OB GYN News articles from November 2005

OB GYN News archives from November 2005

Endoanal scan IDs occult defects.(News)
November 1, 2005... MONTREAL -- Endoanal ultrasound performed immediately post partum can identify clinically occult anal sphincter defects, which are linked to an increased risk of anal incontinence, according to a British study. "This technology can improve...

HPV vaccine can prevent early in situ cervical ca: prevents CIN2, CIN3 related to HPV 16, 18.(News)
November 1, 2005... SAN FRANCISCO -- A multinational study of 11,502 young women showed for the first time that a vaccine for human papillomavirus can prevent precancerous cervical lesions and early in situ cervical cancers, Laura A. Koutsky, Ph.D., reported. ...

Nearly 6,000 physicians were displaced by Katrina.(News)
November 1, 2005... A recent study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill estimates that Hurricane Katrina and flooding in New Orleans may have displaced an estimated 5,944 active, patient-care physicians, the largest single relocation of doctors in...

Laparoscopic colposuspension eases recovery.(News)
November 1, 2005... MONTREAL -- Laparoscopic colposuspension performed by experienced surgeons has a cure rate similar to the open procedure, but patients experience a better recovery, according to a prospective, randomized controlled trial. The multicenter...

UAE effective in small study of women with adenomyosis.(News)
November 1, 2005... NICE, FRANCE -- Uterine artery embolization should not be withheld from women with adenomyosis, according to investigators who conducted a prospective, multicenter study in 42 symptomatic patients. At a median clinical follow-up of 17...

Science, medicine, and decision making.(GUEST EDITORIAL)
November 1, 2005... When physicians advise their patients about medications or medical devices, whether prescription or over the counter (OTC), they rely on the information provided on the product labels and package inserts. They trust that information to be...

Take a stand on genital cutting.(LETTERS)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2005... I am troubled by Dr. Nawal M. Nour's comments ("Female Genital Cutting," Guest Editorial, July 1, 2005, p. 6). She objects to the term "mutilation" to describe the practice of cutting away parts of the female genitalia as is still being...

Corrections.(Correction Notice)
November 1, 2005... The article, "Wisc. Ob.Gyns. Lament Cap Loss" (Sept. 15, 2005, p. 1) should have stated that Wisconsin's cap on noneconomic damages in malpractice cases had been cut to $350,000 in 1995.

Corrections.(Correction Notice)
November 1, 2005... In "Mifepristone Deaths Raise Unanswered Questions," the dosage of vaginal misoprostol used was 800 mcg (Oct. 1, 2005; p. 13).

Older moms' prenatal alcohol use hurts growth.(Obstetrics)
November 1, 2005... SANTA BARBARA, CALIF. -- Children of older mothers who drank during pregnancy were shorter and had smaller head circumferences at ages 7 and 14 years than other children at those ages, it was reported at the annual meeting of the Research...

Chorioamnionitis with PPROM is linked to adverse outcomes risk.(Obstetrics)(premature rupture of membranes)
November 1, 2005... CHARLESTON, S. C. -- The development of chorioamnionitis in patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes is associated with an increased risk for adverse neonatal outcomes, Natali Aziz, M.D., reported at the annual meeting of the...

Endothelial dysfunction remains 1 year after preeclamptic pregnancy.(Obstetrics)
November 1, 2005... STOCKHOLM -- Marked maternal endothelial dysfunction remains present a full year after a preeclamptic pregnancy, Maria J. Eriksson, M.D., Ph.D., reported at the annual congress of the European Society of Cardiology. One year post partum,...

Inconsolable infants linked to maternal depression.(Obstetrics)
November 1, 2005... SAN DIEGO -- Results from the first population-based study of its kind have found that about one in three mothers of inconsolable, crying infants reported having postpartum depressive symptoms, Pamela C. High, M.D., said at the annual meeting...

Rapid-response plan curbs maternal hemorrhage: management strategies include use of ultrasounds, vitamins, and faster availability of blood products.(Obstetrics)
November 1, 2005... When a second woman died from complications of maternal hemorrhage at his hospital between 2000 and 2001, Isaac P. Lowenwirt, M.D., knew that an institutional approach to systemic change was necessary to provide a safety net. "When we had...

Recommendations for managing maternal hemorrhage.(Obstetrics)
November 1, 2005... The New York State Department of Health and ACOG District II continue to support their joint recommendations for preventing maternal deaths by improving management of hemorrhage. Seven steps to reduce the risk of maternal death from...

Laparoscopic Tx okay for ectopic pregnancy, shock.(Obstetrics)
November 1, 2005... SAN DIEGO -- Laparoscopic management for ectopic pregnancy was safely undertaken in 12 women who were in shock, Mark Erian, M.D., reported at an international congress of the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons. He reviewed records of 12...

Rapid test has its place in GBS infection prevention.(Obstetrics)
November 1, 2005... CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Rapid realtime polymerase chain reaction testing for group B streptococcus detection proved at least as sensitive and specific as standard culture screening at 35-37 weeks' gestation in a recent study. Two...

Results for laparoscopic hysterectomy similar: complication rates are about the same whether procedure is for benign or cancerous conditions.(Gynecology)
November 1, 2005... SAN DIEGO -- The rate of surgical complications with laparoscopic hysterectomy is similar whether the procedure is performed for benign or cancerous conditions, Ali Mahdavi, M.D., said at an international congress of the Society of...

Outpatient laparoscopic subtotal hysterectomies considered safe.(Gynecology)
November 1, 2005... SAN DIEGO -- Laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomies can be done safely on an outpatient basis, a review of 190 cases suggests, Stefanos Chandakas, M.D., reported. The surgeries were performed over a 14-month period by a two-surgeon team...

Outcomes data show durability of uterosacral ligament vault suspension.(Gynecology)
November 1, 2005... ATLANTA -- Uterosacral ligament vault suspension for the repair of enterocele and vaginal vault prolapse is a durable procedure, 5-year outcomes data suggest. Of 110 patients who underwent the procedure for advanced pelvic organ prolapse,...

Preemptive nerve block studied in vaginal surgery.(Gynecology)
November 1, 2005... ATLANTA -- Preemptive pudendal nerve blockade had no effect on postoperative pain or use of narcotic analgesia in a prospective randomized study of patients undergoing pelvic reconstructive surgery. A total of 102 patients undergoing...

Cystoscopy safe, accurate after vaginal surgery.(Gynecology)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... ATLANTA -- Cystoscopy with intravenous indigo carmine dye is safe and accurate for detecting ureteral obstruction following vaginal surgery for pelvic organ prolapse, Arlan M. Gustilo-Ashby, M.D., said at the annual meeting of the American...

Botox may cut detrusor overactivity incontinence.(Gynecology)
November 1, 2005... ATLANTA -- Botox may be the answer for women with detrusor overactivity incontinence who have failed to respond to conservative therapy. A cystoscopic technique that uses intradetrusor injections of botulinum toxin A injections to decrease...

Cough test targets early intervention for asymptomatic POP.(Gynecology)(pelvic organ prolapse)
November 1, 2005... MONTREAL -- A cough is worth a thousand contractions of the pelvic floor muscles, since it can often reveal the otherwise hidden beginnings of pelvic organ prolapse, according to Maryke Slieker-ten Hove of Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam,...

Transobturator tape offers Tx option for stress urinary incontinence.(Gynecology)
November 1, 2005... MONTREAL -- Clinicians looking for a less invasive treatment for stress urinary incontinence can choose transobturator tape instead of tension-free vaginal tape, according to Italian researchers. "The results [efficacy] are equal and the...

HT product with drospirenone wins approval.(Gynecology)
November 1, 2005... A combination hormone therapy that contains drospirenone was approved in late September for treating moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms and moderate to severe symptoms of vulvar and vaginal atrophy associated with menopause, the first such...

HTA stops uterine hemorrhage due to fibroids.(Gynecology)
November 1, 2005... SAN DIEGO -- Hydrothermal ablation stopped persistent uterine hemorrhage in six women with large submucosal intrauterine myomas, Herbert A. Goldfarb, M.D., said at an international congress of the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons. ...

Laparoscopy can be safe option in infertility cases.(Gynecology)
November 1, 2005... SAN DIEGO -- Laparoscopic myomectomy for large intramural myomas is a safe and useful treatment in select women with infertility problems, Mineto Morita, M.D., reported in a poster session at an international congress of the Society of...

Strontium ranelate cuts vertebral fracture risk.(Gynecology)
November 1, 2005... VIENNA -- Strontium ranelate reduced the risk of new vertebral fractures 41% over 3 years in a very-high-risk population of osteoporotic women with at least two prevalent vertebral fractures at baseline, Sergio Ortolani, M.D., reported at the...

Back pain is reduced for at least 30 months after stopping teriparatide.(Gynecology)
November 1, 2005... VIENNA -- The risk of developing new-onset back pain is markedly decreased during and for at least 30 months after stopping teriparatide (Forteo) for the treatment of osteoporosis, Jean-Yves Reginster, M.D., Ph.D., reported at the annual...

Most women treated for osteoporosis are deficient in vitamin D.(Gynecology)
November 1, 2005... WASHINGTON -- More than half of North American women receiving treatment for osteoporosis have suboptimal serum vitamin D levels, Anne E. de Papp, M.D., and her associates reported in a poster at the annual meeting of the American Association...

Use T and z scores to talk about bone density.(Gynecology)
November 1, 2005... SAN FRANCISCO -- Patients receiving bone densitometry should be counseled about their T and the z scores, Steven T. Harris, M.D., advised at a meeting on osteoporosis sponsored by the University of California, San Francisco. The T score...

Many uninformed on external anogenital warts.(Gynecology)
November 1, 2005... CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Most clinicians counsel patients appropriately about the cause and prevention of external anogenital warts, but many--including some ob.gyns.--are unaware of the difference between oncogenic and wart-related human...

Manage mass casualties with SAGGY PRIDE: when situation overwhelms available medical capabilities, certain key steps should be followed.(Clinical Rounds)
November 1, 2005... SAN FRANCISCO -- Every physician should consider how he or she would manage as the only medical professional in a mass-casualty situation, Lt. Cormac J. O'Connor, MC, USN, said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Family Physicians....

Waist-height ratio is better indicator of cardiovascular risk than body mass index.(Clinical Rounds)
November 1, 2005... SAN DIEGO -- Waist-to-height ratio is more strongly associated with cardiovascular risk than body mass index (BMI), particularly in middle age, according to a large European study presented at the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society. ...

First 2 weeks of meal-replacement diet predicts adherence.(Clinical Rounds)
November 1, 2005... Obese women who lost more weight in the first 2 weeks of a meal-replacement diet program were more likely to continue the program and maintain their weight loss, reported I. Packianathan of Addenbrooke's Hospital National Health Service Trust,...

Katrina survivors sort through mix of emotions.(Clinical Rounds)
November 1, 2005... Forget everything you learned about treating survivors of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and the Oklahoma City bombing. The fallout from Hurricane Katrina will be unique in that the mental health challenges facing survivors will be...

Gender gap is narrowing in risky drinking and driving.(Clinical Rounds)
November 1, 2005... SANTA BARBARA, CALIF. -- Longitudinal data from a large national alcohol abuse survey suggest that the gender gap is narrowing with regard to drinking and driving: Women's rates of risky alcohol-related driving behaviors are actually increasing...

Doctors brace for possible avian flu pandemic.(Clinical Rounds)
November 1, 2005... Warnings of a potential avian influenza pandemic have the nation and medical community on alert--but those who would be on the front lines appear to be taking the threat in stride. One of the few concrete steps that physicians can take at...

Payment system thwarts efforts to treat obesity: many physicians try to get counseling reimbursed by coding for related comorbidities such as diabetes.(Practice Trends)
November 1, 2005... With the obesity epidemic growing, physicians are facing a payment system that hasn't caught up. Although coverage varies by payer, most Medicare carriers do not pay for office visits coded only for obesity and the same is true for most...

Physicians sought to test electronic health record software.(Practice Trends)
November 1, 2005... Officials at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are seeking physicians to test electronic health record software originally developed by the Department of Veterans Affairs and adapted for use in physicians' offices. CMS is...

Policy & practice.(Practice Trends)
November 1, 2005... Another FDA Resignation The Food and Drug Administration's delay in deciding whether to approve Plan B emergency contraception for sale over the counter has cost the agency another expert. Frank Davidoff, M.D., editor emeritus of the...

Physicians share the rewards of volunteering.(THE REST OF YOUR LIFE)
November 1, 2005... The first time Mark D. Dressner, M.D., joined a group of medical colleagues on a mission trip to Honduras in the early 1990s, he made house calls an hour and a half away from the group's base camp on horseback. "I had never ridden a horse...

Council: issues on aging call for presidential panel.(Practice Trends)
November 1, 2005... WASHINGTON -- The issues of aging, dementia, and long-term care merit formation of a presidential commission, the President's Council on Bioethics suggests in a new report. At its recent meeting in Washington, the commission heard from Greg...

Managing HIV in pregnancy.(MASTER CLASS)
November 1, 2005... When the HIV-AIDS epidemic spread across the Western hemisphere and into the United States, we all were petrified. We've made great strides with research and investigation. Today, we have a greater understanding of the biology of the disease,...

New tests would help lower perinatal transmission.(Practice Trends)
November 1, 2005... The HIV epidemic continues to expand in Africa and beyond, and will continue to infect women as well as men. Tens of millions of people are already infected worldwide, more than a million of them in the United States where about 7,000...

Drug resistance factors into HIV treatment failures.(Practice Trends)
November 1, 2005... BETHESDA, MD. -- Drug resistance poses a problem in treating HIV patients, in part because of the virus's high mutation rate, Roy M. Gulick, M.D., said at an annual conference on antimicrobial resistance sponsored by the National Foundation for...

Extended-release pain relief.(PRODUCTS)
November 1, 2005... A product to be marketed as Tramadol HCI extended-release tablets are approved for the management of moderate to moderately severe chronic pain in adults who require around-the-clock treatment of pain for an extended period. The tablets are...

Ambien CR approved for insomnia.(PRODUCTS)
November 1, 2005... Ambien CR (zolpidem tartrate extended-release tablets) is approved for the treatment of insomnia. The tablets are available in 6.25-mg and 12.5-mg strengths. For more information, contact Sanofi-Aventis by calling 800-207-8049 or 800-633-1610.

Expanded labeling for pap test.(PRODUCTS)
November 1, 2005... The ThinPrep pap test label now includes the detection of endocervical and endometrial glandular lesions. For more information, contact Cytyc Corp. by visiting www.cytyc.com or by calling 800-442-9892.

Oral medication dispenser.(PRODUCTS)
November 1, 2005... The design of the Exacta-Med dispenser prevents the attachment of a luer needle hub or a needleless connector, to help eliminate potential error from wrong-route oral liquid medication administration. For more information, contact Baxa Corp. by...

Laparoscopic instruments.(PRODUCTS)
November 1, 2005... New active electrode monitoring laparoscopic instruments combine a shielded design with continuous monitoring to prevent burn injuries to the patients. For more information, contact Encision Inc. by visiting www.encision.com or by calling...

More underbody blankets.(PRODUCTS)
November 1, 2005... The expanded line of Bair Hugger underbody blankets now includes two adult and two pediatric blankets. The blankets provide forced-air warming for patients undergoing surgical procedures, while allowing full clinical access to the patient. For...

Frozen premixed ceftriaxone.(PRODUCTS)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Ceftriaxone injection (1 g/50 mL and 2 g/50 mL) is now packaged in single-dose plastic containers. The premixed frozen drug is ready to use. Ceftriaxone is indicated for the treatment of susceptible bacterial infections in the lung, skin,...

Larger dosing option for fertility Tx.(PRODUCTS)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... The Follistim AQ cartridge (follitropin beta injection) is now available in a 900-IU size. The cartridge works with the Follistim Pen, which allows fine-tuning of fertility medication in 25-IU increments for patients undergoing assisted...

Clonazepam disintegrating tablets.(PRODUCTS)(Lennox-Gastaut syndrome )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Clonazepam orally disintegrating tablets (0.125 mg, 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, and 2 mg) have been approved, alone or as an adjunct, for treatment of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (petit mal variant), akinetic and myoclonic seizures, and for the...

Medicare Prescription Benefit guide.(FYI)
November 1, 2005... The Medicare Rights Center has released a free guide for physicians who assist older and disabled Americans with Medicare to better understand the new Medicare drug benefit to begin in January 2006. "Medicare Drug Coverage 101: Everything You...

Comparing health plans.(FYI)
November 1, 2005... The National Committee for Quality Assurance has added summary comparative scores to its online "Living with Illness" reports. The move is part of an effort to help users better compare how health plans help patients manage diabetes, cardiac...

Guide to Quality Health Care.(FYI)
November 1, 2005... The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has released the booklet "Guide to Health Care Quality: How to Know It When You See It" to help consumers identify high-quality health care. To download a copy, visit...

HPV and cancer guide.(FYI)
November 1, 2005... The Association of Reproductive Health Professionals has released "A Woman's Guide to Understanding HPV and Cervical Cancer." It can be downloaded by visiting www.arhp.org/womansguidehpv_en (English) or www.arhp.org/womansguidehpv_sp...

Patient guide to recovery.(FYI)
November 1, 2005... The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations is offering a free brochure aimed at helping patients plan follow-up care after they leave the hospital. "Planning Your Recovery" provides tips to help people become actively...

Food safety for pregnant women.(FYI)
November 1, 2005... The Food and Drug Administration has launched a campaign to educate pregnant women about the risks of foodborne illness. "Food Safety for Moms-to-Be" includes a Web site offering tips in English and Spanish and a kit for health care...

Smoking cessation Web site.(FYI)
November 1, 2005... Smokefree.gov offers information about quitting smoking and suggestions on preparing to quit, actually quitting, and staying quit. The site also includes links to Web sites and government reports for health professionals as well as clinical...

Emergency resource for PDAs.(FYI)
November 1, 2005... The ".911" emergency response resource for Palm OS and Pocket PC devices--designed for use during infectious disease outbreaks, natural disasters, and bioterrorism threats--has been updated with tips from the Centers for Disease Control and...

Study links PCOS to depression.(News)
November 15, 2005... MONTREAL -- A total of 35% of those with polycystic ovary syndrome also had depression in a case-control study of 206 women. "We recommend that women with PCOS should be routinely screened and adequately treated for depression," study...

Study finds high fetal death rate in sickle cell patients: rate pegged at 10% after first trimester.(News)
November 15, 2005... SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. -- Pregnant women with sickle cell trait may be at far greater risk for fetal harm than has been recognized, results of a large, retrospective study suggest. Analysis of hospital records revealed that sickle cell patients...

Simvastatin improves some aspects of PCOS.(News)
November 15, 2005... MONTREAL -- The addition of simvastatin to an oral contraceptive regimen significantly reduces hirsutism and elevated levels of total testosterone in women with polycystic ovary syndrome, according to a study conducted by Antoni J. Duleba,...

Low-dose COC effective in studies.(News)
November 15, 2005... Two studies demonstrated a positive response to an investigational low-dose continuous oral contraceptive in terms of suppression of ovulation and premenstrual symptoms and return to normal ovulation, researchers reported at the joint annual...

H. pylori associated with hyperemesis gravidarum.(News)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2005... QUEBEC CITY -- A strong association exists between Helicobacter pylori and hyperemesis gravidarum, Deborah'S. Golberg, M.D., reported in a poster presentation at the annual meeting of the North American Primary Care Research Group. It is...

Pro & con.(Opinion)(Interview)
November 15, 2005... Should patients be required to take part in comparative clinical trials? YES Although some studies raise the concern of whether patients are put at too much risk, we must also ask if research safeguards are sometimes overly protective of...

Can't nap? No coffee? Try coughing.(LETTERS)(Letter to the Editor)
November 15, 2005... I agree with the recommendations made by Dr. Rebecca Smith-Coggins, but when I'm driving home after a delivery at 3 a.m., a highway parking place (for a nap) or a fast-food resource (for coffee) is not available ("Don't Drive Drowsy: Nap,...

No evidence that doctors help the obese.(LETTERS)(Letter to the Editor)
November 15, 2005... Dr. Robert F. Kushner states that obesity remains underdiagnosed and undertreated by most physicians ("Doctor, We Have a Problem," June 15, 2005, p. 8). When I couple this advice with other, ever-increasing advice to practice...

Fast-absorbing polyglactin 910 sutures decrease pain.(Obstetrics)
November 15, 2005... SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. -- Perineal repairs involving fast-absorbing polyglactin 910 sutures resulted in less pain and earlier resumption of sexual intercourse for new mothers in a randomized, controlled trial comparing the material with standard...

Drugs, pregnancy, and lactation: GI agents: part I.(Obstetrics)
November 15, 2005... Gastrointestinal complaints are common in pregnancy and the postpartum period. They include conditions such as nausea and vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, heartburn, and erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease, which may be treated with the...

Hispanic teen mothers lack pertussis immunity.(Obstetrics)
November 15, 2005... SAN FRANCISCO -- Low levels of immunity to pertussis in adolescent Hispanic mothers and their newborns may help explain their overrepresentation in pertussis cases and in deaths from the disease, C. Mary Healy, M.D., said in a poster...

Vaginal flora tied to proinflammatory cytokines in pregnancy, study shows.(Obstetrics)
November 15, 2005... CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Sexually transmitted diseases and bacterial vaginosis are known to be associated with elevated cervical proinflammatory cytokines in pregnancy, and interim results from an ongoing study suggest that vaginal flora that are...

Study: women with HCM should not be discouraged from becoming pregnant.(Obstetrics)
November 15, 2005... ST. LOUIS -- There were no maternal or fetal deaths in a study of 13 pregnant women with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Women with this condition can have successful pregnancies with minimal risk to themselves and their babies, and should not...

Very early pregnancy data favor myomectomy.(Gynecology)
November 15, 2005... NICE, FRANCE -- Preliminary results from a prospective randomized trial in the Czech Republic show more women of reproductive age becoming pregnant after myomectomy than after uterine fibroid embolization. Ten pregnancies were reported...

Some vaginal lubricants may decrease motility of sperm.(Gynecology)
November 15, 2005... MONTREAL -- Three out of four commonly used vaginal lubricants caused significant decreases in sperm motility in a prospective, controlled study--and it appears that these and other lubricants can impact chromatin integrity as well, Ashok...

High BMI may cause oligospermia in some.(Gynecology)
November 15, 2005... MONTREAL -- Men who are overweight or obese have reduced serum testosterone levels, "which may help explain idiopathic oligospermia," according to William E. Roudebush, Ph.D. In his study of 90 men, "there was a substantial and significant...

Small study: clomiphene linked to NTDs.(Gynecology)(neural tube defects)
November 15, 2005... LOS ANGELES -- Maternal exposure to clomiphene was independently associated with spinal neural tube defects in a case-control study nested within a live-birth cohort, Yvonne Wu, M.D., reported. Although several studies have examined the...

Vertical strip breast exam improves detection.(Gynecology)
November 15, 2005... QUEBEC CITY -- Residents trained using the vertical strip clinical breast exam are significantly more likely to detect and be able to describe small breast masses, Elizabeth Steiner, M.D., reported at the annual meeting of the North American...

Whole-breast irradiation for the elderly questioned.(Gynecology)
November 15, 2005... DENVER -- Whole-breast irradiation coupled with breast-conserving surgery and hormone therapy remains the standard of care in women with favorable early breast cancer, Richard Poetter, M.D., said at the annual meeting of the American Society...

Identify, treat depression in cancer patients.(Clinical Rounds)
November 15, 2005... SANTA FE, N.M. -- Clinical depression is common in cancer patients and can affect outcomes of cancer therapy if not treated. About 13% of cancer patients develop a major depressive disorder within 2 years of diagnosis, Karen Weihs, M.D.,...