Women's Health News

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To stop mother-to-child transmission of HIV, focus on safe breastfeeding strategies

"There is great hope that we can finally stop infants from getting infected with HIV by their mothers. But first, countries with high rates of HIV infection must work out how to deliver reliable health programs to protect babies form their mothers' infected breastmilk," Pierre Barker, senior vice president of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, writes in the Huffington Post's "Global Motherhood" blog.

25 Mar 2013

Certain strains of lactobacillus bacteria can dampen production of toxic shock syndrome toxin 1

Certain Streptococci increase their production of toxic shock syndrome toxin 1, sometimes to potentially dangerous levels, when aerobic bacteria are present in the vagina. But scientists from the University of Western Ontario have discovered certain strains of lactobacillus bacteria are capable of dampening production of that toxin according to research published in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology.

25 Mar 2013

The Lancet examines changes to China's family planning policy

The Lancet reports on changes in the governance of China's family planning policy. "On March 10, nearly 32 years to the day since China's National Population and Family Planning Commission was established to oversee the world's largest, longest-standing population control program, the country's leaders announced plans to dissolve it into the Ministry of Health," the journal writes, noting, "Four days later, the National People's Congress rubber-stamped the proposal and the commission ceased to exist, leaving the future of the country's fertility policy in doubt."

25 Mar 2013

Women, girls around the world at risk from inefficient cookstoves

"For mothers around the world, preparing the family meal is a daily ritual and an act of love. But it's also a grave risk for approximately three billion people who cook with open fires and inefficient stoves that burn solid fuels such as wood, animal and agricultural waste, and coal," Kathy Calvin, CEO of the United Nations Foundation, writes in the Huffington Post's "Global Motherhood" blog.

25 Mar 2013

Research roundup: Number of nurses linked to NICU infections; Comparing Medicare budget plans

Neonatal intensive care units – which provide care for infants who are critically ill – are costly and require a significant amount of nursing services.

25 Mar 2013

Opposing views on health law's birthday; Krauthammer calls for compromise with Obama on entitlements, taxes

A year ago, the Affordable Care Act's outlook appeared uncertain, with the Supreme Court decision on the law's legality and a contentious election fight over its merits still on the horizon.

25 Mar 2013

First Edition: March 22, 2013

Today's headlines including stories marking the health law's third birthday and examining progress in regard to its implementation.

22 Mar 2013

Mo. lawmaker wants appeal of ruling striking state law that allows employers to opt out of contraception, abortion coverage

Missouri's House speaker is calling on their state's attorney general to appeal a ruling that stops a state law from allowing employers to exclude contraception and abortion from insurance coverage.

22 Mar 2013

Genetic counseling, BRCA testing can reduce cancer incidence in black women, researchers say

Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center and colleagues in Canada have published study results focused on black women younger than 50, a population disproportionately afflicted with and dying from early-onset breast cancer compared to their white counterparts.

22 Mar 2013

Prosthesis may not improve overall outcomes in female total knee replacement patients

Anatomic differences between male and female knees have resulted in the creation and regular use of gender-specific implants. However, a new study presented today at the 2013 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) finds that a specialized prosthesis may not improve overall outcomes in female total knee replacement (TKR) patients.

21 Mar 2013

Estrogen therapy keeps joint pain at bay post hysterectomy

Estrogen therapy can help keep joint pain at bay after menopause for women who have had a hysterectomy. Joint pain was modestly, but significantly, lower in women who took estrogen alone than in women who took placebo in the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) trial.

21 Mar 2013

Philippines Supreme Court temporarily halts implementation of reproductive health law

"The Philippines Supreme Court temporarily halted the implementation of a law that provides state funding for contraceptives, legislation opposed by the dominant Roman Catholic Church but supported by reproductive health activists," the Associated Press reports, adding, "The Responsible Parenthood Law was passed by lawmakers late last year despite the church's opposition but petitioners questioned its legality on several grounds, saying it offends religious beliefs and fosters abortion, which remains illegal in the country" (3/19).

21 Mar 2013

Texas lawmakers consider stricter licensing for abortion clinics

In Texas, a state Senate committee is considering a bill that Democrats say would effectively ban abortion.

21 Mar 2013

Turning three: Progress reports on health overhaul abound

As the law approaches its third birthday, news outlets examine a variety of issues surrounding its implementation.

21 Mar 2013

Independent maternal demographic factors can predict likelihood of operative births in UK: Study

Independent maternal demographic factors such as social status, ethnicity and maternal age can predict the likelihood of operative births in the UK, according to a new study published today (20 March) in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

21 Mar 2013

Viewpoints: N.D. abortion law is 'repressive and extreme;' States identify 'promising' ideas to overhaul medical malpractice

Late last week, the North Dakota legislature passed a bill that would ban a woman from having an abortion as soon as the heartbeat of the fetus is detected, which can happen as early as six weeks into a pregnancy.

21 Mar 2013

Roundup: Calif. deal allows smaller-than-proposed reduction in home health care; Texas senate panel weighs end of life bills

A selection of health policy stories from California, Mississippi, Oregon, Texas, Florida, Kansas and Colorado.

21 Mar 2013

Estrogen provides long-term relief for post-menopausal women suffering from joint pain

Post-menopausal women, who often suffer from joint pain, could find some long-term relief by taking estrogen-only medication, according to a new study based on the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) that was released online today by the journal, Menopause.

21 Mar 2013

Study evaluates mesh-related complications for surgical management of female POP

Younger age, less prominent prolapse and concomitant hysterectomies are associated with a higher risk of peri-operative and mesh-related complications after prolapse repair with trocar-guided transvaginal mesh, according to a study presented by a Russian group at the 28th Annual EAU Congress.

21 Mar 2013

Older women in rural areas tend to suffer from recurrent bouts of depression

Being female and living in a rural area are among several factors that predicted whether an elderly person with depression recovered over the course of a year, finds a recent study in Depression Research and Treatment. Additional risk factors included having high levels of stress, being chronically ill and having a low estimate of one's own mental health.

20 Mar 2013

Women's Health News

To stop mother-to-child transmission of HIV, focus on safe breastfeeding strategies

Certain strains of lactobacillus bacteria can dampen production of toxic shock syndrome toxin 1

The Lancet examines changes to China's family planning policy

Women, girls around the world at risk from inefficient cookstoves

Research roundup: Number of nurses linked to NICU infections; Comparing Medicare budget plans

Opposing views on health law's birthday; Krauthammer calls for compromise with Obama on entitlements, taxes

First Edition: March 22, 2013

Mo. lawmaker wants appeal of ruling striking state law that allows employers to opt out of contraception, abortion coverage

Genetic counseling, BRCA testing can reduce cancer incidence in black women, researchers say

Prosthesis may not improve overall outcomes in female total knee replacement patients

Estrogen therapy keeps joint pain at bay post hysterectomy

Philippines Supreme Court temporarily halts implementation of reproductive health law

Texas lawmakers consider stricter licensing for abortion clinics

Turning three: Progress reports on health overhaul abound

Independent maternal demographic factors can predict likelihood of operative births in UK: Study

Viewpoints: N.D. abortion law is 'repressive and extreme;' States identify 'promising' ideas to overhaul medical malpractice

Roundup: Calif. deal allows smaller-than-proposed reduction in home health care; Texas senate panel weighs end of life bills

Estrogen provides long-term relief for post-menopausal women suffering from joint pain

Study evaluates mesh-related complications for surgical management of female POP

Older women in rural areas tend to suffer from recurrent bouts of depression

Exploring the nanoscale: How AFM is transforming cosmetic science

Innovating Texture and Culture in Plant-Based Foods

Advancing brain microphysiological systems (bMPS)

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