AAAAI: Combined OCPs Not Tied to Respiratory Issues
April 4th 2011The use of progestin-estrogen oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) in women prior to becoming pregnant does not appear to increase the risk of adverse respiratory outcomes in offspring, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, held from March 18 to 22 in San Francisco.
Premenstrual Mood Swings May Worsen Bipolar Disorder
April 4th 2011Women with bipolar disorder who experience premenstrual exacerbation of their symptoms are more likely to have a worse course of illness, a shorter time to relapse, and more severe symptoms, according to a study published online Feb. 15 in The American Journal of Psychiatry.
American Medical Association to use physicians' survey results to ease regulations
April 1st 2011The American Medical Association (AMA) recently surveyed physicians about federal rules and regulations that increase their administrative costs and paperwork burden or that interfere with patient care without significantly benefiting patients or the government.
Physician characteristics, difficult patient encounters linked
April 1st 2011When a physician has a "difficult" encounter with a patient, he or she is apt to attribute the problem to particular characteristics of the patient. However, a new study demonstrates that not only patient characteristics are associated with "difficult" encounters; certain physician factors also predict a difficult interaction.
Makena's FDA approval sparks applause, ire, then dialogue
April 1st 2011When the US Food and Drug Administration approved Makena, a branded formulation of the synthetic progesterone 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate on Feb. 4, obstetricians and maternal-fetal medicine specialists celebrated a perceived victory in the fight to reduce premature births.
Addressing Maternal Obesity While Fostering Healthy Habits
April 1st 2011Obesity is a worldwide public health concern that affects many pregnant women. According to new research published in British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, pregnancy is an ideal time to initiate healthy weight and lifestyle discussions with patients.
Increasing Obstetric Patient Safety and Decreasing Compensation Payments
March 31st 2011Answering the Institute of Medicine’s call to improve patient safety, the New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell Medical Center undertook a step-wise, comprehensive, and ongoing safety program. The program was conceived in 2002 and began with a review by independent consultants.
17-Hydroxyprogesterone Does Not Lower Neonatal Morbidity
March 30th 2011Prophylactic treatment with 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17Pc) in twin pregnancy does not reduce neonatal morbidity or prolong gestation, according to a study published in the March issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Short Nurse Staffing Linked to Higher Patient Mortality
March 30th 2011Patient mortality appears to be higher when nurse staffing falls eight or more hours below target level and during nursing shifts when patient turnover is high, according to research published in the March 17 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Tamoxifen Offers Cost-Effective Breast Cancer Prophylaxis
March 30th 2011Tamoxifen chemoprophylaxis is a cost-effective therapy that successfully reduces breast cancer incidence among women younger than 55 years, even after the drug is discontinued, according to a study published online March 14 in Cancer.
Number of Cancer Survivors in U.S. Reaches 11.7 Million
March 29th 2011The number of cancer survivors in the United States had increased to nearly 12 million by 2007, according to a report in the March 11 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Impact of Adiposity Measures on Heart Disease Risk Alike
March 29th 2011Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio all have a similar strength of association with cardiovascular disease, but do not significantly improve risk prediction when information on blood pressure, diabetes, and lipid levels is available, according to a study published online March 11 in The Lancet.
Blacks, Hispanics Face Breast Cancer Treatment Delays
March 28th 2011Black and Hispanic women newly diagnosed with breast cancer are more likely than white women to experience treatment delays of over a month, according to a study published in the February issue of the Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved.
Cerebral Palsy Incidence Down in Preterm Survivors
March 28th 2011The incidence and severity of cerebral palsy (CP) among preterm survivors decreased significantly from 1990 to 1993 onward, possibly because of a reduction in severe cystic periventricular leukomalacia (c-PVL), according to a study published online March 3 in The Journal of Pediatrics.