http://www.rcog.org.uk/news/bjog-release-rate-women-pregnancy-associated-cancer-increase-rise-older-mothers-not-major-facto The rate of pregnancy-associated cancer is increasing and is only partially explained by the rise in older mothers suggests new research published today in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. A large Australian study looked at 781,907 women who gave birth in New South Wales (NSW) between 1994 and … [Read more...]
Bad Business (or Don’t Mess with the Public)- the Makena Story
Eli Reshef MD In February 2011, the FDA approved Makena for use in pregnant women to prevent premature labor. Premature delivery is a formidable health issue in the U.S., resulting in significant morbidity and mortality among babies and substantial health expenditure. Makena is the trade name given by its manufacturer, Ther-Rx, based in St. Louis, to a common form of progesterone injection called hydroxyprogesterone caproate (HPC). HPC has been … [Read more...]
Could “Personhood” Bills Outlaw IVF?
http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/30/health/ivf-outlawed/index.html?iref=allsearch By Nadia Kounang, CNN (CNN) -- For the past two weeks, since Missouri Senate candidate Todd Akin uttered the phrase "legitimate rape," Republicans have had to face questions about their attempts to end abortion. But could these same attempts also outlaw in vitro fertilization? The Republican Party's platform states: "We assert the sanctity of human life and affirm that … [Read more...]
Why Organic Food May Not be Healthier for You (from NPR)
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2012/09/04/160395259/why-organic-food-may-not-be-healthier-for-you by Allison Aubrey and Dan Charles Yes, organics is a $29 billion dollar industry, and still growing. Something is pulling us toward those organic veggies that are grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. But if you're thinking that organic produce will help you stay healthier, a new finding may come as a surprise. A new study … [Read more...]
Pediatricians’ group shifts in favor of circumcision
http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-new-circumcision-policy-20120827,0,4263437.story In its first new policy statement since 1999 on the contentious issue, the American Academy of Pediatrics says the procedure's medical benefits outweigh the risks. The American Academy of Pediatrics has shifted its official position on the contentious issue of infant circumcision, stating Monday that the medical benefits of the procedure for baby boys … [Read more...]