Queensland's female sex workers have similar levels of job satisfaction, physical health and mental well-being as women in the general population.
This is a key finding from an in-depth study into prostitution in Queensland by Queensland University of Technology PhD researcher Charrlotte Seib.
Ms Seib, from the School of Public Health, surveyed 247 female sex workers aged between 18 and 57 years located throughout Queensland.
She found that legal sex workers - those who worked in licensed brothels or who were registered to work from home - reported similar job satisfaction to women in the general community.
However, illegal sex workers - those who solicited in the street - had lower job satisfaction than other workers.
"The general picture is that those women whose families know about their work reported greater job satisfaction than those who kept their work secret," Ms Seib said.
"When asked their reasons for entering the sex industry, 82 per cent cited financial reasons, 52 per cent indicated that working in the sex industry offered good money and flexible working hours and 39 per cent said they had a particular goal in mind such as a new car, a house or a holiday."
The study also found that, contrary to the popular stereotype that sex workers came from socially disadvantaged backgrounds, one in four women surveyed had a Bachelor degree or higher, and 63 per cent were employed before they entered the industry.
Overall, sex workers had similar mental health to women from the general community, although illegal "street" workers reported greater psychological difficulty.
"The reasons for this are complex. Often, illegal sex workers had left home at an early age and for negative reasons (such as child abuse), and they were more likely to suffer violence at work and were more likely to use illicit drugs," Ms Seib said.
"The violence reported by illegal sex workers is of concern and illegal sex workers have little protection. Overall, 52 per cent of women in this group had been raped or bashed by a client in the past year compared with 12 per cent of private workers and just 3 per cent of brothel workers."
Ms Seib said the Queensland law had created two different sex industries - one that was protective and one that disadvantaged sex workers.
"Legalisation of this industry was been effective for those working within legal boundaries. However, street-based sex workers continue to be at significant risk."
She said policies and strategies should be extended to all sex workers and new strategies for managing health and safety risks should be considered.
"For example, strategies such as decriminalising street solicitation in specified areas, providing safe houses or repealing the laws that prevent two or more women working together would offer some protection," Ms Seib said.
Ms Seib's research involved close collaboration with QUT, sex workers, the Queensland Prostitution Licensing Authority, the Police Service, commercial sex industry owners, public health agencies and the University of Queensland.
"This collaboration is an example of how public health practice bridges the divide between social groups that often are opposed. The essence of our approach is to focus on the people first. Discrimination and stigma are the enemies of clear thinking and an inclusive society," Ms Seib said.
qut.edu.au
понедельник, 11 июня 2012 г.
понедельник, 4 июня 2012 г.
Clinical Study Supports Benefit Of Breastfeeding Support For Obese Women
Breastfeeding is best, but what happens when something goes wrong? And why do so many women struggle with this "natural" process even after carefully following all the well-meaning advice they've gotten from their health care providers? Not surprisingly, some women have more difficulty than others and there are many factors associated with experiencing breastfeeding problems - especially in the first week after birth. For example, being African-American, having less than a high school education, and being poor are all associated with suboptimal breastfeeding outcomes. Recent studies also consistently show that being overweight or obese increases the chance that a woman will suffer breastfeeding problems. With burgeoning rates of obesity and a continued public health effort to promote breastfeeding, researchers are scrambling to figure out why overweight women have trouble breastfeeding and what can be done to circumvent this predicament.
On April 25, two talks concerning the potential benefits of intensive breastfeeding support for obese women will be presented at the Experimental Biology 2010 meeting in Anaheim. These presentations are part of the scientific program of the American Society for Nutrition, the nation's leading nutrition research society. Scientists from the University of Connecticut, Hartford's Hispanic Health Council, the Hartford Hospital, and Yale University will speak. Their findings provide compelling evidence that peer counseling and support can substantially improve breastfeeding success among these at-risk ladies.
These studies, which were prompted by a sincere desire to "really understand whether obese women could be more successful at breastfeeding if they have help," were spearheaded by Dr. Donna Chapman, Assistant Director of the Center for Eliminating Health Disparities among Latinos (CEHDL) in Hartford, CT and graduate student Katie Morel. Using a very powerful scientific method employing randomization and intervention groups, Chapman and Morel studied 154 women recruited during pregnancy. All of the women involved in the study were overweight or obese (body mass index > 27 kg/m2) and hoping to successfully breastfeed. In general, the study's subjects were predominantly Puerto Rican, low-income, and had less than a high-school education. Whereas all of the participants received standard information concerning the benefits of breastfeeding, 76 of them were randomly chosen to also receive intensive, hands-on breastfeeding support from specially trained peer counselors. For instance, women in the "intervention" group were visited three times in their homes during late pregnancy and 11 more times in the first few months after birth. During these visits, the peer counselors offered helpful advice to offset immediate problems and were able to provide breast pumps to women needing them. The researchers then documented whether there were benefits of the specialized peer counseling on breastfeeding success, infant health and - in a subset of the women - breastfeeding techniques.
As they had hoped, Chapman and her colleagues found that peer counseling substantially improved breastfeeding success. Whereas 16% and 46% of the women in the "control" group had stopped breastfeeding by 2 and 8 weeks postpartum, respectively, only 7% and 33% of the women in the "intervention" group had stopped. They also documented important effects of personalized breastfeeding support on infant nursing behaviors. And to add even more bang for the buck, babies of mothers who received the extra counseling were 3.5 times less likely to be hospitalized during their first 3 months of life. This was mostly due to lower rates of respiratory infections and fever.
Chapman concluded "With help, obese women can be very successful at breastfeeding. And not surprisingly, the more intensive the support, the more successful they can be." This should be reassuring to both women and their care providers who are striving to do the right thing in terms of maternal and infant care- that is, support the myriad benefits of breastfeeding for both mom and baby.
Dr. Donna Chapman; Katherine Morel (Hispanic Health Council); Nan Kyer, IBCLC (Hispanic Health Council); Sarah Young, RN, MSN, IBCLC (Hartford Hospital); Dr. Rafael Perez-Escamilla (Yale University); Dr. Angela Bermudez-Millan (Hispanic Health Council); and Grace Damio, MS, CD/N (Hispanic Health Council) were co-authors on these studies. Funding for this research was secured by Dr. Rafael Perez-Escamilla (principal investigator) from the Donaghue Foundation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and from NIH NCMHD grant P20MD001765.
Source
Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB)
On April 25, two talks concerning the potential benefits of intensive breastfeeding support for obese women will be presented at the Experimental Biology 2010 meeting in Anaheim. These presentations are part of the scientific program of the American Society for Nutrition, the nation's leading nutrition research society. Scientists from the University of Connecticut, Hartford's Hispanic Health Council, the Hartford Hospital, and Yale University will speak. Their findings provide compelling evidence that peer counseling and support can substantially improve breastfeeding success among these at-risk ladies.
These studies, which were prompted by a sincere desire to "really understand whether obese women could be more successful at breastfeeding if they have help," were spearheaded by Dr. Donna Chapman, Assistant Director of the Center for Eliminating Health Disparities among Latinos (CEHDL) in Hartford, CT and graduate student Katie Morel. Using a very powerful scientific method employing randomization and intervention groups, Chapman and Morel studied 154 women recruited during pregnancy. All of the women involved in the study were overweight or obese (body mass index > 27 kg/m2) and hoping to successfully breastfeed. In general, the study's subjects were predominantly Puerto Rican, low-income, and had less than a high-school education. Whereas all of the participants received standard information concerning the benefits of breastfeeding, 76 of them were randomly chosen to also receive intensive, hands-on breastfeeding support from specially trained peer counselors. For instance, women in the "intervention" group were visited three times in their homes during late pregnancy and 11 more times in the first few months after birth. During these visits, the peer counselors offered helpful advice to offset immediate problems and were able to provide breast pumps to women needing them. The researchers then documented whether there were benefits of the specialized peer counseling on breastfeeding success, infant health and - in a subset of the women - breastfeeding techniques.
As they had hoped, Chapman and her colleagues found that peer counseling substantially improved breastfeeding success. Whereas 16% and 46% of the women in the "control" group had stopped breastfeeding by 2 and 8 weeks postpartum, respectively, only 7% and 33% of the women in the "intervention" group had stopped. They also documented important effects of personalized breastfeeding support on infant nursing behaviors. And to add even more bang for the buck, babies of mothers who received the extra counseling were 3.5 times less likely to be hospitalized during their first 3 months of life. This was mostly due to lower rates of respiratory infections and fever.
Chapman concluded "With help, obese women can be very successful at breastfeeding. And not surprisingly, the more intensive the support, the more successful they can be." This should be reassuring to both women and their care providers who are striving to do the right thing in terms of maternal and infant care- that is, support the myriad benefits of breastfeeding for both mom and baby.
Dr. Donna Chapman; Katherine Morel (Hispanic Health Council); Nan Kyer, IBCLC (Hispanic Health Council); Sarah Young, RN, MSN, IBCLC (Hartford Hospital); Dr. Rafael Perez-Escamilla (Yale University); Dr. Angela Bermudez-Millan (Hispanic Health Council); and Grace Damio, MS, CD/N (Hispanic Health Council) were co-authors on these studies. Funding for this research was secured by Dr. Rafael Perez-Escamilla (principal investigator) from the Donaghue Foundation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and from NIH NCMHD grant P20MD001765.
Source
Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB)
понедельник, 28 мая 2012 г.
The Staggering Costs Of Osteoporosis Revealed By Comprehensive Argentinean Epidemiological Study
The key findings of the article published in April 2010 in the scientific journal Archives of Osteoporosis, include:
In Argentina, bone mineral density studies reveal that one out of three women aged 50 or over suffers from osteoporosis.
The prevalence of vertebral fractures in Argentinean women aged 50 or older is 16%.
Over 34.000 hip fractures occur every year among the 50 years or older population, with an average of 90 fractures per day.
The cost of vertebral and hip osteoporotic fractures is estimated in approximately 250 million dollars per year in Argentina.
Risk factors for hip fracture include cognitive impairment, previous falls, low calcium intake during youth, vitamin D deficiency, advanced age, and current low calcium intake.
The findings were announced at a press conference held by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) Latin America regional office in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Scientific Director Prof. Dr. Jos?© R. Zanchetta provided an update on the incidence of hip fractures and the prevalence of vertebral fractures in Argentina, along with findings from the recent study on epidemiology, costs and burden of osteoporosis in Argentina. The research carried out by Dr. Francisco R. Spivacow and Dr. Ariel S??nchez, was possible thanks to an International Osteoporosis Foundation educational grant and guidelines for research and study methodology on a global basis.
In 2009, the total population of Argentina was slightly over 40 million, with about 10 million inhabitants aged 50 or more. The Argentinean population is expected to grow 13% by 2050, reaching 53 million with 19.5 million people aged 50 or older.
Local bone mineral density studies reveal that two out of four postmenopausal women have osteopenia, one has osteoporosis, and one has a normal bone mineral density. Around 3.3 million women will suffer from osteopenia in 2025 and 5.24 million in 2050. Although the rate of fragility fractures is higher in patients with osteoporosis, the absolute number of fractures is higher in osteopenic patients.
In Argentina, the mean annual rate of hip fractures is 488/100.000 inhabitants aged above 50, with a 2.6:1 ratio women to men. Thus, over 34.000 hip fractures occur every year among the aged population with an average of 90 such fractures per day. The Latin American Vertebral Osteoporosis Study found an overall 16% prevalence of vertebral fractures in Argentinean women aged 50 years or over. (Latin American Vertebral Osteoporosis Study, June 2008).
The research concludes that the hospitalization costs of hip fractures and vertebral fractures in Argentina exceed 250 million USD per year; representing enormous costs to the public health system. These costs do not capture the human and longterm socio-economic impact of osteoporotic fractures, which include loss of quality of life, significant burden of care for families, and in many cases, the loss of independence in old age.
The researchers issued a call to improve the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in an effort to prevent fractures and their resulting socio-economic costs.
Source:
L.Misteli
International Osteoporosis Foundation
In Argentina, bone mineral density studies reveal that one out of three women aged 50 or over suffers from osteoporosis.
The prevalence of vertebral fractures in Argentinean women aged 50 or older is 16%.
Over 34.000 hip fractures occur every year among the 50 years or older population, with an average of 90 fractures per day.
The cost of vertebral and hip osteoporotic fractures is estimated in approximately 250 million dollars per year in Argentina.
Risk factors for hip fracture include cognitive impairment, previous falls, low calcium intake during youth, vitamin D deficiency, advanced age, and current low calcium intake.
The findings were announced at a press conference held by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) Latin America regional office in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Scientific Director Prof. Dr. Jos?© R. Zanchetta provided an update on the incidence of hip fractures and the prevalence of vertebral fractures in Argentina, along with findings from the recent study on epidemiology, costs and burden of osteoporosis in Argentina. The research carried out by Dr. Francisco R. Spivacow and Dr. Ariel S??nchez, was possible thanks to an International Osteoporosis Foundation educational grant and guidelines for research and study methodology on a global basis.
In 2009, the total population of Argentina was slightly over 40 million, with about 10 million inhabitants aged 50 or more. The Argentinean population is expected to grow 13% by 2050, reaching 53 million with 19.5 million people aged 50 or older.
Local bone mineral density studies reveal that two out of four postmenopausal women have osteopenia, one has osteoporosis, and one has a normal bone mineral density. Around 3.3 million women will suffer from osteopenia in 2025 and 5.24 million in 2050. Although the rate of fragility fractures is higher in patients with osteoporosis, the absolute number of fractures is higher in osteopenic patients.
In Argentina, the mean annual rate of hip fractures is 488/100.000 inhabitants aged above 50, with a 2.6:1 ratio women to men. Thus, over 34.000 hip fractures occur every year among the aged population with an average of 90 such fractures per day. The Latin American Vertebral Osteoporosis Study found an overall 16% prevalence of vertebral fractures in Argentinean women aged 50 years or over. (Latin American Vertebral Osteoporosis Study, June 2008).
The research concludes that the hospitalization costs of hip fractures and vertebral fractures in Argentina exceed 250 million USD per year; representing enormous costs to the public health system. These costs do not capture the human and longterm socio-economic impact of osteoporotic fractures, which include loss of quality of life, significant burden of care for families, and in many cases, the loss of independence in old age.
The researchers issued a call to improve the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in an effort to prevent fractures and their resulting socio-economic costs.
Source:
L.Misteli
International Osteoporosis Foundation
понедельник, 21 мая 2012 г.
Genital Arousal Disorder Adversely Impacts Women's Lives
New research shows that women suffering from Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder (PGAD), a condition marked by unprovoked, intrusive and persistent sensations of genital arousal that are unrelieved by one or several orgasms, are likely to experience a variety of associated psychological conditions. Women who have this rare and often distressing condition often experience related depression, anxiety, panic attacks and frequently show a past history of sexual victimization. The condition is accompanied by frustration, guilt, anxiety and distress for the sufferer. The first-ever study on PGAD appears in the current issue of The Journal of Sexual Medicine.
Although exact prevalence figures are unknown, the condition may not be as rare as initially believed. To date, hundreds of women around the world have completed a comprehensive web-based survey posted on a variety of women's health-related websites, inviting women who experienced symptoms of persistent genital arousal to respond. Information concerning the correlating psychological, medical and pharmacological factors was thus able to be identified.
"The complaint of persistent genital arousal deserves serious research attention since it is accompanied by a considerable amount of psychological distress, and yet the cause and treatment remain undefined," says Sandra Leiblum, Ph.D., senior author of the study and former President of the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health.
Results from this study suggest that a majority of women who suffer from PGAD also have pre-existing stress related illnesses. However, "PGAD is most certainly not 'all in the mind,' and these women should be assessed thoroughly with empathy and careful attention to their symptoms and history," says David Goldmeier, M.D., co-author of the study. "Although no physical illness or medication showed up as a cause of PGAD in this study, I would urge women to initially consult a sympathetic physician."
Irwin Goldstein, Editor-in-Chief of The Journal of Sexual Medicine, observed, "Women of all ages, ranging from teens to menopause, currently suffer from this obtrusive sexual problem. More research efforts to better understand and treat this unusual under-inhibited sexual condition are strongly needed."
This manuscript is published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine.
Dr. Sandra Leiblum is a Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at The University of Medicine and Dentistry's Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
Dr. David Goldmeier is a Consultant Physician, Sexual Medicine at the Imperial NHS Trust in London.
Dr. Irwin Goldstein is Director, Sexual Medicine at Alvarado Hospital; Director, San Diego Sexual Medicine, San Diego, California; and Clinical Professor of Surgery, University of California, San Diego.
The Journal of Sexual Medicine publishes multidisciplinary basic science and clinical research to define and understand the scientific basis of male and female sexual function and dysfunction. As the official journal of the International Society for Sexual Medicine and the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health, it provides healthcare professionals in sexual medicine with essential educational content and promotes the exchange of scientific information generated from basic science and clinical research.
For more information please visit blackwell-synergy/loi/jsm.
The International Society for Sexual Medicine (ISSM) was founded in 1982 for the purpose of promoting, throughout the international scientific community, research and knowledge in sexual medicine, considered as the subspeciality area of medicine that embraces the study, diagnosis and treatment of the sexual health concerns of men and women. The society has over 3000 members worldwide, with five regional societies that are affiliated with ISSM: the Africa Gulf Society for Sexual Medicine, Asia Pacific Society for Sexual Medicine, European Society for Sexual Medicine, Latin American Society for Sexual Medicine, and Sexual Medicine Society of North America.
For more information please visit issm/.
Source:
Sean Wagner
Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Although exact prevalence figures are unknown, the condition may not be as rare as initially believed. To date, hundreds of women around the world have completed a comprehensive web-based survey posted on a variety of women's health-related websites, inviting women who experienced symptoms of persistent genital arousal to respond. Information concerning the correlating psychological, medical and pharmacological factors was thus able to be identified.
"The complaint of persistent genital arousal deserves serious research attention since it is accompanied by a considerable amount of psychological distress, and yet the cause and treatment remain undefined," says Sandra Leiblum, Ph.D., senior author of the study and former President of the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health.
Results from this study suggest that a majority of women who suffer from PGAD also have pre-existing stress related illnesses. However, "PGAD is most certainly not 'all in the mind,' and these women should be assessed thoroughly with empathy and careful attention to their symptoms and history," says David Goldmeier, M.D., co-author of the study. "Although no physical illness or medication showed up as a cause of PGAD in this study, I would urge women to initially consult a sympathetic physician."
Irwin Goldstein, Editor-in-Chief of The Journal of Sexual Medicine, observed, "Women of all ages, ranging from teens to menopause, currently suffer from this obtrusive sexual problem. More research efforts to better understand and treat this unusual under-inhibited sexual condition are strongly needed."
This manuscript is published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine.
Dr. Sandra Leiblum is a Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at The University of Medicine and Dentistry's Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
Dr. David Goldmeier is a Consultant Physician, Sexual Medicine at the Imperial NHS Trust in London.
Dr. Irwin Goldstein is Director, Sexual Medicine at Alvarado Hospital; Director, San Diego Sexual Medicine, San Diego, California; and Clinical Professor of Surgery, University of California, San Diego.
The Journal of Sexual Medicine publishes multidisciplinary basic science and clinical research to define and understand the scientific basis of male and female sexual function and dysfunction. As the official journal of the International Society for Sexual Medicine and the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health, it provides healthcare professionals in sexual medicine with essential educational content and promotes the exchange of scientific information generated from basic science and clinical research.
For more information please visit blackwell-synergy/loi/jsm.
The International Society for Sexual Medicine (ISSM) was founded in 1982 for the purpose of promoting, throughout the international scientific community, research and knowledge in sexual medicine, considered as the subspeciality area of medicine that embraces the study, diagnosis and treatment of the sexual health concerns of men and women. The society has over 3000 members worldwide, with five regional societies that are affiliated with ISSM: the Africa Gulf Society for Sexual Medicine, Asia Pacific Society for Sexual Medicine, European Society for Sexual Medicine, Latin American Society for Sexual Medicine, and Sexual Medicine Society of North America.
For more information please visit issm/.
Source:
Sean Wagner
Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
понедельник, 14 мая 2012 г.
Karolinska Development Portfolio Company Completes Successful Phase II Clinical Trial
Karolinska Development (publ) announced that one of its portfolio companies, Dilafor AB, has concluded an extensive clinical study of its candidate drug, tafoxiparin, a new drug substance for the prevention of protracted labor during childbirth. The promising results of the Phase II trial bring the project closer to exit in line with Karolinska Development's business strategy.
Dilafor's candidate drug, tafoxiparin DF01 is one of 11 compounds within the Karolinska Development portfolio that are currently conducting clinical trials. The completion of the Dilafor study is an important milestone for Karolinska Development and exemplifies the company's ability to develop innovative ideas through to clinical proof of concept quickly and efficiently. In the case of Dilafor, tafoxiparin has taken just six years to go from research concept to its current stage.
Karolinska Development's portfolio consists of more than 40 life science companies. A unique business model, which gives portfolio companies access to a broad network of business, legal, regulatory and scientific expertise, means that development times and costs are reduced compared to traditional drug development programs. With seven compounds currently undergoing Phase II clinical trials and five in Phase I the portfolio has matured to the point that Karolinska Development is now actively seeking commercial partners for its most advanced projects.
Conny Bogentoft, CEO of Karolinska Development, said, "The completion of the Dilafor Phase II trial is an important step for Karolinska Development and we are extremely pleased that Dilafor has achieved some very positive results. At the same time, it also goes a long way towards validating our business model. We are now very much focused on finding commercial opportunities for Dilafor's tafoxiparin and for several of our other projects that are reaching maturity."
The tafoxiparin Phase II trial was designed to measure the effect on labor time after preventive treatment using the candidate drug. 263 women at 18 clinics in Sweden were included in a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study, conducted over a two year period. The treatment, which was administered during the last phase of pregnancy, was shown to be safe and well tolerated. In the groups as a whole the labor time was shorter in the treated group, but did not reach statistical significance.
However, further analyses of results suggest that treatment with tafoxiparin provides beneficial effects, including: a statistically significant (p=0.04) reduction in the number of women with labor times in excess of twelve hours; fewer complications as a cause of protracted labor; and fewer caesarean sections as a result of protracted labor.
Dilafor's CEO, Anders Asell, commented, "By concluding this proof-of-concept study we have shown that tafoxiparin has the potential to solve an important unmet medical need. We will now start actively seeking a collaboration partner with whom we can carry out a Phase III program. Parallel to this we will continue to develop tafoxiparin within Dilafor."
About Dilafor AB
Established in 2003, Dilafor AB is a Swedish R&D company focused on developing pharmaceutical products from heparin derivatives with low anticoagulant activity. The company has a balanced product portfolio representing highly promising ideas and innovations. Each of the projects addresses important and unmet medical needs.
The project, tafoxiparin (DF01) for protracted labor, successfully concluded a clinicial Phase II study in July 2009. DF02, a drug candidate for the treatment of severe malaria, is presently in Phase I clinical development.
Dilafor is managed by senior staff with high academic credentials and extensive industrial experience gained from key areas of pharmaceutical development. The company is located at Karolinska Institutet Science Park and is part of Karolinska Development.
About Karolinska Development AB
Managing one of the largest portfolios of life science research companies in Europe, Karolinska Development AB is a new type of company focused on filling the innovation gap within the pharmaceutical industry. Using a unique, highly cost-effective model Karolinska Development commercializes internationally renowned life science innovations, helping to deliver the medical products of the future.
Source: Karolinska Development AB
Dilafor's candidate drug, tafoxiparin DF01 is one of 11 compounds within the Karolinska Development portfolio that are currently conducting clinical trials. The completion of the Dilafor study is an important milestone for Karolinska Development and exemplifies the company's ability to develop innovative ideas through to clinical proof of concept quickly and efficiently. In the case of Dilafor, tafoxiparin has taken just six years to go from research concept to its current stage.
Karolinska Development's portfolio consists of more than 40 life science companies. A unique business model, which gives portfolio companies access to a broad network of business, legal, regulatory and scientific expertise, means that development times and costs are reduced compared to traditional drug development programs. With seven compounds currently undergoing Phase II clinical trials and five in Phase I the portfolio has matured to the point that Karolinska Development is now actively seeking commercial partners for its most advanced projects.
Conny Bogentoft, CEO of Karolinska Development, said, "The completion of the Dilafor Phase II trial is an important step for Karolinska Development and we are extremely pleased that Dilafor has achieved some very positive results. At the same time, it also goes a long way towards validating our business model. We are now very much focused on finding commercial opportunities for Dilafor's tafoxiparin and for several of our other projects that are reaching maturity."
The tafoxiparin Phase II trial was designed to measure the effect on labor time after preventive treatment using the candidate drug. 263 women at 18 clinics in Sweden were included in a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study, conducted over a two year period. The treatment, which was administered during the last phase of pregnancy, was shown to be safe and well tolerated. In the groups as a whole the labor time was shorter in the treated group, but did not reach statistical significance.
However, further analyses of results suggest that treatment with tafoxiparin provides beneficial effects, including: a statistically significant (p=0.04) reduction in the number of women with labor times in excess of twelve hours; fewer complications as a cause of protracted labor; and fewer caesarean sections as a result of protracted labor.
Dilafor's CEO, Anders Asell, commented, "By concluding this proof-of-concept study we have shown that tafoxiparin has the potential to solve an important unmet medical need. We will now start actively seeking a collaboration partner with whom we can carry out a Phase III program. Parallel to this we will continue to develop tafoxiparin within Dilafor."
About Dilafor AB
Established in 2003, Dilafor AB is a Swedish R&D company focused on developing pharmaceutical products from heparin derivatives with low anticoagulant activity. The company has a balanced product portfolio representing highly promising ideas and innovations. Each of the projects addresses important and unmet medical needs.
The project, tafoxiparin (DF01) for protracted labor, successfully concluded a clinicial Phase II study in July 2009. DF02, a drug candidate for the treatment of severe malaria, is presently in Phase I clinical development.
Dilafor is managed by senior staff with high academic credentials and extensive industrial experience gained from key areas of pharmaceutical development. The company is located at Karolinska Institutet Science Park and is part of Karolinska Development.
About Karolinska Development AB
Managing one of the largest portfolios of life science research companies in Europe, Karolinska Development AB is a new type of company focused on filling the innovation gap within the pharmaceutical industry. Using a unique, highly cost-effective model Karolinska Development commercializes internationally renowned life science innovations, helping to deliver the medical products of the future.
Source: Karolinska Development AB
понедельник, 7 мая 2012 г.
Huckabee At Debate Expresses Support For Abortion Ban Amendment; Romney Explains Support For Two-Step Process To Ban Abortion
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who is running for the Republican presidential nomination, on Wednesday at a debate in Durham, N.H., said that he supports a constitutional amendment that would ban abortion, the AP/Philadelphia Inquirer reports. The debate at the University of New Hampshire was moderated by Fox News' Brit Hume (Quaid, AP/Philadelphia Inquirer, 9/6). Huckabee said he would "love to see" the U.S. adopt an amendment similar to one in the Arkansas Constitution "that says that we believe life begins at conception and that we ought to do everything in the world possible to protect it until its natural conclusion."
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who also is running for the Republican nomination, was asked by Fox News' Wendell Goler about his abortion-rights position (Fox News debate transcript, 9/5). Top advisers last month said Romney supports a two-tiered process in which states first would obtain authority to regulate abortion after Roe v. Wade -- the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court case that effectively barred state abortion bans -- is overturned. The second step would be a constitutional amendment that bans most abortions nationwide (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 8/23).
Romney said, "I believe almost all of us in the room would say that we'd love to have an America that didn't have abortion. But the truth of the matter is ... that's not what America is right now. That's not what the American people are right now. And so I'd like to see Roe v. Wade overturned and allow the states and the elected representatives of the people, and the people themselves, have the ability to put in place pro-life legislation" (AP/Google, 9/6).
Romney added, "I believe that a civilized society must respect the sanctity of the human life. But we have two lives involved here -- a mom, an unborn child. We have to have concern for both lives and show the expression of our compassion and our consideration and work to change hearts and minds, and that's the way in my view we'll ultimately have a society without abortion" (Fox News debate transcript, 9/5).
A Fox News transcript of the complete debate is available online. Fox News video of Romney and Huckabee's comments on abortion also is available online (FoxNews, 9/6).
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© 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who also is running for the Republican nomination, was asked by Fox News' Wendell Goler about his abortion-rights position (Fox News debate transcript, 9/5). Top advisers last month said Romney supports a two-tiered process in which states first would obtain authority to regulate abortion after Roe v. Wade -- the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court case that effectively barred state abortion bans -- is overturned. The second step would be a constitutional amendment that bans most abortions nationwide (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 8/23).
Romney said, "I believe almost all of us in the room would say that we'd love to have an America that didn't have abortion. But the truth of the matter is ... that's not what America is right now. That's not what the American people are right now. And so I'd like to see Roe v. Wade overturned and allow the states and the elected representatives of the people, and the people themselves, have the ability to put in place pro-life legislation" (AP/Google, 9/6).
Romney added, "I believe that a civilized society must respect the sanctity of the human life. But we have two lives involved here -- a mom, an unborn child. We have to have concern for both lives and show the expression of our compassion and our consideration and work to change hearts and minds, and that's the way in my view we'll ultimately have a society without abortion" (Fox News debate transcript, 9/5).
A Fox News transcript of the complete debate is available online. Fox News video of Romney and Huckabee's comments on abortion also is available online (FoxNews, 9/6).
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© 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
понедельник, 30 апреля 2012 г.
Washington Times Opinion Piece Discusses Emergency Contraception
At the same time as health experts and advocates marked the annual Back Up Your Birth Control Campaign Day of Action on Wednesday - dedicated to increasing awareness about emergency contraception - some also are calling for a greater focus on pregnancy prevention methods other than EC, Washington Times columnist and reporter Cheryl Wetzstein writes. In an article in the March issue of Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, EC expert James Trussell and two colleagues acknowledged that research shows that EC has not reduced pregnancy or abortion rates and wrote, "A constructive response to this disappointment [about EC] requires that we identify new directions and approaches."
View drug information on Mirena.
The Times reports that when EC first became available in the U.S. about 10 years ago, some health experts had high hopes for the contraceptive's potential to reduce unintended pregnancies, about half of which end in abortion.
Samantha Levine, spokesperson for the National Institute for Reproductive Health, said that women might not have accurate information about the availably of EC. "Some women still don't know that it's available behind the counter at your pharmacy, for women 17 and older," Levine said, adding, "The thing that's important about emergency contraception is that it's there as a backup method."
Trussell and colleagues suggested that easier access to long term methods such as the levonorgestrel intrauterine system Mirena or the implantable method Implanon could reduce unintended pregnancy. Simple changes in practice such as allowing women to obtain intrauterine devices when they request them, rather than wait for during a subsequent visit to a health care provider, could increase use.
The researchers also called for exploration into situations in which women are at risk for unintended pregnancies. They noted that postpartum women typically do not resume birth control for six weeks, even though some studies suggest they might be able to use contraceptives sooner. Studies also should examine how often obese women experience "pill failure," Trussell and his colleagues said (Wetzstein, Washington Times, 3/25).
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.
© 2010 The Advisory Board Company. All rights reserved.
View drug information on Mirena.
понедельник, 23 апреля 2012 г.
Concern Over Strong Media Influence On Women's Body Image
As France's parliament considers a landmark bill that would outlaw media images glamorizing the extremely thin, psychology researchers are reporting some of the most definitive findings yet on how these images affect women.
In the May issue of Psychological Bulletin, University of Wisconsin-Madison postdoctoral researcher Shelly Grabe and psychology professor Janet Hyde describe a sweeping analysis of 77 previous studies involving more than 15,000 subjects. In it, they found that exposure to media depicting ultra-thin actresses and models significantly increased women's concerns about their bodies, including how dissatisfied they felt and their likelihood of engaging in unhealthy eating behaviors, such as excessive dieting.
Although on one level the results seem obvious, Grabe believes many people still resist the idea that a societal influence, like the media, can have a real impact on how women view themselves. When individual experiments have found this relationship in the past, she explains, critics have often dismissed them for focusing on groups of particularly body-conscious women, such as college students, or exposing test subjects to unusually racy photos.
Grabe and Hyde, in contrast, analyzed data from every well-designed study on the topic they could find, thus avoiding much of this criticism.
"We've demonstrated that it doesn't matter what the exposure is, whether it's general TV watching in the evening, or magazines, or ads showing on a computer," says Grabe. "If the image is appearance-focused and sends a clear message about a woman's body as an object, then it's going to affect women."
The effect also appears to be growing. The researchers' analysis reveals that, on average, studies conducted in the 2000s show a larger influence of the media on women's body image than do those from the 1990s, says Grabe.
"This suggests that despite all our efforts to teach women and girls to be savvy about the media and have healthy body practices, the media's effect on how much they internalize the thin ideal is getting stronger," she says.
The results are troubling because recent research has established body dissatisfaction as a major risk factor for low self-esteem, depression, obesity, and eating disorders, such as bulimia. At the same time, women's displeasure with their bodies has become so common that it's now considered normal, says Grabe. She hopes that wider recognition of the media's role will encourage people to see the issue as a societal one, rather than as a problem of individual women as it's viewed now.
"I think we need to consider how we're using media images as a culture to share the values we think are important, and the effect that has on our well-being, " she says.
The approach Grabe and Hyde took in their study, called meta-analysis, offers a way to quantitatively examine an entire body of research at once. In their case, this meant 77 carefully selected studies of the effects of appearance-focused media images on women's body dissatisfaction, investment in their looks, adoption of the thin ideal, and eating behaviors and beliefs. The analysis also included controlled, experimental studies, in which these effects were tested directly, and investigations that correlated body concerns with women's self-reported consumption of media.
In simple terms, the meta-analysis placed test subjects from every study into two groups: those who were exposed to media images portraying women's bodies and the thin ideal, and those who weren't. It then asked whether differences existed between the two and the magnitude of the differences.
In the end, the researchers did find a significant difference, with women who were exposed to media reporting less satisfaction with their bodies. Notably, this difference was also seen across all four measures of body image concerns.
So, what's the answer? The French government may try to control the media, but don't women also need to learn to be a little less concerned with their looks"
Grabe replies that the issue lies not with our attraction to images of beauty or with women's desire to emulate them, but with what we've come to define as beautiful: bodies that are unnaturally and unhealthily thin.
"I want to stress that it's totally normal for women to want to be attractive," says Grabe. "But what's happening in our society is that many women are striving toward something that's not very realistic or obtainable, and that leads to a lot of health consequences."
The study's other author is L. Monique Ward of University of Michigan. The work was funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health to Grabe.
Source: Shelly Grabe
University of Wisconsin-Madison
In the May issue of Psychological Bulletin, University of Wisconsin-Madison postdoctoral researcher Shelly Grabe and psychology professor Janet Hyde describe a sweeping analysis of 77 previous studies involving more than 15,000 subjects. In it, they found that exposure to media depicting ultra-thin actresses and models significantly increased women's concerns about their bodies, including how dissatisfied they felt and their likelihood of engaging in unhealthy eating behaviors, such as excessive dieting.
Although on one level the results seem obvious, Grabe believes many people still resist the idea that a societal influence, like the media, can have a real impact on how women view themselves. When individual experiments have found this relationship in the past, she explains, critics have often dismissed them for focusing on groups of particularly body-conscious women, such as college students, or exposing test subjects to unusually racy photos.
Grabe and Hyde, in contrast, analyzed data from every well-designed study on the topic they could find, thus avoiding much of this criticism.
"We've demonstrated that it doesn't matter what the exposure is, whether it's general TV watching in the evening, or magazines, or ads showing on a computer," says Grabe. "If the image is appearance-focused and sends a clear message about a woman's body as an object, then it's going to affect women."
The effect also appears to be growing. The researchers' analysis reveals that, on average, studies conducted in the 2000s show a larger influence of the media on women's body image than do those from the 1990s, says Grabe.
"This suggests that despite all our efforts to teach women and girls to be savvy about the media and have healthy body practices, the media's effect on how much they internalize the thin ideal is getting stronger," she says.
The results are troubling because recent research has established body dissatisfaction as a major risk factor for low self-esteem, depression, obesity, and eating disorders, such as bulimia. At the same time, women's displeasure with their bodies has become so common that it's now considered normal, says Grabe. She hopes that wider recognition of the media's role will encourage people to see the issue as a societal one, rather than as a problem of individual women as it's viewed now.
"I think we need to consider how we're using media images as a culture to share the values we think are important, and the effect that has on our well-being, " she says.
The approach Grabe and Hyde took in their study, called meta-analysis, offers a way to quantitatively examine an entire body of research at once. In their case, this meant 77 carefully selected studies of the effects of appearance-focused media images on women's body dissatisfaction, investment in their looks, adoption of the thin ideal, and eating behaviors and beliefs. The analysis also included controlled, experimental studies, in which these effects were tested directly, and investigations that correlated body concerns with women's self-reported consumption of media.
In simple terms, the meta-analysis placed test subjects from every study into two groups: those who were exposed to media images portraying women's bodies and the thin ideal, and those who weren't. It then asked whether differences existed between the two and the magnitude of the differences.
In the end, the researchers did find a significant difference, with women who were exposed to media reporting less satisfaction with their bodies. Notably, this difference was also seen across all four measures of body image concerns.
So, what's the answer? The French government may try to control the media, but don't women also need to learn to be a little less concerned with their looks"
Grabe replies that the issue lies not with our attraction to images of beauty or with women's desire to emulate them, but with what we've come to define as beautiful: bodies that are unnaturally and unhealthily thin.
"I want to stress that it's totally normal for women to want to be attractive," says Grabe. "But what's happening in our society is that many women are striving toward something that's not very realistic or obtainable, and that leads to a lot of health consequences."
The study's other author is L. Monique Ward of University of Michigan. The work was funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health to Grabe.
Source: Shelly Grabe
University of Wisconsin-Madison
понедельник, 16 апреля 2012 г.
When Pregnancies Fail Early: Privacy And Efficiency More Important Than Being In A Hospital
Women who undergo surgery due to an early pregnancy failure usually are treated in an operating room, often under general anesthesia, but a new study raises questions about whether women prefer that approach.
Early pregnancy failure - or EPF - occurs in 14 to 19 percent of recognized pregnancies. Cases treated with surgery typically haven't been performed in an office-based setting, even while many other procedures have moved from the OR to the office. Now, a study from the University of Michigan Health System suggests that many women would choose the option of having the procedure done in the relative privacy of an office, without general anesthesia.
"We found that managing an early pregnancy failure in the office is an acceptable option for many women," says Vanessa K. Dalton, M.D., MPH, lead author of the study, which appeared recently in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology. "This is a real shift in the way we can approach the care of women with EPF. Many other procedures have moved from the operating room into an ambulatory setting, but for the most part, the management of EPF has not.
"This is a difficult experience for women, and we want to make sure that we are offering them the type of care that works best for them and which they prefer," Dalton says.
Studies indicate that sharp curettage (scraping) and general anesthesia are still common when performing this procedure in the operating room - despite evidence associating them with higher complication rates than suction removal without general anesthesia, says Dalton, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the U-M Medical School.
The study also found:
* Costs were more than twice as much in the operating room compared to the office procedures, and the procedure was 80 percent longer. Physician reimbursement did not differ between the two groups.
* While the study did not demonstrate that office-based procedures are safer than traditional operating room management, the authors said they are concerned about the four-fold increase in bleeding-related complications in the operating room group in this study. The most likely explanation for this finding was that all but one of the operating room procedures were done under general anesthesia, which may contribute to increased blood loss.
* Patients opting to have the office procedure reported expecting higher levels of pain than those going to the operating room, and as anticipated, they reported higher pain scores.
* There were no major complications in either group. Further, no office procedure was moved to the operating room or converted to general anesthesia for patient discomfort.
Those enrolled in the study were women 18 and older who came to the U-M Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology for surgical management of a first-trimester early pregnancy. In all, 165 women enrolled in the study, including 115 in the office group and 50 who chose the operating room.
Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire at the time of enrollment. Immediately before discharge, they completed a second questionnaire addressing pain, bleeding and satisfaction with care.
The findings "dispute the notion that current practices are based on patient preferences," Dalton says. "Overall, our institution's experience has been that about half of women choose to have their procedures completed in the office. In the study group, only 25 percent of study participants reported that being asleep for the procedure was highly important. Instead, many participants opted for an office procedure that better meets other needs such as privacy and efficiency.
"It is important that we pay attention to their wishes and offer the services that best meet their needs," she says.
Senior author on the paper was Dan Lebovic, M.D., assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and co-director of the Endometriosis Center. Other U-M authors were Lisa Harris, M.D., assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; and Ken Guire, M.S., statistician with the Department of Biostatistics at the U-M School of Public Health. Laura Castleman, M.D., MPH, medical director of Ipas, an organization that works globally to increase women's ability to exercise their sexual and reproductive rights; and Carol S. Weisman, Ph.D., of the Division of Health Services Research at the Penn State College of Medicine, also were authors.
Dalton was supported by the National Institutes of Health-sponsored Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women's Health (BIRCWH) program. Harris and Castleman receive funding from Ipas, a manufacturer of a manual vacuum aspirator. Both have received honoraria from Ipas for unrelated work in the past three years.
Citation: Obstetrics & Gynecology, July 2006, Volume 108, Issue 1.
Contact: Katie Gazella
University of Michigan Health System
Early pregnancy failure - or EPF - occurs in 14 to 19 percent of recognized pregnancies. Cases treated with surgery typically haven't been performed in an office-based setting, even while many other procedures have moved from the OR to the office. Now, a study from the University of Michigan Health System suggests that many women would choose the option of having the procedure done in the relative privacy of an office, without general anesthesia.
"We found that managing an early pregnancy failure in the office is an acceptable option for many women," says Vanessa K. Dalton, M.D., MPH, lead author of the study, which appeared recently in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology. "This is a real shift in the way we can approach the care of women with EPF. Many other procedures have moved from the operating room into an ambulatory setting, but for the most part, the management of EPF has not.
"This is a difficult experience for women, and we want to make sure that we are offering them the type of care that works best for them and which they prefer," Dalton says.
Studies indicate that sharp curettage (scraping) and general anesthesia are still common when performing this procedure in the operating room - despite evidence associating them with higher complication rates than suction removal without general anesthesia, says Dalton, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the U-M Medical School.
The study also found:
* Costs were more than twice as much in the operating room compared to the office procedures, and the procedure was 80 percent longer. Physician reimbursement did not differ between the two groups.
* While the study did not demonstrate that office-based procedures are safer than traditional operating room management, the authors said they are concerned about the four-fold increase in bleeding-related complications in the operating room group in this study. The most likely explanation for this finding was that all but one of the operating room procedures were done under general anesthesia, which may contribute to increased blood loss.
* Patients opting to have the office procedure reported expecting higher levels of pain than those going to the operating room, and as anticipated, they reported higher pain scores.
* There were no major complications in either group. Further, no office procedure was moved to the operating room or converted to general anesthesia for patient discomfort.
Those enrolled in the study were women 18 and older who came to the U-M Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology for surgical management of a first-trimester early pregnancy. In all, 165 women enrolled in the study, including 115 in the office group and 50 who chose the operating room.
Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire at the time of enrollment. Immediately before discharge, they completed a second questionnaire addressing pain, bleeding and satisfaction with care.
The findings "dispute the notion that current practices are based on patient preferences," Dalton says. "Overall, our institution's experience has been that about half of women choose to have their procedures completed in the office. In the study group, only 25 percent of study participants reported that being asleep for the procedure was highly important. Instead, many participants opted for an office procedure that better meets other needs such as privacy and efficiency.
"It is important that we pay attention to their wishes and offer the services that best meet their needs," she says.
Senior author on the paper was Dan Lebovic, M.D., assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and co-director of the Endometriosis Center. Other U-M authors were Lisa Harris, M.D., assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; and Ken Guire, M.S., statistician with the Department of Biostatistics at the U-M School of Public Health. Laura Castleman, M.D., MPH, medical director of Ipas, an organization that works globally to increase women's ability to exercise their sexual and reproductive rights; and Carol S. Weisman, Ph.D., of the Division of Health Services Research at the Penn State College of Medicine, also were authors.
Dalton was supported by the National Institutes of Health-sponsored Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women's Health (BIRCWH) program. Harris and Castleman receive funding from Ipas, a manufacturer of a manual vacuum aspirator. Both have received honoraria from Ipas for unrelated work in the past three years.
Citation: Obstetrics & Gynecology, July 2006, Volume 108, Issue 1.
Contact: Katie Gazella
University of Michigan Health System
понедельник, 9 апреля 2012 г.
MIDIRS Calls For Urgent Action In Raising Funds For Safer Motherhood In Ethiopia
With only 8 weeks to go until the start of the SafeHands for Mothers' Pilgrims Walk for Life, MIDIRS has issued a further plea to health care professionals worldwide to lend their support to the fund-raising campaign, which aims to raise ??350,000 in support of reducing maternal morbidity in Ethiopia.
Andy Fisher, MIDIRS Business Manager, who is lending his own support by participating in the 130 kilometre pilgrimage, said 'As today is International Day of the Midwife, it seemed wholly appropriate to revisit the purpose of the Walk for Life fund-raising campaign and to remind people that up to 600,000 women each year continue to die from pregnancy related causes in under-developed countries '.
'If the Millennium Development Goal of reducing the maternal mortality ratio by 75% by 2015 is to be met, then there is still a huge amount of work to be done. We are hoping that health care professionals worldwide will rise to the occasion by giving their wholehearted support to the SafeHands mission'.
Nancy Durrell McKenna, Founder Director of SafeHands for Mothers and the driving force behind the 'Walk for Life' pilgrimage added 'This pilgrimage will be a physical endurance for all and yet our exertion will pale in significance to the daily hardships endured by those women for whom life is one of daily physical endurance.'
The walk, which starts on Sunday 14th June 2009 and covers up to 130 kilometres of the famous El Camino de Santiago or Way of St James ancient pilgrim's route to Santiago de Compostela in northern Spain, has attracted widespread international interest.
Six Western Australian health care professionals have pledged their support by joining the walk, five of whom are indigenous Aboriginal women who wish to show their support by walking for the indigenous women of Ethiopia. In addition, two teams of Extremist Runners plan to cover the whole route in one day (equivalent to 2.5 marathons) on the 19th June 2009, in acknowledgment of Father's Day on Sunday 21st June 2009.
Journalist Caroline Phillips will also be covering the walk for the Daily Mail newspaper.
Those who wish to share their support can do so by visiting www.justgiving/SafeHands_trek
Reference
(1) World Health Organization (2000). Maternal mortality in 2000: estimates developed by WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA. Geneva: WHO
Those who wish to share their support can do so by visiting justgiving/SafeHands_trek
Notes
1. MIDIRS (midirs) is a Bristol based not-for-profit organisation offering a complete information service to all health professionals, non-statutory agencies or anyone involved in the care of women and their babies during and after pregnancy. Its organisational mission is 'to be the leading international information resource relating to childbirth and infancy, disseminating this information as widely as possible to assist in the improvement of maternity care'.
2. SafeHands for Mothers' (safehands) vision is to contribute to a reduction in maternal mortality and morbidity from pregnancy-related causes and to protect and promote health of the newborn in developing countries. Its aim is to achieve this through the production of high quality films and visual materials to support government and non governmental training and advocacy programmes. Portable, robust solar powered DVD players enable SafeHands to take training where it is most needed - the remote and isolated areas.
Every year between 500,000 and 600,000 women die from pregnancy-related causes; 99% of these deaths occur in developing countries.
SafeHands calls for a renewed effort to combat the unnecessarily high number of women who die during pregnancy and childbirth. A woman living in sub-Saharan Africa has a 1 in 16 chance of dying during pregnancy and childbirth (ref 1). An international goal has been set to achieve a 75% reduction by 2015.
3. 'El Camino de Santiago' or The Way of St. James or St. James' Way, is the pilgrimage to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in North Western Spain, where tradition has it that the remains of the apostle, Saint James, are buried. The Way of St James has existed for over a thousand years. It was one of the most important Christian pilgrimages during medieval times, and is still undertaken by modern day pilgrims.
Source
MIDIRS
Andy Fisher, MIDIRS Business Manager, who is lending his own support by participating in the 130 kilometre pilgrimage, said 'As today is International Day of the Midwife, it seemed wholly appropriate to revisit the purpose of the Walk for Life fund-raising campaign and to remind people that up to 600,000 women each year continue to die from pregnancy related causes in under-developed countries '.
'If the Millennium Development Goal of reducing the maternal mortality ratio by 75% by 2015 is to be met, then there is still a huge amount of work to be done. We are hoping that health care professionals worldwide will rise to the occasion by giving their wholehearted support to the SafeHands mission'.
Nancy Durrell McKenna, Founder Director of SafeHands for Mothers and the driving force behind the 'Walk for Life' pilgrimage added 'This pilgrimage will be a physical endurance for all and yet our exertion will pale in significance to the daily hardships endured by those women for whom life is one of daily physical endurance.'
The walk, which starts on Sunday 14th June 2009 and covers up to 130 kilometres of the famous El Camino de Santiago or Way of St James ancient pilgrim's route to Santiago de Compostela in northern Spain, has attracted widespread international interest.
Six Western Australian health care professionals have pledged their support by joining the walk, five of whom are indigenous Aboriginal women who wish to show their support by walking for the indigenous women of Ethiopia. In addition, two teams of Extremist Runners plan to cover the whole route in one day (equivalent to 2.5 marathons) on the 19th June 2009, in acknowledgment of Father's Day on Sunday 21st June 2009.
Journalist Caroline Phillips will also be covering the walk for the Daily Mail newspaper.
Those who wish to share their support can do so by visiting www.justgiving/SafeHands_trek
Reference
(1) World Health Organization (2000). Maternal mortality in 2000: estimates developed by WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA. Geneva: WHO
Those who wish to share their support can do so by visiting justgiving/SafeHands_trek
Notes
1. MIDIRS (midirs) is a Bristol based not-for-profit organisation offering a complete information service to all health professionals, non-statutory agencies or anyone involved in the care of women and their babies during and after pregnancy. Its organisational mission is 'to be the leading international information resource relating to childbirth and infancy, disseminating this information as widely as possible to assist in the improvement of maternity care'.
2. SafeHands for Mothers' (safehands) vision is to contribute to a reduction in maternal mortality and morbidity from pregnancy-related causes and to protect and promote health of the newborn in developing countries. Its aim is to achieve this through the production of high quality films and visual materials to support government and non governmental training and advocacy programmes. Portable, robust solar powered DVD players enable SafeHands to take training where it is most needed - the remote and isolated areas.
Every year between 500,000 and 600,000 women die from pregnancy-related causes; 99% of these deaths occur in developing countries.
SafeHands calls for a renewed effort to combat the unnecessarily high number of women who die during pregnancy and childbirth. A woman living in sub-Saharan Africa has a 1 in 16 chance of dying during pregnancy and childbirth (ref 1). An international goal has been set to achieve a 75% reduction by 2015.
3. 'El Camino de Santiago' or The Way of St. James or St. James' Way, is the pilgrimage to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in North Western Spain, where tradition has it that the remains of the apostle, Saint James, are buried. The Way of St James has existed for over a thousand years. It was one of the most important Christian pilgrimages during medieval times, and is still undertaken by modern day pilgrims.
Source
MIDIRS
понедельник, 2 апреля 2012 г.
Endometriosis Pain Strikes a Nerve, FSU Study
Women with endometriosis often have several types of chronic pain conditions because their abnormal growths develop a
nerve supply that communicates with the brain, new research suggests.
Florida State University Professor of Neuroscience Karen Berkley was the lead researcher in a study that shows that
endometrial cysts become supplied by sympathetic and sensory nerves that could contribute to both the different types of pain
associated with endometriosis and the body's ability to maintain the disease. The new nerves likely sprout from those that
supply the blood vessels that grow along with and nourish the cysts, Berkley said.
Berkley, Andrea Rapkin of the University of California at Los Angeles and Raymond Papka of Northeastern Ohio Universities
College of Medicine drew the conclusion after research on human tissue replicated results Berkley and her colleagues found
last year on rats with surgically induced endometriosis. Their findings will be published in the June 10 issue of the journal
Science.
"It's been a mystery - clinically - why there is such a co-occurrence between endometriosis and other painful conditions we
wouldn't think would be related: irritable bowel syndrome, interstitial cystitis and even migraines," Berkley said. "It may
happen in part because this new nerve supply comes into the central nervous system and interacts with information coming from
other organs, such as the colon and bladder, that the brain may interpret as pain."
The types of nerves that develop in the cysts, the agents that activate them, the sites in the central nervous system where
the nerves deliver information and how the information is modulated by estrogen all influence how the disease will manifest
itself, the researchers suggest.
The variability of the nerve supply of the cysts in different individuals may help explain why symptoms and severity of pain
vary so greatly in women who have endometriosis, a disease that may affect up to 50 percent of women in their reproductive
years, according to Berkley.
Endometriosis is thought to occur when cells from the lining of the uterus escape into the pelvic cavity during menstruation
and attach themselves to the outside of the uterus, ovaries or other organs in the abdomen. The cells can develop into
growths or cysts that impact fertility and may cause severe menstrual cramps and other pelvic pains.
Berkley said she and her colleagues hope their findings may lead to new treatments for endometriosis. Currently the disease
is treated with hormone therapy or surgery.
Florida State University
114 Westcott Bldg.
Tallahassee, FL 32306-1430
United States
fsu.edu/~unicomm
nerve supply that communicates with the brain, new research suggests.
Florida State University Professor of Neuroscience Karen Berkley was the lead researcher in a study that shows that
endometrial cysts become supplied by sympathetic and sensory nerves that could contribute to both the different types of pain
associated with endometriosis and the body's ability to maintain the disease. The new nerves likely sprout from those that
supply the blood vessels that grow along with and nourish the cysts, Berkley said.
Berkley, Andrea Rapkin of the University of California at Los Angeles and Raymond Papka of Northeastern Ohio Universities
College of Medicine drew the conclusion after research on human tissue replicated results Berkley and her colleagues found
last year on rats with surgically induced endometriosis. Their findings will be published in the June 10 issue of the journal
Science.
"It's been a mystery - clinically - why there is such a co-occurrence between endometriosis and other painful conditions we
wouldn't think would be related: irritable bowel syndrome, interstitial cystitis and even migraines," Berkley said. "It may
happen in part because this new nerve supply comes into the central nervous system and interacts with information coming from
other organs, such as the colon and bladder, that the brain may interpret as pain."
The types of nerves that develop in the cysts, the agents that activate them, the sites in the central nervous system where
the nerves deliver information and how the information is modulated by estrogen all influence how the disease will manifest
itself, the researchers suggest.
The variability of the nerve supply of the cysts in different individuals may help explain why symptoms and severity of pain
vary so greatly in women who have endometriosis, a disease that may affect up to 50 percent of women in their reproductive
years, according to Berkley.
Endometriosis is thought to occur when cells from the lining of the uterus escape into the pelvic cavity during menstruation
and attach themselves to the outside of the uterus, ovaries or other organs in the abdomen. The cells can develop into
growths or cysts that impact fertility and may cause severe menstrual cramps and other pelvic pains.
Berkley said she and her colleagues hope their findings may lead to new treatments for endometriosis. Currently the disease
is treated with hormone therapy or surgery.
Florida State University
114 Westcott Bldg.
Tallahassee, FL 32306-1430
United States
fsu.edu/~unicomm
понедельник, 26 марта 2012 г.
Pregnant Women With Health Problems Need Care, Not Incarceration
Throwing pregnant women in jail or involuntarily committing them to mental health facilities for alcohol and drug abuse problems is ineffective and counterproductive, according to a new committee opinion released today by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (The College). Physicians should instead work with state legislators to retract punitive mandatory reporting laws and replace them with evidence-based strategies outside the legal system to help pregnant women with addictions.
Currently, fifteen states consider substance abuse during pregnancy to be child abuse under civil child-abuse statutes, and three states consider it grounds for involuntary commitment to a mental health or substance abuse treatment facility. States vary widely in what they consider drug abuse during pregnancy. Some states consider alcohol use by pregnant women to be child neglect.
"Although states with mandatory reporting requirements and criminalization statutes may have been well intentioned, these laws have not reduced the incidence of alcohol and drug abuse among pregnant women," said Maureen G. Phipps, MD, chair of The College's Committee on Health Care for Underserved Women. "Unfortunately, the effect of these laws is that many pregnant women who need help avoid prenatal care altogether and may have worse outcomes as a result."
According to The College, pregnant women who seek health care often risk being jailed or involuntarily committed, losing custody of their children, or losing their housing if they are found to be using drugs. "Addiction is a biological and behavioral disorder that needs medical and behavioral treatment in order to improve outcomes for both mothers and their children," said Dr. Phipps
Studies have shown that getting prenatal care significantly reduces the negative effects of substance abuse during pregnancy, including decreased risks of low birth weight and premature birth. What is needed, according to The College, is the development of safe, affordable, and effective comprehensive alcohol and drug treatment services for all women, especially pregnant women, and their families.
Committee Opinion #473, "Substance Abuse Reporting in Pregnancy," is published in the January 2011 issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Source:
American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Currently, fifteen states consider substance abuse during pregnancy to be child abuse under civil child-abuse statutes, and three states consider it grounds for involuntary commitment to a mental health or substance abuse treatment facility. States vary widely in what they consider drug abuse during pregnancy. Some states consider alcohol use by pregnant women to be child neglect.
"Although states with mandatory reporting requirements and criminalization statutes may have been well intentioned, these laws have not reduced the incidence of alcohol and drug abuse among pregnant women," said Maureen G. Phipps, MD, chair of The College's Committee on Health Care for Underserved Women. "Unfortunately, the effect of these laws is that many pregnant women who need help avoid prenatal care altogether and may have worse outcomes as a result."
According to The College, pregnant women who seek health care often risk being jailed or involuntarily committed, losing custody of their children, or losing their housing if they are found to be using drugs. "Addiction is a biological and behavioral disorder that needs medical and behavioral treatment in order to improve outcomes for both mothers and their children," said Dr. Phipps
Studies have shown that getting prenatal care significantly reduces the negative effects of substance abuse during pregnancy, including decreased risks of low birth weight and premature birth. What is needed, according to The College, is the development of safe, affordable, and effective comprehensive alcohol and drug treatment services for all women, especially pregnant women, and their families.
Committee Opinion #473, "Substance Abuse Reporting in Pregnancy," is published in the January 2011 issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Source:
American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
понедельник, 19 марта 2012 г.
Olivia Newton-John Hits All The Right Notes In The New Issue Of Pause(R)
"Who would have thought that I could be a role model for women who are in menopause!" says Olivia Newton-John who is profiled in the Fall/Winter issue of pause® magazine. "I think it's really wonderful that women are talking more openly about menopause these days. After all, it's part of our normal transition in life, and it's not something to panic about."
In "Still Hitting All the Right Notes", Grammy Award-winning singer Newton-John touches on her battle with breast cancer and emphasizes how important it is for women to be proactive about their own health. As a breast cancer survivor, she describes how she stays healthy through diet and exercise and keeps busy with her breast cancer fundraising efforts, acting, and singing.
"In this issue, we're aiming the spotlight on breast cancer, the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women," says Isaac Schiff, MD, chair of the pause® Medical Advisory Board and chief of the Vincent Obstetrics and Gynecology Service at Massachusetts General Hospital and the Joe Meigs Professor of Gynecology at Harvard Medical School in Boston. "We've devoted a special section on the cancer that women fear the most, with articles that help clarify the current recommendations on breast cancer screening, offer cancer prevention tips, and explain mammogram test results." In addition to the profile on Olivia Newton-John, these articles include:
- Breast Cancer: The Mammogram Controversy
- What Your Mammogram Results Really Mean
- Self Defense for Healthy Breasts
- Reconstructing a Masterpiece
- Eat Your Way to Good Health
The 72-page magazine includes informative articles aimed at the health issues most important to women as they approach menopause, from dealing with hot flashes and losing weight to the value of incorporating exercise into daily life. Other articles focus on the often misunderstood disorder known as fibromyalgia, incontinence, and hysterectomy. Women also can take a quick "Menopause Quiz" to see if they're going through the proverbial 'change of life.'
pause® is a free digital magazine published biannually by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists for women in all stages of the menopausal transition and is available online here. In addition to the latest issue of the magazine, the pause® website offers a wealth of easy-to-understand information about menopause and other important women's health issues, including a weekly "Ask the Doctor", personal stories from real women on how they handle menopause symptoms, and a monthly poll. Women can also sign up for Managing Menopause, a free e-newsletter on perimenopause- and menopause-related health issues.
The winner of numerous national design and editorial awards, the pause® website received four awards in 2010, including the 2010 EXCEL Award for Website Design Excellence; 2010 APEX Award for New Web and Intranet Sites; 2010 Communicator Award-Silver Award of Distinction; and the 2010 Web Health Award-Merit Award.
Source:
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
In "Still Hitting All the Right Notes", Grammy Award-winning singer Newton-John touches on her battle with breast cancer and emphasizes how important it is for women to be proactive about their own health. As a breast cancer survivor, she describes how she stays healthy through diet and exercise and keeps busy with her breast cancer fundraising efforts, acting, and singing.
"In this issue, we're aiming the spotlight on breast cancer, the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women," says Isaac Schiff, MD, chair of the pause® Medical Advisory Board and chief of the Vincent Obstetrics and Gynecology Service at Massachusetts General Hospital and the Joe Meigs Professor of Gynecology at Harvard Medical School in Boston. "We've devoted a special section on the cancer that women fear the most, with articles that help clarify the current recommendations on breast cancer screening, offer cancer prevention tips, and explain mammogram test results." In addition to the profile on Olivia Newton-John, these articles include:
- Breast Cancer: The Mammogram Controversy
- What Your Mammogram Results Really Mean
- Self Defense for Healthy Breasts
- Reconstructing a Masterpiece
- Eat Your Way to Good Health
The 72-page magazine includes informative articles aimed at the health issues most important to women as they approach menopause, from dealing with hot flashes and losing weight to the value of incorporating exercise into daily life. Other articles focus on the often misunderstood disorder known as fibromyalgia, incontinence, and hysterectomy. Women also can take a quick "Menopause Quiz" to see if they're going through the proverbial 'change of life.'
pause® is a free digital magazine published biannually by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists for women in all stages of the menopausal transition and is available online here. In addition to the latest issue of the magazine, the pause® website offers a wealth of easy-to-understand information about menopause and other important women's health issues, including a weekly "Ask the Doctor", personal stories from real women on how they handle menopause symptoms, and a monthly poll. Women can also sign up for Managing Menopause, a free e-newsletter on perimenopause- and menopause-related health issues.
The winner of numerous national design and editorial awards, the pause® website received four awards in 2010, including the 2010 EXCEL Award for Website Design Excellence; 2010 APEX Award for New Web and Intranet Sites; 2010 Communicator Award-Silver Award of Distinction; and the 2010 Web Health Award-Merit Award.
Source:
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
понедельник, 12 марта 2012 г.
Some Black Women With Advanced Breast Cancer Opt Against Treatment, Study Finds
A new study has found that some black women with advanced breast cancer declined treatment with chemotherapy or radiation, though researchers did not know the reason why so many of the women opted against treatment, HealthDay/Las Vegas NOW reports. For the study, researchers examined records for 107 women with cases of advanced breast cancer that were reported at one inner-city hospital between 2000 and 2006. Eighty-seven percent of the women were black, and 29% of them had breast cancer tumors that did not respond well to new, targeted treatments. Of all women, 20.5% declined chemotherapy and 26.3% opted against radiation.
Lead researcher Monica Rizzo, an assistant professor of surgery at the Division of Surgical Oncology at the Emory University School of Medicine, said the reason why the women declined treatment is not clear, adding, "We looked at marital status, as well as religious background, of those women, and unfortunately, we were not able to find any clear identifier." Researchers speculated that fear of the medical system, poverty and cultural differences might play a role.
Rizzo's group has started a community outreach program through which a nurse practitioner and social worker follow up with breast cancer patients (Reinberg, HealthDay/Las Vegas NOW, 5/22).
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.
© 2009 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
Lead researcher Monica Rizzo, an assistant professor of surgery at the Division of Surgical Oncology at the Emory University School of Medicine, said the reason why the women declined treatment is not clear, adding, "We looked at marital status, as well as religious background, of those women, and unfortunately, we were not able to find any clear identifier." Researchers speculated that fear of the medical system, poverty and cultural differences might play a role.
Rizzo's group has started a community outreach program through which a nurse practitioner and social worker follow up with breast cancer patients (Reinberg, HealthDay/Las Vegas NOW, 5/22).
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.
© 2009 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
понедельник, 5 марта 2012 г.
Public Views Sought On Gynaecological Cancer Review, Somerset, England
The views of patients, families and carers in Somerset are being sought as part of a cross county review of a specialist women's cancer service.
A review is being co-ordinated by NHS Bath and North East Somerset on behalf of Bristol, North Somerset, Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bath and North East Somerset. It aims to identify the best way to treat women with rare gynaecological cancers in the future.
The review aims to identify the best way to treat women with rare gynaecological cancer - locally where possible and in specialist centres where necessary.
People with experience of gynaecological cancer services either as a patient, carer or family member are being asked their views on the following key areas:
- What is most important to patients and carers in receiving a quality service?
- Do you have any concerns about the service now?
- What do you think would improve the patient and carer experience?
- What should we be aiming for in developing our local gynaecological cancer services?
To find out more visit the NHS Bath and North East Somerset web site at: banes-pct.nhs
NHS Bath and North East Somerset
A review is being co-ordinated by NHS Bath and North East Somerset on behalf of Bristol, North Somerset, Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bath and North East Somerset. It aims to identify the best way to treat women with rare gynaecological cancers in the future.
The review aims to identify the best way to treat women with rare gynaecological cancer - locally where possible and in specialist centres where necessary.
People with experience of gynaecological cancer services either as a patient, carer or family member are being asked their views on the following key areas:
- What is most important to patients and carers in receiving a quality service?
- Do you have any concerns about the service now?
- What do you think would improve the patient and carer experience?
- What should we be aiming for in developing our local gynaecological cancer services?
To find out more visit the NHS Bath and North East Somerset web site at: banes-pct.nhs
NHS Bath and North East Somerset
понедельник, 27 февраля 2012 г.
Free Hormonal Contraception Halved Termination Rate
3500 20- to 24-year-old women from Troms?? and Hamar in Norway were offered free hormonal contraception for a year. The result was that the abortion rate in the trial cities was halved.
The project came to an end in December 2009, and the results obtained by the SINTEF Technology and Society scientists were quite clear:
The abortion rate in the trial cities was halved, and the women involved were very happy to be given free contraception of this sort, according to the project manager, research manager Anita Oren.
The project was carried out on behalf of the Directorate of Health.
Abortion rate rising throughout the country
In 2002, Norwegian women aged between 16 and 19 were offered free hormone-based contraception. Abortion rates fell dramatically and reached their lowest level in 2005. In 2006, after the authorities modified the scheme and introduced part-payment for hormonal contraception, the number of terminations among this age-group began to rise once more. Since then, the abortion rate among 16- to 19-year-olds has risen every year.
Women aged 20 to 24 have the highest number of abortions, and this rate has risen steadily in the course of the past few years. The study demonstrates that when women in this age-group are offered gratis contraception, their abortion rate also falls.
More continuous use
The results demonstrate that Norwegian women are efficient users of contraception. No fewer than 93 percent of them say that they have used hormonal contraception in the course of their lives.
The study also shows that the actual number of women using hormonal contraception tended not to increase in the course of the study. However, the women in the trial municipalities who were offered gratis contraception used with fewer breaks in use.
The women in the study claimed that an important reason for their continuous use was that the hormonal contraception was free They themselves said that they tend to leave of contraception when they are less well-off," says ??ren. The researchers also looked at how the contraceptives were picked up from chemists', both before and during the study period. The figure clearly showed that users picked up their contraception more often during the period when it was free.
"The offer of free hormonal contraception doe not necessarily lead to more users, but to more frequent use," says ??ren. If the aim is to reduce the number of terminations, the project shows that the offer of free hormonal contraception can be an effective measure. It is also what women themselves say that they want," she adds.
Twice as much use of long-term methods of contraception
In the cities involved in the trial, the use of long-term methods of contraception such as hormonal spirals and IUDs/implants more than doubled. These methods work continuously for three to five years and provide the best protection against undesired pregnancy. As a one-off investment, however, they are regarded as more expensive alternatives to the "Pill".
"Women themselves say that they are very pleased to have the freedom to choose the type of product they prefer, irrespective of price," says ??ren.
Facts about the contraceptive study:
The cities covered by the trial were Troms?? and Hamar, while the control cities were Bod?? and Porsgrunn.
-- Women from 20 - 24 years of age were offered free contraception between May 2008 and May 2009.
-- A questionnaire was distributed to 20- to 24-year-old women, both before the start of the trial and after it had finished.
-- The methods of contraception covered by the offer included contraceptive pills, mini-pills, contraceptive injections, skin patches, vaginal rings, IUDs, implants, hormone spirals and copper spirals.
-- Women aged between 20 and 24 have the highest rate of abortions in Norway.
Source: SINTEF
The project came to an end in December 2009, and the results obtained by the SINTEF Technology and Society scientists were quite clear:
The abortion rate in the trial cities was halved, and the women involved were very happy to be given free contraception of this sort, according to the project manager, research manager Anita Oren.
The project was carried out on behalf of the Directorate of Health.
Abortion rate rising throughout the country
In 2002, Norwegian women aged between 16 and 19 were offered free hormone-based contraception. Abortion rates fell dramatically and reached their lowest level in 2005. In 2006, after the authorities modified the scheme and introduced part-payment for hormonal contraception, the number of terminations among this age-group began to rise once more. Since then, the abortion rate among 16- to 19-year-olds has risen every year.
Women aged 20 to 24 have the highest number of abortions, and this rate has risen steadily in the course of the past few years. The study demonstrates that when women in this age-group are offered gratis contraception, their abortion rate also falls.
More continuous use
The results demonstrate that Norwegian women are efficient users of contraception. No fewer than 93 percent of them say that they have used hormonal contraception in the course of their lives.
The study also shows that the actual number of women using hormonal contraception tended not to increase in the course of the study. However, the women in the trial municipalities who were offered gratis contraception used with fewer breaks in use.
The women in the study claimed that an important reason for their continuous use was that the hormonal contraception was free They themselves said that they tend to leave of contraception when they are less well-off," says ??ren. The researchers also looked at how the contraceptives were picked up from chemists', both before and during the study period. The figure clearly showed that users picked up their contraception more often during the period when it was free.
"The offer of free hormonal contraception doe not necessarily lead to more users, but to more frequent use," says ??ren. If the aim is to reduce the number of terminations, the project shows that the offer of free hormonal contraception can be an effective measure. It is also what women themselves say that they want," she adds.
Twice as much use of long-term methods of contraception
In the cities involved in the trial, the use of long-term methods of contraception such as hormonal spirals and IUDs/implants more than doubled. These methods work continuously for three to five years and provide the best protection against undesired pregnancy. As a one-off investment, however, they are regarded as more expensive alternatives to the "Pill".
"Women themselves say that they are very pleased to have the freedom to choose the type of product they prefer, irrespective of price," says ??ren.
Facts about the contraceptive study:
The cities covered by the trial were Troms?? and Hamar, while the control cities were Bod?? and Porsgrunn.
-- Women from 20 - 24 years of age were offered free contraception between May 2008 and May 2009.
-- A questionnaire was distributed to 20- to 24-year-old women, both before the start of the trial and after it had finished.
-- The methods of contraception covered by the offer included contraceptive pills, mini-pills, contraceptive injections, skin patches, vaginal rings, IUDs, implants, hormone spirals and copper spirals.
-- Women aged between 20 and 24 have the highest rate of abortions in Norway.
Source: SINTEF
понедельник, 20 февраля 2012 г.
Marital Sex Single Greatest HIV Risk For Women Around The World
For a growing number of women in rural Mexico - and around the world - marital sex represents their single greatest risk for HIV infection. According to a new Mailman School of Public Health Study, because marital infidelity by men is so deeply ingrained across many cultures, existing HIV prevention programs are putting a growing number of women at risk of developing the HIV virus. The findings, indicating that globally, prevention programs that take a "just say no" approach and encourage men to be monogamous are unlikely to be effective, underline the need for programs that make extramarital sex safer, rather than - unrealistically - trying to eradicate it. These findings are published in the June 2007 issue of the American Journal of Public Health.
The article's lead author, Jennifer S. Hirsch, PhD, associate professor of Sociomedical Sciences at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, is principal investigator on a large comparative study showing that the inevitability of men's infidelity in marriage is true across cultures. This was borne out in the research conducted in rural Mexico as well as in similar studies she is overseeing in rural New Guinea and southeastern Nigeria, which are published in the same issue of the American Journal of Public Health. Two additional studies underway, in Uganda and Vietnam, are expected to show similar results.
The Mexico study was based on six months of anthropological research, including participant observation, 20 marital case studies, 37 key informant interviews, and document analysis to explore the factors that shape HIV risk among married women in Degollado, one of the Mexico's rural communities.
In rural Mexico, reputation is a critical aspect of sexual identity, and attention to reputation provides insight into why people act in ways that are socially safer, but physically risky. "What we found in our research was that culturally constructed notions of reputation in this community led to sexual behavior designed to minimize men's social, rather than viral, risks," said Dr. Hirsch. "We also saw that men's desire for companionate intimacy actually increases women's risk for HIV infection."
A major factor in the study was that married men in the community left their homes to travel to the United States or large Mexican cities to find work. While away for long periods, they engaged in extra-marital and unsafe sex, which can lead to HIV infection. When men return home, they are said to be on honeymoon again, which includes resuming marital sexual relations.
"The result is that women are infected by their husbands, the very people with whom they are supposed to be having sex and, according to social conventions of Mexico, the only people with whom they are ever supposed to have sex," said Dr. Hirsch. "This challenges existing approaches to HIV prevention. It renders abstinence impossible and unilateral monogamy ineffective. Marital condom use is also not a serious option, because of women's deep, culturally supported commitment to the fiction of fidelity."
In New Guinea, researchers also saw labor migration as a major contributor to infidelity. Moreover, many men did not view sexual fidelity as necessary for achieving a happy marriage, but they viewed drinking and "looking for women" as important for male friendships.
In the Nigerian study, the social organization of infidelity was shaped by economic inequality, aspirations for modern lifestyles, gender disparities, and contradictory moralities. There, it is men's anxieties and ambivalence about masculinity, sexual morality, and social reputation in the context of seeking modern lifestyles - rather than immoral sexual behavior and traditional culture - that exacerbate the risks of HIV/AIDS.
According to Dr. Hirsch, the policy implications of these findings are clear. "This study has direct implications for the types of prevention programs we should be supporting," she observes. "We might find men's persistent and widespread participation extramarital sex to be troubling - but it's a deeply rooted aspect of social organization, and one that is unlikely to be easily changed. Public health programs alone can't stop extramarital sex, so we need to think about how to reduce the risk. Saying that 'be faithful' will protect married women is not true - unilateral monogamy is not an effective prevention strategy."
About the Mailman School of Public Health
The only accredited school of public health in New York City, and among the first in the nation, Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health provides instruction and research opportunities to more than 950 graduate students in pursuit of masters and doctoral degrees. Its students and more than 300 multi-disciplinary faculty engage in research and service in the city, nation, and around the world, concentrating on biostatistics, environmental health sciences, epidemiology, health policy and management, population and family health, and sociomedical sciences. mailman.hslumbia.edu/
Contact: Stephanie Berger
Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health
The article's lead author, Jennifer S. Hirsch, PhD, associate professor of Sociomedical Sciences at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, is principal investigator on a large comparative study showing that the inevitability of men's infidelity in marriage is true across cultures. This was borne out in the research conducted in rural Mexico as well as in similar studies she is overseeing in rural New Guinea and southeastern Nigeria, which are published in the same issue of the American Journal of Public Health. Two additional studies underway, in Uganda and Vietnam, are expected to show similar results.
The Mexico study was based on six months of anthropological research, including participant observation, 20 marital case studies, 37 key informant interviews, and document analysis to explore the factors that shape HIV risk among married women in Degollado, one of the Mexico's rural communities.
In rural Mexico, reputation is a critical aspect of sexual identity, and attention to reputation provides insight into why people act in ways that are socially safer, but physically risky. "What we found in our research was that culturally constructed notions of reputation in this community led to sexual behavior designed to minimize men's social, rather than viral, risks," said Dr. Hirsch. "We also saw that men's desire for companionate intimacy actually increases women's risk for HIV infection."
A major factor in the study was that married men in the community left their homes to travel to the United States or large Mexican cities to find work. While away for long periods, they engaged in extra-marital and unsafe sex, which can lead to HIV infection. When men return home, they are said to be on honeymoon again, which includes resuming marital sexual relations.
"The result is that women are infected by their husbands, the very people with whom they are supposed to be having sex and, according to social conventions of Mexico, the only people with whom they are ever supposed to have sex," said Dr. Hirsch. "This challenges existing approaches to HIV prevention. It renders abstinence impossible and unilateral monogamy ineffective. Marital condom use is also not a serious option, because of women's deep, culturally supported commitment to the fiction of fidelity."
In New Guinea, researchers also saw labor migration as a major contributor to infidelity. Moreover, many men did not view sexual fidelity as necessary for achieving a happy marriage, but they viewed drinking and "looking for women" as important for male friendships.
In the Nigerian study, the social organization of infidelity was shaped by economic inequality, aspirations for modern lifestyles, gender disparities, and contradictory moralities. There, it is men's anxieties and ambivalence about masculinity, sexual morality, and social reputation in the context of seeking modern lifestyles - rather than immoral sexual behavior and traditional culture - that exacerbate the risks of HIV/AIDS.
According to Dr. Hirsch, the policy implications of these findings are clear. "This study has direct implications for the types of prevention programs we should be supporting," she observes. "We might find men's persistent and widespread participation extramarital sex to be troubling - but it's a deeply rooted aspect of social organization, and one that is unlikely to be easily changed. Public health programs alone can't stop extramarital sex, so we need to think about how to reduce the risk. Saying that 'be faithful' will protect married women is not true - unilateral monogamy is not an effective prevention strategy."
About the Mailman School of Public Health
The only accredited school of public health in New York City, and among the first in the nation, Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health provides instruction and research opportunities to more than 950 graduate students in pursuit of masters and doctoral degrees. Its students and more than 300 multi-disciplinary faculty engage in research and service in the city, nation, and around the world, concentrating on biostatistics, environmental health sciences, epidemiology, health policy and management, population and family health, and sociomedical sciences. mailman.hslumbia.edu/
Contact: Stephanie Berger
Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health
понедельник, 13 февраля 2012 г.
Female Survivors Take Action Against A Cancer Deadlier Than Cervical Cancer By Launching The American Bladder Cancer Society
Bladder cancer survivors and caregivers will be celebrating the 4th of July with a renewed spirit and new purpose this year. They have banded together to raise awareness of this forgotten cancer, and will officially launch the American Bladder Cancer Society (ABLCS). Reminding Americans that bladder cancer now has a group of dedicated champions throughout the country fighting to save lives, finding a cure, and creating awareness.
Leading the efforts of this not-for-profit cancer society are:
-- Cynthia Kinsella, president, a 4 year survivor who resides in Massachusetts;
-- Sylvia Ramsey-Rezner, vice-president, 13 year survivor who resides in Georgia
-- Karen Greene, director, an 8 year survivor who resides in New York
According to President, Cynthia Kinsella, "The organization is actively reaching out across America, and is establishing a virtual community through its web site bladdercancersupport that is dedicated to raising awareness, and providing advocacy and support to those diagnosed with bladder cancer, and their care givers."
The members of this too often forgotten bladder cancer community, are coming together after a long and sometimes painful journey, but one also connected by each survivor's spirit of hope and dedication to making a difference in the lives of others. They are committed to sending up the flares, turning up the volume, and reaching out to provide hope and an active community where no one with the diagnosis of bladder cancer, or their caregivers, will face the isolation they experienced.
About Bladder Cancer
According to the National Cancer Institute, the prevalence of bladder cancer in the United States has surpassed that of lung cancer. This cancer is linked to smoking and occupational exposure to chemicals, yet if detected early, is very treatable and can have almost a 95% survival rate. In women, bladder cancer is about as prevalent as cervical and ovarian cancer.
Women should particularly be aware of the risks and signs of bladder cancer. Women account for 1 out of 4 newly diagnosed bladder malignancies and 1 out of 3 deaths from bladder cancer annually. A greater percentage of women are diagnosed at a later stage of the disease, resulting in a reduced 10 year survival rate compared to men.
Bladder Cancer Facts:
-- Total women diagnosed with cervical cancer yearly 11,070, deaths 3,870
-- Total women diagnosed with bladder cancer yearly 17,580, deaths 4,150
-- Total Men diagnosed with Colon cancer 53,760
-- Total Men diagnosed with urinary bladder cancer 51,230.
-- Bladder cancer is most common in men over 65 years.
-- It is the second most common urologic malignancy.
-- It is the fifth most common cancer in the United States with an estimated 68,810 new cases in 2008; and an estimated 14,100 deaths in 2008.
-- Men have four times a higher incidence of bladder cancer than women, and it is the fourth leading cause of cancer in men.
-- Women have a higher mortality rate because they are generally diagnosed in later stages of the disease.
-- Firefighters are particularly at risk, with a two times greater incidence than the general population.
-- Bladder cancer has the highest rate of recurrence of any cancer, including skin cancer, with a 50-85 percent recurrence within 6-12 months.
The risk factors for bladder cancer:
-- Smoking
-- Exposure to smoke and carcinogens
-- Occupational exposure to chemicals and dyes
-- Family history
An important symptom of bladder cancer is blood in the urine (called hematuria), as well as urinary burning and frequency. These symptoms should not be ignored. Between 20 and 25 percent of bladder cancers are first diagnosed after they have reached the invasive stage, making them much harder to treat successfully.
About the American Bladder Cancer Society
The American Bladder Cancer Society's function is to raise awareness of bladder cancer among the general public and the medical community, to advocate for the advancement of research into a cure, treatment, early diagnosis, and quality of life issues of survivors, to support bladder cancer survivors by providing community as well as by encouraging the concept of informed medical consumerism.
There are over 500,000 bladder cancer survivors each year in the United States, and yet there is little, if any support, there are no celebrities leading campaigns to make the public aware, or to assist with fundraising efforts. That is the reason the American Bladder Cancer Society's logo has the words, "Forget Us Not".
The American Bladder Cancer Society was incorporated in the state of Massachusetts as a non-profit corporation on February 26, 2008. For more information consult its website at bladdercancersupport . According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), bladder cancer is the fourth most common cancer in men and the eighth in women, with more than 68,000 new cases per year, and 14,000 deaths annually in the United States. Women have a higher mortality rate because they are generally diagnosed in later stages of the disease. Bladder cancer prevalence in women is similar to cervical cancer.
Bladder cancer has the highest rate of reoccurrence of any cancer, including skin cancer, with a 50 to 85 percent recurrence rate. Among U.S. males, there are almost as many new cases of bladder cancer reported each year as colon cancer in men.
American Bladder Cancer Society
Leading the efforts of this not-for-profit cancer society are:
-- Cynthia Kinsella, president, a 4 year survivor who resides in Massachusetts;
-- Sylvia Ramsey-Rezner, vice-president, 13 year survivor who resides in Georgia
-- Karen Greene, director, an 8 year survivor who resides in New York
According to President, Cynthia Kinsella, "The organization is actively reaching out across America, and is establishing a virtual community through its web site bladdercancersupport that is dedicated to raising awareness, and providing advocacy and support to those diagnosed with bladder cancer, and their care givers."
The members of this too often forgotten bladder cancer community, are coming together after a long and sometimes painful journey, but one also connected by each survivor's spirit of hope and dedication to making a difference in the lives of others. They are committed to sending up the flares, turning up the volume, and reaching out to provide hope and an active community where no one with the diagnosis of bladder cancer, or their caregivers, will face the isolation they experienced.
About Bladder Cancer
According to the National Cancer Institute, the prevalence of bladder cancer in the United States has surpassed that of lung cancer. This cancer is linked to smoking and occupational exposure to chemicals, yet if detected early, is very treatable and can have almost a 95% survival rate. In women, bladder cancer is about as prevalent as cervical and ovarian cancer.
Women should particularly be aware of the risks and signs of bladder cancer. Women account for 1 out of 4 newly diagnosed bladder malignancies and 1 out of 3 deaths from bladder cancer annually. A greater percentage of women are diagnosed at a later stage of the disease, resulting in a reduced 10 year survival rate compared to men.
Bladder Cancer Facts:
-- Total women diagnosed with cervical cancer yearly 11,070, deaths 3,870
-- Total women diagnosed with bladder cancer yearly 17,580, deaths 4,150
-- Total Men diagnosed with Colon cancer 53,760
-- Total Men diagnosed with urinary bladder cancer 51,230.
-- Bladder cancer is most common in men over 65 years.
-- It is the second most common urologic malignancy.
-- It is the fifth most common cancer in the United States with an estimated 68,810 new cases in 2008; and an estimated 14,100 deaths in 2008.
-- Men have four times a higher incidence of bladder cancer than women, and it is the fourth leading cause of cancer in men.
-- Women have a higher mortality rate because they are generally diagnosed in later stages of the disease.
-- Firefighters are particularly at risk, with a two times greater incidence than the general population.
-- Bladder cancer has the highest rate of recurrence of any cancer, including skin cancer, with a 50-85 percent recurrence within 6-12 months.
The risk factors for bladder cancer:
-- Smoking
-- Exposure to smoke and carcinogens
-- Occupational exposure to chemicals and dyes
-- Family history
An important symptom of bladder cancer is blood in the urine (called hematuria), as well as urinary burning and frequency. These symptoms should not be ignored. Between 20 and 25 percent of bladder cancers are first diagnosed after they have reached the invasive stage, making them much harder to treat successfully.
About the American Bladder Cancer Society
The American Bladder Cancer Society's function is to raise awareness of bladder cancer among the general public and the medical community, to advocate for the advancement of research into a cure, treatment, early diagnosis, and quality of life issues of survivors, to support bladder cancer survivors by providing community as well as by encouraging the concept of informed medical consumerism.
There are over 500,000 bladder cancer survivors each year in the United States, and yet there is little, if any support, there are no celebrities leading campaigns to make the public aware, or to assist with fundraising efforts. That is the reason the American Bladder Cancer Society's logo has the words, "Forget Us Not".
The American Bladder Cancer Society was incorporated in the state of Massachusetts as a non-profit corporation on February 26, 2008. For more information consult its website at bladdercancersupport . According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), bladder cancer is the fourth most common cancer in men and the eighth in women, with more than 68,000 new cases per year, and 14,000 deaths annually in the United States. Women have a higher mortality rate because they are generally diagnosed in later stages of the disease. Bladder cancer prevalence in women is similar to cervical cancer.
Bladder cancer has the highest rate of reoccurrence of any cancer, including skin cancer, with a 50 to 85 percent recurrence rate. Among U.S. males, there are almost as many new cases of bladder cancer reported each year as colon cancer in men.
American Bladder Cancer Society
понедельник, 6 февраля 2012 г.
Calcium, Vitamin D Supplements May Help Prevent Weight Gain In Postmenopausal Women
Postmenopausal women who take
calcium and vitamin D supplements may gain less weight than those who do
not, although the overall effect is small, according to a report authored
by a Kaiser Permanente research scientist and featured in the May 14, 2007
edition of Archives of Internal Medicine.
The study included 36,282 postmenopausal women ages 50 to 79 years who
were enrolled in the Women's Health Initiative clinical trial. It found
that those who took daily calcium and vitamin D supplements over a
seven-year period weighed an average 0.28 pounds less, and were less likely
to gain weight than women who received placebos.
The greatest benefits were seen in women who began the study with
inadequate calcium intakes -- those consuming less than the current
recommendation of 1,200 mg of calcium per day. These women were found to be
11 percent less likely to experience small weight gains (2.2 to 6.6 pounds)
after three years, and 11 percent less likely to gain more moderate amounts
of weight (more than 6.6 pounds).
"While this study shows that calcium and vitamin D supplements appear
to have some small benefits when it comes to controlling weight, women
clearly should continue practicing the basic tenets of weight management --
that is monitoring calories in their diets and getting at least 30 minutes
of physical activity a day," said lead author Bette Caan, DrPH, a senior
epidemiologist at Kaiser Permanente's Division of Research in Oakland,
Calif. "Further research may be warranted to address the effect of calcium
and vitamin D supplementation combined with caloric restriction and
physical activity on weight gain prevention."
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the
percentage of women ages 50 to 79 who are obese increased by nearly 50
percent in the 1990s.
Dr. Caan noted that age-related changes in body composition, metabolic
factors and hormone levels, combined with declines in physical activity,
are all factors that can contribute to weight gain and obesity as women
age.
"We know that preventing weight gain is likely to have significant
health benefits for middle-aged women, so early to middle menopause may be
a critical period for women to effectively manage their weight," she said.
Previous studies have shown some evidence that calcium and vitamin D
supplements, as well as foods rich in these nutrients, may play a role in
effective weight management. One explanation is that calcium and vitamin D
work together to regulate metabolism. In addition, calcium may help
decrease fatty acid absorption in the intestine.
Dr. Caan said the latest study findings do not justify altering current
dietary recommendations, and that postmenopausal women should continue to
be advised to consume 1,200 mg a day of calcium as recommended by the Food
and Nutrition Board of the National Academy of Sciences.
Study participants were already enrolled in the dietary modification
and/or hormone therapy arms of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), a long-
term clinical trial launched in 1991 by the National Institutes of Health
to address the most common causes of death, disability and impaired quality
of life in postmenopausal women.
Women were randomized at their first or second year annual visit to
receive a dose of 1,000 mg of calcium plus 400 international units (IU) of
vitamin D supplements or placebo in a study initially designed to test
whether these supplements would reduce the incidence of hip fractures and
colorectal cancer. That study found that the supplements slowed loss of
bone density over a seven-year period, but were associated with
non-significant lower rates of hip fractures, and were not found to be
effective in preventing colorectal cancer in healthy postmenopausal women.
The latest study is believed to be the largest double-blind, placebo-
controlled clinical trial to report the effects of calcium and vitamin D
supplementation on weight change. It was funded by the National Heart,
Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health.
The Kaiser Permanente Division of Research conducts, publishes, and
disseminates epidemiologic and health services research to improve the
health and medical care of Kaiser Permanente members and the society at
large. It seeks to understand the determinants of illness and well being
and to improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of health care.
Currently, the center's 400-plus staff is working on more than 250
epidemiological and health services research projects.
Kaiser Permanente
kaiserpermanente
calcium and vitamin D supplements may gain less weight than those who do
not, although the overall effect is small, according to a report authored
by a Kaiser Permanente research scientist and featured in the May 14, 2007
edition of Archives of Internal Medicine.
The study included 36,282 postmenopausal women ages 50 to 79 years who
were enrolled in the Women's Health Initiative clinical trial. It found
that those who took daily calcium and vitamin D supplements over a
seven-year period weighed an average 0.28 pounds less, and were less likely
to gain weight than women who received placebos.
The greatest benefits were seen in women who began the study with
inadequate calcium intakes -- those consuming less than the current
recommendation of 1,200 mg of calcium per day. These women were found to be
11 percent less likely to experience small weight gains (2.2 to 6.6 pounds)
after three years, and 11 percent less likely to gain more moderate amounts
of weight (more than 6.6 pounds).
"While this study shows that calcium and vitamin D supplements appear
to have some small benefits when it comes to controlling weight, women
clearly should continue practicing the basic tenets of weight management --
that is monitoring calories in their diets and getting at least 30 minutes
of physical activity a day," said lead author Bette Caan, DrPH, a senior
epidemiologist at Kaiser Permanente's Division of Research in Oakland,
Calif. "Further research may be warranted to address the effect of calcium
and vitamin D supplementation combined with caloric restriction and
physical activity on weight gain prevention."
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the
percentage of women ages 50 to 79 who are obese increased by nearly 50
percent in the 1990s.
Dr. Caan noted that age-related changes in body composition, metabolic
factors and hormone levels, combined with declines in physical activity,
are all factors that can contribute to weight gain and obesity as women
age.
"We know that preventing weight gain is likely to have significant
health benefits for middle-aged women, so early to middle menopause may be
a critical period for women to effectively manage their weight," she said.
Previous studies have shown some evidence that calcium and vitamin D
supplements, as well as foods rich in these nutrients, may play a role in
effective weight management. One explanation is that calcium and vitamin D
work together to regulate metabolism. In addition, calcium may help
decrease fatty acid absorption in the intestine.
Dr. Caan said the latest study findings do not justify altering current
dietary recommendations, and that postmenopausal women should continue to
be advised to consume 1,200 mg a day of calcium as recommended by the Food
and Nutrition Board of the National Academy of Sciences.
Study participants were already enrolled in the dietary modification
and/or hormone therapy arms of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), a long-
term clinical trial launched in 1991 by the National Institutes of Health
to address the most common causes of death, disability and impaired quality
of life in postmenopausal women.
Women were randomized at their first or second year annual visit to
receive a dose of 1,000 mg of calcium plus 400 international units (IU) of
vitamin D supplements or placebo in a study initially designed to test
whether these supplements would reduce the incidence of hip fractures and
colorectal cancer. That study found that the supplements slowed loss of
bone density over a seven-year period, but were associated with
non-significant lower rates of hip fractures, and were not found to be
effective in preventing colorectal cancer in healthy postmenopausal women.
The latest study is believed to be the largest double-blind, placebo-
controlled clinical trial to report the effects of calcium and vitamin D
supplementation on weight change. It was funded by the National Heart,
Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health.
The Kaiser Permanente Division of Research conducts, publishes, and
disseminates epidemiologic and health services research to improve the
health and medical care of Kaiser Permanente members and the society at
large. It seeks to understand the determinants of illness and well being
and to improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of health care.
Currently, the center's 400-plus staff is working on more than 250
epidemiological and health services research projects.
Kaiser Permanente
kaiserpermanente
понедельник, 30 января 2012 г.
2 Glasses Of Milk A Day Tones Muscles, Keeps The Fat Away In Women, Study Shows
Women who drink two large glasses of milk a day after their weight-lifting routine gained more muscle and lost more fat compared to women who drank sugar-based energy drinks, a McMaster study has found.
The study appears in the June issue of Medicine and Science in Sport and Exercise.
"Resistance training is not a typical choice of exercise for women," says Stu Phillips, professor in the Department of Kinesiology at McMaster University. "But the health benefits of resistance training are enormous: It boosts strength, bone, muscular and metabolic health in a way that other types of exercise cannot."
A previous study conducted by Phillips' lab showed that milk increased muscle mass and fat loss in men. This new study, says Phillips was more challenging because women not only steer clear of resistance training they also tend to steer away from dairy products based on the incorrect belief that dairy foods are fattening.
"We expected the gains in muscle mass to be greater, but the size of the fat loss surprised us," says Phillips. "We're still not sure what causes this but we're investigating that now. It could be the combination of calcium, high-quality protein, and vitamin D may be the key, and. conveniently, all of these nutrients are in milk.
Over a 12-week period, the study monitored young women who did not use resistance-training exercise. Every day, two hours before exercising, the women were required not to eat or drink anything except water. Immediately after their exercise routine, one group consumed 500ml of fat free white milk; the other group consumed a similar-looking but sugar-based energy drink. The same drinks were consumed by each group one hour after exercising.
The training consisted of three types of exercise: pushing (e.g. bench press, chest fly), pulling (e.g. seated lateral pull down, abdominal exercises without weights), and leg exercises (e.g. leg press, seated two-leg hamstring curl). Training was monitored daily one on one by personal trainers to ensure proper technique.
"The women who drank milk gained barely any weight because what they gained in lean muscle they balanced out with a loss in fat" said Phillips. "Our data show that simple things like regular weightlifting exercise and milk consumption work to substantially improve women's body composition and health." Phillips' lab is now following this study up with a large clinical weight loss trial in women.
Funding for the study was provided by McMaster University, CIHR, and the Dairy Farmers of Canada. McMaster University, one of four Canadian universities listed among the Top 100 universities in the world, is renowned for its innovation in both learning and discovery. It has a student population of 23,000, and more than 145,000 alumni in 128 countries.
Source: McMaster University
The study appears in the June issue of Medicine and Science in Sport and Exercise.
"Resistance training is not a typical choice of exercise for women," says Stu Phillips, professor in the Department of Kinesiology at McMaster University. "But the health benefits of resistance training are enormous: It boosts strength, bone, muscular and metabolic health in a way that other types of exercise cannot."
A previous study conducted by Phillips' lab showed that milk increased muscle mass and fat loss in men. This new study, says Phillips was more challenging because women not only steer clear of resistance training they also tend to steer away from dairy products based on the incorrect belief that dairy foods are fattening.
"We expected the gains in muscle mass to be greater, but the size of the fat loss surprised us," says Phillips. "We're still not sure what causes this but we're investigating that now. It could be the combination of calcium, high-quality protein, and vitamin D may be the key, and. conveniently, all of these nutrients are in milk.
Over a 12-week period, the study monitored young women who did not use resistance-training exercise. Every day, two hours before exercising, the women were required not to eat or drink anything except water. Immediately after their exercise routine, one group consumed 500ml of fat free white milk; the other group consumed a similar-looking but sugar-based energy drink. The same drinks were consumed by each group one hour after exercising.
The training consisted of three types of exercise: pushing (e.g. bench press, chest fly), pulling (e.g. seated lateral pull down, abdominal exercises without weights), and leg exercises (e.g. leg press, seated two-leg hamstring curl). Training was monitored daily one on one by personal trainers to ensure proper technique.
"The women who drank milk gained barely any weight because what they gained in lean muscle they balanced out with a loss in fat" said Phillips. "Our data show that simple things like regular weightlifting exercise and milk consumption work to substantially improve women's body composition and health." Phillips' lab is now following this study up with a large clinical weight loss trial in women.
Funding for the study was provided by McMaster University, CIHR, and the Dairy Farmers of Canada. McMaster University, one of four Canadian universities listed among the Top 100 universities in the world, is renowned for its innovation in both learning and discovery. It has a student population of 23,000, and more than 145,000 alumni in 128 countries.
Source: McMaster University
понедельник, 23 января 2012 г.
Planned Parenthood Affiliate Files For Federal Injunction Against Missouri Law Designating Some Clinics As Ambulatory Care Centers
Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri on Monday filed a lawsuit that asks a federal court to block enforcement of a new Missouri law (SB 370) that will designate facilities performing second- or third-trimester abortions or more than five first-trimester abortions each month as "ambulatory surgical centers," the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports (Franck, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 8/21).
Clinics designated as ambulatory surgical centers are subject to increased regulation from the state Department of Health and Senior Services. The health department said the law requires that three clinics in the state be licensed (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 7/11). According to the AP/San Diego Union-Tribune, the law, which is scheduled to take effect Aug. 28, will require that hallways be at least six feet wide and doors at least 44 inches wide. The clinics must also have separate male and female changing rooms for staff and a recovery room with space for a minimum of four beds with three feet of clearance around each bed (Lieb, AP/San Diego Union-Tribune, 8/20).
The suit alleges that the new regulations are unnecessary and are not meant to improve safety but to interfere with a woman's constitutional right to abortion. PPKM in the suit also is asking that its Columbia and Kansas City clinics be exempt from the law because they were open before the law was passed, the Post-Dispatch reports (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 8/21). The organization has said the law could force the group to spend up to $2 million to remodel its clinic in Columbia or be forced to stop providing abortions (AP/Columbia Tribune, 8/18).
The law also will give public school districts the option of teaching an abstinence-only sex education course. School districts previously were required to include information about contraception in sex education classes. In addition, the law prohibits people affiliated with abortion providers from teaching or supplying sex education materials to public schools (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 7/11).
Clinics designated as ambulatory surgical centers are subject to increased regulation from the state Department of Health and Senior Services. The health department said the law requires that three clinics in the state be licensed (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 7/11). According to the AP/San Diego Union-Tribune, the law, which is scheduled to take effect Aug. 28, will require that hallways be at least six feet wide and doors at least 44 inches wide. The clinics must also have separate male and female changing rooms for staff and a recovery room with space for a minimum of four beds with three feet of clearance around each bed (Lieb, AP/San Diego Union-Tribune, 8/20).
The suit alleges that the new regulations are unnecessary and are not meant to improve safety but to interfere with a woman's constitutional right to abortion. PPKM in the suit also is asking that its Columbia and Kansas City clinics be exempt from the law because they were open before the law was passed, the Post-Dispatch reports (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 8/21). The organization has said the law could force the group to spend up to $2 million to remodel its clinic in Columbia or be forced to stop providing abortions (AP/Columbia Tribune, 8/18).
The law also will give public school districts the option of teaching an abstinence-only sex education course. School districts previously were required to include information about contraception in sex education classes. In addition, the law prohibits people affiliated with abortion providers from teaching or supplying sex education materials to public schools (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 7/11).
Comments
PPKM CEO Peter Brownlie said the law is a "blatant attempt to close down clinics and deny women their right to health care." He added that the regulations "would have no impact on family planning services or the quality of care that patients receive." Nanci Gonder, a spokesperson for the health department, said she cannot comment until the agency reviewed the lawsuit (Bauer, Kansas City Star, 8/20). A spokesperson for Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon (R) said the attorney general's office "will continue our constitutional duties" by defending the law in court.
State Sen. Delbert Scott (R), who sponsored the bill in the Senate, said that while he hopes the law decreases abortions, the purpose is to ensure that abortion clinics meet the same safety standards as other outpatient clinics. Paula Gianino, president of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region, said the group is deciding whether to challenge the section of the law prohibiting abortion providers from providing sex education, the Post-Dispatch reports (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 8/21).
"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.
понедельник, 16 января 2012 г.
Endometriosis Association Joins Overlapping Conditions Alliance
In an effort to help people suffering from multiple chronic medical conditions, the Endometriosis Association has joined five other nonprofit organizations to form the Overlapping Conditions Alliance. The other five organizations are the Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome Association of America; the Interstitial Cystitis Association; the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders; the National Vulvodynia Association; and the TMJ Association.
Millions of people suffer from one or more of these conditions, while healthcare providers receive limited training on these conditions, leading to frequent misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment. Now that studies indicate these conditions "overlap," we need much more research to understand the connections and develop more effective treatments. All of these conditions cause enormous physical and emotional distress for sufferers and their families. In addition, monetary costs are high due to medical expenses and lost productivity.
The mission of the Overlapping Conditions Alliance is to change this situation by advancing the scientific, medical, and policy needs of individuals afflicted with multiple chronic conditions. The new group will promote research into the underlying connections between these coexisting conditions.
To learn more, visit OverlappingConditions.
Source
Endometriosis Association
Millions of people suffer from one or more of these conditions, while healthcare providers receive limited training on these conditions, leading to frequent misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment. Now that studies indicate these conditions "overlap," we need much more research to understand the connections and develop more effective treatments. All of these conditions cause enormous physical and emotional distress for sufferers and their families. In addition, monetary costs are high due to medical expenses and lost productivity.
The mission of the Overlapping Conditions Alliance is to change this situation by advancing the scientific, medical, and policy needs of individuals afflicted with multiple chronic conditions. The new group will promote research into the underlying connections between these coexisting conditions.
To learn more, visit OverlappingConditions.
Source
Endometriosis Association
понедельник, 9 января 2012 г.
Reduction In Sexual Satisfaction Is Not Associated With Cardiovascular Disease In Postmenopausal Women
Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) and Boston Medical Center (BMC) and collaborators nationwide have found that decreased sexual satisfaction in postmenopausal women, is not clearly associated with cardiovascular disease. This study appears in the April 2008 issue of The American Journal of Medicine.
Female sexual dysfunction is a common condition and has been linked to a higher burden of medical illnesses that can cause cardiovascular disease. In men, erectile dysfunction is clearly linked to the development of cardiovascular disease. Many of the same mechanisms known to be risk factors for cardiovascular disease are thought to be responsible for sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women, but this association has not been previously examined using prospective data.
Researchers examined data from the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study. Participants were sexually active postmenopausal women aged 50 to 79 years, recruited at 40 clinical centers throughout the United States and followed for 8-12 years. Based on responses to a baseline survey, subjects were classified as sexually satisfied or dissatisfied.
Researchers identified cardiovascular disease at baseline and over the follow-up period. The presence of cardiovascular disease was defined as a self-reported history of acute myocardial infarction, stroke, or coronary revascularization procedure. Related cardiovascular problems, including congestive heart failure, peripheral arterial disease and angina were also examined.
According to researchers, there was a modest association between being dissatisfied with sexual activity and having peripheral arterial disease, and angina was decreased among those dissatisfied with sexual activity. However, there was no association between sexual dissatisfaction and the presence of any other form of cardiovascular disease including heart attack or stroke. More importantly, there was no association between sexual dissatisfaction at baseline and the development of cardiovascular disease in the future.
"In men, erectile dysfunction is a manifestation of cardiovascular disease, and can predict the development of adverse cardiovascular outcomes such as heart attack," said lead author Jennifer McCall-Hosenfeld, MD, MSc, a fellow in the Department of General Internal Medicine at BMC and Women's Health at BUSM. "In our study, we used decreased sexual satisfaction as a proxy measure for sexual dysfunction, and controlled for lifestyle issues and other factors that might impact sexual satisfaction. We did not find that sexual satisfaction predicted cardiovascular disease in the future.
"Our study of sexually active postmenopausal women found dissatisfaction with sexual activity was not predictive of incident cardiovascular disease which may be due to physiological differences in sexual functioning between men and women, or to difficulty measuring sexual dysfunction in women," added McCall-Hosenfeld.
The Women's Health Initiative program was funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Jennifer McCall-Hosenfeld was supported by a Department of Veterans Affairs Special Fellowship in the Health Issues of Women Veterans.
Source: Gina DiGravio
Boston University
Female sexual dysfunction is a common condition and has been linked to a higher burden of medical illnesses that can cause cardiovascular disease. In men, erectile dysfunction is clearly linked to the development of cardiovascular disease. Many of the same mechanisms known to be risk factors for cardiovascular disease are thought to be responsible for sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women, but this association has not been previously examined using prospective data.
Researchers examined data from the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study. Participants were sexually active postmenopausal women aged 50 to 79 years, recruited at 40 clinical centers throughout the United States and followed for 8-12 years. Based on responses to a baseline survey, subjects were classified as sexually satisfied or dissatisfied.
Researchers identified cardiovascular disease at baseline and over the follow-up period. The presence of cardiovascular disease was defined as a self-reported history of acute myocardial infarction, stroke, or coronary revascularization procedure. Related cardiovascular problems, including congestive heart failure, peripheral arterial disease and angina were also examined.
According to researchers, there was a modest association between being dissatisfied with sexual activity and having peripheral arterial disease, and angina was decreased among those dissatisfied with sexual activity. However, there was no association between sexual dissatisfaction and the presence of any other form of cardiovascular disease including heart attack or stroke. More importantly, there was no association between sexual dissatisfaction at baseline and the development of cardiovascular disease in the future.
"In men, erectile dysfunction is a manifestation of cardiovascular disease, and can predict the development of adverse cardiovascular outcomes such as heart attack," said lead author Jennifer McCall-Hosenfeld, MD, MSc, a fellow in the Department of General Internal Medicine at BMC and Women's Health at BUSM. "In our study, we used decreased sexual satisfaction as a proxy measure for sexual dysfunction, and controlled for lifestyle issues and other factors that might impact sexual satisfaction. We did not find that sexual satisfaction predicted cardiovascular disease in the future.
"Our study of sexually active postmenopausal women found dissatisfaction with sexual activity was not predictive of incident cardiovascular disease which may be due to physiological differences in sexual functioning between men and women, or to difficulty measuring sexual dysfunction in women," added McCall-Hosenfeld.
The Women's Health Initiative program was funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Jennifer McCall-Hosenfeld was supported by a Department of Veterans Affairs Special Fellowship in the Health Issues of Women Veterans.
Source: Gina DiGravio
Boston University
понедельник, 2 января 2012 г.
Minn. Legislature Considers 'Abstinence-Plus' Sex Education Bill
A bill (SF 2645) in the Minnesota Legislature would require each school district to create an "abstinence-first" sex education curriculum with "age-appropriate" lessons on human sexuality and information about condoms and other contraceptives, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports. Current state law requires school districts to implement sex education programs that "includ[e] helping students to abstain from sexual activity until marriage." The legislation also would require, for the first time, that sex education programs address prevention of sexual violence. Parents could elect to exclude their children from the programs.
Lorie Alveshere, policy director for the Minnesota Organization on Adolescent Pregnancy, Prevention and Parenting, said the bill "is meant to be the standard, and then an individual school district gets to choose the curriculum."
Although the proposal has been discussed around the Capitol for several years, it has faced resistance from Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R), according to the Pioneer Press. Because of opposition from Pawlenty and others, the bill's prospects are "doubtful," the Pioneer Press reports.
Minnesota has one of the lowest overall teen pregnancy rates among states, but its pregnancy rate among black teens is the fifth-highest in the nation (Hoppin, St. Paul Pioneer Press, 3/3).
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.
© 2010 The Advisory Board Company. All rights reserved.
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