NPR's "All Things Considered" on Thursday examined how the ongoing economic downturn is affecting women's use of family planning services. NPR reports that Planned Parenthood clinics and other providers of family planning services and abortions have seen "firsthand the effects of the economy on women in all age groups and income levels," with many clinics reporting an increase in the number of clients seeking their services in recent months. Although family planning clinics in the past primarily have served young women ages 18 to 24, the clinics are now seeing a greater number of older clients, many of whom do not have health insurance, NPR reports. Nancy Boothe of the Feminist Women's Health Center in Atlanta, Ga., which has experienced an increase in clients, said, "It's a time when families are looking at family size and how much they can provide." The increase in clients includes women seeking no-cost birth control, middle-class women who have forgone preventive care because of costs, older women who are without insurance for the first time and women with questions about abortion. Boothe said, "We've seen some people who said that they didn't really think that they would ever be making this decision, but recognize that this is a time when they have to think about taking care of the families they have."
According to Boothe, the number of abortions performed at her Atlanta clinic has not increased. However, Planned Parenthood of Illinois reported that its clinics in January performed the highest number of abortions in its history. Steve Trombley, CEO of PPIL, said the clinics provide critical services in smaller Illinois communities that have experienced layoffs and other effects of the economic downturn. According to Trombley, there are "whole communities where people are suddenly being closed off from access to health care, and they rely on the social safety net that we're a part of." Trombley said, "I think it's understandable that people who face an unintended pregnancy are weighing their decision about what they want to do about it." He added that it is "a very different decision today than it was a year ago to expand your family and to have a child." Cobb Pregnancy Services in Marietta, Ga. -- which does not provide abortions or abortion referrals -- also has reported a rise in the number of people seeking no-cost pregnancy tests or ultrasounds. According to Lori Parker, the center's director, many clients or their partners recently became unemployed and are in need of basic assistance. Parker said her staff attempts to provide food, formula and diapers for these clients "because we want those babies taken care of."
According to many family planning service providers, the high cost of contraceptives is one issue that can lead to unintended pregnancies. Some women pay as much as $60 for a one-month supply of birth control pills, and as a result, many cannot afford the contraceptives. In addition, women in rural areas often face transportation challenges when attempting to visit clinics. Susan Wicklund, physician and owner of the Mountain Country Women's Clinic in Livingston, Mont., said, "One of the biggest hurdles that women are having … is trying to find money for gas, trying to find transportation, in some way, shape or form to get here." According to NPR, 41 states allocate funding to assist women in paying for transportation, abortion, child care and sometimes counseling. However, Medicaid covers abortion costs in only 15 states, which leaves many low-income women with limited options. The National Network of Abortion Funds, which raises funds to help pay for abortion-related costs, has reported an increased need for its services in recent months, according to the network's executive director. For example, calls to the group's affiliates increased by at least 50% in January compared with last fall. According to NPR, some antiabortion-rights advocates are concerned that the economic downturn will lead more women with unintended pregnancies to seek abortions. NPR reports that "there's also fear that women will put off their decision until the second or third trimester, when the cost is even higher -- and the procedure is more difficult" (Lohr, "All Things Considered," NPR, 3/20).
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.
вторник, 26 июля 2011 г.
вторник, 19 июля 2011 г.
AICR Reminds Mothers Of Additional Breastfeeding Benefit: Cancer Protection
As World Breastfeeding Week (August 1-7) draws to a close, the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) urges new mothers to consider one more benefit to breastfeeding their babies: added cancer protection for mother and child.
"AICR is the first cancer organization to issue an official recommendation advocating breastfeeding in order to decrease risk of developing cancer," said AICR Nutritionist Sarah Wally, MS RD.
Based on evidence collected in AICR's landmark expert report, Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global Perspective, women are advised to breastfeed exclusively for up to 6 months and then add other liquids and foods as appropriate.
Research Reveals Protective Benefits
The evidence examined by AICR's international panel of experts showed, convincingly, that breastfeeding protects women against both pre- and postmenopausal breast cancer. The research also finds that breastfeeding probably decreases the likelihood that a child will be overweight (at least during the early years of childhood).
Protection from weight gain is of particular importance, as childhood overweight tends to continue into adulthood, where excess body fat is closely linked to cancer development.
According to experts, hormonal changes in a woman's body and physical changes in breast tissue cells are likely responsible for the added protection seen in mothers. Infants' benefits are gained from the chemical composition of breast milk as well as the promotion of self-regulated feeding that is a natural part of the breastfeeding process.
AICR is proud to stand with other national and international health organizations this week, including UNICEF, WHO and the American Academy of Pediatrics, in celebrating the benefits - both physical and emotional - that are gained through breastfeeding.
AICR also acknowledges that some women are not able or may prefer not to breastfeed. These women can benefit from other lifestyle changes that the comprehensive AICR report found to be protective, among them: increased physical activity, minimal consumption of alcohol (if any at all), and maintaining a healthy weight.
Free Brochure Offers Research-Based Advice to New Mothers
In observation of World Breastfeeding Week, AICR is offering it's latest free brochure, What You Should Know About Breastfeeding . The 12-page brochure summarizes AICR's recommendation regarding exclusive breastfeeding and cancer prevention, explains the science behind the recommendation in clear, concise language and provides frequently asked questions on common breastfeeding concerns.
The American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) is the cancer charity that fosters research on the relationship of nutrition, physical activity and weight management to cancer risk, interprets the scientific literature and educates the public about the results. It has contributed more than $86 million for innovative research conducted at universities, hospitals and research centers across the country. AICR has published two landmark reports that interpret the accumulated research in the field, and is committed to a process of continuous review. AICR also provides a wide range of educational programs to help millions of Americans learn to make dietary changes for lower cancer risk. Its award-winning New American Plate program is presented in brochures, seminars and on its website, aicr. AICR is a member of the World Cancer Research Fund International.
American Institute for Cancer Research
"AICR is the first cancer organization to issue an official recommendation advocating breastfeeding in order to decrease risk of developing cancer," said AICR Nutritionist Sarah Wally, MS RD.
Based on evidence collected in AICR's landmark expert report, Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global Perspective, women are advised to breastfeed exclusively for up to 6 months and then add other liquids and foods as appropriate.
Research Reveals Protective Benefits
The evidence examined by AICR's international panel of experts showed, convincingly, that breastfeeding protects women against both pre- and postmenopausal breast cancer. The research also finds that breastfeeding probably decreases the likelihood that a child will be overweight (at least during the early years of childhood).
Protection from weight gain is of particular importance, as childhood overweight tends to continue into adulthood, where excess body fat is closely linked to cancer development.
According to experts, hormonal changes in a woman's body and physical changes in breast tissue cells are likely responsible for the added protection seen in mothers. Infants' benefits are gained from the chemical composition of breast milk as well as the promotion of self-regulated feeding that is a natural part of the breastfeeding process.
AICR is proud to stand with other national and international health organizations this week, including UNICEF, WHO and the American Academy of Pediatrics, in celebrating the benefits - both physical and emotional - that are gained through breastfeeding.
AICR also acknowledges that some women are not able or may prefer not to breastfeed. These women can benefit from other lifestyle changes that the comprehensive AICR report found to be protective, among them: increased physical activity, minimal consumption of alcohol (if any at all), and maintaining a healthy weight.
Free Brochure Offers Research-Based Advice to New Mothers
In observation of World Breastfeeding Week, AICR is offering it's latest free brochure, What You Should Know About Breastfeeding . The 12-page brochure summarizes AICR's recommendation regarding exclusive breastfeeding and cancer prevention, explains the science behind the recommendation in clear, concise language and provides frequently asked questions on common breastfeeding concerns.
The American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) is the cancer charity that fosters research on the relationship of nutrition, physical activity and weight management to cancer risk, interprets the scientific literature and educates the public about the results. It has contributed more than $86 million for innovative research conducted at universities, hospitals and research centers across the country. AICR has published two landmark reports that interpret the accumulated research in the field, and is committed to a process of continuous review. AICR also provides a wide range of educational programs to help millions of Americans learn to make dietary changes for lower cancer risk. Its award-winning New American Plate program is presented in brochures, seminars and on its website, aicr. AICR is a member of the World Cancer Research Fund International.
American Institute for Cancer Research
вторник, 12 июля 2011 г.
ACLU Asks State, Federal Officials To Investigate Oregon-Based Abstinence-Only Sex Education Program's Use Of Public Funds
The American Civil Liberties Union and the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon have sent letters to HHS and the Oregon Department of Human Services, respectively, asking the agencies to investigate whether a Eugene, Ore.-based abstinence-only sex education program used public funds for religious purposes, the Eugene Register-Guard reports. The ACLU said the Lane Pregnancy Support Center is unconstitutionally using public funds for its "Stop and Think" program because it requires that all program presenters "hold particular religious beliefs."
According to the Register-Guard, the Northern Hills Pregnancy Care Center in Spearfish, S.D., in 2002 signed a contract with the "Stop and Think" program that required presenters and supervisors of its curriculum "possess an authentic relationship with Jesus Christ." The contract further stipulated that presenters "possess knowledge of the word of God and the ability to communicate its truth; exhibit a loving and merciful spirit; (and) attend a Bible-believing local church or fellowship," the Register-Guard reports.
Jann Carson, associate director of ACLU of Oregon, in a May 2 letter to the state human services department -- said, "Both the federal and Oregon constitutions are violated when a direct grant of government dollars funds specifically religious activities." The ACLU has asked state and federal officials to launch an immediate investigation and to stop "the flow of funds to grantees who have used them unlawfully." The ACLU added that it will pursue possible legal action if an appropriate response is not made by the end of the month.
Brick Lantz, president of the center's board of directors, said he is not sure how or why the Northern Hills contract included the disputed language. He added that presenters are barred from discussing God or religion during their presentations.
"The ACLU has launched a national campaign to shut down abstinence education programs," Kristin Hansen -- spokesperson for CareNet, a national network of pregnancy counseling centers that opposes abortion rights -- said, adding, "Clearly, their concern lies in forwarding an anti-religious agenda rather than promoting programs that benefit the health and well-being of our nation's youth." Carson said that people of faith have a right to promote their message, but the "question becomes, what is appropriate use of taxpayer dollars in delivering a message?" (Wright, Eugene Register-Guard, 5/15).
The ACLU letter, the ACLU of Oregon letter and the Northern Hills Pregnancy Care Center contract are available online. Note: You need Adobe Acrobat to view the documents.
"Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at kaisernetwork/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
According to the Register-Guard, the Northern Hills Pregnancy Care Center in Spearfish, S.D., in 2002 signed a contract with the "Stop and Think" program that required presenters and supervisors of its curriculum "possess an authentic relationship with Jesus Christ." The contract further stipulated that presenters "possess knowledge of the word of God and the ability to communicate its truth; exhibit a loving and merciful spirit; (and) attend a Bible-believing local church or fellowship," the Register-Guard reports.
Jann Carson, associate director of ACLU of Oregon, in a May 2 letter to the state human services department -- said, "Both the federal and Oregon constitutions are violated when a direct grant of government dollars funds specifically religious activities." The ACLU has asked state and federal officials to launch an immediate investigation and to stop "the flow of funds to grantees who have used them unlawfully." The ACLU added that it will pursue possible legal action if an appropriate response is not made by the end of the month.
Brick Lantz, president of the center's board of directors, said he is not sure how or why the Northern Hills contract included the disputed language. He added that presenters are barred from discussing God or religion during their presentations.
"The ACLU has launched a national campaign to shut down abstinence education programs," Kristin Hansen -- spokesperson for CareNet, a national network of pregnancy counseling centers that opposes abortion rights -- said, adding, "Clearly, their concern lies in forwarding an anti-religious agenda rather than promoting programs that benefit the health and well-being of our nation's youth." Carson said that people of faith have a right to promote their message, but the "question becomes, what is appropriate use of taxpayer dollars in delivering a message?" (Wright, Eugene Register-Guard, 5/15).
The ACLU letter, the ACLU of Oregon letter and the Northern Hills Pregnancy Care Center contract are available online. Note: You need Adobe Acrobat to view the documents.
"Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at kaisernetwork/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
вторник, 5 июля 2011 г.
Most Inter-Sex Females Do Not Require Vaginal Reconstruction, Hopkins Study Shows
Dispelling a common myth, researchers from the Johns Hopkins Children's Center say vaginal reconstruction should be a matter of preference for most teens or adult women born with a type of inter-sex condition marked by the presence of both female and male genitals. The findings of the research are being presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics Conference Oct. 26 through Oct. 30 in San Francisco.
Women with complete androgen insensitivity are born with relatively shallow vaginas that may or may not require surgical repair and with undescended testes that do require removal.
Vaginal surgery, if needed or wanted, should be done after puberty, when physical development is complete and a girl or a woman is mature enough to make a decision, researchers say.
"It is a common misconception in the general public -- and quite often among doctors -- that most girls born with this condition should have vaginal reconstruction in order to be sexually active," says lead investigator Todd Purves, M.D. Ph.D., a urologist at Hopkins Children's. "Our findings show that, on the contrary, most young women choose not to have the surgery, have vaginal depths that are within normal parameters and can lead active sexual lives."
In their study of 29 women born with the syndrome, researchers found that 38 percent chose to have vaginal surgery. Comparing those who had surgery with those who did not, researchers found that both groups had similar rates of sexual activity: Eighty percent of those who chose not to have surgery were sexually active, compared to 70 percent of those who had surgery.
"As surgeons, we need to make sure that the parents of babies with this disorder understand that their daughter may not even need vaginal surgery, and if she does, it is a decision that should wait until after adolescence," Purves says.
Gender identity in women born with this condition is almost always female.
Co-investigators in the study: Jennifer Miles-Thomas, M.D., Claude Midgeon, M.D., and John P. Gearhart, M.D., all of Hopkins.
Source: Katerina Pesheva
Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions
Women with complete androgen insensitivity are born with relatively shallow vaginas that may or may not require surgical repair and with undescended testes that do require removal.
Vaginal surgery, if needed or wanted, should be done after puberty, when physical development is complete and a girl or a woman is mature enough to make a decision, researchers say.
"It is a common misconception in the general public -- and quite often among doctors -- that most girls born with this condition should have vaginal reconstruction in order to be sexually active," says lead investigator Todd Purves, M.D. Ph.D., a urologist at Hopkins Children's. "Our findings show that, on the contrary, most young women choose not to have the surgery, have vaginal depths that are within normal parameters and can lead active sexual lives."
In their study of 29 women born with the syndrome, researchers found that 38 percent chose to have vaginal surgery. Comparing those who had surgery with those who did not, researchers found that both groups had similar rates of sexual activity: Eighty percent of those who chose not to have surgery were sexually active, compared to 70 percent of those who had surgery.
"As surgeons, we need to make sure that the parents of babies with this disorder understand that their daughter may not even need vaginal surgery, and if she does, it is a decision that should wait until after adolescence," Purves says.
Gender identity in women born with this condition is almost always female.
Co-investigators in the study: Jennifer Miles-Thomas, M.D., Claude Midgeon, M.D., and John P. Gearhart, M.D., all of Hopkins.
Source: Katerina Pesheva
Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions
вторник, 28 июня 2011 г.
Sexual Health Screening Without Mention Of Sex
Young women would accept age-based screening for the sexually transmitted infection chlamydia, but would want this test to be offered to everyone, rather than to people 'singled out' according to their sexual history.
In the study, published in the BioMed Central open access journal BMC Infectious Diseases, the Australian women interviewed did not like discussing their sex lives with their GPs. Some said they would even lie about how many sexual partners they had had if asked. In response to these findings, the study authors suggest that a detailed sexual history should not be required before testing women for chlamydia.
Chlamydia is Australia's and the UK's most commonly diagnosed sexually transmitted infection (STI). It is most prevalent in the under-25s and can have serious long-term health consequences, including causing infertility in women.
A team comprising three doctors, a sociologist and an epidemiologist at the University of Melbourne, Australia aimed to find out what young Australian women thought about the introduction of chlamydia screening into general practice. The researchers interviewed 24 sexually active women aged 16 to 24 who attended one of a sample of general practices. Equal numbers of women from rural, regional and urban areas were questioned.
In contrast to previous research, which suggests women are not concerned about giving information about their sexual history in the context of a family planning or sexual health clinic, interviewees were reluctant to provide such a history to their GPs. This is a new finding which raises the question of whether a sexual history is really necessary when screening for chlamydia.
The authors acknowledge that it is important for young women to understand that chlamydia is an STI and that sexual partners should be notified if someone tests positive. However, they said that chlamydia testing should be destigmatised. "In general practice the offer [of a chlamydia test] may seem to come 'out of the blue'" says Natasha Pavlin, who coordinated the study. "The importance of normalising the offer of chlamydia testing, so that individual women do not feel singled out, cannot be overemphasised."
1. Take the sex out of STI screening! Views of young women on implementing chlamydia screening in General Practice
Natasha L Pavlin, Rhian Parker, Christopher K Fairley, Jane M Gunn and Jane Hocking
BMC Infectious Diseases (in press)
Article available at the journal website:
biomedcentral/bmcinfectdis/
All articles are available free of charge, according to BioMed Central's open access policy.
2. BMC Infectious Diseases is an open access journal publishing original peer-reviewed research articles in all aspects of the prevention, diagnosis and management of infectious and sexually transmitted diseases in humans, as well as related molecular genetics, pathophysiology, and epidemiology. BMC Infectious Diseases (ISSN 1471-2334) is indexed/tracked/covered by PubMed, MEDLINE, CAS, Scopus, EMBASE, Thomson Scientific (ISI) and Google Scholar.
3. BioMed Central (biomedcentral/) is an independent online publishing house committed to providing immediate access without charge to the peer-reviewed biological and medical research it publishes. This commitment is based on the view that open access to research is essential to the rapid and efficient communication of science.
Source: Charlotte Webber
BioMed Central
In the study, published in the BioMed Central open access journal BMC Infectious Diseases, the Australian women interviewed did not like discussing their sex lives with their GPs. Some said they would even lie about how many sexual partners they had had if asked. In response to these findings, the study authors suggest that a detailed sexual history should not be required before testing women for chlamydia.
Chlamydia is Australia's and the UK's most commonly diagnosed sexually transmitted infection (STI). It is most prevalent in the under-25s and can have serious long-term health consequences, including causing infertility in women.
A team comprising three doctors, a sociologist and an epidemiologist at the University of Melbourne, Australia aimed to find out what young Australian women thought about the introduction of chlamydia screening into general practice. The researchers interviewed 24 sexually active women aged 16 to 24 who attended one of a sample of general practices. Equal numbers of women from rural, regional and urban areas were questioned.
In contrast to previous research, which suggests women are not concerned about giving information about their sexual history in the context of a family planning or sexual health clinic, interviewees were reluctant to provide such a history to their GPs. This is a new finding which raises the question of whether a sexual history is really necessary when screening for chlamydia.
The authors acknowledge that it is important for young women to understand that chlamydia is an STI and that sexual partners should be notified if someone tests positive. However, they said that chlamydia testing should be destigmatised. "In general practice the offer [of a chlamydia test] may seem to come 'out of the blue'" says Natasha Pavlin, who coordinated the study. "The importance of normalising the offer of chlamydia testing, so that individual women do not feel singled out, cannot be overemphasised."
1. Take the sex out of STI screening! Views of young women on implementing chlamydia screening in General Practice
Natasha L Pavlin, Rhian Parker, Christopher K Fairley, Jane M Gunn and Jane Hocking
BMC Infectious Diseases (in press)
Article available at the journal website:
biomedcentral/bmcinfectdis/
All articles are available free of charge, according to BioMed Central's open access policy.
2. BMC Infectious Diseases is an open access journal publishing original peer-reviewed research articles in all aspects of the prevention, diagnosis and management of infectious and sexually transmitted diseases in humans, as well as related molecular genetics, pathophysiology, and epidemiology. BMC Infectious Diseases (ISSN 1471-2334) is indexed/tracked/covered by PubMed, MEDLINE, CAS, Scopus, EMBASE, Thomson Scientific (ISI) and Google Scholar.
3. BioMed Central (biomedcentral/) is an independent online publishing house committed to providing immediate access without charge to the peer-reviewed biological and medical research it publishes. This commitment is based on the view that open access to research is essential to the rapid and efficient communication of science.
Source: Charlotte Webber
BioMed Central
воскресенье, 26 июня 2011 г.
Women With Higher Levels Of DHEAS Have Better Cognitive Function
Women with naturally higher levels of the hormone precursor DHEAS were found to have better cognitive function than women with lower levels, according to a new study appearing in the March issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM). The study revealed that cognitively intact women with higher circulating levels of DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) in the form of DHEA sulfate (DHEAS) performed better on tests of executive function, concentration, and working memory.
"This study provides the first evidence that DHEAS is favorably associated with cognitive function," said Dr. Susan Davis of the Monash University in Victoria, Australia, and lead author of the study. "My colleagues and I found that circulating DHEAS was significantly positively associated with a higher score for a test of executive function, and in the areas of simple concentration and working memory higher DHEAS levels were positively associated with higher scores for women with at least 12 years of education."
DHEA is a steroid precursor, which means that it is converted in the body to steroid hormones such as testosterone and estrogen. It is the most abundant circulating sex steroid in women.
Previous studies suggest that DHEA and DHEAS may have neuroprotective effects. These studies also suggest that the decline in the production of these steroids with healthy aging may contribute to neuronal dysfunction and degeneration, and thus cognitive decline.
Maintenance of cognitive function in elderly women is influenced by a number of health variables, including diabetes, hypertension, and smoking. Other studies have reported association between these factors and progression to dementia in elderly individuals. "In our study we were specifically interested in the associations between cognitive function and DHEAS, social circumstances, and leisure activities," said Dr. Davis.
For this study, "Endogenous Androgen Levels in Women across the Adult Life Span," 295 women, ages 21 to 77 (mean age 55), were recruited from an Australian community-based dataset. Each participant underwent a battery of tests known to measure a wide range of cognitive abilities, including verbal, visual, spatial and working memory, attention and concentration, speed, and accuracy. Women were excluded if they reported any health condition that might potentially adversely affect cognitive function.
In addition to the DHEA and DHEAS findings, the study also found that activities such as living with other people, doing crosswords, and playing a musical instrument were positively associated with cognitive performance. Circulating DHEAS levels were not associated in this study with performance on tests of verbal and non-verbal learning and retention or focused attention.
The researchers speculate that there may be a number of explanations for their findings, including direct action of DHEA and DHEAS, DHEAS being a marker of androgen and estrogen production in women, or simply DHEA and DHEAS levels being markers of general good health.
Although DHEA and DHEAS levels decline in both men and women with age, testosterone levels are generally well maintained in men. In contrast, testosterone levels in women are only a fraction of those found naturally in men. This may mean that even small differences in adrenal pre-androgen production may make a substantial difference to a woman's overall androgen profile.
It should be noted that DHEA, which is commonly sold as a dietary supplement in the United States, is not available over the counter in Australia. The researchers stress that they found no evidence that taking a DHEA supplement would be at all beneficial.
Other researchers involved in this study include Sonal M. Shah, Dean P. McKenzie, Jayashri Kulkarni, Sonia L. Davison, and Robin J. Bell, all of the Monash University.
"This study provides the first evidence that DHEAS is favorably associated with cognitive function," said Dr. Susan Davis of the Monash University in Victoria, Australia, and lead author of the study. "My colleagues and I found that circulating DHEAS was significantly positively associated with a higher score for a test of executive function, and in the areas of simple concentration and working memory higher DHEAS levels were positively associated with higher scores for women with at least 12 years of education."
DHEA is a steroid precursor, which means that it is converted in the body to steroid hormones such as testosterone and estrogen. It is the most abundant circulating sex steroid in women.
Previous studies suggest that DHEA and DHEAS may have neuroprotective effects. These studies also suggest that the decline in the production of these steroids with healthy aging may contribute to neuronal dysfunction and degeneration, and thus cognitive decline.
Maintenance of cognitive function in elderly women is influenced by a number of health variables, including diabetes, hypertension, and smoking. Other studies have reported association between these factors and progression to dementia in elderly individuals. "In our study we were specifically interested in the associations between cognitive function and DHEAS, social circumstances, and leisure activities," said Dr. Davis.
For this study, "Endogenous Androgen Levels in Women across the Adult Life Span," 295 women, ages 21 to 77 (mean age 55), were recruited from an Australian community-based dataset. Each participant underwent a battery of tests known to measure a wide range of cognitive abilities, including verbal, visual, spatial and working memory, attention and concentration, speed, and accuracy. Women were excluded if they reported any health condition that might potentially adversely affect cognitive function.
In addition to the DHEA and DHEAS findings, the study also found that activities such as living with other people, doing crosswords, and playing a musical instrument were positively associated with cognitive performance. Circulating DHEAS levels were not associated in this study with performance on tests of verbal and non-verbal learning and retention or focused attention.
The researchers speculate that there may be a number of explanations for their findings, including direct action of DHEA and DHEAS, DHEAS being a marker of androgen and estrogen production in women, or simply DHEA and DHEAS levels being markers of general good health.
Although DHEA and DHEAS levels decline in both men and women with age, testosterone levels are generally well maintained in men. In contrast, testosterone levels in women are only a fraction of those found naturally in men. This may mean that even small differences in adrenal pre-androgen production may make a substantial difference to a woman's overall androgen profile.
It should be noted that DHEA, which is commonly sold as a dietary supplement in the United States, is not available over the counter in Australia. The researchers stress that they found no evidence that taking a DHEA supplement would be at all beneficial.
Other researchers involved in this study include Sonal M. Shah, Dean P. McKenzie, Jayashri Kulkarni, Sonia L. Davison, and Robin J. Bell, all of the Monash University.
суббота, 25 июня 2011 г.
Study Compares Antiretroviral Treatments Among HIV-Positive Mothers Who Received Nevirapine During Labor
A recent review of a clinical study funded by NIH comparing antiretroviral treatment regimens that contained either nevirapine or ritonavir-boosted lopinavir found that ritonavir/ lopinavir is more effective than nevirpaine among HIV-positive women who previously took a single-dose of nevirapine to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission, South Africa's Business Day reports (Kahn, Business Day, 11/6). The study, called Optimal Combination Therapy after Nevirapine Exposure, has two purposes: to determine which of the two antiretroviral regimens is more effective for women who previously took single-dose nevirapine to prevent MTCT; and to examine whether taking single-dose nevirapine to prevent MTCT during labor subsequently compromises the effectiveness of nevirapine as a component of therapy for HIV-positive mothers (NIAID bulletin, 1028).
The study included 745 women in seven African countries and compared two antiretroviral regimens -- nevirapine, emtricitabine and tenofovir, or lopinavir-boosted ritonavir, emtricitabine and tenofovir -- in women who received nevirapine during labor and those who did not. According to Business Day, a routine interim review of the trial by an independent data safety monitoring board on Oct. 6 found that women who had nevirapine-resistant strains of HIV fared better if they were put on a regimen that did not contain the drug. Thirty-eight percent of the women who had developed resistance and were treated with a nevirapine-based regimen either died or failed to suppress the virus, while all of the women who had nevirapine-resistant strains of HIV but received a regimen containing lopinavir-boosted ritonavir were alive and suppressing the virus.
Francesca Conradie, a researcher from the University of the Wiwatersrand Clinical HIV Research Unit, said, "I'm not saying nevirapine should not have been given to these women -- it was the best we had at the time. What we can do now is protect nevirapine (to ensure it can be safely used in their subsequent treatment)," she said. According to Conradie, women who received nevirapine during childbirth and are now being treated with nevirapine-based regimen should be closely monitored to make sure the drugs are effectively suppressing HIV. They also should be switched to Kaletra -- known generically as lopinavir/ritonavir -- if they show signs of resistance, she said. "The longer you leave them on a failing regimen, the greater the risk that they will become resistant to all the drugs they are taking," Conradie added.
Business Day reports research is continuing into the efficacy of nevirapine and lopinavir-boosted ritonavir in women with no prior exposure to nevirapine (Business Day, 11/6).
Reprinted with kind permission from kaisernetwork. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at kaisernetwork/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.
© 2008 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation.? All rights reserved.
View drug information on Kaletra Capsules and Oral Solution.
The study included 745 women in seven African countries and compared two antiretroviral regimens -- nevirapine, emtricitabine and tenofovir, or lopinavir-boosted ritonavir, emtricitabine and tenofovir -- in women who received nevirapine during labor and those who did not. According to Business Day, a routine interim review of the trial by an independent data safety monitoring board on Oct. 6 found that women who had nevirapine-resistant strains of HIV fared better if they were put on a regimen that did not contain the drug. Thirty-eight percent of the women who had developed resistance and were treated with a nevirapine-based regimen either died or failed to suppress the virus, while all of the women who had nevirapine-resistant strains of HIV but received a regimen containing lopinavir-boosted ritonavir were alive and suppressing the virus.
Francesca Conradie, a researcher from the University of the Wiwatersrand Clinical HIV Research Unit, said, "I'm not saying nevirapine should not have been given to these women -- it was the best we had at the time. What we can do now is protect nevirapine (to ensure it can be safely used in their subsequent treatment)," she said. According to Conradie, women who received nevirapine during childbirth and are now being treated with nevirapine-based regimen should be closely monitored to make sure the drugs are effectively suppressing HIV. They also should be switched to Kaletra -- known generically as lopinavir/ritonavir -- if they show signs of resistance, she said. "The longer you leave them on a failing regimen, the greater the risk that they will become resistant to all the drugs they are taking," Conradie added.
Business Day reports research is continuing into the efficacy of nevirapine and lopinavir-boosted ritonavir in women with no prior exposure to nevirapine (Business Day, 11/6).
Reprinted with kind permission from kaisernetwork. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at kaisernetwork/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.
© 2008 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation.? All rights reserved.
View drug information on Kaletra Capsules and Oral Solution.
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