OB GYN News articles from March 2006

OB GYN News archives from March 2006

Watch & wait with small simple cysts.(Gynecology)
March 1, 2006... KAILUA KONA, HAWAII -- The proliferation of CT scans by internists and other physicians has brought an increasing number of incidental findings of post-menopausal ovarian cysts, Dr. William J. Hoskins said at a conference on obstetrics,...

Contingent screen 'attractive option' for down detection: decreases need for second-trimester tests.(News)
March 1, 2006... MIAMI BEACH -- Contingent screening is an attractive option for prenatal detection of trisomy 21, Dr. Fergal Malone said at the annual meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. This screening method was analyzed using data from...

Preterm labor test viable in real world environment.(Obstetrics)
March 1, 2006... MIAMI BEACH -- A rapid fetal fibronectin test safely and effectively predicts the likelihood of preterm labor in a private hospital setting, according to a presentation at the annual meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. "The...

Dexamethasone vs. betamethasone.(News)
March 1, 2006... MIAMI BEACH -- Prenatal dexamethasone is superior to betamethasone in its reduction of two major neonatal morbidity and mortality outcomes--intraventricular hemorrhage and periventricular leukomalacia--according to results of a randomized,...

FDA revises package inserts to improve safety.(News)
March 1, 2006... Prescription drug package inserts will soon have a new format that U.S. Food and Drug Administration officials believe will reduce the risk of medical errors. A goal of the "major revisions" announced by the FDA is to prioritize warning...

NT of 4 mm or more warrants chorionic villus sampling.(News)(nuchal translucency)
March 1, 2006... MIAMI BEACH -- A nuchal translucency measurement of at least 4 mm identified during prenatal ultrasound screening for aneuploidy warrants immediate consideration of chorionic villus sampling, Dr. Fergal Malone reported at the annual meeting of...

Initial chemotherapy beneficial in epithelial ovarian cancer.(News)
March 1, 2006... ORLANDO -- Chemotherapy that is given before surgery improves optimal cytoreduction rates in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer, a retrospective comparative study suggests. Most women with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer...

A dwindling medical workforce.(GUEST EDITORIAL)
March 1, 2006... America is facing a major shortage of nurses and doctors, with no real solution in sight. For more than half a century, we have depended on foreign health professionals to satisfy our domestic requirements. U.S. medical and nursing schools have...

Is consumer-driven health care a good idea?(POINT / COUNTERPOINT)
March 1, 2006... It would benefit everyone in the end. In a consumer-driven market, price goes down and quality goes up, even if the average consumer is not expert about that product. How does that happen? Markets are shaped not by the average buyers,...

'Do the logical thing' in managing preeclampsia.(Obstetrics)
March 1, 2006... KAILUA KONA, HAWAII -- Consider the worst thing that can happen when managing preeclampsia and then do the logical thing to avoid that outcome, Dr. Michael A. Belfort said at a conference on obstetrics, gynecology, perinatal medicine,...

Medicolegal issues in preterm birth of multiples.(Obstetrics)
March 1, 2006... KAILUA KONA, HAWAII -- An important step in detecting preterm labor in a multifetal pregnancy is to increase the patient's awareness of contractions and pelvic pressure and the need to report these symptoms, Dr. Michael A. Belfort said. ...

VLBW multiples face greater mortality risk.(Obstetrics)
March 1, 2006... MIAMI BEACH -- Contrary to prior reports, very-low-birth-weight multiples have significantly greater morbidity and mortality than weight-matched singleton fetuses, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the Society for...

Training, disclosures are key to lowering ultrasound legal risks.(Obstetrics)
March 1, 2006... KAILUA KONA, HAWAII -- Clinicians who offer fetal ultrasounds in their offices should ensure that those performing the scans are properly trained and that they explain to patients the limitations of the technology, to reduce the risk of being...

3-D fetal ultrasound can help with counseling.(Obstetrics)
March 1, 2006... KAILUA KONA, HAWAII -- Three-dimensional ultrasound is less helpful for diagnosing fetal abnormalities than for counseling patients, Dr. Dolores H. Pretorius said at a conference on obstetrics, gynecology, perinatal medicine, neonatology, and...

Minor maternal trauma can be deadly for fetus.(Obstetrics)
March 1, 2006... KAILUA KONA, HAWAII -- Insignificant trauma to the mother may not be insignificant to the fetus, Dr. William G. Barsan said at a conference on obstetrics, gynecology, perinatal medicine, neonatology, and the law. Severe maternal injury is...

Drops in use of valproate linked to fewer Australian birth defects.(Obstetrics)
March 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Decreased use of valproate to manage epilepsy during pregnancy in Australia has produced a corresponding drop in fetal malformations associated with the drug, Dr. Frank Vajda said at the joint annual meeting of the American...

Gender may influence neuro outcome in ELBW infants.(Obstetrics)
March 1, 2006... SAN DIEGO -- Female gender in extremely-low-birth-weight infants has a positive influence on the neurodevelopmental outcome at 18-22 months, increasing the Bayley-II Mental Developmental Index scores by 8-10 points, Dr. Regina A. Gargus...

Prophylactic surgery beneficial in Lynch syndrome.(Gynecology)
March 1, 2006... Prophylactic surgery may help to prevent gynecologic cancers in women with hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer, reported Dr. Kathleen M. Schmeler of the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, and her associates. In...

Monsel's paste after LEEP: good results, low cost.(Gynecology)(loop electrosurgical excision procedure)
March 1, 2006... SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. -- Monsel's paste produced less pain and worked faster than fulguration by a ball electrode in a randomized clinical trial comparing the two methods for achieving hemostasis after the loop electrosurgical excision procedure;...

Good pregnancy rates seen after tubal surgery.(Gynecology)
March 1, 2006... SAN DIEGO -- Pregnancies in 51% of 155 women surveyed after laparoscopic tubal reconstructive surgery suggest a success rate comparable with that seen after laboratory to repair tubes, Dr. Liselotte Mettler said at an international congress of...

MRI is more accurate for finding breast cancers.(Gynecology)
March 1, 2006... CHICAGO -- Magnetic resonance imaging done prior to treatment for breast cancer can reveal cancer missed by mammography and ultrasonography, yielding more accurate information about the extent of disease, according to a poster presented at the...

VTE risk tied to metastatic disease in breast Ca.(Gynecology)
March 1, 2006... SAN ANTONIO -- The incidence of venous thromboembolism in the year following breast cancer diagnosis is roughly 1%, Dr. Helen K. Chew reported at a breast cancer symposium sponsored by the Cancer Therapy and Research Center. That's a lower...

FDA approves first IV osteoporosis therapy.(Gynecology)
March 1, 2006... Last month, the Food and Drug Administration approved an injectable formulation of ibandronate, the first intravenous treatment for osteoporosis to become available and the first bisphosphonate administered once every 3 months. The...

Bisphosphonate compliance no better weekly than daily.(Gynecology)
March 1, 2006... NASHVILLE, TENN. -- Women with postmenopausal osteoporosis are no more likely to adhere to bisphosphonate therapy with weekly dosing than with daily dosing, according to data presented in a poster at the annual meeting of the American Society...

Tracking FSH annually said to help predict bone loss in perimenopause.(Gynecology)
March 1, 2006... Tracking follicle-stimulating hormone levels every year from premenopause onward can help predict bone loss during the menopausal transition, reported MaryFran R. Sowers, Ph.D., of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and her associates. ...

Alendronate beats risedronate in increasing BMD.(Gynecology)
March 1, 2006... SAN DIEGO -- Postmenopausal women with low bone density who received once-weekly alendronate 70 mg had significantly greater increases in bone mineral density and reductions in markers of bone turnover over a 2-year period, compared with those...

Childhood fracture history tied to low BMD, osteoporosis later.(Gynecology)
March 1, 2006... NASHVILLE, TENN. -- A history of fracture in childhood and adolescence may be a marker for osteoporosis later in life, suggest study findings presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research. Girls with...

Triad components found in female high school athletes.(Gynecology)
March 1, 2006... A significant proportion of female high school athletes meet the criteria for one of three health disorders that comprise the female athlete triad syndrome, according to a cross-sectional study. Jeanne F. Nichols, Ph.D., of San Diego State...

Panel issues landmark clinical guidelines for PAD.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2006... Peripheral arterial disease affects 15-20 million Americans, but it is not being properly diagnosed or treated, according to the authors of new guidelines for the management of PAD. "Severe peripheral arterial disease is essentially an...

Pregnancy problems may portend future stroke.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2006... SAN DIEGO -- Certain pregnancy complications appear to be strongly associated with stroke later in life, offering a golden opportunity for early education and prevention efforts, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the...

Preop application of mupirocin cuts infections.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Mupirocin ointment applied to the front of the nostrils before surgery may decolonize patients and reduce the incidence of surgical site infections from Staphylococcus aureus, said Dr. Trish M. Perl at the annual Interscience...

Prosthetic heart valves raise pregnancy risks: the complications may be preventable and suggest a need for specialized care and close monitoring.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2006... DALLAS -- Pregnancy in women with a prosthetic heart valve was associated with a high risk of maternal and fetal complications, according to findings in a study in Brazil with 70 women and 86 pregnancies. But some complications may be...

Pheochromocytoma in pregnancy often missed.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2006... BETHESDA, MD. -- With timely diagnosis and treatment, the prognosis can be good for women with pheochromocytoma during pregnancy, Dr. Henri Timmers said at an international symposium on pheochromocytoma sponsored by the National Institutes of...

Bill halts 4.4% Medicare cut.(POLICY & PRACTICE)
March 1, 2006... Congress' long-awaited passage of the budget reconciliation package put a freeze on a 4.4% cut Medicare physicians experienced in the month of January. While the congressional action stopped any further reductions to payments, it did not...

President's health care agenda.(POLICY & PRACTICE)
March 1, 2006... The federal government has a responsibility to provide health care for the poor and the elderly, as well as confront its rising costs, strengthen the doctor-patient relationship, and help people afford insurance coverage, President Bush said in...

Courts overturn Partial Birth Ban again.(POLICY & PRACTICE)
March 1, 2006... Federal appeals courts in California and New York recently upheld lower court rulings that the "Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003" is unconstitutional. In the New York case, the court ruled that the ban must contain an exception for the...

Kansas court backs abortion privacy.(POLICY & PRACTICE)
March 1, 2006... Reproductive rights groups are claiming victory in Kansas after the state's Supreme Court ruled that all patient-identifying information must be removed before medical records can be reviewed by a local district court as part of an...

CVD awareness by women rises.(POLICY & PRACTICE)
March 1, 2006... More women are aware of cardiovascular disease, and that knowledge is causing them to take positive preventive health steps for themselves and family members, according to a recent study published in the journal Circulation. A survey of more...

Tips for securing your financial future.(THE REST OF YOUR LIFE)
March 1, 2006... For as long as he can remember, Dr. Robert M. Doroghazi has been prudent with money. "It was difficult to come by," said Dr. Doroghazi, who was raised in Granite City, Ill., as the son of a steelworker. At age 8, he began to earn an...

Climara Pro indicated for osteoporosis.(PRODUCTS)
March 1, 2006... Climara Pro (estradiol/levonorgestrel 0.045/0.015 mg/day) Transdermal System is indicated for the prevention of post-menopausal osteoporosis. For more information, contact Berlex Laboratories by visiting www.climarapro.com or by calling...

Prevent chemotherapy nausea.(PRODUCTS)
March 1, 2006... Emend (aprepitant) has been approved for use with other antiemetic medicines for the prevention of nausea and vomiting associated with initial and repeat courses of moderately emetogenic chemotherapy. For more information, contact Merck & Co....

Permanent hair reduction.(PRODUCTS)
March 1, 2006... The Starlux Pulsed Light and Laser System delivers permanent hair reduction without having to grow out hair between treatments. The system offers simple touch-screen operation. For more information, contact Palomar Medical Technologies by...

Venlafaxine HCl for panic disorder.(PRODUCTS)
March 1, 2006... Effexor XR (venlafaxine HCl) is indicated for treatment of adults with long- and short-term panic disorder. For more information, contact Wyeth by visiting www.effexorxr.com or by calling 800-934-5556.

New maternal/fetal monitors.(PRODUCTS)
March 1, 2006... The Avalon FM20 antepartum and Avalon FM30 intrapartum fetal and maternal monitors can be used to monitor multiple births and include a feature to reduce the risk of confusing maternal and fetal heart rate signals. For more information, contact...

Generic oxycodone approved.(PRODUCTS)
March 1, 2006... Oxycodone extended release tablets (10 mg, 20 mg, and 40 mg) are indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe pain when continuous analgesia is needed for an extended period of time. The tablets are the generic equivalent of OxyContin...

Femara approved as initial Tx.(PRODUCTS)
March 1, 2006... Femara (letrozole) is indicated as a treatment for use after surgery in post-menopausal women with hormone-sensitive early breast cancer (adjuvant setting). For more information, contact Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation by visiting...

Info for seniors on osteoporosis.(FYI)
March 1, 2006... The NIHSeniorHealth Web site has added information about the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. The descriptions include risk factors, warning signs, and current treatment and research. To access the information, go to:...

Heart health brochure for women.(FYI)
March 1, 2006... The National Women's Health Resource Center has put out a new educational brochure to educate women about the treatment of coronary artery disease. "Healthy From the Heart" is available in English and Spanish. To download a copy, visit...

Prenatal screening.
March 1, 2006... There was a time when pregnancy and its outcome were clouded in mystery, when fetal outcome was known only at birth. Over many years, that mystery has dissipated as an evolution of technological developments occurred, eventually leading to the...

Let's incorporate first-trimester screening into obstetric practice.(MASTER CLASS)
March 1, 2006... We are in the midst of a significant shift in our approach to prenatal screening for Down syndrome and other major chromosomal abnormalities. We now know, without doubt, that first-trimester screening that combines maternal serum free...

Physicians on call: count the ways.(Obstetrics)
March 15, 2006... For ob.gyn. Susan Lacy, being on call was a challenge. With four young children at home, it's difficult for her to work overnight and come home at 8 a.m., just as her family starts its day. But innovative thinking by her practice...

Risk dwarfs benefit in WHI review of hormone therapy: HT is for select clinical situations only.(News)
March 15, 2006... BETHESDA, MD. -- In retrospect, perhaps the most startling thing about the hormone therapy study of the Women's Health Initiative was how wrong most experts had been beforehand about the benefits of estrogen in postmenopausal women. Before...

Single-layer closure may raise rupture risk later.
March 15, 2006... MIAMI BEACH -- Single-layer closure from a prior cesarean delivery increases risk of symptomatic uterine rupture in a subsequent trial of labor, compared with double-layer closure, Dr. Martine Goyet said at the annual meeting of the Society for...

Early results of two Ortho Evra patch safety studies are mixed.(News)
March 15, 2006... Preliminary results from two large ongoing epidemiologic studies evaluating the safety of the Ortho Evra contraceptive patch provided conflicting data on whether the risk of thrombotic events might be greater with the patch than with oral...

Prescription: 'a dose of reality'.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
March 15, 2006... I applaud Dr. Jerold J. Kreisman for his commentary on the relationship between physicians and the pharmaceutical industry ("Defending the Drug Man," Guest Editorial, Jan. 15, 2006, p. 9). I'm so sick of hearing how I should keep away from...

Don't blame the pharm reps.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
March 15, 2006... Kudos to Dr. Jerold J. Kreisman for taking the politically incorrect view in defense of pharmaceutical representatives ("Defending the Drug Man," Guest Editorial, Jan. 15, 2006, p. 9). One function of pharm reps is to convince us docs to...

The crux of clinical trials.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
March 15, 2006... Dr. David Orentlicher and Dr. Thomas Kintanar tackled a provocative topic, but missed some important points ("Should patients be required to take part in comparative clinical trials?" Pro & Con, Nov. 15, 2005, p. 5). Refusal by eligible...

Drugs, pregnancy, and lactation: valproic acid.(Obstetrics)
March 15, 2006... For more than 20 years, the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) associated with first-trimester exposure to valproic acid has been well known: The estimated risk is 2%, about 10- to 20-fold higher than the baseline risk. With more widespread use...

AFP testing is expensive, now largely obsolete.(Obstetrics)
March 15, 2006... MIAMI BEACH -- Maternal serum [alpha]-fetoprotein is no longer an effective or cost-effective second-trimester screen for neural tube defects in an era when women routinely undergo first-trimester Down syndrome screening and subsequent...

Herpes hepatitis: timely diagnosis can be lifesaving.(Obstetrics)
March 15, 2006... HONOLULU -- The diagnosis of herpes simplex hepatitis in pregnancy is one that simply can't afford to be missed, Dr. Eileen Hay said at the annual meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology. That's because treatment with acyclovir...

Antiretroviral timing in pregnancy is tricky.(Obstetrics)
March 15, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO -- The optimal time to initiate antiretroviral therapy during pregnancy depends on a balance of factors, Dr. Deborah Cohan said at a meeting on HIV management sponsored by the University of California, San Francisco. The...

Medical Tx rivals surgery in chronic pelvic pain.(Gynecology)
March 15, 2006... ORLANDO -- Women with chronic pelvic pain responded as well to medical treatment as they did to surgery, according to a prospective, observational cohort study of 370 patients that was carried out 1 year after treatment, Dr. Georgine Lamvu said...

Excision of lesions may improve sexual function.(Gynecology)
March 15, 2006... CHICAGO -- Laparoscopic excision of endometriotic lesions of the uterosacral ligament improves not only deep dyspareunia but also the quality of patients' sex life, Dr. Simone Ferrero said at the annual meeting of the AAGL (formerly the...

High-dose statin may not be enough to protect acute coronary patients.(Gynecology)
March 15, 2006... STOCKHOLM -- Patients with acute coronary syndrome who are treated with a high-dose statin and other standard medications still have a high, 13% rate of cardiac events during follow-up, which suggests a need for more interventions to further...

Bone marrow micrometastases predict Ca risk.(Gynecology)
March 15, 2006... SAN ANTONIO -- The presence of disseminated tumor cells in bone marrow at initial diagnosis of nonmetastatic breast cancer independently predicted a greater than twofold increased relative risk of overall mortality and other end points in a...

Bladder condition mimics gynecologic disorders.(Gynecology)
March 15, 2006... SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. -- Many women diagnosed with gynecologic disorders actually have a bladder condition that causes frequency, urgency, and lower pelvic pain, Dr. C. Lowell Parsons told physicians at the annual meeting of the Central Association...

Few with incontinence actually cut fluid intake.(Gynecology)
March 15, 2006... MONTREAL -- Fluid reduction is not a common coping strategy among people with urinary incontinence, although many practitioners believe it is, according to Australian researchers. "Anecdotally, as continence advisers, we have the perception...

Symptom improvement is worth a lot to women with urinary incontinence.(Gynecology)
March 15, 2006... ATLANTA -- Women with urinary incontinence are willing to pay a substantial amount of money for symptom improvement, a new study shows. The finding underscores the extent of the negative impact that incontinence has on quality of life, Dr....

Transvaginal radio frequency treatment fails in second test.(Gynecology)
March 15, 2006... ATLANTA -- The promising results seen in initial studies of SURx transvaginal radio frequency for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence were not replicated in a recent series of patients. "We were unable to replicate previously...

Parous and nulliparous sisters suffer same rates of stress incontinence.(Gynecology)
March 15, 2006... Vaginal birth does not contribute to the development of stress urinary incontinence later in life, according to Dr. Gunhilde Buchsbaum, of the department of ob.gyn at the University of Rochester (N.Y.), and colleagues. "Contrary to the...

Tequin label changes address dysglycemia.(Clinical Rounds)
March 15, 2006... Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. has announced labeling changes for Tequin (gatifloxacin) that update the prescription information as a result of continued reports of cases of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia in patients taking the drug. Tequin is...

Rapid avian flu pretest takes hours, not days.(Clinical Rounds)
March 15, 2006... A rapid test to detect human infection with avian influenza provides preliminary results in just 4 hours instead of the standard 2-3 days, according to officials with the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and...

Studies link tequin to hyper- and hypoglycemia.(Clinical Rounds)
March 15, 2006... Results from two large studies of patients aged 66 and older show a strong association between the use of gatifloxacin and inpatient treatment for both hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. The findings follow close on the heels of the drug's fourth...

Severe compression deformities rare in osteopenia patients.(Clinical Rounds)
March 15, 2006... SAN DIEGO -- Moderate to severe vertebral compression deformities are uncommon among postmenopausal women with osteopenia who lack a clinical history of fragility fracture, Dr. Angela M. Cheung reported during a poster session at the annual...

Denosumab raises bone mineral density in postmenopausal women.(Clinical Rounds)
March 15, 2006... The human monoclonal antibody denosumab has been found to increase bone mineral density in postmenopausal women, results of a recent randomized phase II study suggest. Evaluation of the primary end point--the percentage change in lumbar...

Expert lists bone turnover markers' pros, cons.(Brief article)
March 15, 2006... SAN DIEGO -- A chief advantage of assessing bone turnover markers such as serum osteocalcin and urine hydro-xyproline in osteoporosis patients is their integrated assessment of skeletal metabolism, Dr. Marc C. Hochberg said at the annual...

Race and pregnancy outcomes.(POLICY & PRACTICE)
March 15, 2006... Early access to prenatal care has not been enough to improve pregnancy outcomes among minorities, according to a study published in the March issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology. The study analyzed data from the First-and Second-Trimester...

Review of Partial Birth Ban.(POLICY & PRACTICE)
March 15, 2006... The Supreme Court has agreed to hear arguments about the constitutionality of the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003. The U.S. Attorney General petitioned the court last fall to hear the case of Gonzales v. Carhart. In that case, Nebraska...

Women's heart health.(POLICY & PRACTICE)
March 15, 2006... The Society for Women's Health Research, the American Heart Association, and several other groups are mobilizing their members in support of new legislation aimed at educating physicians and patients about cardiovascular diseases among women....

Wal-Mart stocks Plan B.(POLICY & PRACTICE)
March 15, 2006... Wal-Mart will begin carrying Plan B emergency contraception at all of its U.S. pharmacies beginning on March 20. The retailer was already required to sell emergency contraception at pharmacies in Illinois and most recently in Massachusetts. The...

Lester Crawford, lobbyist.(POLICY & PRACTICE)
March 15, 2006... Former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Lester Crawford, D.V.M., has taken a position at Policy Directions Inc., a Washington-based lobbying and consulting firm. Mr. Crawford will be senior counsel to the organization, which counts...

Defensive medicine, malpractice eat up 10% of premium dollars.(Practice Trends)
March 15, 2006... WASHINGTON -- The costs of malpractice insurance and defensive medicine account for about 10 cents of every dollar spent on health care premiums, several speakers said at a press briefing sponsored by America's Health Insurance Plans. ...

Fetal monitoring update, part 2.(CLINICAL PEARLS)
March 15, 2006... As readers of this column are aware, both the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses published revised electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) guidelines in 2005. In a...