November 12th 2023
Healthcare researchers say it’s critical to get more women, Black and Latino participants in clinical trials. It can be done, but researchers and institutions must make the effort.
December 2nd 2022
DEAN F. NELSON, MD, was the first board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist in the state of Utah. Not only was he the first, he also was one of the best when it came to connecting with patients and really understanding them, recalls his son, American Medical Assn. (AMA) President John C. Nelson, MD, MPH.
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Special Report Web Exclusive: Diversity, To Ask or Not to Ask
August 1st 2004Is it legal to ask health plan members their race and ethnicity? Accordingto the Civil Rights Act of 1964, it is; however, California, New Jersey,New Hampshire and Maryland restrict the use and collection of racial data.With the go-ahead from the federal government, health insurers are usingthe data to design strategies to improve care for specific populations.
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Estrogen/progestin linked with more severe colorectal cancer
July 1st 2004According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, short-term use of estrogen plus progestin significantly decreased the risk of colorectal cancer among postmenopausal women; however, for unknown reasons, the colorectal cancers that did develop in the hormone-treated group were diagnosed at a more advanced stage.
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CEE alone increases stroke risk in post-menopausal women
June 1st 2004Findings from a newly released Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study suggest that conjugated equine estrogen (CEE) alone should not be used for chronic disease prevention, specifically coronary heart disease (CHD), in postmenopausal women. The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that CEE increased the risk of stroke by 39% and offered no protection against heart disease.
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Early-stage breast cancer patients not receiving full benefits of chemotherapy
June 1st 2004More than half the women suffering from early-stage breast cancer (ESBC) are at increased risk of recurrence or death because of substantial reductions-planned or unplanned-in relative dose-intensity (RDI) when treated with adjuvant chemotherapy, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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Switching from tamoxifen to exemestane could reduce breast cancer recurrence
June 1st 2004Disease-free survival in postmenopausal women with primary breast cancer significantly improved when tamoxifen monotherapy treatment was switched to exemestane therapy after 2-3 years, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The existing treatment paradigm calls for tamoxifen, an estrogen-receptor modulator, to be taken alone for all 5 years, but some patients have experienced relapse.
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Oral Contraceptives: The Extended Cycle Regimen
February 1st 2004Authors Derek Van Amerongen, MD, MS Chief Medical Officer Humana Health Plan of Ohio Cincinnati, Ohio DonnaChiefari, RPH Director, Clinical Services NMHC Rx Latham, NY The views and opinions expressed in this supplement are those of the faculty and do not necessarily reflect the views of Advanstar Communications, Inc., publishers of Formulary, or Barr Laboratories Copyright 2004 Advanstar Communications, Inc., All rights reserved.
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Oral Contraceptives: The Extended Cycle Regimen (PDF)
February 1st 2004Extended use of combination monophasic oral contraceptives (OCs) used to treat women with menstrual disorders, such as endometriosis and dysmenorrhea, has been proven to be safe, effective, and acceptable to women. Even women without a medical indication for menstrual suppression may find that extending OC therapy may yield an improvement in their quality of life by diminishing menstrual symptoms associated with hormone withdrawal during the placebo interval. Most physicians and many women are aware of how to extend OC therapy, and commonly manipulate their cycles to avoid unwanted menstruation at inopportune times, such as during a honeymoon, vacation, or exams.
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An update on oral contraceptive options (PDF)
February 1st 2004The oral contraceptive marketplace has undergone evolutionary changes over the years. Early oral contraceptive formulations contained higher doses of estrogen and progestin, which were associated with several safety concerns. Consequently, scientists returned to the laboratories to develop lower-dose formulations that would minimize risk without compromising efficacy. To date, numerous formulations have entered the marketplace that allow for tailored dosing to meet a woman?s clinical and individual needs. In order to provide additional treatment options and create more convenient oral contraceptive regimens, monophasic, multiphasic, extended-cycle, progestin-only, and chewable regimens have emerged. This article will review the main health risks and benefits of oral contraceptives, the concept of extended-cycle regimens, and the financial implications associated with oral contraceptive use.
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Oral Contraceptives: The Extended Cycle Regimen
February 1st 2004Extended use of combination monophasic oral contraceptives (OCs) used to treat women with menstrual disorders, such as endometriosis and dysmenorrhea, has been proven to be safe, effective, and acceptable to women. Even women without a medical indication for menstrual suppression may find that extending OC therapy may yield an improvement in their quality of life by diminishing menstrual symptoms associated with hormone withdrawal during the placebo interval. Most physicians and many women are aware of how to extend OC therapy, and commonly manipulate their cycles to avoid unwanted menstruation at inopportune times, such as during a honeymoon, vacation, or exams.
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Bea Leopold knows only too well how traumatic and potentially life-altering genetic testing can be. Having a sister with ovarian cancer and a mother who died of breast cancer convinced Leopold to be tested three-and-a-half years ago for the BRCA gene, which is predictive of both kinds of cancer.
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Estrogen plus progestin therapy increases the risk for probable dementia
August 1st 2003Estrogen plus progestin therapy does not prevent mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in women aged 65 years and older, and it increases the risk for probable dementia in this group, according to researchers from the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS).
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