OB GYN News articles from August 2002

OB GYN News archives from August 2002

Trabecular bone pegs fracture risk. (Fast Losers at Increased Risk).
August 1, 2002... BERLIN--High-resolution two-dimensional and three-dimensional computed tomography images identified a subgroup of perimenopausal women who were losing critical trabecular bone faster than cortical bone. The finding has important clinical...

Long-term use of combo HRT: risks outweigh benefits; experts say that short-term therapy for menopausal symptoms is still viable. (Unopposed Estrogen Still Under Study).
August 1, 2002... WASHINGTON -- The use of combination hormone replacement therapy is expected to be largely limited to the short-term treatment of menopausal symptoms, now that a landmark trial has found that the overall risks of the therapy exceed its...

Metformin's benefit not limited to obese patients: increases ovulation, decreases testosterone. (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome).
August 1, 2002... SAN FRANCISCO -- Metformin significantly increases the frequency of ovulation and decreases circulating testosterone in women with polycystic ovary syndrome who are not obese and have normal indices of insulin sensitivity, Dr. Jean-Patrice...

Vital Signs.
August 1, 2002... VITAL SIGNS Many Physicians Say Managed Care Has a Negative Impact on the Way They Practice Medicine Mostly Negative 41% Somewhat Negative 35% Neutral 16% Somewhat Positive 6% Mostly Positve 2% ...

Fetal infection triggers systemic inflammation, preterm labor. ('Hostile Intrauterine Environment').
August 1, 2002... OSLO - Preterm labor is often triggered by microbial invasion of the fetus and the resulting fetal systemic inflammatory response syndrome, Dr. Roberto Romero said at the 18th European Congress of Perinatal Medicine. These infections are...

ECV may be more successful when done early. (Clinically Significant Trend).
August 1, 2002... WINNIPEG, MAN. -- Physicians who attempt external cephalic version of a breech fetus at 34-36 weeks' gestation may have slightly more success than those who attempt it at 37-38 weeks, according to the results of the Early External Cephalic...

Letters.
August 1, 2002... Patients Deserve CF Screening Katie Richardson's view on preconceptional and prenatal care and counseling is obviously heartfelt, but offensive to me as a physician ("Pro & Con: Should preconceptional and prenatal cystic fibrosis carrier...

Should the mercury sphygmomanometer be eliminated? (Pro & Con).
August 1, 2002... YES The case for eliminating mercury sphygmomanometers starts with a simple fact: Mercury and its by-product methylmercury are toxic. They especially present a risk to young children, and are known to cause a variety of neurologic...

Moderate, intense exercise deemed safe. (20 Minutes Per Day, 3-4 Days Per Week).
August 1, 2002... ST. Louis -- Forty minutes per clay of moderately intense exercise seems safe for pregnant women, but they probably should limit exercise to 3-4 days per week and avoid sports drinks, Michelle F. Mottola, Ph.D., said at the annual meeting of...

Antiretroviral therapy. (Drugs, Pregnancy, and Lactation).
August 1, 2002... When considering treatment of HIV infection during pregnancy the risk-benefit equation for the fetus clearly favors treatment. Even if there are remote, undefined side effects of therapy due to prenatal exposure, the risk of vertical...

Preconception counseling critical in chronically ill. (Adolescents with Lupus, Renal Disease).
August 1, 2002... MIAMI BEACH -- Adolescent girls with chronic illnesses are in need of extensive preconceptional counseling, but many may not be receiving it, according to a pediatric and adolescent gynecologist. "I don't see many of these sick girls and...

Preliminary data support oral acarbose as insulin alternative. (Gestational Diabetes).
August 1, 2002... LOS ANGELES -- Oral acarbose may be as effective as insulin therapy for glycemic control in patients with gestational diabetes if they adhere to dietary recommendations, a preliminary study of 110 patients suggests. A larger multicenter...

Low birth weight linked to later gestational diabetes. (Large Retrospective Study).
August 1, 2002... Women who weighed less than 2,500 g at birth were more than four times as likely to develop gestational diabetes mellitus than women who were born at a normal weight, reported Kim E. limes, Ph.D., of the University of Virginia, Charlottesville,...

'Mobile' epidurals more likely to preserve bladder function. (Study of 1,054 Nulliparous Women).
August 1, 2002... HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. -- Women who receive walking or "mobile" epidurals are more likely to void spontaneously during labor and are less dependent on urinary catheterization than women on traditional epidural regimens, Dr. Matt Wilson said...

Beware of mood disorders that look like PMDD. (Major Depressive Disorder, Dysthymia).
August 1, 2002... BALTIMORE -- Intermittent treatment with fluoxetine each month can greatly ease a woman's premenstrual dysphoric disorder--but can mean undertreatment if she has major depression. And such an approach could catapult a woman with...

Breast cancer inversely tied to fracture risk. (Estrogen Levels Implicated).
August 1, 2002... BERLIN -- Women with breast cancer were much less likely than other postmenopausal women to suffer an osteoporosis-related fracture in a large case-control study presented at the 10th World Congress on the Menopause. The prevalence of an...

Parathyroid hormone may decrease fractures. (Placebo-Controlled Study).
August 1, 2002... NEW YORK -- Parathyroid hormone may reduce the incidence of nonvertebral fractures. In a placebo-controlled study of 1,600 postmenopausal women, those who had injections of parathyroid hormone (PTH) for 18 months had fewer nonvertebral...

Extend medical Tx to 6 weeks in pediatric urethral prolapse. (Chart Review of 31 Girls).
August 1, 2002... MIAMI BEACH -- Medical treatment of pediatric urethral prolapse is much more successful if it is prolonged beyond the traditional 2 weeks because it can significantly reduce the need for surgical intervention, Dr. Victoria Davis reported. ...

Endometriosis recurrence rate double in teens. (Seen in 35% vs. 19% or Older Women).
August 1, 2002... MIAMI BEACH -- Teenagers and young women under the age of 22 have almost double the rate of symptom recurrence after surgical removal of endometriosis, compared with older women, Dr. Claire Templeman reported. In a chart review of 441...

Musculoskeletal problem may present as menstrual pelvic pain. (Physical Therapy Most Effective TX).
August 1, 2002... MIAMI BEACH -- Patients with an underlying musculoskeletal cause for their pelvic pain may present with dysmenorrhea as their primary complaint, Dr. Paige Hertweck said at the annual meeting of the North American Society for Pediatric and...

Try fish oil supplements when dysmenorrhea Tx fails. (30%-40% Reduction in Symptoms).
August 1, 2002... MIAMI BEACH -- Consider fish oil when dysmenorrhea in adolescents fails to respond to first-line therapies, Dr. Zeev Harel recommended at the annual meeting of the North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology. ...

Consider DNA tests for men with infertility. (Get Test Done Before Referral).
August 1, 2002... MONTREAL -- Gynecologists who discover male factor infertility in the course of a couple's fertility work-up should perform a few key tests in the man before referring the couple for further treatment, speakers said at the 11th World Congress...

Medicare pay cut adjustment called inadequate. (Physicians Want Broader Fix).
August 1, 2002... WASHINGTON -- A proposal from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to cushion the blow of anticipated Medicare pay cuts doesn't provide the broad-scale fix that physician groups are seeking. In its proposed 2003 physician fee...

Partial Birth Abortion Ban. (Policy & Practice).
August 1, 2002... Lawmakers have again introduced legislation to prohibit the so-called partial birth abortion procedure. Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Ohio) has introduced HR. 4965, the "Partial-Birth Abortion Ban of 2002." Attorneys for the Center for Reproductive Law...

SMART Moms. (Policy & Practice).
August 1, 2002... House and Senate lawmakers are considering the SMART Mom Act, a bill that aims to decrease maternal mortality Among other things, the legislation, S. 2328 and H.R. 4602, calls for the study of prescription drug use for chronic conditions during...

Pregnancy discrimination case. (Policy & Practice).
August 1, 2002... Connecticut's pregnancy discrimination laws do not apply to women who work for the state's small employers, the Connecticut Supreme Court has ruled. Justices ruled by a 3-2 majority against Nicole Thibodeau who claimed she was fired in 1998...

Responsible teens. (Policy & Practice).
August 1, 2002... Teenagers are being more responsible about sex, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The report includes surveys from nearly 14,000 students in grades 9-12 nationwide. Among its findings: The percentage of...

Questionable doctors. (Policy & Practice).
August 1, 2002... Public Citizen has launched an Internet database that contains new information on 6,700 physicians who have been disciplined by medical and osteopathic boards in 12 states. Charges range from incompetence to misprescribing drugs, criminal...

Drug update: systemic acne treatments for women. (Clinical Rounds).
August 1, 2002... The road to clear skin is getting shorter. Recent Food and Drug Administration approval of several oral contraceptives for the treatment of mild to moderate acne has expanded the systemic treatment options for women. In addition, a flurry of...

Ob.gyns. criticized for failure to immunize. (Michigan Survey Cited).
August 1, 2002... DENVER -- Ob.gyns. have really dropped the ball in terms of immunizing women against vaccine-preventable diseases, Dr. Stanley Gall said at the National Immunization Conference sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ...

Exercise, supplements may curb osteoarthritis. (Drugs Also Show Promise).
August 1, 2002... PHILADELPHIA -- Numerous interventions are showing promise for altering the course of osteoarthritis, Dr. Sharon Kolasinski reported at a rheumatology update sponsored by the University of Pennsylvania. Exercise and weight loss have...

Tetanus-diphtheria vaccine supplies return to normal. (Resume Booster Doses).
August 1, 2002... ATLANTA -- It's time to start calling patients back to the office for their routine tetanus boosters. Aventis Pasteur Inc. has now produced a sufficient supply of the adult and adolescent tetanus-diphtheria (Td) vaccine to meet the demand...

Vaginal Retractor. (Products).
August 1, 2002... The Guardian Vaginal Retractor was developed to control the anatomy to give greater visibility and access to the complete circumference of the vagina, the perineal tissue, and cervix during gynecologic procedures. It maximizes exposure when...

CF screening video. (Products).
August 1, 2002... "Choices: Cystic Fibrosis Testing," is an educational video about cystic fibrosis (CF) screening. It offers an explanation of CF, screening options, discussion on what it means to be a CF gene carrier, as well as answers to frequently asked...

Weekly osteoporosis tx. (Products).
August 1, 2002... Actonel (risedronate sodium tablets), which is indicated for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis, has been approved in a new 35-mg, once-weekly dosage strength. This dosing is therapeutically equivalent to a daily 5-mg dosage,...

Hormone for infertility. (Products).
August 1, 2002... Bravelle (urofollitropin for injection, purified), a highly purified, human-derived FSH, is now indicated for the treatment of infertility. It is used in conjunction with human chorionic gonadotropin for ovulation induction following pituitary...

Lubricant for medical exams. (Products).
August 1, 2002... Astroglide Physician's Formula lubricant is appropriate for use in all nonsterile medical procedures. Even during lengthy exams, it retains its thick texture and does not become sticky or gritty. Physician's Formula lubricant is water-based,...

Estrogen replacement patch. (Products).
August 1, 2002... The Vivelle-Dot (estradiol transdermal system) estrogen replacement patch has been approved in a new 0.025 mg/day dosage strength, and is indicated for the prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis. This low-dose patch is to be applied twice...

Panel okays tubal occlusion implant. (Hysteroscopic Sterilization).
August 15, 2002... ROCKVILLE, MD. --An implant delivered via hysteroscopy into the fallopian tubes may become the first transcervical sterilization method available to U.S. women now that a Food and Drug Administration advisory panel has recommended its approval...

Estrogen tied to increased risk of ovarian cancer: some are questioning the study's design and incomplete data on family history. (44,241 Women Studied).
August 15, 2002... A new study deals yet another blow to hormone replacement therapy by suggesting that long-term use of unopposed estrogen is associated with a significantly increased risk of ovarian cancer, but some experts are questioning its conclusions. ...

Recovery fast in uterine fibroid embolization: most patients recover within 2 weeks. (Largest Reported Series).
August 15, 2002... WINNIPEG, MAN. -- Most patients undergoing uterine fibroid embolization can return home the next day and fully recover within the expected 2-week period, according to results of a Canadian study. The investigation, described by its authors...

Monitor uterine fibroid embolization patients to rule out leiomyosarcoma. (Two Cases Reported).
August 15, 2002... WINNIPEG, MAN. -- Patients who have had uterine fibroid embolization should be followed carefully to rule out the presence of a leiomyosarcoma, experts advised at the annual meeting of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada....

Vermont's governor-doctor eyes White House. (Health Care is Campaign Centerpiece).
August 15, 2002... COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA -- Most politicians, when touring a hospital, tend to smile, nod, and shake a lot of hands. Howard Dean talks confidently about whether the facility really needs a cardiac catheterization lab. That's partly because...

Have patients sign handouts on HRT risks. (Prempro Class Action Lawsuit Filed).
August 15, 2002... Following the filing of a class action suit against Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and its combination hormone replacement therapy product Prempro, physicians who want to continue prescribing the product and others like it may want to take additional...

Endometriosis 'myths'. (Guest Editorial).
August 15, 2002... Many gynecologic surgeons believe that the definitive surgical treatment for all cases of endometriosis is hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. That belief is a harmful myth. I fully support hysterectomy for endometriosis...

Control microalbuminuria in pregnant diabetics. ('We Must Be Aggressive').
August 15, 2002... SAN FRANCISCO -- It's possible to control microalbuminuria in a pregnant diabetic woman without worsening her kidney disease or endangering her fetus, Dr. Robert E. Ratner said at the annual scientific sessions of the American Diabetes...

Oral glyburide may be safe in pregnant type 2 diabetics. (Data Limited).
August 15, 2002... SAN FRANCISCO -- The oral diabetes drug glyburide is probably safe during pregnancy in women with type 2 diabetes, but those on other oral agents should be switched to insulin before pregnancy or as soon as possible after conception, Dr. Martin...

HIV-positive men father children through ICSI. (Sperm Washing Cuts Transmission Risk).
August 15, 2002... WASHINGTON -- Intracytoplasmic sperm injection with washed sperm in a Columbia University study has allowed 23 HIV-1 seropositive men to father healthy infants while maintaining the HIV-negative status of the infants' mothers. "HIV-1...

Placenta implicated in infantile hemangioma. (Insights Pave Way For Novel Therapies).
August 15, 2002... PARIS -- The placenta may play a key role in the pathogenesis of infantile hemangioma, Dr. Martin C. Mihm Jr. said at the 20th World Congress of Dermatology. Dr. Mihm, together with Dr. Paula E. North of the University of Arkansas, Little...

Use mnemonic 'FEARED' when breaking bad news. (A Structure For Difficult Conversations).
August 15, 2002... SEA ISLAND, GA. -- Call it the FEARED factor. It's the apprehension young clinicians feel at the prospect of being the bearer of bad obstetric news, such as neonatal death, to distraught parents, Dr. James R. Woods said at an ob.gyn....

Hospital data support flu vaccines for pregnant women and infants. (Protecting Newborns).
August 15, 2002... DENVER -- A comprehensive epidemiologic study of hospitalizations for acute respiratory infections in young children provides a compelling argument for immunization of pregnant women in order to protect their newborns. The findings show...

Data watch: decline seen in U.S. birth rates for teens since peak in 1991.
August 15, 2002... DATA WATCH Decline Seen in U.S. Birth Rates for Teens Since Peak in 1991 Age, Race, Rates per And Hispanic 1,000 Women Percent Change Origin of Mother 1991 2000 1991-2000...

More surgery for half of all breast implant cases. (Five-Year Follow-up of Saline Implants).
August 15, 2002... GAITHERSBURG, MD. -- One-fourth to almost one-half of all patients who have had saline breast implants will need another breast operation within the next 5 years, according to studies presented at a meeting of the Food and Drug Administration's...

For children with chronic illnesses, need for gynecologic care is on rise. (Many are Sexually Active).
August 15, 2002... MIAMI BEACH -- Improved survival rates in children with chronic illnesses mean they have a growing need for gynecologic care, Dr. Elizabeth Alderman said at the annual meeting of the North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent...

Urinary symptoms? Test for chlamydia and UTI. (Not Just Vaginal Symptoms).
August 15, 2002... MIAMI BEACH -- Patients who present with urinary symptoms should be tested for chlamydia as well as a urinary tract infection, Dr. Jill Huppert urged at the annual meeting of the North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology...

OCs not linked to increased breast cancer risk. (Current or Former Users).
August 15, 2002... Current or past use of oral contraceptives did not significantly increase breast cancer risk in a large population-based case-control study. That finding, along with those of previous studies, provides "further reassurance that OC use,...

Menstrual diaries may predict onset of menopause. (Cycle Variability is Key).
August 15, 2002... BERLIN -- A formula for predicting menopause in individual women has been devised by Australian researchers who studied 8 years' worth of menstrual diaries and hormone data for more than 400 perimenopausal women. Several factors appear to...

Lower bone quality seen in premenopausal diabetics. (Type 1 Diabetes).
August 15, 2002... SAN FRANCISCO -- Bone quality appears to be significantly diminished in premenopausal women with type 1 diabetes, Dr. Elsa Strotmeyer reported in a poster presentation at the annual scientific sessions of the American Diabetes Association. ...

PCOS prevalence estimated at 6%; hirsutism most common presentation. (Study of 609 Women).
August 15, 2002... SAN FRANCISCO -- A survey of women seeking employment physicals suggests that the prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome is 6% in the United States, Keslie Woods said in a poster presentation at the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society. ...

Trends in mifepristone use. (Policy & Practice).
August 15, 2002... Researchers studying the use of the abortion drug mifepristone in Europe have discovered trends there that they say could be repeated here in the United States. Although mifepristone has been used in several European countries for nearly a...

'Partial-Birth' Ban. (Policy & Practice).
August 15, 2002... Judging from lawmaker support, the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban of 2002 has a good chance of passing in the full House once it is passed by the House Judiciary Committee, a spokesman for Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Ohio), who introduced the legislation,...

Teen birth rate drops. (Policy & Practice).
August 15, 2002... The adolescent birth rate is at the lowest level ever, according to a report from the Department of Health and Human Services. In 2000, the adolescent birth rate was 27 per 1,000 young women aged 15-17 years. This and other findings are...

Million Dollar Fraud. (Policy & Practice).
August 15, 2002... The General American Life Insurance Co. has agreed to pay $76 million to settle charges that it defrauded the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for almost 10 years, the justice Department said. The settlement resolves allegations that...

New leadership at CDC. (Policy & Practice).
August 15, 2002... In July, infectious disease expert Dr. Julie L. Gerberding took the helm of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, becoming the first woman to serve as the agency's director. She also was named administrator for the Agency...

Physicians are prime target for identity theft. (Keep Provider Numbers Under Wraps).
August 15, 2002... Physician beware: Someone could be making profit off your name. Taking advantage of the e-commerce trend and insufficient enforcement measures to safeguard patient and physician information in hospitals and clinics, crooks have come up with...

CMS to track refusal to accept new Medicare patients. (Monitoring Beneficiaries' Access).
August 15, 2002... BALTIMORE -- Anecdotal reports that Medicare beneficiaries cannot find physicians willing to accept them as new patients has led the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to upgrade its efforts track access to care across the country, CMS...

Severe IBS drug available with restrictions. (Risk Management Plan).
August 15, 2002... ROCKVILLE MD. -- Physicians who wish to prescribe Lotronex will be enrolled in a risk management program. The Food and Drug Administration and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), the manufacturer of Lotronex, described elements of the plan when they...

Cholesterol 1,2,3. (New & Approved).
August 15, 2002... (International Medical Innovations Inc.) An in-office lab test that measures cholesterol content in the skin for use as part of risk assessment in adults with severe coronary artery disease, in conjunction with serum cholesterol rests. The...

Geodon for injection. (New & Approved).
August 15, 2002... (IM ziprasidone, Pfizer) An intramuscular formulation of the atypical antipsychotic for treating acute agitation in schizophrenic patients who need an IM antipsychotic for rapid control of agitation. The first atypical antipsychotic to be...

FDA panel recommends OTC status for Prilosec. (Vote Was 16-2 in Favor).
August 15, 2002... BETHESDA, MD. -- Prilosec should be approved for sale as an over-the-counter drug, experts recommended at a joint meeting of the Food and Drug Administration's Nonprescription Drugs and Gastrointestinal Drugs Advisory committees. Prilosec...

Anemia education initiative. (FYI).
August 15, 2002... The Anemia LifeLine is an educational initiative for patients who suffer from anemia associated with common and serious diseases. The initiative is designed to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of anemia; provide educational materials...

Bioterrorism guide. (FYI).
August 15, 2002... The Department of Health and Human Services and four pharmaceutical companies--Bayer Corp., GlaxoSmithKline, Eli Lilly & Co., and Pharmacia Corp.--have launched an educational program to help health care providers identify and treat...

Chemotherapy's side effects. (FYI).
August 15, 2002... "By My Side: Taking Charge of Cancer Treatment" is a multimedia education program launched by Amgen aimed at raising awareness about infections and other chemotherapy side effects. The program offers information on the prevention and management...

Insulin Resistance program. (FYI).
August 15, 2002... "The Heart of Diabetes: Understanding Insulin Resistance" is a free program created by the American Heart Association that seeks to help patients with type 2 diabetes lower their risk for heart disease and stroke. The program offers advice on...

Postpartum depression. (FYI).
August 15, 2002... "Taking Care of Both of You: Understanding Mood Changes After the Birth of Your Baby" is a free 10-page brochure designed to inform mothers about postpartum depression. Created by the National Depressive and Manic-Depressive Association, it...

Health issues in the elderly. (FYI).
August 15, 2002... A new guide, "Promoting Older Adult Health: Aging Network Partnerships to Address Medication, Alcohol, and Mental Health Problems," helps health care professionals addresses prevention, screening, and referral issues for seniors who have...

Clinical Pearls: Obstetrics.
August 15, 2002... Meyer's Law, a corollary to Murphy's Law, states that "it is a simple task to make things complex but a complex task to make them simple." Murphy's Law and its corollaries are meant to be humorous, but they often describe remarkably useful...