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Caffeine reduces women's chances of becoming pregnant

Caffeine reduces muscle activity in the Fallopian tubes that carry eggs from a woman's ovaries to her womb. "Our experiments were conducted in mice, but this finding goes a long way towards explaining why drinking caffeinated drinks can reduce a woman's chance of becoming pregnant," says Sean Ward, professor of physiology and cell biology, at the University of Nevada School of Medicine, who conducted the study.

21 Jul 2011

Texas Tribune reviews new anti-abortion law; health debate

An amendment that conservative state lawmakers hoped would wipe out the only taxpayer-funded elective abortions in Texas ultimately might not do much at all. One of many tacked onto an omnibus health care bill during the Legislature's special session in June, the amendment by Rep. Wayne Christian, R-Center, aims to remove state funding from any hospital district — a health care system financed by city or county tax dollars - that provides elective abortions.

21 Jul 2011

IOM panel recommends insurance coverage for contraception

The recommendation by the Institute of Medicine advises that contraceptives for women be treated as one of the several preventive services provided free of charge under the new health law.

21 Jul 2011

Taller people at increased risk of cancers

Taller people are at increased risk of a wide range of cancers, new research shows today.

21 Jul 2011

Babies of stressed pregnant mums may have lasting effects

According to a new study high levels of stress during pregnancy can cause an unborn child to have lifelong mental scars. Researchers have found that a mother facing unnecessary crises can leave an imprint in the brains of her children, making them less able to cope as they get older.

20 Jul 2011

New anti-cancer drugs plus chemo for breast cancer shows promise: Study

Melbourne researchers have discovered that some of the most aggressive forms of cancers can be more effectively treated if chemotherapy is combined with a new class of anti-cancer drugs.

20 Jul 2011

Novel approach to prevent ‘chemo’ induced menopause in breast cancer patients

It is known that women who undergo chemotherapy for breast cancer get an early menopause under age 40. Women can choose to have some eggs removed in advance of the treatment in order to preserve some chance of having a baby later, but that can be a difficult and complicated process. Now, however, there may be a medication to treat these women to avoid premature menopause. About 6% of women with breast cancer are diagnosed before age 40.

20 Jul 2011

GlobalPost examines GHI implementation in Guatemala

GlobalPost examines the prevalence of chronic malnutrition in Guatemala, which is one of the countries targeted by the Obama administration's Global Health Initiative (GHI). It also looks at how the GHI is being implemented in that country.

20 Jul 2011

Ban says U.N.'s top priority is sustainable development

During a speech to the World Trade Organization on Tuesday, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon laid out his vision for his next term, telling "trade officials and diplomats that 'the United Nations' top priority for this year and many years beyond will have to be sustainable development' - lifting people out of poverty while working on environmental concerns," the Associated Press reports.

20 Jul 2011

Capsules: IOM recommends free birth control for all

Today on the Capsules blog, Jenny Gold writes: American women ought to be able to get their birth control for free, according to a new report from the Institute of Medicine.

20 Jul 2011

Study investigates mercury deposits in industrialized city soil

Indianapolis, St. Louis, Detroit, Buffalo, Richmond and Providence - cities scattered across the eastern half of the United States - have something in common, all have coal-fired power plants. A new study from the School of Science at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis is among the first to investigate mercury deposits in industrialized city soil near this type of facility.

20 Jul 2011

Spanish patients with Fabry disease show classic observable traits different from rest of Europe

Spanish patients with Fabry disease, a rare hereditary condition where abnormal fatty deposits collect in blood vessels and organs throughout the body, appear to react differently to those in other European countries, according to a study in the August issue of IJCP, the International Journal of Clinical Practice.

20 Jul 2011

Chemotherapy combined with anti-cancer agent shows promise for treatment of aggressive breast cancers

Some of the most aggressive forms of breast cancer are more vulnerable to chemotherapy when it is combined with a new class of anti-cancer agent, researchers from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute have shown.

20 Jul 2011

Normal stem cell encourages growth of cancer stem cells and fuels ovarian cancer

Researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center have found that a type of normal stem cell fuels ovarian cancer by encouraging cancer stem cells to grow.

20 Jul 2011

IOM to issue report on preventive health care services for women

Is there nothing in last year's Affordable Care Act that people won't fight over? The latest battle is set to come to a head Wednesday, when the independent Institute of Medicine is expected to make recommendations about preventive health care services for women.

20 Jul 2011

Women with breastfeeding difficulties may experience postpartum depression

Women who have breastfeeding difficulties in the first two weeks after giving birth are more likely to suffer postpartum depression two months later compared to women without such difficulties.

20 Jul 2011

Study reveals how alcohol and weight influence breast cancer hormone levels in post menopausal women

Weight is the biggest factor affecting the level of sex hormones that increase breast cancer risk in post menopausal women, according to new research published in the British Journal of Cancer today (Wednesday).

20 Jul 2011

Birth control pills may reduce woman's bone density

Birth control pills may reduce a woman's bone density, according to a study published online July 13 in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism by Group Health Research Institute (GHRI) scientists.

20 Jul 2011

Study: Married people seek medical care sooner for chest pain

Men who are married or in common-law relationships seek medical care sooner for heart attacks compared with single, divorced or widowed men, found a new study in CMAJ.

19 Jul 2011

First comprehensive European patient education programme for women with HIV

"SHE" - Strong, HIV Positive, Empowered Women - the first comprehensive European patient education programme to address the growing challenges faced by women living with HIV, was launched at the 6th International AIDS Society (IAS) Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention in Rome, Italy.

19 Jul 2011