OB GYN News back issues from June 2000:
Ultrasound Finds Occult Breast Ca.
Jun 01, 2000; ... SAN FRANCISCO -- Adding ultrasound to mammography screening greatly improves the ability to detect cancers in women with dense breasts, Dr. Thomas M. Kolb said at the annual meeting of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine. In a prospective screening study of more ...
Periodontitis Is Strongly Linked To Preterm Birth.
Jun 01, 2000; ... Women with generalized disease had a ninefold spike in prematurity risk. WASHINGTON -- New evidence linking periodontal disease and preterm birth shows for the first time a significant relationship between severity of the oral infection and the risk of premature delivery. ...
Gene Reduces Endometrial Ca Deaths Among Whites.
Jun 01, 2000; ... Protective mutation less common in blacks. SAN DIEGO -- African Americans are less likely than whites to have a genetic mutation that improves survival from advanced endometrial cancer, Dr. Andrew Berchuck and his associates reported at the annual meeting of the Society of ...
History Matters.
Jun 01, 2000; ... Even with evidence-based medicine and instantaneous Internet access to the latest medical literature, you can't become a truly good doctor by sitting in front of a computer screen. Making correct decisions in labor and delivery and in the operating room requires clear thinking ...
PRO & CON.
Jun 01, 2000 ... Should sexually active teenage girls have yearly Pap smears? YES The American College YES of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' Committee on Adolescent Health has recommended that sexually active teens undergo a yearly Pap smear as a means of ensuring that they have an ...
LETTERS.
Jun 01, 2000 ... Work Now, Sleep Later I have about had it with residents whining over working too many hours ("Pro & Con: Do residents work too many hours?" March 15, 2000, P. 9). I am not one of those elderly physicians who claims to have walked to school without shoes uphill both ...
Crossing the Line.
Jun 01, 2000; ... When discussing a fringe treatment, diet book, or borderline practitioner with a patient, my response used to be: "We in medicine are different from others who want to sell you something." I used to explain that expertise and wisdom are a physician's only stock in trade. I would ...
Follow-Up of Sickle Cell Infants Needed.
Jun 01, 2000; ... PALM SPRINGS, CALIF. -- A system for following infants with sickle cell disease is needed to evaluate whether newborn screening programs are making a difference, Dr. Sophia S. Wang said at a meeting sponsored by the American College of Medical Genetics. Although at least 40 ...
Routine Newborn DNA Screening Coming Soon.
Jun 01, 2000; ... PALM SPRINGS, CALIF. -- Routine DNA newborn screening is not far off, and it will likely be used first to detect three conditions: cystic fibrosis, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, and deafness. That was the prediction of Dr. Edward R. McCabe, chairman of the Health and Human ...
Elevated Extracellular Fetal DNA Another Marker for Certain Aneuploid Fetuses.
Jun 01, 2000; ... CHICAGO -- There are elevated levels of extracellular fetal DNA in the blood of women carrying certain aneuploid fetuses, Dr. Sinuhe Hahn reported at the annual meeting of the Society for Gynecologic Investigation. "This may eventually serve as an additional marker with which ...
Low Levels of Enzyme May Be Behind Some Miscarriages.
Jun 01, 2000; ... Some early miscarriages of genetically normal embryos may result from insufficient levels of the enzyme anandamide hydrolase, suggested Mauro Maccarrone, Ph.D., of the University of Rome Tor Vergata. The enzyme anandamide hydrolase degrades anandamide, an endocannabinoid ....
Nitric Oxide May Curb Neonatal Brain Damage.
Jun 01, 2000; ... CHICAGO -- Transdermal nitric oxide administered to women with growth-retarded fetuses may improve neonatal neurologic outcomes, according to a poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Gynecologic Investigation. "This is a preliminary study, with very small ...
Always Refer Triplet Pregnancies to a Specialist.
Jun 01, 2000; ... CHICAGO -- Triplet pregnancies should always be considered high risk--not just for babies, but also for the mother--and should always be referred to a maternal-fetal medicine specialist with expertise in this field, Dr. Fergal Malone said at the annual meeting of the Society for ...
No Advantage to Delayed Pushing in 2nd Stage.
Jun 01, 2000; ... MIAMI BEACH - Contrary to popular wisdom, delaying pushing during the second stage of labor does not spare the patient anal sphincter damage, Dr. Myra Fitzpatrick said at the annual meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. In fact, postponing pushing may even ...
Antihypertensives.
Jun 01, 2000; ... Chronic hypertension during pregnancy--hypertension that is present before conception or develops during the first 20 weeks of gestation--is a common problem, affecting an estimated 1%-5% of women giving birth in the United States. Although they all cross the placenta, most ...
Half-Dose Methotrexate Ends Ectopic Pregnancy.
Jun 01, 2000; ... CHICAGO -- Terminating an ectopic pregnancy with half the standard dose of systemic methotrexate is just as effective as the standard whole dose and may cause less liver toxicity, Dr. Tamer Yalcinkaya said at the annual meeting of the Society for Gynecologic Investigation. In a ...
Home Visits to Pregnant Women Boosts Outcomes.
Jun 01, 2000; ... Visits by nurses to the homes of pregnant, poor, and unmarried women improve both their pregnancy outcomes and the course of their lives over the next few years, reported Harriet Kitzman, Ph.D., of the University of Rochester (N.Y) Dr. Kitzman and her associates studied 743 ...
Blastomere Biopsy Ups IVF Implantation Rates.
Jun 01, 2000; ... CHICAGO -- Blastomere biopsy of IVF embryos to perform preimplantation genetic analysis may decrease spontaneous abortions due to abnormal karyotype, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Gynecologic Investigation. "Recent statistics show that ...
Blastocyst Transfer Not Always Best for Some Patients.
Jun 01, 2000; ... CHICAGO -- For some patients blastocyst transfer would really be no more successful than older in vitro fertilization methods but a lot more stressful, according to an expert at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. "We do not do blastocyst transfer at Baylor, and if you ...
Cauterization Rivals More Costly Salpingectomy.
Jun 01, 2000; ... ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. - Cauterization of hydrosalpinges before in vitro fertilization is comparable to salpingectomy in improving pregnancy rates, according to the results of a small prospective trial. Hydrosalpinges are thought to hinder implantation through leakage of fluid ...
Female Age a Big Factor in Pregnancy Rate After Reversal of Long-Term Vasectomies.
Jun 01, 2000; ... RANCHO MIRAGE, CALIF.-- Female age plays a major role in the ability of vasectomy reversal procedures to enable pregnancy Dr. Richard Burt reported at the annual meeting of the Pacific Coast Reproductive Society. In a retrospective study of 115 men who underwent vasectomy ...
Data Back Chlamydia Antibody Testing During Infertility Exams.
Jun 01, 2000; ... RANCHO MIRAGE, CALIF.- Serologic testing for past chlamydial exposure should be a standard part of infertility exams as a means of detecting tubal pathology Dr. Laura M. Doherty advised at the annual meeting of the Pacific Coast Reproductive Society. Positive chlamydial ...
Race Plays Predictive Role in Incontinence Subtypes.
Jun 01, 2000; ... NEW ORLEANS -- Race appears to be an important predictor of incontinence subtype in patients who present with symptoms of the urinary form of the disorder, Dr. Veronica Mallett said at the annual meeting of the Society of Gynecologic Surgeons. African American women are more ...
Hereditary Ovarian Ca Less Deadly Than Sporadic Cancer.
Jun 01, 2000; ... Women with hereditary ovarian cancers associated with mutations in the BRCA genes had a better prognosis than women with sporadic ovarian cancers, in a single center series of 189 patients. This finding supports prior reports that have shown a similar link between BRCA mutations ...
Older Age Portends More Favorable Breast Tumor Biology, Better Survival Rates.
Jun 01, 2000; ... Advanced age is associated with more favorable tumor biology among women with breast cancer, reported Dr. Sami G. Diab of Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers, Aurora, Cob:, and her associates. In addition, it appears that the impact of breast cancer on a patient's expected survival ...
Nucleotide Ups Breast Ca Risk in BRCA1, 2 Carriers.
Jun 01, 2000; ... SAN FRANCISCO -- A specific nucleotide polymorphism has been associated with more than a threefold increased risk of breast cancer in women who carry BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations, researchers have found. If confirmed by larger studies, the finding is suggestive of at least one ...
Chemotherapy Tied to Cognitive Deficits in Long-Term Ca Survivors.
Jun 01, 2000; ... TAMPA, FLA. -- Long-term cancer survivors treated with systemic chemotherapy appear to have more cognitive problems than similar patients treated with local therapy. Patients often report subtle problems with memory, simple math, and reading that are noticeable to them and have ...
Dose HRT to Mimic Normal Onset of Puberty.
Jun 01, 2000; ... ATLANTA -- Few data exist regarding hormone replacement therapy for estrogen-deficient girls, but there are good arguments for providing the therapy Dr. Susan M. Coupey said at the annual meeting of the North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology Inducing ...
Chlamydia Screening of Young Women Still Low.
Jun 01, 2000; ... Seven years after an official recommendation to regularly screen sexually active adolescent girls and young women for Chlamydia trachomatis genital infection, only about one-third of primary care physicians have made screening a part of their routine practice, according to a ...
Check for Musculoskeletal Causes Of Pelvic Pain in Adolescents.
Jun 01, 2000; ... ATLANTA -- Pelvic pain is common in adolescence and often is the result of musculoskeletal problems that respond well to physical therapy, Dr. Betsy L. Schroeder said at the annual meeting of the North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology. In a retrospective ...
Educate Teens on Downsides Of Vaginal Douching.
Jun 01, 2000; ... ATLANTA -- It might be time to spell out the downsides of vaginal douching to adolescent ob.gyn. patients, Dr. Bertrand Foch suggested at the annual meeting of the North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology. In a survey of 169 girls aged 19 years or younger, ...
Medical Abortion Found Safe for Young Women.
Jun 01, 2000; ... ATLANTA -- Medical abortion using methotrexate and misoprostol is just as effective, safe, and satisfactory in adolescents and young women as it is in older patients, according to findings from a 1,973-patient study conducted at 34 Planned Parenthood clinics nationwide. Among ...
Adolescents Need Reminders of Next Depo-Provera Injection.
Jun 01, 2000; ... ATLANTA -- Injectable birth control methods may eliminate day-to-day noncompliance problems among young women, but many adolescents who use Depo-Provera are unaware of when their next shot is due, Linda M. Kollar, R.N., reported at the annual meeting of the North American Society for ...
Atypical Presentation of Genital Herpes Increasing, Expert Observes.
Jun 01, 2000; ... ATLANTA -- Genital herpes in women doesn't always involve genital ulcers. Increasingly, patients are presenting with small tears in the genital area and complaints of dryness and tingling, Dr. Kimberly A. Workowski said at the annual meeting of the North American Society for ...
Cancer Death Rates Continue to Fall.
Jun 01, 2000 ... During the 1990s, the age-adjusted mortality rate for all cancers in the United States fell. Yet, the population of the United States continued to increase. Since most cancers occur in individuals over age ...
Try Hysterosonography to ID Abnormal Bleeding.
Jun 01, 2000; ... SAN FRANCISCO -- Women with abnormal bleeding and normal transvaginal sonographic findings probably should be examined with hysterosonography just to be safe, Dr. Michael Nimaroff recommended at the annual meeting of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine. In a study ...
Effect of Vitamins E, C On Endometriosis Probed.
Jun 01, 2000; ... VAIL, CoLo. -- Researchers from Emory University in Atlanta have started a 1-year study funded by the National Institutes of Health on the effects of vitamins C and E on endometriosis and fertility. "We have already described endometriosis as a disease of oxidative stress," Dr ....
Hysterosonography Proves Useful Adjunct.
Jun 01, 2000; ... SAN FRANCISCO -- Consider using both transvaginal ultrasound and hysterosonography to monitor the endometrium of breast cancer survivors taking tamoxifen, Dr. Phebe Chen said at the annual meeting of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine. Results of an 11-patient ...
Ultrasound Reliably Diagnoses Endometriomas.
Jun 01, 2000; ... SAN FRANCISCO -- When an experienced sonographer thinks that an adnexal mass seen on endovaginal ultrasound is an endometrioma, it usually is, Dr. Kiran A. Jain said at the annual meeting of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine. In a prospective investigation, she ...
Radiotherapy Improves Control of Endometrial Ca.
Jun 01, 2000; ... Postoperative radiotherapy in early-stage endometrial carcinoma improves locoregional control but has no impact on overall survival, according to results from the largest randomized, controlled trial yet to address this issue. The finding suggests that postoperative radiotherapy ...
Asthmatics' Long-Term Steroid Use Hard on Bone.
Jun 01, 2000; ... Long-term use of high doses of inhaled corticosteroids may predispose asthmatics to osteoporosis, according to results from a study of nearly 200 patients conducted by investigators in England. The finding supports using the lowest doses of inhaled corticosteroids that ...
Correction.
Jun 01, 2000 ... In a story about Dr. Steven R. Cummings's comments on bone mineral density loss after treatment, 92% of those who lost BMD lost over 4% BMD ...
Bone Densitometry May Mislead Physicians About Osteoporosis Care.
Jun 01, 2000; ... BETHESDA, MD. -- Bone densitometry has "revolutionized the understanding and prevention of osteoporosis," but it has also confused osteoporosis treatment and monitoring, Dr. Steven R. Cummings said at a meeting on bone densitometry sponsored by the National Institutes of Health. ...
Alendronate's Effect on LongTerm Bone Strength Questioned.
Jun 01, 2000; ... SEATTLE -- Physicians should think twice before prescribing alendronate long term in women younger than 65 for the prevention of osteoporosis, Dr. Susan Ott advised at a meeting on drug therapy sponsored by the University of Washington. Clinical trials have shown that ...
Fluoridated Water Not Tied To Hip Fracture.
Jun 01, 2000; ... Ingestion of highly fluoridated drinking water does not correlate with an increased rate of hip fracture, reported Dr. Sharon Hillier of the University of Southampton (England) and her associates. In a case-control, population-based study of 1,041 men and women aged 50 and ...
Independent Risk Factors for Wrist Fractures Identified.
Jun 01, 2000; ... ORLANDO, FLA. -- The major risk factors for distal radius fractures in postmenopausal women have been identified in a large multi-center trial sponsored by the National Institutes of Health. According to the findings of the study independent risk factors such as low bone mineral ...
Racial Gap in Cervical Ca Death Rates Due to Care.
Jun 01, 2000; ... SAN DIEGO -- Higher death rates from cervical cancer in African Americans, compared with whites, disappear or at least diminish with equal access to care and treatment, according to two studies presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists. In a ...
Brief Phone Reminder Boosts Mammography.
Jun 01, 2000; ... A brief telephone reminder to schedule a mammogram appointment was as effective as a longer, "motivational" phone call in prompting women to get screened, reported Dr. Stephen H. Taplin and his associates at the Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Seattle. Both ...
Physical Activity Reduces Breast Ca Risk by 60%.
Jun 01, 2000; ... BETHESDA, MD. -- Having consistently high levels of recreational physical activity dramatically reduces the risk of breast cancer in older women, Rosalind Breslow, Ph.D., said at the annual meeting of the American Society of Preventive Oncology. She studied the association ...
Discuss Breast Ca Options With Healthy Women.
Jun 01, 2000; ... BETHESDA, MD. -- Healthy women need to be better informed about treatment options for breast cancer, so they are prepared to make the difficult choice between lumpectomy and mastectomy if they ever develop the disease, Dr. DeAnn Lazovich said at the annual meeting of the American Society ...
IVF Success Drops Greatly At Age 34.
Jun 01, 2000; ... RANCHO MIRAGE, CALIF. -- The potential for a successful pregnancy following in vitro fertilization drops sharply at 34 years as a result of reduced implantation rates, and again at 39 years because of impaired blastocyst formation. Those are the main findings of a retrospective ...
Add Hyperthermia to Radiation Tx in Cervical Ca.
Jun 01, 2000; ... Adding hyperthermia to standard radiation therapy improves both local control of advanced cervical cancer and patient survival, reported Dr. Jacoba van der Zee and associates at the Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam. They analyzed the combined results of two prospective studies ...
Symptoms Precede Ovarian Ca Diagnosis.
Jun 01, 2000; ... BETHESDA, MD. -- Most women with ovarian cancer notice abdominal symptoms and fatigue in the months preceding their diagnosis, while healthy women do not report such symptoms, Dr. Laura Mignone said at the annual meeting of the American Society of Preventive Oncology. Few ...
SUPREME COURT ABORTION CASE.
Jun 01, 2000; ... The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in April on the constitutionality of a Nebraska law that attempts to outlaw a particular form of late-term abortion. Proponents of the law argue that it only covers a certain late-term procedure known as "dilation and extraction," which involves ...
PROFESSIONAL COURTESY REPRIEVE.
Jun 01, 2000; ... The Health Care Financing Administration won't be cracking down on "professional courtesy" waivers for physician visit fees, according to new regulations. The regulations lay out penalties emanating from the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, a law passed by Congress in ...
TELEMEDICINE TRAFFIC.
Jun 01, 2000; ... The number of telemedicine consults grew by 24% in 1998, according to a recent report from the Association of Telehealth Service Providers, Portland, Ore. There were 52,000 telemedicine consultations--defined as both doctor/patient and doctor/doctor interactions--in 1998, up 10,000 from ...
SOCIOECONOMICS OF HRT.
Jun 01, 2000; ... Women with high incomes, more education; and more frequent gynecologic visits were counseled more often regarding postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy, according to the North American Menopause Society. The Gallup Organization surveyed 750 women aged 50-65 and found that 88% of women ...
HERPES MISCONCEPTIONS.
Jun 01, 2000; ... Many adults who actually have a high risk of acquiring herpes consider themselves to be at no risk, according to a survey of 1,400 people conducted for the American Social Health Association. Researchers found that 46% of men and 39% of women believe they're not at risk for the disease ...
Weight Loss Is Telling.
Jun 01, 2000; ... Weight loss or gain in older hypertensive patients is strongly predictive of subsequent mortality, Dr. Grant W. Somes reported at the annual meeting on cardiovascular epidemiology and prevention sponsored by the American Heart Association. The association exists irrespective of ...
Quality Coming to HT Care.
Jun 01, 2000; ... Next year health care quality assurance will turn its spotlight on office management of hypertension when the Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set measures of quality will include reporting on physician diagnosis and control of hypertension, using the Joint National Committee on ...
Colorectal Ca Screening.
Jun 01, 2000; ... Routine colorectal cancer screening should be recommended for patients age 50 and older, experts advised at an annual meeting for science writers sponsored by the American Cancer Society. Public knowledge about the third most common cancer is woefully inadequate in part because ...
Eating Right After Age 30.
Jun 01, 2000; ... Regardless of the composition of patients diets up to the age of 30, if they improve their diets thereafter, they will reduce their risk of colorectal adenomas, Dr. Brian C. Chiu said at the annual meeting of the American Society of Preventive Oncology. Few studies have examined ...
Substance Abuse? Look at Hx.
Jun 01, 2000; ... Screen everyone receiving substance abuse treatment for a history of childhood abuse and neglect. That's the first step in breaking the cycle of abuse in these individuals, according to new guidelines from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Most ...
When to Refer Familial Hives.
Jun 01, 2000; ... Familial chronic urticaria is associated with thyroid autoimmunity, according to results of a study of two siblings and a third family member. The finding underscores the importance of taking a careful family history and seeking laboratory evidence of thyroid autoimmunity in ...
Referring Acute Rhinosinusitis.
Jun 01, 2000; ... Consider referring patients with recurrent acute rhinosinusitis to an otolaryngologist, Dr. Howard L. Levine said at a meeting on treating the difficult headache patient. These patients may have a deviated septum or another anatomic abnormality obstructing the outflow from the ...