Women's Health Weekly articles from August 2001

Women's Health Weekly archives from August 2001

Interleukin-6 In Microenvironment May Support Tumor Growth.(cervical cancer research)
August 9, 2001... 2001 AUG 9 - (NewsRx Network) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - A new study suggests increased levels of interleukin (IL)-6 may promote cervical cancer growth and tumor vascularity in females. Researchers in Taiwan at National...

Exercise, HRT Independently Reduce Fat Mass And Improve Insulin Action.(hormone replacement therapy)
August 9, 2001... 2001 AUG 9 - (NewsRx Network) -- by N.R. Saltmarsh, staff medical writer Postmenopausal women who exercise and take hormone replacement therapy (HRT) have less fat mass and better insulin action, say researchers working in the United States....

Recurrences May Be More Difficult To Treat In Women Who Take Tamoxifen, Study Suggests.(breast cancer relapses)
August 9, 2001... 2001 AUG 9 - (NewsRx Network) -- A new study from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center confirms that tamoxifen use decreases the risk of a second breast cancer, but it also finds that the drug may cause a fivefold increased risk of...

Fetal Origin Hypothesis Says Reducing Disease Risk Starts Before Birth.
August 9, 2001... 2001 AUG 9 - (NewsRx Network) -- Modest improvements in fetal and infant growth would lead to substantial falls in disease rates in later life, an epidemiologist reported at the annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and...

VEGF-C Aligns With Invasion In Gynecological Cancer Cell Lines.(vascular endothelial growth factor C)
August 9, 2001... 2001 AUG 9 - (NewsRx Network) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Of several types of angiogenic factors, VEGF-C (vascular endothelial growth factor C) most closely associates with invasion and metastases in in vitro analyses of...

Prior Cesarean Increases Risk Of Uterine Rupture During Vaginal Labor.
August 9, 2001... 2001 AUG 9 - (NewsRx Network) -- Women who've had a cesarean and who later attempt to deliver by vaginal labor are more likely to suffer a uterine rupture than women who go on to have a repeat cesarean delivery without labor. University of...

Techniques Using Low-Dose Anesthetics May Replace Traditional Epidural.(for assisted vaginal delivery in childbirth)
August 9, 2001... 2001 AUG 9 - (NewsRx Network) -- Epidural techniques which use low-dose anesthetics reduce the need for assisted vaginal delivery in childbirth, casting doubt over the future use of conventional epidurals, conclude authors of a study in the...

Study Will Look For Link Between Depression Or Stress and Low Bone Mass.
August 9, 2001... 2001 AUG 9 - (NewsRx Network) -- The U.S. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has launched a new study of women ages 21 to 45 who are suffering from major depression to find out whether low bone mass is related to depression or stress...

Teenage Girls With Disease Still Have Functioning Follicles.(Turner syndrome)
August 9, 2001... 2001 AUG 9 - (NewsRx Network) -- Swedish researchers have found that teenage girls with Turner syndrome still have follicles in their ovaries that may be capable of producing eggs. This discovery offers hope that girls with Turner syndrome...

New Immunohistochemistry Applications Found For Tissue Testing.(in breast cancer diagnosis)
August 9, 2001... 2001 AUG 9 - (NewsRx Network) -- Applied Imaging Corp. (AICX) announced that it has introduced several new applications for its MDS [TM] platform to assist pathologists in their review of key breast cancer tests. These applications provide...

New Screening Technologies Will Reduce The Number Of Biopsies.(breast cancer diagnosis)
August 9, 2001... 2001 AUG 9 - (NewsRx Network) -- New breast imaging technologies will drive growth in the U.S. mammography market over the next several years, resulting in product sales of nearly U.S. $340 million by 2005, according to an article published in...

Stressing Risks Is Best Way To Motivate Women To Get Screened.(for breast cancer)
August 9, 2001... 2001 AUG 9 - (NewsRx Network) -- Emphasizing the risks of avoiding breast cancer screening may be the best way to motivate women to get screened, at least for some ethnic groups, suggest the results of a study in the July 2001 issue of Health...

Human Papillomavirus Test Is Cost Effective In Developing Countries.
August 9, 2001... 2001 AUG 9 - (NewsRx Network) -- A major new study supports the use of testing for human papillomavirus (HPV) using Digene's Hybrid [Capture.sup.R] 2 HPV DNA Test in cervical cancer screening in low-resource settings. The study, published...

Metformin May Be Useful For PCOS Patients With Metabolic Syndrome Features.(polycystic ovary syndrome)
August 9, 2001... 2001 AUG 9 - (NewsRx Network) -- by N.R. Saltmarsh, staff medical writer - A new report in the Medical Journal of Australia describes the potential therapeutic use of metformin for patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) who also exhibit...

Doctors Perform More IVF Treatments, But Multiple Births Decline.(invitro fertilization treatment)
August 9, 2001... 2001 AUG 9 - (NewsRx Network) -- The latest figures on in vitro fertilization (IVF) in Europe reveal the welcome news that while the number of IVF treatment cycles has increased, the number of multiple births is decreasing. Drs. Karl...

Smoking Lessens Chances Of IVF Success.(in vitro fertilization)
August 9, 2001... 2001 AUG 9 - (NewsRx Network) -- Smoking lessens the chance of successful in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment and women should be actively encouraged to quit before undergoing IVF, researchers recommend. New research by a team from the...

Menorrhagia Diagnosis May Be Incorrect In Many Cases.
August 9, 2001... 2001 AUG 9 - (NewsRx Network) -- Many women who seek help for menstrual problems are referred to gynecology clinics for treatment of menorrhagia (excessive blood loss during menstruation) when actually they have pain or broader problems with...

Drug Efficacy Is Unaffected By Menstrual Cycle In Women.(Zomig (zolmitriptan) still effective in the treatment of migraine)
August 9, 2001... 2001 AUG 9 - (NewsRx Network) -- New data show that [Zomig.sup.R] (zolmitriptan), produced by AstraZeneca (AZN), is effective in treating migraine regardless of its relationship to menses. The data were released at the American Headache...

C-Reactive Protein Correlates With Adiposity, HRT Use In Menopause.(hormone replacement therapy)
August 9, 2001... 2001 AUG 9- (NewsRx Network) -- by N.R. Saltmarsh, staff medical writer - Levels of C-reactive protein are associated with weight gain, obesity, and use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in postmenopausal women, researchers in the United...

Two Clinical Decision-Making Tools Are Somewhat Better Than Guidelines In Identifying High-Risk Women.(measurement of bone mineral density)
August 9, 2001... 2001 AUG 9 - (NewsRx Network) -- Two clinical decision rules to select women for bone mineral density (BMD) testing appear somewhat better than current U.S. practice guidelines in identifying high-risk patients for BMD testing, according to an...

Vitamin E Can Replace Estrogen Treatment for Bone Loss.
August 9, 2001... 2001 AUG 9 - (NewsRx Network) -- New research in an animal model indicates that vitamin E can be a safer and much less expensive treatment for bone loss than estrogen. Dr. Sunil Wimalawansa presented the data at a meeting of the Endocrine...

Raloxifene May Increase Cancer Growth Rate.(ovarian cancer)
August 9, 2001... 2001 AUG 9- (NewsRx Network) -- The drug raloxifene may increase the growth rate of ovarian cancer and its risk of recurrence, according to researchers. Speaking at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology's annual meeting...

'His-and-Hers' Fertility Test Kit Developed.(by Genosis)
August 9, 2001... 2001 AUG 9 - (NewsRx Network) -- Scientists and doctors in the United Kingdom have developed the world's first 'his-and-hers' home fertility test kit, known as Fertell. It is intended to measure natural levels of fertility in couples trying to...

Obesity Linked To Higher Miscarriage Rate After In Vitro Fertilization.
August 9, 2001... 2001 AUG 9- (NewsRx Network) -- Obese women should lose weight before embarking on in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment for infertility if they want to minimize their risk of miscarriage, fertility experts recommend. In a study of over...

Scientists Report The First Live Births In Large Mammals After Using Frozen Ovarian Tissue.
August 9, 2001... 2001 AUG 9 - (NewsRx Network) -- Scientists in France have succeeded in using previously frozen ovarian tissue to produce live offspring in large mammals for the first time. The team, led by Prof. Bruno Salle and Dr. Jacqueline Lornage of...

Sex-Sorting Technique Increases Percentage Of Female Embryos Obtained Via IVF.(in vitro fertilization)
August 9, 2001... 2001 AUG 9 - (NewsRx Network) -- A team of scientists and physicians in the U.S. has developed a preconception sex-sorting technique for humans that can dramatically increase the percentage of female embryos obtained through in vitro...

Ovulation May Increase Risk For Knee Ligament Injury.
August 9, 2001... 2001 AUG 9 - (NewsRx Network) -- Women are nearly three times more likely to injure their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during ovulation than during other times of their menstrual cycle; however, oral contraceptives may provide protection....

Trans Fatty Acids Increase Risk Of Diabetes.
August 9, 2001... 2001 AUG 9 - (NewsRx Network) -- by Carol K Kohn, MS, ELS(D), senior medical writer Switching from dietary trans fatty acids to nonhydrogenated polyunsaturated fats can substantially reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, say U.S....

Certain Symptoms Common in Affected Women.(ovarian cancer symptoms)
August 23, 2001... 2001 AUG 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- The symptoms of ovarian cancer are often described as nonspecific or nonexistent, making it difficult to detect the disease before it has progressed to later and more deadly stages. But a new study suggests...

Irregular Growth Factor Levels Mark Heightened Risk During Pregnancy.(for developing pre-eclampsia)
August 23, 2001... 2001 AUG 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Monitoring plasma levels of an important human growth factor might clue doctors in to a pregnant patient's risk for developing pre-eclampsia. Based on a study of...

Study Finds Third Generation Oral Contraceptive Increases Risk Of Blood Clots.
August 23, 2001... 2001 AUG 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- Women taking third generation oral contraceptives have a 1.7-fold increased risk of venous clotting (thrombosis) compared with those taking second generation oral contraceptives, according to a recent study....

New Method of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Distinguishes Benign from Malignant Breast Lesions.
August 23, 2001... 2001 AUG 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- A team of researchers has put to the test a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequence for assessing mammographic abnormalities that can distinguish accurately among benign, premalignant, and malignant lesions....

Pap Tests On Women With Hysterectomies Cost Millions Of Dollars.
August 23, 2001... 2001 AUG 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- Millions of Pap tests are unnecessarily performed on women who have had hysterectomies, wasting an excessive amount of time and costing millions of dollars, according to a study in the August 2001 issue of...

Study Finds Depression More Common During Pregnancy Than After Childbirth.
August 23, 2001... 2001 AUG 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- Depression during pregnancy is more common than postnatal depression, finds a study in the August 2, 2001, issue of the British Medical Journal. As mood during pregnancy may affect the unborn child, more...

Index Spots Pregnancy Risks For Women With Heart Disease.(health risk index)
August 23, 2001... 2001 AUG 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- A risk index can predict the extent of pregnancy complications in women who have heart conditions, which means those at high risk can be directed to specialized treatment facilities, according to the...

Lack Of HIV Testing In Pregnant Women Risks Passing Virus To Babies.
August 23, 2001... 2001 AUG 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- While current guidelines call for all pregnant women m the U.S. to be tested for HIV, nearly half are not, according to a new study. As a result, they run the risk of passing the infection to their babies. ...

Psychopathology Of Pregnant Women With Alcohol And Drug Dependencies Examined.
August 23, 2001... 2001 AUG 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- The majority of alcohol research to date has focused primarily on men, or on combined samples of men and women. Even fewer psychopathological studies, which examine emotional, behavioral, and psychological...

Study Reports Benefits Outweigh Burden Of Chemotherapy.(adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer)
August 23, 2001... 2001 AUG 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- The benefits of adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer outweigh its side effects, especially for younger women, conclude authors of a study in the July 28, 2001, issue of the Lancet. Previous randomized...

Studies Miss Key Information That Could Encourage Longer Breastfeeding.
August 23, 2001... 2001 AUG 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- Breastfeeding children for longer periods can improve their health, and researchers have carried out dozens of studies to promote that practice and discourage early termination of breastfeeding. Nevertheless,...

Breast Biopsies Could Become A Thing Of The Past.(sound wave system for the diagnosis of breast tumors)
August 23, 2001... 2001 AUG 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- A system that uses sound waves to prod suspect lumps deep within the body could save millions of women from the trauma of a breast biopsy, says an article in the August 1, 2001, issue of New Scientist. The...

Screening Tests May Help Identify Women At Risk.(for domestic violence)
August 23, 2001... 2001 AUG 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- Screening tests may help identify women at risk for domestic violence, according to a new study. "It is well known that partner violence is seldom an isolated event; more often, violence is repeated and...

Domestic Violence.(study finds many abused women don't support California mandatory reporting law)
August 23, 2001... Study Finds Many Abused Women Don't Support California Mandatory Reporting Law 2001 AUG 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- A University of California, San Francisco, study of mandatory reporting of domestic violence to the police examined the...

Simplified Test Offers Accurate Evaluation Of Insulin Sensitivity In Women With PCOS.(polycystic ovary syndrome)
August 23, 2001... 2001 AUG 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- by N.R. Saltmarsh, staff medical writer - A simplified version of the continuous infusion of glucose with model assessment (CIGMA) test can be used to evaluate insulin sensitivity in women with polycystic ovary...

Two New Antiprogestins Suppress Periods In Animal Model.
August 23, 2001... 2001 AUG 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- Two new types of antiprogestins that can suppress menstruation and could end the monthly misery many women suffer have passed their first tests in animals, scientists report. Studies in rhesus macaque...

Meal Replacements Tip Scales In Favor of Weight Loss Maintenance.
August 23, 2001... 2001 AUG 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- by N.R. Saltmarsh, staff medical writer - Obese women who participated in dietitian- or physician office-led weight loss programs were better able to maintain weight loss if meal replacements were part of the...

Chronic Maternal Gum Disease Strongly Linked To Premature Birth.
August 23, 2001... 2001 AUG 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- Pregnant women with chronic periodontal (gum) disease during the second trimester are up to seven times more likely to give birth prematurely, according to a study published in the July 2001 Journal of the...

Higher BMI Means Greater Risk For Pregnant Women.(body mass index)
August 23, 2001... 2001 AUG 23 - (NewsRx Network) - by N.R. Saltmarsh, staff medical writer - Obesity bumps up the risk for pregnant women and their fetuses, probably because of alterations in the metabolic state, say researchers working in London. N.J....

Scientists Identify Gene Involved In Recurrent Miscarriages.(nitric oxide synthase gene)
August 23, 2001... 2001 AUG 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- Researchers in Austria have identified a gene that may be a contributory cause of recurrent unexplained miscarriages. Women with a particular variation in a gene that controls the way that blood vessels...

Many Women Do Not Visit Their Dentist When Pregnant.
August 23, 2001... 2001 AUG 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- Most pregnant women do not visit a dentist, even if they have dental problems. This and related findings led researchers to recommend that a coordinated effort between the dental and obstetric communities...

Clinical Trial Uses Bioactive Lipids As Diagnostic Blood Test.(Atairgin Technologies Inc. develops ovarian cancer test)
August 23, 2001... 2001 AUG 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- Atairgin Technologies, Inc. announced that it has completed patient accrual for its U.S. clinical trial designed to evaluate a promising diagnostic marker, bio active lipids, for detection of ovarian cancer....

Liposomal Doxorubicin HCI Tested In Women With Recurrent Disease.(Doxil R tested as ovarian cancer treatment)
August 23, 2001... 2001 AUG 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- A recent study compared Doxil R (liposomal doxorubicin HCI) with topotecan, another common treatment for recurrent ovarian cancer. The report was published in the July 2001 issue of The Journal of Clinical...

Viagra-Type Drugs Unlikely To Solve Many Women's Sexual Response Problems.
August 23, 2001... 2001 AUG 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- Medications like sidenafil citrate (Viagra) will not be successful in treating women with sexual dysfunction unless the complex psychological as well as biological factors affecting women's sexual arousal are...

Image Rehearsal Therapy Improves Sleep, Reduces Victims' Nightmares.
August 23, 2001... 2001 AUG 23 - (NewsRx Network) -- As few as three sessions of a dream- and sleep-oriented therapy called image rehearsal therapy (IRT) can substantially improve sleep while reducing the frequency of nightmares and the severity of posttraumatic...