Women's Health: Antidepressant drug linked with increased risk of birth defects ♦ Infertility treatments do not contribute to developmental delays in children

Infertility treatments do not appear to contribute to developmental delays in children Children conceived via infertility treatments are no more likely to have a developmental delay than children conceived without such treatments, according to a study. The findings may help to allay longstanding concerns that conception after infertility treatment could affect the embryo at a sensitive stage and result in lifelong disability

What are the risks of giving birth inside, outside a hospital setting? The out-of-hospital birth setting in Oregon was associated with a higher risk of perinatal death, while the in-hospital birth setting was associated with a higher risk for cesarean delivery and other obstetric interventions (e.g., induction or augmentation of labor), according a new American study.

Antidepressant drug linked with increased risk of birth defects when taken in early pregnancy Using paroxetine -- a medication prescribed to treat conditions including depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder -- during the first trimester of pregnancy may increase newborn's’ risk of congenital malformations and cardiac malformations. Up to one-fifth of women of childbearing age experience depressive symptoms that often lead to mild to moderate depression, and prescriptions for antidepressants during pregnancy have increased in recent years. The most common drugs for treating depression in pregnant women are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and up until 2005, one drug in that class -- paroxetine -- was considered to be safe for use during pregnancy.

Improving vaginal discomfort after menopause A new phase III trial with positive results is taking intravaginal DHEA a step closer to governmental approval. The formulation could provide women who cannot or do not wish to use intravaginal estrogen with an effective vaginal alternative for easing vaginal symptoms and pain with sex after menopause.

Women's Health: Mothers-to-be, babies benefit from group prenatal care, ♦ Low zinc levels may suggest potential breastfeeding problems

Low zinc levels may suggest potential breastfeeding problems Zinc levels in breast milk may be able to serve as an indicator of breast function during lactation, according to health researchers who suggest that by identifying women with abnormally low levels of zinc in breast milk, they may be able to more quickly recognize mothers who might have trouble breast-feeding

Metformin has the potential to prevent and treat preeclampsia A commonly used drug for the treatment of diabetes, metformin, may have the potential to prevent and treat preeclampsia. Metformin has long been used to treat diabetes in both nonpregnant and pregnant patients, and is considered safe during pregnancy.

Mothers-to-be, babies benefit from group prenatal care, Group prenatal care can substantially improve health outcomes for both mothers and their infants. Women who received group -- rather than individual -- prenatal care were 33% less likely to have infants who were small for gestational age, had reduced risk for preterm delivery and low birthweight, and babies born to these women also spent fewer days in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Long-term outcomes of preventing premature menopause during chemotherapy Compared with receiving chemotherapy alone, women with breast cancer who also received the hormonal drug triptorelin to achieve ovarian suppression had a higher long-term probability of ovarian function recovery, without a statistically significant difference in pregnancy rate or disease-free survival,

Women's Health: Timing of first childbirth influences women's health at age 40 ♦ Use aspirin to prevent preeclampsia ♦ Active and passive smoking linked to infertility

Timing of first childbirth influences women's health at age 40 A new study finds some surprising ways in which women's health at midlife is connected to when they had their first child and to their marital history.

Research offers recommendations for use of aspirin to prevent preeclampsia To prevent preeclampsia, new research suggests that low-dose aspirin should be given prophylactically to all women at high risk (those with diabetes or chronic hypertension) and any woman with two or more moderate risk factors (including obesity, multiple gestation and advanced maternal age).

Active and passive smoking linked to infertility and earlier menopause Active and passive smoking are linked to infertility problems and a hastening of the natural menopause before the age of 50.

Increased number of IVF cycles can be beneficial, findings suggest Although in vitro fertilization (IVF) is often limited to three or four treatment cycles, new research shows the effectiveness of extending the number of IVF cycles beyond this number.

Women's Health: Five out of six women at higher risk reject drugs to prevent breast cancer ♦ Endocrine-disrupting chemicals may be threatening fertility

After menopause, vulvovaginal troubles are common and linked with other pelvic problems

After menopause, more than half of women may have vulvovaginal symptoms that have a big impact on their lifestyle, emotions, and sex life. What's more, the symptoms tend to travel with other pelvic troubles, such as prolapse and urinary and bowel problems. But many women aren't getting help.

Five out of six women at higher risk reject drugs to prevent breast cancer Five in six women with increased risk of breast cancer turn down drugs likely to prevent the disease, according to research new research from the UK. Drugs to block cancer-causing hormones and surveillance with an annual mammogram may be offered to certain women with a family history of the disease when they have a moderate to high risk of breast cancer

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals may be threatening fertility in industrialized countries The birth rate is declining in all industrialized countries, and socioeconomic factors and women's age are not solely to blame. Male reproductive health and environmental factors are also significant, as concluded in a new scientific review article. Mastectomy plus reconstruction has highest rate of complication, for early breast cancer Mastectomy and reconstruction have the highest rate of complications and complication-related costs, regardless of age, suggests a review of guideline-concordant treatment modalities for women with early stage breast cancer. It was also the most expensive treatment option in a younger patient population

Women's Health: Preventive care drops when government cuts close women's health clinics ♦ Menopause diminishes impact of good cholesterol ♦ Should women consume alcohol during pregnancy?

Preventive care drops when government cuts close women's health clinics When women's health clinics close because of government funding cuts aimed at abortion providers, fewer women seek lifesaving preventive care that can identify health threats such as cancer, research shows. The findings also suggest that a clinic's closure affected less-educated women the most.

DNA-based vaccine clears nearly half of precancerous cervical lesions in clinical trial Using a novel synthetic platform for creating vaccines a team of researchers has successfully eradicated precancerous cervical lesions in nearly half of the women who received an investigational vaccine in a clinical trial.

Should women consume alcohol during pregnancy? Experts discuss the evidence and current guidelines on the controversial topic of alcohol consumption during pregnancy

Vaginal microbes influence whether mucus can trap HIV HIV particles are effectively trapped by the cervicovaginal mucus from women who harbor a particular vaginal bacteria species, Lactobacillus crispatus. The findings could lead to new ways to reduce or block vaginal transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

Menopause diminishes impact of good cholesterol What has previously been known as good cholesterol -- high density lipoprotein -- has now been shown to be not so good in protecting women against atherosclerosis while they are transitioning through menopause.

Women's Health: Maintaining healthy DNA delays menopause ♦ MRI technique could reduce need for breast biopsies ♦ Microchip used to visualize human breast cancer proteins

Maintaining healthy DNA delays menopause An international study of nearly 70,000 women has identified more than 40 regions of the human genome involved in governing at what age a woman goes through menopause. The study found that two-thirds of those regions contain genes that act to keep DNA healthy. It also found the first genetic evidence of a link between the timing of menopause and breast cancer, corroborating previous conclusions from observational evidence.

Scientists use microchip approach to visualize human breast cancer proteins Scientists present a new molecular toolkit to investigate protein assemblies natively formed in the context of human disease. BRCA1 gene regulatory complexes from cancer cells were visualized for the first time.

How more women with earlier Cesarean sections can give birth vaginally next time In many countries, caesarean section is routinely used if the woman previously gave birth by caesarean section. Doctors and midwives in countries with a high rate of vaginal births after caesarean sections have for the first time been asked in a study to give their views on how to increase the percentage of vaginal births.

Biomarkers in maternal blood can identify pregnant women with lupus at low risk for adverse outcomes Pregnant women with systemic lupus erythematosus, are at higher risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preeclampsia, placental insufficiency, fetal death, miscarriages, and other complications. A consortium of top researchers reports that monitoring specific angiogenic biomarkers in maternal blood during early pregnancy can successfully predict patients who will likely have normal pregnancies.This will enable physicians to identify, counsel, and manage high risk patients at an early stage of pregnancy.

MRI technique could reduce need for breast biopsies A magnetic resonance breast imaging technique that uses no ionizing radiation or contrast agent could reduce unnecessary biopsies by providing additional information about suspicious findings on X-ray screening mammography

Women's Health: Abusive men put female partners at greater sexual risk ♦ highly refined carbohydrates increases risk of depression ♦ Gastric bypass surgery lowers women's alcohol tolerance

Gastric bypass surgery lowers women's alcohol tolerance Women who have gastric bypass surgery to lose weight should keep a close eye on their alcohol consumption, according to a study. The researchers found that changes in how alcohol is metabolized after surgery can speed its delivery into the bloodstream, resulting in earlier and higher peaks in blood-alcohol levels.

Consuming highly refined carbohydrates increases risk of depression A diet high in refined carbohydrates may lead to an increased risk for new-onset depression in postmenopausal women, according to a study. The study looked at the dietary glycemic index, glycemic load, types of carbohydrates consumed, and depression in data from more than 70,000 postmenopausal women who participated in the National Institutes of Health's Women's Health Initiative Observational Study between 1994 and 1998.

Combined impact of smoking, early menopause on mortality Women may now have yet another reason to quit smoking given the results of a new study. The Swedish study involving 25,474 women is the first to quantify the combined effects of smoking and age at menopause on overall mortality in terms of survival time by investigating the role of smoking as a possible effect modifier.

Abusive men put female partners at greater sexual risk Men who were physically and sexually abusive to women were more likely than non-abusive men to engage in behaviors that exposed them and their partners to sexually transmitted infections.

Women's Health:U.S. breast milk is glyphosate free ♦ Mom's weight during first pregnancy may impact second child ♦ Experimental drug could treat hot flashes,

Mom's weight during first pregnancy may impact second child Researchers showed a relationship between mom’s weight during her first uncomplicated pregnancy and problems with subsequent babies. At the conclusion of their study, the researchers recommended health professionals counsel women who are in their childbearing years on the potential problems an unhealthy weight could pose for pregnant mothers and babies.

Experimental drug could treat hot flashes, other symptoms of menopause without harmful side effects Researchers have discovered an experimental medication that treats hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms without the life-threatening risks of hormone replacement therapy, according to a scientist.

Menopause associated with more fat around heart, raising risk for heart disease Late- and postmenopausal women have significantly greater volumes of fat around their hearts -- a risk factor for heart disease -- than their premenopausal counterparts.

U.S. breast milk is glyphosate free Glyphosate, the main ingredient in the herbicide Roundup, does not accumulate in mother's breast milk, researchers have found. The study is the first to have its results independently verified by an accredited, outside organization.

Genetically distinct cells reveal nature's strategy for avoiding pregnancy complications Researchers add a new twist to the more than century old biological principles of Mendelian inheritance -- describing a small group of cells in pregnant mothers that promote genetic fitness and multigenerational reproductive health.

Senior Health: Alzheimer's disease works differently in patients with Down Syndrome ♦ Omega-3 supplements help with preclinical Alzheimer's disease ♦ Age-related cognitive decline tied to immune-system molecule

SSRI antidepressants taken for menopausal symptoms may boost bone fracture risk The class of antidepressants known as SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), taken to curb menopausal symptoms, may boost bone fracture risk.

Alzheimer's disease works differently in patients with and without Down Syndrome A study revealed differences in the way brain inflammation -- considered a key component of AD-- is expressed in different subsets of patients, in particular people with Down syndrome (DS) and AD.

Omega-3 supplements, antioxidants may help with preclinical Alzheimer's disease Here's more evidence that fish oil supplementation and antioxidants might be beneficial for at least some people facing Alzheimer's disease: A new report describes the findings of a very small study in which people with mild clinical impairment, such as those in the very early stages of the disease, saw clearance of the hallmark amyloid-beta protein and reduced inflammation in neurological tissues.

Older patients with traumatic spinal cord injuries less likely to get surgery Older patients with traumatic spinal cord injuries are less likely to receive surgery compared with younger patients and they experience a significant lag between injury and surgery.

Age-related cognitive decline tied to immune-system molecule A blood-borne molecule that increases in abundance as we age blocks regeneration of brain cells and promotes cognitive decline. The molecule in question, known as beta-2 microglobulin, or B2M, is a component of a larger molecule called MHC I, which plays a major role in the adaptive immune system. A growing body of research indicates that the B2M-MHC I complex, which is present in all cells in the body except red blood cells and plasma cells, can act in the brain in ways not obviously related to immunity--guiding brain development, shaping nerve cell communication, and even affecting behavior

Woman's Health: Safeguarding against chlamydia ♦ New biomarker identified in women with mental illness ♦ Why the bloating during menopause

New biomarker identified in women with mental illness Psychiatric disorders can be difficult to diagnose because clinicians must rely upon interpreted clues, such as a patient's behaviors and feelings Researchers report identifying a biological marker: the overproduction of specific genes that could be a diagnostic indicator of mental illness in female psychiatric patients.

Safeguarding against chlamydia Chlamydia trachomatis is a formidable foe. It's the most common sexually transmitted pathogen, infecting more than 100 million people each year. In the developing world, it is the leading cause of preventable blindness. Around the world, it ranks as the number one cause of infertility and ectopic pregnancy. A vaccine that generates two waves of protective immune cells needed to eliminate chlamydial infection has been developed by researchers.

Pregnancy safer for women with lupus than previously thought Most women with lupus whose disease is not very active will have a safe pregnancy, new research concludes. The study also identified several risk factors that might put some women with systemic lupus erythematosus at higher risk for bad outcomes in pregnancy.

Why the bloating during menopause? Blame the hormones or the lack of them Many women experience water retention and bloating when their hormone levels change, but how sex hormones affect water balance is not understood. A new study offers an explanation, finding that sex hormones can directly control how the body reabsorbs water.

Minor obstetric and gynecologic procedure linked to increased risk of preterm delivery Dilatation and curettage (D&C) is one of the most common minor surgical procedures in obstetrics and gynecology, used mainly for miscarriage or terminations. Today, use of the 15-minute procedure is declining in favor of less invasive medical methods, but it still remains common in O&G. An analysis 21 cohort studies which included almost 2 million women has found that a D&C performed in cases of miscarriage or induced abortion increases the chance of preterm birth (under 37 weeks) in a subsequent pregnancy by 29%, and of very preterm birth (under 32 weeks) by 69%.

2/22/15 Health News: Few U.S. Consumers Handle Chicken Safely-- Transfusion approach may save to lives-- Flame retardants cause liver problems-- Compounded hormones risks

Few U.S. Consumers Handle Chicken Safely, Raising Food Poisoning Risks  Many Americans may be handling poultry products in their kitchens improperly, posing a potentially serious risk of food poisoning, according to new research. Researchers outlined the results of a nationally representative web food survey of U.S. Continue Reading

Innovative transfusion approach has potential save to lives  A new nationwide, multi-site study in the United States may help save hundreds of lives among trauma patients with major bleeding. The study compared two different methods of blood transfusion, and found that one approach gave patients a significantly better chance of survival  Continue Reading

Severe asthma: Gallopamil confirmed as a therapeutic approach The clinical efficacy of gallopamil in 31 patients with severe asthma has been demonstrated through a new study. This chronic disease is characterized by remodeling of the bronchi, which exacerbates the obstruction of the airways already seen in 'classic' asthma. In contrast to the reference treatment, gallopamil has proved capable of reducing the bronchial smooth muscle mass.  Continue Reading

Flame retardants found to cause metabolic, liver problems Chemicals used as synthetic flame retardants that are found in common household items such as couches, carpet padding, and electronics have been found to cause metabolic and liver problems that can lead to insulin resistance, which is a major cause of obesity, according to new research Continue Reading

More women now using compounded hormones without understanding the risks From 28 percent to 68 percent of women using hormones at menopause take compounded, so-called 'bioidentical' hormones, but women don't understand the risks of these unapproved, untested treatments, shows an analysis of two large surveys Continue Reading