OB GYN News articles from January 2005

OB GYN News archives from January 2005

FDA panel votes no on testosterone patch.(News)
January 1, 2005... GAITHERSBURG, MD. -- A federal advisory panel unanimously recommended against approval of a testosterone patch for treating hypoactive sexual desire in surgically menopausal women on estrogen therapy, calling for more long-term safety studies...

Cultural competence training in vogue.(VITAL SIGNS)
January 1, 2005... Cultural Competence Training in Vogue Note: Based on surveys of about 8,000-9,000 residency directors per academic year. Source: JAMA 2004;292:1032-7

MDs urged to avoid valproate in fertile women: risk of major fetal malformations cited.(News)
January 1, 2005... NEW ORLEANS -- Valproate should not be prescribed as first-line therapy for any indication in women of childbearing age because it significantly increases the risk of major malformations in exposed infants, the American Epilepsy Society's...

Anticholinergic approved for treatment of OAB.(News)
January 1, 2005... The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a muscarinic receptor antagonist for treating overactive bladder that is more selective to the muscarinic receptors in the bladder than some older drugs in this class. Approved in...

Bicillin C-R and Bicillin L-A labels changed to avoid confusion.(News)
January 1, 2005... King Pharmaceuticals Inc. and the Food and Drug Administration are warning physicians about the inappropriate use of Bicillin C-R (penicillin G benzathine and penicillin G procaine injectable suspension) for the treatment of syphilis. ...

Chlamydia cases rising in women.(DATA WATCH)
January 1, 2005... Chlamydia Cases Rising in Women Rate per 100,000 Population 1999 395.1 2000 396.3 2001 429.6 2002 445 2003 466.9 Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Note: Table made from bar graph.

HHS imports more flu vaccine for patients in high-risk groups.(News)
January 1, 2005... Federal health officials continue to seek solutions to the U.S. influenza vaccine shortage, including procuring up to 4 million doses from GlaxoSmithKline, Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson said during a press conference....

Bearing the costs.(LETTERS)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... According to Arthur Levin, director of the Center for Medical Consumers, "It certainly isn't fair to be asking patients to underwrite the cost of doing business with physicians" ("Doctors Ask Patients to Pay Malpractice 'Surcharge,'" Nov. 1,...

Clinical trial registration.(LETTERS)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... I have some concerns about medical research ("Doctor Groups Still Back Clinical Trials Registry," Oct. 1, 2004, p. 47). With regard to selective reporting of clinical trials, it seems clear to me that to make the best decisions, all the...

Deter frivolous lawsuits.(LETTERS)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... To prevent a total collapse of our medical delivery system, some type of financial deterrent against frivolous lawsuits is needed. I propose a federal filing fee of 1% of the award being sought. The fee would be paid by the lawyers bringing...

A question of values.(LETTERS)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... I was surprised by your recent choice of contributor for the Guest Editorial ("The Values Debate in Health Care," Nov. 1, 2004, p. 7). Leonard D. Schaeffer was scheduled to receive a payment (cash and stock options) estimated at $337 million...

Pain relievers.
January 1, 2005... "He's the father of the entire first row."

How the glycemic index measures up.(GUEST EDITORIAL)
January 1, 2005... Patients who ask about nutrition often focus on the relative merits of various diets: "Should I be on Atkins?" "What do you think of Ornish?" "Does Weight Watchers work?" When counseling patients who ask about the glycemic index, it's helpful...

Review: LMWH safe, effective in pregnancy.(Obstetrics)
January 1, 2005... VIENNA -- The largest-ever systematic data review of the use of low-molecular-weight heparin during pregnancy suggests that it is safe and effective for both prophylaxis and treatment of venous thromboembolism, Catherine Nelson-Piercy, M.B.,...

Primary cesareans up, VBACs down.(DATA WATCH)
January 1, 2005... Primary Cesareans Up, VBACs Down 2003 2002 Primary cesareans per 100 live births in women with no previous cesarean 19% 18% VBACs per 100 live births in women with a previous...

Steep rise seen in 'no indicated risk' primary C-sections.(Obstetrics)
January 1, 2005... The number of women having primary cesarean sections without any apparent medical risk grew significantly during the 1990s and topped 80,000 in 2001, according to a new analysis of U.S. birth certificate data. First-time C-sections in...

Usual timing of antibiotics in cesarean delivery is adequate.(Obstetrics)
January 1, 2005... WASHINGTON -- Nothing is gained by giving prophylactic antibiotics earlier than usual in the course of cesarean deliveries, W. Ashley Hood, D.O., said at the annual meeting of the Central Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The...

ASA-LMWH aids those who've had preeclampsia.(Obstetrics)
January 1, 2005... VIENNA -- The use of low-molecular-weight heparin together with low-dose aspirin can improve pregnancy outcomes in women who previously had preeclampsia and low-birth-weight infants, Sergio Ferrazzani, M.D., reported. Women with...

Knowledge gaps in postpartum BP management.(Obstetrics)
January 1, 2005... VIENNA -- Guidelines are sorely needed for postpartum blood pressure management in women who experience hypertension during pregnancy, speakers said at the 14th World Congress of the International Society for the Study of Hypertension in...

Number of uninsured Americans rising.(DATA WATCH)
January 1, 2005... Number of Uninsured Americans Rising Notes: Based on data from the March supplements to the Current Population Survey. Excludes persons aged 65 and older and those in the armed forces. Sources: Urban Institute, Henry J. Kaiser Family...

No lasting effects from repeated ultrasounds.(Obstetrics)
January 1, 2005... An 8-year follow-up study from a randomized, controlled trial of repeated prenatal ultrasound examinations found no evidence of any lasting harm to any aspect of child development. The initial study demonstrated that infants exposed...

Raised serum bile acid level linked to IHP.(Obstetrics)
January 1, 2005... VIENNA -- An elevated serum bile acid level is a highly reliable indicator of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy in a woman who presents with itching and excoriated skin lesions late in gestation, Christina M. Rudolph, M.D., reported at the...

Five pregnancies reported in Essure's first year.(Gynecology)
January 1, 2005... SAN FRANCISCO -- Only five pregnancies have been reported in the first year of worldwide commercial experience with the Essure hysteroscopic sterilization device, and none resulted from devices that were placed properly, Andrew I. Brill, M.D.,...

Alendronate, risedronate compared in BMD trial: the 1-year study did not provide data on fractures; clinical relevance of BMD findings questioned.(Gynecology)
January 1, 2005... SEATTLE -- Alendronate appears slightly more effective than risedronate at increasing bone mineral density, according to the results of a head-to-head trial presented during the annual meeting of the American Society for Bone and Mineral...

Raloxifene and PTH may have synergistic effect on BMD.(Gynecology)
January 1, 2005... SAN ANTONIO -- Women who are taking raloxifene for osteoporosis do not need to stop taking the bisphosphonate to begin parathyroid hormone therapy. In fact, the two drugs may have some synergy, Chad Deal, M.D., said at the annual meeting...

Investigational SERM increased lumbar spine BMD by 2%.(Gynecology)
January 1, 2005... SAN ANTONIO -- The next generation selective-estrogen receptor modulator lasofoxifene increased vertebral bone mineral density better than did raloxifene, according to the findings of a company-sponsored trial presented at the annual meeting of...

Ask about bladder, bowel pain with vulvar disease.(Gynecology)
January 1, 2005... WASHINGTON -- Women who have vulvar disease should be asked specifically about bladder and bowel pain, and these symptoms also must be addressed, Colleen M. Kennedy, M.D., of the University of Iowa, Iowa City, advised. Women with vulvar...

Metronizadole for BV-associated organisms in PID.(Gynecology)
January 1, 2005... Bacterial vaginosis-associated organisms found frequently in women with pelvic inflammatory disease also were strongly associated with endometritis, Catherine L. Haggerty, Ph.D., of the University of Pittsburgh and her colleagues reported. ...

Electronic alerts cut VTE in high-risk patients.(Gynecology)
January 1, 2005... NEW ORLEANS -- An automated electronic alert program aimed at physicians responsible for high-risk patients not receiving prophylaxis against venous thromboembolism resulted in a substantial reduction in thromboembolic events in a large...

Site-specific colpocleisis called superior approach.(Gynecology)
January 1, 2005... ST. LOUIS -- A unique approach to colpocleisis has been developed that incorporates vaginal repair of paravaginal defects, apposition of the pubocervical and rectovaginal septa, and minimal anatomical distortion. "There is a place for this...

Newer transobturator sling technique said to be safer.(Gynecology)
January 1, 2005... ST. LOUIS -- Placing a transobturator sling with a newer technique that starts inside the paraurethral space and progresses outward is both safer and more effective than the "outside-to-in" approach, according to Robert M. Rogers Jr., M.D., an...

Preventing infections associated with pelvic sling placement.(Gynecology)
January 1, 2005... ST. LOUIS -- Infections associated with pelvic sling placement can be prevented with presurgical screening and treatment of skin and vaginal infections, according to Sebastian Faro, M.D. Cystitis is the most common infection reported in the...

Encourage healthy BMI in patients before IVF: study of 5,800 IVF cycles shows a trend toward decreasing success rates with increasing BMIs.(Gynecology)
January 1, 2005... PHILADELPHIA -- Patients considering in vitro fertilization should be encouraged to aim for a healthy body mass index before they start treatment, results of a large retrospective study suggest. "There was a trend toward decreasing success...

Single-dose letrozole equal to multiple-dose regimen in IUI.(Gynecology)
January 1, 2005... PHILADELPHIA -- Patients with unexplained infertility who undergo ovarian stimulation before intrauterine insemination have comparable pregnancy rates and side effects when treated with a single 25-mg dose of letrozole, compared with five daily...

Acupuncture in IVF linked to lower miscarriage and ectopic rates.(Gynecology)
January 1, 2005... PHILADELPHIA -- Women who receive acupuncture during the stimulation phase of an in vitro fertilization cycle and again immediately after embryo transfer have a higher live-birth rate than do controls, according to the first acupuncture study...

Treat endometriosis pain as a chronic condition.(Gynecology)
January 1, 2005... SANTA FE, N.M. -- No treatment option for endometriosis is likely to provide permanent relief from pelvic pain, and patients should be warned accordingly before undergoing surgery for the condition, Stephen M. Cohen, M.D., advised. "When...

Abortion refusal clause.(POLICY & PRACTICE)
January 1, 2005... Insurance companies and health care providers have more flexibility to refuse to provide abortion services, information, or referrals under a provision in federal spending legislation passed at the end of last year. The provision withholds...

Covering the uninsured.(POLICY & PRACTICE)
January 1, 2005... Universal coverage for all Americans is needed to solve the problem of lack of access to care, according to a new policy statement from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The group continues to support its 1993 program,...

Abstinence education evaluated.(POLICY & PRACTICE)
January 1, 2005... Federally funded abstinence-only education programs contain errors and misinformation on the effectiveness of condoms, the risks of abortion, and the transmission of disease, according to a recent report from Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.). The...

No global cloning ban.(POLICY & PRACTICE)
January 1, 2005... The United Nations could not come to a consensus to approve a global ban on all forms of human cloning. The United States and Costa Rica had led an effort to ban all cloning, including so-called therapeutic cloning, but the treaty did not draw...

Racial disparities in HIV.(POLICY & PRACTICE)
January 1, 2005... The number of HIV/AIDS diagnoses in the United States remained steady from 2000 to 2003, but the disease became more prevalent in African Americans during that time, according to an analysis from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention....

New Zealand offers no-fault compensation model.(Practice Trends)
January 1, 2005... ALEXANDRIA, VA. -- In New Zealand, all physicians pay $700 a year for indemnity insurance, and it's nearly impossible to sue a physician. That's because New Zealand has had a no-fault injury compensation system in place for the last 30...

AMA delegates lend hand to drug importation: wholesalers, pharmacies may import FDA-approved drugs, delegates say.(Practice Trends)
January 1, 2005... ATLANTA -- Delegates to the American Medical Association's 2004 interim meeting made a bold move to support prescription drug importation by wholesalers and pharmacies, provided that certain conditions were met to ensure patient safety. ...

Most Americans do not trust online prescription drug market.(VITAL SIGNS)
January 1, 2005... Most Americans Do Not Trust Online Prescription Drug Market Online purchasing less safe than pharmacy 62% Online purchasing as safe as pharmacy 20% Don't know/depends 18% Note: Based on a survey of...

Experts advocate tort reforms that go beyond damage caps.(Practice Trends)
January 1, 2005... ALEXANDRIA, VA. -- Traditional tort reform measures like damage caps won't address some of the fundamental problems with the medical liability system, experts said at a meeting on patient safety and medical liability sponsored by the Joint...

States extend Medicaid family planning services.(Practice Trends)
January 1, 2005... WASHINGTON -- Twenty-one states have found alternatives to extend eligibility for family planning services while saving money for the Medicaid program, a health policy expert said during a Kaiser Family Foundation briefing on women and...

Strength and flexibility for older patients, part 3: knees.(EXERCISE RX)
January 1, 2005... The looseness or tightness of the leg and hip muscles can have an enormous impact on knee pain. The quadriceps and hamstrings maintain about 30% of the knee joint's stability. If a patient complains of knee pain and avoids moving the knee...

Studies offer support for low-carbohydrate diets.(Clinical Rounds)
January 1, 2005... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Low-carbohydrate ketogenic diets promote greater weight loss and improve certain serum lipids, compared with low-calorie diets, according to a literature review. Low-carbohydrate strategies for weight loss, such as the...

Family history of coronary disease boosts coronary risk.(Clinical Rounds)
January 1, 2005... NEW ORLEANS -- Sisters of patients with early coronary disease had an unexpectedly high prevalence of coronary artery disease themselves in a study with 102 apparently healthy women without diabetes. The actual presence of coronary disease...

Prospective study questions size of gender gap in sudden cardiac death.(Clinical Rounds)
January 1, 2005... ATLANTA -- The gender gap in sudden cardiac death may not be as large as previously believed, a prospective community-based study suggests. Women comprised 43% of the 353 sudden cardiac deaths in a large Oregon community from February 2002...

Top 10 causes of death, 2002.(DATA WATCH)
January 1, 2005... Top 10 Causes of Death, 2002 Diseases of the heart 696,947 Malignant neoplasms 557,271 Cerebrovascular diseases 162,672 Chronic lower respiratory diseases ...

Snoring.(WOMEN'S HEALTH ADVISER)
January 1, 2005... Primary snoring is more a social than a medical concern. But about 10% of snorers also have sleep apnea, which can be a serious health problem in its own right, and it can exacerbate other problems such as cardiac disorders and high blood...

Rimonabant improves cardiovascular risk profile.(Clinical Rounds)
January 1, 2005... NEW ORLEANS -- Evidence is mounting that rimonabant, shown effective for weight loss and smoking cessation, independently improves patients' cardiovascular risk profiles, reported F. Xavier Pi-Sunyer, M.D, at the annual scientific sessions of...

Cardiac prevention should target midlife women.(Clinical Rounds)
January 1, 2005... ATLANTA -- Better cardiac disease awareness and prevention programs that target younger women are needed, according to a study presented during a prevention conference on heart disease and stroke sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and...

To freeze or not to freeze?(THE MASTER CLASS)
January 1, 2005... This month's column is brought to us by William H. Parker, M.D., of the University of California, Los Angeles, who isa past president of the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists. Dr. Parker has been instrumental in guiding our...

Patient selection key to laparoscopic management of the adnexal mass.(THE MASTER CLASS)
January 1, 2005... Carefully selected patients with adnexal masses may benefit greatly from undergoing laparoscopic surgery as opposed to laparotomy. Recovery is shorter and less painful; most patients are discharged the same day and return to work within a week...

Billing and reimbursement software.(PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2005... OmniMD charge capture software allows charge capture and the creation of super-bills at the point of care. The software can be integrated with most leading practice management systems. For more information, contact OmniMD, 914-332-5590,...

Migraine prophylaxis.(PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2005... Topamax (topiramate) tablets and sprinkle capsules are approved for use as migraine prophylaxis in adults. For more information, contact Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical Inc., www.topamax.com, 800-682-6532.

Ultrasound systems.(PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2005... The Accuvix XQ ultrasound system offers three-dimensional imaging in motion. The SonoAce 8000 system has many of the same features but requires less space. The SonoAce PICO is a portable color system. For more information, contact Medison...

Reproductive medicine software.(PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2005... The ARTWorks electronic medical records system is designed specifically for reproductive medicine practices. The latest version includes expanded modules for preimplantation genetic diagnosis. For more information about this product, contact...

Examination light series.(PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2005... The HM series of examination lights offers vented shades and finger guards. The lights provide 2,000 footcandles of illumination with 20-W or 35-W halogen bulbs. The light's swivel head allows 360-degree rotation. For more information about...

Posttamoxifen tx approved.(PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2005... Femara (letrozole)--a once-a-day oral aromatase inhibitor--is approved for the extended adjuvant treatment of postmenopausal women with early breast cancer who have received adjuvant tamoxifen therapy for 5 years. For more information about...

Privacy clipboard storage.(PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2005... The Roto Caddy storage unit organizes and stores privacy clipboards and forms in a 36-inch diameter carousel. Constructed of aluminum, the caddy rotates 360 degrees left or right. Counter-, floor-, or permanent-mount base options are available....

Scheduling and contact software.(PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2005... The Office Tracker contact manager can set up schedules and appointments, and it also allows for extensive notes for each appointment. The software runs on Microsoft Windows 98, NT, 2000, and XP and can interface with handheld devices. Costs...

Needle-free reconstitution.(PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2005... The Q Cap device enables needle-free reconstitution for fertility treatments. The device will be packaged with Bravelle (urofollitropin for injection, purified). For more information about this product, contact Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc. by...

Texas doctors seek medical board reform.(News)
January 15, 2005... Physicians in Texas are working to change the way the state board of medical examiners disciplines doctors by adding more due process to the system. "The state board really is over-stepping its bounds in terms of reviewing standard of care...

How physicians use information technology.(VITAL SIGNS)
January 15, 2005... How Physicians Use Information Technology Note: Based on a national survey in 2001 of 8,556 physicians in solo practice, small groups, or practices owned by hospitals. Source: Center for Studying Health System Change

Test flags patients who will benefit from chemo: 'major breakthrough' in breast ca treatment.(News)
January 15, 2005... SAN ANTONIO -- A commercially available genetic test reliably predicts the magnitude of chemotherapy benefit in women with estrogen receptor-positive, lymph node-negative breast cancer--potentially enabling tens of thousands of women per year...

Critics question reported heart protection from OCs.(News)
January 15, 2005... An analysis of data from the Women's Health Initiative that reportedly showed oral contraceptive use as protective against cardiovascular events later in life has been disavowed by the initiative's principal investigators and federal officials....

New data fail to resolve the issue of COX-2 class effect.(News)
January 15, 2005... Despite widely reported results on the safety of Vioxx and now Celebrex and Bextra, there is still a paucity of information on the true long-term effects of these drugs as a class, and all of it will take months--if not years--to sort out. ...

Estimated direct costs of cardiovascular diseases and stroke, 2004.(DATA WATCH)
January 15, 2005... Estimated Direct Costs of Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke, 2004 (Billions of Dollars) Total* $226.7 Heart Disease $130.6 Coronary Heart Disease $66.3 Hypertension $41.5 Stroke...

In favor of caps.(LETTERS)(Letter to the Editor)
January 15, 2005... In the debate about caps on noneconomic damages, you pitted an experienced physician and CEO of a physician-owned insurance company, Richard E. Anderson, M.D., against Joanne Doroshow, executive director of the Center for Justice and Democracy...

Saving the ship.(LETTERS)(Letter to the Editor)
January 15, 2005... Both Richard E. Anderson, M.D., and Joanne Doroshow made convincing, logical arguments regarding the malpractice crisis, but I suggest that they were merely shifting the deck chairs on the Titanic. The United States is the only developed...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
January 15, 2005... An article about prescribing antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) to girls included an inaccurate dosage ("Greater Risk of Birth Defects With Valproic Acid," Oct. 15, 2004, p. 1). The increased dosage of folic acid recommended preconceptually for women...

Coping with economic credentialing.(GUEST EDITORIAL)
January 15, 2005... In communities all over the country, hospitals and hospital systems have taken strong defensive (or, from the physicians' perspective, offensive) actions to counter the conflicts of interest and economic threats posed by the physician owners of...

Supplementation not enough to reduce fractures.(Gynecology)
January 15, 2005... HARROGATE, ENGLAND -- Calcium and vitamin D supplementation do not reduce the risk of clinical fracture among women identified as having one or more risk factors for hip fracture, a randomized controlled trial has shown. Investigators at...

Many sickle cell patients have weak bones.(Gynecology)
January 15, 2005... SAN DIEGO -- Nearly half of adults with sickle cell anemia have osteopenia, according to results from a small study. "Iron overloading from blood transfusion may be a relevant contributing factor, as liver iron was significantly greater in...

PTH prevents first fractures in early osteoporosis.(Gynecology)
January 15, 2005... SAN ANTONIO -- Intact human recombinant parathyroid hormone prevented both recurrent and first fractures in a multinational, randomized, placebo-controlled study of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, Mark P. Ettinger, M.D., said at the...

No effect of soy on breast proliferation in small study.(Gynecology)
January 15, 2005... SAN ANTONIO -- Consumption of soy isoflavones by postmenopausal breast cancer survivors doesn't appear to stimulate epithelial proliferative activity in the contralateral breast, according to a small pilot study. This is a reassuring,...

Night sweats more common in women with infertility history.(Gynecology)
January 15, 2005... PHILADELPHIA -- Women with a self-reported history of infertility are more likely than fertile women to experience night sweats when they reach the perimenopause, according to Brandon J. Bankowski, M.D. "This is a unique observation," he...

Investigational DMPA-SC treats endometriosis pain, curbs BMD loss.(Gynecology)
January 15, 2005... SAN FRANCISCO -- An investigational form of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate is as effective as leuprolide for the treatment of endometriosis-associated pelvic pain, but it's significantly safer and better tolerated, Anthony A. Luciano, M.D.,...

OC may protect against the development of rheumatoid factor.(Gynecology)
January 15, 2005... SAN ANTONIO -- Oral contraceptive use appears to be inversely associated with being rheumatoid-factor positive, Kevin D. Deane, M.D., said in a poster presentation at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology. In his...

EMG reveals subtle postpartum nerve injury.(Gynecology)
January 15, 2005... SAVANNAH, GA. -- Even women who have no symptoms of postpartum fecal incontinence can show subtle signs of pudendal nerve injury, Thomas Gregory, M.D., reported in a poster at the annual meeting of the American Association of Electrodiagnostic...

New drug for overactive bladder lacks cognitive side effects.(Gynecology)
January 15, 2005... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Darifenacin, a selective muscarinic M3 receptor antagonist approved last month for the treatment of overactive bladder, doesn't affect cognition in the elderly at clinically effective doses, Richard B. Lipton, M.D., reported at...