Audio Medica News - Medical News Interviews Episodes - | FERTILITY: Circulating Markers Herald Onset of Preeclampsia | Audio Journal of Fertility
Circulating Markers Herald Onset of Preeclampsia
REFERENCE: N Engl J Med 2006; 355:992
RICHARD LEVINE, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda
In pregnant women circulating levels of the anti-angiogenic substances: soluble endoglin and soluble Flt-1 herald the onset of preeclampsia, according to a publication in the New England Journal of Medicine. Richard Levine told Peter Goodwin about his group?s findings from the Calcium for Preeclampsia Prevention Trial which give hope of designing molecularly targeted drugs to treat preeclampsia or of spotting the disease early. | to send to friends | Download FERTILITY: Circulating Markers Herald Onset of Preeclampsia
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| GLOBAL HEALTH: Miscarriage Risk in Women with Low Body Mass Index | Audio Journal of Global Health Issues, January 26th, 2007
Miscarriage Risk in Women with Low Body Mass Index
REFERENCE: BJOG 2007 114:170
PAT DOYLE, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Underweight women were found to be at increased risk of miscarriage, according to a study published in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. A team from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine conducted a survey by questionnaire of 6 000 women among whom 600 had a first trimester miscarriage. Using a ?case-control? method of comparison it emerged that women with a body mass index below 18.5 had a 70 per cent increase in their risk of miscarriage. Peter Goodwin heard more about the study from Pat Doyle of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. | to send to friends | Download GLOBAL HEALTH: Miscarriage Risk in Women with Low Body Mass Index
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| GLOBAL HEALTH: Herpes Simplex Therapy Reduces HIV Activity in Co-Infected Patients | Audio Journal of Global Health Issues
Herpes Simplex Therapy Reduces HIV Activity in Co-Infected Patients
REFERENCE: N Engl J Med 2007; 356: 790-9
PHILIPPE MAYAUD, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
In patients who are infected with both HIV and herpes simplex type 2 the activity of the AIDS virus may be diminished by therapy with one of the established anti-herpes drugs, according to the findings of a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine by authors in France, England and Burkina Faso. Philippe Mayaud talked about his results with Peter Goodwin in which HIV concentrations in the blood and vagina of patients co-infected with both herpes and HIV were found to be reduced by continuous treatment with the anti-herpes agent valacyclovir. | to send to friends | Download GLOBAL HEALTH: Herpes Simplex Therapy Reduces HIV Activity in Co-Infected Patients
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| GLOBAL HEALTH: Growth Hormone Releasing Factor Analog: Slimming Aid for Patients Receiving HAART? | Audio Journal of Global Health Issues
Growth Hormone Releasing Factor Analog: Slimming Aid for Patients Receiving HAART?
REFERENCE: 14th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, Los Angeles February 25-29, 2007
STEVEN GRINSPOON, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
COMMENT: JUDITH CURRIER, University of California, Los Angeles
Daily administration of an analog of growth hormone releasing factor to HIV patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy significantly decreased visceral fat and improved their lipid profiles. This development-stage drug, TH9507, was well tolerated and may help patients reduce central fat accumulation and abnormal lipid profiles, both of which are know cardiovascular risk factors. In addition, decreases in central fat may have a positive effect on patients' self-image. Steven Grinspoon gave Dan Keller details during the 14th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Los Angeles. | to send to friends | Download GLOBAL HEALTH: Growth Hormone Releasing Factor Analog: Slimming Aid for Patients Receiving HAART?
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| GLOBAL HEALTH: Entecavir Shows Activity Against HIV But Also Selects for an Antiretroviral Drug Resistance Mutation | Audio Journal of Global Health Issues
Entecavir Shows Activity Against HIV But Also Selects for an Antiretroviral Drug Resistance Mutation
REFERENCE: Abstract: 136LB, 14th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, Los Angeles February 25-29, 2007
CHLOE THIO, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Entecavir, used to treat hepatitis B virus infections, can lower levels of HIV in co-infected patients but also selects for a mutation that makes HIV resistant to entecavir as well as the antiretroviral drugs lamivudine and emtracitabine. These findings, derived from three case reports and associated laboratory studies, have important implications for the treatment of HBV in HIV-infected patients. Current guidelines, issued in October 2006 and which recommend entecavir as a first-line treatment of HBV in co-infected individuals who do not require anti-HIV therapy, need to be reconsidered. Chloe Thio discussed her study results and their implications with Dan Keller at the 14th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Los Angeles. | to send to friends | Download GLOBAL HEALTH: Entecavir Shows Activity Against HIV But Also Selects for an Antiretroviral Drug Resistance Mutation
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| GLOBAL HEALTH: Maraviroc: New Antiretroviral Drug Shows Efficacy and Safety | Audio Journal of Global Health Issues
Maraviroc: New Antiretroviral Drug Shows Efficacy and Safety
REFERENCE: Abstract Number: 104aLB, 104bLB, 14th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, Los Angeles February 25-28, 2007
HOWARD MAYER, Pfizer Global Research, New London CT
MARK WAINBERG, McGill University, Montreal
In a population of treatment-experienced HIV-infected subjects, maraviroc plus optimised background antiretroviral therapy provided significantly superior virologic control and increases in CD4 cell counts compared with placebo plus optimized background therapy. There were no clinically relevant differences in the safety profiles between the maraviroc and the placebo treatment groups. These drugs do not attack the virus itself but rather block host cells? CCR5 cell surface cytokine receptors that HIV interacts with to gain entry into the cell. | to send to friends | Download GLOBAL HEALTH: Maraviroc: New Antiretroviral Drug Shows Efficacy and Safety
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| GLOBAL HEALTH: 6 Months Exclusive Breast Feeding for Mothers with HIV Lowers Transmission Rates | Audio Journal of Global Health Issues
6 Months Exclusive Breast Feeding for Mothers with HIV Lowers Transmission Rates
REFERENCE: Abstract 13, 14th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, Los Angeles February 25-28, 2007
HOOSEN COOVADIA, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban
In the developing world breastfeeding is the recommended infant feeding method, even for women infected with HIV. While early cessation of breastfeeding reduces HIV transmission to the baby, studies have shown that it increases morbidity and mortality in the infants. Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life appears to reduce HIV transmission, as opposed to ?mixed? breastfeeding with supplementation with formula or solid foods. Dan Keller spoke with Hoosen Coovadia, who delivered a plenary talk on the subject at the14th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Los Angeles. | to send to friends | Download GLOBAL HEALTH: 6 Months Exclusive Breast Feeding for Mothers with HIV Lowers Transmission Rates
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| GLOBAL HEALTH: Once-And-For-All TB Assay Brings Cheap, Sensitive, Specific, Seven-Day Diagnosis and Drug-Susceptibility Testing | Audio Journal of Global Health Issues
Once-And-For-All TB Assay Brings Cheap, Sensitive, Specific, Seven-Day Diagnosis and Drug-Susceptibility Testing
REFERENCE: N Engl J Med 355: 1539-50
DAVID MOORE, Imperial College, London and Lima
A new test for TB, trialled in Peru, has proved more powerful and yet faster and cheaper than alternatives, making it especially suitable for use in resource-limited settings where tuberculosis is becoming more rampant, partly through the world-wide advance of HIV. David Moore and his colleagues have published results in the New England Journal of Medicine of a massive investigation conducted in Lima with nearly 4 000 samples of the sputum test called: Microscopic-Observation Drug-Susceptibility (MODS) Assay. Their findings promise not only to improve diagnosis and save lives in developing countries and other settings with limited health-care resources, but also out-perform costly gold-standard technology-intensive TB diagnosis methods currently used where cash is not a problem. The MODS test, David Moore told Peter Goodwin during a visit to Peru, gives sensitive and specific diagnosis in as little as seven days, and concurrently yields drug susceptibility data which helps combat multi-drug resistant TB. | to send to friends | Download GLOBAL HEALTH: Once-And-For-All TB Assay Brings Cheap, Sensitive, Specific, Seven-Day Diagnosis and Drug-Susceptibility Testing
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| GLOBAL HEALTH: Study on Longevity Genes And Aging Raises Prospects for Therapy | Audio Journal of Global Health Issues
reporting from American College of Physicians Annual Meeting: Internal Medicine 2007; San Diego April 19-21
Study on Longevity Genes And Aging Raises Prospects for Therapy
REFERENCE: ABSTRACT ERA 001 ACP 2007, San Diego
NIR BARZILAI, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York
The prospect of modulating the activity of "longevity genes" to extend life was held out at a special session of the ACP Internal Medicine annual meeting in San Diego. Nir Barzilai, Director of the Institute for Aging Research in New York, presented data from his group's study of patients up to 100 years old and over which have shown that specific genes are related to longevity and freedom from physical illness. Afterwards he talked about his findings and the clinical opportunities they present with Peter Goodwin. | to send to friends | Download GLOBAL HEALTH: Study on Longevity Genes And Aging Raises Prospects for Therapy
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| GLOBAL HEALTH: Patient Power Best to Manage Diabetes | Audio Journal of Global Health Issues
reporting from American College of Physicians Annual Meeting: Internal Medicine 2007; San Diego April 19-21
Patient Power Best to Manage Diabetes
REFERENCE: ABSTRACT Press Release, San Diego ACP 2007
HILARY SELIGMAN, University of California, San Francisco
Doctors can best help their patients with diabetes by taking particular care to put management into the hands of the patients themselves, rather than asking them to slavishly follow the doctors' instructions, conference-goers in San Diego heard. A new ACP guide booklet for diabetes management called "Living with Diabetes", designed to be used by patients in consultation with their doctors, has made concrete improvements in diabetic management, according to results from a study released during the American College of Physicians annual meeting. Peter Goodwin talked with one of the authors of the new initiative, Hilary Seligman. | to send to friends | Download GLOBAL HEALTH: Patient Power Best to Manage Diabetes
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| GLOBAL HEALTH: Drug Eluting Stents, PFO Closure: Indications Not Obvious | Audio Journal of Global Health Issues
reporting from American College of Physicians Annual Meeting: Internal Medicine 2007; San Diego April 19-21
Drug Eluting Stents, PFO Closure: Indications Not Obvious
REFERENCE: ABSTRACT ACP Internal Medicine 2007, ERA 002
MARK REISMAN, Swedish Medical Center, Seattle
Drug eluting stents may not always be the automatic choice over the bare metal variety for patients requiring intervention, despite the important clinical advantages that have been emerging from their introduction recently. This is according to Mark Reisman who gave the Internal Medicine 2007 conference in San Diego his latest insights from the rapidly changing world of interventional cardiology. At this (recently renamed) annual meeting of the American College of Physicians he also discussed the difficult question of which patients are candidates for PFO closure, and what the clinical objectives of this might be: including the possible reduction of migraine headaches. After his session he talked with Peter Goodwin. | to send to friends | Download GLOBAL HEALTH: Drug Eluting Stents, PFO Closure: Indications Not Obvious
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| GLOBAL HEALTH: Can Road-Side Tranexamic Acid Therapy Reduce Mortality and Blood Transfusions after Trauma? The CRASH Trial. | Audio Journal of Global Health Issues
Can Road-Side Tranexamic Acid Therapy Reduce Mortality and Blood Transfusions after Trauma? The CRASH Trial.
JAIME MIRANDA, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Lima
An antifibrinolytic agent, tranexamic acid (commonly used to reduce bleeding during surgery) is being investigated as first-aid to cut mortality and the need for blood transfusion immediately after trauma or injury. The CRASH trial, still in its early phases in a worldwide adult population, aims to bring particular benefit to developing countries, many of which are blighted by trauma with few measures, if any, having been available up to now to reduce the death toll. In Lima, Peru, Jaime Miranda discussed his group's ongoing investigation with Peter Goodwin. | to send to friends | Download GLOBAL HEALTH: Can Road-Side Tranexamic Acid Therapy Reduce Mortality and Blood Transfusions after Trauma? The CRASH Trial.
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| GENERAL MEDICINE: Elective Single Embryo Transfer in IVF: 13 Year Data From Sweden | Audio Journal of Medicine
Reporting from European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) 23rd Annual Meeting, Lyon, July 1-4, 2007
Elective Single Embryo Transfer in IVF: 13 Year Data From Sweden
REFERENCE: ABSTRACT Oral 005
Per-Olof Karlström, Academic Hospital Uppsala
COMMENT: Richard Kennedy, University Hospital, Coventry
Elective single embryo transfer, now the norm in Sweden for in-vitro fertilisation, has greatly reduced rates of multiple pregnancy and the risks that go with it. And there are other benefits, according to Per-Olof Karlström from Uppsala who talked with Peter Goodwin during the ESHRE conference on fertility held in Lyon.
The evidence from Sweden was put in perspective during the conference by Richard Kennedy from Coventry. | to send to friends | Download GENERAL MEDICINE: Elective Single Embryo Transfer in IVF: 13 Year Data From Sweden
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| GENERAL MEDICINE: News from the 23rd Annual Meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology | Audio Journal of Medicine
Reporting from European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) 23rd Annual Meeting, Lyon, July 1-4, 2007
1. Eggs From Young Patients Before Chemotherapy: New Hope for Future Fertility
REFERENCE: ABSTRACT O-107
Ariel Revel, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem
Harvesting eggs from young girls before they undergo aggressive chemotherapy can now be done to give the hope of pregnancy in the future, according to fertility experts from Jerusalem reporting to the European conference on fertility being held in Lyon. The investigators have obtained oocytes from girls as young as five years. Lead author Ariel Revel talked about his group's findings with Sarah Maxwell.
2. First Baby Born From Thawed, Frozen, In-Vitro Matured Oocytes
REFERENCE: ABSTRACT Oral 018
Hananel Holzer, McGill University, Montreal
The results of a study that has produced the first live birth by maturing oocytes in vitro which have been collected from unstimulated ovaries, freezing them, and subsequently thawing them for fertilization were presented to the ESHRE meeting in Lyon. This is the first time oocytes collected without hormonal stimulation have resulted in pregnancies. For some women potentially facing sterility, such as those with breast cancer who do not have time for hormonal stimulation, this technique provides the hope of pregnancy which could otherwise be denied. Sarah Maxwell interviewed Hananel Holzer about the findings.
3. Ovarian Stimulation: Menotrophin Gives More Live Births than Follicle-Stimulating Hormone for Assisted Reproduction
REFERENCE: ABSTRACT Oral 098
Masoud Afnan, Birmingham Women's Hospital
Of two types of gonadotrophins currently used for ovarian stimulation in assisted reproduction one has now clearly demonstrated superiority in a meta-analysis presenteted to the fertility conference in Lyon. Human menotrophin (hGH) gave more live births than recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (rFSH) whether reproduction was by in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Peter Goodwin talked with Masoud Afnan from Birmingham after his presentation of the study which he co-authored with Madelon van Wely and Julko van der Veen.
4. Single Embryo Transfer Recommended For Most Patients Receiving Donated Oocytes
REFERENCE: ABSTRACT O-007
Viveca So?derstro?m-Anttila, Väestoliitto Fertility Clinics, Helsinki
When oocytes are donated to achieve a pregnancy, single embryo transfer should generally be recommended over double transfer, according to the findings of a study from Helsinki. Sarah Maxwell discussed the data with Viveka Söderström. | |
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