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Released: 27-Mar-2012 3:00 PM EDT
Could We Derive Benefits From Ingesting Placenta?
University at Buffalo

A paper by neuroscientists at the University at Buffalo and Buffalo State College suggests that ingestion of components of afterbirth or placenta -- placentophagia -- may offer benefits to human mothers and perhaps to non-mothers and males.

Released: 27-Mar-2012 12:00 PM EDT
New Test Found for Effectiveness of Baking Soda as Breast Cancer Therapy
University of Arizona College of Engineering

A $2 million National Institutes of Health grant has been awarded in support of a University of Arizona biomedical engineering study that would increase accuracy of tumor assessment, and could subsequently improve personalized medical treatment for breast cancer patients.

Released: 26-Mar-2012 2:30 PM EDT
Women on Probation or Parole More Likely to Experience Mental Illness
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA)

A new report released at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Advisory Committee for Women’s Services meeting shows that women aged 18 to 49 on probation or parole are nearly twice as likely to experience mental illness as other women. The study, conducted by SAMHSA, showed that almost half of women in this age range who had been on probation (49.4 percent) and more than half on parole (54.2 percent) in the past year had experienced some form of mental illness -- compared to 27.5 percent of women who had not been on probation or parole.

20-Mar-2012 10:00 AM EDT
Low Serum Adiponectin Levels Predict Future Asthma Risk in Women
American Thoracic Society (ATS)

Low serum adiponectin levels predict an increased future risk for developing asthma in middle-aged women, particularly among smokers, according to a new study.

Released: 22-Mar-2012 10:30 AM EDT
Potential Biomarkers Linked to Urinary Tract Infection-Related Pregnancy Complications Identified
Nationwide Children's Hospital

Investigators in The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital have developed a mouse model in which a mother’s urinary tract infection negatively affects the offspring, an occurrence anecdotally observed in humans. Using this first-of-its-kind model, they have identified proteins in the blood that may indicate whether such an infection might stunt fetal growth. Study findings have been published in the March 21, 2012, edition of PLoS ONE.

Released: 21-Mar-2012 1:45 PM EDT
Gender Gaps Discovered in Overall Use of Prescription Drugs, Adherence Patterns and Medical Management
Society for Women's Health Research (SWHR)

Women use more prescription drugs than men; yet they are not prescribed proper amounts. In a new study presented at Women's Health 2012: The 20th Annual Congress by Medco Health Solutions, Inc. and the Society for Women's Health Research (SWHR) women are prescribed more drugs than men, have poorer adherence rates to using the drugs than men, and, perhaps most surprisingly, lag behind men in receiving the appropriate drugs for their documented diseases.

Released: 20-Mar-2012 10:30 AM EDT
The Cause and Effect of Migraines
Society for Women's Health Research (SWHR)

A migraine is the most common type of headache that propels patients to seek care from their doctors. Roughly 30 million Americans suffer from migraine headaches, with women affected almost three times more often than men, according to statistics from the National Headache Foundation in Chicago.

Released: 15-Mar-2012 2:00 PM EDT
Society of Gynecologic Oncology Features Cutting-Edge Research at 43rd Annual Meeting on Women's Cancer®
Society of Gynecologic Oncology

Provocative and practice-changing research in the field of gynecologic cancers will be presented at The Annual Meeting on Women's Cancer®

Released: 14-Mar-2012 3:40 PM EDT
Ob-Gyns Can Prevent Negative Health Impacts of Environmental Chemicals
University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)

Ob-gyns are uniquely positioned to play a major role in reducing the effects of toxic chemicals on women and babies, according to an analysis led by University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) researchers.

Released: 13-Mar-2012 2:30 PM EDT
More Women Having Children Before Marriage
Bowling Green State University

More women are waiting to get married, but choosing not to wait to have children. That’s the conclusion in a new profile from the National Center for Family and Marriage Research (NCFMR) at Bowling Green State University. Researchers looked at data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Vital Statistics to investigate the trends in a woman’s average age at first marriage and first birth since 1980.

Released: 8-Mar-2012 3:55 PM EST
Pregnant Women on Antidepressants Less Likely to Breastfeed
UC San Diego Health

Researchers at the California Teratogen Information Service (CTIS) Pregnancy Health Information Line, a statewide non-profit organization based at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, have found women exposed to certain antidepressants during pregnancy were significantly less likely to breastfeed their babies compared to unexposed women.

5-Mar-2012 12:00 PM EST
On Lymphedema Awareness Day, Researchers Present Pre-Clinical Data Offering Cautious Hope for Breast Cancer Patients Suffering from Secondary Lymphedema
Laurantis Pharma

Research Team Discovers Four-fold Improvement in Ability to Restore Lymphatic Function with Adenovirally-Delivered VEGF-C Gene Therapy after Lymph Node Transplant Surgery Compared to the Surgery Alone

2-Mar-2012 10:25 AM EST
Vitamin D Deficiency Linked to Higher Mortality in Female Nursing Home Residents
Endocrine Society

The majority of institutionalized elderly female patients are vitamin D deficient and there is an inverse association of vitamin D deficiency and mortality, according to a recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (JCEM).

Released: 5-Mar-2012 12:00 PM EST
Affordable Care Act Expansions Poised to Improve Women’s Health
George Washington University

A new article by researchers from the Geiger Gibson/RCHN Community Health Foundation Research Collaborative in the Department of Health Policy at the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services examines the multiple opportunities provided by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to improve the health of low-income women through the use of community health centers. Appearing as a commentary piece in the March 7, 2012 issue of the journal Women’s Health Issues, “Opportunities and Challenges for Community Health Centers in Meeting Women’s Health Care Needs,” also outlines the challenges many community health centers face because of primary care workforce shortages and federal funding cuts.

   
Released: 29-Feb-2012 4:00 PM EST
An Unlikely Bond: Prenatal Health and Dental Hygiene
Society for Women's Health Research (SWHR)

Oral health doesn’t always top the list of concerns that expectant mothers may have, but it certainly should. Proper dental health and control of oral disease can safeguard a mother’s health before and during pregnancy and reduces the transmission of bacteria from women to their children. According to numerous studies by the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, many women do not seek, nor are instructed to seek, proper oral healthcare as part of their routine prenatal care.

Released: 28-Feb-2012 9:55 AM EST
Clarified Hormone Therapy Risks Help Women
Society for Women's Health Research (SWHR)

Hormone therapy (HT) remains the most effective treatment available for menopausal hot flashes and night sweats. The Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR) and The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) encourage women to understand the benefits and risks of hormone therapy in order to decide if this therapy is right for them.

Released: 24-Feb-2012 2:00 PM EST
High Heels Are Leading Cause of Ingrown Toenails
Loyola Medicine

High heels can cause a number of foot problems, yet most women aren’t willing to give their shoes the boot, according to podiatrists at Loyola University Health System (LUHS). Ingrown toenails are among the most common problems that result from high heels. This condition, also known as onychocryptosis, occurs when the toes compress together making the big toenails grow into the skin.

   
8-Feb-2012 1:00 PM EST
Migraine Linked to Increased Risk of Depression in Women
American Academy of Neurology (AAN)

New research suggests women who have migraine or have had them in the past are at an increased risk for developing depression compared to women who have never had migraine. The study was released today and will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 64th Annual Meeting in New Orleans April 21 to April 28, 2012.

15-Feb-2012 12:20 PM EST
International Experts Clarify Hormonal Changes of Menopause
Endocrine Society

Published simultaneously today in four top-tier journals, a new report provides a framework within which physicians and researchers can systematically and consistently identify the different reproductive stages women go though from adolescence to menopause and beyond. The report, named STRAW+10, will help clinicians predict when a woman will enter menopause and guide the selection of treatment options for menopausal symptoms and other related conditions.

Released: 16-Feb-2012 10:10 AM EST
Choline-Poor Diet in Older Women Linked to Worse Damage From Fatty Liver Disease
Johns Hopkins Medicine

Menopausal women with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) who don't consume enough of the essential nutrient choline appear to be at higher risk for liver scarring, according to research led by scientists at Johns Hopkins Children's Center.

Released: 16-Feb-2012 12:05 AM EST
Women with Arthritis or Lupus Give Birth to Fewer Children
University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC)

Survey shows that infertiliy problems and pregnancy complications are much more common for women with rheumatoid arthritis or lupus .

13-Feb-2012 2:00 PM EST
Study Explains High Platelets in Ovarian Cancer Patients; Survival Reduced
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Highly elevated platelet levels fuel tumor growth and reduce the survival of ovarian cancer patients, an international team of researchers led by scientists at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer center reports in the New England Journal of Medicine.

10-Feb-2012 11:00 AM EST
Study Finds Association Between Air Pollution and Cognitive Decline in Women
RUSH

A large, prospective study led by a researcher at Rush University Medical Center indicates that chronic exposure to particulate air pollution may accelerate cognitive decline in older adults.

Released: 8-Feb-2012 10:45 AM EST
Vanderbilt Study Finds Women Who Eat Fish Have Lower Colon Polyp Risk
Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Women who eat at least three servings of fish per week have a reduced risk of developing some types of colon polyps according to a new study by Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center investigators. The research, led by first author Harvey Murff, M.D., M.P.H., associate professor of Medicine, was published online in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Released: 7-Feb-2012 4:25 PM EST
Breast Cancer Prevention Drug Shown to Decrease Bone Density and Structure in Postmenopausal Women
University Health Network (UHN)

Exemestane, a drug used in the prevention of breast cancer in postmenopausal women, has a negative effect on bone density and structure in these women, despite calcium and vitamin D supplements.

2-Feb-2012 3:15 PM EST
Study Evaluates Antibiotic Option for Treating Bladder Infection in Women
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

Short-term use of the antibiotic cefpodoxime for the treatment of women with uncomplicated cystitis (bladder infection) did not meet criteria for noninferiority for achieving clinical cure compared with ciprofloxacin, a drug in the fluoroquinolone class of antibiotics for which there have been concerns about overuse and a resulting increase in resistance rates, according to a study in the February 8 issue of JAMA.

2-Feb-2012 3:40 PM EST
Triglyceride Levels Predict Stroke Risk in Postmenopausal Women
NYU Langone Health

A new study by researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center and colleagues found that traditional risk factors for stroke – such as high cholesterol – are not as accurate at predicting risk in postmenopausal women as previously thought. Instead, researchers say doctors should refocus their attention on triglyceride levels to determine which women are at highest risk of suffering a devastating and potentially fatal cardiovascular event.

2-Feb-2012 3:00 PM EST
High Triglyceride Levels Found to Predict Stroke in Older Women
Albert Einstein College of Medicine

In a surprising finding with significant implications for older women, researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University and NYU School of Medicine have found that high levels of triglycerides (blood fats) are the strongest risk factor for the most common type of stroke in older women – more of a risk factor than elevated levels of total cholesterol or of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (known as “bad” cholesterol). The study appears online today in Stroke.

Released: 1-Feb-2012 2:10 PM EST
Take This to Heart: The No. 1 Killer of Women Is Preventable
University of Alabama at Birmingham

Heart disease kills more women, young and old, than cancer. Yet for most, it’s avoidable with a healthier lifestyle.

Released: 23-Jan-2012 4:05 PM EST
Having a Dog or Cat Helps Women Cope with HIV/AIDS
Case Western Reserve University

A spoonful of medicine goes down a lot easier if there is a dog or cat around. Having pets is helpful for women living with HIV/AIDS and managing their chronic illness, according to a new study from the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University.

Released: 23-Jan-2012 10:30 AM EST
Raise Heart Health Awareness All Year Long ... Make Every Monday “Wear Red” Day
Monday Campaigns

The Healthy Monday initiative urges Americans to go beyond Go Red Day and sport something red every Monday. Making red visible on Mondays can help sound the alarm and keep heart health ever present in the lives of American women.

13-Jan-2012 2:25 PM EST
Older Women with Normal T-Scores May Not Need Bone Mineral Density Screening for 15 Years
University of North Carolina Health Care System

A study led by Margaret L. Gourlay, MD, MPH of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine finds that women aged 67 years and older with normal bone mineral density scores may not need screening again for 15 years.

Released: 17-Jan-2012 11:40 AM EST
Give Blood to Save a Life
Society for Women's Health Research (SWHR)

A person is in need of a blood donation every two seconds in the United States, according to statistics from America’s Blood Centers, a network of non-profit community blood centers across the country. Because there is no known substitute for human blood, and it cannot be artificially manufactured, the entire process relies on generous donations from people willing to give. Unfortunately, there is currently a shortage of donated blood across the country.

Released: 13-Jan-2012 1:00 PM EST
Women's Health Alert: Fighting Heart Disease in Your 40s
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center/Weill Cornell Medical College

The risk for heart-related death is increasing in young adults ages 35 to 54, and the numbers are even more alarming for younger women. It is the number-one cause of death for both men and women in the United States, yet every year since 1984 more women have died of cardiovascular health problems than men, according to the American Heart Association.

Released: 13-Jan-2012 1:00 PM EST
Educating Women About Heart Attacks Could Save Lives
Binghamton University, State University of New York

Heart attacks in women go largely unrecognized 30 to 55 percent of the time and those who miss the warning signs and fail or delay getting help, run the risk of death or grave disability. But researchers at Binghamton University and SUNY Upstate Medical University have developed an educational program they believe will shorten the time to treatment and ultimately, save lives.

Released: 6-Jan-2012 8:00 AM EST
Moderate Red Wine Drinking May Help Cut Women’s Breast Cancer Risk
Cedars-Sinai

Drinking red wine in moderation may reduce one of the risk factors for breast cancer, providing a natural weapon to combat a major cause of death among U.S. women, new research from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center shows.

Released: 5-Jan-2012 2:40 PM EST
10 Gynecologic Cancer Symptoms Women Shouldn’t Ignore
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Pelvic pain and abnormal bleeding aren’t the only signs of gynecologic cancer. As part of Cervical Health Awareness Month in January, experts at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center share other symptoms that often are overlooked.

Released: 21-Dec-2011 4:35 PM EST
Women Should Still be Concerned About Hormone Replacement Therapy
McMaster University

The rising trend in HRT use is at odds with a U.S. Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study of 2002 which found a higher incidence of breast cancer, heart attack and stroke among women using HRT.

Released: 21-Dec-2011 9:00 AM EST
Washing Away Disease
Society for Women's Health Research (SWHR)

With holiday gatherings, New Year celebrations, and constant travelling, hand washing is one of the most important ways to prevent getting sick and spreading germs. Many illnesses, including the common cold, are spread by not washing hands properly with soap and water. According to statistics from the National Library of Medicine, the common cold accounts for approximately 22 million missed days of school and 20 million absences from work (which includes time away from work to care for sick children).

Released: 15-Dec-2011 3:10 PM EST
Georgia Tech's College of Computing Releases 2011 Holiday Gift Guide
Georgia Institute of Technology

With ten shopping days left, the Georgia Tech College of Computing has released its own unique spin on the traditional holiday gift guide, showcasing some of the year’s biggest research stories and providing top technologists with all sorts of “gift” ideas for this holiday season.

Released: 13-Dec-2011 12:00 PM EST
Weight Regain After Loss Potentially Dangerous for Postmenopausal Women
Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist

The holidays are upon us and, for many Americans that means some degree of weight gain and the subsequent New Year’s resolution to diet. However, shedding the pounds may have some negative consequences on the overall health of older women if the weight loss is not maintained, according to a new study by researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.

Released: 13-Dec-2011 10:55 AM EST
Holidays Offer Plenty To Sneeze At:Dust, Nuts, Mold Trigger Allergies
Loyola Medicine

Live trees and poinsettias, nut brittles, scented candles and dusty decoration boxes trigger allergies - how to breathe easy this holiday from national allergy bureau allergist.

Released: 9-Dec-2011 1:00 PM EST
Vitamin D & Incontinence
Dole Nutrition Institute

Higher nutrient levels = 41% lower risk.

6-Dec-2011 2:15 PM EST
Diagnosis of Tuberculosis Is Increased in Postpartum Women
American Thoracic Society (ATS)

The incidence of tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis is significantly increased in mothers postpartum, suggesting a potential new population to target for screening, according to a new UK-wide cohort study.

1-Dec-2011 10:00 AM EST
Intermittent, Low-Carbohydrate Diets More Successful Than Standard Dieting, Present Possible Intervention for Breast Cancer Prevention
American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)

• Intermittent, low-carbohydrate diets were superior in lowering blood levels of insulin, which can lead to cancer. • Low-carbohydrate diet two days per week resulted in greater weight loss than standard daily dieting.

1-Dec-2011 10:00 AM EST
Starch Intake May Influence Risk for Breast Cancer Recurrence
American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)

• Increased carbohydrate intake was associated with a higher rate of breast cancer recurrence. • Changes in starch intake comprised 48 percent of changes in carbohydrate intake. • Dietary modifications targeting starch intake warrant further research.

1-Dec-2011 10:00 AM EST
Bilateral Oophorectomy Associated With Higher Prevalence of Low Bone Mineral Density and Arthritis in Younger Women
American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)

• Women who had both ovaries removed before age 45 had lower bone mineral density, an important predictor of osteoporosis, than women with intact ovaries. • These women were also more likely to report a diagnosis of arthritis. • Few other studies have measured bone mineral density among women who underwent oophorectomy.

Released: 8-Dec-2011 12:55 PM EST
Alzheimer’s and the Downward Spiral: SWHR Holds Congressional Briefing About Women and Alzheimer’s Disease
Society for Women's Health Research (SWHR)

Costing $172 billion a year for health care and research funding, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) affects one in three families and has a widespread impact on our economy and aging population. Most notably, this disease plagues women twice as much as men. At a congressional briefing held by the Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR), experts in Alzheimer’s research discussed the need to examine the sex differences in AD, both for the cause, prevention and treatment as well as the caregiver role.

6-Dec-2011 8:45 AM EST
Study Links Ovary Removal in Younger Women to Bone Thinning and Arthritis
Johns Hopkins Medicine

Having both ovaries removed before age 45 is strongly associated with low-bone mineral density and arthritis in later years, according to a new study by Johns Hopkins oncologists and epidemiologists. The analysis covered several thousand women who took part in a U.S. government-sponsored, multiyear national health study, and excluded women whose ovaries were removed due to cancer.



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