," said Jonathan Slater, chief of Cancer Control at MDH.
Sage has a network of more than 400 local health care providers statewide, and has served nearly 114,000 women since 1991. Approximately 1,400 women have been diagnosed and treated for breast and cervical cancer through the Sage program.
This year, it is estimated that 3,500 Minnesotan women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and approximately 650 Minnesota women will die from the disease. Annual mammography has been reported to reduce breast cancer deaths in women age 40 and older by detecting the disease in its earliest stages when it is most easily treated.
Women seeking eligibility information about the free mammography program-or women who want to make an appointment for a free mammogram-should call Sage at 1-888-6-HEALTH. For women who live in neighboring states or those whose incomes exceed Sage's guidelines, call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 to learn of other free and low-cost programs.
For more information, visit mnsage.
Source
Minnesota Department of Health
четверг, 19 января 2012 г.
New Hereditary Breast Cancer Gene Discovered
A new hereditary breast cancer gene has been discovered by scientists at the Lundberg Laboratory for Cancer Research and the Plastic Surgery Clinic at the Sahlgrenska Academy in Sweden. The researchers found that women with a certain hereditary deformity syndrome run a nearly twenty times higher risk of contracting breast cancer than expected.
Several research teams around the world have long been searching for new hereditary breast cancer genes, but thus far few have been found.
"Our findings are extremely important, providing new knowledge of hereditary cancer genes and how they can cause breast cancer. The discovery also makes it possible to uncover breast cancer in women who have a predisposition for Saethre-Chotzen malformation syndrome," says G?¶ran Stenman.
By detailed mapping of families with Saethre-Chotzen syndrome, the G?¶teborg scientists have now found that women with this syndrome have an elevated risk of contracting breast cancer. Saethre-Chotzen is a syndrome that primarily involves malformations of the skull, face, hands, and feet. The syndrome is caused by mutations in a gene called TWIST1.
"Our findings show that women with this syndrome run a nearly twenty times greater risk of contracting breast cancer than expected. Moreover, many of the women were young when they were affected by breast cancer," says G?¶ran Stenman.
The findings of the study show that women with this syndrome should be receive early mammograms in order to discover breast cancer at an early stage.
"We have already started to use this new knowledge in our work with patients and now recommend regular mammograms for young women with this syndrome. Several early cases of breast cancer have already been uncovered with mammography," says Pelle Sahlin, chief physician at the Plastic Surgery Clinic.
The scientists are now going to perform various experiments to chart the mechanism of how TWIST1 increases the risk of breast cancer. Studies are also under way to find out what proportion of cases of hereditary breast cancer are caused by mutations in the TWIST1 gene.
The study was carried out with funding from the Swedish Cancer Society.
Journal: Genes Chromosomes Cancer Title of article: Women with Saethre-Chotzen Syndrome are at Increased Risk of Breast Cancer Authors: Pelle Sahlin, Per Windh, Claes Lauritzen, Monica Emanuelsson, Henrik Gr?¶nberg, G?¶ran Stenman
Contact: Elin Lindstr?¶m Claessen
Swedish Research Council
Several research teams around the world have long been searching for new hereditary breast cancer genes, but thus far few have been found.
"Our findings are extremely important, providing new knowledge of hereditary cancer genes and how they can cause breast cancer. The discovery also makes it possible to uncover breast cancer in women who have a predisposition for Saethre-Chotzen malformation syndrome," says G?¶ran Stenman.
By detailed mapping of families with Saethre-Chotzen syndrome, the G?¶teborg scientists have now found that women with this syndrome have an elevated risk of contracting breast cancer. Saethre-Chotzen is a syndrome that primarily involves malformations of the skull, face, hands, and feet. The syndrome is caused by mutations in a gene called TWIST1.
"Our findings show that women with this syndrome run a nearly twenty times greater risk of contracting breast cancer than expected. Moreover, many of the women were young when they were affected by breast cancer," says G?¶ran Stenman.
The findings of the study show that women with this syndrome should be receive early mammograms in order to discover breast cancer at an early stage.
"We have already started to use this new knowledge in our work with patients and now recommend regular mammograms for young women with this syndrome. Several early cases of breast cancer have already been uncovered with mammography," says Pelle Sahlin, chief physician at the Plastic Surgery Clinic.
The scientists are now going to perform various experiments to chart the mechanism of how TWIST1 increases the risk of breast cancer. Studies are also under way to find out what proportion of cases of hereditary breast cancer are caused by mutations in the TWIST1 gene.
The study was carried out with funding from the Swedish Cancer Society.
Journal: Genes Chromosomes Cancer Title of article: Women with Saethre-Chotzen Syndrome are at Increased Risk of Breast Cancer Authors: Pelle Sahlin, Per Windh, Claes Lauritzen, Monica Emanuelsson, Henrik Gr?¶nberg, G?¶ran Stenman
Contact: Elin Lindstr?¶m Claessen
Swedish Research Council
четверг, 12 января 2012 г.
Over 500,000 Women Die Annually From Preventable Pregnancy-Related Causes, WHO
Approximately 530,000 women worldwide die annually from preventable pregnancy- and childbirth-related causes, according to a... World Health Organization report released on Thursday for World Health Day, AFP/Yahoo! News reports. The report, titled "World Health Report 2005: Make Every Mother and Child Count," condemns the maternal deaths and criticizes the fact that seven million infants die annually worldwide within four weeks after birth, mainly from preventable causes. According to the report, a lack of medical care in developing countries contributes to the deaths of women of childbearing age and children. Fewer than two-thirds of women in developing countries -- and less than one-third of women in the world's poorest countries -- give birth with the aid of qualified assistance, the report says (AFP/Yahoo! News, 4/6). Worldwide, one woman every minute dies in pregnancy or childbirth, and 20 children under age five die each minute, for a total of 11 million deaths annually, according to the report. The primary causes of death for children under age five include pneumonia, diarrhea, malaria, measles, HIV/AIDS and neonatal ailments, according to the report (BBC News, 4/7). As part of the U.N. Millennium Development Goals, countries have pledged to reduce maternal mortality by 75% and child mortality by 67% by 2015, Xinhuanet reports. However, the WHO report shows that current trends mean some areas will not achieve the goals for 150 years, senior WHO official Denis Aitken said, adding, "We must not let that happen" (Xinhuanet, 4/7).
Report Details
The report also found the following:
Of the 211 million annual pregnancies in the world, about 46 million end in abortion, with 40% of these occurring in unsafe conditions and resulting in about 68,000 deaths;
Pregnancy and childbirth are the main causes of death, disease and disability among women of childbearing age in developing countries. About one in 16 pregnant women and new mothers die in Africa, compared with one in 2,800 in developed nations (Manning, USA Today, 4/6);
About 43% of new mothers and infants receive medical care;
Approximately 2.2 million HIV-positive women give birth each year;
19 of the 20 countries with the highest maternal mortality ratios are located in sub-Saharan Africa; and
More than 50% of all child deaths occur in six countries: China, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria and Pakistan (Nebehay, Reuters, 4/6).
Conditions
Progress in improving maternal and infant mortality has "stalled or even reversed" in many areas, especially in countries with severe poverty, widespread HIV/AIDS epidemics, war and natural disasters, according to Ian Smith, an adviser to the WHO director general, USA Today reports. "There are no health workers, no infrastructures, and mothers and children are simply excluded from care," he said (USA Today, 4/6). A lack of access to perinatal health care is a "key feature of inequality" in many areas, and the health of women and children "is at the core of the struggle against poverty and inequality, as a matter of human rights," the report says, according to a WHO release. Many of the most resource-poor settings have a "massive deprivation" in which an "overwhelming majority" of the population is excluded from basic health services needed for survival, according to the release. In addition, women often suffer discrimination, abuse, neglect and poor treatment in health care settings in some areas, the report says, adding, "The care that women are offered may be untimely, ineffective, unresponsive or discriminatory."
Recommendations
In order to reduce and prevent child and maternal deaths, the report recommends providing a "continuum of care" approach from pregnancy through childbirth and into childhood, according to the release. However, this would require a "massive investment" in health care systems, including a need for more midwives, nurses and physicians, according to the release (WHO release, 4/7). In the 75 countries with the highest mortality rates, fulfilling this need would require an additional 300,000 midwives and 100,000 health care workers, according to Smith (USA Today, 4/6). Many child deaths are preventable through "simple, affordable and effective" interventions, including breastfeeding, the administration of antibiotics, antimalarial drugs, immunizations and vitamin A; and the provision of insecticide-treated nets and skilled care during childbirth (WHO release, 4/7). According to Marie-Paule Kieny, director of WHO's Initiative for Vaccine Research, the number of infant deaths could be "substantially" reduced if newborns were washed, warmed and fed within an hour of being born, AFP/Yahoo! News reports (AFP/Yahoo! News, 4/6).
Costs, Next Steps
WHO said that the 75 most-affected countries need a $9 billion investment annually for the next 10 years in order to achieve the U.N. Millennium Development Goals (BBC News, 4/7). Currently, total health spending in the 75 countries is about $97 billion annually (Reuters, 4/6). Of the more than $90 billion additional spending required over the next decade, about $39 billion would be directed toward maternal and newborn care and $52 billion would go toward child health care (USA Today, 4/6). The report says that increasing the number of health professionals needed to provide widespread access to services is the "first and most pressing task," according to the release. "Making up for the huge shortages and imbalances in the distribution of health workers in many countries will remain a major challenge for years to come," the report says. Currently, WHO is evaluating the need for a "massive scale-up" of health professionals in all areas of care over the next 10 years, according to the release. WHO also will develop policy actions and encourage governments to propose the recommended interventions for maternal and child care, which WHO will continue to monitor and evaluate (WHO release, 4/7). "We know what to do. We know how much it will cost," Smith said, adding, "Now it just requires building a political consensus around doing it quickly" (USA Today, 4/6).
"Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork kaisernetwork. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at www.kaisernetwork/dailyreports/repro The Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report is published for kaisernetwork, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
четверг, 5 января 2012 г.
More Women Select Universal Health Coverage As Their Most Desired Health Advance
According to the National Women's
Health Resource Center's (NWHRC) second annual Women Talk national survey,
universal health coverage was selected as the health advance women desire
most. The survey of more than 1,100 women asked which "medical technology
or advancement(s) would you most like to see become a reality" and 15% of
women opted for universal health coverage rather than a cure for
neurological diseases (14%) or breast cancer (13%), a vaccine for HIV/AIDS
(12%) or a cure for diabetes (8%).
"Women are deeply concerned about health coverage for themselves and
their families," said Audrey Sheppard, president and CEO of the NWHRC. "As
the family health manager, women want the best possible medical care for
their loved ones and are telling us in this survey that above all, they
believe that making quality health care accessible to everyone is a major
necessity."
Women were provided the following list of health advances. Complete
results follow:
Universal health coverage:
15%
Cure for neurological diseases:
14%
Cure for breast cancer:
13%
Vaccine for HIV/AIDS:
12%
Cure for diabetes:
8%
Use of stem cells in medical research:
7%
Weight loss pill:
6%
Routine imaging tests for heart disease and cancer:
6%
Cure for depression and anxiety:
4%
Effective, non-addictive pain killer for chronic pain (that has no side effects):
3%
Cure for human papilloma virus (HPV):
2%
Cure for spinal cord injuries:
2%
(Only answers with greater than a 1% response rate are included above.)
Getting better with age
Although the majority of women (63%) in the survey were clinically
overweight or obese, women rate themselves to be in very good or excellent
mental and physical health. On a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being
"excellent" and 1 being "very poor," 72% of women rated their mental health
to be an 8 or above and half (52%) rated their physical health an 8 or
above.
However, aging does not seem to be a barrier to good health. Older
women, those 60 and over, rate both their physical and mental health higher
than other age groups. Women aged 40 - 59 had, on average, the lowest rated
physical health (6.7 - 7.1), and half (53%) said that their health had
declined over the past five years. Women 18 - 29 cited the lowest score, on
average, for mental health (7.4).
"It seems that for women, the biggest physical and mental health drain
hits between the ages of 40 and 60 according to our survey results," stated
Ms. Sheppard. "Given that the first wave of Boomer women are starting to
turn 60, this is great news. One might conclude that older women have
greater access to health coverage and they have less care giving
responsibilities than women in their 40s and 50s, not to mention typically
more time available."
Overall, the survey shows that making personal time continues to be a
challenge for most women, especially across ethnicities. Just 48% of women
say they spend the right amount of time on themselves. Further, when women
do make time for themselves, they are choosing to engage in entertainment
activities (64%), such as shopping or dining out, rather than options that
would enhance their mind and body such as exercise (29%) or relaxing (19%).
Looking across ethnicities, only 32% of African-American women and 42%
of Hispanic women in the survey agree that they spend the right amount of
time on themselves verses the half (53%) of Caucasian women who agree.
For more information on the Women Talk survey, visit healthywomen.
About the Survey
The online survey was conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of the
National Women's Health Resource Center between August 4 and 20, 2006,
among women, aged 18 and older. Figures for age by sex, education,
household income, region, race/ethnicity and propensity to be online were
weighted to align them with population proportions. A total of 1,147 online
interviews were completed, which included responses from Caucasian (784),
African-American (146), Latina (116) and Asian (72) women. With a pure
probability sample of 1,147 one could say with a ninety-five percent
probability that the overall results have a sampling error of +/-3
percentage points. Sampling error for data based on subsamples would be
higher and would vary. However, that does not take other sources of error
into account. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and
therefore no theoretical sampling error can be calculated.
About NWHRC
The not-for-profit National Women's Health Resource Center (NWHRC) is
the leading independent health information source for women. NWHRC develops
and distributes up-to-date and objective women's health information based
on the latest advances in medical research and practice. NWHRC believes all
women should have access to the most trusted and reliable health
information in order to make the best decisions to maintain and improve
their health and the health of their families.
National Women's Health Resource Center
healthywomen
Health Resource Center's (NWHRC) second annual Women Talk national survey,
universal health coverage was selected as the health advance women desire
most. The survey of more than 1,100 women asked which "medical technology
or advancement(s) would you most like to see become a reality" and 15% of
women opted for universal health coverage rather than a cure for
neurological diseases (14%) or breast cancer (13%), a vaccine for HIV/AIDS
(12%) or a cure for diabetes (8%).
"Women are deeply concerned about health coverage for themselves and
their families," said Audrey Sheppard, president and CEO of the NWHRC. "As
the family health manager, women want the best possible medical care for
their loved ones and are telling us in this survey that above all, they
believe that making quality health care accessible to everyone is a major
necessity."
Women were provided the following list of health advances. Complete
results follow:
Universal health coverage:
15%
Cure for neurological diseases:
14%
Cure for breast cancer:
13%
Vaccine for HIV/AIDS:
12%
Cure for diabetes:
8%
Use of stem cells in medical research:
7%
Weight loss pill:
6%
Routine imaging tests for heart disease and cancer:
6%
Cure for depression and anxiety:
4%
Effective, non-addictive pain killer for chronic pain (that has no side effects):
3%
Cure for human papilloma virus (HPV):
2%
Cure for spinal cord injuries:
2%
(Only answers with greater than a 1% response rate are included above.)
Getting better with age
Although the majority of women (63%) in the survey were clinically
overweight or obese, women rate themselves to be in very good or excellent
mental and physical health. On a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being
"excellent" and 1 being "very poor," 72% of women rated their mental health
to be an 8 or above and half (52%) rated their physical health an 8 or
above.
However, aging does not seem to be a barrier to good health. Older
women, those 60 and over, rate both their physical and mental health higher
than other age groups. Women aged 40 - 59 had, on average, the lowest rated
physical health (6.7 - 7.1), and half (53%) said that their health had
declined over the past five years. Women 18 - 29 cited the lowest score, on
average, for mental health (7.4).
"It seems that for women, the biggest physical and mental health drain
hits between the ages of 40 and 60 according to our survey results," stated
Ms. Sheppard. "Given that the first wave of Boomer women are starting to
turn 60, this is great news. One might conclude that older women have
greater access to health coverage and they have less care giving
responsibilities than women in their 40s and 50s, not to mention typically
more time available."
Overall, the survey shows that making personal time continues to be a
challenge for most women, especially across ethnicities. Just 48% of women
say they spend the right amount of time on themselves. Further, when women
do make time for themselves, they are choosing to engage in entertainment
activities (64%), such as shopping or dining out, rather than options that
would enhance their mind and body such as exercise (29%) or relaxing (19%).
Looking across ethnicities, only 32% of African-American women and 42%
of Hispanic women in the survey agree that they spend the right amount of
time on themselves verses the half (53%) of Caucasian women who agree.
For more information on the Women Talk survey, visit healthywomen.
About the Survey
The online survey was conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of the
National Women's Health Resource Center between August 4 and 20, 2006,
among women, aged 18 and older. Figures for age by sex, education,
household income, region, race/ethnicity and propensity to be online were
weighted to align them with population proportions. A total of 1,147 online
interviews were completed, which included responses from Caucasian (784),
African-American (146), Latina (116) and Asian (72) women. With a pure
probability sample of 1,147 one could say with a ninety-five percent
probability that the overall results have a sampling error of +/-3
percentage points. Sampling error for data based on subsamples would be
higher and would vary. However, that does not take other sources of error
into account. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and
therefore no theoretical sampling error can be calculated.
About NWHRC
The not-for-profit National Women's Health Resource Center (NWHRC) is
the leading independent health information source for women. NWHRC develops
and distributes up-to-date and objective women's health information based
on the latest advances in medical research and practice. NWHRC believes all
women should have access to the most trusted and reliable health
information in order to make the best decisions to maintain and improve
their health and the health of their families.
National Women's Health Resource Center
healthywomen
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