Opinion: Obesity in pregnancy really is a weighty issue
August 1st 2009It's time to challenge our patients to achieve their ideal body weight in the preconceptional period, encourage them to exercise regularly, and to take a more restrained approach to maternal weight gain if they are obese. Of course it helps if the counselor heeds his or her own advice!
Editorial: Web Exclusive: Health-care reform: Learning from Massachusetts's mistakes
August 1st 2009Massachusetts was the ideal setting to attempt universal coverage, but the influx of newly insured strained the system's ability to provide care and drove up costs. Dr. Lockwood offers his perspective on lessons to be learned from their mistakes.
Prenatal phthalate exposure linked to low birthweight
July 15th 2009Prenatal exposure to phthalates, a common chemical ingredient in cosmetics and personal care products, increases the risk of an infant being born with low birthweight (LBW), according to a study published online June 25 in the Journal of Pediatrics.
BMD monitoring of bisphosphonate therapy not needed during first 3 years
July 15th 2009Postmenopausal women treated with alendronate may not need bone mineral density monitoring within the first 3 years of starting treatment because such tests can give misleading results, according to a study published online on June 23 in BMJ.
Combining sumatriptan and naproxen relieves menstrual migraines
July 15th 2009Sumatriptan and naproxen used in combination delivered both 2-hour and sustained pain relief to women with dysmenorrhea who were suffering menstrual migraine headaches, according to a pair of studies reported in the July issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Cytology plus HPV test don't improve detection rate
July 15th 2009Liquid-based cytology (LBC) plus human papillomavirus (HPV) testing in women led to a small decrease in the detection rate of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 or worse (CIN3+) in a second screening round, compared to only LBC; but when the rounds were combined, using both methods didn?t detect more CIN3+ or CIN2+ than LBC alone, according to research published online June 18 in The Lancet Oncology.
Update on anti-angiogenesis therapy for ovarian and cervical cancers
July 1st 2009Are we looking at a paradigm shift in treating these two devastating gynecologic cancers? Experts share the latest clinical trial results on adding targeted biological therapy that can potentially improve survival in women who've nearly exhausted other treatment options.
Medicare offers cash incentives for IT implementation
June 12th 2009As part of the economic stimulus package, the federal government is expected to spend more than $35 billion during the next decade on Medicare and Medicaid bonuses to physicians and hospitals that adopt certified electronic health records (EHRs), American Medical News (3/16/09) reported.
Simulator-trained students gain experience equivalent to 20 to 50 real salpingectomies
June 12th 2009Danish gynecology students trained in laparoscopic surgery using a virtual simulator scored substantially higher on a proficiency scale than those receiving standard clinical training, according to research published online May 14 in BMJ.
Folate fortification law linked to decreased heart defects
June 12th 2009After a Canadian law mandating the fortification of flour and pasta products with folate went into effect in 1998, the birth prevalence of severe congenital defects has decreased in Quebec, according to a study published online May 12 in BMJ.