The following summarizes selected women's health-related blog entries.
~ "'Operation Rescue' Founder Warns of 'Violent Convulsions' if Health Bill Doesn't Ban Abortions," Ian Millhiser, Think Progress: Operation Rescue founder Randall Terry is "probably the first public figure to raise terrorism as a potential response to a health bill which allows Americans to keep the same access to reproductive care that they currently enjoy," Millhiser writes in a blog post responding to Terry's warning "that his supporters may engage in violent acts of terrorism unless Congress prohibits abortion services from being covered in the new health reform legislation." According to Millhiser, Terry recently said that there are some people "'who will be tempted to acts of violence'" and that "'history will hold those in power responsible for the violent convulsions that follow'" the legislation. Millhiser writes that many conservative policymakers are "pushing a poison pill amendment" to Congress' reform bill that would prohibit the coverage of abortion services in plans offered within a national health insurance exchange. He notes that 71% of U.S. residents oppose an amendment that would "cut off women's access to reproductive care" (Millhiser, Think Progress, 7/20).
~ "Gestation Is a Life-Changing Experience for Women," Jessica Grose, XX Factor: Grose's post responds to Francis Kissling's recent Salon opinion piece discussing the "'new pro-lifers.'" According to Grose, this movement "seeks to make bearing and raising children easier, and reducing abortion that way." She continues, "It almost sounds reasonable to pro-choice Kissling, except for one thing: making bearing children 'easier' doesn't acknowledge how gestation can change a woman's life." According to Kissling, the "'new pro-lifers barely acknowledge the difficulties of childbirth,'" and the movement "'denies the reality that even in modern Western culture, in the high-tech U.S., every woman who agrees to be pregnant still risks dying if the pregnancy goes awry.'" Kissling also wrote that the "'new antiabortionists want to use their rosy view of pregnancy as the frame for public policy, and that is where they become indistinguishable from the old antiabortion movement. For both groups, women are passive participants in gestation.'" Grose writes that "many of the new pro-lifers don't support efforts to bring contraception to women who don't have access to it," an issue that is "likely to come back in a big way in the next few months as the administration's new health plan is debated" (Grose, XX Factor, 7/20).
~ "Thanks, Abstinence-Only Education!" Feministing: "Thanks to a decade of misinformation and masquerading as sex education, teens are having the same amount of sex, using contraception less and getting pregnant more," a Feministing blog entry states. A report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that trends in reproductive and sexual health of U.S. teens and young adults "'have flattened, or in some instances may be worsening.'" According to the blog entry, "We're reaping what we've sowed." Although President Obama's 2010 budget proposal includes cuts in abstinence-only education funding, "de-funding these programs is not enough," the blog says. It adds, "We have to undo the damage that's been done to young people and support real solutions." The blog concludes, "The purity-pushers are not going anywhere, but this is about more than politics, ... it's about our health and futures" (Feministing, 7/20).
~ "Human Rights Resolution Spotlights Disparities in Maternal Health Care in the U.S.," Ximena Andion Ibanez et al., RH Reality Check: A "vast majority" of pregnancy- and childbirth-related deaths are "preventable and can therefore be understood to reflect widespread indifference to the rights of the world's poorest women," Ibanez writes in a blog post co-authored by Center for Reproductive Rights Deputy Director Laura Katzive and Michelle Movahead, an attorney at the center. This "great global injustice is also evident, on a smaller scale" in the U.S., which has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the developed world, according to the blog. The Human Rights Council's Maternal Mortality Resolution recognizes that maternal deaths "occur in all countries of the world and that there is a collective responsibility to eliminate it," the blog continues. It adds that U.S. involvement with the resolution is a "heartening step towards putting women's human rights front and center" and a "welcome shift towards positive and constructive engagement" with HRC. However, "[w]hat is needed now is to transform this commitment into concrete action to eliminate preventable maternal death and disease worldwide," the blog states, concluding that the U.S. "has an opportunity to be a leader on this front, both at home and around the world" (Ibanez et al., RH Reality Check, 7/21).
Reprinted with kind permission from nationalpartnership. You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.
© 2009 The Advisory Board Company. All rights reserved.
воскресенье, 25 декабря 2011 г.
воскресенье, 18 декабря 2011 г.
Young British Girls To Be Routinely Vaccinated Against HPV From September 2008
The British government has announced that 12-13 year-old girls will be routinely vaccinated against HPV (human papillomavirus), as from September 2008. Health Secretary, Alan Johnson, during yesterday's announcement said this move signals the government's commitment to improve preventative measures.
According to official estimates, the whole program will cost approximately ??100 million ($200m) annually. Further money will be spent on a catch-up campaign to make sure all girls up to the age of 18 are vaccinated, say officials.
Mr Johnson said "As a society we need to do more to prevent disease and not just treat it. Prevention is always better than cure and this vaccine will prevent many women from catching the human papillomavirus in the first place, potentially saving around 400 hundred lives a year."
Harpal Kimar, CEO, Cancer Research UK, said "This is an exciting step towards preventing cervical cancer in the UK. While the vaccine has the potential to prevent many cases of the disease, the impact of a vaccination program won't be felt for many years. Cervical screening remains vital in preventing the disease. We urge all women take up the invitation when they receive it."
Officials have stressed that the screening program will continue after the HPV vaccine is introduced. This is because the vaccine protects against several, but not all cancer-causing strains of HPV.
Which Vaccine Will Be Used?
The Department of Health has not yet decided which of the two licensed vaccines it will use - Gardasil or Cervarix.
-- gardasil
-- Cervical cancer information - GSK web site
-- Department of Health (UK)
View drug information on Cervarix [Human Papillomavirus Bivalent; Gardasil.
According to official estimates, the whole program will cost approximately ??100 million ($200m) annually. Further money will be spent on a catch-up campaign to make sure all girls up to the age of 18 are vaccinated, say officials.
Mr Johnson said "As a society we need to do more to prevent disease and not just treat it. Prevention is always better than cure and this vaccine will prevent many women from catching the human papillomavirus in the first place, potentially saving around 400 hundred lives a year."
Harpal Kimar, CEO, Cancer Research UK, said "This is an exciting step towards preventing cervical cancer in the UK. While the vaccine has the potential to prevent many cases of the disease, the impact of a vaccination program won't be felt for many years. Cervical screening remains vital in preventing the disease. We urge all women take up the invitation when they receive it."
Officials have stressed that the screening program will continue after the HPV vaccine is introduced. This is because the vaccine protects against several, but not all cancer-causing strains of HPV.
Which Vaccine Will Be Used?
The Department of Health has not yet decided which of the two licensed vaccines it will use - Gardasil or Cervarix.
-- gardasil
-- Cervical cancer information - GSK web site
-- Department of Health (UK)
View drug information on Cervarix [Human Papillomavirus Bivalent; Gardasil.
воскресенье, 11 декабря 2011 г.
What Is A Rectocele? What Causes A Rectocele?
A rectocele, also called a proctocele, results from a tear in the normally tough, fibrous, sheet-like divider between the rectum and vagina (rectovaginal septum), causing a bulge to protrude as a hernia into the vagina when there is a bowel movement. It is mainly caused by childbirth or a hysterectomy. It is more likely to occur as a result of childbirth if the baby weighs over nine pounds, or the birth was fast.
If the rectocele is small the patient may not notice it, there may be no signs or symptoms at all. In larger cases there may be a perceptible protrusion of tissue through the vaginal opening. The woman may experience some discomfort - pain is rare.
According to Medilexicon's medical dictionary a rectocele is:
"Prolapse or herniation of the rectum."
In the majority of cases the patient can treat the rectocele with self-care and other non-surgical methods. Surgery may be required in severe cases.
Males may also develop a rectocele (extremely rare).
What are the signs and symptoms of a rectocele?
A symptom is something the patient senses and describes, while a sign is something other people, such as the doctor notice. For example, drowsiness may be a symptom while dilated pupils may be a sign.
In mild cases the woman may sense pressure within the vagina, she may feel that her bowels have not been completely emptied after going to the toilet.
In moderate cases an attempt to evacuate can push the stool into the rectocele rather that out through the anus, there may be pain and discomfort during evacuation. There is a higher chance of having constipation. Some women may experience pain during sexual intercourse.
Some women say it feels as if "something is falling out/down" within the pelvis.
In severe cases there may be vaginal bleeding, occasional fecal incontinence, and sometimes the prolapse of the bulge through the mouth of the vagina, or rectal prolapse through the anus.
Many females have rectoceles, but only a few may feel any symptoms.
What can cause a rectocele?
Roctoceles can have several causes, the most common being childbirth, especially when the baby is big (over nine pounds). Rapid births are also common causes. Experts say that using forceps during delivery is more likely to cause vaginal injury than directly cause the tear that leads to a rectocele.
The more vaginal births a woman has had, the higher her risk. However, females who have never given birth can also develop a rectocele.
The following may also cause rectoceles:
A drop in estrogen levels when a woman gets older (menopause) can make pelvic tissues less elastic, increasing the risk of developing a rectocele
A hysterectomy
Chronic constipation
Lots of long-term coughing, as in chronic bronchitis
Pelvic surgery
Sexual abuse during childhood (often an overlooked cause)
Obesity or overweight
The underlying cause is the weakening of the pelvic support structures and weakening of the rectovaginal septum.
Females who only have cesarean births have a significantly lower chance of developing rectoceles compared to those who give birth naturally.
How is a rectocele diagnosed?
Doctors can usually diagnose a rectocele after examining the vagina and rectum. However, determining how big it is can sometimes be difficult. The patient may have to answer a questionnaire which helps the physician assess the degree of prolapse and whether it is having any impact on the her quality of life.
Imaging tests are not usually needed for an accurate diagnosis. However, the doctor may detect something during the physical examination that requires identification. In such cases an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan or an X-ray may be ordered. Imaging tests can also show how big the rectocele is and how well the patient is emptying her rectum. A defecagram (defecrography) is a type of X-ray study that helps the doctor determine the size of the rectoceles and how well the patient is evacuating.
What are the treatment options for a rectocele?
In mild cases no medical treatment, apart from some pelvic exercises (Kegel exercises), is required. The patient should consume plenty of fluids and eat fiber to avoid constipation. It is important that she avoids prolonged straining when going to the toilet.
A woman with a rectoceles should avoid any type of heavy lifting and/or prolonged coughing.
If the patient is overweight or obese the doctor will advise her to try to lose weight.
The doctor may prescribe stool softeners. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may be recommended for post-menopausal women.
A vaginal pessary (plastic/rubber ring inserted into the vagina) helps support the protruding tissues.
Surgery, if necessary, is directed at repairs to the rectovaginal septum, which involves a simple incision (placation) of the vaginal skin.
Prevention
Don't smoke. Smoking increases the risk of having a chronic cough.
Do your Kegel exercises regularly, especially after you have given birth.
Try to maintain a healthy body weight.
If you have a chronic cough, get it treated.
Avoid constipation and prolonged straining when going to the toilet.
If the rectocele is small the patient may not notice it, there may be no signs or symptoms at all. In larger cases there may be a perceptible protrusion of tissue through the vaginal opening. The woman may experience some discomfort - pain is rare.
According to Medilexicon's medical dictionary a rectocele is:
"Prolapse or herniation of the rectum."
In the majority of cases the patient can treat the rectocele with self-care and other non-surgical methods. Surgery may be required in severe cases.
Males may also develop a rectocele (extremely rare).
What are the signs and symptoms of a rectocele?
A symptom is something the patient senses and describes, while a sign is something other people, such as the doctor notice. For example, drowsiness may be a symptom while dilated pupils may be a sign.
In mild cases the woman may sense pressure within the vagina, she may feel that her bowels have not been completely emptied after going to the toilet.
In moderate cases an attempt to evacuate can push the stool into the rectocele rather that out through the anus, there may be pain and discomfort during evacuation. There is a higher chance of having constipation. Some women may experience pain during sexual intercourse.
Some women say it feels as if "something is falling out/down" within the pelvis.
In severe cases there may be vaginal bleeding, occasional fecal incontinence, and sometimes the prolapse of the bulge through the mouth of the vagina, or rectal prolapse through the anus.
Many females have rectoceles, but only a few may feel any symptoms.
What can cause a rectocele?
Roctoceles can have several causes, the most common being childbirth, especially when the baby is big (over nine pounds). Rapid births are also common causes. Experts say that using forceps during delivery is more likely to cause vaginal injury than directly cause the tear that leads to a rectocele.
The more vaginal births a woman has had, the higher her risk. However, females who have never given birth can also develop a rectocele.
The following may also cause rectoceles:
A drop in estrogen levels when a woman gets older (menopause) can make pelvic tissues less elastic, increasing the risk of developing a rectocele
A hysterectomy
Chronic constipation
Lots of long-term coughing, as in chronic bronchitis
Pelvic surgery
Sexual abuse during childhood (often an overlooked cause)
Obesity or overweight
The underlying cause is the weakening of the pelvic support structures and weakening of the rectovaginal septum.
Females who only have cesarean births have a significantly lower chance of developing rectoceles compared to those who give birth naturally.
How is a rectocele diagnosed?
Doctors can usually diagnose a rectocele after examining the vagina and rectum. However, determining how big it is can sometimes be difficult. The patient may have to answer a questionnaire which helps the physician assess the degree of prolapse and whether it is having any impact on the her quality of life.
Imaging tests are not usually needed for an accurate diagnosis. However, the doctor may detect something during the physical examination that requires identification. In such cases an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan or an X-ray may be ordered. Imaging tests can also show how big the rectocele is and how well the patient is emptying her rectum. A defecagram (defecrography) is a type of X-ray study that helps the doctor determine the size of the rectoceles and how well the patient is evacuating.
What are the treatment options for a rectocele?
In mild cases no medical treatment, apart from some pelvic exercises (Kegel exercises), is required. The patient should consume plenty of fluids and eat fiber to avoid constipation. It is important that she avoids prolonged straining when going to the toilet.
A woman with a rectoceles should avoid any type of heavy lifting and/or prolonged coughing.
If the patient is overweight or obese the doctor will advise her to try to lose weight.
The doctor may prescribe stool softeners. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may be recommended for post-menopausal women.
A vaginal pessary (plastic/rubber ring inserted into the vagina) helps support the protruding tissues.
Surgery, if necessary, is directed at repairs to the rectovaginal septum, which involves a simple incision (placation) of the vaginal skin.
Prevention
Don't smoke. Smoking increases the risk of having a chronic cough.
Do your Kegel exercises regularly, especially after you have given birth.
Try to maintain a healthy body weight.
If you have a chronic cough, get it treated.
Avoid constipation and prolonged straining when going to the toilet.
воскресенье, 4 декабря 2011 г.
GlaxoSmithKline Announces Expanded Indication For Hycamtin(R) To Treat Cervical Cancer In Combination Chemotherapy
GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE:
GSK) announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
approved Hycamtin (topotecan HCl) in combination with cisplatin, for the
treatment of stage IV-B, recurrent, or persistent carcinoma of the cervix,
which is not amenable to curative treatment with surgery and/or radiation
therapy. Following a six-month priority review by the FDA, the expanded
indication is based on Phase III results that demonstrated a survival
advantage by using Hycamtin in combination with cisplatin compared to
cisplatin alone.
"Advanced cervical cancer can have a very poor prognosis, even with
current treatments, so physicians are always looking for new and effective
therapies," said Bradley Monk, M.D., Associate Professor, Division of
Oncologic Gynecology at University of California, Irvine. "These results
show that Hycamtin extended the survival of these women, which is the
ultimate goal."
The randomized, multicenter trial was designed and conducted by the
Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) and results were published last year in
the Journal of Clinical Oncology. The study found that Hycamtin, in
combination with cisplatin, was effective in treating cervical cancers
which were not amenable to curative treatment with surgery and/or radiation
therapy.
"The expanded use of Hycamtin in treating these patients with cervical
cancer demonstrates GSK's ongoing commitment to bringing therapies to
physicians for the treatment of women with cancer," said Kevin Lokay, Vice
President of Oncology and Acute Care at GSK. "In addition to developing
treatments, GSK is also developing therapies for the prevention of this
disease. We are currently developing a vaccine for Human Papilloma Virus
(HPV), the leading cause of cervical cancer."
About the trial
The trial enrolled women with measurable, histologically-proven stage
IVB, recurrent or persistent carcinoma of the cervix, who had recovered
from the effects of prior surgery, radiation or chemoradiation. Patients
were originally randomized into three arms: single-agent cisplatin (n=146,
50 mg/m2, every 21 days), Hycamtin plus cisplatin (n=147, Hycamtin 0.75
mg/m2, day 1-3 plus cisplatin 50 mg/m2 day 1 every 21 days), or MVAC
(methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, and cisplatin every 28 days).
However, the MVAC arm was closed after 64 patients were enrolled, due to
excessive toxicity.(1)
The study showed a statistically significant improvement in overall
survival for Hycamtin plus cisplatin arm (log-rank P=0.033). Median
survival for Hycamtin plus cisplatin was 9.4 months when compared to 6.5
months for cisplatin alone.(1) This GOG study was led by Dr. Harry J. Long
III, Professor of Oncology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester,
Minn.
The Hycamtin plus cisplatin combination was generally well-tolerated.
The most common dose-limiting toxicity was myelosuppression. Major
hematologic adverse events (Grade 3 and 4) were more frequent in the
combination arm than in the single-agent arm and included neutropenia (74%
vs. 2%), thrombocytopenia (33% vs. 3%), Infection-febrile neutropenia (19%
vs. 8%), respectively. The most common non-hematologic adverse events
reported were constitutional*, Gastrointestinal, pain and metabolic
toxicities.
About Hycamtin
Hycamtin is currently marketed in the United States by GlaxoSmithKline.
It belongs to a class of drugs known as the topoisomerase I (topo-I)
inhibitors. Topo-I is a naturally produced protein essential for cell
division in both normal and cancer cells. Interaction between topo-I and
Hycamtin results in permanent damage to the cell's genetic material and the
death of dividing cancer cells. Hycamtin was originally approved for the
treatment of small cell lung cancer sensitive disease after failure of
first-line chemotherapy and for the treatment of metastatic carcinoma of
the ovary after failure of initial or subsequent chemotherapy. For more
information and full prescribing information, visit
hycamtin.
Important Safety Information
Hycamtin can suppress the body's ability to produce disease fighting
white blood cells, a condition known as neutropenia. In addition, the
amount of clotting cells can decrease (thrombocytopenia). Generally,
Hycamtin has a mild to moderate non-hematologic toxicity profile. Side
effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and hair loss (alopecia).
About GlaxoSmithKline
GlaxoSmithKline -- one of the world's leading research-based
pharmaceutical and healthcare companies -- is committed to improving the
quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live
longer. For company information, visit hycamtin.
-- Constitutional includes fatigue (lethargy, malaise, asthenia), fever
(in the absence of neutropenia), rigors, chills sweating, and weight
gain or loss.
References
1. Long HJ. Randomized phase III trial of cisplatin with or without
topotecan in carcinoma of the uterine cervix: A Gynecologic Oncology
Group Study. J Clin Oncol.
GlaxoSmithKline
hycamtin
View drug information on Hycamtin.
GSK) announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
approved Hycamtin (topotecan HCl) in combination with cisplatin, for the
treatment of stage IV-B, recurrent, or persistent carcinoma of the cervix,
which is not amenable to curative treatment with surgery and/or radiation
therapy. Following a six-month priority review by the FDA, the expanded
indication is based on Phase III results that demonstrated a survival
advantage by using Hycamtin in combination with cisplatin compared to
cisplatin alone.
"Advanced cervical cancer can have a very poor prognosis, even with
current treatments, so physicians are always looking for new and effective
therapies," said Bradley Monk, M.D., Associate Professor, Division of
Oncologic Gynecology at University of California, Irvine. "These results
show that Hycamtin extended the survival of these women, which is the
ultimate goal."
The randomized, multicenter trial was designed and conducted by the
Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) and results were published last year in
the Journal of Clinical Oncology. The study found that Hycamtin, in
combination with cisplatin, was effective in treating cervical cancers
which were not amenable to curative treatment with surgery and/or radiation
therapy.
"The expanded use of Hycamtin in treating these patients with cervical
cancer demonstrates GSK's ongoing commitment to bringing therapies to
physicians for the treatment of women with cancer," said Kevin Lokay, Vice
President of Oncology and Acute Care at GSK. "In addition to developing
treatments, GSK is also developing therapies for the prevention of this
disease. We are currently developing a vaccine for Human Papilloma Virus
(HPV), the leading cause of cervical cancer."
About the trial
The trial enrolled women with measurable, histologically-proven stage
IVB, recurrent or persistent carcinoma of the cervix, who had recovered
from the effects of prior surgery, radiation or chemoradiation. Patients
were originally randomized into three arms: single-agent cisplatin (n=146,
50 mg/m2, every 21 days), Hycamtin plus cisplatin (n=147, Hycamtin 0.75
mg/m2, day 1-3 plus cisplatin 50 mg/m2 day 1 every 21 days), or MVAC
(methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, and cisplatin every 28 days).
However, the MVAC arm was closed after 64 patients were enrolled, due to
excessive toxicity.(1)
The study showed a statistically significant improvement in overall
survival for Hycamtin plus cisplatin arm (log-rank P=0.033). Median
survival for Hycamtin plus cisplatin was 9.4 months when compared to 6.5
months for cisplatin alone.(1) This GOG study was led by Dr. Harry J. Long
III, Professor of Oncology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester,
Minn.
The Hycamtin plus cisplatin combination was generally well-tolerated.
The most common dose-limiting toxicity was myelosuppression. Major
hematologic adverse events (Grade 3 and 4) were more frequent in the
combination arm than in the single-agent arm and included neutropenia (74%
vs. 2%), thrombocytopenia (33% vs. 3%), Infection-febrile neutropenia (19%
vs. 8%), respectively. The most common non-hematologic adverse events
reported were constitutional*, Gastrointestinal, pain and metabolic
toxicities.
About Hycamtin
Hycamtin is currently marketed in the United States by GlaxoSmithKline.
It belongs to a class of drugs known as the topoisomerase I (topo-I)
inhibitors. Topo-I is a naturally produced protein essential for cell
division in both normal and cancer cells. Interaction between topo-I and
Hycamtin results in permanent damage to the cell's genetic material and the
death of dividing cancer cells. Hycamtin was originally approved for the
treatment of small cell lung cancer sensitive disease after failure of
first-line chemotherapy and for the treatment of metastatic carcinoma of
the ovary after failure of initial or subsequent chemotherapy. For more
information and full prescribing information, visit
hycamtin.
Important Safety Information
Hycamtin can suppress the body's ability to produce disease fighting
white blood cells, a condition known as neutropenia. In addition, the
amount of clotting cells can decrease (thrombocytopenia). Generally,
Hycamtin has a mild to moderate non-hematologic toxicity profile. Side
effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and hair loss (alopecia).
About GlaxoSmithKline
GlaxoSmithKline -- one of the world's leading research-based
pharmaceutical and healthcare companies -- is committed to improving the
quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live
longer. For company information, visit hycamtin.
-- Constitutional includes fatigue (lethargy, malaise, asthenia), fever
(in the absence of neutropenia), rigors, chills sweating, and weight
gain or loss.
References
1. Long HJ. Randomized phase III trial of cisplatin with or without
topotecan in carcinoma of the uterine cervix: A Gynecologic Oncology
Group Study. J Clin Oncol.
GlaxoSmithKline
hycamtin
View drug information on Hycamtin.
Подписаться на:
Комментарии (Atom)