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Study shows estrogen stabilization may protect women from brain aneurysms risk

Results from a retrospective, case-control study presented today at the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery (SNIS) 7th Annual Meeting could have significant implications for women at risk of brain aneurysms as data shows that oral contraceptives (OC) and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may yield the additional benefit of protecting against the formation and/or rupture of brain aneurysms – balloon-like sacks that form in a weakened artery wall and, upon bursting, can cause severe disability or death.

31 Jul 2010

Epigenetic changes to DNA in breast cancers linked with environmental risk factors, tumor size: Study

Researchers from Brown University and the University of California San Francisco have found that epigenetic changes to DNA in breast cancers are related to environmental risk factors and tumor size, providing a window into the severity of the disease. The study is published in today's edition of PLoS Genetics. The researchers found that epigenetic profiles of tumors had a direct association with diet, alcohol, and tumor size.

31 Jul 2010

Ten steps to successful breastfeeding from WHO and UNICEF

During World Breastfeeding Week, celebrated from 1 to 7 August in more than 170 countries, WHO reiterates its call on health facilities and health workers to implement ten steps to help mothers breastfeed successfully and improve their babies' health and chances of survival.

30 Jul 2010

First Edition: July 30, 2010

In today's headlines, a report about the administration's new high-risk pool regulations and how they address abortion coverage, as well as other details related to the new health law and the insurance marketplace.

30 Jul 2010

World Congress on Fertility and Sterility to take place 12-16 September in Munich, Germany

The World Congress on Fertility and Sterility takes place every 3 years. It is the most important international congress in this fast moving field. The 20th congress will take place in Munich, Germany, from 12-16 September, 2010, just a few days before the start of the famous Oktoberfest.

30 Jul 2010

New health reform law to benefit 30 million women: Commonwealth Fund report

Thirty million women will benefit from the new health reform law over the next decade, either through new or strengthened insurance coverage, according to a new report from The Commonwealth Fund. In the first analysis of its kind, the authors report that the law will stabilize and reverse the growing exposure to health costs that women now experience by subsidizing health insurance for up to 15 million currently uninsured women, and strengthening existing coverage for 14.5 million women who are considered underinsured-those who have health coverage that does not adequately protect them from high medical expenses.

30 Jul 2010

IRIN examines Global Humanitarian Assistance report, maps percentage of African budgets spent on health

"[H]umanitarian watchdog Development Initiatives outlines some of the needs, responses and funding trends" in humanitarian aid over the past decade in its 2010 Global Humanitarian Assistance (GHA) report, IRIN writes in an article that examines the organization's findings.

30 Jul 2010

VitaPath Genetics launches VitaTrack Folate Tracker

VitaPath Genetics, the Spina Bifida Association and the National Council on Folic Acid today announced the launch of the free iPhone application—the VitaTrack Folate Tracker— which allows women to track their daily intake of folate and folic acid. Maintaining an adequate level of folic acid prior to and during pregnancy can reduce the risk of serious birth defects like Spina Bifida by up to 70%. Studies show that folic acid may also help prevent congenital heart disease, pre-term labor, and cleft lip and palate.

30 Jul 2010

Phenolic compounds in peaches, plums kill breast cancer cells

A recent study performed at Texas A&M University revealed that peaches and plums may present an even sweeter, juicier treat in their ability to fight breast cancer. According to research scientists Dr. Luis Cisneros-Zevallos and Dr. David Byrne from AgriLife Research at Texas A&M, extracts found in commercial varieties of peaches and plums have been shown to kill breast cancer cells while not harming normal cells.

30 Jul 2010

Business groups, GOP prepare anti-health law campaigns for midterm elections

Politico reports that business groups are preparing ads for the November elections and some are targeting health reform. "The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has already vowed to invest $75 million in the mid-term elections. And health insurers are also planning to play big in November, although the specifics remain in flux. … Both America's Health Insurance Plans and its Coalition for Medicare Choices are expected to play a major role in the messaging, along with individual companies. But neither group, according to sources, plans to directly attack Democrats, which would risk infuriating the White House as it writes reform regulations as well as the Blue Dog Democrats who opposed the legislation."

30 Jul 2010

$Postmenopausal women with diabetes taking TZDs at increased fracture risk$

Postmenopausal women with diabetes taking TZDs at increased fracture risk

Postmenopausal women with diabetes taking thiazolidinediones (TZDS), including rosiglitazone and pioglitazone, may be at increased risk for fractures according to a new study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM). Men with diabetes taking both loop diuretics and TZDs may also be at increased risk of fractures.

29 Jul 2010

Bionovo receives EMA final guidance for advancing Menerba to Phase 3 clinical trials

Bionovo, Inc. announced today that it has received final guidance from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in order to advance Menerba, the company's lead drug candidate for menopausal symptoms, to Phase 3 clinical trials in Europe. The guidance defines the clinical and regulatory pathway to a European marketing authorization for Menerba.

29 Jul 2010

New Zealand MEDSAFE approves ABRAXANE for metastatic breast cancer

Abraxis BioScience, Inc., a fully integrated, global biotechnology company, and Specialised Therapeutics Ltd. today announced that MEDSAFE, the New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority, has approved for marketing ABRAXANE® (nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel) for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer after failure of anthracycline therapy.

29 Jul 2010

NMF raises $30,000 in 30 days to help women have gynecologic surgery

Natividad Medical Foundation President & CEO Linda Ford announced NMF has raised $30,000 in 30 days – enough for about 12 women to have the gynecologic surgery they so desperately need. The announcement is part of the launch of The Onyx Fund for Women – named in honor of a Natividad Medical Center patient named Onix who inspired a hospital's doctors and a philanthropic fund.

29 Jul 2010

Advaxis provides update on survival information from ADXS11-001 phase 1 trial in cervix cancer

Advaxis, Inc., the live, attenuated Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) immunotherapy company, has updated the survival information from its phase 1 trial of ADXS11-001 which assessed the safety of this agent in advanced, metastatic, progressive cervix cancer in women whose disease progressed subsequent to treatment with cytotoxic therapy.

29 Jul 2010

African leaders agree to expand maternal health campaign as AU Summit concludes

African leaders participating in the 15th African Union Summit, which concluded on Tuesday, agreed to expand a campaign aimed at curbing maternal mortality on the continent and adopted other "key actions" in an effort to reduce infant and maternal mortality, PANA/Afrique en ligne reports.

29 Jul 2010

FRC Action, pro-life groups urge FDA to reject approval of Ella

Today FRC Action joined 19 pro-life groups in a letter sent to Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Margaret Hamburg requesting that Ella, a drug under consideration for FDA approval that can cause abortions but is misleadingly labeled as an "emergency contraceptive," not be approved.

29 Jul 2010

Quest Diagnostics' Fragile X Syndrome test receives New York State health department approval

An accurate, faster testing option to identify female carriers and other patients with genetic abnormalities that cause Fragile X Syndrome is now available to physicians in all fifty states with the recent approval in New York. Fragile X is the leading cause of inherited mental retardation and the most common known single gene cause of autism.

From Quest Diagnostics 29 Jul 2010

Innovative campaign to increase awareness, use of female condom

The Washington AIDS Partnership today announced that the second phase of an innovative campaign to increase awareness and use of the female condom as a tool for HIV prevention will launch across the District this week.

29 Jul 2010

Research on impact of BCL2 markers on breast cancer tumours

A new predictive marker which could help doctors to decide whether breast cancer patients would benefit from chemotherapy has been identified by a team of scientists.The study, part-funded by Cancer Research UK and published in the British Journal of Cancer today (Wednesday), shows for the first time how this molecular marker has been singled out as an independent factor in examining a breast cancer patient's tumour.

28 Jul 2010