Women's Health News

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Progestins increase chances of cancer metastasizing: Study

After menopause, 6 to 10 million women take hormone therapies, which are often a combination of estrogen and progestin, to replace hormones lost from inactive ovaries. Progestin is a hormone that is used to counteract the potentially negative effects of estrogen therapy on the uterus. In studies sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, evidence has been found that estrogen and progestin in hormone therapies increase the risk of breast cancer in post-menopausal women.

7 May 2010

Natazia tablets receive FDA approval for prevention of pregnancy

Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Natazia (estradiol valerate and estradiol valerate/dienogest) tablets for the prevention of pregnancy.

7 May 2010

Roche launches cobas(R) 4800 System in Canada for testing CT, NG and HPV

Roche Diagnostics Canada announced today the launch of a new Health Canada approved clinical laboratory system designed to increase laboratory testing efficiency and to accommodate current and long-term molecular diagnostic needs. The cobas(R) 4800 System combines in vitro diagnostic tests for Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) and human papillomavirus (HPV) testing with fully-automated sample preparation and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology.

From Roche Sequencing and Life Science 7 May 2010

Obama signs bill to expand health care access for veterans, provide more caregiver benefits

President Barack Obama signed a bill Wednesday that expands access to health care for veterans and provides a monthly stipend and health care for caregivers of American soldiers severely injured in Afghanistan or Iraq, The Associated Press reports. "Under the bill, caregivers of the estimated 2,000 severely wounded veterans from the recent conflicts are eligible for training, a monthly stipend and health care.

7 May 2010

LSTM launches European Union funded adolescent reproductive health programme in Africa

LSTM has launched a four year programme to improve the delivery of reproductive health services in Tanzania and Niger. The programme, funded by the European Union, has been designed by LSTM and the seven project partners to highlight and address the cultural barriers which reduce the reach and effectiveness of existing adolescent reproductive health (ARH) services in partner countries.

7 May 2010

DXA testing can prevent osteoporosis in at-risk women

Geisinger has exceeded the national benchmark for testing women who are at risk for developing osteoporosis - a silent and serious disease.

7 May 2010

Florida Gov. Crist weighs options on abortion bill

The Palm Beach Post: "Gov. Charlie Crist appears likely to veto a bill requiring women to see ultrasounds before they can get abortions, state Sen. Eleanor Sobel, D-Hollywood, said today" (Bennett, 5/5).

7 May 2010

$DMPA injectible contraceptive associated with increased risk of bone fracture$

DMPA injectible contraceptive associated with increased risk of bone fracture

A new study presented today at the World Congress on Osteoporosis (IOF WCO-ECCEO10) in Florence, Italy shows that DMPA, a commonly used injectible contraceptive, is associated with higher risk of bone fracture when used alone, and not in combination with estrogens.

7 May 2010

FDA approves new oral contraceptive Natazia

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Natazia, a combination hormonal tablet for use as an oral contraceptive.

7 May 2010

Vitamin A supplements shown not to reduce maternal mortality

A new trial undertaken in Ghana has shown that vitamin A supplements do not reduce maternal mortality-contradicting previous findings from a trial in Nepal which showed a 44% decrease.

6 May 2010

TechniScan granted U.S. patent for methods in creating diagnostic images from complex wave fields

TechniScan, Inc., the developer of a revolutionary 3-D breast imaging system, announced today the grant of U.S. Patent 7,684,846, which provides additional intellectual property protection for proprietary methods in creating diagnostic images from complex wave fields.

6 May 2010

Aeterna Zentaris granted FDA orphan-drug designation for AEZS-108 in ovarian cancer

Aeterna Zentaris Inc. a late-stage drug development company specialized in oncology and endocrinology, today announced that it has received from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), orphan-drug designation for AEZS-108, its doxorubicin targeted conjugate compound, for the treatment of ovarian cancer. AEZS-108 is currently in a Phase 2 trial in advanced ovarian and advanced endometrial cancer in Europe.

6 May 2010

Ovarian hormone progesterone plays pivotal role in altering breast stem cells: PMH researchers

Cancer researchers at Princess Margaret Hospital have discovered that the ovarian hormone progesterone plays a pivotal role in altering breast stem cells, a finding that has important implications for breast cancer risk.

6 May 2010

Research reveals role of ovarian hormone progesterone in alteration of breast stem cells

Cancer researchers at Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) have discovered that the ovarian hormone progesterone plays a pivotal role in altering breast stem cells, a finding that has important implications for breast cancer risk.

6 May 2010

CU-Boulder develops inhalable vaccine for measles prevention

A team of researchers led by the University of Colorado at Boulder believe a dry powder, inhalable vaccine developed for measles prevention and slated for human clinical trials later this year in India will lead to other inhalable, inexpensive vaccines for illnesses ranging from tuberculosis to cervical cancer.

6 May 2010

Opinions: G8's track record; Maternal, child health; Chan on N. Korea; USAID, DDT in Haiti

In a Vancouver Sun opinion piece, columnist Barbara Yaffe writes about the "disappointing track record of delivery on past G8 aid promises" in light of recent concern over Canada's announcement that it will not fund abortion in its G8 initiative.

6 May 2010

New York federal court jury favors Merck in Maley FOSAMAX case

Merck today said a unanimous federal court jury in New York found in its favor in the Maley v. Merck case, rejecting the claims of a plaintiff who blamed her dental and jaw-related problems on her FOSAMAX use.

6 May 2010

Nausea in pregnant women can be a sign of flu: Researchers

Nausea in pregnant women tends to fade after the first three months, but during the second and third trimesters it can be a sign of flu, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found in a study of expectant women who sought medical care.

6 May 2010

Whole body MRI helps physicians diagnose and treat breast cancer: Study

Whole body magnetic resonance imaging should be the imaging modality of choice for the detection of breast cancer metastases (when the cancer has spread beyond the breast) as it is highly accurate and can detect bone metastases while a patient is still asymptomatic (shows no symptoms), according to a study to be presented at the ARRS 2010 Annual Meeting in San Diego, CA.

6 May 2010

Watson Laboratories files raloxifene hydrochloride tablet ANDA

Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today confirmed that its subsidiary, Watson Laboratories, Inc. filed an Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seeking approval to market a raloxifene hydrochloride tablet. Watson's raloxifene hydrochloride tablet is a generic version of Eli Lilly's EVISTA®.

6 May 2010