Is female sexual dysfunction disorder a work of fiction dreamt up by 'Big Pharma' or an under-recognised and under-treated condition that has been side-lined by clinicians for too long?
Arguments around female sexual dysfunction will be debated during the Institute of Psychiatry's (IoP) 41st Maudsley Debate on 2nd February.
Titled 'Love is a Drug', the debate will feature five prominent medical experts battling it out this fascinating argument that divides clinicians, academics and feminists.
The controversy around the definition, prevalence, treatment and even existence of female sexual arousal disorder has proved inflammatory since the term first emerged in the late 1990s. Since Viagra first entered the market, pharmaceutical companies have been scrambling to repeat its success with a similar drug to treat female sexual dysfunction.
Debate around the condition has not abated - it has become a flashpoint for arguments relating to 'medicalisation', inappropriate prescribing and the trustworthiness of published medical evidence and research methodologies. It has also been the subject of argument within feminist literature and the wider history of sexual health and functioning.
The debate will address whether female sexual dysfunction is simply 'drug marketing merging with medical science in a fascinating way' or actually a condition with a 'need for the assessment and treatment of women along the lines of men being assessed and treated for erectile dysfunction'.
For over 20 years, SLaM's Psychosexual and Relationship Service has been offering assessment and treatment for people experiencing difficulties in their sexual lives or with their intimate relationships. The service is staffed by a team of leasing experts with a comprehensive knowledge of intimate relationships, sexuality and sexual dysfunction.
The debate will be chaired by Professor Dinesh Bhugra, Honorary Consultant in the South London and Maudsley's (SLaM) Psychosexual and Relationship Service, and current President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. He is also Professor of Mental Health and Cultural Diversity at the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London and his main areas of expertise are psychosexual medicine and cross-cultural psychiatry.
'Love is a drug' will be debated by four highly eminent speakers:
For:
- Dr Petra Boynton, lecturer in International Health Services research at University College London
- Dr Ben Goldacre, psychiatrist, philosopher, media commentator and author of best-seller 'Bad Science'
Against:
- Dr Sandy Goldbeck-Wood, former editor of the British Medical Journal (BMJ) and specialist in psychosomatic medicine
- Dr John Dean, sexual medicine specialist and former president of the International Society for Sexual Medicine
'Love is a Drug' will be held at the IoP's Wolfson Lecture Theatre from 6pm on Wednesday 2nd February 2011. Tea and coffee will be served from 5:30pm. The debate is free and open to the public.
The IoP is part of King's College London. It is located at De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF.
Notes
- Professor Dinesh Bhugra is an Honorary Consultant in SLaM's Psychosexual and Relationship Service. He is also Professor of Mental Health and Cultural Diversity at the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, and is currently President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
- SLaM's Psychosexual and Relationship Service offers assessment and treatment for people experiencing difficulties in their sexual lives or with their intimate relationships. It also helps people experiencing difficulties associated with hormonal change, including premenstrual or menopausal symptoms, or following surgical or medical interventions. www.national.slam.nhs/psychosexual/
- The South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) provides national services to people across the UK. It also provides mental health and substance misuse services for people living in the London Boroughs of Croydon, Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham.
- SLaM offers the most extensive portfolio of mental health services in the United Kingdom, supported by internationally recognised training and research. Each year, 5000 people receive hospital treatment, and 32,000 receive outpatient care. SLaM has a clinical and academic partnership with the Institute of Psychiatry (IoP), part of King's College London.
Source:
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
View drug information on Viagra.
четверг, 31 мая 2012 г.
четверг, 24 мая 2012 г.
Fetal Death Rate Declines Nationally, Though Racial/Ethnic Disparities Remain, CDC Report Says
The rate of fetal deaths in the U.S. declined significantly from 1990 to 2003, but the rate remains higher among racial and ethnic minorities than among whites, according to a CDC report released on Wednesday, the Washington Times reports. For the report, Marian MacDorman and colleagues analyzed data from the National Center for Health Statistics from 1990 to 2003. During the time period, the overall number of fetal deaths per 1,000 live births declined steadily by an average of 1.4% annually (Harper, Washington Times, 2/22). The report says that mortality rates for fetuses at 20 weeks' gestation or more declined substantially, while mortality rates among fetuses at 20 to 27 weeks' gestation have not declined (MacDorman et al., "Fetal and Perinatal Mortality, United States, 2003," 2/21). According to the report, the fetal death rate for white and Asian women is about five deaths per 1,000 births, compared with 12 deaths per 1,000 births among black women and six deaths per 1,000 births among American Indian and Hispanic women. Fetal deaths were highest among women who were older than age 45 and younger than age 15. The report also looked at perinatal deaths, defined as the death of a fetus at term or an infant younger than seven days old. The perinatal death rate between 1985 and 2003 declined from about 11 deaths per 1,000 births in 1995 to about seven deaths per 1,000 births in 2003. Asian women had the lowest rates followed by whites, Hispanics and American Indians. Among American Indians, the rate was about five perinatal deaths per 1,000 births. Black women had a rate of 12 perinatal deaths per 1,000 births. Reasons for the disparities remain uncertain, but the report indicated contributing factors such as differences in health, income and access to quality health care; stress; and racism (Harper, Washington Times, 2/22).
The report is available online. Note: You must have Adobe Acrobat to view the report.
"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.
The report is available online. Note: You must have Adobe Acrobat to view the report.
"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, 17 мая 2012 г.
Reps. Ryan, DeLauro Announce Bill To Reduce Unplanned Pregnancies, Provide Social Supports
Abortion opponent Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) and abortion-rights supporter Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) held a press conference on Thursday to announce a bill that aims to reduce the need for abortion by preventing unintended pregnancies, among other proposals, the New York Times' "The Caucus" reports. The bill -- crafted in part by the centrist group Third Way -- would increase access to contraceptive services, sex education, health care coverage for pregnant women and children, and adoption. It also would expand access to comprehensive sex education and adoption programs.
The bill has the support of abortion-rights groups like the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and NARAL Pro-Choice America, both of which had representatives at the press conference. The bill also has the support of antiabortion-rights religious leaders like Joel Hunter of Northland, Fla., and Derrick Harkins of Washington, D.C.
The bill, which has been introduced in each of the past three congressional sessions, could "broker a detente" and help "turn down the volume on the culture war," DeLauro said at the press conference. Ryan called the bill an "idea whose time has come," noting that it has gained support from advocates on both sides of the abortion-rights debate.
During the press conference, Hunter said advocates of the bill, regardless of their side in the abortion-rights debate, are "taking heat" from other members of their side. He added that the bill is important because it "links together traditional adversaries in a way that advances each of our goals without compromising any of our values" (Becker, "The Caucus," New York Times, 7/23). Harkins said that he is "more optimistic now than I ever have been," adding that women "need real support that divisive debates cannot provide" (Stephenson, CQ HealthBeat, 7/23).
Despite support from some antiabortion-rights advocates, the bill has not been welcomed by all groups opposed to abortion rights, including conservative groups Family Research Council, National Right to Life and Democrats for Life of America. Kristen Day, executive director of Democrats for Life, said her group does not support the bill because preventing unintended pregnancies already is a goal of other programs. She noted that her group instead supports the Pregnant Women Support Act (HB 2035, SB 270), which focuses on services for women who carry their pregnancies to term but does not include prevention (CQ HealthBeat, 7/23). In a statement, Family Research Council President Tony Perkins said the bill is "fraught with funding for abortion providers and provisions that further encourage promiscuous sex and discourage parental involvement."
Although the White House has not voiced a position on the bill, there are "reasons to believe" that the Obama administration will support some of the legislation's proposals, "The Caucus" reports ("The Caucus," New York Times, 7/23). DeLauro said that she and Ryan plan to seek Republican co-sponsors for the bill, although they do not yet have any. She added that she thinks President Obama will support the bill because it includes language similar to his rhetoric on reducing the need for abortion. In addition, Obama's chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, was a co-sponsor of the bill when he served in the House (CQ HealthBeat, 7/23). Ryan said that the bill, which does not yet have an estimated cost, is "now open for support from all quarters."
According to "The Caucus," the bill is being introduced at a time when abortion is a growing topic in health care reform legislation. Policymakers on both sides of the abortion-rights debate are expressing concern about how private insurance coverage of abortion is treated in health care reform. Ryan and DeLauro both support a policy that would neither require nor forbid insurance companies from covering the procedure ("The Caucus," New York Times, 7/23). During the press conference, DeLauro said that the new bill would not force insurance providers to cover abortion services. She said, "What we don't want to do is go backward. We should neither prohibit nor require insurance companies to offer these kinds of services" (CQ HealthBeat, 7/23).
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.
The bill has the support of abortion-rights groups like the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and NARAL Pro-Choice America, both of which had representatives at the press conference. The bill also has the support of antiabortion-rights religious leaders like Joel Hunter of Northland, Fla., and Derrick Harkins of Washington, D.C.
The bill, which has been introduced in each of the past three congressional sessions, could "broker a detente" and help "turn down the volume on the culture war," DeLauro said at the press conference. Ryan called the bill an "idea whose time has come," noting that it has gained support from advocates on both sides of the abortion-rights debate.
During the press conference, Hunter said advocates of the bill, regardless of their side in the abortion-rights debate, are "taking heat" from other members of their side. He added that the bill is important because it "links together traditional adversaries in a way that advances each of our goals without compromising any of our values" (Becker, "The Caucus," New York Times, 7/23). Harkins said that he is "more optimistic now than I ever have been," adding that women "need real support that divisive debates cannot provide" (Stephenson, CQ HealthBeat, 7/23).
Despite support from some antiabortion-rights advocates, the bill has not been welcomed by all groups opposed to abortion rights, including conservative groups Family Research Council, National Right to Life and Democrats for Life of America. Kristen Day, executive director of Democrats for Life, said her group does not support the bill because preventing unintended pregnancies already is a goal of other programs. She noted that her group instead supports the Pregnant Women Support Act (HB 2035, SB 270), which focuses on services for women who carry their pregnancies to term but does not include prevention (CQ HealthBeat, 7/23). In a statement, Family Research Council President Tony Perkins said the bill is "fraught with funding for abortion providers and provisions that further encourage promiscuous sex and discourage parental involvement."
Although the White House has not voiced a position on the bill, there are "reasons to believe" that the Obama administration will support some of the legislation's proposals, "The Caucus" reports ("The Caucus," New York Times, 7/23). DeLauro said that she and Ryan plan to seek Republican co-sponsors for the bill, although they do not yet have any. She added that she thinks President Obama will support the bill because it includes language similar to his rhetoric on reducing the need for abortion. In addition, Obama's chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, was a co-sponsor of the bill when he served in the House (CQ HealthBeat, 7/23). Ryan said that the bill, which does not yet have an estimated cost, is "now open for support from all quarters."
According to "The Caucus," the bill is being introduced at a time when abortion is a growing topic in health care reform legislation. Policymakers on both sides of the abortion-rights debate are expressing concern about how private insurance coverage of abortion is treated in health care reform. Ryan and DeLauro both support a policy that would neither require nor forbid insurance companies from covering the procedure ("The Caucus," New York Times, 7/23). During the press conference, DeLauro said that the new bill would not force insurance providers to cover abortion services. She said, "What we don't want to do is go backward. We should neither prohibit nor require insurance companies to offer these kinds of services" (CQ HealthBeat, 7/23).
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, 10 мая 2012 г.
Half Of Urban Teens Develop Common STIs Within Two Years Of First Sex, Study Finds
Half of female urban teens ages 14 through 17 contracted chlamydia, gonorrhea or trichomoniasis within two years of having sex for the first time, according to a new study published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Reuters reports. Researchers followed 386 teen girls for up to eight years. Within one year of having sex for the first time, 25% had their first chlamydia infection (Brooks, Reuters, 12/7). Within six months of being diagnosed, 25% of participants with prior infections were reinfected, the study found.
According to the study, both the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have guidelines for STI screening but "[n]either group has made evidence-based recommendations on the most appropriate starting age and the most appropriate frequency of screening." The study recommends that young women be screened for STIs within one year of having sex for the first time and that those with infections be re-tested every three to four months, the Los Angeles Times' "Booster Shots" reports. Untreated STIs can increase the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease, HIV, infertility, ectopic pregnancy and preterm birth (Roan, "Booster Shots," Los Angeles Times, 12/7).
Study investigator Wanzhu Tu of the Indiana University School of Medicine said, "These young women are vulnerable to STIs, but because of their younger age, they may not be perceived by health care providers as having STI risk, and thus are not screened in a timely manner."
Support Program Cuts STI Risks, Commentary Says
A commentary in the same journal detailed a program that reduced risky sexual behavior among female blacks ages 15 through 21 in Atlanta by providing them with group counseling, telephone support and vouchers for their partners to obtain STI testing and treatment. The program reduced first and recurrent chlamydia infections and increased condom use. It also lowered participants' use of douching, which is linked to increased STI risk. Commentary author Bonita Stanton of Wayne State University wrote that perhaps the "most intriguing" result is that participants were able to convince their partners to get STI testing (Reuters, 12/7).
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, 3 мая 2012 г.
Trends In Prescription Medication Sharing Among Reproductive-Aged Women
Borrowing and sharing of prescription medications is a serious medical and public health concern. A survey of nearly 7,500 women of reproductive age found that this is common practice among more than one-third of this population, according to a report published online ahead of print in Journal of Women's Health, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. The paper is available free online at liebertonline/doi/pdfplus/10.1089/jwh.2007.0769
A study designed to describe patterns of prescription medication borrowing and sharing among various groups of adults revealed that women of reproductive age (18-44 years) are more likely to report this practice (36.5%) than are other aged women (19.5%). In the overall survey of more than 25,000 women and men, 28.8% of women and 26.5% of men reported ever borrowing or sharing prescription medications.
In a paper entitled "Prescription Medication Borrowing and Sharing among Women of Reproductive Age," Emily Petersen, Sonja Rasmussen, Katherine Daniel, Mahsa Yazdy, and Margaret Honein, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, Atlanta, Georgia) and Oak Ridge Institute for Science & Education (Oak Ridge, Tennessee), report that allergy medications (43.8%) and pain medications (42.6%) were the types of drugs most commonly borrowed or shared by reproductive-aged women.
The authors emphasize some of the risks involved in using another person's prescription drugs, including unanticipated side effects, complications of incorrect use, drug-drug interactions, antibiotic resistance, and risk of addiction. Of great importance for reproductive-aged women is the risk of teratogenic effects on a developing embryo or fetus if the women were to become pregnant while taking the medication.
"This study confirms what many health care providers suspect," says Susan G. Kornstein, MD, Editor-in-Chief and Executive Director of the Virginia Commonwealth University Institute for Women's Health, in Richmond, VA. "It is clear that patients need to be counseled about the potential risks of sharing and borrowing medications, especially if they are women of reproductive age."
Journal of Women's Health is a core multidisciplinary journal dedicated to the diseases and conditions that hold greater risk for or are more prevalent among women, as well as diseases that present differently in women. The Journal covers the latest advances and clinical applications of new diagnostic procedures and therapeutic protocols for the prevention and management of women's healthcare issues. Journal of Women's Health is the Official Journal of the American Medical Women's Association (AMWA; amwa-doc/).
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers is a privately held, fully integrated media company known for establishing authoritative peer-reviewed journals in many promising areas of science and biomedical research including Obesity Management, Breastfeeding Medicine, Thyroid, Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders, and Diabetes Technology and Therapeutics. Its biotechnology trade magazine, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN), was the first in its field and is today the industry's most widely read publication worldwide. A complete list of the firm's 60 journals, books, and newsmagazines is available at liebertpub/
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. 140 Huguenot Street, New Rochelle, NY 10801 liebertpub/
Source: Vicki Cohn
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News
A study designed to describe patterns of prescription medication borrowing and sharing among various groups of adults revealed that women of reproductive age (18-44 years) are more likely to report this practice (36.5%) than are other aged women (19.5%). In the overall survey of more than 25,000 women and men, 28.8% of women and 26.5% of men reported ever borrowing or sharing prescription medications.
In a paper entitled "Prescription Medication Borrowing and Sharing among Women of Reproductive Age," Emily Petersen, Sonja Rasmussen, Katherine Daniel, Mahsa Yazdy, and Margaret Honein, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, Atlanta, Georgia) and Oak Ridge Institute for Science & Education (Oak Ridge, Tennessee), report that allergy medications (43.8%) and pain medications (42.6%) were the types of drugs most commonly borrowed or shared by reproductive-aged women.
The authors emphasize some of the risks involved in using another person's prescription drugs, including unanticipated side effects, complications of incorrect use, drug-drug interactions, antibiotic resistance, and risk of addiction. Of great importance for reproductive-aged women is the risk of teratogenic effects on a developing embryo or fetus if the women were to become pregnant while taking the medication.
"This study confirms what many health care providers suspect," says Susan G. Kornstein, MD, Editor-in-Chief and Executive Director of the Virginia Commonwealth University Institute for Women's Health, in Richmond, VA. "It is clear that patients need to be counseled about the potential risks of sharing and borrowing medications, especially if they are women of reproductive age."
Journal of Women's Health is a core multidisciplinary journal dedicated to the diseases and conditions that hold greater risk for or are more prevalent among women, as well as diseases that present differently in women. The Journal covers the latest advances and clinical applications of new diagnostic procedures and therapeutic protocols for the prevention and management of women's healthcare issues. Journal of Women's Health is the Official Journal of the American Medical Women's Association (AMWA; amwa-doc/).
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers is a privately held, fully integrated media company known for establishing authoritative peer-reviewed journals in many promising areas of science and biomedical research including Obesity Management, Breastfeeding Medicine, Thyroid, Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders, and Diabetes Technology and Therapeutics. Its biotechnology trade magazine, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN), was the first in its field and is today the industry's most widely read publication worldwide. A complete list of the firm's 60 journals, books, and newsmagazines is available at liebertpub/
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. 140 Huguenot Street, New Rochelle, NY 10801 liebertpub/
Source: Vicki Cohn
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News
четверг, 26 апреля 2012 г.
Oral Contraceptives Impair Muscle Gains In Young Women
Many active young women use oral contraceptives (OC) yet its effect on their body composition and exercise performance has not been thoroughly studied. A team of researchers has now examined the effects of OC on female muscle mass, and found that oral contraceptive use impairs muscle gains in young women, and is associated with lower hormone levels.
The findings are contained in a new study entitled Oral Contraceptive Use Impairs Muscle Gains in Young Women. It was conducted by Chang-Woock Lee and Steven E. Riechman, Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX; and Mark A. Newman, Human Energy Research Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA. The researchers will present their findings at the 122nd Annual Meeting of the American Physiological Society, which is part of the Experimental Biology 2009 scientific conference. The meeting will be held April 18-22, 2009 in New Orleans.
The Study
Seventy-three generally healthy women between the ages of 18-31 were assigned to two groups and completed a 10-week whole-body resistance exercise training (RET). Group 1 consisted of 34 women who used oral contraceptives (OC). Group 2 consisted of 39 women who did not take birth control pills (non-OC). The women were encouraged to consume at least 0.5 grams of protein per pound of body weight per day (a third more than is called for by the U.S. government nutritional guidelines) to make sure they consumed enough calories and protein to promote muscle growth.
The participants exercised three times per week for ten weeks under the supervision of exercise physiologists. They performed a variety of exercises to include chest press, lat pull down, leg extension, triceps extension, arm curl and abdominal crunch. Exercise was done using standard exercise machines and each volunteer performed three sets of 6-10 repetitions per exercise at 75 percent of their maximum strength. Body composition was determined using hydrostatic weighing.
Blood samples were taken before and after the training and assessed to measure anabolic (muscle building) and catabolic (muscle breaking) hormone levels in blood. Resting and fasting blood concentrations were measured for three anabolic hormones: DHEA, DHEAS and IGF1.
Findings
The researchers found that:
-- there were significant differences in lean mass gains (OC: 2.1?±2.1% vs. non-OC: 3.5?±3.2% / OC: 1.0?±1.0kg vs. no-OC: 1.6?±1.4kg, p
The findings are contained in a new study entitled Oral Contraceptive Use Impairs Muscle Gains in Young Women. It was conducted by Chang-Woock Lee and Steven E. Riechman, Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX; and Mark A. Newman, Human Energy Research Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA. The researchers will present their findings at the 122nd Annual Meeting of the American Physiological Society, which is part of the Experimental Biology 2009 scientific conference. The meeting will be held April 18-22, 2009 in New Orleans.
The Study
Seventy-three generally healthy women between the ages of 18-31 were assigned to two groups and completed a 10-week whole-body resistance exercise training (RET). Group 1 consisted of 34 women who used oral contraceptives (OC). Group 2 consisted of 39 women who did not take birth control pills (non-OC). The women were encouraged to consume at least 0.5 grams of protein per pound of body weight per day (a third more than is called for by the U.S. government nutritional guidelines) to make sure they consumed enough calories and protein to promote muscle growth.
The participants exercised three times per week for ten weeks under the supervision of exercise physiologists. They performed a variety of exercises to include chest press, lat pull down, leg extension, triceps extension, arm curl and abdominal crunch. Exercise was done using standard exercise machines and each volunteer performed three sets of 6-10 repetitions per exercise at 75 percent of their maximum strength. Body composition was determined using hydrostatic weighing.
Blood samples were taken before and after the training and assessed to measure anabolic (muscle building) and catabolic (muscle breaking) hormone levels in blood. Resting and fasting blood concentrations were measured for three anabolic hormones: DHEA, DHEAS and IGF1.
Findings
The researchers found that:
-- there were significant differences in lean mass gains (OC: 2.1?±2.1% vs. non-OC: 3.5?±3.2% / OC: 1.0?±1.0kg vs. no-OC: 1.6?±1.4kg, p
четверг, 19 апреля 2012 г.
Bionovo's MF101 Shows Positive Safety, Tolerability And Efficacy In Phase 2 Trial
Bionovo, Inc.'s
(Nasdaq: BNVI) lead drug candidate, MF101, showed positive Phase 2 results
for the treatment of hot flashes associated with menopause. Two hundred and
seventeen women were enrolled in the company's double-blind, placebo-
controlled, randomized Phase 2 trial. Postmenopausal women with 50 or more
moderate to severe hot flashes per week were randomized to one of three
treatment groups receiving MF101 (5 grams/day), MF101 (10 grams/day), or
placebo for twelve weeks. The trial was led by Dr. Deborah Grady at the
University of California, San Francisco and was conducted at six medical
centers in the United States: University of California, San Francisco,
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, University of Pittsburgh, University
of Tennessee, Memphis, University of Alabama, Birmingham and the San Diego
Medical Center for Clinical Research.
Bionovo's primary objectives in the Phase 2 clinical trial were to
assess the safety, tolerability and the potential efficacy of two doses of
MF101 to reduce the frequency and severity of hot flashes. Both doses of
MF101 were more effective than placebo at reducing the frequency and
severity of hot flashes from the start of the trial until the end of the
treatment period 12 weeks later. In a paired t-test, comparing the number
of hot flashes per day after 12 weeks of treatment, MF101 5 gm was better
than placebo at 12 weeks but did not reach statistical significance
(p=0.06). The higher dose was statistically superior to placebo with a p
value of 0.05 and both doses combined were superior to placebo with a p
value of 0.04. MF101 showed a trend for improvement in severity of hot
flashes compared to placebo with the higher dose showing greater
improvement (p=0.1) than the lower dose (p=0.12) and with both doses
combined superior to placebo (p=0.08). There was a dose response trend
suggesting that the higher dose of MF101 was more effective at reducing
both frequency and severity of hot flashes than the lower dose.
In secondary analyses, the percent of women reporting greater than 50%
reduction in all hot flashes was statistically significantly higher in the
MF101 high dose group compared to placebo (p=0.03) and in both doses of
MF101 combined compared to placebo (p=0.05).
MF101 is a novel estrogen receptor beta agonist that is expected not to
stimulate the endometrium or breast tissue. Safety analyses showed no cases
of endometrial hyperplasia or uterine cancer during the trial and there
were no differences in incidence of vaginal bleeding between the placebo
group and the two cohorts treated with MF101. The only side effect that
increased with MF101 treatment was loose stool/diarrhea (12% in each of the
drug arms vs. 3% in placebo arm). Constipation was improved with MF101
therapy. These observations are consistent with the presence of soluble
fiber in the drug extract, which future optimization of the manufacturing
process will significantly reduce. Adherence to the study medication was
high with 91% of the participants compliant with treatment after 12 weeks
of therapy.
"I am very encouraged and pleased by the findings of this clinical
trial," said Deborah Grady, M.D., Associate Dean for Clinical and
Translational Science, Professor of Medicine and Director of the University
of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Women's Health Clinical Research
Center. "The combination of a trend to better efficacy with a higher dose
of MF101 and a very strong safety profile of a drug that was very well
tolerated by menopausal women is exciting news. These early positive
clinical results are not only encouraging for discovering a safer therapy
for hot flashes but also support the role of estrogen receptor beta as a
novel target for treating menopausal symptoms."
"Recent clinical trials, such as the HERS and the WHI, elucidated
important safety concerns of postmenopausal hormone therapy and resulted in
significantly fewer women using these products," said Isaac Cohen, CEO of
Bionovo. "For this reason, it is important for us to find safer
alternatives for treating menopausal symptoms. The favorable dose response
trend signals that MF101 may become a clear alternative to traditional
postmenopausal hormone therapy for relief of vasomotor symptoms. We are
excited by the prospect of moving forward with the development of a product
that could potentially have such broad reach and positively affect the
quality of life for millions of women and their loved ones. This first
Phase 2 trial conducted by Bionovo serves as a proof of our drug
development strategy and we look forward to advancing MF101 into
registration trials."
About MF101
MF101 is an estrogen receptor (ER) beta selective drug developed as an
alternative to postmenopausal hormone products currently on the market,
which are both ER beta and ER alpha agonists that have been shown to
increase the risk for breast and uterine cancers. It has been shown that
the increased risk of breast and uterine cancers is associated with ER
alpha activation and that ER beta blocks the growth promoting effects on
breast cancer cells. Bionovo recognized the opportunity to commercialize a
product that would be equally effective, with an improved safety profile
compared to traditional hormone therapy. The clinical trial results have
been evaluated by an independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board and the
drug candidate has passed through a standard two-phase examination for
safety.
Bionovo, Inc.
Bionovo is a drug development company focusing on the discovery of
novel pharmaceutical agents for cancer and women's health. The company has
two drugs in clinical testing. MF101 has completed Phase 2 for quality of
life conditions associated with menopause, and BZL101 is in Phase 1/2 for
the treatment of advanced breast cancer. The company has an additional
pipeline of drugs in development for breast cancer, pancreatic cancer and
other menopausal symptoms. The company is developing its products in close
collaboration with leading U.S. academic research centers including:
University of California, San Francisco, University of California, Davis,
and the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. For further
information please visit: bionovo.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains certain forward-looking statements relating to
the business of Bionovo, Inc. that can be identified by the use of
forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "expects," or similar
expressions. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown
risks and uncertainties, including uncertainties relating to product
development, efficacy and safety, regulatory actions or delays, the ability
to obtain or maintain patent or other proprietary intellectual property
protection, market acceptance, physician acceptance, third party
reimbursement, future capital requirements, competition in general and
other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from
those described herein as anticipated, believed, estimated or expected.
Certain of these risks and uncertainties are or will be described in
greater detail in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
which are available at sec. Bionovo, Inc. is under no
obligation (and expressly disclaims any such obligation) to update or alter
its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.
Bionovo, Inc.
bionovo
(Nasdaq: BNVI) lead drug candidate, MF101, showed positive Phase 2 results
for the treatment of hot flashes associated with menopause. Two hundred and
seventeen women were enrolled in the company's double-blind, placebo-
controlled, randomized Phase 2 trial. Postmenopausal women with 50 or more
moderate to severe hot flashes per week were randomized to one of three
treatment groups receiving MF101 (5 grams/day), MF101 (10 grams/day), or
placebo for twelve weeks. The trial was led by Dr. Deborah Grady at the
University of California, San Francisco and was conducted at six medical
centers in the United States: University of California, San Francisco,
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, University of Pittsburgh, University
of Tennessee, Memphis, University of Alabama, Birmingham and the San Diego
Medical Center for Clinical Research.
Bionovo's primary objectives in the Phase 2 clinical trial were to
assess the safety, tolerability and the potential efficacy of two doses of
MF101 to reduce the frequency and severity of hot flashes. Both doses of
MF101 were more effective than placebo at reducing the frequency and
severity of hot flashes from the start of the trial until the end of the
treatment period 12 weeks later. In a paired t-test, comparing the number
of hot flashes per day after 12 weeks of treatment, MF101 5 gm was better
than placebo at 12 weeks but did not reach statistical significance
(p=0.06). The higher dose was statistically superior to placebo with a p
value of 0.05 and both doses combined were superior to placebo with a p
value of 0.04. MF101 showed a trend for improvement in severity of hot
flashes compared to placebo with the higher dose showing greater
improvement (p=0.1) than the lower dose (p=0.12) and with both doses
combined superior to placebo (p=0.08). There was a dose response trend
suggesting that the higher dose of MF101 was more effective at reducing
both frequency and severity of hot flashes than the lower dose.
In secondary analyses, the percent of women reporting greater than 50%
reduction in all hot flashes was statistically significantly higher in the
MF101 high dose group compared to placebo (p=0.03) and in both doses of
MF101 combined compared to placebo (p=0.05).
MF101 is a novel estrogen receptor beta agonist that is expected not to
stimulate the endometrium or breast tissue. Safety analyses showed no cases
of endometrial hyperplasia or uterine cancer during the trial and there
were no differences in incidence of vaginal bleeding between the placebo
group and the two cohorts treated with MF101. The only side effect that
increased with MF101 treatment was loose stool/diarrhea (12% in each of the
drug arms vs. 3% in placebo arm). Constipation was improved with MF101
therapy. These observations are consistent with the presence of soluble
fiber in the drug extract, which future optimization of the manufacturing
process will significantly reduce. Adherence to the study medication was
high with 91% of the participants compliant with treatment after 12 weeks
of therapy.
"I am very encouraged and pleased by the findings of this clinical
trial," said Deborah Grady, M.D., Associate Dean for Clinical and
Translational Science, Professor of Medicine and Director of the University
of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Women's Health Clinical Research
Center. "The combination of a trend to better efficacy with a higher dose
of MF101 and a very strong safety profile of a drug that was very well
tolerated by menopausal women is exciting news. These early positive
clinical results are not only encouraging for discovering a safer therapy
for hot flashes but also support the role of estrogen receptor beta as a
novel target for treating menopausal symptoms."
"Recent clinical trials, such as the HERS and the WHI, elucidated
important safety concerns of postmenopausal hormone therapy and resulted in
significantly fewer women using these products," said Isaac Cohen, CEO of
Bionovo. "For this reason, it is important for us to find safer
alternatives for treating menopausal symptoms. The favorable dose response
trend signals that MF101 may become a clear alternative to traditional
postmenopausal hormone therapy for relief of vasomotor symptoms. We are
excited by the prospect of moving forward with the development of a product
that could potentially have such broad reach and positively affect the
quality of life for millions of women and their loved ones. This first
Phase 2 trial conducted by Bionovo serves as a proof of our drug
development strategy and we look forward to advancing MF101 into
registration trials."
About MF101
MF101 is an estrogen receptor (ER) beta selective drug developed as an
alternative to postmenopausal hormone products currently on the market,
which are both ER beta and ER alpha agonists that have been shown to
increase the risk for breast and uterine cancers. It has been shown that
the increased risk of breast and uterine cancers is associated with ER
alpha activation and that ER beta blocks the growth promoting effects on
breast cancer cells. Bionovo recognized the opportunity to commercialize a
product that would be equally effective, with an improved safety profile
compared to traditional hormone therapy. The clinical trial results have
been evaluated by an independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board and the
drug candidate has passed through a standard two-phase examination for
safety.
Bionovo, Inc.
Bionovo is a drug development company focusing on the discovery of
novel pharmaceutical agents for cancer and women's health. The company has
two drugs in clinical testing. MF101 has completed Phase 2 for quality of
life conditions associated with menopause, and BZL101 is in Phase 1/2 for
the treatment of advanced breast cancer. The company has an additional
pipeline of drugs in development for breast cancer, pancreatic cancer and
other menopausal symptoms. The company is developing its products in close
collaboration with leading U.S. academic research centers including:
University of California, San Francisco, University of California, Davis,
and the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. For further
information please visit: bionovo.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains certain forward-looking statements relating to
the business of Bionovo, Inc. that can be identified by the use of
forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "expects," or similar
expressions. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown
risks and uncertainties, including uncertainties relating to product
development, efficacy and safety, regulatory actions or delays, the ability
to obtain or maintain patent or other proprietary intellectual property
protection, market acceptance, physician acceptance, third party
reimbursement, future capital requirements, competition in general and
other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from
those described herein as anticipated, believed, estimated or expected.
Certain of these risks and uncertainties are or will be described in
greater detail in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
which are available at sec. Bionovo, Inc. is under no
obligation (and expressly disclaims any such obligation) to update or alter
its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.
Bionovo, Inc.
bionovo
четверг, 12 апреля 2012 г.
Hormone Drug Type Makes Survival Difference In Advanced Breast Cancer
Aromatase inhibitors, a type of hormone therapy used to treat advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women, result in a small but significant increase in overall survival when compared to other hormone treatments, according to a new systematic review of studies.
In addition, aromatase inhibitors -- drugs known as Arimidex, Aromasin and Femara -- are less likely to cause blood clots and vaginal bleeding than other hormone treatments, said review co-author Judith Bliss of the Institute of Cancer Research in London.
The review analyzed 30 studies involving the treatment of advanced breast cancer, encompassing more than 10,000 postmenopausal women.
Bliss and colleagues were surprised at how few of the reviewed studies presented data on overall survival for women taking aromatase inhibitors. "Survival data was only available for about half of the women," Bliss said.
The available data showed an 11 percent reduction in the risk of death compared to women not receiving aromatase inhibitors.
The review appears in the current issue of The Cochrane Library, a publication of The Cochrane Collaboration, an international organization that evaluates medical research. Systematic reviews draw evidence-based conclusions about medical practice after considering both the content and quality of existing medical trials on a topic.
The treatment of advanced breast cancer in women who have gone through menopause usually involves a combination of surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormonal and biological therapies. In many breast cancers, estrogen stimulates tumor growth. Aromatase inhibitors work by limiting a woman's production of estrogen.
Several aromatase inhibitors, including anastrozole (Arimidex), exemestane (Aromasin) and letrozole (Femara) have been available for clinical use for the past decade or so.
Other breast cancer treatments that also affect estrogen include tamoxifen and progestins. Tamoxifen is the most widely used hormonal treatment in advanced breast cancer; however, it carries a risk of blood clots and other rare but potentially serious side effects.
Bliss said that the review found very little reliable data in the trials comparing the effectiveness of the different available aromatase inhibitors. "The promotion of one individual drug over another is not evidence-based and should be avoided," the authors said.
In general, women taking aromatase inhibitors had about the same risk of experiencing hot flashes as those receiving tamoxifen. However, they reported more nausea, vomiting and diarrhea when compared to patients receiving the progestin drug megestrol acetate and to a lesser extent, when compared with patients receiving tamoxifen.
Patients taking aromatase inhibitors had a decreased risk of vaginal bleeding and blood clots compared to those using other hormonal therapies.
Safety data were difficult to analyze, Bliss said: "The picture is patchy due to poor quality of adverse event reporting and different study endpoints," in the various trials.
However, "the review findings do confirm modest, but real therapeutic benefits from the use of aromatase inhibitors in a variety of clinical settings," Bliss said.
Edith Perez, M.D., an oncologist with the Multidisciplinary Breast Cancer Program at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., said, "The results of the review are not a surprise. These are good drugs and they have positively impacted the lives of patients with breast cancer." Perez is not associated with the review.
Perez believes that aromatase inhibitors are the first drug of choice for hormonal treatment of advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women. "They have a slightly improved efficacy over tamoxifen, and they have a much lower rate of blood clots in the legs and lungs," she said. "Aromatase inhibitors carry almost no risk of uterine cancer, and while that rarely happens with tamoxifen, it does happen."
On the other hand, Perez said that aromatase inhibitors do carry a risk of increased joint aches and, more importantly, may cause bone loss. "The majority of patients do very well but we recommend patients have bone density tests before using these drugs. I would probably not use aromatase inhibitors in a patient with severe osteoporosis."
While per-tablet cost of aromatase inhibitors is higher than tamoxifen, Perez said that they are still cost-effective because they have fewer side effects requiring treatment and they result in increased overall survival.
"It's no question that these drugs are better for patients when compared with other hormone therapies," Perez said.
Katherine Kahn, Contributing Writer Health Behavior News Service
Gibson LJ, Dawson, CL, Lawrence DJ, Bliss JM. Aromatase inhibitors for treatment of advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women (Review). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2007, Issue 1.
The Cochrane Collaboration is an international nonprofit, independent organization that produces and disseminates systematic reviews of health care interventions and promotes the search for evidence in the form of clinical trials and other studies of interventions. Visit cochrane/ for more information.
Contact: Lisa Esposito
Center for the Advancement of Health
View drug information on Arimidex; Aromasin Tablets; Femara.
In addition, aromatase inhibitors -- drugs known as Arimidex, Aromasin and Femara -- are less likely to cause blood clots and vaginal bleeding than other hormone treatments, said review co-author Judith Bliss of the Institute of Cancer Research in London.
The review analyzed 30 studies involving the treatment of advanced breast cancer, encompassing more than 10,000 postmenopausal women.
Bliss and colleagues were surprised at how few of the reviewed studies presented data on overall survival for women taking aromatase inhibitors. "Survival data was only available for about half of the women," Bliss said.
The available data showed an 11 percent reduction in the risk of death compared to women not receiving aromatase inhibitors.
The review appears in the current issue of The Cochrane Library, a publication of The Cochrane Collaboration, an international organization that evaluates medical research. Systematic reviews draw evidence-based conclusions about medical practice after considering both the content and quality of existing medical trials on a topic.
The treatment of advanced breast cancer in women who have gone through menopause usually involves a combination of surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormonal and biological therapies. In many breast cancers, estrogen stimulates tumor growth. Aromatase inhibitors work by limiting a woman's production of estrogen.
Several aromatase inhibitors, including anastrozole (Arimidex), exemestane (Aromasin) and letrozole (Femara) have been available for clinical use for the past decade or so.
Other breast cancer treatments that also affect estrogen include tamoxifen and progestins. Tamoxifen is the most widely used hormonal treatment in advanced breast cancer; however, it carries a risk of blood clots and other rare but potentially serious side effects.
Bliss said that the review found very little reliable data in the trials comparing the effectiveness of the different available aromatase inhibitors. "The promotion of one individual drug over another is not evidence-based and should be avoided," the authors said.
In general, women taking aromatase inhibitors had about the same risk of experiencing hot flashes as those receiving tamoxifen. However, they reported more nausea, vomiting and diarrhea when compared to patients receiving the progestin drug megestrol acetate and to a lesser extent, when compared with patients receiving tamoxifen.
Patients taking aromatase inhibitors had a decreased risk of vaginal bleeding and blood clots compared to those using other hormonal therapies.
Safety data were difficult to analyze, Bliss said: "The picture is patchy due to poor quality of adverse event reporting and different study endpoints," in the various trials.
However, "the review findings do confirm modest, but real therapeutic benefits from the use of aromatase inhibitors in a variety of clinical settings," Bliss said.
Edith Perez, M.D., an oncologist with the Multidisciplinary Breast Cancer Program at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., said, "The results of the review are not a surprise. These are good drugs and they have positively impacted the lives of patients with breast cancer." Perez is not associated with the review.
Perez believes that aromatase inhibitors are the first drug of choice for hormonal treatment of advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women. "They have a slightly improved efficacy over tamoxifen, and they have a much lower rate of blood clots in the legs and lungs," she said. "Aromatase inhibitors carry almost no risk of uterine cancer, and while that rarely happens with tamoxifen, it does happen."
On the other hand, Perez said that aromatase inhibitors do carry a risk of increased joint aches and, more importantly, may cause bone loss. "The majority of patients do very well but we recommend patients have bone density tests before using these drugs. I would probably not use aromatase inhibitors in a patient with severe osteoporosis."
While per-tablet cost of aromatase inhibitors is higher than tamoxifen, Perez said that they are still cost-effective because they have fewer side effects requiring treatment and they result in increased overall survival.
"It's no question that these drugs are better for patients when compared with other hormone therapies," Perez said.
Katherine Kahn, Contributing Writer Health Behavior News Service
Gibson LJ, Dawson, CL, Lawrence DJ, Bliss JM. Aromatase inhibitors for treatment of advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women (Review). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2007, Issue 1.
The Cochrane Collaboration is an international nonprofit, independent organization that produces and disseminates systematic reviews of health care interventions and promotes the search for evidence in the form of clinical trials and other studies of interventions. Visit cochrane/ for more information.
Contact: Lisa Esposito
Center for the Advancement of Health
View drug information on Arimidex; Aromasin Tablets; Femara.
четверг, 5 апреля 2012 г.
Less Alcohol Consumed By Women Involved In Leisure Activities
Women who are satisfied with everyday life and are involved in leisure activities rarely have problems with alcohol, reveals a thesis from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Occupational therapist Christina Andersson, who wrote the thesis, has looked at how everyday life affects alcohol consumption as part of the wider Women and Alcohol in Gothenburg (WAG) population study which has been ongoing at the Sahlgrenska Academy since the mid-1980s.
In one study, 851 women aged 20-55 answered questions about their everyday life covering employment, leisure activities, the distribution of housework, how much time they have to themselves to do things they enjoy, and how satisfied they are in each of these areas.
"Alcohol dependence and abuse, high alcohol consumption and high episodic drinking turned out to be most common among women who, despite having more time to themselves, are less involved in leisure activities," says Andersson. "Being more involved and being satisfied with the various domains of everyday life, such as work, housework and leisure activities, has only a weak link to risk drinking, even for those with little time to themselves."
The results of another of the underlying studies showed that alcohol dependence is more common among women who drink to cope better with everyday life (for example to get to sleep or feel less down), those who drink frequently and those who drink alone. Intensive alcohol consumption is most common among those who acknowledge the social effects of drinking.
The results also point to the importance of identifying groups of individuals with different drinking patterns. Drawing attention to the needs that alcohol consumption meets in women's everyday life may be a further preventative measure.
"Identifying patterns like this can probably lead to new ideas about how preventive actions should be designed, beyond what an analysis of individual factors can achieve," says Andersson.
Source:
Christina Andersson
University of Gothenburg
Occupational therapist Christina Andersson, who wrote the thesis, has looked at how everyday life affects alcohol consumption as part of the wider Women and Alcohol in Gothenburg (WAG) population study which has been ongoing at the Sahlgrenska Academy since the mid-1980s.
In one study, 851 women aged 20-55 answered questions about their everyday life covering employment, leisure activities, the distribution of housework, how much time they have to themselves to do things they enjoy, and how satisfied they are in each of these areas.
"Alcohol dependence and abuse, high alcohol consumption and high episodic drinking turned out to be most common among women who, despite having more time to themselves, are less involved in leisure activities," says Andersson. "Being more involved and being satisfied with the various domains of everyday life, such as work, housework and leisure activities, has only a weak link to risk drinking, even for those with little time to themselves."
The results of another of the underlying studies showed that alcohol dependence is more common among women who drink to cope better with everyday life (for example to get to sleep or feel less down), those who drink frequently and those who drink alone. Intensive alcohol consumption is most common among those who acknowledge the social effects of drinking.
The results also point to the importance of identifying groups of individuals with different drinking patterns. Drawing attention to the needs that alcohol consumption meets in women's everyday life may be a further preventative measure.
"Identifying patterns like this can probably lead to new ideas about how preventive actions should be designed, beyond what an analysis of individual factors can achieve," says Andersson.
Source:
Christina Andersson
University of Gothenburg
четверг, 29 марта 2012 г.
Many Catholics Leave Faith Over Dissatisfaction With Teachings On Abortion, Other Issues, Study Finds
Many adults who were raised Roman Catholic and leave the faith do so because of a dissatisfaction with the church's teachings on abortion, birth control and other social issues, according to a report released Monday by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, the Los Angeles Times reports. The report -- titled "Faith in Flux: Changes in Religious Affiliation in the U.S." -- revealed that 10% of American adults who were raised Catholic have left the church (Helfand, Los Angeles Times, 4/27).
The report followed up with 2,800 people who participated in a 2007 survey on religious affiliation that found that 44% of U.S. adults had left their childhood religion. The new study found that about six in 10 former Catholics who reported being unaffiliated said they left the church because of its teachings on abortion and homosexuality, while about half said they left the church because of its teachings on birth control. In addition, four in 10 former Catholics said they left because they were unhappy with Catholicism's treatment of women. The report also found that between 47% and 59% of U.S. adults change religious affiliation at least once in their lifetime. In addition, the report found that Catholics were likely to leave the church because they stopped believing in the church's teachings, while Protestants were more likely to switch from one Protestant denomination to another (Gorski, AP/Google, 4/27).
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops responded to the report, saying that it is pleased that retention rates in the Catholic Church were aligned with other faiths. However, the study's authors said that the number of people leaving the Catholic Church outnumbered converts four to one (Paulson, Boston Globe, 4/28).
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.
The report followed up with 2,800 people who participated in a 2007 survey on religious affiliation that found that 44% of U.S. adults had left their childhood religion. The new study found that about six in 10 former Catholics who reported being unaffiliated said they left the church because of its teachings on abortion and homosexuality, while about half said they left the church because of its teachings on birth control. In addition, four in 10 former Catholics said they left because they were unhappy with Catholicism's treatment of women. The report also found that between 47% and 59% of U.S. adults change religious affiliation at least once in their lifetime. In addition, the report found that Catholics were likely to leave the church because they stopped believing in the church's teachings, while Protestants were more likely to switch from one Protestant denomination to another (Gorski, AP/Google, 4/27).
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops responded to the report, saying that it is pleased that retention rates in the Catholic Church were aligned with other faiths. However, the study's authors said that the number of people leaving the Catholic Church outnumbered converts four to one (Paulson, Boston Globe, 4/28).
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, 22 марта 2012 г.
House Subcommittee Debates Postpartum Depression Bill; Republicans Indicate Measure Should Include Abortion-Related Language
The House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee on Tuesday debated legislation (HR 20) that would aim to identify causes and treatments for postpartum depression, and some Republicans on the panel indicated that the measure should be amended to include language on "postabortion depression," CQ HealthBeat reports (Reichard, CQ HealthBeat, 5/1). The bill, sponsored by Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.), would "expand and intensify" research at the National Institute of Mental Health and other agencies on postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis. The bill also would provide grants through HHS for the "establishment, operation and coordination of effective and cost-efficient systems for the delivery of essential services" for women with the conditions and their families (HR 20 text, 5/2). Rush has said that about 400,000 women suffer from mood changes after they give birth and that one in 1,000 new mothers develop postpartum psychosis. According to CQ HealthBeat, Rush has been working for passage of the bill since 2001.
Rep. Nathan Deal (R-Ga.) -- the ranking member on the subcommittee and co-sponsor of the legislation -- said in his opening statement that postpartum depression "has consequences not only for the woman but for the child and the family as a whole." He added that more should be known about all aspects of depression, including depression that might occur after undergoing an abortion. Deal's reference to abortion "triggered a rebuke" from Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), who called the reference "offensive," CQ HealthBeat reports. DeGette said that postabortion depression has not been recognized as a clinical condition by established medical professionals, adding that U.S. women have waited too long for action on postpartum depression to have the hearing diverted into a "political theatre."
Deal cited witness testimony from women who said they developed depression after undergoing abortion. He also said that he would not attempt to modify the bill to include research on the condition but that his Republican colleagues might do so. Deal said the issue would not delay House action on the bill. An aide to Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), chair of the subcommittee, said a date for a bill mark up has not been set. Pallone at the hearing said he would "work with Rush to move this legislation to the floor as soon as possible" (CQ HealthBeat, 5/1).
"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.
Rep. Nathan Deal (R-Ga.) -- the ranking member on the subcommittee and co-sponsor of the legislation -- said in his opening statement that postpartum depression "has consequences not only for the woman but for the child and the family as a whole." He added that more should be known about all aspects of depression, including depression that might occur after undergoing an abortion. Deal's reference to abortion "triggered a rebuke" from Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), who called the reference "offensive," CQ HealthBeat reports. DeGette said that postabortion depression has not been recognized as a clinical condition by established medical professionals, adding that U.S. women have waited too long for action on postpartum depression to have the hearing diverted into a "political theatre."
Deal cited witness testimony from women who said they developed depression after undergoing abortion. He also said that he would not attempt to modify the bill to include research on the condition but that his Republican colleagues might do so. Deal said the issue would not delay House action on the bill. An aide to Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), chair of the subcommittee, said a date for a bill mark up has not been set. Pallone at the hearing said he would "work with Rush to move this legislation to the floor as soon as possible" (CQ HealthBeat, 5/1).
"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, 15 марта 2012 г.
Obesity Likely Contributing To Older, Minority Women's Increased Risk For Arthritis, Study Finds
Older minority women are more likely than their white counterparts to develop osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, likely because of risk factors such as obesity, according to a study published last month in the Journal of American Geriatrics Society, Reuters Health reports.
For the study, researcher Nicole Wright of the University of Arizona and colleagues studied 146,494 women participating in the Women's Health Initiative -- an ongoing study of healthy postmenopausal women. Forty-four percent of the women had been diagnosed with osteoarthritis. Researchers found that the risk for developing osteoarthritis was slightly higher for American Indian and black women compared with white women. Asian women had the lowest risk. Women in their 70s had the highest risk of osteoarthritis, while younger women had less risk. Other risk factors for osteoarthritis include level of activity, education, income and weight, Reuters Health reports.
Among women in their 50s, 39.3% of Hispanic women had osteoarthritis, compared with 36.4% of American Indians, 33.8% of blacks, 25.8% of Asians and 22.6% of whites. Risk factors associated with the condition were more common among blacks, American Indians and Hispanics. For example, 57.9% of blacks were obese, compared with 51% of American Indians, 41.9% of Hispanics and 32.9% of whites. Researchers speculate that excess weight increases the physical stress on the joints and bone mineral density, which might increase stiffness in bones and contribute to the weakening of cartilage.
According to the study, the findings offer "strong evidence that body weight and [body mass index] may be large contributing factor[s] to the number and severity of osteoarthritis symptoms, further elaborating the importance of postmenopausal women" -- especially those who are black, Hispanic and American Indian -- to maintain a healthy weight (Reuters Health, 10/17).
An abstract of the study is available online.
Reprinted with kind 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.
© 2008 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation.? All rights reserved.
For the study, researcher Nicole Wright of the University of Arizona and colleagues studied 146,494 women participating in the Women's Health Initiative -- an ongoing study of healthy postmenopausal women. Forty-four percent of the women had been diagnosed with osteoarthritis. Researchers found that the risk for developing osteoarthritis was slightly higher for American Indian and black women compared with white women. Asian women had the lowest risk. Women in their 70s had the highest risk of osteoarthritis, while younger women had less risk. Other risk factors for osteoarthritis include level of activity, education, income and weight, Reuters Health reports.
Among women in their 50s, 39.3% of Hispanic women had osteoarthritis, compared with 36.4% of American Indians, 33.8% of blacks, 25.8% of Asians and 22.6% of whites. Risk factors associated with the condition were more common among blacks, American Indians and Hispanics. For example, 57.9% of blacks were obese, compared with 51% of American Indians, 41.9% of Hispanics and 32.9% of whites. Researchers speculate that excess weight increases the physical stress on the joints and bone mineral density, which might increase stiffness in bones and contribute to the weakening of cartilage.
According to the study, the findings offer "strong evidence that body weight and [body mass index] may be large contributing factor[s] to the number and severity of osteoarthritis symptoms, further elaborating the importance of postmenopausal women" -- especially those who are black, Hispanic and American Indian -- to maintain a healthy weight (Reuters Health, 10/17).
An abstract of the study is available online.
Reprinted with kind 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.
© 2008 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation.? All rights reserved.
четверг, 8 марта 2012 г.
HPV Test Better Than Pap Smear For Over 40s
If you are a woman under 40 you are better off having a Pap Smear, if you are over 40 you are better off having a human papillomavirus (HPV) test, say researchers from the Danish Cancer Society. The majority of cervical cancers are caused by HPV infections.
You can read about this study in the journal Cancer Research.
The study of 8,656 women (aged 22-32) and 1,578 women (aged 40-50), found that HPV is less common, but more persistent in older women. HPV infection among younger women is significantly less directly linked to cervical cancer risk. Older women with HPV infection are at a much higher risk of cervical cancer before the cervical cells change. A Pap Smear identifies changes in the cervical cells.
In other words, it is better to test younger women for changes in cervical cells (Pap Smear) and older women for HPV infection (HPV test).
The researchers found that the majority of women who did have HPV infection tested negative on a Pap Smear.
Team leader, Dr. Susanne Kruger Kjaer, said "Based on these results, we feel that an HPV test would benefit older women, whether or not that test is used in conjunction with Pap smears, or used by itself as an initial screen."
"The Absolute Risk of Cervical Abnormalities in High-risk Human Papillomavirus-Positive, Cytologically Normal Women Over a 10-Year Period"
Susanne Kjaer, Estrid H???gdall, Kirsten Frederiksen, Christian Munk, Adriaan van den Brule, Edith Svare, Chris Meijer, Attilla Lorincz and Thomas Iftner
Cancer Research 2006 66: 10621-10629
Click here to see abstract online
You can read about this study in the journal Cancer Research.
The study of 8,656 women (aged 22-32) and 1,578 women (aged 40-50), found that HPV is less common, but more persistent in older women. HPV infection among younger women is significantly less directly linked to cervical cancer risk. Older women with HPV infection are at a much higher risk of cervical cancer before the cervical cells change. A Pap Smear identifies changes in the cervical cells.
In other words, it is better to test younger women for changes in cervical cells (Pap Smear) and older women for HPV infection (HPV test).
The researchers found that the majority of women who did have HPV infection tested negative on a Pap Smear.
Team leader, Dr. Susanne Kruger Kjaer, said "Based on these results, we feel that an HPV test would benefit older women, whether or not that test is used in conjunction with Pap smears, or used by itself as an initial screen."
"The Absolute Risk of Cervical Abnormalities in High-risk Human Papillomavirus-Positive, Cytologically Normal Women Over a 10-Year Period"
Susanne Kjaer, Estrid H???gdall, Kirsten Frederiksen, Christian Munk, Adriaan van den Brule, Edith Svare, Chris Meijer, Attilla Lorincz and Thomas Iftner
Cancer Research 2006 66: 10621-10629
Click here to see abstract online
четверг, 1 марта 2012 г.
Republican Presidential Candidates Discuss Abortion-Rights Views At National Right To Life Committee Convention
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) and Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), who both are running for the Republican presidential nomination, on Friday at the National Right to Life Committee's annual convention in Kansas City discussed their views on abortion rights, the AP/Boston Globe reports (Hanna, AP/Boston Globe, 6/15).
Romney in his remarks to hundreds of attendees said that he was "wrong" for previously supporting abortion rights and that he had "arrived at this place of principle only a few years ago" (Kraske, Kansas City Star, 6/15). He said, "My experience as governor taught me firsthand that the threat to our culture is real. When responsibility for life or ending life was placed in my hands, I made the right decision."
Brownback, when asked about abortion-rights opponents who support Romney, said, "I'd say, 'Look at me first.' I'm somebody who's been consistent." He added, "I've been fighting this fight for a long time, and I believe in it, and I think it's the central social, moral issue of our day." Former Sen. Fred Thompson (R-Tenn.), who is considering running for the nomination, addressed the convention attendees on Thursday in a taped, three-minute speech. In his message, Thompson noted that he received NRTL's endorsement when he ran for the Senate in 1994. He added, "I've been with you ever since, and you've been with me ever since" (AP/Boston Globe, 6/15). Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), who is running for the nomination, also spoke at the convention (Kansas City Star, 6/15).
Romney in his remarks to hundreds of attendees said that he was "wrong" for previously supporting abortion rights and that he had "arrived at this place of principle only a few years ago" (Kraske, Kansas City Star, 6/15). He said, "My experience as governor taught me firsthand that the threat to our culture is real. When responsibility for life or ending life was placed in my hands, I made the right decision."
Brownback, when asked about abortion-rights opponents who support Romney, said, "I'd say, 'Look at me first.' I'm somebody who's been consistent." He added, "I've been fighting this fight for a long time, and I believe in it, and I think it's the central social, moral issue of our day." Former Sen. Fred Thompson (R-Tenn.), who is considering running for the nomination, addressed the convention attendees on Thursday in a taped, three-minute speech. In his message, Thompson noted that he received NRTL's endorsement when he ran for the Senate in 1994. He added, "I've been with you ever since, and you've been with me ever since" (AP/Boston Globe, 6/15). Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), who is running for the nomination, also spoke at the convention (Kansas City Star, 6/15).
Romney Faces Questions Embryonic Stem Cell Research Position
Romney is "facing questions" on whether he has shifted his stance on expanding federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, the New York Times reports (Luo, New York Times, 6/15). Federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research is allowed only for research using embryonic stem cell lines created on or before Aug. 9, 2001, under a policy announced by President Bush on that date (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 6/8).
Romney in August 2004 "appeared to express support" for expanded federal funding of embryonic stem cell research, the Times reports. In addition, Romney responded to a question about his veto of a stem cell research-related measure in 2005 by saying, "The United States House of Representatives voted for a bill that was identical to what I proposed." He added, "They voted to provide for surplus embryos from in vitro fertilization processes being used for research and experimentation. That's what I said I support."
Romney in the Republican presidential debate in California last month said he would be "happy to allow" stem cell research on embryos that fertility clinics otherwise would discard. But he added, "I shouldn't say happy. It's fine for that to be allowed, to be legal. I won't use our government funds for that." Peter Flaherty -- Romney's deputy campaign manager, who was his deputy chief of staff and adviser on bioethics issues when he was governor -- said, "From the moment we sat down as an administration to formulate a policy on stem cell research, the governor has never been a proponent of expanded federal funding or state funding for embryonic stem cell research." He added that Romney is a "strong advocate for federal funding for alternative methods to get pluripotent stem cells, such as altered nuclear transfer and direct reprogramming" (New York Times, 6/15).
"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, 23 февраля 2012 г.
Ventana Announces FDA Approval Of Antibody To Assess Whether Breast Cancer Patients Should Be Treated With Herceptin
Ventana Medical Systems announced Wednesday it has received FDA approval for an antibody to aid in assessing whether breast cancer patients should be treated with Genentech's Herceptin, Reuters reports (Reuters, 1/18). FDA in 1998 approved Herceptin for treatment of advanced HER2-positive cancer that has spread beyond the breast. HER2-positive cancer is an aggressive form of the disease found in about 25% of breast cancer patients that involves extra copies of the HER2 protein. FDA in November 2006 expanded Herceptin's approval to include treatment of breast cancer when it has not spread beyond the breast or lymph nodes in patients who have undergone a lumpectomy or mastectomy (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 11/20/06). The Ventana antibody aims to detect presence of the HER2. FDA also approved the antibody to be used with the Ventana Image Analysis System (AP/BusinessWeek, 1/18). The system, which FDA approved in October 2006, is a breast cancer screening device used in combination with p53 -- a biomarker that suppresses tumors and is used in cancer diagnosis (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 10/13/06).
"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.
View drug information on Herceptin.
"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.
View drug information on Herceptin.
четверг, 16 февраля 2012 г.
Plasma From Females May Not Be As Harmful As Once Thought
As the national blood banking community considers limiting the use plasma from female donors because of a rare but potentially catastrophic lung condition, researchers from Duke University Medical Center have shown that this policy change might be premature.
In their analysis of 8,300 heart surgery patients, the researchers found no association between transfused female plasma and any adverse outcome. In fact, they found a significant decrease in complications in patients receiving only female plasma.
Plasma, which makes up about 55 percent of blood's total volume, is the liquid portion of blood that is separated from oxygen-carrying red blood cells after donation. It is pale yellow in color and is usually given to patients after surgery to help restore their blood's normal clotting ability.
Transfused plasma from female donors has been implicated as a cause of a rare condition known as transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI), in which the lungs fill with fluid. The incidence of TRALI is hard to determine, and it is estimated that it occurs at a rate of 1 in 1,300 transfusions to 1 in 5,000 transfusions. It is the leading cause of transfusion-related death in the United States.
"Our data showed no deleterious effect associated with female plasma transfusion, and even pointed toward the possibility of a protective effect," said Duke anesthesiologist Ian Welsby, M.D. Collaborator and co-author Marla Brumit, M.D., from the Carolinas Region of the American Red Cross, presented the results of the Duke study at the annual meeting of the American Association of Blood Bankers in Anaheim, Calif.
While red blood cells can easily be separated from whole blood, antibodies from immune cells remain in plasma products, which is the root of the problem. Pregnant women develop a specific kind of antibody in response to carrying a baby, which is genetically half mother and half father. The more children a woman has, the more of these antibodies are produced. It is thought that some recipients of transfused plasma from women react negatively to these antibodies in the plasma.
Because of this apparent risk, the United Kingdom has used only plasma from male donors since 2004.
"TRALI is important and effective preventative steps should be taken to prevent it; however, we believe that more prospective data needs to be evaluated prior to enacting a policy such as the one in the United Kingdom," Welsby continued. "By focusing on a single rare event, they may be missing the forest for the trees. The bottom line is that female donor plasma may not be as harmful as it has been made out to be and antibodies from female plasma are only one source of TRALI."
The Duke researchers scoured their extensive database of patients who underwent cardiac surgery over a ten-year period beginning in 1993, looking for any possible negative effects in patients who received female plasma. These patients were chosen because surgery and the use of the heart-lung machine during a procedure are both important risk factors for developing TRALI.
Of the sampled patients, 25.6 percent received plasma transfusions, of which 44.8 percent came from female donors.
"We found that the volume of plasma a patient received was associated with higher mortality, which makes sense, since if you can stop the bleeding sooner, the patient will do better," Welsby said. "However, there was no association between female plasma and death, respiratory complications or even delayed recovery. These results raise questions concerning the overall benefit of a broad policy that completely excludes the transfusion of female plasma."
The researchers were also intrigued by the finding that female plasma may actually reduce complications after heart surgery. They are planning future prospective studies to better understand this phenomenon.
"Theoretically, there are some plausible reasons supporting the idea that female plasma may help patients," Welsby said. "Female plasma contains estrogen and other hormones that are known to promote blood clotting and have anti-inflammatory effects."
Other Duke members of the team were Barbara Philips-Bute, Mary Lee Campbell, Joseph Mathew, Carmelo Milano and Mark Stafford-Smith. Theresa Boyd and Rebecca Ramsey from the American Red Cross were also a part of the analysis.
Source: Richard Merritt
Duke University Medical Center
In their analysis of 8,300 heart surgery patients, the researchers found no association between transfused female plasma and any adverse outcome. In fact, they found a significant decrease in complications in patients receiving only female plasma.
Plasma, which makes up about 55 percent of blood's total volume, is the liquid portion of blood that is separated from oxygen-carrying red blood cells after donation. It is pale yellow in color and is usually given to patients after surgery to help restore their blood's normal clotting ability.
Transfused plasma from female donors has been implicated as a cause of a rare condition known as transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI), in which the lungs fill with fluid. The incidence of TRALI is hard to determine, and it is estimated that it occurs at a rate of 1 in 1,300 transfusions to 1 in 5,000 transfusions. It is the leading cause of transfusion-related death in the United States.
"Our data showed no deleterious effect associated with female plasma transfusion, and even pointed toward the possibility of a protective effect," said Duke anesthesiologist Ian Welsby, M.D. Collaborator and co-author Marla Brumit, M.D., from the Carolinas Region of the American Red Cross, presented the results of the Duke study at the annual meeting of the American Association of Blood Bankers in Anaheim, Calif.
While red blood cells can easily be separated from whole blood, antibodies from immune cells remain in plasma products, which is the root of the problem. Pregnant women develop a specific kind of antibody in response to carrying a baby, which is genetically half mother and half father. The more children a woman has, the more of these antibodies are produced. It is thought that some recipients of transfused plasma from women react negatively to these antibodies in the plasma.
Because of this apparent risk, the United Kingdom has used only plasma from male donors since 2004.
"TRALI is important and effective preventative steps should be taken to prevent it; however, we believe that more prospective data needs to be evaluated prior to enacting a policy such as the one in the United Kingdom," Welsby continued. "By focusing on a single rare event, they may be missing the forest for the trees. The bottom line is that female donor plasma may not be as harmful as it has been made out to be and antibodies from female plasma are only one source of TRALI."
The Duke researchers scoured their extensive database of patients who underwent cardiac surgery over a ten-year period beginning in 1993, looking for any possible negative effects in patients who received female plasma. These patients were chosen because surgery and the use of the heart-lung machine during a procedure are both important risk factors for developing TRALI.
Of the sampled patients, 25.6 percent received plasma transfusions, of which 44.8 percent came from female donors.
"We found that the volume of plasma a patient received was associated with higher mortality, which makes sense, since if you can stop the bleeding sooner, the patient will do better," Welsby said. "However, there was no association between female plasma and death, respiratory complications or even delayed recovery. These results raise questions concerning the overall benefit of a broad policy that completely excludes the transfusion of female plasma."
The researchers were also intrigued by the finding that female plasma may actually reduce complications after heart surgery. They are planning future prospective studies to better understand this phenomenon.
"Theoretically, there are some plausible reasons supporting the idea that female plasma may help patients," Welsby said. "Female plasma contains estrogen and other hormones that are known to promote blood clotting and have anti-inflammatory effects."
Other Duke members of the team were Barbara Philips-Bute, Mary Lee Campbell, Joseph Mathew, Carmelo Milano and Mark Stafford-Smith. Theresa Boyd and Rebecca Ramsey from the American Red Cross were also a part of the analysis.
Source: Richard Merritt
Duke University Medical Center
четверг, 9 февраля 2012 г.
Unmarried Older Women Twice As Likely To Lack Health Insurance, Study Shows
Older women who are divorced, separated or widowed or who have never married have twice the uninsured rate of their married peers, according to a new policy brief from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.
The study, "Health and Health Care Access Among California Women Ages 50-64," examines a range of health issues and trends among California's approximately 3 million older women, an age group that often faces new and accelerated chronic health conditions, according to lead author Roberta Wyn, associate director of the center.
"It's a time of critical change for older women," Wyn said. "Not only are they at risk of new and complex health conditions, but as they near the age of retirement, their insurance status may change too."
Women between the ages of 50 and 64 are more prone than younger women to a wide range of health conditions, including asthma, diabetes and heart disease. Nearly four in 10 women in this age group will be diagnosed with high blood pressure, while nearly six in 10 are either obese or overweight. In both cases, the percentages are higher than for younger women.
The researchers also found that the likelihood of having health insurance was related to a woman's marital status. Using data from the 2007 California Health Interview Survey, Wyn and her co-author found that one-quarter of older women who had never married and 21 percent of divorced, separated or widowed women were uninsured - more than twice the rates of married women.
"These women have fewer coverage options, including access to family coverage, and Medicare is still several years away for many," Wyn said.
Among all women, low-income women are the most likely to be uninsured (34 percent) and the least likely to have employment-based coverage (24 percent), according to the policy brief.
Lack of insurance can result in a delay in accessing needed care. One-third (32 percent) of uninsured women aged 50 to 64 reported that they delayed or did not get needed medical care in the past year, a rate twice as high as that for women with employment-based coverage in this age group.
Uninsured women between 50 and 64 were also much more likely to report not having had a Pap test during the previous three years than women with employment-based coverage (28 percent vs. 5 percent) and were more likely to report not having had a mammogram during the previous two years (39 percent vs. 10 percent).
The data was collected in 2007, before the recession, and Wyn noted that "the economic recession and subsequent widespread job loss may have pushed uninsurance rates even higher."
Wyn stressed the need for expanded health insurance coverage and access to care to address the rising health issues and often costly health conditions associated with aging.
The study authors also stressed the need for proactive policies and programs that promote healthy behaviors and environments to help stem the rising rates of obesity in this age group.
Read the policy brief, "Health and Health Care Access Among California Women Ages 50-64."
Source:
Gwendolyn Driscoll
University of California - Los Angeles
The study, "Health and Health Care Access Among California Women Ages 50-64," examines a range of health issues and trends among California's approximately 3 million older women, an age group that often faces new and accelerated chronic health conditions, according to lead author Roberta Wyn, associate director of the center.
"It's a time of critical change for older women," Wyn said. "Not only are they at risk of new and complex health conditions, but as they near the age of retirement, their insurance status may change too."
Women between the ages of 50 and 64 are more prone than younger women to a wide range of health conditions, including asthma, diabetes and heart disease. Nearly four in 10 women in this age group will be diagnosed with high blood pressure, while nearly six in 10 are either obese or overweight. In both cases, the percentages are higher than for younger women.
The researchers also found that the likelihood of having health insurance was related to a woman's marital status. Using data from the 2007 California Health Interview Survey, Wyn and her co-author found that one-quarter of older women who had never married and 21 percent of divorced, separated or widowed women were uninsured - more than twice the rates of married women.
"These women have fewer coverage options, including access to family coverage, and Medicare is still several years away for many," Wyn said.
Among all women, low-income women are the most likely to be uninsured (34 percent) and the least likely to have employment-based coverage (24 percent), according to the policy brief.
Lack of insurance can result in a delay in accessing needed care. One-third (32 percent) of uninsured women aged 50 to 64 reported that they delayed or did not get needed medical care in the past year, a rate twice as high as that for women with employment-based coverage in this age group.
Uninsured women between 50 and 64 were also much more likely to report not having had a Pap test during the previous three years than women with employment-based coverage (28 percent vs. 5 percent) and were more likely to report not having had a mammogram during the previous two years (39 percent vs. 10 percent).
The data was collected in 2007, before the recession, and Wyn noted that "the economic recession and subsequent widespread job loss may have pushed uninsurance rates even higher."
Wyn stressed the need for expanded health insurance coverage and access to care to address the rising health issues and often costly health conditions associated with aging.
The study authors also stressed the need for proactive policies and programs that promote healthy behaviors and environments to help stem the rising rates of obesity in this age group.
Read the policy brief, "Health and Health Care Access Among California Women Ages 50-64."
Source:
Gwendolyn Driscoll
University of California - Los Angeles
четверг, 2 февраля 2012 г.
Emotional Health Risks Of Cosmetic Surgery Downplayed By Women's Magazines: UBC Study
While the emotional health implications of cosmetic surgery are still up for scientific debate, articles in women's magazines such as The Oprah Magazine and Cosmopolitan portray cosmetic surgery as a physically risky, but overall worthwhile option for enhancing physical appearance and emotional health, a UBC study has found.
The study, published in Women's Health Issues journal, is the first to examine how women's magazines portray cosmetic surgery to Canadians. It also finds that male opinions on female attractiveness are routinely used to justify cosmetic surgery and that a disproportionate amount of articles are devoted to breast implants and cosmetic surgery among women aged 19-34.
"Alongside beauty, clothing and diet advice, women's magazines present cosmetic surgery as a normal practice for enhancing or maintaining beauty, becoming more attractive to men and improving emotional health," says Andrea Polonijo, who conducted the research at UBC as an undergraduate honours thesis in the Dept. of Sociology.
Polonijo, now a graduate student at University of Toronto's Dalla Lana School of Public Health, examined how Canada's five most popular English-language women's magazines - Chatelaine, Cosmopolitan, O: The Oprah Magazine, Flare and Prevention - portray cosmetic surgery. The study focused on 35 articles published between 2002 and 2006.
"Magazines are communicating the physical risks of cosmetic surgery more than the emotional health risks," says Polonijo, noting that studies have found that emotional health issues such as anxiety and depression may arise or increase in women who undergo physically successful cosmetic surgery, regardless of their preoperative emotional state. Of the articles that mention emotional health, only 18 per cent suggest cosmetic surgery may be detrimental to emotional well-being, the study found.
Magazines routinely present two "ideal" cosmetic surgery candidates, the study found: an unhappy, insecure, lonely woman looking to boost low self-confidence and self-esteem, and a successful, attractive, confident woman with high self-esteem who seeks cosmetic surgery to maintain perfection.
"These two profiles represent extremes of a wide range of attitudes, for which many women may view themselves as being somewhere in-between," says UBC sociology professor Richard Carpiano, a co-author of the study. "This potentially allows for cosmetic surgery to be presented as an option for many women regardless of their preoperative emotional state."
Men's opinions were often considered in these cosmetic surgery articles, with 29 per cent discussing the impact that women's cosmetic surgery has on the male population.
To see the Polonijo's and Carpiano's study, entitled "Representations of Cosmetic Surgery and Emotional Health in Women's Magazines in Canada," visit: sciencedirect/science/journal/10493867.
Source: Basil Waugh, UBC Public Affairs
University of British Columbia
The study, published in Women's Health Issues journal, is the first to examine how women's magazines portray cosmetic surgery to Canadians. It also finds that male opinions on female attractiveness are routinely used to justify cosmetic surgery and that a disproportionate amount of articles are devoted to breast implants and cosmetic surgery among women aged 19-34.
"Alongside beauty, clothing and diet advice, women's magazines present cosmetic surgery as a normal practice for enhancing or maintaining beauty, becoming more attractive to men and improving emotional health," says Andrea Polonijo, who conducted the research at UBC as an undergraduate honours thesis in the Dept. of Sociology.
Polonijo, now a graduate student at University of Toronto's Dalla Lana School of Public Health, examined how Canada's five most popular English-language women's magazines - Chatelaine, Cosmopolitan, O: The Oprah Magazine, Flare and Prevention - portray cosmetic surgery. The study focused on 35 articles published between 2002 and 2006.
"Magazines are communicating the physical risks of cosmetic surgery more than the emotional health risks," says Polonijo, noting that studies have found that emotional health issues such as anxiety and depression may arise or increase in women who undergo physically successful cosmetic surgery, regardless of their preoperative emotional state. Of the articles that mention emotional health, only 18 per cent suggest cosmetic surgery may be detrimental to emotional well-being, the study found.
Magazines routinely present two "ideal" cosmetic surgery candidates, the study found: an unhappy, insecure, lonely woman looking to boost low self-confidence and self-esteem, and a successful, attractive, confident woman with high self-esteem who seeks cosmetic surgery to maintain perfection.
"These two profiles represent extremes of a wide range of attitudes, for which many women may view themselves as being somewhere in-between," says UBC sociology professor Richard Carpiano, a co-author of the study. "This potentially allows for cosmetic surgery to be presented as an option for many women regardless of their preoperative emotional state."
Men's opinions were often considered in these cosmetic surgery articles, with 29 per cent discussing the impact that women's cosmetic surgery has on the male population.
To see the Polonijo's and Carpiano's study, entitled "Representations of Cosmetic Surgery and Emotional Health in Women's Magazines in Canada," visit: sciencedirect/science/journal/10493867.
Source: Basil Waugh, UBC Public Affairs
University of British Columbia
четверг, 26 января 2012 г.
Nationwide Clinical Trial Tests Effectiveness Of Drug That Slows Cancer Growth
A drug that slows the growth of cancer in women with metastatic breast cancer will soon be tested in newly diagnosed patients across the country to determine if it will have a similar effect.
Kathy Miller, M.D., associate professor of medicine and the Sheila D. Ward Scholar at the Indiana University School of Medicine and a physician/researcher at the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center, is the principal investigator of the phase III trial called E5103 coordinated by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, a network of cancer researchers, physicians and health-care professionals at public and private institutions around the nation.
The clinical study, which will enroll 4,950 women and men at sites across the country over the next 2?? years, is the first to add the drug bevacizumab (Avastin®) to the current standard chemotherapy treatment in patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer.
In 2005, Miller discovered that adding Avastin to the standard chemotherapy treatment nearly doubled the time it took for cancer to grow in women whose breast cancer had metastasized to other parts of the body, compared with women who received standard treatment alone.
Because of that discovery, Miller and her colleagues believe that adding Avastin to chemotherapy for newly diagnosed women - those women without metastasized cancer - may also be successful in treating breast cancer.
"What we hope and think will happen is the women treated with Avastin in addition to chemotherapy will have fewer recurrences of their breast cancer and more of them will be alive and well," Dr. Miller said. "They'll essentially be cured of their disease."
How does Avastin work?
Tumors need an increased blood supply to grow. The process of growing new blood vessels is called angiogenesis; tumors have the ability to trigger that growth process. Avastin appears to block signals to the blood vessels that tell them to grow. The drug is currently FDA approved for treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer and non-small cell lung cancer.
Participants of the breast cancer study will be randomized into three groups:
- Group 1 will receive standard chemotherapy -- Doxorubicin and Cyclophosphamide -- for 12 weeks followed by 12 weeks of Paclitaxel.
- Group 2 will receive the same therapy as Group 1, but it will also receive Avastin at three-week intervals throughout the two 12-week treatment periods.
- Group 3 will receive the same treatments as Group 2. After completion of the two 12-week treatment periods, Group 3 will continue to receive Avastin every three weeks for 30 weeks.
The trial is open in the United States, Canada, Peru, South Africa and Ireland. Women or men with newly diagnosed breast cancer are eligible to participate. To learn more about the trial, talk with your physician.
Researchers at the IU Simon Cancer Center have been the leaders in anti-angiogenic research for breast cancer. George Sledge, M.D., the Ballve Lantero Professor of Oncology at the IU School of Medicine, was the principal investigator of the first nationwide phase I and phase II trials with the drug in 1997 and 1999, respectively.
IU School of Medicine
View drug information on Avastin.
Kathy Miller, M.D., associate professor of medicine and the Sheila D. Ward Scholar at the Indiana University School of Medicine and a physician/researcher at the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center, is the principal investigator of the phase III trial called E5103 coordinated by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, a network of cancer researchers, physicians and health-care professionals at public and private institutions around the nation.
The clinical study, which will enroll 4,950 women and men at sites across the country over the next 2?? years, is the first to add the drug bevacizumab (Avastin®) to the current standard chemotherapy treatment in patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer.
In 2005, Miller discovered that adding Avastin to the standard chemotherapy treatment nearly doubled the time it took for cancer to grow in women whose breast cancer had metastasized to other parts of the body, compared with women who received standard treatment alone.
Because of that discovery, Miller and her colleagues believe that adding Avastin to chemotherapy for newly diagnosed women - those women without metastasized cancer - may also be successful in treating breast cancer.
"What we hope and think will happen is the women treated with Avastin in addition to chemotherapy will have fewer recurrences of their breast cancer and more of them will be alive and well," Dr. Miller said. "They'll essentially be cured of their disease."
How does Avastin work?
Tumors need an increased blood supply to grow. The process of growing new blood vessels is called angiogenesis; tumors have the ability to trigger that growth process. Avastin appears to block signals to the blood vessels that tell them to grow. The drug is currently FDA approved for treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer and non-small cell lung cancer.
Participants of the breast cancer study will be randomized into three groups:
- Group 1 will receive standard chemotherapy -- Doxorubicin and Cyclophosphamide -- for 12 weeks followed by 12 weeks of Paclitaxel.
- Group 2 will receive the same therapy as Group 1, but it will also receive Avastin at three-week intervals throughout the two 12-week treatment periods.
- Group 3 will receive the same treatments as Group 2. After completion of the two 12-week treatment periods, Group 3 will continue to receive Avastin every three weeks for 30 weeks.
The trial is open in the United States, Canada, Peru, South Africa and Ireland. Women or men with newly diagnosed breast cancer are eligible to participate. To learn more about the trial, talk with your physician.
Researchers at the IU Simon Cancer Center have been the leaders in anti-angiogenic research for breast cancer. George Sledge, M.D., the Ballve Lantero Professor of Oncology at the IU School of Medicine, was the principal investigator of the first nationwide phase I and phase II trials with the drug in 1997 and 1999, respectively.
IU School of Medicine
View drug information on Avastin.
четверг, 19 января 2012 г.
NIH Director Zerhouni Calls For Expanding Federal Funding For Embryonic Stem Cell Research
NIH Director Elias Zerhouni on Monday during a Senate Appropriations Committee subcommittee hearing on NIH funding for fiscal year 2008 said that he supports lifting restrictions on federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research, the Los Angeles Times reports (Alonso-Zaldivar/Kaplan, Los Angeles Times, 3/20). Federal funding for embryonic stem cell research is allowed only for research using embryonic stem cell lines created on or before Aug. 9, 2001, under a policy announced by President Bush on that date. The House in January voted 253-174 to pass the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007 (HR 3, S 5), which would allow federal funding for research using stem cells derived from embryos originally created for fertility treatments and willingly donated by patients. The measure is the same as a bill (HR 810) Bush vetoed last year, and the White House in a statement released in January reiterated Bush's intent to veto the measure. Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) has said that if Bush vetoes the measure, then he will try to attach it to any "must-do" legislation (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 1/30). Harkin, who chairs the subcommittee that held Tuesday's hearing, is sponsoring the Senate version of the legislation, which is expected to go to the chamber's floor after the spring recess, CongressDaily reports (Johnson, CongressDaily, 3/20).
Zerhouni Comments
Zerhouni, in a response to a question from Harkin, said, "From my standpoint, it is clear today that American science will be better-served, and the nation will be better-served if we let our scientists have access to more stem cell lines" (Los Angeles Times, 3/20). Harkin at the hearing asked Zerhouni if scientists will have "a better chance of finding ... new cures, new interventions for diseases, if the current restrictions on embryonic stem cell research are lifted." Zerhouni responded, "I think the answer is yes," adding that the embryonic stem cell lines currently available for research "will not be sufficient for the research we need to do." He also said that NIH should lead embryonic stem cell research because the agency has more scientific expertise than any other institution worldwide and because the agency has a strong history of implementing safeguards in new research, CQ HealthBeat reports. Harkin also asked if adult stem cell research has greater potential than embryonic stem cell research. Zerhouni said that such views are an overstatement and do not "hold scientific water too well," adding that "all angles of stem cell research should be pursued" (Reichard, CQ HealthBeat, 3/19). It is "in the best interest of our scientists, our science, our country that we find ways -- that the nation finds a way to allow the science to go full speed on both adult and embryonic stem cell research," Zerhouni said (Dunham, Reuters, 3/20).
Reaction
White House spokesperson Tony Fratto said that Zerhouni is free to express his opinion on stem cell research but added that Bush will set the policy. "After careful and thoughtful deliberation with government and outside experts, there was only one moral line that the president said he would not cross -- and that is that federal taxpayer dollars should not be used in the destruction of embryos," Fratto said (Los Angeles Times, 3/20). An unnamed White House spokesperson added that Zerhouni would be breaking Bush administration policy if he called for making additional stem cell lines eligible for federal funding (CQ Healthbeat, 3/19). According to the Times, several researchers welcomed Zerhouni's comments. Renee Reijo Pera, director of the embryonic stem cell program at Stanford University, said she thinks Zerhouni's testimony "in the long run ... will make a difference" in restrictions on federal funding for the research. Wendy Wright, president of Concerned Women for America, said Zerhouni's comments showed that "he's not looking at the issue objectively," adding that he has ignored the potential of stem cells derived from sources other than embryos (Los Angeles Times, 3/20).
"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, 12 января 2012 г.
Women Are Seeking More Private Cervical Screens Than Ever Before, UK
Spire Healthcare is witnessing more women than ever seeking advice on their gynaecological well-being.
One of the UK's largest private hospital providers, Spire Healthcare, is seeing a significant rise in enquiries from women requesting information and appointments for private smear tests throughout its 36 hospitals. Local hospital Leeds has witnessed a considerable increase in enquiries this year compared to last year. Screens and consultations with gynaecologists are readily available and the results are obtained within five days, potentially helping to reduce anxiety and allowing women to positively take control of their health.
The NHS currently offers a national cervical cancer screening programme for women aged 25 and over. A woman is typically called for a screening appointment once every three to five years. Cancer Research UK* states that that changes in the cervix are more common in younger women resulting in a high return of abnormal rest results and high incidence of patient testing recall.
Consultant Gynaecologist at Spire Leeds Hospital and Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, Mr Tim Broadhead comments:
"The proportion of women aged 25-30 having NHS cervical screening has fallen in recent years from 80% in 1995 to 70% in 2005/6**. However, such screening is extremely important and it is encouraging to see more women actively seeking testing and being responsible for their gynaecological well-being. Though abnormalities are rare, treatment outcomes are better the earlier they are detected. Regular and consistent screening plays an important part in this. The recent increase in enquiries and appointments demonstrates just how women are taking cervical screening more seriously than ever before and the message about the importance being screened is getting heard."
Spire has also identified a rise in the number of enquiries for the HPV (Human Papilloma virus) vaccination Gardasil, the cervical cancer and genital wart vaccine, which is currently not available on the NHS. Designed to prevent infection with HPV types 6, 11, 16, 18 it is recommended that Gardasil is given before HPV infection occurs in order to be effective, i.e. before adolescence and the onset of sexual activity.
HPV Explained by consultant gynaecologist Mr Tim Broadhead, Spire Leeds Hospital
What is HPV?
Human papilloma virus (HPV) infection is a sexually transmitted virus. There are around 15 types which can cause cervical cancer. In addition there are a number of types which can cause genital warts. It is estimated that HPV types 16 and 18 cause about 70% of cases cervical cancer while HPV types 6 and 11 cause 90% of genital warts.
How common is cervical cancer?
According to Cancer Research UK, each year in the UK, over 2,800 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer. About 4.4million women are invited for cervical screening each year.
How common is the HPV virus?
HPV is easily transmitted by genital skin-to-skin contact mainly through sexual activity. Whilst not everyone who is infected with HPV develops cervical cancer, it is still a very common virus.
Does a routine smear test pick up HPV?
No. The NHS does not test for HPV during the normal smear test. If a smear test identifies abnormalities which may point to HPV, a screen for high risk types of HPV can be performed.
Does the virus affect men as well as women?
Men can have HPV, but most who do never develop any symptoms or health problems. However, some types of HPV can cause genital warts and other types are possible causes of penile or anal cancer.
Can boys be vaccinated?
Boys can be treated with the same vaccine as girls. This is not currently available on the NHS, but boys aged between 9 and 15 can receive the vaccine at many Spire hospitals. Call 0113 218 5967/77 for further information.
How long does the vaccination last?
The results of the vaccination programme may not be noticed for at least 10 years or more. Current evidence suggests that the HPV vaccine offers 100% protection, which lasts for at least 5 years, although some research suggests that it will last a lifetime.
References:
* cancerhelp/help/default.asp?page=2756
** news.bbc/1/hi/health/7174723.stm
Notes
Spire Leeds Hospital is part of Spire Healthcare, the second largest private hospital provider in the UK with 36 hospitals and a total of 1,983 beds. Spire Healthcare treats 930,000 patients a year, employs 7,600 staff and works with over 3,000 medical consultants. For more information, please visit: spirehealthcare
Source
Spire Leeds Hospital
View drug information on Gardasil.
One of the UK's largest private hospital providers, Spire Healthcare, is seeing a significant rise in enquiries from women requesting information and appointments for private smear tests throughout its 36 hospitals. Local hospital Leeds has witnessed a considerable increase in enquiries this year compared to last year. Screens and consultations with gynaecologists are readily available and the results are obtained within five days, potentially helping to reduce anxiety and allowing women to positively take control of their health.
The NHS currently offers a national cervical cancer screening programme for women aged 25 and over. A woman is typically called for a screening appointment once every three to five years. Cancer Research UK* states that that changes in the cervix are more common in younger women resulting in a high return of abnormal rest results and high incidence of patient testing recall.
Consultant Gynaecologist at Spire Leeds Hospital and Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, Mr Tim Broadhead comments:
"The proportion of women aged 25-30 having NHS cervical screening has fallen in recent years from 80% in 1995 to 70% in 2005/6**. However, such screening is extremely important and it is encouraging to see more women actively seeking testing and being responsible for their gynaecological well-being. Though abnormalities are rare, treatment outcomes are better the earlier they are detected. Regular and consistent screening plays an important part in this. The recent increase in enquiries and appointments demonstrates just how women are taking cervical screening more seriously than ever before and the message about the importance being screened is getting heard."
Spire has also identified a rise in the number of enquiries for the HPV (Human Papilloma virus) vaccination Gardasil, the cervical cancer and genital wart vaccine, which is currently not available on the NHS. Designed to prevent infection with HPV types 6, 11, 16, 18 it is recommended that Gardasil is given before HPV infection occurs in order to be effective, i.e. before adolescence and the onset of sexual activity.
HPV Explained by consultant gynaecologist Mr Tim Broadhead, Spire Leeds Hospital
What is HPV?
Human papilloma virus (HPV) infection is a sexually transmitted virus. There are around 15 types which can cause cervical cancer. In addition there are a number of types which can cause genital warts. It is estimated that HPV types 16 and 18 cause about 70% of cases cervical cancer while HPV types 6 and 11 cause 90% of genital warts.
How common is cervical cancer?
According to Cancer Research UK, each year in the UK, over 2,800 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer. About 4.4million women are invited for cervical screening each year.
How common is the HPV virus?
HPV is easily transmitted by genital skin-to-skin contact mainly through sexual activity. Whilst not everyone who is infected with HPV develops cervical cancer, it is still a very common virus.
Does a routine smear test pick up HPV?
No. The NHS does not test for HPV during the normal smear test. If a smear test identifies abnormalities which may point to HPV, a screen for high risk types of HPV can be performed.
Does the virus affect men as well as women?
Men can have HPV, but most who do never develop any symptoms or health problems. However, some types of HPV can cause genital warts and other types are possible causes of penile or anal cancer.
Can boys be vaccinated?
Boys can be treated with the same vaccine as girls. This is not currently available on the NHS, but boys aged between 9 and 15 can receive the vaccine at many Spire hospitals. Call 0113 218 5967/77 for further information.
How long does the vaccination last?
The results of the vaccination programme may not be noticed for at least 10 years or more. Current evidence suggests that the HPV vaccine offers 100% protection, which lasts for at least 5 years, although some research suggests that it will last a lifetime.
References:
* cancerhelp/help/default.asp?page=2756
** news.bbc/1/hi/health/7174723.stm
Notes
Spire Leeds Hospital is part of Spire Healthcare, the second largest private hospital provider in the UK with 36 hospitals and a total of 1,983 beds. Spire Healthcare treats 930,000 patients a year, employs 7,600 staff and works with over 3,000 medical consultants. For more information, please visit: spirehealthcare
Source
Spire Leeds Hospital
View drug information on Gardasil.
четверг, 5 января 2012 г.
Washington Post Health Section Highlights Women's Health Issues
The Washington Post in its Health Section on Tuesday focused on women's health, including articles on hormone replacement therapy and mammography. Headlines appear below.
~ "Hormone Research Continues" (Washington Post, 5/12).
~ "Mammogram Rates Seem To Be Slipping" (Lunzer Kritz, Washington Post, 5/12).
~ "Weighing the Options: Once Again, Scientists are Sharply Divided Over Hormone Therapy for Menopausal Women" (Slomski, Washington Post, 5/12).
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.
~ "Hormone Research Continues" (Washington Post, 5/12).
~ "Mammogram Rates Seem To Be Slipping" (Lunzer Kritz, Washington Post, 5/12).
~ "Weighing the Options: Once Again, Scientists are Sharply Divided Over Hormone Therapy for Menopausal Women" (Slomski, Washington Post, 5/12).
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.
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