Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) now has new chlamydia testing services in Doncaster, Rotherham and Worksop. The services are aimed at under 25s and run at different times of the week depending on which clinic you visit.
The chlamydia test involves taking a urine sample which is then sent off to the lab, results are available within a week. For those who test positive, antibiotics to treat the infection are provided. The clinics also offer information and advice on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and safer sex to young people, as well as giving out free condoms. The services are drop in so an appointment isn't required.
Approximately one in ten under 25s have chlamydia and many don't have any symptoms. If left untreated chlamydia can lead to serious health problems, including infertility.
Mal Mason, Chlamydia Screening Programme Coordinator for THT said "We wanted to create clinics that are convenient and accessible for young people so we based them in the town centres. Having a service aimed specifically at under 25s should make coming along much less daunting. If you're under 25 and worried you might have put yourself at risk, please come along and get a test, you'll find the clinics are friendly and you'll be able to get peace of mind."
The clinics are at the following times and locations:
- Doncaster, 7 Nether Hall Road, DN1 2PH
Tuesday 3-5pm
Thursday 4-7pm
- Rotherham, 42B Moorgate Road, S60 2AW
Wednesday 4-6pm
Thursday 3-5pm
- Youth Caf?©, 35 Howard Street, S65 1VQ
Friday 12-2pm
- Worksop, Ryton Street Health Centre, Ryton Street, S80 1AA
Tuesday 10am-12
Friday 3-5pm
Saturday 2-4pm
As an extra incentive to test, all the clinics are running a 'Wii for a wee' prize draw until the end of the month. Those attending the clinic for testing will automatically be entered into a prize draw to win a Nintendo Wii. The draw will take place on November 1st.
Services in Barnsley are coming soon and will be announced as soon as possible.
tht
четверг, 30 июня 2011 г.
среда, 29 июня 2011 г.
The Women's Hair Loss Project Provides Hope, Acceptance And Support
While generally perceived as a male issue, approximately 40 million women in the United States suffer from the emotional and physical ramifications of hair loss, according to the American Hair Loss Association. The Women's Hair Loss Project
unites and empowers women around the world who suffer from hair loss.
The new online community eases feelings of hopelessness, loneliness and isolation, provides an accepting, therapeutic environment for sufferers to share their intimate experiences and emotions, and disseminates practical information on its causes and treatments. It also offers a safe place to share common feelings. When one woman reads the private thoughts of another, they become uniquely connected.
The website, originally introduced in August of 2007, has quickly gained popularity, engaging audiences worldwide. "When I launched the Women's Hair Loss Project, I simply wanted to provide a vehicle where women could share their experiences and gain support," explained the Project's founder. "I soon realized that the problem was much larger. Women feel debilitating media and societal pressures on a daily basis, often defining themselves through their hair and hair style." As a result, she states, hair loss, regardless of its cause, severely impacts a woman's self-esteem.
The Women's Hair Loss Project
is a deeply personal and intimate look at a serious and often untouched problem, exploring personal triumphs and coping mechanisms. Readers participate, share their stories and photos. Discussions range from wig and beauty product selection to media coverage.
The Women's Hair Loss Project has already garnered generous sponsorship funding. Sponsorship funds are being used to broaden awareness, touch more lives and help more women via a strategic online advertising campaign.
To participate, read tips and heartfelt users' stories, visitWomen's Hair Loss Project.
unites and empowers women around the world who suffer from hair loss.
The new online community eases feelings of hopelessness, loneliness and isolation, provides an accepting, therapeutic environment for sufferers to share their intimate experiences and emotions, and disseminates practical information on its causes and treatments. It also offers a safe place to share common feelings. When one woman reads the private thoughts of another, they become uniquely connected.
The website, originally introduced in August of 2007, has quickly gained popularity, engaging audiences worldwide. "When I launched the Women's Hair Loss Project, I simply wanted to provide a vehicle where women could share their experiences and gain support," explained the Project's founder. "I soon realized that the problem was much larger. Women feel debilitating media and societal pressures on a daily basis, often defining themselves through their hair and hair style." As a result, she states, hair loss, regardless of its cause, severely impacts a woman's self-esteem.
The Women's Hair Loss Project
is a deeply personal and intimate look at a serious and often untouched problem, exploring personal triumphs and coping mechanisms. Readers participate, share their stories and photos. Discussions range from wig and beauty product selection to media coverage.
The Women's Hair Loss Project has already garnered generous sponsorship funding. Sponsorship funds are being used to broaden awareness, touch more lives and help more women via a strategic online advertising campaign.
To participate, read tips and heartfelt users' stories, visitWomen's Hair Loss Project.
вторник, 28 июня 2011 г.
Evolutionary Psychology: Why Daughters Don't Call Their Dads
Previous research has shown that when women are in their most fertile phase they become more attracted to certain qualities such as manly faces, masculine voices and competitive abilities. A new study by University of Miami (UM) Psychologist Debra Lieberman and her collaborators offers new insight into female sexuality by showing that women also avoid certain traits when they are fertile.
The new study shows that women avoid their fathers during periods of peak fertility. The findings are included in a study entitled "Kin Affiliation Across the Ovulatory Cycle: Females Avoid Fathers When Fertile" available online in December in the journal Psychological Science, a prominent peer-reviewed scholarly journal.
Women stay away from male relatives when they are most fertile for evolutionary reasons, explains Lieberman assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at UM and the study's lead author. "Evolutionary biologists have found that females in other species avoid social interactions with male kin during periods of high fertility," said Lieberman. "The behavior has long been explained as a means of avoiding inbreeding and the negative consequences associated with it. But until we conducted our study, nobody knew whether a similar pattern occurred in women."
For the study, the researchers examined the cell phone records of 48 women in their reproductive years. They noted the date and duration of all calls with their fathers and separately, their mothers over the course of one billing period. They then identified the span of days comprising each woman's high and low fertility days within that billing period.
"Women call their dads less frequently on these high-fertility days and they hang up with them sooner if their dads initiate a call," said Martie Haselton, a UCLA associate professor of communication in whose lab the research was conducted. Women were about half as likely to call their fathers during the high fertility days of their cycle as they were to call them during low fertility days. Women's fertility had no impact, however, on the likelihood of their fathers calling them. Women also talked to their fathers for less time at high fertility, regardless of who initiated the call, talking only an average of 1.7 minutes per day at high fertility compared to 3.4 minutes per day at low fertility.
The researchers concede that the high-fertile women might simply be avoiding their fathers because fathers might be keeping (too close) an eye on potential male suitors. But their data cast some doubt on this possibility. It is more likely, they conclude, that like females in other species, women have built-in psychological mechanisms that help protect against the risk of producing less healthy children, which tends to occur when close genetic relatives mate.
"In humans, women are only fertile for a short window of time within their menstrual cycle," Lieberman said. "Sexual decisions during this time are critical as they could lead to pregnancy and the long-term commitment of raising a child. For this reason, it makes sense that women would reduce their interactions with male genetic relatives, who are undesirable mates."
The reluctance to engage in conversations with fathers could not be attributed to an impulse to avoid all parental control during ovulation. In fact, the researchers found that women actually increased their calling to their mothers during this period of their cycle, and that this pattern was strongest for women who felt emotionally closer to their moms. At high fertility, women proved to be four times as likely to call their mothers as they were to phone their fathers, a difference that did not exist during the low fertility days. In addition, women spent an average of 4.7 minutes per day on the phone with their mothers during high fertility days, compared to 4.2 minutes per day during low-fertility.
One possible explanation is that women call their moms for relationship advice, said Elizabeth Pillsworth, who also contributed to the study.
"They might be using mothers as sounding boards for possible mating decisions they're contemplating at this time of their cycle," said Pillsworth, an assistant professor of evolutionary anthropology at California State University, Fullerton. "Moms have a lot more experience than they do. Particularly for those women who are close to their mothers, we can imagine them saying, 'Hey Mom, I just met this cute guy, what do you think?'"
Either way, the findings show that women are unconsciously driven during their most fertile periods to behavior that increases the odds of reproducing and doing so with the right mate, said Haselton.
"This suggests that although human culture has in many ways changed at a rapid pace, our every day decisions are often still tied to ancient factors affecting survival and reproduction," says Haselton. "We think of ourselves as being emancipated from the biological forces that drive animal behavior. But, that's not completely true," she says. "These kinds of findings show us that a complete understanding of human behavior needs to involve these biological forces. Humans are, after all, mammals."
Source:
Elizabeth Amore
University of Miami
The new study shows that women avoid their fathers during periods of peak fertility. The findings are included in a study entitled "Kin Affiliation Across the Ovulatory Cycle: Females Avoid Fathers When Fertile" available online in December in the journal Psychological Science, a prominent peer-reviewed scholarly journal.
Women stay away from male relatives when they are most fertile for evolutionary reasons, explains Lieberman assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at UM and the study's lead author. "Evolutionary biologists have found that females in other species avoid social interactions with male kin during periods of high fertility," said Lieberman. "The behavior has long been explained as a means of avoiding inbreeding and the negative consequences associated with it. But until we conducted our study, nobody knew whether a similar pattern occurred in women."
For the study, the researchers examined the cell phone records of 48 women in their reproductive years. They noted the date and duration of all calls with their fathers and separately, their mothers over the course of one billing period. They then identified the span of days comprising each woman's high and low fertility days within that billing period.
"Women call their dads less frequently on these high-fertility days and they hang up with them sooner if their dads initiate a call," said Martie Haselton, a UCLA associate professor of communication in whose lab the research was conducted. Women were about half as likely to call their fathers during the high fertility days of their cycle as they were to call them during low fertility days. Women's fertility had no impact, however, on the likelihood of their fathers calling them. Women also talked to their fathers for less time at high fertility, regardless of who initiated the call, talking only an average of 1.7 minutes per day at high fertility compared to 3.4 minutes per day at low fertility.
The researchers concede that the high-fertile women might simply be avoiding their fathers because fathers might be keeping (too close) an eye on potential male suitors. But their data cast some doubt on this possibility. It is more likely, they conclude, that like females in other species, women have built-in psychological mechanisms that help protect against the risk of producing less healthy children, which tends to occur when close genetic relatives mate.
"In humans, women are only fertile for a short window of time within their menstrual cycle," Lieberman said. "Sexual decisions during this time are critical as they could lead to pregnancy and the long-term commitment of raising a child. For this reason, it makes sense that women would reduce their interactions with male genetic relatives, who are undesirable mates."
The reluctance to engage in conversations with fathers could not be attributed to an impulse to avoid all parental control during ovulation. In fact, the researchers found that women actually increased their calling to their mothers during this period of their cycle, and that this pattern was strongest for women who felt emotionally closer to their moms. At high fertility, women proved to be four times as likely to call their mothers as they were to phone their fathers, a difference that did not exist during the low fertility days. In addition, women spent an average of 4.7 minutes per day on the phone with their mothers during high fertility days, compared to 4.2 minutes per day during low-fertility.
One possible explanation is that women call their moms for relationship advice, said Elizabeth Pillsworth, who also contributed to the study.
"They might be using mothers as sounding boards for possible mating decisions they're contemplating at this time of their cycle," said Pillsworth, an assistant professor of evolutionary anthropology at California State University, Fullerton. "Moms have a lot more experience than they do. Particularly for those women who are close to their mothers, we can imagine them saying, 'Hey Mom, I just met this cute guy, what do you think?'"
Either way, the findings show that women are unconsciously driven during their most fertile periods to behavior that increases the odds of reproducing and doing so with the right mate, said Haselton.
"This suggests that although human culture has in many ways changed at a rapid pace, our every day decisions are often still tied to ancient factors affecting survival and reproduction," says Haselton. "We think of ourselves as being emancipated from the biological forces that drive animal behavior. But, that's not completely true," she says. "These kinds of findings show us that a complete understanding of human behavior needs to involve these biological forces. Humans are, after all, mammals."
Source:
Elizabeth Amore
University of Miami
Washington State Gov. Gregoire Proposes Compromise That Would Allow Individual Pharmacists To Refuse To Fill Prescription, Nonprescription EC
Washington state Gov. Christine Gregoire (D) has proposed a compromise that would allow pharmacists to refuse to fill prescription and nonprescription emergency contraceptives only if the drugs can be provided by another pharmacist in the same pharmacy, the AP/Seattle Times reports. EC can prevent pregnancy if taken up to 72 hours after sexual intercourse. According to the AP/Times, the compromise comes in light of a "stalemate" between women's advocacy groups and the Washington State Pharmacy Association over the language of a proposed rule that would allow pharmacists who oppose EC to refuse to fill prescriptions for the medication (Woodward, AP/Seattle Times, 8/30). The proposed rule also says that pharmacists cannot "obstruct a patient in obtaining a lawfully prescribed drug or device" and that they must make an alternative available in a timely fashion if they "cannot dispense" a prescription (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 7/24). Gregoire's office said the state pharmacy association has agreed to the proposal. According to Nancy Sapiro, an attorney for the Northwest Women's Law Center, women's advocacy groups also agreed to the compromise. The state Board of Pharmacy on Thursday will hold a meeting, at which they might adopt the proposal, according to Christina Hulet, Gregoire's health policy advisor (AP/Seattle Times, 8/30).
"Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at kaisernetwork/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
"Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at kaisernetwork/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
Susan G. Komen For The Cure Announces Global Promise Fund To Help Women Worldwide - Grants Will Help Countries Address, Decrease Breast Cancer Deaths
Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, the world's largest breast cancer organization, announced the launch of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Global Promise Fund. The Fund will provide grants to non-governmental organizations to develop and implement breast health and breast cancer programs and services in countries experiencing high breast cancer incidence and death rates.
The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Global Promise Fund announcement coincides with International Women's Day and sends a clear message to women around the world that Komen for the Cure is expanding its work to the far corners of the world where women need the most help. With more than 1 million women worldwide receiving a breast cancer diagnosis each year, the organization believes it is critical to increase advocacy for and education about this life-threatening disease. With $1 billion invested in the cause to date, Komen pledged last year to invest another $2 billion in research and community-based programs within the next decade to bring about a dramatic decrease in the incidence of breast cancer and deaths resulting from the disease.
"Over the next 25 years, an estimated 25 million women around the world will be diagnosed with breast cancer-and 10 million could die from the disease," said Komen for the Cure President and CEO Hala Moddelmog. "The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Global Promise Fund is specifically designed to allow donors-corporate and individual-to help fund targeted projects in specific countries around the world to stem the growing global impact of breast cancer."
Susan G. Komen for the Cure's Global Promise Fund will focus on the following priorities:
- Increasing breast health awareness and access to detection and treatment of breast cancer;
- Building infrastructure;
- Recruitment and staffing in specialized fields like oncology and radiology;
- Services to breast cancer survivors and their families;
- Recruitment and training of lay ambassadors to promote breast cancer awareness and treatment messages in underserved areas.
The launch of Komen for the Cure's Global Promise Fund will strengthen the organization's growing presence throughout the world. Last year, during Komen's first-ever Global Advocate Summit in Budapest, Hungary, Komen launched a 10-country pilot program, The Global Initiative for Breast Cancer Awareness, to assist countries in decreasing breast cancer mortality rates. Countries participating in this initiative include Brazil, Costa Rica, Ghana, India, Jordan, Mexico, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine and the United Arab Emirates.
The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Global Promise Fund will be formally introduced to the Washington, D.C. diplomatic community on March 12 at a luncheon in Washington, D.C. where Dr. Samia Al-Amoudi, advisor to the Saudi Cancer Society and a pioneer in efforts on behalf of Saudi women with breast cancer, will share her personal story and her work partnering with Komen in Saudi Arabia. A breast cancer survivor, Dr. Al-Amoudi was among the first female medical graduates from King Abdulaziz University in 1981. In 2007, the U.S. Department of State named her the first international recipient of the Woman of Courage Award in recognition of her breast cancer awareness campaign and for sharing her personal story.
About Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure and launched the global breast cancer movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world's largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure, we have invested nearly $1 billion to fulfill our promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world.
Susan G. Komen for the Cure
The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Global Promise Fund announcement coincides with International Women's Day and sends a clear message to women around the world that Komen for the Cure is expanding its work to the far corners of the world where women need the most help. With more than 1 million women worldwide receiving a breast cancer diagnosis each year, the organization believes it is critical to increase advocacy for and education about this life-threatening disease. With $1 billion invested in the cause to date, Komen pledged last year to invest another $2 billion in research and community-based programs within the next decade to bring about a dramatic decrease in the incidence of breast cancer and deaths resulting from the disease.
"Over the next 25 years, an estimated 25 million women around the world will be diagnosed with breast cancer-and 10 million could die from the disease," said Komen for the Cure President and CEO Hala Moddelmog. "The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Global Promise Fund is specifically designed to allow donors-corporate and individual-to help fund targeted projects in specific countries around the world to stem the growing global impact of breast cancer."
Susan G. Komen for the Cure's Global Promise Fund will focus on the following priorities:
- Increasing breast health awareness and access to detection and treatment of breast cancer;
- Building infrastructure;
- Recruitment and staffing in specialized fields like oncology and radiology;
- Services to breast cancer survivors and their families;
- Recruitment and training of lay ambassadors to promote breast cancer awareness and treatment messages in underserved areas.
The launch of Komen for the Cure's Global Promise Fund will strengthen the organization's growing presence throughout the world. Last year, during Komen's first-ever Global Advocate Summit in Budapest, Hungary, Komen launched a 10-country pilot program, The Global Initiative for Breast Cancer Awareness, to assist countries in decreasing breast cancer mortality rates. Countries participating in this initiative include Brazil, Costa Rica, Ghana, India, Jordan, Mexico, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine and the United Arab Emirates.
The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Global Promise Fund will be formally introduced to the Washington, D.C. diplomatic community on March 12 at a luncheon in Washington, D.C. where Dr. Samia Al-Amoudi, advisor to the Saudi Cancer Society and a pioneer in efforts on behalf of Saudi women with breast cancer, will share her personal story and her work partnering with Komen in Saudi Arabia. A breast cancer survivor, Dr. Al-Amoudi was among the first female medical graduates from King Abdulaziz University in 1981. In 2007, the U.S. Department of State named her the first international recipient of the Woman of Courage Award in recognition of her breast cancer awareness campaign and for sharing her personal story.
About Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure and launched the global breast cancer movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world's largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure, we have invested nearly $1 billion to fulfill our promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world.
Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Increase Seen In Oral Tongue Cancer In Young, White Females
A UNC study released this week in the Journal of Clinical Oncology finds an increasing incidence of squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue in young white females in the United States over the last three decades.
A team of researchers from UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center analyzed data from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database and found that, between 1975 and 2007, the overall incidence for all ages, genders, and races of the disease was decreasing. However, the incidence of oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma rose 28 percent among individuals ages 18 to 44. Specifically, among white individuals ages 18 to 44 the incidence increased 67 percent. The increasing incidence was most dramatic for white females ages 18 to 44. They had a percentage change of 111 percent. Interestingly, the incidence decreased for African American and other racial groups.
Historically, oral tongue cancer has been strongly associated with heavy tobacco and alcohol use. Other epidemiological studies have related the decreasing incidence of oral tongue cancer in the United States to the decreased use of tobacco products. Though the UNC research team verified the known decreasing incidence of oral tongue cancer, they were surprised to observe an increasing incidence in young white individuals, specifically young white females.
"Lately we have been seeing more oral tongue cancer in young white women in our clinic. So we looked at the literature, which reported an increase in oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma in young white individuals but couldn't find any information about gender-specific incidence rates, so we decided we should take a look at the SEER data," said Bhisham Chera, MD, lead author on the study and assistant professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology.
Over the past decade an association between the human papilloma virus with squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsil and tongue has been observed. Patients with human papilloma virus associated oral squamous cell carcinoma are typically male, white, non-smokers, non-drinkers, younger in age and have higher socioeconomic status. The researchers at UNC have preliminarily tested the cancers of the oral tongue of their young white female patients and have not found them to be associated with the virus. Other institutions have also noted the absence of the virus in young females with oral tongue cancer. The UNC researchers have also anecdotally observed that these young white female patients are typically non-smokers and non-drinkers.
"Our findings suggest that the epidemiology of this cancer in young white females may be unique and that the causative factors may be things other than tobacco and alcohol abuse. Based on our observations and the published data, it appears that these cases may not be associated with the human papilloma virus. We are actively researching other causes of this cancer in this patient population." he added.
Though the increasing rate of oral tongue cancer in young white females is alarming oral tongue cancer is a rare cancer, relative to breast, lung, prostate, and colorectal cancer. "Primary care physicians and dentist should be aware of this increasing incidence and screen patients appropriately," states Dr. Chera. Oral tongue cancer is typically treated with surgery first followed by radiation and, in some cases, chemotherapy.
Notes:
Other UNC Lineberger researchers who contributed to the study include Sagar Patel, BA, of the Department of Radiation Oncology, William R. Carpenter, PhD, MHA, professor of health policy and management in the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, Marion Couch, MD, PhD, formerly a professor of otolaryngology/head & neck surgery at UNC (now at the University of Vermont), Mark Weissler, MD, distinguished professor of otolaryngology/head & neck surgery, Trevor Hackman, MD, assistant professor of otolaryngology/head & neck surgery, D. Neil Hayes, MD, MPH, associate professor in the division of hematology/oncology, and Carol Shores, MD, PhD, associate professor of otolaryngology/head & neck surgery.
Source:
Ellen de Graffenreid
University of North Carolina School of Medicine
A team of researchers from UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center analyzed data from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database and found that, between 1975 and 2007, the overall incidence for all ages, genders, and races of the disease was decreasing. However, the incidence of oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma rose 28 percent among individuals ages 18 to 44. Specifically, among white individuals ages 18 to 44 the incidence increased 67 percent. The increasing incidence was most dramatic for white females ages 18 to 44. They had a percentage change of 111 percent. Interestingly, the incidence decreased for African American and other racial groups.
Historically, oral tongue cancer has been strongly associated with heavy tobacco and alcohol use. Other epidemiological studies have related the decreasing incidence of oral tongue cancer in the United States to the decreased use of tobacco products. Though the UNC research team verified the known decreasing incidence of oral tongue cancer, they were surprised to observe an increasing incidence in young white individuals, specifically young white females.
"Lately we have been seeing more oral tongue cancer in young white women in our clinic. So we looked at the literature, which reported an increase in oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma in young white individuals but couldn't find any information about gender-specific incidence rates, so we decided we should take a look at the SEER data," said Bhisham Chera, MD, lead author on the study and assistant professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology.
Over the past decade an association between the human papilloma virus with squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsil and tongue has been observed. Patients with human papilloma virus associated oral squamous cell carcinoma are typically male, white, non-smokers, non-drinkers, younger in age and have higher socioeconomic status. The researchers at UNC have preliminarily tested the cancers of the oral tongue of their young white female patients and have not found them to be associated with the virus. Other institutions have also noted the absence of the virus in young females with oral tongue cancer. The UNC researchers have also anecdotally observed that these young white female patients are typically non-smokers and non-drinkers.
"Our findings suggest that the epidemiology of this cancer in young white females may be unique and that the causative factors may be things other than tobacco and alcohol abuse. Based on our observations and the published data, it appears that these cases may not be associated with the human papilloma virus. We are actively researching other causes of this cancer in this patient population." he added.
Though the increasing rate of oral tongue cancer in young white females is alarming oral tongue cancer is a rare cancer, relative to breast, lung, prostate, and colorectal cancer. "Primary care physicians and dentist should be aware of this increasing incidence and screen patients appropriately," states Dr. Chera. Oral tongue cancer is typically treated with surgery first followed by radiation and, in some cases, chemotherapy.
Notes:
Other UNC Lineberger researchers who contributed to the study include Sagar Patel, BA, of the Department of Radiation Oncology, William R. Carpenter, PhD, MHA, professor of health policy and management in the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, Marion Couch, MD, PhD, formerly a professor of otolaryngology/head & neck surgery at UNC (now at the University of Vermont), Mark Weissler, MD, distinguished professor of otolaryngology/head & neck surgery, Trevor Hackman, MD, assistant professor of otolaryngology/head & neck surgery, D. Neil Hayes, MD, MPH, associate professor in the division of hematology/oncology, and Carol Shores, MD, PhD, associate professor of otolaryngology/head & neck surgery.
Source:
Ellen de Graffenreid
University of North Carolina School of Medicine
More Pressure On Women As Workplace Opportunities And Stresses Increase
Teamworking and other modern employment practices can put as much strain on a woman's family relationships as working an extra 120 hours a year, an extensive study of the British workforce funded by the Economic and Social Research Council suggests.
The research finds that while British employers have maintained long-term career relationships with employees in spite of competitive market pressures, they have devised ways of extracting more effort and higher performance. These practices include team-based forms of work organization, individual performance-related pay, and policies that emphasize the development of individual potential.
Such human resource management practices are thought to be good for staff morale as well as an essential ingredient of successful modern business performance. Yet, finds the research, the pressure to perform which they generate has a knock-on effect on employees' families.
Women's family relationships are more adversely affected by such employment practices than men's. In addition, both women and men are more likely to become anxious about childcare arrangements when placed under pressure by workplace practices. Women are also less likely to get help at home from male partners if the men have jobs in which they face the pressures of modern human resource management.
A significant new source of stress in the modern workplace is ICT surveillance. The research shows that more than half - 52 per cent - of all British employees report that a computerised system keeps a log or record of their work. This picture is confirmed by employers, with managements of one in five workplaces reporting that all employees are now covered by computer-based monitoring systems.
The spread of ICT surveillance has led to a sharp increase in work strain, reflected by feelings of exhaustion, anxiety and work-related worry. There is an overall 7.5 per cent rise in strain among employees whose work is checked by ICT systems compared with those in similar jobs which are controlled by more traditional methods. Evidence of work strain is particularly strong among administrative and white-collar staff in places such as call centres, where it rises by 10 per cent among employees whose work is continually checked by ICT systems.
"Computers and IT systems are bringing surveillance to most workplaces," comments Michael White, who co-directed the research study. "Now for the first time we can see how this development is damaging employees' well-being."
The research, funded as part of the ESRC's Future of Work research programme, covers the period 1984-2004 and shows significant changes in the prospects and job conditions of British employees: the results are published in a book "Market, Class, and Employment" co-authored by Patrick McGovern, Stephen Hill, Colin Mills and Michael White.
On the basis of US experience, it had been widely supposed that the highly competitive market environment in which most businesses and much of the public sector now operate would lead to moves towards hire and fire practices, temporary jobs and a decline in training and the concept of careers. But the research finds that, although British employers use redundancy as a normal way of adjusting staff numbers, in general they have not abandoned the retention and long-term development of employees.
The proportion of employees in permanent employment remains above 90 per cent and rose during the 1990s. Fixed-term or casual employment grew in the 1980s but declined during the 1990s. Increased use by employers of communication techniques, employee participation, team organization, training and development, and rewards for performance all point to efforts to maintain a long-term workforce.
A decline in trade union recognition and membership, say the researchers, could expose employees to unfair treatment. But this has in part been balanced by a growth in alternative forms of employee engagement such as meetings with management and consultation with individuals over work changes.
By 2000, about one in three employees was taking part in individual bargaining over pay. This is more likely to occur in workplaces where there are no unions and, note the researchers, it is leading to increasing inequality. Managers and professionals are more likely than other employees to strike personal pay bargains. Women are less likely than men to bargain over pay when they are recruited. They are also less likely to be represented by a union, so the ability of women to challenge the gender gap in pay is limited on both sides.
The research concludes that class differences in job rewards have increased since the early 1990s. Earnings inequality, for instance, increased during the 1992-2000 period. This reflected large real increases in the average earnings of higher managers and lower but still substantial gains for other managers, while the earnings of those in semi-routine and routine occupations remained static or declined.
The research examined a wide range of fringe benefits including occupational pensions, sickness pay and paid holidays. There was a marked class gradient in favour of higher managerial and professional groups across all these. Moreover, the gap was tending to increase rather than decrease over time. Job desirability - reflecting not only pay but also non-financial factors that are valued by employees, such as flexible hours and autonomy in planning tasks - also differed greatly by class.
It is likely, conclude the researchers, that inequality in pay and benefits will continue to grow because of other developments identified by the research. Managerial and professional staff are more able to benefit from the expanding opportunities for personal bargaining over pay increases. They are also the group most involved in pay-for-performance deals which bring opportunities for substantial bonuses or salary increases.
Summing up the research lead author Patrick McGovern says: "The major story about work in Britain is not that it has become more precarious or fragmented, rather it has become more demanding while the returns have become more unequal. The major winners in the so-called new economy are professional and managerial employees who have actually moved further ahead of the rest of the labour force."
1. The research was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council. It included a specially commissioned national survey of employees carried out in 2000-01, a survey of employers carried out in 2002, and a review of information from other national surveys between 1984-2004.
2. The results are reported in "Market, Class, and Employment" published by Oxford University Press. The authors are Patrick McGovern, Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the London School of Economics and Political Science; Stephen Hill, Principal of Royal Holloway, University of London, and Professor of Management; Colin Mills, University Lecturer in Sociology and Fellow of Nuffield College, University of Oxford and Michael White, Emeritus Fellow at the Policy Studies Institute, University of Westminster.
3. The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) is the UK's largest funding agency for research and postgraduate training relating to social and economic issues. It supports independent, high quality research relevant to business, the public sector and voluntary organisations. The ESRC's planned total expenditure in 2007-08 is ??181 million. At any one time the ESRC supports over 4,000 researchers and postgraduate students in academic institutions and research policy institutes. More at esrcsocietytoday.ac/
4. ESRC Society Today offers free access to a broad range of social science research and presents it in a way that makes it easy to navigate and saves users valuable time. As well as bringing together all ESRC-funded research and key online resources such as the Social Science Information Gateway and the UK Data Archive, non-ESRC resources are included, for example the Office for National Statistics. The portal provides access to early findings and research summaries, as well as full texts and original datasets through integrated search facilities. More at esrcsocietytoday.ac/
Source: Alexandra Saxon
Economic & Social Research Council
The research finds that while British employers have maintained long-term career relationships with employees in spite of competitive market pressures, they have devised ways of extracting more effort and higher performance. These practices include team-based forms of work organization, individual performance-related pay, and policies that emphasize the development of individual potential.
Such human resource management practices are thought to be good for staff morale as well as an essential ingredient of successful modern business performance. Yet, finds the research, the pressure to perform which they generate has a knock-on effect on employees' families.
Women's family relationships are more adversely affected by such employment practices than men's. In addition, both women and men are more likely to become anxious about childcare arrangements when placed under pressure by workplace practices. Women are also less likely to get help at home from male partners if the men have jobs in which they face the pressures of modern human resource management.
A significant new source of stress in the modern workplace is ICT surveillance. The research shows that more than half - 52 per cent - of all British employees report that a computerised system keeps a log or record of their work. This picture is confirmed by employers, with managements of one in five workplaces reporting that all employees are now covered by computer-based monitoring systems.
The spread of ICT surveillance has led to a sharp increase in work strain, reflected by feelings of exhaustion, anxiety and work-related worry. There is an overall 7.5 per cent rise in strain among employees whose work is checked by ICT systems compared with those in similar jobs which are controlled by more traditional methods. Evidence of work strain is particularly strong among administrative and white-collar staff in places such as call centres, where it rises by 10 per cent among employees whose work is continually checked by ICT systems.
"Computers and IT systems are bringing surveillance to most workplaces," comments Michael White, who co-directed the research study. "Now for the first time we can see how this development is damaging employees' well-being."
The research, funded as part of the ESRC's Future of Work research programme, covers the period 1984-2004 and shows significant changes in the prospects and job conditions of British employees: the results are published in a book "Market, Class, and Employment" co-authored by Patrick McGovern, Stephen Hill, Colin Mills and Michael White.
On the basis of US experience, it had been widely supposed that the highly competitive market environment in which most businesses and much of the public sector now operate would lead to moves towards hire and fire practices, temporary jobs and a decline in training and the concept of careers. But the research finds that, although British employers use redundancy as a normal way of adjusting staff numbers, in general they have not abandoned the retention and long-term development of employees.
The proportion of employees in permanent employment remains above 90 per cent and rose during the 1990s. Fixed-term or casual employment grew in the 1980s but declined during the 1990s. Increased use by employers of communication techniques, employee participation, team organization, training and development, and rewards for performance all point to efforts to maintain a long-term workforce.
A decline in trade union recognition and membership, say the researchers, could expose employees to unfair treatment. But this has in part been balanced by a growth in alternative forms of employee engagement such as meetings with management and consultation with individuals over work changes.
By 2000, about one in three employees was taking part in individual bargaining over pay. This is more likely to occur in workplaces where there are no unions and, note the researchers, it is leading to increasing inequality. Managers and professionals are more likely than other employees to strike personal pay bargains. Women are less likely than men to bargain over pay when they are recruited. They are also less likely to be represented by a union, so the ability of women to challenge the gender gap in pay is limited on both sides.
The research concludes that class differences in job rewards have increased since the early 1990s. Earnings inequality, for instance, increased during the 1992-2000 period. This reflected large real increases in the average earnings of higher managers and lower but still substantial gains for other managers, while the earnings of those in semi-routine and routine occupations remained static or declined.
The research examined a wide range of fringe benefits including occupational pensions, sickness pay and paid holidays. There was a marked class gradient in favour of higher managerial and professional groups across all these. Moreover, the gap was tending to increase rather than decrease over time. Job desirability - reflecting not only pay but also non-financial factors that are valued by employees, such as flexible hours and autonomy in planning tasks - also differed greatly by class.
It is likely, conclude the researchers, that inequality in pay and benefits will continue to grow because of other developments identified by the research. Managerial and professional staff are more able to benefit from the expanding opportunities for personal bargaining over pay increases. They are also the group most involved in pay-for-performance deals which bring opportunities for substantial bonuses or salary increases.
Summing up the research lead author Patrick McGovern says: "The major story about work in Britain is not that it has become more precarious or fragmented, rather it has become more demanding while the returns have become more unequal. The major winners in the so-called new economy are professional and managerial employees who have actually moved further ahead of the rest of the labour force."
1. The research was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council. It included a specially commissioned national survey of employees carried out in 2000-01, a survey of employers carried out in 2002, and a review of information from other national surveys between 1984-2004.
2. The results are reported in "Market, Class, and Employment" published by Oxford University Press. The authors are Patrick McGovern, Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the London School of Economics and Political Science; Stephen Hill, Principal of Royal Holloway, University of London, and Professor of Management; Colin Mills, University Lecturer in Sociology and Fellow of Nuffield College, University of Oxford and Michael White, Emeritus Fellow at the Policy Studies Institute, University of Westminster.
3. The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) is the UK's largest funding agency for research and postgraduate training relating to social and economic issues. It supports independent, high quality research relevant to business, the public sector and voluntary organisations. The ESRC's planned total expenditure in 2007-08 is ??181 million. At any one time the ESRC supports over 4,000 researchers and postgraduate students in academic institutions and research policy institutes. More at esrcsocietytoday.ac/
4. ESRC Society Today offers free access to a broad range of social science research and presents it in a way that makes it easy to navigate and saves users valuable time. As well as bringing together all ESRC-funded research and key online resources such as the Social Science Information Gateway and the UK Data Archive, non-ESRC resources are included, for example the Office for National Statistics. The portal provides access to early findings and research summaries, as well as full texts and original datasets through integrated search facilities. More at esrcsocietytoday.ac/
Source: Alexandra Saxon
Economic & Social Research Council
GE Healthcare Helping Women Lead Healthier Lives, Showcasing Latest Advancements At ACOG 2008
GE Healthcare is featuring its innovative technologies that can enable earlier detection, more accurate diagnoses of health conditions, and personalized treatment plans for women who are pregnant or affected by cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, uterine fibroids and other conditions. Through May 7 at the 56th Annual Clinical Meeting of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) in New Orleans, GE Healthcare is showcasing its commitment to the development of devices and services for clinicians and patients in women's health care.
GE Ultrasound: Extraordinary vision
With our focus on reproductive medicine, obstetrics, labor & delivery, maternal fetal medicine and gynecology, GE continues to develop a broad selection of ultrasound and IT solutions. Whether clinicians need 2D or 3D/4D ultrasound, full-size consoles or new generation compact systems, GE offers innovative tools for the smallest private office to the largest hospital networks. GE's advanced ultrasound technology gives clinicians extraordinary imaging capabilities that help them make clinical decisions earlier and with enhanced confidence. Clinical workflow advances on the Voluson systems include automation tools for the acquisition of images used to diagnose fetal heart defects, called Sonography based Volume Computer Aided Diagnosis (SonoVCAD), and another tool for follicular assessment called Sonography based Automated Volume Count (SonoAVC). Advanced imaging capabilities on both the LOGIQ 9 and LOGIQ i systems deliver high-frequency imaging and penetration needed to detect and characterize breast lesions. Viewpoint, a data management solution, makes ultrasound workflow quicker and easier by combining reporting and image capabilities.
Maternal-Fetal Monitoring
New enhancements to GE's leading maternal-fetal monitor series provide more comprehensive perinatal monitoring of mothers and fetuses as they progress through the birthing process. GE is showcasing a new model -- the Corometrics 250cx Series Maternal/Fetal Monitor. The enhanced model features the optional Exergen TAT-5000 Maternal TemporalScannerTM that allows clinicians to obtain maternal temperature using a non-invasive infrared technology that detects heat through the skin surface via an external scanner and the optional Extend-A-ViewTM 15-inch Color Remote Display that provides clinicians access to the same maternal and fetal vital parameters as seen on the bedside monitor. These new options, combined with our standard advanced parameters such as Smart BPTM that delays automated non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP) measurement during contractions, and DINAMAP® SuperSTATTM NIBP technology that decreases the amount of time required to take the blood pressure of a laboring mother, allow medical facilities to deliver a high-touch experience for every patient from prenatal evaluations to postpartum assessments and every stage in between - including celebrating the birth with a choice of three songs.
Bone Mineral Densitometry: Osteoporosis
When undetected, the bone loss that accompanies osteoporosis, "the silent disease," can have a permanent impact on the overall health of a patient. One in three women, and one in five men over 50 will experience osteoporotic fractures.1,2,3 In women over 45 years of age, osteoporosis accounts for more days spent in hospital than many other diseases, including diabetes, myocardial infarction and breast cancer.4
The good news is that GE Lunar technology can help clinicians prevent and detect osteoporosis. GE Lunar has a broad range of efficient, comprehensive bone mineral density (BMD) and portable bone ultrasonometer solutions that can help clinicians differentiate their practice, helping more patients detect bone loss earlier.
MR-guided Focused Ultrasound: Uterine Fibroid Treatment
GE will also showcase the only non-invasive surgical treatment available for uterine fibroids in the United States. GE and InSightec, a company that develops non-invasive therapy systems, developed the world's first magnetic resonance (MR) image guided focused ultrasound system. MRgFUS technology combines MR - to visualize the body anatomy, plan the treatment and monitor treatment outcome in real time - and high intensity focused ultrasound to thermally ablate tumors inside the body non-invasively. InSightec's ExAblate 2000 system, approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in October 2004, works exclusively in combination with GE's Signa MR system to non-invasively treat symptomatic uterine fibroids.
Clinical Education: Fetal Heart Monitoring
The new Electronic Fetal Heart Monitoring Interpretation and Management Education Program can help enhance communication among healthcare providers by promoting standardization of fetal heart monitoring (FHR) definitions and interpretation. Developed by nationally recognized fetal monitoring experts Frank Miller, M.D., FACOG and David Miller, M.D., FACOG, this Web-based, interactive education program reinforces the standardized National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) definitions of FHR patterns.
Integrated IT Solutions
In perinatal, technology is crucial for delivering insight to the point of care. GE will showcase its latest release of Centricity Perinatal (CPN) 6.8, a clinician software package that combines the company's long-time expertise in labor & delivery with enhancements to its neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) capability. As the percentage of babies arriving in NICU continues to rise, CPN 6.8 helps to foster their development with enhanced NICU-specific capabilities, including: Mother-Baby Link, which automatically populates the infant's record with relevant maternal and delivery information; NICU Chalkboards, a quick, dynamically updated unit overview for a simple, yet comprehensive view that can be customized for a variety of purposes; and Advanced Reporting, which generates data that facilitates benchmarking specific to a particular care initiative to enhance unit performance. The solution also completes Perinatal Continuum of Care by making prenatal data from GE Healthcare's Centricity Electronic Medical Record (EMR) located in many private practice environments, available in Centricity Perinatal at the hospital, and closes the loop by sending a delivery summary back to Centricity EMR in the office.
References:
1. Melton LJ, 3rd, Atkinson EJ, O'Connor MK, et al. (1998) Bone density and fracture risk in men. J Bone Miner Res 13:1915.
2. Melton LJ, 3rd, Chrischilles EA, Cooper C, et al. (1992) Perspective. How many women have osteoporosis? J Bone Miner Res 7:1005.
3. Kanis JA, Johnell O, Oden A, et al. (2000) Long-term risk of osteoporotic fracture in Malmo. Osteoporos Int 11:669.
4. Kanis JA, Delmas P, Burckhardt P, et al. (1997) Guidelines for diagnosis and management of osteoporosis. The European Foundation for Osteoporosis and Bone Disease. Osteoporos Int 7:390.
About GE Healthcare
GE Healthcare provides transformational medical technologies and services that are shaping a new age of patient care. Our expertise in medical imaging and information technologies, medical diagnostics, patient monitoring systems, performance improvement, drug discovery, and biopharmaceutical manufacturing technologies is helping clinicians around the world re-imagine new ways to predict, diagnose, inform, treat and monitor disease, so patients can live their lives to the fullest.
GE Healthcare's broad range of products and services enable healthcare providers to better diagnose and treat cancer, heart disease, neurological diseases and other conditions earlier. Our vision for the future is to enable a new "early health" model of care focused on earlier diagnosis, pre-symptomatic disease detection and disease prevention. Headquartered in the United Kingdom, GE Healthcare is a $17 billion unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE). Worldwide, GE Healthcare employs more than 46,000 people committed to serving healthcare professionals and their patients in more than 100 countries.
GE Healthcare
GE Ultrasound: Extraordinary vision
With our focus on reproductive medicine, obstetrics, labor & delivery, maternal fetal medicine and gynecology, GE continues to develop a broad selection of ultrasound and IT solutions. Whether clinicians need 2D or 3D/4D ultrasound, full-size consoles or new generation compact systems, GE offers innovative tools for the smallest private office to the largest hospital networks. GE's advanced ultrasound technology gives clinicians extraordinary imaging capabilities that help them make clinical decisions earlier and with enhanced confidence. Clinical workflow advances on the Voluson systems include automation tools for the acquisition of images used to diagnose fetal heart defects, called Sonography based Volume Computer Aided Diagnosis (SonoVCAD), and another tool for follicular assessment called Sonography based Automated Volume Count (SonoAVC). Advanced imaging capabilities on both the LOGIQ 9 and LOGIQ i systems deliver high-frequency imaging and penetration needed to detect and characterize breast lesions. Viewpoint, a data management solution, makes ultrasound workflow quicker and easier by combining reporting and image capabilities.
Maternal-Fetal Monitoring
New enhancements to GE's leading maternal-fetal monitor series provide more comprehensive perinatal monitoring of mothers and fetuses as they progress through the birthing process. GE is showcasing a new model -- the Corometrics 250cx Series Maternal/Fetal Monitor. The enhanced model features the optional Exergen TAT-5000 Maternal TemporalScannerTM that allows clinicians to obtain maternal temperature using a non-invasive infrared technology that detects heat through the skin surface via an external scanner and the optional Extend-A-ViewTM 15-inch Color Remote Display that provides clinicians access to the same maternal and fetal vital parameters as seen on the bedside monitor. These new options, combined with our standard advanced parameters such as Smart BPTM that delays automated non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP) measurement during contractions, and DINAMAP® SuperSTATTM NIBP technology that decreases the amount of time required to take the blood pressure of a laboring mother, allow medical facilities to deliver a high-touch experience for every patient from prenatal evaluations to postpartum assessments and every stage in between - including celebrating the birth with a choice of three songs.
Bone Mineral Densitometry: Osteoporosis
When undetected, the bone loss that accompanies osteoporosis, "the silent disease," can have a permanent impact on the overall health of a patient. One in three women, and one in five men over 50 will experience osteoporotic fractures.1,2,3 In women over 45 years of age, osteoporosis accounts for more days spent in hospital than many other diseases, including diabetes, myocardial infarction and breast cancer.4
The good news is that GE Lunar technology can help clinicians prevent and detect osteoporosis. GE Lunar has a broad range of efficient, comprehensive bone mineral density (BMD) and portable bone ultrasonometer solutions that can help clinicians differentiate their practice, helping more patients detect bone loss earlier.
MR-guided Focused Ultrasound: Uterine Fibroid Treatment
GE will also showcase the only non-invasive surgical treatment available for uterine fibroids in the United States. GE and InSightec, a company that develops non-invasive therapy systems, developed the world's first magnetic resonance (MR) image guided focused ultrasound system. MRgFUS technology combines MR - to visualize the body anatomy, plan the treatment and monitor treatment outcome in real time - and high intensity focused ultrasound to thermally ablate tumors inside the body non-invasively. InSightec's ExAblate 2000 system, approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in October 2004, works exclusively in combination with GE's Signa MR system to non-invasively treat symptomatic uterine fibroids.
Clinical Education: Fetal Heart Monitoring
The new Electronic Fetal Heart Monitoring Interpretation and Management Education Program can help enhance communication among healthcare providers by promoting standardization of fetal heart monitoring (FHR) definitions and interpretation. Developed by nationally recognized fetal monitoring experts Frank Miller, M.D., FACOG and David Miller, M.D., FACOG, this Web-based, interactive education program reinforces the standardized National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) definitions of FHR patterns.
Integrated IT Solutions
In perinatal, technology is crucial for delivering insight to the point of care. GE will showcase its latest release of Centricity Perinatal (CPN) 6.8, a clinician software package that combines the company's long-time expertise in labor & delivery with enhancements to its neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) capability. As the percentage of babies arriving in NICU continues to rise, CPN 6.8 helps to foster their development with enhanced NICU-specific capabilities, including: Mother-Baby Link, which automatically populates the infant's record with relevant maternal and delivery information; NICU Chalkboards, a quick, dynamically updated unit overview for a simple, yet comprehensive view that can be customized for a variety of purposes; and Advanced Reporting, which generates data that facilitates benchmarking specific to a particular care initiative to enhance unit performance. The solution also completes Perinatal Continuum of Care by making prenatal data from GE Healthcare's Centricity Electronic Medical Record (EMR) located in many private practice environments, available in Centricity Perinatal at the hospital, and closes the loop by sending a delivery summary back to Centricity EMR in the office.
References:
1. Melton LJ, 3rd, Atkinson EJ, O'Connor MK, et al. (1998) Bone density and fracture risk in men. J Bone Miner Res 13:1915.
2. Melton LJ, 3rd, Chrischilles EA, Cooper C, et al. (1992) Perspective. How many women have osteoporosis? J Bone Miner Res 7:1005.
3. Kanis JA, Johnell O, Oden A, et al. (2000) Long-term risk of osteoporotic fracture in Malmo. Osteoporos Int 11:669.
4. Kanis JA, Delmas P, Burckhardt P, et al. (1997) Guidelines for diagnosis and management of osteoporosis. The European Foundation for Osteoporosis and Bone Disease. Osteoporos Int 7:390.
About GE Healthcare
GE Healthcare provides transformational medical technologies and services that are shaping a new age of patient care. Our expertise in medical imaging and information technologies, medical diagnostics, patient monitoring systems, performance improvement, drug discovery, and biopharmaceutical manufacturing technologies is helping clinicians around the world re-imagine new ways to predict, diagnose, inform, treat and monitor disease, so patients can live their lives to the fullest.
GE Healthcare's broad range of products and services enable healthcare providers to better diagnose and treat cancer, heart disease, neurological diseases and other conditions earlier. Our vision for the future is to enable a new "early health" model of care focused on earlier diagnosis, pre-symptomatic disease detection and disease prevention. Headquartered in the United Kingdom, GE Healthcare is a $17 billion unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE). Worldwide, GE Healthcare employs more than 46,000 people committed to serving healthcare professionals and their patients in more than 100 countries.
GE Healthcare
Bill Would Require VA To Adapt To Treat Women
A bipartisan group of senators on Wednesday introduced legislation that would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to adapt in an attempt to improve care for female veterans, the Anchorage Daily News reports. Since 2001, 90,000 women have served in the military. The number of female soldiers accessing VA care is expected to double in the next five years, according to the Daily News.
The legislation would require each VA facility to have at least one women's health expert on staff; authorize several studies on the physical, mental and reproductive health of women who served in Iraq and Afghanistan; and examine the barriers women face in accessing care at male-dominated VA clinics. The bill also would require VA mental health professionals to be trained to treat women who have been sexually assaulted.
According to the bill's sponsors, women face more stress when they return from war and "are thrust back into their roles as caregivers without much of a transition," the Daily News reports. The bill's sponsors include Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) (Bolstad, Anchorage Daily News, 4/3).
Reprinted with kind permission from kaisernetwork. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at kaisernetwork/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation© 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
The legislation would require each VA facility to have at least one women's health expert on staff; authorize several studies on the physical, mental and reproductive health of women who served in Iraq and Afghanistan; and examine the barriers women face in accessing care at male-dominated VA clinics. The bill also would require VA mental health professionals to be trained to treat women who have been sexually assaulted.
According to the bill's sponsors, women face more stress when they return from war and "are thrust back into their roles as caregivers without much of a transition," the Daily News reports. The bill's sponsors include Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) (Bolstad, Anchorage Daily News, 4/3).
Reprinted with kind permission from kaisernetwork. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at kaisernetwork/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation© 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
U.S. Supreme Court Rules Provision Of Campaign Finance Law Unconstitutionally Applied In Wisconsin Right To Life Case
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday ruled 5-4 that a provision of the McCain-Feingold federal campaign finance law used to bar Wisconsin Right to Life from running advertisements in 2004 was an "unconstitutional infringement" on the group's right to advocate on issues, the Washington Post reports (Barnes, Washington Post, 6/26).
WRTL in its lawsuit challenging McCain-Feingold was seeking permission to run television and radio advertisements within 30 days of a 2004 primary that mentioned Sen. Russell Feingold's (D-Wis.) name and focused on his opposition to several of President Bush's judicial nominees. The group claims that the campaign finance law's provisions prohibiting the use of interest groups' "issue ads" during the weeks preceding an election are unconstitutional.
A three-judge panel of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in August 2004 unanimously rejected WRTL's challenge, and the group appealed the ruling to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court in January 2006 said that when it previously upheld the law's provision concerning "electioneering communications" against a "facial challenge" in 2003, it did "not purport to resolve future as-applied challenges." The justices ordered the district court "to consider the merits of WRTL's" challenge. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in December 2006 overturned provisions of the law that restrict issue ads during the weeks before federal elections. The Federal Election Commission and a group of lawmakers led by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who is running for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination, argued for the provisions to be upheld (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 4/26).
WRTL in its lawsuit challenging McCain-Feingold was seeking permission to run television and radio advertisements within 30 days of a 2004 primary that mentioned Sen. Russell Feingold's (D-Wis.) name and focused on his opposition to several of President Bush's judicial nominees. The group claims that the campaign finance law's provisions prohibiting the use of interest groups' "issue ads" during the weeks preceding an election are unconstitutional.
A three-judge panel of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in August 2004 unanimously rejected WRTL's challenge, and the group appealed the ruling to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court in January 2006 said that when it previously upheld the law's provision concerning "electioneering communications" against a "facial challenge" in 2003, it did "not purport to resolve future as-applied challenges." The justices ordered the district court "to consider the merits of WRTL's" challenge. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in December 2006 overturned provisions of the law that restrict issue ads during the weeks before federal elections. The Federal Election Commission and a group of lawmakers led by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who is running for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination, argued for the provisions to be upheld (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 4/26).
Majority Opinion
"Discussion of issues cannot be suppressed simply because the issues may also be pertinent in an election," Chief Justice John Roberts in the majority opinion wrote, adding, "Where the First Amendment is implicated, the tie goes to the speaker, not the censor" (Washington Post, 6/26). He also wrote that the "First Amendment requires us to err on the side of protecting political speech rather than suppressing it" (Vicini, Reuters, 6/25).
According to the Post, Roberts established a "new rule" that states, "A court should find that an ad is the functional equivalent of express advocacy only if the ad is susceptible of no reasonable interpretation other than as an appeal to vote for or against a specific candidate." Justices Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Anthony Kennedy joined Roberts in the majority. However, Kennedy, Scalia and Thomas said the entire provision of the law should be declared unconstitutional, adding that Roberts' test is "impermissibly vague," the Post reports. Alito said that he might agree that the entire provision be stricken if the enforcement of the test proves unworkable.
Dissent
Justice David Souter in the dissenting opinion wrote, "After today, the ban on contributions by corporations and unions and the limitation on their corrosive spending when they enter the political arena are open to easy circumvention, and the possibilities for regulating corporate and union campaign money are unclear." He added, "The court (and, I think, the country) loses when important precedent is overruled without good reason, and there is no justification for departure from our usual rule of stare decisis here." Justices John Paul Stevens, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer joined Souter in the dissent, the Post reports (Washington Post, 6/26).
Comments
According to the AP/Boston Globe, some campaign finance experts said that although the decision applied specifically to WRTL case, the ruling has far-reaching implications. "I don't think Justice Roberts is naive," Richard Hasen, a professor at Loyola Law School-Los Angeles, said, adding, "He knows full well that the test that the court has articulated today will lead to a great deal of corporation- and union-funded election advertising" (Kuhnhenn, AP/Boston Globe, 6/26). Richard Pildes, professor of constitutional law at New York University, said the ruling is "likely to have dramatic effects on upcoming elections." He added that "we are likely to see a return of the kinds of ads we saw before McCain-Feingold: ads that contain a fig-leaf of reference to issues that is just enough to give them constitutional protection, even if the ads are close to hard-core efforts to influence election outcomes" (Joshi, AFP/Yahoo! News, 6/25).
McCain said it is regrettable that the court created a narrow exception that allows corporate and labor expenditures to be used to target a federal candidate in the days and weeks before an election. "It is important to recognize, however, that the court's decision does not effect the principle provision of the (law), which bans federal officeholders from soliciting soft money contributions for their parties to spend on their campaigns," McCain said. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R), who also is running for the Republican presidential nomination, lauded the ruling, Reuters reports (Reuters, 6/25). Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, another candidate for the nomination, said the ruling is a "welcome victory for free speech and personal liberty" (AP/Boston Globe, 6/26).
Related Editorial
The Supreme Court "without acknowledging that it was doing so, jettisoned [the] common-sense approach" to limit the "flood of corporate- and labor-funded campaign commercials masquerading as 'issue ads,'" a Washington Post editorial says. "The difficulty is that the new Roberts standard risks permitting a flood of corporate- and labor-sponsored advertising close to elections," the editorial says, adding that it will be "difficult to see how the more common kind of 'issue ads' that the court found so troublesome in its earlier ruling could now permissibly be stopped" (Washington Post, 6/26).
The majority opinion and dissent are available online. Note: You must have Adobe Acrobat to view this document.
"Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at kaisernetwork/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
Fertility Drugs Do Not Increase Risk Of Ovarian Cancer
The use of fertility drugs does not increase a woman's risk of developing ovarian cancer, finds a large study from Danish researchers published on bmj today.
During the past three decades there has been considerable debate as to whether use of fertility drugs increases a woman's risk of developing ovarian cancer. Previous studies have given conflicting results and concerns remain, particularly for women who undergo several cycles of treatment or who never succeed in becoming pregnant.
So Allan Jensen and colleagues at the Danish Cancer Society examined the effects of fertility drugs on ovarian cancer risk by using data from the largest cohort of infertile women to date.
The study involved 54,362 women with infertility problems referred to all Danish fertility clinics between 1963 and 1998. 156 of these women had ovarian cancer. After adjusting for several risk factors, the researchers assessed the effects of four groups of fertility drugs over an average period of 16 years.
They found no overall increased risk for ovarian cancer after use of any fertility drug. They also found no increased risk among women who had undergone 10 or more cycles of treatment or among those who did not become pregnant.
Although the authors did observe a statistically significant increase in risk of the most common serious type of ovarian cancer among women who had used the drug clomiphene, they stress that this was probably a chance association.
Our results show no convincing association between the overall risk for ovarian cancer and use of fertility drugs, and are generally reassuring, say the authors. However, they do point out that, as many of the study participants have not yet reached the peak age for ovarian cancer, they will continue to monitor the risk.
In a society where there is more and more female infertility and later age at birth of the first child, the unfavourable effects of fertility drugs should be balanced against the physical and psychological benefits of a pregnancy made possible only by the use of these drugs, they conclude.
These data are reassuring and provide further evidence that use of fertility drugs does not increase a woman's risk of ovarian cancer to any great extent although, small increases in risk cannot be ruled out, warns Penelope Webb of the Queensland Institute of Medical Research, in an accompanying editorial.
Some women who take fertility drugs will inevitably develop ovarian cancer by chance alone, she writes, but the current evidence suggests that women who use these drugs are not increasing their risk of developing this highly fatal cancer.
Research: Use of fertility drugs and risk of ovarian cancer: Danish population based cohort study
BMJ online
Click here to view abstract online
Editorial: Fertility drugs and ovarian cancer
BMJ Online
Click here to view abstract online
British Medical Journal
During the past three decades there has been considerable debate as to whether use of fertility drugs increases a woman's risk of developing ovarian cancer. Previous studies have given conflicting results and concerns remain, particularly for women who undergo several cycles of treatment or who never succeed in becoming pregnant.
So Allan Jensen and colleagues at the Danish Cancer Society examined the effects of fertility drugs on ovarian cancer risk by using data from the largest cohort of infertile women to date.
The study involved 54,362 women with infertility problems referred to all Danish fertility clinics between 1963 and 1998. 156 of these women had ovarian cancer. After adjusting for several risk factors, the researchers assessed the effects of four groups of fertility drugs over an average period of 16 years.
They found no overall increased risk for ovarian cancer after use of any fertility drug. They also found no increased risk among women who had undergone 10 or more cycles of treatment or among those who did not become pregnant.
Although the authors did observe a statistically significant increase in risk of the most common serious type of ovarian cancer among women who had used the drug clomiphene, they stress that this was probably a chance association.
Our results show no convincing association between the overall risk for ovarian cancer and use of fertility drugs, and are generally reassuring, say the authors. However, they do point out that, as many of the study participants have not yet reached the peak age for ovarian cancer, they will continue to monitor the risk.
In a society where there is more and more female infertility and later age at birth of the first child, the unfavourable effects of fertility drugs should be balanced against the physical and psychological benefits of a pregnancy made possible only by the use of these drugs, they conclude.
These data are reassuring and provide further evidence that use of fertility drugs does not increase a woman's risk of ovarian cancer to any great extent although, small increases in risk cannot be ruled out, warns Penelope Webb of the Queensland Institute of Medical Research, in an accompanying editorial.
Some women who take fertility drugs will inevitably develop ovarian cancer by chance alone, she writes, but the current evidence suggests that women who use these drugs are not increasing their risk of developing this highly fatal cancer.
Research: Use of fertility drugs and risk of ovarian cancer: Danish population based cohort study
BMJ online
Click here to view abstract online
Editorial: Fertility drugs and ovarian cancer
BMJ Online
Click here to view abstract online
British Medical Journal
Antidepressants Most Common Medication For Australian Women
A new study has revealed the most commonly prescribed medication for Australian women is antidepressants.
The study, by researchers from Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (ALSWH).
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and Medicare data were linked to survey data to examine claims and costs of medications and other health care resources.
University of Newcastle study co-director and lead author of the Use and costs of medications and other health care resources report, Professor Julie Byles, said the research indicated the prevalence of antidepressant use increased with age.
"Eight percent of younger women and 14 percent of mid-age women used antidepressants during the surveyed period," Professor Byles said.
"This figure jumps to 18 percent in older women."
"However, the use of antidepressants is not a clear indicator of the extent of depression among women. For example, among young women who reported a diagnosis of depression, 40 percent had not used prescribed antidepressant medication."
Other significant findings from the research include:
Older women, in particular, mentioned the impact of of costs of medication on their ability to manage their incomes
There were few differences in patterns of claims between women living in urban, rural and remote areas
There was evidence that women who made claims for common medications had a lower socio-economic status.
The release of the report coincides with the Australian Government's announcement of a further $5 million to continue the longitudinal study for the next three and a half years. ALSWH has been funded by the Department of Health and Ageing since it commenced in 1996.
UQ ALSWH Director, Professor Annette Dobson, said the research provided an evidence-base to Government to assist health policy and programs to keep pace with the evolving needs of Australian women.
"The ongoing support of the Australian Government means the study's findings can continue to provide an invaluable insight into the biological, psychosocial and environmental factors affecting women across the course of life," Professor Dobson said.
The ALSWH is a 20 year project involving three cohorts spanning three generations. More than 40,000 women participate in the study. Researchers based in Newcastle work in collaboration with the Hunter Medical Research Institute. Use and costs of medications and other health care resources are available at alswh.au
Source: UQ Communications
Research Australia
The study, by researchers from Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (ALSWH).
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and Medicare data were linked to survey data to examine claims and costs of medications and other health care resources.
University of Newcastle study co-director and lead author of the Use and costs of medications and other health care resources report, Professor Julie Byles, said the research indicated the prevalence of antidepressant use increased with age.
"Eight percent of younger women and 14 percent of mid-age women used antidepressants during the surveyed period," Professor Byles said.
"This figure jumps to 18 percent in older women."
"However, the use of antidepressants is not a clear indicator of the extent of depression among women. For example, among young women who reported a diagnosis of depression, 40 percent had not used prescribed antidepressant medication."
Other significant findings from the research include:
Older women, in particular, mentioned the impact of of costs of medication on their ability to manage their incomes
There were few differences in patterns of claims between women living in urban, rural and remote areas
There was evidence that women who made claims for common medications had a lower socio-economic status.
The release of the report coincides with the Australian Government's announcement of a further $5 million to continue the longitudinal study for the next three and a half years. ALSWH has been funded by the Department of Health and Ageing since it commenced in 1996.
UQ ALSWH Director, Professor Annette Dobson, said the research provided an evidence-base to Government to assist health policy and programs to keep pace with the evolving needs of Australian women.
"The ongoing support of the Australian Government means the study's findings can continue to provide an invaluable insight into the biological, psychosocial and environmental factors affecting women across the course of life," Professor Dobson said.
The ALSWH is a 20 year project involving three cohorts spanning three generations. More than 40,000 women participate in the study. Researchers based in Newcastle work in collaboration with the Hunter Medical Research Institute. Use and costs of medications and other health care resources are available at alswh.au
Source: UQ Communications
Research Australia
Potential Genetic Factor In Eating Disorders Discovered By MSU Researchers
For the first time, scientists have discovered a possible biological culprit in the development of eating disorders during puberty: a type of estrogen called estradiol.
The groundbreaking pilot study led by Michigan State University found that influence of one's genes on eating disorder symptoms was much greater in pubertal girls with higher levels of estradiol than pubertal girls with lower levels of estradiol. The study appears in the journal Psychological Medicine.
Lead investigator Kelly Klump, MSU associate professor of psychology, said previous research had established that eating disorders are influenced by both genetic and environmental factors once a girl hits puberty.
The underlying effects of the genes, however, were unknown.
"The reason we see an increase in genetic influences during puberty is that the genes for disordered eating are essentially getting switched on during that time," said Klump. "This research was trying to figure out why. What's turning on the genes during puberty? And what we found is that increases in estradiol apparently are activating genetic risk for eating disorders."
Estradiol is the predominant form of estrogen in females and is responsible for the growth of reproductive organs and also influences other organs including bones.
Klump noted that researchers don't yet know which genes are being switched on by estradiol. Further, she said a larger study is needed to confirm the results of the MSU-led research.
But knowing that estradiol likely plays a role in the development of eating disorders could ultimately open the window to new treatments, said Klump, past president of the Academy of Eating Disorders.
In addition, she said, prevention efforts could be geared toward those girls who not only are in high-risk environmental contexts (such as weight-focused sports), but also those with genetic risks such as a family history of eating disorders.
The study examined the estradiol levels of nearly 200 sets of female twins, ages 10-15, from the MSU Twin Registry, which includes more than 5,000 pairs of twins in Michigan. Klump runs the registry with S. Alexandra Burt, assistant professor of psychology.
Co-authoring the study were Burt, Cheryl Sisk at MSU and Pamela Keel at Florida State University.
Source:
Andy Henion
Michigan State University
View drug information on Estradiol Transdermal System.
The groundbreaking pilot study led by Michigan State University found that influence of one's genes on eating disorder symptoms was much greater in pubertal girls with higher levels of estradiol than pubertal girls with lower levels of estradiol. The study appears in the journal Psychological Medicine.
Lead investigator Kelly Klump, MSU associate professor of psychology, said previous research had established that eating disorders are influenced by both genetic and environmental factors once a girl hits puberty.
The underlying effects of the genes, however, were unknown.
"The reason we see an increase in genetic influences during puberty is that the genes for disordered eating are essentially getting switched on during that time," said Klump. "This research was trying to figure out why. What's turning on the genes during puberty? And what we found is that increases in estradiol apparently are activating genetic risk for eating disorders."
Estradiol is the predominant form of estrogen in females and is responsible for the growth of reproductive organs and also influences other organs including bones.
Klump noted that researchers don't yet know which genes are being switched on by estradiol. Further, she said a larger study is needed to confirm the results of the MSU-led research.
But knowing that estradiol likely plays a role in the development of eating disorders could ultimately open the window to new treatments, said Klump, past president of the Academy of Eating Disorders.
In addition, she said, prevention efforts could be geared toward those girls who not only are in high-risk environmental contexts (such as weight-focused sports), but also those with genetic risks such as a family history of eating disorders.
The study examined the estradiol levels of nearly 200 sets of female twins, ages 10-15, from the MSU Twin Registry, which includes more than 5,000 pairs of twins in Michigan. Klump runs the registry with S. Alexandra Burt, assistant professor of psychology.
Co-authoring the study were Burt, Cheryl Sisk at MSU and Pamela Keel at Florida State University.
Source:
Andy Henion
Michigan State University
View drug information on Estradiol Transdermal System.
Women At Risk Of Sexual Assault On College Campuses
The statistics for sexual assault are unsettling; the Department of Justice reports that one in five college women will be the victim of attempted or actual sexual assault during their college years. In a new study, researchers from two universities, including the University of Missouri, have found that college women often are unaware of drug-facilitated sexual assault and fail to recognize the risk of certain behaviors, including leaving drinks unattended.
"These findings are very concerning; although college women appear to have knowledge about date-rape drugs, they often are not able to apply this knowledge in the appropriate context," said Zachary Birchmeier, senior research analyst in the University of Missouri Truman School of Public Affairs. "Considering the high rates of sexual assault, it is clear there is an urgent need to better inform students about self-protection. Education and prevention efforts should focus on debunking rape myths and increasing awareness of drug-facilitated sexual assault."
In the study, conducted at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, more than 400 female undergraduates rated their perceptions of risk after reading a short story about an acquaintance rape. The researchers, including Emily Crawford, primary investigator of the study at Miami University, evaluated the relationship among risk factors that may increase victims' susceptibility to sexual assault, including prior victimization, behavioral choices and risk perception in responding to the threat of drug-facilitated sexual assault. They measured awareness of risk in accepting drinks from male acquaintances and leaving drinks unattended. Other researchers have not thoroughly investigated these issues.
The researchers found that college students identified the risk associated with having others pour their drinks; however, they did not recognize the risk of leaving their drinks unattended. A significant number of study participants blamed the victim when sexual assault occurred. Additionally, the majority of participants who were victims of previous sexual assault reported that they would make risky choices, including accepting a male acquaintance's offer to help them into their bedroom.
"The findings suggest that many incidents of drugging may be unreported or unsuspected," said Crawford, postdoctoral resident in behavioral health at the Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital. "College students are likely to associate symptoms of nausea, blurred vision and lack of coordination with drinking too much alcohol, rather than suspect that another drug was unknowingly consumed."
At MU, several programs educate students about the dangers of date-rape drugs and sexual assault. The Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention (RSVP) Center is a comprehensive relationship and sexual-violence education service. The resource center, in collaboration with the MU Women's Center, is driven by the work of four dedicated student organizations: the RSVP Peer Educators, the Greek Advocates, STARS (Stronger Together Against Relationship and Sexual Violence), and MARS (Men Against Relationship & Sexual Violence).
The Women's Center offers outreach programs for residence halls, fraternities and sororities, classes and community organizations about topics, including rape and sexual violence. RSVP Peer Educators receive training on sexual assault, rape, intimate partner violence, and stalking. They use these skills to educate their peers through programs about issues related to relationship and sexual violence.
"We understand the need for all people to be aware of the potential of drug-facilitated rape and that college-aged women are a vulnerable population," said Sharon Giles, Coordinator of the Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention Center at MU. "The RSVP center educates MU students about prevention by implementing systemic or community-wide change in creating a campus climate that does not tolerate rape/sexual assault. Our educational efforts focus on the fact that sexual violence on a college campus is not just the survivors' problem, but is the problem of the campus as a whole."
The study, "Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault: College Women's Risk Perception and Behavioral Choices," recently was published in the Journal of American College Health, Vol. 57, No. 3. It was supervised and co-authored by Margaret O'Dougherty Wright from Miami University.
Source: Emily Smith
University of Missouri-Columbia
"These findings are very concerning; although college women appear to have knowledge about date-rape drugs, they often are not able to apply this knowledge in the appropriate context," said Zachary Birchmeier, senior research analyst in the University of Missouri Truman School of Public Affairs. "Considering the high rates of sexual assault, it is clear there is an urgent need to better inform students about self-protection. Education and prevention efforts should focus on debunking rape myths and increasing awareness of drug-facilitated sexual assault."
In the study, conducted at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, more than 400 female undergraduates rated their perceptions of risk after reading a short story about an acquaintance rape. The researchers, including Emily Crawford, primary investigator of the study at Miami University, evaluated the relationship among risk factors that may increase victims' susceptibility to sexual assault, including prior victimization, behavioral choices and risk perception in responding to the threat of drug-facilitated sexual assault. They measured awareness of risk in accepting drinks from male acquaintances and leaving drinks unattended. Other researchers have not thoroughly investigated these issues.
The researchers found that college students identified the risk associated with having others pour their drinks; however, they did not recognize the risk of leaving their drinks unattended. A significant number of study participants blamed the victim when sexual assault occurred. Additionally, the majority of participants who were victims of previous sexual assault reported that they would make risky choices, including accepting a male acquaintance's offer to help them into their bedroom.
"The findings suggest that many incidents of drugging may be unreported or unsuspected," said Crawford, postdoctoral resident in behavioral health at the Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital. "College students are likely to associate symptoms of nausea, blurred vision and lack of coordination with drinking too much alcohol, rather than suspect that another drug was unknowingly consumed."
At MU, several programs educate students about the dangers of date-rape drugs and sexual assault. The Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention (RSVP) Center is a comprehensive relationship and sexual-violence education service. The resource center, in collaboration with the MU Women's Center, is driven by the work of four dedicated student organizations: the RSVP Peer Educators, the Greek Advocates, STARS (Stronger Together Against Relationship and Sexual Violence), and MARS (Men Against Relationship & Sexual Violence).
The Women's Center offers outreach programs for residence halls, fraternities and sororities, classes and community organizations about topics, including rape and sexual violence. RSVP Peer Educators receive training on sexual assault, rape, intimate partner violence, and stalking. They use these skills to educate their peers through programs about issues related to relationship and sexual violence.
"We understand the need for all people to be aware of the potential of drug-facilitated rape and that college-aged women are a vulnerable population," said Sharon Giles, Coordinator of the Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention Center at MU. "The RSVP center educates MU students about prevention by implementing systemic or community-wide change in creating a campus climate that does not tolerate rape/sexual assault. Our educational efforts focus on the fact that sexual violence on a college campus is not just the survivors' problem, but is the problem of the campus as a whole."
The study, "Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault: College Women's Risk Perception and Behavioral Choices," recently was published in the Journal of American College Health, Vol. 57, No. 3. It was supervised and co-authored by Margaret O'Dougherty Wright from Miami University.
Source: Emily Smith
University of Missouri-Columbia
Latinas Have Lower Breast Cancer Incidence, Higher Mortality Rate Than White Women, ACS Report Says
Breast cancer incidence is lower for Latinas than for non-Latina white women, but Latinas diagnosed with the disease are more likely to die than white women, according to a report released on Wednesday by the American Cancer Society, Long Island Newsday reports (Taylor, Long Island Newsday, 9/13). According to the report, 89.1 out of every 100,000 Latinas developed breast cancer from 2000 through 2003, 40% lower than the breast cancer incidence of 140.6 cases of breast cancer per 100,000 for non-Latino white women during the same time period. However, Latinas who were diagnosed with breast cancer from 1992 through 2000 were about 20% more likely to die within five years of diagnosis than non-Latino whites of similar age and stage of the disease, the report says (ACS, "Cancer Facts & Figures for Hispanics/Latinos 2006-2008," 2006). The report and other recent data have shown that Latinos are less likely to be screened for breast cancer and other cancers, Newsday reports. Sylvia Diaz, vice president of ACS' Suffolk County, N.Y., regional office, said women who receive mammograms to screen for breast cancer vastly improve their treatment options and reduce mortality risk. "Uninsured women diagnosed with breast cancer are 50% less likely to survive for the next five years than those with insurance," Diaz said, adding, "The take-home message is that we have to promote screening as early as possible within that population." The report also says that Latinas from 2000 through 2003 had a higher incidence -- 14.2 per 100,000 -- of cervical cancer than the rate for non-Latina white women -- 7.3 per 100,000 (Long Island Newsday, 9/13).
"Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at kaisernetwork/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
"Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at kaisernetwork/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
Cerazette(R), The Estrogen-Free Pill, Gives Women A 'Meaningful Pill Choice'
Few women use the progestogen-only pill and if they do so it is predominantly on their doctor's recommendation or because they are breast-feeding, according to new research showing that while 38% of women of reproductive age use the combined pill only 2 % use the progestogen-only pill. [1] But family planning experts say more women could stand to benefit from Cerazette(R) - the estrogen-free oral contraceptive that is as reliable and easy-to-use as the combined Pill.
Although the traditional progestogen-only pill does not contain estrogen making it a good option for women who do not want, cannot or should not take estrogens, its lower reliability and more stringent tablet-taking regime limit its appeal and use. [2]
However, Cerazette - the estrogen-free pill - provides women with an alternative choice in oral contraception. Like the combined pill, Cerazette works mainly by inhibiting ovulation (egg release) and it has a 12-hour missed pill intake window in case of accidental delay meaning that it is as reliable and as easy-to-use. However, in contrast to the combined pill it is free of estrogen and therefore estrogen-related adverse events. Cerazette is also taken every day of the month and is associated with less predictable and more variable menstrual bleeding patterns than the combined pill.
Professor Dr. Hans-Joachim Ahrendt, gynecologist, Magdeburg, Germany commented: "Most women essentially think in terms of one type of oral contraception available to them - the combined pill. The research suggests that they really only get introduced to the traditional progestogen-only pill if they are breast-feeding or have contraindications to estrogen.
"However, Cerazette has significantly changed women's oral contraceptive options. It offers some of the most important advantages - high reliability and ease-of-use - of the combined pill with the most important advantage of the traditional progestogen-only pill - the absence of estrogen. And because of the high reliability women can even continue with Cerazette after stopping breastfeeding. As a result, women have greater pill choice than they think. They are able to make a meaningful choice between whether the combined pill is the
best option for them or whether the estrogen-free pill may better suit their needs."
About Organon
Organon - with shared head offices in Roseland, NJ, USA and Oss, The Netherlands - creates, manufactures and markets prescription medicines that improve the health and quality of human life. Through a combination of independent growth and business partnerships, Organon strives to remain or become one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in each of its core therapeutic fields: gynecology, fertility, neuroscience and anesthesia. Organon products are sold in over 100 countries, of which more than 60 have an Organon subsidiary. Organon is the human health care business unit of Akzo Nobel.
For further information, please visit organon
Safe Harbor Statement*
This report contains statements which address such key issues as Organon's growth strategy, future financial results, market positions, product development, pharmaceutical products in the pipeline, and product approvals. Such statements, including but not limited to the "Outlook," should be carefully considered, and it should be understood that many factors could cause forecasted and actual results to differ from these statements. These factors include, but are not limited to price fluctuations, currency fluctuations, developments in raw material and personnel costs, pensions, physical and environmental risks, legal issues, and legislative, fiscal, and other regulatory measures. These factors also include changes in regulations or interpretations related to the implementation and reporting under IFRS, decisions to apply a different option of presentation permitted by IFRS, and various other factors related to the implementation of IFRS, including the implementation of IAS 32 and 39 for financial instruments. Stated competitive positions are based on management estimates supported by information provided by specialized external agencies.
For a more complete discussion of the risk factors affecting our business please see the Akzo Nobel Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, a copy of which can be found on the Company's website akzonobel.
* Pursuant to the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act 1995.
NOTES
1. Findings from the Contraceptive Confidence and Consequences Survey. TNS NIPO 2005
2. Progestogen only pills rely on thickening cervical mucus as they do not consistently inhibit ovulation. As a result, they are slightly less reliable than the combined pill and must be taken within three hours of the normal tablet-taking time to ensure contraceptive protection.
organon
Although the traditional progestogen-only pill does not contain estrogen making it a good option for women who do not want, cannot or should not take estrogens, its lower reliability and more stringent tablet-taking regime limit its appeal and use. [2]
However, Cerazette - the estrogen-free pill - provides women with an alternative choice in oral contraception. Like the combined pill, Cerazette works mainly by inhibiting ovulation (egg release) and it has a 12-hour missed pill intake window in case of accidental delay meaning that it is as reliable and as easy-to-use. However, in contrast to the combined pill it is free of estrogen and therefore estrogen-related adverse events. Cerazette is also taken every day of the month and is associated with less predictable and more variable menstrual bleeding patterns than the combined pill.
Professor Dr. Hans-Joachim Ahrendt, gynecologist, Magdeburg, Germany commented: "Most women essentially think in terms of one type of oral contraception available to them - the combined pill. The research suggests that they really only get introduced to the traditional progestogen-only pill if they are breast-feeding or have contraindications to estrogen.
"However, Cerazette has significantly changed women's oral contraceptive options. It offers some of the most important advantages - high reliability and ease-of-use - of the combined pill with the most important advantage of the traditional progestogen-only pill - the absence of estrogen. And because of the high reliability women can even continue with Cerazette after stopping breastfeeding. As a result, women have greater pill choice than they think. They are able to make a meaningful choice between whether the combined pill is the
best option for them or whether the estrogen-free pill may better suit their needs."
About Organon
Organon - with shared head offices in Roseland, NJ, USA and Oss, The Netherlands - creates, manufactures and markets prescription medicines that improve the health and quality of human life. Through a combination of independent growth and business partnerships, Organon strives to remain or become one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in each of its core therapeutic fields: gynecology, fertility, neuroscience and anesthesia. Organon products are sold in over 100 countries, of which more than 60 have an Organon subsidiary. Organon is the human health care business unit of Akzo Nobel.
For further information, please visit organon
Safe Harbor Statement*
This report contains statements which address such key issues as Organon's growth strategy, future financial results, market positions, product development, pharmaceutical products in the pipeline, and product approvals. Such statements, including but not limited to the "Outlook," should be carefully considered, and it should be understood that many factors could cause forecasted and actual results to differ from these statements. These factors include, but are not limited to price fluctuations, currency fluctuations, developments in raw material and personnel costs, pensions, physical and environmental risks, legal issues, and legislative, fiscal, and other regulatory measures. These factors also include changes in regulations or interpretations related to the implementation and reporting under IFRS, decisions to apply a different option of presentation permitted by IFRS, and various other factors related to the implementation of IFRS, including the implementation of IAS 32 and 39 for financial instruments. Stated competitive positions are based on management estimates supported by information provided by specialized external agencies.
For a more complete discussion of the risk factors affecting our business please see the Akzo Nobel Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, a copy of which can be found on the Company's website akzonobel.
* Pursuant to the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act 1995.
NOTES
1. Findings from the Contraceptive Confidence and Consequences Survey. TNS NIPO 2005
2. Progestogen only pills rely on thickening cervical mucus as they do not consistently inhibit ovulation. As a result, they are slightly less reliable than the combined pill and must be taken within three hours of the normal tablet-taking time to ensure contraceptive protection.
organon
Cancer Therapy Based On Missile Detection
A breast cancer treatment based on MIT research originally intended for detecting missiles is documented in a new book by Alan J. Fenn, an MIT researcher and inventor of the technique.
The book, "Breast Cancer Treatment by Focused Microwave Thermotherapy" (Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 2007), includes a discussion of promising results from the latest clinical trials of the therapy.
Treating cancer with heat is not a new idea, but "researchers were having trouble using it to treat tumors deep within the body," said Fenn. Further, it's difficult to deliver the heat only to cancer cells without overheating normal tissue.
The microwaves in the new technique heat-and kill-cells containing high amounts of water and ions, or electrically charged atoms. Cancer cells typically have a high content of both, while healthy breast tissue contains much less. The outpatient procedure uses a single tiny needle probe to sense and measure parameters during treatment. Side effects appear to be minimal.
The first clinical study of the treatment involved 75 patients with early-stage breast cancer. Of the 34 patients who received the treatment prior to lumpectomy, none had viable cancer cells remaining at the surgical margins. Of the 41 patients who had a lumpectomy but did not receive the MIT treatment, four had cancer cells at the surgical margins.
This result is important for two reasons. First, additional breast surgery is often recommended for patients with cancer cells close to the edge of the lumpectomy surgical margin. Second, there is a higher risk of local recurrence of the breast cancer when cancer cells are found at the surgical margins. Fenn noted that all patients in both arms of the study received postoperative radiation therapy to reduce the risk of local recurrence.
Also presented in the new book are preliminary results for a study of the treatment in combination with preoperative chemotherapy for breast cancer patients with large tumors. "In this small feasibility study of 28 patients, one of the principal objectives was to increase tumor shrinkage with the combined use of focused microwave thermotherapy and preoperative chemotherapy," Fenn said.
In this study tumors shrunk by approximately 50 percent more in women treated with both the MIT technique and chemotherapy, versus women treated with chemotherapy alone.
The results of both clinical studies will be presented at the 17th Annual National Interdisciplinary Breast Center Conference in Las Vegas, from Feb. 25-28.
Another, larger clinical study for patients with large breast cancer tumors is expected to begin later this year at six institutions in the United States and Canada.
Other potential clinical studies for treating recurrent breast cancer, ductal carcinoma in situ and benign breast lesions with the MIT thermotherapy treatment, as well as its use to enhance anti-estrogen therapy for breast cancer prevention, are also described in the book.
Celsion (Canada) Ltd. exclusively licenses the technology from MIT. The company developed the clinical thermotherapy system and is funding the clinical studies. The Air Force funded Fenn's original radar research at MIT Lincoln Laboratory.
Contact: Elizabeth Thomson
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The book, "Breast Cancer Treatment by Focused Microwave Thermotherapy" (Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 2007), includes a discussion of promising results from the latest clinical trials of the therapy.
Treating cancer with heat is not a new idea, but "researchers were having trouble using it to treat tumors deep within the body," said Fenn. Further, it's difficult to deliver the heat only to cancer cells without overheating normal tissue.
The microwaves in the new technique heat-and kill-cells containing high amounts of water and ions, or electrically charged atoms. Cancer cells typically have a high content of both, while healthy breast tissue contains much less. The outpatient procedure uses a single tiny needle probe to sense and measure parameters during treatment. Side effects appear to be minimal.
The first clinical study of the treatment involved 75 patients with early-stage breast cancer. Of the 34 patients who received the treatment prior to lumpectomy, none had viable cancer cells remaining at the surgical margins. Of the 41 patients who had a lumpectomy but did not receive the MIT treatment, four had cancer cells at the surgical margins.
This result is important for two reasons. First, additional breast surgery is often recommended for patients with cancer cells close to the edge of the lumpectomy surgical margin. Second, there is a higher risk of local recurrence of the breast cancer when cancer cells are found at the surgical margins. Fenn noted that all patients in both arms of the study received postoperative radiation therapy to reduce the risk of local recurrence.
Also presented in the new book are preliminary results for a study of the treatment in combination with preoperative chemotherapy for breast cancer patients with large tumors. "In this small feasibility study of 28 patients, one of the principal objectives was to increase tumor shrinkage with the combined use of focused microwave thermotherapy and preoperative chemotherapy," Fenn said.
In this study tumors shrunk by approximately 50 percent more in women treated with both the MIT technique and chemotherapy, versus women treated with chemotherapy alone.
The results of both clinical studies will be presented at the 17th Annual National Interdisciplinary Breast Center Conference in Las Vegas, from Feb. 25-28.
Another, larger clinical study for patients with large breast cancer tumors is expected to begin later this year at six institutions in the United States and Canada.
Other potential clinical studies for treating recurrent breast cancer, ductal carcinoma in situ and benign breast lesions with the MIT thermotherapy treatment, as well as its use to enhance anti-estrogen therapy for breast cancer prevention, are also described in the book.
Celsion (Canada) Ltd. exclusively licenses the technology from MIT. The company developed the clinical thermotherapy system and is funding the clinical studies. The Air Force funded Fenn's original radar research at MIT Lincoln Laboratory.
Contact: Elizabeth Thomson
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Giuliani Fields Questions About His Position On Social Issues After Release Of 1989 Video Showing His Support For Publicly Funded Abortions
Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani (R), who has formed a presidential exploratory committee, on Monday fielded questions about his positions on social issues, including abortion, after a video clip surfaced showing him supporting publicly funded abortions during a speech in 1989, the Washington Post reports. The video clip -- posted Monday on YouTube and highlighted by the Drudge Report -- shows Giuliani saying that "there must be public funding for abortions for poor women," adding, "We cannot deny any women the right to make her own decision about abortion because she lacks resources." Giuliani did not mention the video in comments Monday and dismissed questions about whether his support for abortion rights, civil unions or gun control will affect his campaign (Cillizza et al., Washington Post, 3/13). In recent talks with conservative media outlets and voters in South Carolina, Giuliani said he would appoint "strict constructionist" judges to the Supreme Court. In a recent interview with Sean Hannity of Fox News, he also said that a law (S 3) being reviewed by the Supreme Court that bans so-called "partial-birth abortion" should be upheld and that he supports parental notification requirements with a judicial bypass provision for minors seeking abortions. Some prominent conservatives have criticized his municipal judicial appointments and have said his record undermines his promise that he would appoint "strict constructionists" (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 3/12).
NBC's "Nightly News" on Monday reported on the video and reaction from conservatives to Giuliani's comments on abortion rights and other issues. The segment includes comments from Giuliani and Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council (Allen, "Nightly News," NBC, 3/12). Video of the segment is available online.
"Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at kaisernetwork/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
NBC's "Nightly News" on Monday reported on the video and reaction from conservatives to Giuliani's comments on abortion rights and other issues. The segment includes comments from Giuliani and Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council (Allen, "Nightly News," NBC, 3/12). Video of the segment is available online.
"Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at kaisernetwork/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
Study sheds light on the developmental origins of polycystic ovarian syndrome
New research suggests that the way baby girls develop in the womb may affect whether or not they develop polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)* as adults and the severity of the symptoms if they do.
This major population study examines maternal factors during pregnancy and their impact on the subsequent development of PCOS, and is the first to reconcile previous conflicting research on the developmental origins of the syndrome.
Dr Michael Davies, senior research fellow at the Research Centre in Reproductive Health at the University of Adelaide, Australia, told the 21st annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology today (Wednesday 22 June): "Our research suggests that, during pregnancy and birth, there are several different factors working through different pathways that are implicated in the overlapping and varying symptoms of PCOS that emerge in the offspring's later life".
"Existing research has already established links between foetal growth restriction, postnatal growth and metabolic disorders such as diabetes in adulthood. The idea that events in very early life can have an enduring, complex and important influence on subsequent disease is referred to as developmental programming, and this research theme has been applied to PCOS recently. Different studies have produced conflicting evidence that shows that large babies grow to become heavier adults with polycystic ovaries, but that the most severe symptoms of PCOS are associated with growth restriction as a foetus."
"Our research examines the relationship between symptoms of PCOS in adulthood and foetal conditions in women born in a major hospital in Adelaide in the 1970s. Our findings support the proposition that there is an inter-generational growth path leading to menstrual irregularity, while, at the same time, other symptoms may be one of number of consequences of restricted foetal growth."
Dr Davies and his team are studying a group of young women born between 1973 and 1975. They went back to maternity hospital records and first traced the mothers so that they could then contact and interview the daughters. So far they have interviewed 544 women who were born between 1973 and 1974 and who are aged between 30 and 32 at present.
They took a medical history of the young women and compared it with information about their births, including birth weight, placental weight, and weight of their mothers at their last clinical examination before giving birth.
Dr Davies said: "Symptoms of PCOS were relatively common. One in five women had more facial and/or body hair than normal, and one in four reported menstrual irregularity of greater than four days. Five per cent of women reported that they had an existing diagnosis of PCOS.
"We examined maternal weight in late pregnancy, birth weight and placental weight in relation to the symptoms of PCOS, or an existing or putative diagnosis of PCOS. Compared with their counterparts, young women without a diagnosis of PCOS but with irregular periods were heavier at birth, with larger placentas, and they tended to have mothers who were heavier in late pregnancy. In contrast, women with an existing diagnosis of PCOS tended to have birth weights that were, on average, 196g lighter than women without PCOS and smaller placentas.
"Therefore, our data suggest that different developmental pathways are implicated in the overlapping symptoms of PCOS. One pathway may be mediated by high maternal weight in late pregnancy, which is linked to irregular periods in the daughter, and possibly obesity and weight-related reproduction problems. A second pathway may involve reduced placental and foetal growth, which is linked to the more severe symptoms of PCOS in the daughter, usually resulting in an early clinical diagnosis of the syndrome. A foetus that has been affected by restricted growth is more likely to have problems with insulin metabolism in later life due to an underlying metabolic problem. In women this problem appears to be associated with PCOS, and is most evident where there is a constellation of symptoms of increasing severity. Hence, I suspect there are at least two pathways that can give rise to overlapping symptoms."
Dr Davies said that events that occurred not only to the mother, but possibly also the grandmother, could have a bearing on the development of a foetus. "To understand the growth of a child, we need to also understand the growth of the parents and possibly the grandparents. A good predictor of one's own birth weight is the birth weight of one's mother."
The study shed light on three aspects of the developmental origins of PCOS, he concluded. "There are reproductive consequences of metabolic programming events that occur during foetal development; we may need to look further back up the generations and look at more factors than previously considered; and finally, adverse events for one generation may have reproductive implications for the next."
----------------
Notes* PCOS is the commonest cause of ovarian dysfunction in women of reproductive age. It consists of numerous cysts in the ovaries, which are normally detected by ultrasound scanning. A woman with PCOS may have one or more of various symptoms such as menstrual irregularity, hirsutism, acne, obesity and difficulty conceiving. The condition is also linked with an increased risk of diabetes and heart disease.
Contact: Mary Rice
marymrcommunication
European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology
This major population study examines maternal factors during pregnancy and their impact on the subsequent development of PCOS, and is the first to reconcile previous conflicting research on the developmental origins of the syndrome.
Dr Michael Davies, senior research fellow at the Research Centre in Reproductive Health at the University of Adelaide, Australia, told the 21st annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology today (Wednesday 22 June): "Our research suggests that, during pregnancy and birth, there are several different factors working through different pathways that are implicated in the overlapping and varying symptoms of PCOS that emerge in the offspring's later life".
"Existing research has already established links between foetal growth restriction, postnatal growth and metabolic disorders such as diabetes in adulthood. The idea that events in very early life can have an enduring, complex and important influence on subsequent disease is referred to as developmental programming, and this research theme has been applied to PCOS recently. Different studies have produced conflicting evidence that shows that large babies grow to become heavier adults with polycystic ovaries, but that the most severe symptoms of PCOS are associated with growth restriction as a foetus."
"Our research examines the relationship between symptoms of PCOS in adulthood and foetal conditions in women born in a major hospital in Adelaide in the 1970s. Our findings support the proposition that there is an inter-generational growth path leading to menstrual irregularity, while, at the same time, other symptoms may be one of number of consequences of restricted foetal growth."
Dr Davies and his team are studying a group of young women born between 1973 and 1975. They went back to maternity hospital records and first traced the mothers so that they could then contact and interview the daughters. So far they have interviewed 544 women who were born between 1973 and 1974 and who are aged between 30 and 32 at present.
They took a medical history of the young women and compared it with information about their births, including birth weight, placental weight, and weight of their mothers at their last clinical examination before giving birth.
Dr Davies said: "Symptoms of PCOS were relatively common. One in five women had more facial and/or body hair than normal, and one in four reported menstrual irregularity of greater than four days. Five per cent of women reported that they had an existing diagnosis of PCOS.
"We examined maternal weight in late pregnancy, birth weight and placental weight in relation to the symptoms of PCOS, or an existing or putative diagnosis of PCOS. Compared with their counterparts, young women without a diagnosis of PCOS but with irregular periods were heavier at birth, with larger placentas, and they tended to have mothers who were heavier in late pregnancy. In contrast, women with an existing diagnosis of PCOS tended to have birth weights that were, on average, 196g lighter than women without PCOS and smaller placentas.
"Therefore, our data suggest that different developmental pathways are implicated in the overlapping symptoms of PCOS. One pathway may be mediated by high maternal weight in late pregnancy, which is linked to irregular periods in the daughter, and possibly obesity and weight-related reproduction problems. A second pathway may involve reduced placental and foetal growth, which is linked to the more severe symptoms of PCOS in the daughter, usually resulting in an early clinical diagnosis of the syndrome. A foetus that has been affected by restricted growth is more likely to have problems with insulin metabolism in later life due to an underlying metabolic problem. In women this problem appears to be associated with PCOS, and is most evident where there is a constellation of symptoms of increasing severity. Hence, I suspect there are at least two pathways that can give rise to overlapping symptoms."
Dr Davies said that events that occurred not only to the mother, but possibly also the grandmother, could have a bearing on the development of a foetus. "To understand the growth of a child, we need to also understand the growth of the parents and possibly the grandparents. A good predictor of one's own birth weight is the birth weight of one's mother."
The study shed light on three aspects of the developmental origins of PCOS, he concluded. "There are reproductive consequences of metabolic programming events that occur during foetal development; we may need to look further back up the generations and look at more factors than previously considered; and finally, adverse events for one generation may have reproductive implications for the next."
----------------
Notes* PCOS is the commonest cause of ovarian dysfunction in women of reproductive age. It consists of numerous cysts in the ovaries, which are normally detected by ultrasound scanning. A woman with PCOS may have one or more of various symptoms such as menstrual irregularity, hirsutism, acne, obesity and difficulty conceiving. The condition is also linked with an increased risk of diabetes and heart disease.
Contact: Mary Rice
marymrcommunication
European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology
Robotic Surgery Gains Traction In Gynecology
A growing number of ob-gyns are adding minimally invasive robotic surgery to their skill set to perform hysterectomies, myomectomies, vaginal prolapse repair, cancer removal, and other gynecologic procedures, according to two experts at The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) 57th Annual Clinical Meeting. Patients are increasingly seeking out less-invasive treatment alternatives, including robotic options. Robotic surgery, when used appropriately, benefits both physicians and patients because it reduces blood loss, is less invasive, and shortens hospital stays and recovery times compared with traditional surgery.
Five years ago, "robotic surgery" was not a term commonly used by physicians or patients when discussing gynecologic treatment options. Today, it is quite common and physicians are seeking out robotics to learn if it's an option for their practice, according to Arnold P. Advincula, MD, from the University of Michigan, and Javier F. Magrina, MD, from the Mayo Clinic in Arizona, who presented "Robotic Surgery in Gynecology: Use and Abuse." The session addressed the pros and cons of this cutting-edge technology for ob-gyns and their patients.
In 2000, the US Food and Drug Administration approved the use of a robotic system for laparoscopy, and specifically for hysterectomy in 2005. Robotic surgery allows a surgeon to sit at a console while three or four robotic arms move over the patient according to the surgeon's commands. In gynecology, robotics can be used for hysterectomy, myomectomy, endometriosis, and the removal of endometrial and cervical malignancies.
Benefits of Robotic Surgery
Conventional laparoscopic surgery has a steep learning curve for physicians because it has two-dimensional imaging and involves mastering counter-intuitive hand movements. Robotic surgery, however, solves some of these challenges because it uses three-dimensional imaging and instruments that move just like the surgeon's wrist. The robotic system eliminates normal hand tremors and allows the surgeon to sit, instead of stand, during the procedure, which helps guard against fatigue.
Dr. Magrina said that for endometrial and cervical cancer surgery, studies show that the operating time for robotic surgery is similar to that of laparotomy and equal to or shorter than the operating time for laparoscopy (both of which are less invasive than conventional surgical procedures). When compared with laparotomy, studies have shown that robotic surgery reduces blood loss and shortens patient hospital stays and recovery times. Early data on survival and recurrence is not different from conventional surgery, but long-term data are unavailable.
"What we really need to know is if this holds up long term," Dr. Advincula said. "In cancer surgery, studies show that you can obtain a better surgical dissection, particularly for lymph nodes, but we don't know the five-year survival rates. For myomectomies, we need to know what the long-term impact is on fertility."
Drawbacks to the Robotic System
The biggest downside to a robotic system is cost. The system costs hospitals about $1.6 million and requires an annual $100,000 maintenance contract, according to Dr. Advincula. In addition, surgeons must undergo company-sponsored training. Dr. Magrina said surgeons need a proctor for their first several surgeries, and he recommends that physicians perform animal surgeries before operating on patients.
Another drawback to the robotic system is the lack of consensus about physician training. The FDA requires one- to two-day training to certify that a surgeon can use the system, but certification doesn't mean he or she is ready to operate on patients, Dr. Advincula said. There is no standardized process for privileging or credentialing on the system. Dr. Magrina recommends that each hospital create a privileging or credentialing system to determine the requirements prior to performing robotic surgeries.
Arnold P. Advincula, MD, is associate professor and director of the Minimally Invasive Surgery Program and Fellowship at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Javier F. Magrina, MD, is the Barbara Woodward Lips Professor and director of gynecologic oncology at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, AZ.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) is the nation's leading group of physicians providing health care for women. As a private, voluntary, nonprofit membership organization, ACOG: strongly advocates for quality health care for women; maintains the highest standards of clinical practice and continuing education of its members; promotes patient education; and increases awareness among its members and the public of the changing issues facing women's health care.
Source
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Five years ago, "robotic surgery" was not a term commonly used by physicians or patients when discussing gynecologic treatment options. Today, it is quite common and physicians are seeking out robotics to learn if it's an option for their practice, according to Arnold P. Advincula, MD, from the University of Michigan, and Javier F. Magrina, MD, from the Mayo Clinic in Arizona, who presented "Robotic Surgery in Gynecology: Use and Abuse." The session addressed the pros and cons of this cutting-edge technology for ob-gyns and their patients.
In 2000, the US Food and Drug Administration approved the use of a robotic system for laparoscopy, and specifically for hysterectomy in 2005. Robotic surgery allows a surgeon to sit at a console while three or four robotic arms move over the patient according to the surgeon's commands. In gynecology, robotics can be used for hysterectomy, myomectomy, endometriosis, and the removal of endometrial and cervical malignancies.
Benefits of Robotic Surgery
Conventional laparoscopic surgery has a steep learning curve for physicians because it has two-dimensional imaging and involves mastering counter-intuitive hand movements. Robotic surgery, however, solves some of these challenges because it uses three-dimensional imaging and instruments that move just like the surgeon's wrist. The robotic system eliminates normal hand tremors and allows the surgeon to sit, instead of stand, during the procedure, which helps guard against fatigue.
Dr. Magrina said that for endometrial and cervical cancer surgery, studies show that the operating time for robotic surgery is similar to that of laparotomy and equal to or shorter than the operating time for laparoscopy (both of which are less invasive than conventional surgical procedures). When compared with laparotomy, studies have shown that robotic surgery reduces blood loss and shortens patient hospital stays and recovery times. Early data on survival and recurrence is not different from conventional surgery, but long-term data are unavailable.
"What we really need to know is if this holds up long term," Dr. Advincula said. "In cancer surgery, studies show that you can obtain a better surgical dissection, particularly for lymph nodes, but we don't know the five-year survival rates. For myomectomies, we need to know what the long-term impact is on fertility."
Drawbacks to the Robotic System
The biggest downside to a robotic system is cost. The system costs hospitals about $1.6 million and requires an annual $100,000 maintenance contract, according to Dr. Advincula. In addition, surgeons must undergo company-sponsored training. Dr. Magrina said surgeons need a proctor for their first several surgeries, and he recommends that physicians perform animal surgeries before operating on patients.
Another drawback to the robotic system is the lack of consensus about physician training. The FDA requires one- to two-day training to certify that a surgeon can use the system, but certification doesn't mean he or she is ready to operate on patients, Dr. Advincula said. There is no standardized process for privileging or credentialing on the system. Dr. Magrina recommends that each hospital create a privileging or credentialing system to determine the requirements prior to performing robotic surgeries.
Arnold P. Advincula, MD, is associate professor and director of the Minimally Invasive Surgery Program and Fellowship at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Javier F. Magrina, MD, is the Barbara Woodward Lips Professor and director of gynecologic oncology at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, AZ.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) is the nation's leading group of physicians providing health care for women. As a private, voluntary, nonprofit membership organization, ACOG: strongly advocates for quality health care for women; maintains the highest standards of clinical practice and continuing education of its members; promotes patient education; and increases awareness among its members and the public of the changing issues facing women's health care.
Source
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Benefits Of IUD Extend Beyond Contraception Expert Says
The intrauterine device (IUD) isn't just an effective contraceptive, it also provides some protection against endometrial cancer, according to David A. Grimes, MD, of Chapel Hill, NC, who presented the 3rd Current Issues Update - "New Uses for IUDs: Contraception and Beyond" today at The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' (ACOG) 56th Annual Clinical Meeting.
Dr. Grimes said that the hormonal IUD is approved for the treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding in more than 80 countries (except the US). The hormonal IUD is also approved in a similar number of countries for protection of the endometrium in women taking estrogen in the menopause, he added.
"Only 2% of women who use contraception in the US choose an IUD, despite the proven safety and effectiveness of this long-term contraception," said Dr. Grimes, vice president of biomedical affairs at Family Health International, Research Triangle Park, NC, and a clinical professor of ob-gyn at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. "Worldwide, however, IUDs are the most widely used reversible contraceptive."
IUDs are an attractive option for many women. The IUD offers similar contraceptive effectiveness as permanent tubal sterilization but it is immediately reversible when removed. Inserting the IUD is a simple office procedure, unlike surgical sterilization which is performed in a hospital.
The IUD is a small, T-shaped plastic device that is inserted into the uterus. There are two types of IUDs approved in the US: the hormonal and the copper IUD. The hormonal IUD releases small amounts of the hormone progestin that prevents pregnancy by preventing fertilization. It is approved for five years of use. The copper IUD releases small amounts of copper into the uterus and prevents pregnancy with similar high effectiveness. It is approved for up to 10 years of use.
IUDs can be appropriate for women who have never been pregnant and those with a history of ectopic pregnancy, according to Dr. Grimes. He added that studies have shown that the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease is negligible and limited to the first month after insertion.
"IUD use among women is associated with a 40% reduction in the risk of endometrial cancer, similar to the cancer protection provided by oral contraceptives, yet many clinicians are not aware of that," said Dr. Grimes. For treating endometriosis, the hormonal IUD is an alternative to leuprolide acetate injections or a 'watch and wait' approach (to see if the pain improves by itself). Another emerging use for the hormonal IUD is treating endometrial hyperplasia, a condition in which there is abnormal overgrowth of the endometrium.
"The IUD is underutilized as a contraceptive in the US," summarized Dr. Grimes. "Research is showing that it has health benefits far beyond preventing pregnancy."
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is the national medical organization representing over 52,000 members who provide health care for women.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Dr. Grimes said that the hormonal IUD is approved for the treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding in more than 80 countries (except the US). The hormonal IUD is also approved in a similar number of countries for protection of the endometrium in women taking estrogen in the menopause, he added.
"Only 2% of women who use contraception in the US choose an IUD, despite the proven safety and effectiveness of this long-term contraception," said Dr. Grimes, vice president of biomedical affairs at Family Health International, Research Triangle Park, NC, and a clinical professor of ob-gyn at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. "Worldwide, however, IUDs are the most widely used reversible contraceptive."
IUDs are an attractive option for many women. The IUD offers similar contraceptive effectiveness as permanent tubal sterilization but it is immediately reversible when removed. Inserting the IUD is a simple office procedure, unlike surgical sterilization which is performed in a hospital.
The IUD is a small, T-shaped plastic device that is inserted into the uterus. There are two types of IUDs approved in the US: the hormonal and the copper IUD. The hormonal IUD releases small amounts of the hormone progestin that prevents pregnancy by preventing fertilization. It is approved for five years of use. The copper IUD releases small amounts of copper into the uterus and prevents pregnancy with similar high effectiveness. It is approved for up to 10 years of use.
IUDs can be appropriate for women who have never been pregnant and those with a history of ectopic pregnancy, according to Dr. Grimes. He added that studies have shown that the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease is negligible and limited to the first month after insertion.
"IUD use among women is associated with a 40% reduction in the risk of endometrial cancer, similar to the cancer protection provided by oral contraceptives, yet many clinicians are not aware of that," said Dr. Grimes. For treating endometriosis, the hormonal IUD is an alternative to leuprolide acetate injections or a 'watch and wait' approach (to see if the pain improves by itself). Another emerging use for the hormonal IUD is treating endometrial hyperplasia, a condition in which there is abnormal overgrowth of the endometrium.
"The IUD is underutilized as a contraceptive in the US," summarized Dr. Grimes. "Research is showing that it has health benefits far beyond preventing pregnancy."
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is the national medical organization representing over 52,000 members who provide health care for women.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
ACOG Urges Wider Availability Of Misoprostol Internationally To Reduce Maternal Mortality
Misoprostol is a safe and cost-effective way to provide women with postabortion care services, especially in less developed countries where obstacles to timely health care remain and maternal mortality due to incomplete abortion and miscarriage is high. According to a new Committee Opinion published today, The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) supports the increased availability and use of misoprostol as a first-line method for providing immediate postabortion care services and reducing maternal mortality.
The World Health Organization estimates that 67,000 women die each year from abortion or miscarriage-related complications, including retained tissue, hemorrhage, and infection. "Women in low-resource settings and in areas with restrictive abortion laws suffer disproportionately from abortion complications," said Laura Castleman, MD, MPH, MBA, a member of ACOG's Committee on International Affairs who helped develop the new document. "Misoprostol, a medicine that has been shown to effectively treat incomplete abortion or miscarriage, as well as other complications of pregnancy, including postpartum hemorrhage, can help save women's lives."
Postabortion care services, such as evacuation of the uterus, have traditionally involved procedures that require immediate availability of sterilized equipment, operating rooms, or physicians or other skilled personnel. Misoprostol is inexpensive, does not require refrigeration, and can be safely administered by nurses and midwives in an outpatient setting provided they receive appropriate training and support. Unfortunately, it is not widely enough available to meet the existing global need. Increasing its availability to international health systems is key.
"Women need an option within their communities that will allow for immediate medical attention," Dr. Castleman noted. "A woman who is sick and in pain, poor, or otherwise unable to travel may not receive care she needs in time to preserve her health or save her life. Misoprostol provides an important, low-cost alternative to vacuum aspiration, another method that can be used safely in decentralized settings if the necessary instruments and a trained provider are available.
"Ultimately, complications from unsafe abortion are best prevented by expanding access to contraception and safe legal abortion," Dr. Castleman added. "While we hope to see continuing progress in these areas, we also hope the international community will take steps to ensure that misoprostol is routinely available worldwide for use in postabortion care." Committee Opinion #427, "Misoprostol for Postabortion Care," is published in the February 2009 issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is the national medical organization representing over 52,000 members who provide health care for women.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
The World Health Organization estimates that 67,000 women die each year from abortion or miscarriage-related complications, including retained tissue, hemorrhage, and infection. "Women in low-resource settings and in areas with restrictive abortion laws suffer disproportionately from abortion complications," said Laura Castleman, MD, MPH, MBA, a member of ACOG's Committee on International Affairs who helped develop the new document. "Misoprostol, a medicine that has been shown to effectively treat incomplete abortion or miscarriage, as well as other complications of pregnancy, including postpartum hemorrhage, can help save women's lives."
Postabortion care services, such as evacuation of the uterus, have traditionally involved procedures that require immediate availability of sterilized equipment, operating rooms, or physicians or other skilled personnel. Misoprostol is inexpensive, does not require refrigeration, and can be safely administered by nurses and midwives in an outpatient setting provided they receive appropriate training and support. Unfortunately, it is not widely enough available to meet the existing global need. Increasing its availability to international health systems is key.
"Women need an option within their communities that will allow for immediate medical attention," Dr. Castleman noted. "A woman who is sick and in pain, poor, or otherwise unable to travel may not receive care she needs in time to preserve her health or save her life. Misoprostol provides an important, low-cost alternative to vacuum aspiration, another method that can be used safely in decentralized settings if the necessary instruments and a trained provider are available.
"Ultimately, complications from unsafe abortion are best prevented by expanding access to contraception and safe legal abortion," Dr. Castleman added. "While we hope to see continuing progress in these areas, we also hope the international community will take steps to ensure that misoprostol is routinely available worldwide for use in postabortion care." Committee Opinion #427, "Misoprostol for Postabortion Care," is published in the February 2009 issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is the national medical organization representing over 52,000 members who provide health care for women.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Sexist Jokes Favor The Mental Mechanisms That Justify Violence Against Women
Sexist jokes (and all the variants of this kind of humour) favour the mental mechanisms which urge to violence and battering against women in individuals with macho attitudes. Those are the conclusions of a study carried out at the University of Granada, released in the framework of the world most renowned international symposium about humour and its scientific applications ('International Summer School and Symposium on Humour and Laughter: Theory, Research and Applications') that will be held in Granada.
In order to carry out this research work, the scientists applied several questionnaires to a group of 109 university male students aged between 18 and 26 years old. They showed them two series of jokes, one of them with sexist jokes where women were denigrated and another one with common jokes, without any kind of sexist content. Next, the researchers proposed them several scenes with different cases of battering against women, from minor to serious attacks, to ask them how they would react in this kind of situation.
They are more tolerant with violence.
The work proved that those who had listened to sexist jokes were much more tolerant with male battering than those who had not, this is, that this kind of humour favours the mental mechanisms tolerant with violent behaviour towards women. However, the researchers warn those individuals affected by sexist humour showed a previous tendency to tolerate violence against women, as we can gather from a survey which weighed up sexist attitudes against women.
Some of the items of the scale used by the scientist to measure men's sexist attitudes were: "Deep down, feminist women intend women to be more powerful than men", "Most of the women do not fully appreciate what men do for them" or "There are many women who make sexual insinuations to men and later they reject their advances just to make fun of them".
Notes:
This work has been carried out by professors M??nica Romero-S??nchez, Mercedes Dur??n, Hugo Carretero Dios, Jes??s L. Meg?as and Miguel Moya, of the departments of Social and Experimental Psychology of the University of Granada.
The results of this research work have been accepted to be published in the renowned US Journal of Interpersonal Violence.
Reference: M??nica Romero S??nchez. Department of Social Psychology of the University of Granada.
Source:
M??nica Romero S??nchez
University of Granada
In order to carry out this research work, the scientists applied several questionnaires to a group of 109 university male students aged between 18 and 26 years old. They showed them two series of jokes, one of them with sexist jokes where women were denigrated and another one with common jokes, without any kind of sexist content. Next, the researchers proposed them several scenes with different cases of battering against women, from minor to serious attacks, to ask them how they would react in this kind of situation.
They are more tolerant with violence.
The work proved that those who had listened to sexist jokes were much more tolerant with male battering than those who had not, this is, that this kind of humour favours the mental mechanisms tolerant with violent behaviour towards women. However, the researchers warn those individuals affected by sexist humour showed a previous tendency to tolerate violence against women, as we can gather from a survey which weighed up sexist attitudes against women.
Some of the items of the scale used by the scientist to measure men's sexist attitudes were: "Deep down, feminist women intend women to be more powerful than men", "Most of the women do not fully appreciate what men do for them" or "There are many women who make sexual insinuations to men and later they reject their advances just to make fun of them".
Notes:
This work has been carried out by professors M??nica Romero-S??nchez, Mercedes Dur??n, Hugo Carretero Dios, Jes??s L. Meg?as and Miguel Moya, of the departments of Social and Experimental Psychology of the University of Granada.
The results of this research work have been accepted to be published in the renowned US Journal of Interpersonal Violence.
Reference: M??nica Romero S??nchez. Department of Social Psychology of the University of Granada.
Source:
M??nica Romero S??nchez
University of Granada
Sexual Victimization Experienced By Eighteen Percent Of Young Women
Sexual victimization can mean several things -- verbal coercion to have sex with an intimate partner, rape by a stranger, a woman fondled in a bar or forced intercourse when a woman is too intoxicated to consent or object.
Researchers at the University at Buffalo's Research Institute on Addictions report that 18 percent of young women recruited into a study experienced sexual victimization in a two-year period. Victimization was defined as unwanted sexual contact, verbally coerced sex, rape or attempted rape. Among this group, the majority (approximately 66 percent) stated that their victimization was perpetrated by an intimate partner.
Importantly, it was found that sexual victimization of women by intimate partners and non-intimate partners are two completely separate phenomena. Two different sets of risk factors exist for victimization by two different types of perpetrators.
"Because risk factors or predictors for the two different types of sexual victimization differ, considering them separately allowed us to see who is vulnerable to which type of experience," stated Maria Testa, Ph.D., lead investigator on the study and RIA senior research scientist. "It also has suggested the need for tailoring prevention strategies to each type of experience."
The research results were published in the February 2007 issue of the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology.
Testa and colleagues investigated whether women's substance use, sexual activity and lack of assertiveness in refusing sexual advances might contribute to sexual victimization by both intimate partners and non-intimate partners. For purposes of this study, an intimate partner was defined as a boyfriend/dating partner, husband, ex-boyfriend or ex-husband. All other perpetrators were classified as non-intimates and included acquaintances and friends, and more rarely, relatives, groups and strangers.
Initially through in-person interviews at the institute and subsequently through questionnaires mailed to their homes, 927 women averaging 24 years of age at the beginning of the study reported their experiences of sexual victimization at three time points. The sample of women ages 18-30 was representative of Buffalo and Erie County with 75 percent of the women identifying themselves as Caucasian, 17 percent as African American and small percentages as Hispanic, Asian, and Native American. Average income was $35,000 and 40 percent of the women were enrolled in college. Most were unmarried and employed either full- or part-time.
The factors that predicted victimization from intimates were different than the factors that predicted victimization from non-intimates. Predictors of intimate partner victimization included being married or living together, prior intimate partner victimization and difficulty refusing a partner's request for sex. Thus, women who experience this type of sexual victimization are at risk of experiencing it multiple times, by virtue of remaining in relationships with sexually aggressive men.
A predictor of victimization by a non-intimate perpetrator was binge drinking. "One explanation for this may be that a perpetrator who is not intimately acquainted with a victim is more likely to take advantage of a woman's intoxication as a way to facilitate having sex with her," according to Testa. "Women who are heavy drinkers or binge drinkers typically drink outside the home and in the presence of others who are drinking, reflecting a lifestyle that poses greater risk from men they don't know."
Another predictor of victimization by a non-intimate perpetrator was engaging in sex with a greater number of sexual partners. This behavior also increased risk for subsequent sexual victimization due to exposure to a greater number of potential perpetrators.
Testa suggests that prevention strategies to reduce sexual victimization by non-intimate partners should be designed to reduce heavy episodic drinking, as well as the number of sexual partnerships, especially in populations such as female college students. Different strategies are necessary to prevent sexual victimization from intimate partners and might include assertiveness training for women about how to effectively refuse sexual advances and discouraging young women from entering or remaining in coercive relationships.
Co-authors on the report included Carol VanZile-Tamsen, Ph.D., formerly of RIA and currently a research analyst with UB's Office of Institutional Analysis, and Jennifer A. Livingston, Ph.D., RIA research scientist.
This research was supported with grants from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and the Office of Research on Women's Health.
The Research Institute on Addictions has been a leader in the study of addictions since 1970 and a research center of the University at Buffalo since 1999.
The University at Buffalo is a premier research-intensive public university, the largest and most comprehensive campus in the State University of New York.
Contact: Kathleen Weaver
University at Buffalo
Researchers at the University at Buffalo's Research Institute on Addictions report that 18 percent of young women recruited into a study experienced sexual victimization in a two-year period. Victimization was defined as unwanted sexual contact, verbally coerced sex, rape or attempted rape. Among this group, the majority (approximately 66 percent) stated that their victimization was perpetrated by an intimate partner.
Importantly, it was found that sexual victimization of women by intimate partners and non-intimate partners are two completely separate phenomena. Two different sets of risk factors exist for victimization by two different types of perpetrators.
"Because risk factors or predictors for the two different types of sexual victimization differ, considering them separately allowed us to see who is vulnerable to which type of experience," stated Maria Testa, Ph.D., lead investigator on the study and RIA senior research scientist. "It also has suggested the need for tailoring prevention strategies to each type of experience."
The research results were published in the February 2007 issue of the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology.
Testa and colleagues investigated whether women's substance use, sexual activity and lack of assertiveness in refusing sexual advances might contribute to sexual victimization by both intimate partners and non-intimate partners. For purposes of this study, an intimate partner was defined as a boyfriend/dating partner, husband, ex-boyfriend or ex-husband. All other perpetrators were classified as non-intimates and included acquaintances and friends, and more rarely, relatives, groups and strangers.
Initially through in-person interviews at the institute and subsequently through questionnaires mailed to their homes, 927 women averaging 24 years of age at the beginning of the study reported their experiences of sexual victimization at three time points. The sample of women ages 18-30 was representative of Buffalo and Erie County with 75 percent of the women identifying themselves as Caucasian, 17 percent as African American and small percentages as Hispanic, Asian, and Native American. Average income was $35,000 and 40 percent of the women were enrolled in college. Most were unmarried and employed either full- or part-time.
The factors that predicted victimization from intimates were different than the factors that predicted victimization from non-intimates. Predictors of intimate partner victimization included being married or living together, prior intimate partner victimization and difficulty refusing a partner's request for sex. Thus, women who experience this type of sexual victimization are at risk of experiencing it multiple times, by virtue of remaining in relationships with sexually aggressive men.
A predictor of victimization by a non-intimate perpetrator was binge drinking. "One explanation for this may be that a perpetrator who is not intimately acquainted with a victim is more likely to take advantage of a woman's intoxication as a way to facilitate having sex with her," according to Testa. "Women who are heavy drinkers or binge drinkers typically drink outside the home and in the presence of others who are drinking, reflecting a lifestyle that poses greater risk from men they don't know."
Another predictor of victimization by a non-intimate perpetrator was engaging in sex with a greater number of sexual partners. This behavior also increased risk for subsequent sexual victimization due to exposure to a greater number of potential perpetrators.
Testa suggests that prevention strategies to reduce sexual victimization by non-intimate partners should be designed to reduce heavy episodic drinking, as well as the number of sexual partnerships, especially in populations such as female college students. Different strategies are necessary to prevent sexual victimization from intimate partners and might include assertiveness training for women about how to effectively refuse sexual advances and discouraging young women from entering or remaining in coercive relationships.
Co-authors on the report included Carol VanZile-Tamsen, Ph.D., formerly of RIA and currently a research analyst with UB's Office of Institutional Analysis, and Jennifer A. Livingston, Ph.D., RIA research scientist.
This research was supported with grants from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and the Office of Research on Women's Health.
The Research Institute on Addictions has been a leader in the study of addictions since 1970 and a research center of the University at Buffalo since 1999.
The University at Buffalo is a premier research-intensive public university, the largest and most comprehensive campus in the State University of New York.
Contact: Kathleen Weaver
University at Buffalo
Osteoporosis Treatment -- Without Estrogen
A class of drugs called bisphosphonates has become the new mainstay treatment for postmenopausal women diagnosed with osteoporosis in the post-hormone-replacement era. Taking just one pill a week, or even one a month, may prevent, slow or stop the breakdown and progress of this bone-thinning condition, according to the May issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource.
An estimated 10 million Americans, mostly women, have osteoporosis, where bones become weak and highly prone to fractures. Millions more have low bone density (osteopenia), which can increase the risk of fractures.
Bone -- a living tissue -- is constantly remodeling, with old bone breaking down and new bone replacing it. Bisphosphonates work by slowing the breakdown and reabsorption of old bone, an ongoing process that accelerates as estrogen levels fall during the first few years after menopause. By slowing the process, bisphosphonates help preserve bone density and reduce the risk of fractures.
Estrogen once was commonly prescribed to reduce bone loss. But when the landmark Women's Health Initiative Study, released in 2002, showed that long-term estrogen use increased the risk of breast cancer, heart attacks, strokes and blood clots, hormone therapy fell out of favor.
Bisphosphonates have filled the void and perform as well as estrogen in preventing bone loss. Bisphosphonates available to treat osteoporosis include alendronate (Fosamax), ibandronate (Boniva) and risedronate (Actonel).
Patients should talk with a doctor about the best ways to prevent and treat osteoporosis. Bisphosphonates have potential side effects, most commonly heartburn and abdominal pain caused by irritation of the esophagus or stomach. Even when taking medications, patients should take steps to protect bones, including consuming adequate calcium and vitamin D; engaging in regular weight-bearing exercise such as walking and weight training; and avoiding smoking and excessive use of alcohol.
Mayo Clinic
200 First St. SW
Rochester, MN 55902
United States
mayoclinic
View drug information on Actonel; Boniva; Fosamax.
An estimated 10 million Americans, mostly women, have osteoporosis, where bones become weak and highly prone to fractures. Millions more have low bone density (osteopenia), which can increase the risk of fractures.
Bone -- a living tissue -- is constantly remodeling, with old bone breaking down and new bone replacing it. Bisphosphonates work by slowing the breakdown and reabsorption of old bone, an ongoing process that accelerates as estrogen levels fall during the first few years after menopause. By slowing the process, bisphosphonates help preserve bone density and reduce the risk of fractures.
Estrogen once was commonly prescribed to reduce bone loss. But when the landmark Women's Health Initiative Study, released in 2002, showed that long-term estrogen use increased the risk of breast cancer, heart attacks, strokes and blood clots, hormone therapy fell out of favor.
Bisphosphonates have filled the void and perform as well as estrogen in preventing bone loss. Bisphosphonates available to treat osteoporosis include alendronate (Fosamax), ibandronate (Boniva) and risedronate (Actonel).
Patients should talk with a doctor about the best ways to prevent and treat osteoporosis. Bisphosphonates have potential side effects, most commonly heartburn and abdominal pain caused by irritation of the esophagus or stomach. Even when taking medications, patients should take steps to protect bones, including consuming adequate calcium and vitamin D; engaging in regular weight-bearing exercise such as walking and weight training; and avoiding smoking and excessive use of alcohol.
Mayo Clinic
200 First St. SW
Rochester, MN 55902
United States
mayoclinic
View drug information on Actonel; Boniva; Fosamax.
Women's Health Alert: Fighting Heart Disease In Your 40s
The risk for heart-related death is increasing in young adults ages 35 to 54, and the numbers are even more alarming for younger women. It is the number-one cause of death for both men and women in the United States, yet every year since 1984 more women have died of cardiovascular health problems than men, according to the American Heart Association.
"Although there has been a general decline in deaths caused by heart disease, the last decade has seen a steady increase among younger women ages 35 to 44. Women account for more than 50 percent of deaths due to heart disease," says Dr. Holly Andersen, the director of education and outreach for the Ronald O. Perelman Heart Institute at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center.
Dr. Andersen offers the following advice to women the following advice on how to stay healthy, know their risk factors, and get the best medical treatments to take better care of their hearts.
-- Enjoy yourself. Eat right, attempt to get a good night's sleep, practice stress reduction, and have some fun -- all have been shown to lower the risk of heart disease.
-- Know the warning signs of an attack. Women may not always experience the typical crushing chest pain that is associated with a heart attack. Many women have symptoms that include neck, shoulder and abdominal pain; some may also have nausea, vomiting, fatigue and shortness of breath, along with chest pain.
-- Test for the silent attack. Some women feel no pain at all and experience what is known as a "silent heart attack." Silent heart attacks lead to long-term shortage of blood and oxygen flow to the heart. If you are a post-menopausal woman and have at least three risk factors for heart disease you should ask your doctor for a cardiac stress test to determine if you have experienced this type of attack and permanent damage.
-- Know your risk factors. Your risk of having a heart attack greatly increases if you are obese/overweight, a smoker, have high cholesterol and/or diabetes. There are also several risk factors that are of particular importance to women:
-- Smoking greatly increases the risk of heart attack for women under the age of 45. The combination of smoking and birth control pills increases a woman's risk by at least 20-fold.
-- High C-Reactive Protein (CRP) levels are a marker of inflammation that has been shown to be an independent risk factor for cardiovascular risk. Ask your doctor to check your level with a simple blood test.
-- Experiencing complications during pregnancy can be an indicator of future cardiovascular disease for moms. Women who have had preeclampsia, gestational diabetes or delivered low-birth-weight babies should aggressively manage all risk factors for heart disease.
-- According to the American Heart Association, low-levels of good cholesterol (HDL) are a stronger predictor of heart disease death in women than in men over 65.
-- Call 911. Anyone who thinks they are having a heart attack should dial 911 immediately. Emergency medical teams can begin to treat patients before they arrive at the hospital and save precious time that is often lost when patients try to drive themselves to the emergency room.
-- Get an EKG. Once a woman does arrive in the emergency room it is important to ask for an EKG test or an enzyme blood test to check for a heart attack, since medical professionals may attribute a woman's symptoms to other health conditions such as indigestion.
Ronald O. Perelman Heart Institute of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center
The Ronald O. Perelman Heart Institute of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center functions as a "medical town square" complete with a patient-friendly welcome center and a clinical trials enrollment center. The Institute expands upon the Hospital's cardiac care expertise and connect all cardiac services, from treating life-threatening arrhythmias to complex coronary artery disease. It also focuses on translational and clinical research efforts aimed at new ways to diagnose and treat patients with heart disease. New interventional cardiology labs allow physicians to continue to develop advances in minimally invasive procedures that ensure quicker recovery and shorter hospital stays for patients.
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, located in New York City, is one of the leading academic medical centers in the world, comprising the teaching hospital NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medical College, the medical school of Cornell University. NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell provides state-of-the-art inpatient, ambulatory and preventive care in all areas of medicine, and is committed to excellence in patient care, education, research and community service. Weill Cornell physician-scientists have been responsible for many medical advances -- including the development of the Pap test for cervical cancer; the synthesis of penicillin; the first successful embryo-biopsy pregnancy and birth in the U.S.; the first clinical trial for gene therapy for Parkinson's disease; the first indication of bone marrow's critical role in tumor growth; and, most recently, the world's first successful use of deep brain stimulation to treat a minimally conscious brain-injured patient. NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital also comprises NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Westchester Division and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/The Allen Hospital. NewYork-Presbyterian is the #1 hospital in the New York metropolitan area and is consistently ranked among the best academic medical institutions in the nation, according to U.S.News & World Report. Weill Cornell Medical College is the first U.S. medical college to offer a medical degree overseas and maintains a strong global presence in Austria, Brazil, Haiti, Tanzania, Turkey and Qatar.
Source: NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
"Although there has been a general decline in deaths caused by heart disease, the last decade has seen a steady increase among younger women ages 35 to 44. Women account for more than 50 percent of deaths due to heart disease," says Dr. Holly Andersen, the director of education and outreach for the Ronald O. Perelman Heart Institute at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center.
Dr. Andersen offers the following advice to women the following advice on how to stay healthy, know their risk factors, and get the best medical treatments to take better care of their hearts.
-- Enjoy yourself. Eat right, attempt to get a good night's sleep, practice stress reduction, and have some fun -- all have been shown to lower the risk of heart disease.
-- Know the warning signs of an attack. Women may not always experience the typical crushing chest pain that is associated with a heart attack. Many women have symptoms that include neck, shoulder and abdominal pain; some may also have nausea, vomiting, fatigue and shortness of breath, along with chest pain.
-- Test for the silent attack. Some women feel no pain at all and experience what is known as a "silent heart attack." Silent heart attacks lead to long-term shortage of blood and oxygen flow to the heart. If you are a post-menopausal woman and have at least three risk factors for heart disease you should ask your doctor for a cardiac stress test to determine if you have experienced this type of attack and permanent damage.
-- Know your risk factors. Your risk of having a heart attack greatly increases if you are obese/overweight, a smoker, have high cholesterol and/or diabetes. There are also several risk factors that are of particular importance to women:
-- Smoking greatly increases the risk of heart attack for women under the age of 45. The combination of smoking and birth control pills increases a woman's risk by at least 20-fold.
-- High C-Reactive Protein (CRP) levels are a marker of inflammation that has been shown to be an independent risk factor for cardiovascular risk. Ask your doctor to check your level with a simple blood test.
-- Experiencing complications during pregnancy can be an indicator of future cardiovascular disease for moms. Women who have had preeclampsia, gestational diabetes or delivered low-birth-weight babies should aggressively manage all risk factors for heart disease.
-- According to the American Heart Association, low-levels of good cholesterol (HDL) are a stronger predictor of heart disease death in women than in men over 65.
-- Call 911. Anyone who thinks they are having a heart attack should dial 911 immediately. Emergency medical teams can begin to treat patients before they arrive at the hospital and save precious time that is often lost when patients try to drive themselves to the emergency room.
-- Get an EKG. Once a woman does arrive in the emergency room it is important to ask for an EKG test or an enzyme blood test to check for a heart attack, since medical professionals may attribute a woman's symptoms to other health conditions such as indigestion.
Ronald O. Perelman Heart Institute of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center
The Ronald O. Perelman Heart Institute of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center functions as a "medical town square" complete with a patient-friendly welcome center and a clinical trials enrollment center. The Institute expands upon the Hospital's cardiac care expertise and connect all cardiac services, from treating life-threatening arrhythmias to complex coronary artery disease. It also focuses on translational and clinical research efforts aimed at new ways to diagnose and treat patients with heart disease. New interventional cardiology labs allow physicians to continue to develop advances in minimally invasive procedures that ensure quicker recovery and shorter hospital stays for patients.
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, located in New York City, is one of the leading academic medical centers in the world, comprising the teaching hospital NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medical College, the medical school of Cornell University. NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell provides state-of-the-art inpatient, ambulatory and preventive care in all areas of medicine, and is committed to excellence in patient care, education, research and community service. Weill Cornell physician-scientists have been responsible for many medical advances -- including the development of the Pap test for cervical cancer; the synthesis of penicillin; the first successful embryo-biopsy pregnancy and birth in the U.S.; the first clinical trial for gene therapy for Parkinson's disease; the first indication of bone marrow's critical role in tumor growth; and, most recently, the world's first successful use of deep brain stimulation to treat a minimally conscious brain-injured patient. NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital also comprises NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Westchester Division and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/The Allen Hospital. NewYork-Presbyterian is the #1 hospital in the New York metropolitan area and is consistently ranked among the best academic medical institutions in the nation, according to U.S.News & World Report. Weill Cornell Medical College is the first U.S. medical college to offer a medical degree overseas and maintains a strong global presence in Austria, Brazil, Haiti, Tanzania, Turkey and Qatar.
Source: NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
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