U.S. District Court Judge Gregory Frost on Thursday ruled an Ohio law that allows only members of religions with "historically held conscientious objections" to union membership to opt out is discriminatory, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
The case involves Carol Katter, a Catholic teacher in the St. Mary's School District in western Ohio who opposes abortion rights. Katter said she refused to pay dues to the National Education Association because she said the union supports abortion rights. Katter sued the State Employment Relations Board after the panel ruled against her claim for a religious exemption, the Dispatch reports.
Frost in his ruling wrote that the law discriminates among religions by recognizing the Mennonite and Seventh-day Adventist objections to joining unions while denying the same right to others. "The statute further differentiates between two employees who have the same religious beliefs, are members of churches with formal doctrines against supporting labor unions, but one of the churches has recently embraced a doctrine, while the other has historically embraced it."
Frost ruled that Katter and others who opt out of unions will have to pay the equivalent of their dues to qualified nonreligious charities and will be entitled to the protections of the union. The NEA and the Ohio Education Association did not return calls for comment (Nash, Columbus Dispatch, 6/26).
"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.
суббота, 17 декабря 2011 г.
суббота, 10 декабря 2011 г.
HIV And The Desire To Become Pregnant
About one in four women who have tested positive for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) expect pregnancy and motherhood to be a part of their future, recent research suggests.
A woman's age at the time she learns of her HIV status appears to influence this decision. Women in an Ohio State University study who learned of their HIV infection when they were under age 30 were almost four times more likely to say they wanted to become pregnant than were women who were over 30 when they learned they had HIV.
Researchers say the findings point to a need for clinicians to be aware that women with HIV might be struggling with decisions about motherhood - a relatively new phenomenon accompanying the increase in HIV-positive women of childbearing age and the longer survival rates among patients who receive treatment.
"We shouldn't assume that women aren't going to become pregnant or don't want to become pregnant now that they have HIV. That's an erroneous assumption," said study co-author Julianne Serovich, professor and chair of human development and family science at Ohio State. "Clinicians should be routinely discussing pregnancy with HIV-positive women of childbearing age."
In 2005, 29.5 percent of all new reported HIV infections and 27 percent of new AIDS cases in the United States were among women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Twenty years earlier, only 5 percent of new AIDS cases were reported in women. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS.
The study is published in a recent issue of the journal AIDS and Behavior.
The researchers collected questionnaires about pregnancy decisions from 74 women who were participants in a larger, long-term study led by Serovich that explored women's HIV disclosure decisions and mental health. This particular line of research emerged from interviewers' observations that participants were talking about pregnancy and, in some cases, becoming pregnant. Simultaneously, health care professionals were sharing stories with researchers about the women's success in avoiding transmission of the HIV virus to their babies.
"It became obvious that this is a disease that is manageable for women," said lead study author Shonda Craft, who completed the research while she was a doctoral candidate at Ohio State.
"If a woman is 19 years old and diagnosed with HIV, she can still assume she has her whole life ahead of her. Deciding whether to have a family is part of the development process for young women, including these young women," said Craft, now an assistant professor of family social science at the University of Minnesota. "This study is about living with a chronic disease, and not just the physiological piece of that, but also the psychological and sociological factors, as well."
Women in the study were asked to quantify how influential several factors were on their decision about whether or not to become pregnant after their HIV diagnosis.
Aside from external influences, age emerged as a major factor in the choice. Nearly 40 percent of women age 30 and younger chose to become pregnant while 11 percent of the women over 30 opted for pregnancy.
The most influential external factors on women's choices against pregnancy, regardless of age, were fear of transmitting HIV to a child or other concerns about preserving their own health. Conversely, a powerful personal desire to have children was associated with a woman's choice to become pregnant.
Within the women's social network, medical personnel had the strongest influence on their decisions about pregnancy - either for or against having a baby.
Though there are no guarantees of safely conceiving and delivering a healthy baby for women with HIV, the medical community has found ways to reduce health risks for both mother and child, said Michael Brady, professor and chair of pediatrics at Ohio State and a co-investigator on the study's funding grant. Women who are HIV-positive should receive antiretroviral medications throughout their pregnancy and during labor, and their newborns should receive antiretroviral medication for the first six weeks of life. Delivery by Caesarean section also can reduce risk of transmission of the virus to the infant, but should be performed if required for the mother's health or if the mother's level of virus in the blood is high. With optimal care, the risk of transmission can be as low as 1 percent, Brady said.
There is also a risk associated with conception of the child, Brady noted. Though transmission of HIV from an infected woman to an uninfected male partner is not universal during unprotected sex, it can happen. Even if both partners are already infected with HIV, an infected male partner might transmit a new strain of HIV to his infected female partner, which can cause problems for the mother and fetus as well.
"We don't understand all of the factors that affect the risk of transmitting HIV with an individual sex act. Taking medications and lowering the viral load reduces but doesn't eliminate the risk. Some people interested in having a child may be willing to accept this risk. But there is a risk," Brady said.
One finding of the study surprised the researchers. Women who had the most negative self-image associated with their HIV status were also the most likely to want to become pregnant.
"We would have predicted that the lower the stigma, the more likely women would choose to become pregnant. We saw the exact opposite - that those with high stigma were making more choices in favor of pregnancy," Serovich said.
For some women who feel highly stigmatized by their disease, the rewards of pregnancy might offer therapeutic benefits, the researchers suggest.
"When you're pregnant, you get lots of attention, people come up to you and touch your belly. You get a shower, people do things for you. There are certainly a lot of very positive repercussions of pregnancy that may help women feel better," Serovich said.
Though much of Serovich's earlier research focused on HIV-positive men, she sees a need for a deeper examination of issues facing women who are infected.
"There hasn't been a lot of work done in this area and as women live longer and stay healthier, we need to know even more," she said. "What is clear is that women can live with this and have many options."
This study was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health.
Additional co-authors were Robin Delaney of human development and family science and Dianne Bautista of statistics, both at Ohio State.
Emily Caldwell
Source: Julianne Serovich
Ohio State University
A woman's age at the time she learns of her HIV status appears to influence this decision. Women in an Ohio State University study who learned of their HIV infection when they were under age 30 were almost four times more likely to say they wanted to become pregnant than were women who were over 30 when they learned they had HIV.
Researchers say the findings point to a need for clinicians to be aware that women with HIV might be struggling with decisions about motherhood - a relatively new phenomenon accompanying the increase in HIV-positive women of childbearing age and the longer survival rates among patients who receive treatment.
"We shouldn't assume that women aren't going to become pregnant or don't want to become pregnant now that they have HIV. That's an erroneous assumption," said study co-author Julianne Serovich, professor and chair of human development and family science at Ohio State. "Clinicians should be routinely discussing pregnancy with HIV-positive women of childbearing age."
In 2005, 29.5 percent of all new reported HIV infections and 27 percent of new AIDS cases in the United States were among women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Twenty years earlier, only 5 percent of new AIDS cases were reported in women. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS.
The study is published in a recent issue of the journal AIDS and Behavior.
The researchers collected questionnaires about pregnancy decisions from 74 women who were participants in a larger, long-term study led by Serovich that explored women's HIV disclosure decisions and mental health. This particular line of research emerged from interviewers' observations that participants were talking about pregnancy and, in some cases, becoming pregnant. Simultaneously, health care professionals were sharing stories with researchers about the women's success in avoiding transmission of the HIV virus to their babies.
"It became obvious that this is a disease that is manageable for women," said lead study author Shonda Craft, who completed the research while she was a doctoral candidate at Ohio State.
"If a woman is 19 years old and diagnosed with HIV, she can still assume she has her whole life ahead of her. Deciding whether to have a family is part of the development process for young women, including these young women," said Craft, now an assistant professor of family social science at the University of Minnesota. "This study is about living with a chronic disease, and not just the physiological piece of that, but also the psychological and sociological factors, as well."
Women in the study were asked to quantify how influential several factors were on their decision about whether or not to become pregnant after their HIV diagnosis.
Aside from external influences, age emerged as a major factor in the choice. Nearly 40 percent of women age 30 and younger chose to become pregnant while 11 percent of the women over 30 opted for pregnancy.
The most influential external factors on women's choices against pregnancy, regardless of age, were fear of transmitting HIV to a child or other concerns about preserving their own health. Conversely, a powerful personal desire to have children was associated with a woman's choice to become pregnant.
Within the women's social network, medical personnel had the strongest influence on their decisions about pregnancy - either for or against having a baby.
Though there are no guarantees of safely conceiving and delivering a healthy baby for women with HIV, the medical community has found ways to reduce health risks for both mother and child, said Michael Brady, professor and chair of pediatrics at Ohio State and a co-investigator on the study's funding grant. Women who are HIV-positive should receive antiretroviral medications throughout their pregnancy and during labor, and their newborns should receive antiretroviral medication for the first six weeks of life. Delivery by Caesarean section also can reduce risk of transmission of the virus to the infant, but should be performed if required for the mother's health or if the mother's level of virus in the blood is high. With optimal care, the risk of transmission can be as low as 1 percent, Brady said.
There is also a risk associated with conception of the child, Brady noted. Though transmission of HIV from an infected woman to an uninfected male partner is not universal during unprotected sex, it can happen. Even if both partners are already infected with HIV, an infected male partner might transmit a new strain of HIV to his infected female partner, which can cause problems for the mother and fetus as well.
"We don't understand all of the factors that affect the risk of transmitting HIV with an individual sex act. Taking medications and lowering the viral load reduces but doesn't eliminate the risk. Some people interested in having a child may be willing to accept this risk. But there is a risk," Brady said.
One finding of the study surprised the researchers. Women who had the most negative self-image associated with their HIV status were also the most likely to want to become pregnant.
"We would have predicted that the lower the stigma, the more likely women would choose to become pregnant. We saw the exact opposite - that those with high stigma were making more choices in favor of pregnancy," Serovich said.
For some women who feel highly stigmatized by their disease, the rewards of pregnancy might offer therapeutic benefits, the researchers suggest.
"When you're pregnant, you get lots of attention, people come up to you and touch your belly. You get a shower, people do things for you. There are certainly a lot of very positive repercussions of pregnancy that may help women feel better," Serovich said.
Though much of Serovich's earlier research focused on HIV-positive men, she sees a need for a deeper examination of issues facing women who are infected.
"There hasn't been a lot of work done in this area and as women live longer and stay healthier, we need to know even more," she said. "What is clear is that women can live with this and have many options."
This study was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health.
Additional co-authors were Robin Delaney of human development and family science and Dianne Bautista of statistics, both at Ohio State.
Emily Caldwell
Source: Julianne Serovich
Ohio State University
суббота, 3 декабря 2011 г.
Immune Cell Function Can Be Suppressed By Leading Pathogen In Newborns
Group B Streptococcus (GBS), a bacterial pathogen that causes sepsis and meningitis in newborn infants, is able to shut down immune cell function in order to promote its own survival, according to researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Their study, published online July 13 in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, offers insight into GBS infection - information that may lead to new medical therapies for invasive infectious diseases that affect nearly 3,500 newborns in the United States each year.
The UC San Diego researchers describe how GBS fools the immune system into reducing production of antibiotic molecules. "We have discovered that the bacteria have evolved to use a trick we call 'molecular mimicry,'" said Victor Nizet, MD, UC San Diego professor of pediatrics and pharmacy. "Like a wolf in sheep's clothing, GBS can enter our body without activating the immune cells that are normally programmed to kill foreign invaders."
The findings represent a collaborative effort between the laboratories of senior authors Nizet and Ajit Varki, MD, distinguished professor of medicine and cellular and molecular medicine. Varki is also co-director of the UCSD Glycobiology Research and Training Center, where the investigators have been exploring the interaction of bacterial pathogens with the innate immune system. Their most recent focus has been on the special role of Siglecs (short for sialic acid binding Ig-like lectins), members of the immunoglobulin family of antibodies.
Siglecs sense a chemical structure known as sialic acid - a sugar molecule that is abundant on the surface of all human cells - and send signals that control the gene expression and function of immune cells. Many specialized Siglecs receptors send negative signals, recognizing sialic acids as "self." These signals help keep the immune cells turned off under baseline conditions, avoiding unnecessary inflammation in the absence of infection or injury. Earlier this year, in a manuscript published in the journal Blood, the same UC San Diego team demonstrated that GBS decorates its own surface with sialic acid, closely resembling human molecules, and is thus able to bind Siglecs on immune cells, shutting down the cells' normal functions.
In the new study, the researchers discovered that GBS can also bind a human Siglecs receptor through a particular protein expressed on the bacterial surface. This is the first time a protein has been reported to functionally interact with Siglecs, and presents the possibility that additional pathogenic microbes may have evolved similar ways to manipulate the human immune system.
According to the study's lead author, Aaron Carlin, MD, PhD, when GBS proteins bind to Siglecs, it profoundly affects immune-cell function by decreasing its ability to engulf the bacteria, a process known as phagocytosis.
"The immune cells reduce their production of antibiotic molecules, allowing the GBS bacteria to survive the encounter and proliferate," said Carlin, who recently completed his doctoral studies in UC San Diego's Medical Scientist Training Program.
Knowledge of the mechanisms by which crafty pathogens engage Siglec receptors to fool the immune system may reveal new targets for medical therapy. "Blocking engagement of the Siglec could help boost the immune system and aid in clearing GBS infection in the critically ill newborn," said Nizet. "Alternatively, perhaps the bacterial molecule could be exploited as a novel treatment for human diseases involving abnormal inflammation, for example, rheumatoid arthritis."
Siglecs are among the most rapidly evolving parts of the human genome. This suggests that strong natural selection pressures are present to modify their expression, according to Varki, with pathogenic microbes likely playing a critical role.
"There are important variations in Siglec expression and function between humans and other species, among human populations, and across the age spectrum. Evidence is accumulating that Siglecs may profoundly affect susceptibility or resistance to several important infectious diseases," said Varki.
According to the UC San Diego researchers, the new study likely has broad implications for understanding the propensity of certain bacterial pathogens to produce human disease. It also explains why some individuals or groups may be more predisposed to suffer more severe outcomes than others.
Approximately 20 to 25 percent of women of childbearing age are asymptomatic carriers of GBS on their vaginal mucosal surface. Newborns can become infected with GBS that invade through the placenta to initiate infection in the womb, or during delivery by exposure to contaminated vaginal fluids. Screening of pregnant women for GBS and antibiotic prophylaxis during labor is used to reduce the risk of newborn transmission, yet it estimated that approximately 3,500 newborns still develop invasive GBS infections annually in the United States. In addition to neonatal disease, GBS is increasingly associated with serious infections in adult populations such as pregnant women, diabetics, and the elderly.
This study was financed by grants from the National Institutes of Health. Co-authors contributing to the study were Yung-Chi Chang, PhD and Charles King, PhD, of the UCSD Department of Pediatrics; Nancy Hurtado-Ziola, PhD of the UCSD Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, and Thomas Areschoug, PhD, and Gunnar Lindahl, PhD, of Lund University in Sweden.
Source:
Debra Kain
University of California - San Diego
The UC San Diego researchers describe how GBS fools the immune system into reducing production of antibiotic molecules. "We have discovered that the bacteria have evolved to use a trick we call 'molecular mimicry,'" said Victor Nizet, MD, UC San Diego professor of pediatrics and pharmacy. "Like a wolf in sheep's clothing, GBS can enter our body without activating the immune cells that are normally programmed to kill foreign invaders."
The findings represent a collaborative effort between the laboratories of senior authors Nizet and Ajit Varki, MD, distinguished professor of medicine and cellular and molecular medicine. Varki is also co-director of the UCSD Glycobiology Research and Training Center, where the investigators have been exploring the interaction of bacterial pathogens with the innate immune system. Their most recent focus has been on the special role of Siglecs (short for sialic acid binding Ig-like lectins), members of the immunoglobulin family of antibodies.
Siglecs sense a chemical structure known as sialic acid - a sugar molecule that is abundant on the surface of all human cells - and send signals that control the gene expression and function of immune cells. Many specialized Siglecs receptors send negative signals, recognizing sialic acids as "self." These signals help keep the immune cells turned off under baseline conditions, avoiding unnecessary inflammation in the absence of infection or injury. Earlier this year, in a manuscript published in the journal Blood, the same UC San Diego team demonstrated that GBS decorates its own surface with sialic acid, closely resembling human molecules, and is thus able to bind Siglecs on immune cells, shutting down the cells' normal functions.
In the new study, the researchers discovered that GBS can also bind a human Siglecs receptor through a particular protein expressed on the bacterial surface. This is the first time a protein has been reported to functionally interact with Siglecs, and presents the possibility that additional pathogenic microbes may have evolved similar ways to manipulate the human immune system.
According to the study's lead author, Aaron Carlin, MD, PhD, when GBS proteins bind to Siglecs, it profoundly affects immune-cell function by decreasing its ability to engulf the bacteria, a process known as phagocytosis.
"The immune cells reduce their production of antibiotic molecules, allowing the GBS bacteria to survive the encounter and proliferate," said Carlin, who recently completed his doctoral studies in UC San Diego's Medical Scientist Training Program.
Knowledge of the mechanisms by which crafty pathogens engage Siglec receptors to fool the immune system may reveal new targets for medical therapy. "Blocking engagement of the Siglec could help boost the immune system and aid in clearing GBS infection in the critically ill newborn," said Nizet. "Alternatively, perhaps the bacterial molecule could be exploited as a novel treatment for human diseases involving abnormal inflammation, for example, rheumatoid arthritis."
Siglecs are among the most rapidly evolving parts of the human genome. This suggests that strong natural selection pressures are present to modify their expression, according to Varki, with pathogenic microbes likely playing a critical role.
"There are important variations in Siglec expression and function between humans and other species, among human populations, and across the age spectrum. Evidence is accumulating that Siglecs may profoundly affect susceptibility or resistance to several important infectious diseases," said Varki.
According to the UC San Diego researchers, the new study likely has broad implications for understanding the propensity of certain bacterial pathogens to produce human disease. It also explains why some individuals or groups may be more predisposed to suffer more severe outcomes than others.
Approximately 20 to 25 percent of women of childbearing age are asymptomatic carriers of GBS on their vaginal mucosal surface. Newborns can become infected with GBS that invade through the placenta to initiate infection in the womb, or during delivery by exposure to contaminated vaginal fluids. Screening of pregnant women for GBS and antibiotic prophylaxis during labor is used to reduce the risk of newborn transmission, yet it estimated that approximately 3,500 newborns still develop invasive GBS infections annually in the United States. In addition to neonatal disease, GBS is increasingly associated with serious infections in adult populations such as pregnant women, diabetics, and the elderly.
This study was financed by grants from the National Institutes of Health. Co-authors contributing to the study were Yung-Chi Chang, PhD and Charles King, PhD, of the UCSD Department of Pediatrics; Nancy Hurtado-Ziola, PhD of the UCSD Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, and Thomas Areschoug, PhD, and Gunnar Lindahl, PhD, of Lund University in Sweden.
Source:
Debra Kain
University of California - San Diego
суббота, 26 ноября 2011 г.
More Support For GP Obstetricians In Rural Areas, Australia
The Australian Government will further improve incentives for GPs providing obstetric services in rural and remote areas.
At present, GPs in some larger rural communities who deliver 20 or more babies per year, or GPs in smaller communities who meet the obstetric requirements of their community, are eligible for an annual bonus procedural payment under the Government's Practice Incentive Program.
The bonus was significantly increased earlier this year. It is comprised of an incentive payment of up to $17,000 per year, with an additional loading depending on rurality. In total these doctors can receive up to $25,500 per annum.
The Government has decided to again improve eligibility by including another category of those GPs who are fully participating in the obstetric roster of the local community. This means that those GPs who may not meet the requirement of delivering 20 babies per year, but are fully involved in the local obstetric roster, may be eligible for a payment.
This change will help maintain access to obstetric services for rural and regional women.
Details about the qualification criteria and payment level will be finalised in consultation with the profession. Information will be provided to rural and remote GPs in the near future.
www.health.au
At present, GPs in some larger rural communities who deliver 20 or more babies per year, or GPs in smaller communities who meet the obstetric requirements of their community, are eligible for an annual bonus procedural payment under the Government's Practice Incentive Program.
The bonus was significantly increased earlier this year. It is comprised of an incentive payment of up to $17,000 per year, with an additional loading depending on rurality. In total these doctors can receive up to $25,500 per annum.
The Government has decided to again improve eligibility by including another category of those GPs who are fully participating in the obstetric roster of the local community. This means that those GPs who may not meet the requirement of delivering 20 babies per year, but are fully involved in the local obstetric roster, may be eligible for a payment.
This change will help maintain access to obstetric services for rural and regional women.
Details about the qualification criteria and payment level will be finalised in consultation with the profession. Information will be provided to rural and remote GPs in the near future.
www.health.au
суббота, 19 ноября 2011 г.
Persistent Genital Arousal In Women, Doctors Uncover New Syndrome
Doctors have identified a new sexual condition affecting women. Tentatively labelled Persistent Sexual Arousal Syndrome, its primary symptom is relatively constant, unrelieved feelings of genital arousal in the absence of genuine sexual interest or desire.
Writing in the International Journal of STD & AIDS [published by the Royal Society of Medicine], David Goldmeier and Sandra Leiblum said PSAS in women had been unrecognised until now.
"Persistent sexual arousal syndrome occurs when a woman becomes involuntarily aroused for extended periods of time in the absence of sexual desire," said Dr Goldmeier.
"This genital arousal is highly distressing as it is unprovoked and unrelieved by orgasm," he said.
The study said it was unclear what the causes of PSAS were although a link to antidepressants has not been ruled out. Clinical observations of the condition have found evidence of engorgement and oedema of the labia, vulva and clitoris.
"Due to the reluctance of women to come forward we are unsure how common the problem is," said Dr Goldmeier.
"Many women feel embarrassed to talk about the symptoms and those that have come forward have reported a high degree of distress and even sometimes, suicidal thoughts," he said.
A recent internet survey by Dr Leiblum suggests women with PSAS come from a range of backgrounds and age groups.
"Much remains to be elucidated in regard to PSAS including its prevalence, aetiology and management," they write.
"It deserves continued research not only since it is such a distressing and perplexing condition, but also because understanding its aetiology and treatment may lead to greater understanding of other aspects of female sexual response."
Although there is no specific therapy to treat PSAS, Dr Goldmeier has been working with affected women in the UK.
"It is critical that we raise awareness of persistent sexual arousal syndrome amongst clinicians and the general population," said Dr Goldmeier.
"Women should not feel marginalised by this condition and I urge them to seek assistance," he said.
Persistent genital arousal in women - a new syndrome entity [PDF 45k]
'Persistent genital arousal in women - a new syndrome entity' by D Goldmeier and S Leiblum is published in the April issue (Vol. 17) of the International Journal of STD and AIDS.
IJSA is published monthly by the Royal Society of Medicine. Its Editor is Professor Wallace Dinsmore.
ROYAL SOCIETY OF MEDICINE
Writing in the International Journal of STD & AIDS [published by the Royal Society of Medicine], David Goldmeier and Sandra Leiblum said PSAS in women had been unrecognised until now.
"Persistent sexual arousal syndrome occurs when a woman becomes involuntarily aroused for extended periods of time in the absence of sexual desire," said Dr Goldmeier.
"This genital arousal is highly distressing as it is unprovoked and unrelieved by orgasm," he said.
The study said it was unclear what the causes of PSAS were although a link to antidepressants has not been ruled out. Clinical observations of the condition have found evidence of engorgement and oedema of the labia, vulva and clitoris.
"Due to the reluctance of women to come forward we are unsure how common the problem is," said Dr Goldmeier.
"Many women feel embarrassed to talk about the symptoms and those that have come forward have reported a high degree of distress and even sometimes, suicidal thoughts," he said.
A recent internet survey by Dr Leiblum suggests women with PSAS come from a range of backgrounds and age groups.
"Much remains to be elucidated in regard to PSAS including its prevalence, aetiology and management," they write.
"It deserves continued research not only since it is such a distressing and perplexing condition, but also because understanding its aetiology and treatment may lead to greater understanding of other aspects of female sexual response."
Although there is no specific therapy to treat PSAS, Dr Goldmeier has been working with affected women in the UK.
"It is critical that we raise awareness of persistent sexual arousal syndrome amongst clinicians and the general population," said Dr Goldmeier.
"Women should not feel marginalised by this condition and I urge them to seek assistance," he said.
Persistent genital arousal in women - a new syndrome entity [PDF 45k]
'Persistent genital arousal in women - a new syndrome entity' by D Goldmeier and S Leiblum is published in the April issue (Vol. 17) of the International Journal of STD and AIDS.
IJSA is published monthly by the Royal Society of Medicine. Its Editor is Professor Wallace Dinsmore.
ROYAL SOCIETY OF MEDICINE
суббота, 12 ноября 2011 г.
New Findings May Change The Way Heart Disease Is Detected And Treated In Women, From The 'Harvard Women's Health Watch'
Results of a landmark study
suggest that many women with heart disease don't get a proper diagnosis
because they have a form of the disease that doesn't show up on the usual
diagnostic tests. The new research shows that heart disease is not one but
several disorders and may shed light on why heart disease often behaves
differently in men and women, according to the February 2007 issue of
"Harvard Women's Health Watch."
In the Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation (WISE) study, women with
chronic chest pain underwent standard diagnostic procedures, including
stress tests and coronary angiograms. Earlier studies had found that among
people who show signs of trouble on stress tests, women are far more likely
than men to appear free of blockages on follow-up angiograms. This was also
true in the WISE study. But newer tests, including ultrasound of the blood
vessels, revealed heart problems the angiograms didn't pick up. Many of
these women had a condition called vascular dysfunction, in which the blood
vessels supplying the heart don't expand properly to accommodate increased
blood flow. Vascular dysfunction may affect not only the large coronary
arteries, but also the smaller vessels that serve the heart -- a problem
dubbed microvessel disease.
The WISE results may help explain why women with heart disease are
often underdiagnosed and undertreated. In men, the main problem may be a
blockage in a large coronary artery, which shows up on an angiogram, while
women are more likely to have microvessel disease that can't be seen. With
this in mind, the WISE investigators are working to develop a new system
for screening women for heart disease.
Harvard Health Publications
health.harvard.edu/women
suggest that many women with heart disease don't get a proper diagnosis
because they have a form of the disease that doesn't show up on the usual
diagnostic tests. The new research shows that heart disease is not one but
several disorders and may shed light on why heart disease often behaves
differently in men and women, according to the February 2007 issue of
"Harvard Women's Health Watch."
In the Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation (WISE) study, women with
chronic chest pain underwent standard diagnostic procedures, including
stress tests and coronary angiograms. Earlier studies had found that among
people who show signs of trouble on stress tests, women are far more likely
than men to appear free of blockages on follow-up angiograms. This was also
true in the WISE study. But newer tests, including ultrasound of the blood
vessels, revealed heart problems the angiograms didn't pick up. Many of
these women had a condition called vascular dysfunction, in which the blood
vessels supplying the heart don't expand properly to accommodate increased
blood flow. Vascular dysfunction may affect not only the large coronary
arteries, but also the smaller vessels that serve the heart -- a problem
dubbed microvessel disease.
The WISE results may help explain why women with heart disease are
often underdiagnosed and undertreated. In men, the main problem may be a
blockage in a large coronary artery, which shows up on an angiogram, while
women are more likely to have microvessel disease that can't be seen. With
this in mind, the WISE investigators are working to develop a new system
for screening women for heart disease.
Harvard Health Publications
health.harvard.edu/women
суббота, 5 ноября 2011 г.
For African-American Women On Hemodialysis, Social Support, Psychological Factors Contribute To Fatigue
African Americans account for approximately 32% of patients diagnosed with ESRD, more than any other racial group in America. While fatigue is a common side effect for ESRD patients, studies have not explored factors contributing to fatigue, especially among African American women with ESRD. In the November-December 2007 issue of Nephrology Nursing Journal, Amy G. Williams, MSN, RN, and co-authors explored physiologic (anemia, uremic malnutrition), psychological (mood disorders) and situational factors (social support) contributing to fatigue in this group in hopes of developing life-improving interventions.
The authors found a correlation between social support and uremic malnutrition; this lack of support can lead to noncompliance in dietary requirements, which in turn leads to fatigue. In addition, Williams and co-authors found correlations between anxiety, depression and fatigue.
The authors recommend further research examining the effect of social support and psychological factors on fatigue. For nephrology nurses, understanding the causes of fatigue in African American Women on hemodialysis will help focus assessments and individualized care plans for this patient population.
Fatigue in African American Women on Hemodialysis
Amy G. Williams, MSN, RN; Patricia B. Crane, PhD, RN, FAHA; Daria Kring, MSN, RN, BC
Nephrology Nursing Journal; November-December 2007
annanurse/journal
Nephrology Nursing Journal is a refereed clinical and scientific resource that provides current information on a wide variety of subjects to facilitate the practice of professional nephrology nursing. Its purpose is to disseminate information on the latest advances in research, practice, and education to nephrology nurses to positively influence the quality of care they provide. For more information, visit annanurse/journal.
The authors found a correlation between social support and uremic malnutrition; this lack of support can lead to noncompliance in dietary requirements, which in turn leads to fatigue. In addition, Williams and co-authors found correlations between anxiety, depression and fatigue.
The authors recommend further research examining the effect of social support and psychological factors on fatigue. For nephrology nurses, understanding the causes of fatigue in African American Women on hemodialysis will help focus assessments and individualized care plans for this patient population.
Fatigue in African American Women on Hemodialysis
Amy G. Williams, MSN, RN; Patricia B. Crane, PhD, RN, FAHA; Daria Kring, MSN, RN, BC
Nephrology Nursing Journal; November-December 2007
annanurse/journal
Nephrology Nursing Journal is a refereed clinical and scientific resource that provides current information on a wide variety of subjects to facilitate the practice of professional nephrology nursing. Its purpose is to disseminate information on the latest advances in research, practice, and education to nephrology nurses to positively influence the quality of care they provide. For more information, visit annanurse/journal.
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