OB GYN News back issues from April 2006:
Good early results for ovarian CA test.(Gynecology)
Apr 01, 2006; ... PASADENA, CALIF. -- A panel of biomarker proteins developed by California researchers was able to diagnose early-stage mucinous ovarian cancer tumors with 100% sensitivity and specificity in a small study. In contrast, the biomarker CA 125 accurately predicted just 67% of ...
Medicaid is the largest individual category of all spending by states.(VITAL SIGNS)
Apr 01, 2006 ... <Pre> Medicaid Is the Largest Individual Category Of All Spending by States Medicaid23% Elementary and secondary education 22% Higher education11% Transportation 8% Other...
WHI data support existing RDA for calcium, vitamin D: results fall short of hip fracture benefit.(Gynecology)
Apr 01, 2006; ... BETHESDA, MD. -- The current recommended dietary allowance for calcium of 1,200 mg/day for people older than 50 was supported by the results of the calcium and vitamin D trial that was part of the Women's Health Initiative. Although the trial's results failed to prove the ...
Oxytocin averts placental retention, cuts blood loss.(Obstetrics)(Clinical report)
Apr 01, 2006; ... MIAMI BEACH -- Intraumbilical vein injection with oxytocin following cord clamp was effective for preventing placental retention and reducing postpartum blood loss in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal ...
Low estradiol tied to reduced stroke risk.(News)
Apr 01, 2006; ... KISSIMMEE, FLA. -- Serum endogenous estradiol levels in postmenopausal women appear to affect stroke risk, and raloxifene treatment may reduce that risk in patients with high levels of the naturally occurring estrogen, Dr. Jennifer S. Lee reported at the 31st International Stroke ...
South Dakota enacts far-reaching abortion ban.(News)
Apr 01, 2006; ... The sweeping abortion ban signed into law last month in South Dakota has sent shock waves through reproductive medicine and could lead to a Supreme Court showdown on the legality of abortion. The law makes it a felony to perform an abortion except in cases where the mother's ...
ACIP recommends Tdap for health care workers.(News)
Apr 01, 2006; ... ATLANTA -- Health care workers in hospitals or ambulatory care settings and those who have direct patient contact should receive the adolescent/adult formulation of the tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis vaccine, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for ...
More U.S. medical graduates match to ob.gyn.(News)
Apr 01, 2006; ... For the second year in a row, the number of U.S. medical graduates who have matched to residency positions in obstetrics and gynecology has increased. This year, 1,154 ob.gyn. residency positions were offered. Of those, 97.9% were filled--72.4% by U.S. medical graduates. The ...
How to slash accounts receivable.(physicians patient accounts receivable)(Column)
Apr 01, 2006; ... Quick, what's the largest asset on your balance sheet? Almost certainly it's accounts receivable. Many physicians fail to realize that, and many fail to appreciate that aggressive management of accounts receivable is key to any practice's financial success, particularly in the current ...
Pain relievers.(Opinion)(Cartoon)
Apr 01, 2006 ... "It's e-mail from ...
Canada to supply varicella postexposure prophylaxis.(Obstetrics)
Apr 01, 2006; ... The dwindling U.S. supply of varicella-zoster immune globulin has been replenished with a new unlicensed product made available under a Food and Drug Administration investigational new drug application, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. An expanded ...
Bleeding, pathogens combined increase risk of preterm birth.(Obstetrics)
Apr 01, 2006; ... MIAMI BEACH -- Unexplained vaginal bleeding and fetal exposure to oral pathogens have been linked individually with spontaneous preterm birth, and new data suggest the presence of both is associated with greater risk than either alone. Of 660 pregnancies analyzed, 229 (35%) ...
Expedite assessment of postpartum blood loss.(Obstetrics)
Apr 01, 2006; ... KAILUA KONA, HAWAII -- By the time you detect changes in maternal blood pressure or heart rate suggesting postpartum hemorrhage, the woman already has lost a third of her blood volume, Dr. George R. Saade said at a conference on obstetrics, gynecology, perinatal medicine, neonatology, and ...
Fetal lung volume gain with FETO 'impressive'.(Obstetrics)(Fetoscopic endoluminal tracheal occlusion)(Clinical report)
Apr 01, 2006; ... MIAMI BEACH -- Fetoscopic endoluminal tracheal occlusion, or FETO, results in "impressive" relative increases in lung volume in cases of severe congenital diaphragmatic hernia, Dr. Jacques C. Jani reported at the annual meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. In ...
Plan B has limited effect on bleeding patterns.(Gynecology)
Apr 01, 2006; ... BOSTON -- A single dose of Plan B (levonorgestrel) alters the timing and duration of the menstrual period that immediately follows emergency contraception, according to a new study. Taken early in the cycle, it causes the menstrual period to commence earlier than usual. Taken late in the ...
Anemia may be marker for poor cancer outcomes.(Gynecology)
Apr 01, 2006; ... DENVER -- Anemia is probably a symptom rather than a cause of radiation-therapy failure in women with cervical cancer, Dr. Patricia J. Eifel asserted at the annual meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology. "In the past, I think the hypothesis that ...
WHI low-fat diet flawed; some benefit shown.(Gynecology)
Apr 01, 2006; ... BETHESDA, MD. -- The biggest problem with the diet modification study of the Women's Health Initiative was the diet. Not enough women stuck with it, and it had an outdated design. Despite these flaws, the trial's results, first reported in February, came close to proving that a ...
HT for hot flashes didn't improve quality of life.(Gynecology)
Apr 01, 2006; ... BETHESDA, MD. -- Now that results from the Women's Health Initiative have shot down hormone therapy as a way to prevent coronary events, dementia, and urinary incontinence in postmenopausal women, the only indication left standing has been relief of menopausal symptoms, especially ...
Do older women trust mammography too well?(Gynecology)
Apr 01, 2006; ... ORLANDO -- Older women with a family history of breast cancer place extraordinary faith in mammography over clinical breast exam for reassurance about their breast health, according to Karen Greco, R.N., Ph.D., lead investigator of a small, qualitative study on mammography decision making ...
Integrated PET-CT best for detecting recurrent ovarian ca.(Gynecology)
Apr 01, 2006; ... CHICAGO -- The accuracy of PET-CT for detecting recurrent ovarian cancer is high, Dr. Sunit Sebastian said at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America. The diagnosis of early recurrence is challenging due to the small size of peritoneal metastases, he ...
Diet adherence, not diet type is the key to success.(Clinical Rounds)
Apr 01, 2006; ... SAN FRANCISCO -- The right diet for your patient is the one she can stick to, Dr. Corey H. Evans said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Family Physicians. "Adherence is the key to success in losing weight," Dr. Evans, a family physician in St. Petersburg, Fla., ...
Watch for antipsychotic-induced rise in prolactin.(Clinical Rounds)
Apr 01, 2006; ... NEW YORK -- Antipsychotics can induce elevated levels of prolactin that may require dosage changes or medication switches, Dr. Harold E. Carlson said at a psychopharmacology update sponsored by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Psychiatrists may refer ...
Antidepressant study may allay suicide risk fears: looking at patients both before and after treatment reveals risk drops 60% in first month of medication.(Clinical Rounds)
Apr 01, 2006; ... Psychiatrists say a new study should help convince the public that newer antidepressants do not appear to be associated with a high risk of suicide. In the study of about 60,000 enrollees at Group Health Cooperative (GHC), a nonprofit health care system based in Seattle, the ...
Quantitative assessment vital in depression management.(Clinical Rounds)
Apr 01, 2006; ... Routine, quantitative measurement of depression symptoms and treatment side effects at every clinical visit may help physicians to determine when to change their prescribing patterns for treating depression, findings from the STAR*D study suggest. The results of STAR*D ...
Melasma is prevalent across many racial groups.(Clinical Rounds)(Clinical report)
Apr 01, 2006; ... PARK CITY, UTAH -- Melasma is a chronic, relapsing condition occurring across racial groups, Dr. Susan C. Taylor said at a clinical dermatology seminar sponsored by Medicis. Although the pigmentation disorder is seen primarily as a complication of pregnancy, Dr. Taylor said her ...
Extra vitamin D intake favored over sun exposure.(Clinical Rounds)
Apr 01, 2006; ... SAN FRANCISCO -- The burning issue of how best to make sure that patients get enough vitamin D comes down to this conclusion: Recommending intentional exposure to the sun's rays is inappropriate, Dr. Henry W. Lim said. Instead, for patients at risk of vitamin D deficiency ...
Glucosamine, chondroitin fail in knee OA trial: the two dietary supplements did not curb pain in the initial GAIT study and will be tested further.(Clinical Rounds)
Apr 01, 2006; ... The dietary supplements glucosamine HCl and chondroitin sulfate failed to show overall efficacy for pain relief in osteoarthritis of the knee in a large double-blind trial, but questions concerning their potential benefits in patients with more severe pain remain, as do suggestions that ...
Childhood exposure to infection may protect women from RA.(Clinical Rounds)
Apr 01, 2006; ... Healthy female babies might not make such healthy adults, at least when it comes to rheumatoid arthritis, according to a group of British researchers. Exposure to infection in early childhood may help protect women from developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA), reported Dr. C.J ....
AMA's pay-for-performance pact ruffles feathers.(Practice Trends)
Apr 01, 2006; ... Specialty organizations are concerned that the American Medical Association is unilaterally setting performance goals that doctors won't be able to meet. A recent agreement between the AMA and leaders in Congress outlines an ambitious 2-year time line for establishing ...
Physician writers share their zeal for storytelling.(THE REST OF YOUR LIFE)
Apr 01, 2006; ... Dr. Robert H. Bartlett was so mad that he had to find a way to channel his anger. He chose written words. It was the late 1970s and Dr. Bartlett was on the surgery faculty at the University of California, Irvine. He also directed the university's burn center. A lawyer asked him ...
Reforms proposed to limit conflicts of interest: existing guidelines 'are not sufficiently stringent' and let professionalism and patient care be undermined.(Practice Trends)
Apr 01, 2006; ... The relationship between physicians and the makers of pharmaceuticals and medical devices now is so fraught with conflicts of interest that broad reforms regulating their interactions are essential, according to a group of medical ethics experts. Industry-sponsored events, the ...
Health care industry is exhorted to lean toward green.(Practice Trends)
Apr 01, 2006; ... LA JOLLA, CALIF. -- The link between environmental toxins and cancer and other diseases is so suggestive that health care professionals must do all they can to diminish the risks to public health, Dr. Mitchell L. Gaynor declared at a meeting on natural supplements in evidence-based ...
MedPAC backs reimbursement hike for physicians.(Practice Trends)
Apr 01, 2006; ... The committee advising Congress on Medicare payments has called for reimbursement increases for physicians and hospitals next year, but is proposing to slow the growth rate for hospital payments. In its March report, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) called for a ...
Misconceptions on menstruation.(POLICY & PRACTICE)
Apr 01, 2006; ... Many women have little knowledge about how their menstrual cycle works, according to the results of a recent national poll commissioned by the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals. For example, about two-thirds of women surveyed said it is "natural" for a woman to get her ...
States vary on contraceptive access.(POLICY & PRACTICE)
Apr 01, 2006; ... According to a new analysis from the Guttmacher Institute, California, Alaska, South Carolina, Alabama, and New York are setting a national example of how to reduce unintended pregnancies in the United States, while Nebraska, North Dakota, Indiana, Ohio, and Utah are falling short in ...
Environmental fertility risks.(environmental contaminants induces infertility risks)(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2006; ... More research and improved testing are needed to gauge the impact of environmental toxins on reproductive health and fertility, said Resolve: The National Infertility Association, which is calling on researchers to look into exposure from cigarette smoke, alcohol, heavy metals, plastics, ...
Wisconsin doctors want cap back.(POLICY & PRACTICE)
Apr 01, 2006; ... Wisconsin doctors hailed the state assembly's passage of a bill from Rep. Curt Gielow (R) that would reinstate a cap on noneconomic damages at $750,000. The 10-year-old cap was overturned by the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 2005, "throwing Wisconsin's once envied medical liability system ...
Antiabortion protesters win ruling.(POLICY & PRACTICE)
Apr 01, 2006; ... In the latest abortion-related court ruling, the Supreme Court decided that a federal extortion law--the Hobbs Act--cannot be used against antiabortion protesters. In the cases Scheidler v. National Organization for Women, and Operation Rescue v. National Organization for Women, the court ...
Diabetes-related birth defects are preventable.(MASTER CLASS)
Apr 01, 2006; ... The World Health Organization judges the health of a country largely by its infant mortality rate. On this measure, the United States ranks 21st in the world. If we intend to improve the health of the nation, we must aggressively focus on reducing the two most significant contributors to ...
Self-adhesive, disposable eye shields.(PRODUCTS)
Apr 01, 2006 ... MEDshields eyewear are disposable, antifog eye shields that adhere to the user's face with a medical-grade, hypoallergenic adhesive. They are designed ...
Kit spells out a reminder.(PRODUCTS)
Apr 01, 2006 ... The Joint Commission Resources' "Spell It Out!" kit includes items to remind physicians and staff about the list of do-not-use abbreviations and the rationale for spelling out the terms. The kit ...
Test identifies flu A or B.(PRODUCTS)
Apr 01, 2006 ... The BD Directigen Flu A+B test kit differentiates flu A from flu B in two steps. In addition, analytical studies have demonstrated that the kit can detect avian influenza (H5N1) ...
Personal Medical Record.(PRODUCTS)
Apr 01, 2006 ... The Healthcare Personal Medical Record is a passport-sized, fill-in-the-blank book that patients can use to collect medical information physicians need. It includes an acute medical visit template and ...
Technology offers CPR feedback.(PRODUCTS)
Apr 01, 2006 ... Q-CPR provides real-time cardiopulmonary resuscitation monitoring and feedback for advanced life support-trained responders. The technology is available on the HeartStart MRx monitor/defibrillator and offers corrective feedback on the ...
Help for health care IT adoption.(Agency for Healthcare Research web site)(www.healthit.ahrq.gov)(Website overview)(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2006 ... The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has a Web site featuring tools and resources to help health care providers adopt information technologies quickly and effectively. The ...
Web site offers bulimia resources.(FYIS)
Apr 01, 2006 ... ECRI, a nonprofit health services research agency, has launched a Web site to provide comprehensive, evidence-based resources for those affected by ...
FDA has Patient Safety News video.(FYIS)
Apr 01, 2006 ... The Food and Drug Administration's Patient Safety News is a video news series that offers information about recently approved drugs, biologics, and medical ...
Elective cesarean: honor her choice.(C-section on maternal request)
Apr 15, 2006; ... WASHINGTON -- Any decision between cesarean delivery by maternal request or trial of labor ultimately lies with the woman, once the potential risks and benefits associated with C-section have been discussed, concluded an independent panel of experts on cesarean section. "Her ...
High-dose vitamin C, E may increase preeclampsia risk: new study reverses antioxidant findings.(Obstetrics)
Apr 15, 2006; ... TORONTO -- High-dose antioxidant supplementation may be harmful in pregnant women at risk for preeclampsia, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Gynecologic Investigation. The study, comparing placebo with high daily doses of vitamins C (1,000 ...
FDA advisory panel okays icodextrin for adhesions.(Food and Drug Administration)(Innovata PLC)(Clinical report)
Apr 15, 2006; ... GAITHERSBURG, MD. -- A 4% icodextrin solution was recommended for approval by a Food and Drug Administration Advisory Committee for the reduction of postsurgical adhesions in women undergoing gynecologic laparoscopic surgery that includes adhesiolysis. If approved by the FDA, ...
Trial results sink homocysteine theory in CVD.(News)
Apr 15, 2006; ... ATLANTA -- The homocysteine hypothesis for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease appears to be dead. Reports in March from two large, separate intervention trials failed to show any benefit from supplements of folic acid and B vitamins in patients with proven vascular ...
High vitamin D intake in pregnancy lowers childhood risk of asthma.(News)
Apr 15, 2006; ... MIAMI BEACH -- High maternal vitamin D intake in pregnancy may help protect children from asthma and wheezing illnesses during early childhood, results of a large prospective study suggest. In multivariate analyses, every 100-IU increase in maternal vitamin D intake was ...
Human death toll from bird flu rises as researchers worry.(News)
Apr 15, 2006; ... Egyptian authorities have reported their country's first human death from avian influenza--which, if confirmed, would mark Africa's first human fatality from the disease. The 30-year-old woman from an area near Cairo developed symptoms and died following close contact with ...
Two more deaths may be connected to mifepristone use.(News)
Apr 15, 2006; ... Two additional deaths following medical abortion with mifepristone (Mifeprex) have prompted the Food and Drug Administration to issue a public health advisory alerting health care providers and advising review of the prescribing information. The drug's manufacturer, Danco ...
Maternal asthma linked to prematurity, LBW.(News)
Apr 15, 2006; ... MIAMI -- Maternal asthma was a significant risk factor for premature birth and low birth weight, even if the mother's asthma was diagnosed years before delivery, Dr. Joel Liem reported at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. "Physicians ...
Infant formula recalled due to metal particles.(News)
Apr 15, 2006; ... Mead Johnson & Co. has recalled 41,464 24-oz. cans of Gentlease powdered infant formula because samples from this batch were found to contain metal particles up to 2.7 mm in size. Such particles could present a serious risk to an infant's throat, as well as to the respiratory ...
Antiangiogenic state may be key in preeclampsia.(News)
Apr 15, 2006; ... MIAMI BEACH -- Serum levels of soluble endoglin and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 are increased months before onset of clinical disease in patients with preeclampsia, Dr. Richard Levine said at the annual meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. The findings ...
Late progesterone also cuts repeat preterm births.(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Apr 15, 2006; ... MIAMI BEACH -- Progesterone prevents recurrent preterm delivery to the same degree whether it is initiated earlier or later in the second trimester, according to a poster presentation at the annual meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. "We were thinking that those ...
The perils of pay for performance.(GUEST EDITORIAL)
Apr 15, 2006; ... The concept of quality improvement in medical practice is laudable, but the "pay-for-performance" method--in which physicians are financially rewarded for reaching certain goals set by panels of "experts"--is particularly offensive to our professional identity. Are we, like ...
Win a video-capable iPod!(Opinion)
Apr 15, 2006 ... It's time again for our annual Clinical Pearls contest. This year we are awarding video-capable iPods to six lucky winners. Bruce L. Flamm, M.D., will select the top six entries, which will be featured in upcoming columns. Ways to Submit Your Entry 1. Drop off your ...
A previously established link.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
Apr 15, 2006; ... I was quite surprised to read the assertion by Dr. Anuja Dokras of the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics that the results of research she had conducted show "for the first time that depression in PCOS patients is significantly associated with both high body mass index (BMI) and ...
Connecting the musical docs.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
Apr 15, 2006; ... I was surprised to see the recent article on music, since I had just returned from playing in the 30th year of the Chicago "Do-It-Yourself Messiah" concerts--I play the trumpet ("Physicians of Note Share Their Love for Music," The Rest of Your Life, Dec. 1, 2005, p. 32). In ...
My sentiments exactly.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
Apr 15, 2006; ... I appreciated Dr. Jerold J. Kreisman's recent comments ("Defending the Drug Man," Guest Editorial, Jan. 15, 2006, p. 9). I resent the assumption that without intrusive bureaucracies and uncountable regulations, I would engage in irresponsible and unethical conduct. The ...
Five studies that could change obstetric practices.(Obstetrics)
Apr 15, 2006; ... KAILUA KONA, HAWAII -- Five studies may change the way physicians think about prolonged premature rupture of membranes, perinatal stroke in the fetus, and other topics, Dr. Michael A. Belfort said at a conference on obstetrics, gynecology, perinatal medicine, neonatology, and the law. ...
Set low threshold for appendectomy in pregnant women.(Obstetrics)
Apr 15, 2006; ... PASADENA, CALIF. -- The diagnosis of appendicitis can, of course, be exquisitely difficult in a nonpregnant patient. Pregnancy only makes the task more daunting. However, the challenge must be met because early diagnosis and prompt surgery may mean the difference between life ...