Jun
01
2006

Uterine Artery Embolization Against Fibroids

By | Health, obstetrics, Women’s Diseases

Uterine fibroids are the most common uterine tumors that affect women in North America. At least 25% have the symptoms that point to a diagnosis of fibroids, and as many as 77% may have fibroids that are asymptomatic. Symptoms of fibroids can be a feeling of fullness in the pelvic area, heavy periods and bleeding between the periods resulting in anemia. Infertility and miscarriages can also be a consequence.
About 60% of women with fibroids will undergo surgery, but the trend is moving towards nonsurgical treatment. 40% of fibroid patients will receive uterine artery embolization (UAE).

The advantages are significant, reports Dr. Sanjoy Kundu, a radiologist at Scarborough General Hospital in Toronto. Compared to the less invasive UAE, fibroid surgery has a higher rate of major complications like infection and pulmonary embolism. None of the patients undergoing uterine artery embolization experienced any complications of infection or pulmonary embolism. UAE patients also have shorter hospital stays ranging from 1 to 4 days, whereas surgical patients had hospital stays ranging from 2 to 25 days.

Uterine Artery Embolization Against Fibroids

Uterine Artery Embolization Against Fibroids

Due to these positive findings, 60% of treatments for uterine fibroids at Scarborough General Hospital are now done exclusively with the less invasive procedure, and researchers suggest that UAE for the removal of fibroids should become first-line therapy.

More information about fibroids: http://nethealthbook.com/womens-health-gynecology-and-obstetrics/abnormal-vaginal-bleeding-common-menstrual-abnormalities-2/abnormal-uterine-bleeding/fibroids/

Reference: The Medical Post, April18, 2006, page 16

Last edited Nov. 1, 2014

Mar
01
2006

Vaginal Reconstructive Surgery Helps Body Image

By | Cosmetic surgery, obstetrics, Women’s Diseases

Plastic surgery in the vaginal area is not a new procedure. It has been performed for decades to help patients with medical conditions like urinary incontinence due to weak vaginal muscles or uterine prolapse.
Recently female genital enhancement surgery has come into the forefront and as many as 15 purely cosmetic procedures are on the list at a Toronto-based clinic. Dr. Robert H. Stubbs has been pioneering in this particular area of plastic surgery. Women who lost a lot of weight frequently request pubic liposuction and reduction of the labia majora. Another procedure, vaginal tightening, involves stitching the muscles of the vaginal wall and creating a smaller circumference. Most of these surgeries are done in private clinics, which do not have to report to the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada. As a result no numbers are available, but these surgeries are definitely on the rise.
Probably the most controversial procedure of them all is the hymenoplasty. Dr. Bruce Allen, who recently incorporated cosmetic genital procedures into his gynecology practice, reports, that there is not a large demand for them. However, women from certain cultures turn to the physicians for help. In some groups of Middle Eastern descent the loss of virginity is considered a disgrace, and as a result the young female may be shunned and maybe even killed. When desperate women turn to the specialist for protection, they need help. In a safe and simple half hour procedure the ends of the ruptured membrane can be stitched together or patched with tissue from the vaginal wall.
Some flashy advertising for a Los Angeles based clinic promises good sex. What those billboards don’t tell is the fact that no scientific proof exists that any of these surgeries actually enhance sexual pleasure. Nevertheless patients have cited a better sex life as a very common bonus. The reason is the fact, that the patient is more comfortable with her body. Patients with relationship problems due to self-consciousness about the genital appearance will experience a sense of emotional relief as soon as the procedure is over.

Vaginal Reconstructive Surgery Helps Body Image

Vaginal Reconstructive Surgery Helps Body Image

Dr. Stubbs also noted, that vaginal enhancement procedures are no different from any other type of cosmetic surgery. It is the job of the specialist to explain the risks, after which the woman can make an informed decision.

More information about pelvic floor laxity leading to anterior or posterior repairs including hysterectomies: http://nethealthbook.com/gynecology-obstetrics/ 

Reference: National Review Of Medicine, January 30, 2006, Pages 1 and 5

Last edited October 30, 2014

Feb
01
2006

Lubricants May Suppress Fertility

By | Women’s Diseases

Surprising results from a prospective controlled study of vaginal lubricants were presented at a meeting of the American Society For Reproductive Medicine and the Canadian Fertility And Andrology Society in Montreal.
Four products, FemGlide, Replens, Astroglide and Pre-Seed have been routinely recommended to couples that are trying to get pregnant. Dr. Ashok Agarwal and colleagues from the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio took a closer look at the effects of the four products and their influence on donor sperm. It turned out, that FemGlide, Replens and Astroglide all reduced the sperm motility and integrity. When mixed in vitro (in a test tube) quality and movement of the sperm showed a sharp decline. Activity in untreated sperm amounted to 66%. A presence of only 10% Astroglide led to a rock bottom 2% mobility. The other product, Pre-Seed, did not slow the sperm down.
A second test measured DNA damage in sperm that had been exposed to lubricant solution for four hours. Again, only Pre-Seed had the lowest impact. It showed 7% more chromatin damage than untreated sperm. KY had 10% more damage and FemGlide showed 15% of damaged sperm.

Lubricants May Suppress Fertility

Lubricants May Suppress Fertility

The researchers caution that problem lubricants are likely to cause additional hurdles for couples struggling with infertility, as chances for fertilization decrease with certain lubricants.

More information on infertility: http://nethealthbook.com/womens-health-gynecology-and-obstetrics/infertility-php/

Reference: Parkhurst Exchange, page 31,Vol.14, Nr.1 January 2006

Last edited October 30, 2014

Dec
01
2005

Lycopene For Bone Health

By | Nutrition, Osteoporosis, Prevention, Women’s Diseases

The tomato pigment Lycopene in the diet has been demonstrated to be a beneficial agent in reducing age-related diseases, cardio-vascular disease and even prostate cancer. A new aspect has now been investigated.
Consuming more lycopene in the diet is of significant benefit to post-menopausal women, as it reduces oxidative stress and bone turnover. The findings come from head researcher Erin Collins from the University of Toronto. The study results also suggest, that dietary lycopene is readily absorbed, particularly in combination with vitamin C. These results are encouraging, as lycopene may be one of the main agents important for the prevention of osteoporosis.” We found that women who consumed more tomato products on a daily basis had a lower bone turnover and lower oxidative stress than women of the same age group who did not consume as much”, reports Ms. Collins. The participants of the research project were between 50 and 60 years. Lycopene levels in the blood were analyzed, and a seven-day food record was completed. The lowest quartile of estimated lycopene intake was 1.8 mg per day, and the highest was 8 mg per day. Lab tests also showed that higher levels of lycopene were associated with a lower level of protein oxidation and cross-linked N-telopeptides of type I collagen, for short NTx. The latter one is a marker of bone turnover. The intake of vitamin C appeared to work together with lycopene, but it only showed to have a correlation, if 500 mg per day or more of vitamin C was consumed. The effect was not observed among the volunteers who consumed less than 500 mg per day of vitamin C.
An intervention study will begin shortly, which will be the first of its kind. It will assess the bone parameters in women treated with different doses of lycopene pills.

Lycopene For Bone Health

Lycopene For Bone Health

It is likely that follow-up studies will confirm initial findings, and dietary lycopene could become a simple, inexpensive way of helping to prevent osteoporosis.

More information about osteoporosis: http://nethealthbook.com/arthritis/osteoporosis/

Reference: The Medical Post, October 11, 2005, page 8

Last edited October 29, 2014

Dec
01
2005

Focused Radiation Improves Breast Cancer Cures

By | Cancer, Women’s Diseases

Surgery for breast cancer in past years often involved the removal of the entire breast (=mastectomy). The cancer patient often dreaded this procedure because of the physical and psychological impact. With early-stage breast cancer the removal of the breast lump proved to be the more acceptable choice (=lumpectomy). There was however the question, whether any treatment after the surgical procedure would make a difference in the long-term cure.
Dr. Martin Keisch, a radiation oncologist at Mount Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Center in Miami Beach, Florida reports about his experience with a specific radiation therapy called balloon brachytherapy. He led a study with 43 women with early-stage breast cancer who underwent the procedure following lumpectomy. None of them had a cancer relapse over the next four years. Importantly, there were also no serious long-term side effects. The cosmetic results were rated good to excellent by 85 % of the women.

Focused Radiation Improves Breast Cancer Cures

Focused Radiation Improves Breast Cancer Cures

The brachytherapy system, called the MammoSite Radiation Therapy System, is approved for use in the U.S. and Canada.

More information on breast cancer: http://nethealthbook.com/cancer-overview/breast-cancer/

Reference: The Medical Post, November 22, 2005, page 48

Last edited October 29, 2014

Nov
01
2005

More Is Not Always Better In Exercise

By | Fitness, Health, Men's Health, Stress management, Women’s Diseases

Physical activity and good nutrition are the keys for a healthy immune system. Dr. David Nieman, PhD, from the Appalachian State University of Boone, N.C. has found that exercise and nutrition play a strong role in boosting immunity. His past research showed that women who walked briskly for 30 to 45 minutes five days for 12 to 15 weeks had colds half as often as inactive women. This is true even for the aging population, where immunity tends to decline; some research has shown that fit elderly people have better-preserved immune systems.
It is tempting to conclude, that more exercise would lead to even better benefits, but the research results are quite different. Exercising for too long (beyond 90 minutes) appears to cause a steep drop in immune function that can last up to 24 hours. In the 1987 Los Angeles Marathon, Dr. Nieman surveyed 2,311 runners and found those who raced were six times more likely to get sick afterward compared with those who dropped out of the race for non-medical reasons. Runners who trained more than 96 km per week during the two months before a race doubled their chances for sickness compared with those who trained less than 36 km per week.
In lab tests on marathon runners who ran on a treadmill for 90 minutes to 3 hours at 80% aerobic capacity, the level of immune cells had decreased (neutrophils, monocytes, natural killer cells, T cells and B cells). All these players in the immune system leave the blood and concentrate on the effort to do repairs and maintenance on the muscles. As a result the front line soldiers are unavailable for defense when viruses are present.

More Is Not Always Better In Exercise

More Is Not Always Better In Exercise

The best strategies for active as well as not-so-active individuals remain similar.
-Minimize life stresses-mental and emotional.
-Avoid over training and chronic fatigue.
-Curb exercise if you have a fever or systemic infection.
-Eat a well-balanced diet with adequate energy.

More about fitness: http://nethealthbook.com/health-nutrition-and-fitness/fitness/

Reference: The Medical Post, October 11, 2005, page 19

Last edited October 29, 2014

Nov
01
2005

Digital Mammography Superior For Some

By | Cancer, Prevention, Women’s Diseases

Mammography has been considered a reliable screening test for breast lumps. It has become a crucial diagnostic tool for the early recognition of breast cancer. Nevertheless there are situations when the test has its limitations, which is especially true for women who have very dense breast tissue.
Dr. Martin Yaffe, PhD, a biophysics professor at the University of Toronto and Women’s College Health Sciences Center has done the groundwork for digital mammography, and 20 years of research and development have finally paid off. For women who have dense breast tissue, digital mammography will be the superior diagnostic tool, as opposed to the conventional film mammography. In a study that involved 42,760 patients who were asymptomatic both film mammography and digital mammography were used for screening. In the general study population the accuracy of the two methods was found to be similar. In the group of women under 50 years of age the digital method showed significantly more accuracy (84% vs. 69%). Accuracy for women with dense breasts was also higher with the digital method (78% vs. 68%). It also was superior for premenopausal women (82%vs.67%).

The digital equipment used was still in its development stages, and the potential of the technology will become even greater with more sophisticated equipment down the road. At this point it is not cost effective to use the digital method for all women. The digital system costs between one and a half to four times as much as the film systems.

Digital Mammography Superior For Some

Digital Mammography Superior For Some

“There is certainly no indication that digital is any less accurate than film mammography, but certainly the benefit is in a defined subgroup of women at this time,” states Dr.Yaffe. For most women film mammography remains a method that works well.

More information about breast cancer: http://nethealthbook.com/cancer-overview/breast-cancer/breast-cancer-diagnosis/

Reference: The Medical Post, October 4, 2005, page1, 62

Last edited November 2, 2014

Sep
01
2005

Environmental Toxins Harmful For Generations To Come

By | Cancer, Health, Men's Health, Women’s Diseases

It is a known fact that exposure to toxic substances during pregnancy can cause birth defects.
Investigators at the Center For Reproductive Biology of the University of Washington in Seattle examined the consequences of environmental toxins, which are also known as endocrine disruptors in their research. Dr. Michael K. Skinner led the study. The research team worked with rats, and they noticed that it was not only the first generation that was affected, but the effect persisted for as many as four generations later The substance they used in the experiment was either vinclozolin, an antiandrogenic compound commonly used as a pesticide in vineyards or methoxychlor, an estrogenic DDT replacement. Both pesticides are endocrine disruptors, as they interfere with the normal functioning of reproductive hormones. It was no surprise that ninety percent of male offspring that had been born to the exposed females had low sperm counts and reduced fertility.
The unexpected result showed up in the next generation. If these offspring were mated to unexposed females, they still had low sperm counts and reduced fertility. The effect persisted-completely unexpectedly- through all generations tested without further pesticide exposure. The researchers concluded that the toxins affected inheritance by altering patterns of DNA in the germ line. Genetic changes that are passed on for generations to come might play a role in more frequently occurring diseases such as breast cancer and prostate disease, as they may not be caused by genetic mutations.

Environmental Toxins Harmful For Generations To Come

Environmental Toxins Harmful For Generations To Come

This is also the first report that shows the menacing ability of an environmental factor to reprogram the germ line and promote a transgenerational disease pattern.

More information on environmental toxins: https://www.askdrray.com/protecting-yourself-from-environmental-toxins/

Reference: Parkhurst Exchange Volume 13,Number 6, August 2005, page 33

Last edited October 29, 2014

Aug
01
2005

Comfort Foods Make PMS More Uncomfortable

By | Mental Health, Nutrition, Prevention, Women’s Diseases

Premenstrual depression, moodiness, insomnia, abdominal cramps and headaches are some of the symptoms that create havoc for up to 40 % of menstruating women. Premenstrual Syndrome (or PMS for short) does not just mean a” cranky” few days for the women who suffer from it, but a host of unpleasant effects. Many experience bloating and breast tenderness, and they find that their daily functioning at work and in personal relationships is impaired. Food cravings are part of the picture, and often the so-called “comfort foods” are high on the list like ice cream, chocolate, cookies, or cake. Unfortunately these are not helpful at all, whereas other foods can be beneficial. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has published recommendations already in 2000 in which a diet of complex carbohydrates was recommended and supplementation of calcium, magnesium and vitamin E. Small meals that are rich in complex carbohydrates and that also contain protein and fat are useful to keep blood sugar levels stable. Even though some women crave sugar, candy, baked goods and pop, the rapid fluctuations in blood sugar only contribute to moodiness and irritability. Caffeine can also contribute to irritability, but by the same token, quitting coffee or tea abruptly will make many feel worse. A gradual decrease would be the gentler approach.
Alcohol intake is an especially bad idea, as it is a depressant and does nothing to lift the mood. People who have bloating or edema should avoid sodium.
Trials have shown what works to control PMS. More than 400 women were enrolled in a study group and were given 1,200 mg of chewable calcium carbonate daily. Those taking the supplement benefited from a 48% decrease of symptom severity. Within the Nurses’ Health Study II researchers followed up on a group of 1,057 women who got PMS and another group of 1,968 women who did not during 1991 and 2005. Women who consumed 400 IU of vitamin D a day had a lower relative risk of developing PMS. Consumption of calcium and vitamin D were measured by a food questionnaire. Calcium consumption of about four daily servings of fortified orange juice, skim-or low-fat milk or low-fat yogurt was inversely related to PMS.

Comfort Foods Make PMS More Uncomfortable

Comfort Foods Make PMS More Uncomfortable

The lead author of the study was Dr. Elizabeth Bertone-Johnson PhD, from the department of public health at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. Her colleagues agree that vitamin D and calcium is beneficial to women of all ages, since these nutrients also reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Trials of vitamin B6 in doses of up to 100 mg daily seemed to help, as reported already in 2003 in a review by American Family Physician.

For the patient it means that small, regular meals are a good idea. So are complex carbohydrates, low-glycemic fruit like apples or berries and lots of vegetables. Consume low-fat milk or low-fat yogurt. Give the calcium supplements and the vitamin B6 a try. Minimize red meat, saturated and trans fats. Avoid salt, refined carbs, sugar, salt and alcohol. All of these aspects can make a significant contribution to a reduction of PMS symptoms as well as to health and wellness.

More info on premenstrual syndrome: http://nethealthbook.com/womens-health-gynecology-and-obstetrics/pms/

Reference: The Medical Post, June 28.2005, page 23

Last edited October 29, 2014

Jun
01
2005

Smoking During Pregnancy Linked To Adult Asthma

By | Asthma, Lung Disease, obstetrics, Prevention, Women’s Diseases

Smoking during pregnancy has been found to be harmful to the unborn child, and secondary smoke has long been recognized as a health risk for children. Doctors and health care providers keep on pointing out the hazards: aside the risk for the mother-to-be there are the consequences for the children: low baby birth weights, respiratory problems for children.
In the meantime there is another good reason for the pregnant woman (and other household members) to quit. Passive smoking for the unborn child and in childhood seems to have a lasting effect on the airways. There is an increased risk for adult respiratory problems and asthma, reports Dr.Trude Duelien-Skoge, who is a respiratory physician at the University of Bergen, Norway. A long-term study was concluded between 1985 and 1996 involving 2,819 adults. Those participants, who had been exposed to tobacco smoke as unborn babies, were three times more likely to develop adult asthma than individuals whose mothers were non-smokers. Exposure to tobacco smoke in childhood alone was associated with a two-fold risk for adult asthma.

The worst consequences were born by the group that was exposed to tobacco smoke as unborn children and during childhood: they were three-and-a-half times more likely to develop asthma as adults. Several studies pointed to the fact that there are structural changes in the airways of children who had prenatal exposure to tobacco smoke. This does not come as a surprise, as many toxic chemicals from cigarette smoke pass freely across the placenta, and prenatal smoke exposure has been associated with a host of childhood illnesses. From early changes the road is paved to either slow progression of disease or inducing vulnerability in the airways, which only becomes evident with later exposures.

Smoking During Pregnancy Linked To Adult Asthma

Smoking During Pregnancy Linked To Adult Asthma

Due to the far-reaching health risk it is all the more important to be aware of prevention: neither should the unborn child be exposed to cigarette smoke, nor should the growing child be subjected to it, and all efforts should be made to convince the adult smoker of the benefits of quitting smoking.

More information on:

Asthma: http://nethealthbook.com/lung-disease/asthma-introduction/

High risk pregnancies: http://nethealthbook.com/womens-health-gynecology-and-obstetrics/pregnancy-labor-delivery-2/high-risk-pregnancies/
Reference: The Medical Post, May 3, 2005, page 25

Last edited October 28, 2014