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NGOs, government face challenges in preventing fistula in DRC

Inter Press Service examines the challenges that non-governmental organizations and the government face in trying to prevent fistula among women in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where an estimated 12,000 cases are recorded annually because of sexual violence, early marriage and complications in childbirth, according to the Ministry of Public Health. Poverty, early pregnancy and marriage, sexual violence, and a lack of education and knowledge about the condition contribute to its prevalence, IPS reports.

30 Sep 2011

Microbicide Trials Network stops tenofovir arm of study after findings show drug less effective than anticipated

"The Microbicide Trials Network (MTN), which is funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, on Wednesday announced that it decided to stop one arm of a study involving more than 5,000 women in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Uganda" after "an interim review of the ongoing trial by an independent monitoring board found that the drug tenofovir when used as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) had less effect in protecting women than anticipated," Science Magazine's "Science Insider" blog reports.

30 Sep 2011

Children of obese mothers more likely to have asthma or wheezing in their teenage years

The children of mothers who are overweight or obese when they become pregnant are more likely to have asthma or wheezing as teenagers according to a team of researchers including Swatee Patel from the University of Greenwich.

30 Sep 2011

Sexually transmitted infection epidemic worries health experts

Researchers at the University of New South Wales (NSW) revealed that new cases of gonorrhea and Chlamydia are on the rise in Australia, particularly among young members of indigenous communities.

29 Sep 2011

Photo essay of USAID's work with women suffering from fistula in Guinea

This post in USAID's "IMPACTblog" examines the agency's work with women suffering from obstetric fistula in Guinea, where "[t]he average ... woman will have six children during her lifetime" and "due to the lack of obstetric care," many develop the "painful injury that is especially traumatic due to the stigma associated with it."

29 Sep 2011

Oral tenofovir discontinued in HIV clinical trial

A large-scale clinical trial evaluating whether daily use of an oral tablet or vaginal gel containing antiretroviral drugs can prevent HIV infection in women is being modified because an interim review found that the study cannot show that one of the study products, oral tenofovir, marketed under the trade name Viread, is effective.

29 Sep 2011

Appalachia pediatricians less likely to encourage HPV vaccination than other area doctors

Pediatricians in Appalachia are less likely than doctors in other areas to encourage parents to have their children receive the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, according to a new study.

29 Sep 2011

Heavy smoking linked with chronic musculoskeletal pain in women

Kentucky women who smoke heavily may experience more chronic musculoskeletal pain, suggests a new study led by University of Kentucky researchers.

29 Sep 2011

House GOP lawmakers launch new investigation into Planned Parenthood

House Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations subcommittee Chairman Cliff Stearns, R-Fla., sent Planned Parenthood a six-page letter earlier this month requesting financial information and details on how the women's health organization keeps federal funds separate from abortion services.

29 Sep 2011

Study: Mammographic surveillance improves outcomes of breast cancer patients

New research published in Health Technology Assessment 2011; vol. 15:34 has found that surveillance using mammography increases the survival chances of breast cancer patients. The research was funded by the National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment (NIHR HTA) programme.

29 Sep 2011

U.S. aid groups criticize U.S. government's response to sending food donations to North Korea

"Several American aid groups are criticizing the U.S. government delay on deciding whether to resume large-scale food donations to North Korea" after recent flooding deteriorated health and food security in the country, VOA News reports.

29 Sep 2011

VOICE HIV prevention trial to discontinue use of tenofovir tablets

VOICE, an HIV prevention trial evaluating two antiretroviral (ARV)-based approaches for preventing the sexual transmission of HIV in women - daily use of one of two different ARV tablets or of a vaginal gel - will be dropping one of the oral tablets from the study.

29 Sep 2011

Older women destined to develop AD have high blood levels of pregnancy protein

In an advance toward a much-needed early diagnostic test for Alzheimer's disease (AD), scientists have discovered that older women destined to develop AD have high blood levels of a protein linked to pregnancy years before showing symptoms.

29 Sep 2011

Low plasma level of copper and zinc in pregnant women may be associated with spontaneous abortion

Scientists at the University of Granada have confirmed that a low plasma level of copper and zinc in pregnant women may be a factor associated with spontaneous abortion, a hypothesis that had not been confirmed to date, and which had never been proven in humans before.

28 Sep 2011

Halozyme commences HTI-501 clinical trial for cellulite in women

Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing and commercializing products targeting the extracellular matrix for the diabetes, cancer, dermatology and drug delivery markets, today announced the commencement of a Phase 1/2 clinical trial with HTI-501 (rHuCAT-L) in women with moderate to severe edematous fibrosclerotic panniculopathy (also known as cellulite).

28 Sep 2011

FDA: Study suggests increased risk of blood clots from drospirenone-containing contraceptives

On Monday, the United States Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") said its primary results of an agency funded study suggest a 1.5 fold increase risk of blood clots for women who use drospirenone-containing birth control products, such as Yaz and Yasmin.

28 Sep 2011

HealthyWomen launches web-based initiative to manage RA

Managing RA: The Strong Woman's Approach, is an online resource designed to educate and empower women living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), launched today at HealthyWomen.org.

28 Sep 2011

dressbarn's month-long program aims to combat breast cancer

In support of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, dressbarn announces a month-long program aimed at getting more than one-quarter million women to take its 'Pink Pledge' to combat breast cancer.

28 Sep 2011

Americans cutting back on health spending by skipping prescriptions, procedures

A Consumer Reports survey revealed that more Americans are ignoring their doctor’s advice and skipping prescription drugs or medical procedures to save money in 2011 than a year earlier.

28 Sep 2011

Transparent reporting tool needed to monitor progress in maternal, child health

In this post in the Center for Global Development's "Global Health Policy" blog, Nandini Oomman, director of the HIV/AIDS Monitor at the center, and Rachel Silverman, a research assistant at the center, respond to a one-year assessment of progress released by the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH) on September 20, calling it "strangely short on meaningful data and clear messages about progress."

28 Sep 2011