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Americas Amigas donates mammogram machines to Brazilian Navy's floating clinics

Americas Amigas donated two new mammogram machines this June to the Brazilian Navy to be used in their floating ship clinics that serve residents in small communities in the Amazon River basin. The donation of two analog GE Health Performas will provide mammograms to an estimated 4,000 women a year in a northern Brazil region who have never had access to this life-saving technology.

25 Aug 2010

Alcohol consumption affects oestrogen levels, increases breast cancer risk: Study

A US study, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, has confirmed suggestions that certain types of breast cancer are more common among women who regularly drink alcohol.

25 Aug 2010

Virginia Attorney Gen. approves stricter oversight on abortion clinics; Indiana fails to follow up inspection reports on nursing homes

The Washington Post: "Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli II has concluded that the state can impose stricter oversight over clinics that perform abortions, a move immediately decried by abortion-rights organizations and others as an attempt to circumvent the General Assembly, which has repeatedly rejected similar measures.

25 Aug 2010

Fewer young women going for regular pap smears

According to new research findings, the number of young women going for a regular Pap smear test is dwindling. This test is a simple procedure that looks at the cervical cells and can detect cervical cancer early on. In 2001-02, 67% Australian women aged 20-69 went for a Pap smear, a number that went down to 60% in 2008-09. These are the lowest rates in the decade.

24 Aug 2010

New Halt System procedure for non-cancerous fibroid treatment

A new device manufactured by Northern California-based Halt Medical recently received FDA 510K clearance using a radio-frequency energy system to treat soft tissues. Fully qualified doctors insert the Halt System into targeted fibroids under ultrasound guidance. This procedure targets the core of the fibroid, by cauterizing the blood flow that feeds the fibroid, which decreases fibroid size and subsequent discomfort.

24 Aug 2010

Maria Shriver joins Alzheimer's Association to release The Shriver Report

Maria Shriver, in Partnership with the Alzheimer's Association, Takes a Groundbreaking Look into the Epidemic's Effect on Women as Caregivers, Advocates, and People Living With Alzheimer's.

24 Aug 2010

First Edition: August 24, 2010

In today's headlines, a federal court judge blocks the Obama administration's stem cell policy. Meanwhile, state action related to health reform and health policy continues.

24 Aug 2010

PEM scanners demonstrate improved specificity with high sensitivity in breast cancer diagnosis: Study

In a recent study presented at the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) 52nd Annual Meeting, researchers at the University of Washington showed that 18FDG dose for Positron Emission Mammography (PEM) may be reduced by as much as 70% without altering image quality.

24 Aug 2010

Breast-specific gamma imaging increases radiation-induced cancer risk: Report

Some nuclear-based breast imaging exams may increase a woman's risk of developing radiation-induced cancer, according to a special report appearing online and in the October issue of Radiology. However, the radiation dose and risk from mammography are very low.

24 Aug 2010

Novo Nordisk reaches exclusive agreement to market Vagifem 10 mcg

Novo Nordisk Inc. today announced that it has signed an exclusive agreement with Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc. to market Vagifem (estradiol vaginal tablets) 10 mcg. Under the terms of the agreement, Upsher-Smith will exclusively market Vagifem 10 mcg to physicians in the U.S. beginning August 2 through the company's existing field sales force.

23 Aug 2010

Arrayit selects PMA pathway for OvaDx Pre-Symptomatic Ovarian Cancer Screening Test

Arrayit Corporation, a leader in life sciences and healthcare technology, announces today that the company has chosen the Premarket Approval pathway for its OvaDx Pre-Symptomatic Ovarian Cancer Screening Test. While the standard for a PMA is higher than for a 510(k), the company believes that a PMA OvaDx submission can achieve a Class III PMA approval, the most stringent approval level granted by the FDA for in vitro diagnostic devices.

23 Aug 2010

Researchers find new way to study oncogene's role in DNA repair

A key step in understanding the origins of familial breast cancer has been made by two teams of scientists at the University of California, Davis. The researchers have purified, for the first time, the protein produced by the breast cancer susceptibility gene BRCA2 and used it to study the oncogene's role in DNA repair.

23 Aug 2010

Beer psoriasis link for women and psoriasis plus depression

According to a new study, women who regularly drink beer may be increasing their risk of developing psoriasis – a disease of the skin. Light beer and wine are not associated with such a risk, the study says. Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease characterised by itchy red scaly patches that most commonly appear on the knees, elbows and scalp or anywhere else in the body.

23 Aug 2010

Regular workouts make women feel more stronger, healthier, confident, energized and accomplished

A new survey of 443 women ages 25-49 finds that those who work out regularly do not just do it to be healthy; they do it to feel like a more confident, energized and accomplished woman. In fact, nearly all active women—more than nine out of 10—say working out regularly makes them feel healthier (100 percent), stronger (98 percent) and more energized (94 percent). These same women report that regular workouts make them feel more confident and accomplished (86 percent).

21 Aug 2010

PBCC invites grant applications for 'Income Tax Refunds for Breast and Cervical Cancer Research Grants'

Are you a breast or cervical cancer researcher in PA looking for additional research funding? The PA Breast Cancer Coalition (PBCC) is awaiting your grant application for the PBCC's Income Tax Refunds for Breast and Cervical Cancer Research Grants. The grant funding cycle is July 1, 2011– June 30, 2012.

21 Aug 2010

Cardinal DiNardo calls for support on 'No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act'

Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo, chair of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Pro-Life Activities, called on members of the House of Representatives to support the "No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act" (H.R. 5939), introduced by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) at the end of July.

21 Aug 2010

EMR tracking system improves follow-up of abnormal Pap tests: Study

Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) report that physicians who use an automated, electronic medical record (EMR) tracking system to follow-up on patients with an abnormal Pap test could increase the number of women who achieved diagnostic resolution and have women achieve resolution in less time than using traditional methods. These findings appear in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

21 Aug 2010

Female sexual offenders often unrecognised and underreported

Sexual offenses committed by women, while often unrecognised and underreported, have become the subject of a new book by a University of Montreal professor. Female Sexual Offenders: Theory, Assessment and Treatment (Wiley), is the first volume of its kind to provide an overview of female-perpetrated sexual abuse, statistics on the crime, as well as treatment options for offenders.

21 Aug 2010

Educational intervention program encourages Latina women towards postpartum care

Latinas participating in an educational intervention program were two-and-a-half times more likely to seek postpartum care than were those who did not have access to a similar program, a new study finds.

20 Aug 2010

Research finds air travel causes low risk for lymphedema

McNeely, from the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, says women who've had breast cancer surgery are often warned that pressure changes in an airplane cabin could trigger lymphedema, chronic swelling in the arm. But the study she did with an Australian research team showed that only five per cent of these women are likely at risk of developing any arm swelling when flying.

20 Aug 2010