OB GYN News articles from June 2006

OB GYN News archives from June 2006

Controversy hits letrozole warning.(News)
June 1, 2006... Letrozole safely and effectively induces ovulation, according to the findings of a retrospective study of data from five Canadian fertility centers. The recent findings contradict an earlier report presented at last year's conjoint annual...

ACOG recommends initial Ob.Gyn. visit at ages 13-15: committee opinion outlines topics, coding.(Gynecology)
June 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Teenage girls should have their first visit with an ob.gyn. between the ages of 13 and 15, according to a recommendation from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. This initial visit should be focused on...

HPV prevalence peaks in 14- to 19-year-old women.(Gynecology)
June 1, 2006... JACKSONVILLE, FLA. -- The prevalence of high-risk human papillomavirus in U.S. women is highest in the 14- to 19-year-old age group, according to a presentation at an STD prevention conference sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and...

High efficacy is predicted for pair of new human papillomavirus vaccines.(News)
June 1, 2006... JACKSONVILLE, FLA. -- Both vaccines to prevent human papillomavirus infection will be highly effective, Dr. Diane M. Harper said at a conference on STD prevention sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Approximately...

Updated STD guidelines from CDC coming soon.(News)
June 1, 2006... BOSTON -- The soon-to-be-released 2006 STD treatment guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention likely will include new recommendations for the diagnosis or treatment of gonorrhea, bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis, herpes...

Gyn-medicine residency, other reforms proposed by new ACOG president.(News)(American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists)
June 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- The new president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists plans to study the use of behavioral assessment techniques in evaluating candidates for ob.gyn. residencies. Dr. Douglas W. Laube, chair of the...

Fertility preservation advice advocated for cancer patients.(News)
June 1, 2006... New guidelines issued by the American Society of Clinical Oncology advise discussion of fertility preservation options with cancer patients as early as possible in treatment planning. Sperm banking and embryo cryopreservation are proven...

Try COX-2s to prevent colon cancer.(GUEST COMMENTARY)
June 1, 2006... Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors are appropriate as a supplemental strategy in the prevention of colorectal cancer in patients at highest risk for the disease. The current standard for preventing colon cancer, colonoscopy and polypectomy,...

Dismissing patients properly.(dismissing a patient without violating the laws)
June 1, 2006... Every so often, it becomes necessary to dismiss a patient from your practice. I receive several questions a month about the "legalities" involved; the usual wording is something like, "How do I dismiss a patient without violating any...

HT report based on 'flawed study'.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2006... Imagine my consternation upon your advising against hormone therapy based on the Women's Health Initiative--now discredited as a flawed study ("Risk Dwarfs Benefit in WHI Review of Hormone Therapy," March 15, 2006, p. 1). A recent study...

Pain relievers.(Cartoon)
June 1, 2006... "It's a new medical technology. Instead of crying, we can program your choice of 200 fun ring tones!"

Early epidurals don't impact operative delivery.(Obstetrics)
June 1, 2006... HOLLYWOOD, FLA. -- Epidural analgesia given in early labor has been shown to have no significant effect on the risk of operative delivery in patients with spontaneous labor, and the same appears to hold true for patients with induced labor,...

CSE minimally benefits external cephalic version.(Obstetrics)(Combined spinal-epidural )(Brief article)(Statistical data)
June 1, 2006... HOLLYWOOD, FLA. -- Combined spinal-epidural analgesia did not significantly improve the rate of successful external cephalic version, compared with systemic opioid analgesia for breech presentation, but it did improve maternal pain and...

Sphincter tear rate falling in vaginal births.(Obstetrics)
June 1, 2006... TUCSON, ARIZ. -- The rate of anal sphincter laceration during vaginal delivery has declined sharply in recent years, paralleling modifications in obstetric practice, a University of Southern California study revealed. Anal sphincter...

Cesarean may not avert levator ani injury.(Obstetrics)
June 1, 2006... TUCSON, ARIZ. -- One woman in four suffers neuropathic injury to the levator ani with her first delivery, according to a novel study that used pre- and postpartum concentric needle electromyographic examinations to study muscle function. ...

High folate hikes odds of twinning after IVF.(Obstetrics)
June 1, 2006... A high plasma folate level around the time of conception raises the chance of twinning after in vitro fertilization, but not the chance of having a successful pregnancy, reported Paul Haggarty, Ph.D., of the Rowett Research Institute, Aberdeen,...

Information does not affect parents' views on HPV vaccine.(Gynecology)
June 1, 2006... Parents' beliefs, rather than knowledge, are what drive their acceptance of human papillomavirus vaccines for their children, according to a new study. Therefore, simply educating them about human papillomavirus (HPV) "may not be...

Patience and patients both key in pessary success.(Gynecology)(clinical trials)
June 1, 2006... TUCSON, ARIZ. -- A randomized crossover trial suggests that symptom relief and satisfaction can be obtained by either of two commonly used pessary types, but that patient selection and patience are both key to success. The multicenter...

TVT and TOT compared in American studies.(Gynecology)
June 1, 2006... TUCSON, ARIZ. -- Three studies presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Gynecologic Surgeons have begun to unravel the advantages and disadvantages of tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) and transobturator tape (TOT) procedures in patients...

European/ Canadian results favor TOT for ease and safety.(Gynecology)(transobturator tape )
June 1, 2006... PARIS -- A randomized, multicenter trial and two retrospective studies presented at the annual congress of the European Association of Urology found outcomes were similar whether patients had the transvaginal or transobturator sling procedure...

Monarc sling keeps providing symptom relief for 24 months.(Gynecology)
June 1, 2006... Two years after being implanted with the Monarc transobturator sling, most evaluable patients in an international study had symptom relief and were satisfied with the results, according to a poster presentation at the meeting. Dr. Dirk...

FDA approves varenicline for smoking cessation.(Clinical Rounds)
June 1, 2006... The newly approved drug varenicline may help a significantly higher percentage of patients quit smoking than bupropion, according to Food and Drug Administration officials and others. The drug was judged from early trials to show such...

New antiresorptive agents may be better tolerated.(Clinical Rounds)
June 1, 2006... DESTIN, FLA. -- Investigational antiresorptive agents with novel methods of action and dosing regimens may improve patient compliance and persistence, but will not reduce the risk of fracture associated with osteoporosis beyond that seen with...

Synthetic melanin induces tan, reduces damage.(Clinical Rounds)
June 1, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO -- Fair-skinned volunteers injected with synthetic melanin readily acquired tans and showed minimal epidermal damage following exposure to ultraviolet light in a study unveiled at the annual meeting of the American Academy of...

Pre-15 Pregnancy more likely.(POLICY & PRACTICE)
June 1, 2006... Teenage girls who have sex before the age of 15 years are more likely to become pregnant than are teens who delay sex, according to an analysis from the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. About 46% of girls who have had sex at least...

Reproductive health disparities.(POLICY & PRACTICE)
June 1, 2006... From 1994 to 2001, unintended pregnancies increased 29% among women living below the poverty level and fell among higher-income women, according to an analysis from the Guttmacher Institute. Poor women, black women, and unmarried women are the...

Stem cell committee named.(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... The National Academies' Institute of Medicine and National Research Council have appointed a committee to "monitor and revise" the voluntary guidelines on the conduct of human embryonic stem cell research that were issued last year by the...

Maryland passes stem cell bill.(POLICY & PRACTICE)
June 1, 2006... The Maryland legislature passed a bill establishing a $15 million fund to promote stem cell research in the state. The measure, which passed by a vote of 90-48 and was signed by Republican Gov. Robert Ehrlich in April, will set procedures for...

Teen perceptions on oral sex.(POLICY & PRACTICE)
June 1, 2006... More than one-quarter of teenagers in a recent survey did not know that sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can be passed through oral sex, according to a study published in the March issue of Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health. In...

States adding med schools to bolster workforce.(Practice Trends)
June 1, 2006... Several states are in the process of adding new medical schools to shore up expected shortfalls in the physician workforce. The United States could see physician shortages run as high as 85,000 physicians by 2020, according to government...

Device aids urine collection.(PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2006... Tru-Catch is designed for use by women, children, and the physically challenged to collect sterile and nonsterile urine and stool samples. For more information, contact Cherie Enterprises LLC by visiting www.tru-catch.com or by calling...

Loestrin 24 Fe for birth control.(PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2006... Loestrin 24 Fe (norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol tablets and ferrous fumarate tablets) is indicated for the prevention of pregnancy. The birth control regimen provides 24 days of active hormonal therapy and 4 days of iron-containing...

Topical emulsion aids healing.(drug use)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Biafine is an oil-in-water emulsion formulated for the dressing and management of superficial wounds, minor abrasions, dermal ulcers, and first- and second-degree burns. The emulsion is available by prescription in 45-g or 90-g tubes. For more...

Curriculum for pregnant teens.(PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2006... "Teenage Pregnancy: A New Beginning," a booklet to assist in educating pregnant teens, has been updated for 2006. The text includes discussions of human sexuality, fetal development, prenatal health, and preparation for labor, birth, and...

Online support for women with ALS.(FYI)
June 1, 2006... Duke University Medical Center has established an online support group for women with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Membership is limited to women with this neurodegenerative disorder, also known as Lou Gehrig disease. Women with ALS can join...

Cancer support for young adults.(FYI)
June 1, 2006... People Living With Cancer, an American Society of Clinical Oncology Web site, offers information aimed at helping young adults with cancer better understand their disease and cope with issues unique to young cancer patients. For more...

Alzheimer's Web site launched.(FYI)
June 1, 2006... The Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center, part of the National Institute on Aging, has a new Web site. The site, www.alzheimers.nia.nih.gov (formerly www.alzheimers.org), allows visitors to order materials, sign up for e-mail...

Track family health conditions.(service introduction)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... The U.S. Surgeon General and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have launched an initiative to encourage families to learn more about their family health history. The initiative features a Web-enabled tool to help users organize...

How to fight burnout.(THE REST OF YOUR LIFE)
June 1, 2006... Dr. Darrell A. Campbell Jr. followed in his father's footsteps and became a surgeon. But the young Dr. Campbell is careful not to follow in his father's footsteps of letting his work consume him to the point of burnout. "I saw it firsthand...

Rectocele repair evolves.(MASTER CLASS)(narratives)(column)(Brief article)(Column)
June 1, 2006... Unfortunately, as an avid endoscopic surgeon and infertility specialist, I must admit that the most exciting arena in gynecologic surgery at present belongs to the urogynecologist. Until now, there has been little innovation within the...

Using mesh or grafts to augment repair.(MASTER CLASS)
June 1, 2006... The use of mesh or grafts to augment rectocele repair is still in its early stages. Although it's not yet possible to encourage widespread adoption or make universal recommendations, we can say with certainty that mesh or grafts should be used...

FDA waves HPV vaccine through.(Gynecology)
June 15, 2006... The vaccine that provides protection against infection from four types of human papillomavirus, including the two that cause about 70% of cervical cancers, has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for vaccinating females 9-26 years...

World prescription generic drug market is expected to climb.(VITAL SIGNS)
June 15, 2006... World Prescription Generic Drug Market Is Expected to Climb Note: Based on U.S. manufacturers' revenues in 2005 dollars. Source: Kalorama Information ELSEVIER GLOBAL MEDICAL NEWS

First-trimester ACE inhibitors linked to fetal malformation: FDA has issued a public health advisory.(Obstetrics)
June 15, 2006... The use of ACE inhibitors in the first trimester has been linked to an array of congenital malformations of the fetal cardiovascular system, CNS, and renal system, and therefore can no longer be considered safe, according to an observational...

CDC's clostridia meeting reviews medical abortion.(News)
June 15, 2006... ATLANTA -- The precise nature of the link between medical abortion and fatal toxic shock-like syndrome remains a mystery, but a handful of case reports has prompted a difference of opinion about how such procedures should be carried out. ...

FDA under fire for unprecedented role of politics in Plan B decision.(News)
June 15, 2006... The Food and Drug Administration is once again under fire for its evaluation of the proposed over-the-counter use of the emergency contraceptive Plan B, with advocates for approval accusing the agency of putting politics first. Fueling the...

CDC sets vaccine guidelines for mumps outbreak.(News)
June 15, 2006... All health care workers should receive two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine if they don't have evidence of immunity, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention voted during a...

Reagent recalled for potential of faulty diagnoses.(News)
June 15, 2006... A diagnostic reagent has been recalled because it may produce a weak signal that could translate into inaccurate results for tests used to screen more than 40 disorders. The reagent is used with the Vitros Immunodiagnostic ECi/ECiQ System...

CDC urges vigilance vs. rising tide of clostridial infections.(News)
June 15, 2006... ATLANTA -- Both health care-associated and community-acquired infections caused by the exotoxin-producing bacillus Clostridium difficile continue to increase, Dr. L. Clifford McDonald said during a meeting on emerging clostridial disease...

New surgical procedures: should I or shouldn't I?(POINT/COUNTERPOINT)
June 15, 2006... An Opportunity to Improve Care As physicians and surgeons who are committed to clinical excellence, we carry an obligation to bring advances in the medical sciences to our communities as soon as possible. We currently live and practice...

Educate women about risks of type 2 diabetes.(Obstetrics)
June 15, 2006... HOLLYWOOD, FLA. -- Women need to be better educated about the risks of type 2 diabetes in pregnancy, Dr. Erin Keely said at the annual meeting of the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology. "Type 2 diabetes is at least as...

Smoking may slow healing after cesarean.(Obstetrics)(risk factors)(Brief article)
June 15, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Data from 597 cesarean sections suggest that smoking may slow wound healing, Dr. Cecilia Avila reported in a poster presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Both smoking and...

Prenatal vitamins and pediatric ca risk.(DRUGS, PREGNANCY, AND LACTATION)
June 15, 2006... There is some evidence that the use of vitamins in general and folic acid in particular may inhibit the development of some types of cancer in adults, although the data are not from randomized trials and are debated. There are also several...

Episiotomies: when and if they help.(Obstetrics)(care and treatment)
June 15, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Often, the best episiotomy may be no episiotomy, Dr. Lily A. Arya noted at the annual meeting of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. That said, episiotomies are needed in some cases, and sometimes wound...

Is gonorrhea add-on to chlamydia test of benefit?(Gynecology)
June 15, 2006... JACKSONVILLE, FLA. -- A majority of privately insured women tested for chlamydia are also checked for gonorrhea, which may be unnecessary given its significantly lower incidence, according to a study presented at a conference on STD prevention...

Large weight gain results in highest NICU admissions.(Gynecology)
June 15, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Either too much or too little weight gain during pregnancy could increase the risk of neonatal intensive care unit admission and peripartum complications, according to data presented at the annual meeting of the American College...

Probability of developing invasive uterine cervical cancer.(DATA WATCH)
June 15, 2006... Probability of Developing Invasive Uterine Cervical Cancer Notes: All participants were free of cancer at baseline. Cancer cases were diagnosed during 2000-2002. Sources: National Cancer Institute, American Cancer Society ELSEVIER...

Pap tests to spot endometrial cancer recurrence questioned.(Gynecology)
June 15, 2006... PALM SPRINGS, CALIF. -- Routine vaginal cytology as a surveillance test for endometrial cancer recurrence is costly, inefficient, and benefits less than 1% of patients, Dr. Robert E. Bristow and his associates reported in a poster session at...

Extended-regimen OC measures up.(Gynecology)
June 15, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Seasonale Lo, the 91-day extended-regimen low-dose oral contraceptive, was effective and well tolerated compared with a 28-day low-dose oral contraceptive, after both 1 year and 3 years of use. The Seasonale Lo data from a...

Frovatriptan appears to offer relief for menstrual migraines.(Gynecology)
June 15, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Women who took 2.5 mg of frovatriptan either once or twice daily for 6 days at the time of menstruation had significantly fewer--and less severe--menstrual migraines, compared with women who took a placebo, reported Dr. Marie...

Topical estrogen best treatment for advanced urogenital atrophy.(Gynecology)
June 15, 2006... FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. -- Topical estrogen is important to the success of treatment for urogenital atrophy and also has therapeutic value for the management of urinary urgency, frequency, and, most importantly, nocturia, Dr. G. Willy Davila said...

Bcl-2 urine test for ovarian ca gets good results in pilot study.(Gynecology)
June 15, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Elevated levels of the Bcl-2 protein in urine were associated with 92% of ovarian cancers in a pilot study of 95 women, Patricia Kruk, Ph.D., said at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research. ...

HPV vaccine may prevent vulvar and vaginal ca.(Gynecology)
June 15, 2006... ATLANTA -- The recently approved quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine shown to be effective for preventing most HPV-related cervical cancers may also prevent most vulvar and vaginal cancers, Dr. Jorma Paavonen reported at the annual...

Obese do well with laparoscopic hysterectomy.(Gynecology)
June 15, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Retroperitoneal dissection and uterine artery occlusion offer a successful approach to laparoscopic hysterectomy in morbidly obese patients, Dr. Jessica M. Vaught and her associates reported in a poster presented at the annual...

Routine CT not cost effective prior to laparotomy.(Gynecology)
June 15, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Performing a routine CT scan before staging laparotomy in patients with endometrial cancer may be an unnecessary expense, regardless of the histology, grade, or stage of the cancer, researchers reported in a poster presented at...

Pelvic organ prolapse linked with skin striae.(Gynecology)(research and risk factors)(Brief article)
June 15, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO -- Skin striae are at least twice as common in women with pelvic organ prolapse as in women without prolapse, a survey of 116 women found. Hormonal status alone didn't explain the association. Women with prolapse were less...

Consider genetic testing for hereditary cancers.(Gynecology)
June 15, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Clinical genetic testing for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes allows physicians to more precisely identify who is at high risk for certain cancers, Dr. Karen H. Lu said at the annual meeting of the American College of Obstetricians and...

Adding MRI sensible in BRCA carriers age 35-54.(Gynecology)
June 15, 2006... For women who carry the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic mutations, adding MRI screening to mammography screening for breast cancer can be cost effective even though MRI is so expensive, according to Sylvia K. Plevritis, Ph.D., of Stanford (Calif.)...

What is CIN 2 and how should it be treated? The debate over whether cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 is a real, distinct entity continues.(Gynecology)(Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia )
June 15, 2006... LAS VEGAS -- Experts are divided on how aggressively cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 should be treated, and on whether observation is an acceptable option, especially in low-risk populations. Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia...

Drugs, ultrasound may be new alternatives to hysterectomy.(Gynecology)
June 15, 2006... TORONTO -- Treating uterine fibroids may eventually be as simple as prescribing a pill, or zapping the benign growths with high-intensity focused ultrasound--two of several promising nonsurgical alternatives to the roughly 300,000...

Gonorrhea rates increase 25% or more in five Western states, Hawaii, and Alaska.(Gynecology)
June 15, 2006... JACKSONVILLE, FLA. -- The reasons for prominent increases in reported gonorrhea cases since 2000 in five Western states as well as Hawaii and Alaska remain unknown, Dr. Lori M. Newman said at a conference on STD prevention sponsored by the...

Small case series suggests botulinum toxin affords major pain relief in endometriosis.(Gynecology)
June 15, 2006... TORONTO -- Patients with endometriosis that is unresponsive to surgical and medical treatment may get relief from intravaginal injections with botulinum toxin, according to a case series from the National Institutes of Health. "We saw an...

HPV test alone most sensitive for finding CIN.(Gynecology)
June 15, 2006... Human papillomavirus testing alone was more sensitive than conventional cytology for detecting cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, and adding liquid-based cytology to HPV testing only increased the rate of false positives, according to a phase...

Researchers strive to reach adolescent smokers: some programs combine prevention and cessation; others target reduced smoking instead of quitting.(Clinical Rounds)
June 15, 2006... ORLANDO -- Adolescent smokers are a difficult population to reach, but researchers are trying some novel approaches to combat smoking in that group including smoking reduction instead of cessation, and financial incentives. "To date the...

Team approach increases available counseling for pregnant smokers.(Clinical Rounds)
June 15, 2006... ORLANDO -- Family and ob.gyn. practices in Maine improved their identification of pregnant smokers and improved their assessment of cessation after remodeling their office systems based on a chronic care team approach. The goal of the...

Genetic thrombophilia, 'the pill' hike VTE risk.(Clinical Rounds)
June 15, 2006... TORONTO -- A combination of inherited and acquired risk factors puts certain women in danger of developing venous thromboembolism, said Dr. Susan R. Kahn at the annual meeting of the Society of Interventional Radiology. The incidence of...

Poor acid secretion impairs thyroxine absorption.(Clinical Rounds)
June 15, 2006... Patients with multinodular goiter required a thyroxine dosage increase of 22%-34% if they had impaired secretion of stomach acids, results from a large controlled study demonstrated. The finding suggests that "normal gastric acid secretion...

FDA panel divided on ointment for anal fissures.(Clinical Rounds)
June 15, 2006... GAITHERSBURG, MD. -- A Food and Drug Administration advisory panel reached a mixed verdict on whether to recommend 0.4% nitroglycerin ointment for the treatment of pain associated with chronic anal fissures. Half of the 12 voting members...

Women seeking urgent care may need 'Plan B': only 6% of study participants had used emergency contraception in the 6 months before the clinic visit.(Clinical Rounds)
June 15, 2006... LOS ANGELES -- In a well-educated, urban population, 12% of women seeking urgent care services could have benefited from using emergency contraception at that visit, Dr. Eleanor Bimla Schwarz reported at the annual meeting of the Society of...

Gender gap seen in treating diabetics for dyslipidemia.(Clinical Rounds)
June 15, 2006... LOS ANGELES -- Women with type 2 diabetes may be treated for dyslipidemia less aggressively than men, and therefore may be at higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease, Dr. Quyen Ngo-Metzger reported at the annual meeting of the Society...

Low-carb beats low-fat diet for early losses but not long term.(Clinical Rounds)
June 15, 2006... Evidence on the overall impact of low-carbohydrate diets on cardiovascular health is insufficient for making general recommendations to patients seeking weight loss advice, according to the findings of a metaanalysis. Based on a review of...

Twin study shows anorexia is genetic, predictable.(Clinical Rounds)
June 15, 2006... Anorexia nervosa is a heritable psychiatric disorder with warning signs that can be identified decades before the onset of the illness, the largest twin study on the disorder shows. "Genes play a substantial role in the development of this...

Low bone mineral density may not be antiresorptive drug fault.(Clinical Rounds)
June 15, 2006... DESTIN, FLA. -- A lack of increase in bone mineral density does not necessarily indicate a failure of antiresorptive therapy for osteoporosis, and is not a reason to switch a patient's drugs, Dr. Michael McClung said at a rheumatology meeting...

Acute infection ups risk of DVT, pulmonary embolism.(Clinical Rounds)
June 15, 2006... The risk of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism appears significantly increased after acute urinary tract or respiratory infection, according to a large case-series study. The risk rates of both DVT and PE were highest--almost...