Pregnancy News and Research

Latest Pregnancy News and Research

Officials continue health overhaul sparring, news outlets examine new law's potential improvements for women

Republicans are continuing to pressure officials at the Department of Health and Human Services on health reform as the focus shifts to implementation of the health care overhaul and the first deadlines are approaching, Politico reports.

24 Apr 2010

Recent releases in Global Health

"What is still needed [to fight malaria] is the only tool that has ever truly conquered any infectious disease: an effective and affordable vaccine. And here, the global malaria community has been too complacent," a Lancet editorial asserts in an article highlighting achievements and drawbacks in attempting to provide universal access to malaria prevention and treatment.

24 Apr 2010

First Edition: April 23, 2010

Today's headlines focus on the new health laws coverage estimates, costs and impact on the health care system.

23 Apr 2010

Team liberates cellular hostages by silencing Toxoplasma gondii's back-seat driving

Scientists studying a cunning parasite that has commandeered the cells of almost half the world's human population have begun to zero in on the molecular signals that must be severed to free the organism's cellular hostages.

23 Apr 2010

MMV supports Pfizer's AZCQ clinical trial for intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnant women

Pfizer Inc. and Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) entered into an agreement for the development, access and delivery of a fixed-dose combination treatment consisting of azithromycin dihydrate (AZ) and chloroquine phosphate (CQ) for the Intermittent Preventive Treatment of P. falciparum malaria in pregnancy (IPTp). There is currently an unmet need for new treatment options and the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that some 30 million pregnant women are at risk for malaria in endemic areas in Africa each year.

23 Apr 2010

Mass. court orders state's two largest health insurers to submit insurance rates; N.C. Governor restores funding for some mental health programs

The Boston Globe: "A Suffolk Superior Court judge yesterday ordered two of the state's largest health insurers to submit April 2009 rates for insurance covering individuals and small businesses, the latest development in an ongoing dispute between the state and carriers over premium increases. Both companies said they would comply, even as they proceed with administrative appeals in an effort to charge higher rates.

23 Apr 2010

Columbia Laboratories' net revenues from US progesterone sales for first-quarter up 36%

Columbia Laboratories, Inc. today announced preliminary results for the quarter ended March 31, 2010.

22 Apr 2010

Researchers receive grant to help people living with mental illness tackle tobacco dependence

Researchers at The University of Nottingham have won government funding to improve the services which help people living with serious mental illness to tackle their tobacco dependence.

22 Apr 2010

Research findings may help personalize use of statins, scientists say

Researchers at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center have discovered why statins -- popular drugs that lower cholesterol and appear to protect against colorectal cancer development -- work for some people, but not for all.

22 Apr 2010

Merck to market and distribute MBL's Td vaccine in the U.S.

MassBiologics of the University of Massachusetts Medical School and Merck & Co., Inc. announced today that they have entered into an agreement that provides Merck with exclusive rights to market and distribute MBL's tetanus and diphtheria toxoids adsorbed (Td) vaccine in the United States, with the exception of Massachusetts, where MBL will continue distributing the vaccine.

21 Apr 2010

Staff, students join hands outside LSTM to mark World Malaria Day

One hundred staff and students joined hands outside Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) today to mark World Malaria Day, each person symbolising 10,000 of the lives lost every year to malaria.

21 Apr 2010

New pilot program to boost HPV and Tdap vaccination rates among women

Obstetrician/gynecologist offices may be the ideal venue for boosting vaccination rates among women, say researchers at Duke University Medical Center. They reported today on a successful pilot program focused on providing HPV and Tdap vaccines to non-pregnant and post-partum women.

21 Apr 2010

Regence takes action to prevent gap in health care coverage

Regence, the largest insurer in the Northwest/Intermountain Region, announced today that it is taking action to prevent a gap in coverage that could leave many young members uninsured.

21 Apr 2010

CIHR experts available to discuss current health research related to motherhood

In light of Mother's Day (May 9), experts from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) are available to discuss current health research related to motherhood.

21 Apr 2010

Prenatal exposure to pollutants can affect children's cognitive development: CCCEH study

A study by the Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health carried out in Krakow, Poland has found that prenatal exposure to pollutants can adversely affect children's cognitive development at age 5, confirming previous findings in a New York City study.

21 Apr 2010

Novel device transmits music and sound safely in-utero

The new Ritmo Advanced Pregnancy Sound System™ is giving pregnant women around the globe the comprehensive fitness solution that they have been looking for -- a comfortable and supportive pregnancy belt that provides a hands-free music listening experience for both mom and baby.

21 Apr 2010

Pregnant women face increased risk of death from H1N1; early antiviral treatment associated with fewer complications

Pregnant women had a disproportionately higher risk of death due to 2009 influenza A(H1N1) in the U.S., and early antiviral treatment appeared to be associated with fewer admissions to an ICU and fewer deaths, according to a study in the April 21 issue of JAMA.

21 Apr 2010