Researchers seeking to understand the impact of osteoporosis and fractures on various aspects of health have found that women who had previous fractures experienced a significant reduction in health-related quality of life similar to or worse than that experienced by patients with diabetes, arthritis, lung disease and other chronic illnesses. This latest study from the Global Longitudinal Study of Osteoporosis in Women (GLOW), which is based at the Center for Outcomes Research at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, was published online in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
Approximately 40 percent of women over 50 will suffer a fracture; the most common sites of fracture are the hip, spine and wrist. These fractures often carry with them chronic pain, reduced mobility, loss of independence, and especially in the case of hip fracture, an increased risk of death. Because the likelihood of fractures increases substantially with older age, fracture numbers are projected to rise as the population ages.
Using a standardized index measuring five dimensions of health (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain or discomfort, and anxiety or depression), the study authors administered health surveys to nearly 60,000 postmenopausal women in 10 countries. The surveys were used to compare the overall health status, physical function and vitality of participants and assess health-related quality of life. The study found that spine, hip and upper leg fractures resulted in the greatest decrease in quality of life.
"Our study shows that the effects of fractures result in significant reductions in quality of life that are as lasting and as disabling as other chronic conditions. As important, the greater the number of fractures, the greater the disability," said the lead author of the paper, Jonathan D. Adachi, MD, GLOW investigator and the Alliance for Better Bone Health Chair in Rheumatology at St. Joseph's Healthcare and McMaster University in Ontario. "This suggests that efforts are needed to prevent fractures from occurring."
Study Details:
GLOW is a prospective, international cohort study of women 55 years of age and older who visited their primary care physician during the 2 years prior to enrollment in the study. Over 60,000 women were recruited by more than 700 primary care physicians in 17 cities in 10 countries (Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, United Kingdom and United States). In GLOW, information is being gathered on fracture risk factors, treatments, patient behaviors, and fracture outcomes over a 5-year period.
GLOW in Worcester, Massachusetts:
28,000 US women are participating in GLOW. Dr. Stephen Gehlbach from the School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts and co author of the article enrolled 5,091 women through the University of Massachusetts Memorial Health Care system and area physician practices. Of these participants, 23% had a previous fracture.
Sponsors:
Financial support for the GLOW study is provided by Warner Chilcott Company, LLC and sanofi-aventis to the Center for Outcomes Research, University of Massachusetts Medical School.
Source:
Alison Duffy
University of Massachusetts Medical School
суббота, 26 мая 2012 г.
суббота, 19 мая 2012 г.
Minster Unveils 'Linda's Pregnancy' at Maternity Conference, UK
UK Health Minister Stephen Ladyman will today announce an Exemplar
showing a woman's journey through pregnancy and birth and
illustrating how Government standards can be put into practice to
provide greater choice and flexibility for women using maternity
services.
'Linda's pregnancy' follows the journey of a young African Caribbean
woman and her partner as they progress through her second pregnancy.
Covering issues such as smoking during pregnancy, healthy eating and
concerns over maternal mental health, the story is taken from Linda's
realisation that she is pregnant through to 6 weeks after the birth
of her child.
Health Minister Stephen Ladyman said
"Maternity services already represent one of the many success stories
of the NHS and the exemplar illustrates some of the ways in which
professionals can work together to place the needs of women and their
babies at the centre of their care using the Children's and Maternity
National Service Framework (NSF).
"The NSF will encourage choice in maternity services so that,
whenever possible, women can decide where they give birth and the
type of care they receive. I am pleased to be working with our
partners at the Royal Colleges to take this work forward."
The Exemplar will be unveiled at 'Maternity Services for the 21st
Century', a conference which is a collaboration between the
Department of Health, the Royal College of Obstetricians and
Gynaecologists, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and
the Royal College of Midwives. It will focus on professionals
working in partnership to achieve the best outcomes and experiences
for women using maternity services.
The Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists said
"Today is all about teamwork to support one another in the
implementation of the National Service Framework and to find the best
way forward so that we can all make real and lasting improvements for
women and their babies.
"It is important to remember that this is a ten year plan for
improving care and the Colleges will now encourage the dissemination
of the Framework down to a local level so that it can be implemented
to best support the needs of local populations.
"The RCOG looks forward to continuing our close working relationship
with our colleagues at the Royal College of Midwives and the Royal
College of Paediatrics and Child Health in using this Framework to
deliver high quality maternity and neonatal services to all women in
England and Wales. The College believes that the multi-disciplinary
approach emphasised in the Framework will give us a real opportunity
to change and improve maternity services over the next decade."
The Royal College of Midwives said
"Today provides us all with the opportunity to discuss the first
steps in implementing the new NSF. We look forward to working with
our partners in providing maternity services that are user led, with
an emphasis on fulfilling health and social care needs and
priorities, as we move into the 21st Century."
Achieving the standards set out in the NSF will be challenging and in
recognition of this it has been developed as a ten-year strategy,
with services expected to meet the standards by 2014.
The NSF presents a real opportunity for the NHS to target resources
more effectively and utilising new ways of working. It aims to
ensure that Primary Care Trusts and maternity service providers
design, review and improve maternity services through a programme of
consultation, building on the work of existing local groups.
'Maternity Services for the 21st Century' will be held on 14 March
2005 at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, London
The Maternity services exemplar can be found at
dh/assetRoot/04/10/60/49/04106049
The National Framework for children, young people and maternity
services was published on 15th September 2004 and is the biggest
national initiative to improve health and social services and can be
found
if you CLICK HERE.
For media enquiries, please contact: Michelle Hinds at the Department
of Health Media Centre on tel: 020 7210 5375, Marie Sterry at the
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists on 0207 772 6357 or
Jonathan Andrews at the Royal College of Midwives on 0207 312 3432
For public enquiries, please contact the Department of Health Public
Enquiries Department on tel: 020 7210 4850
GNNREF: 112523
Issued by : DOH Press Office
showing a woman's journey through pregnancy and birth and
illustrating how Government standards can be put into practice to
provide greater choice and flexibility for women using maternity
services.
'Linda's pregnancy' follows the journey of a young African Caribbean
woman and her partner as they progress through her second pregnancy.
Covering issues such as smoking during pregnancy, healthy eating and
concerns over maternal mental health, the story is taken from Linda's
realisation that she is pregnant through to 6 weeks after the birth
of her child.
Health Minister Stephen Ladyman said
"Maternity services already represent one of the many success stories
of the NHS and the exemplar illustrates some of the ways in which
professionals can work together to place the needs of women and their
babies at the centre of their care using the Children's and Maternity
National Service Framework (NSF).
"The NSF will encourage choice in maternity services so that,
whenever possible, women can decide where they give birth and the
type of care they receive. I am pleased to be working with our
partners at the Royal Colleges to take this work forward."
The Exemplar will be unveiled at 'Maternity Services for the 21st
Century', a conference which is a collaboration between the
Department of Health, the Royal College of Obstetricians and
Gynaecologists, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and
the Royal College of Midwives. It will focus on professionals
working in partnership to achieve the best outcomes and experiences
for women using maternity services.
The Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists said
"Today is all about teamwork to support one another in the
implementation of the National Service Framework and to find the best
way forward so that we can all make real and lasting improvements for
women and their babies.
"It is important to remember that this is a ten year plan for
improving care and the Colleges will now encourage the dissemination
of the Framework down to a local level so that it can be implemented
to best support the needs of local populations.
"The RCOG looks forward to continuing our close working relationship
with our colleagues at the Royal College of Midwives and the Royal
College of Paediatrics and Child Health in using this Framework to
deliver high quality maternity and neonatal services to all women in
England and Wales. The College believes that the multi-disciplinary
approach emphasised in the Framework will give us a real opportunity
to change and improve maternity services over the next decade."
The Royal College of Midwives said
"Today provides us all with the opportunity to discuss the first
steps in implementing the new NSF. We look forward to working with
our partners in providing maternity services that are user led, with
an emphasis on fulfilling health and social care needs and
priorities, as we move into the 21st Century."
Achieving the standards set out in the NSF will be challenging and in
recognition of this it has been developed as a ten-year strategy,
with services expected to meet the standards by 2014.
The NSF presents a real opportunity for the NHS to target resources
more effectively and utilising new ways of working. It aims to
ensure that Primary Care Trusts and maternity service providers
design, review and improve maternity services through a programme of
consultation, building on the work of existing local groups.
'Maternity Services for the 21st Century' will be held on 14 March
2005 at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, London
The Maternity services exemplar can be found at
dh/assetRoot/04/10/60/49/04106049
The National Framework for children, young people and maternity
services was published on 15th September 2004 and is the biggest
national initiative to improve health and social services and can be
found
if you CLICK HERE.
For media enquiries, please contact: Michelle Hinds at the Department
of Health Media Centre on tel: 020 7210 5375, Marie Sterry at the
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists on 0207 772 6357 or
Jonathan Andrews at the Royal College of Midwives on 0207 312 3432
For public enquiries, please contact the Department of Health Public
Enquiries Department on tel: 020 7210 4850
GNNREF: 112523
Issued by : DOH Press Office
суббота, 12 мая 2012 г.
Proponents Of Female Genital Cutting In Kenya Promoting It As HIV Prevention Method
Some proponents of female genital cutting in Kisii, Kenya, are claiming that the practice will reduce a woman's risk of contracting HIV, IRIN/PlusNews reports. These proponents say FGC prevents HIV because women will have reduced sexual desire after it is performed, resulting in fewer sexual partners and a decreased risk for contracting the virus. Researchers have challenged the notion that there is a difference sexual desire among women who have undergone FGC with those who have not, IRIN/PlusNews reports. After FGC was outlawed for girls younger than age 18, local residents say that proponents of the procedure have become "even more aggressive in their efforts to keep [FGC] alive." Jacqueline Mogaka, a local advocate against FGC, said, "I do not know where this idea of female genital mutilation being a remedy for HIV infection originated, but it is a strong belief" in Kisii, adding, "Young girls are now even voluntarily turning up for the cut because of this belief."
Despite being against Ministry of Health policy, FGC still is widespread in Kisii, with 97% of girls undergoing the procedure, most commonly when they are teenagers, IRIN/PlusNews reports. Grace Kemunto, a traditional circumciser said, "When you are cut as a woman, you do not become promiscuous and it means you cannot get infected by HIV." Opponents of FGC say the assumption that women and girls are always in control of their sexual practices is false and can be harmful, according to IRIN/PlusNews. In the Nyanza province, where Kisii is located, an estimated 9% of girls are married by age 15, and 53% are married by age 19, according to data from a 2003 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey. IRIN/PlusNews reports that efforts against FGC pointed out the increased HIV risk with traditional methods such as a single cutting device used on multiple women. However, this lead to an increase in nurses and midwives performing the procedure, which opponents indicate is "holding back the fight against FGC because the practice was no longer associated with a fear of HIV," IRIN/PlusNews reports. The practice also poses a risk of hemorrhaging -- during the procedure or childbirth, as well as from vaginal tearing during sexual intercourse -- that could lead to a need for blood transfusions in regions where a safe blood supply is not guaranteed, according to IRIN/PlusNews (IRIN/PlusNews, 1/27).
Reprinted with kind 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.
© 2009 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
Despite being against Ministry of Health policy, FGC still is widespread in Kisii, with 97% of girls undergoing the procedure, most commonly when they are teenagers, IRIN/PlusNews reports. Grace Kemunto, a traditional circumciser said, "When you are cut as a woman, you do not become promiscuous and it means you cannot get infected by HIV." Opponents of FGC say the assumption that women and girls are always in control of their sexual practices is false and can be harmful, according to IRIN/PlusNews. In the Nyanza province, where Kisii is located, an estimated 9% of girls are married by age 15, and 53% are married by age 19, according to data from a 2003 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey. IRIN/PlusNews reports that efforts against FGC pointed out the increased HIV risk with traditional methods such as a single cutting device used on multiple women. However, this lead to an increase in nurses and midwives performing the procedure, which opponents indicate is "holding back the fight against FGC because the practice was no longer associated with a fear of HIV," IRIN/PlusNews reports. The practice also poses a risk of hemorrhaging -- during the procedure or childbirth, as well as from vaginal tearing during sexual intercourse -- that could lead to a need for blood transfusions in regions where a safe blood supply is not guaranteed, according to IRIN/PlusNews (IRIN/PlusNews, 1/27).
Reprinted with kind 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.
© 2009 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
суббота, 5 мая 2012 г.
Women's Risk Of Developing Schizophrenia Increased By Genetic Variant
A complete scan of the human genome has revealed that a genetic variant in the Reelin gene increases the risk of developing schizophrenia in women only. Researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the University of Oxford, who conducted the study in the Ashkenazi Jewish population, confirmed their findings by establishing a multinational collaboration that included populations and researchers from the United Kingdom, Ireland, United States, and China. Their research is published in the February issue of the open-access journal PLoS Genetics.
Heritability of schizophrenia has been well established through epidemiological studies in past years. However, efforts to identify the genes associated with this devastating disease, which affects about 1% of the human population, have encountered significant difficulties. Technological advances that allow the complete and efficient scanning of the entire genome present a new opportunity to address this challenge.
The authors analyzed 500,000 genetic variants distributed across the whole human genome in DNA from patients with schizophrenia and control subjects. By comparing the genomes of hundreds of patients with schizophrenia with those of healthy controls across several human populations, the researchers identified a gene that significantly increases the risk of developing the disease, but interestingly in women only.
This study represents significant progress in the study of schizophrenia with possible practical implications in the areas of disease diagnosis and drug discovery. Nevertheless, it is important to stress that these possibilities will require many years of additional research, and even then, success cannot be guaranteed.
Link to the published article
CITATION: Shifman S, Johannesson M, Bronstein M, Chen SX, Collier DA, et al. (2008) Genome-wide association identifies a common variant in the reelin gene that increases the risk of schizophrenia only in women. PLoS Genet 4(2): e28. doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.0040028
CONTACT:
Dr. Sagiv Shifman
University of Oxford
Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics
Dr. Ariel Darvasi
Hebrew University
Center for Research on Pain
Disclaimer
This press release refers to an upcoming article in PLoS Genetics. The release is provided by the article authors and/or their institutions. Any opinions expressed in this release or article are the personal views of the journal staff and/or article contributors, and do not necessarily represent the views or policies of PLoS. PLoS expressly disclaims any and all warranties and liability in connection with the information found in the releases and articles and your use of such information.
About PLoS Genetics
PLoS Genetics (plosgenetics/) reflects the full breadth and interdisciplinary nature of genetics and genomics research by publishing outstanding original contributions in all areas of biology. All works published in PLoS Genetics are open access. Everything is immediately and freely available online throughout the world subject only to the condition that the original authorship and source are properly attributed. Copyright is retained by the authors. The Public Library of Science uses the Creative Commons Attribution License.
About the Public Library of Science
The Public Library of Science (PLoS) is a non-profit organization of scientists and physicians committed to making the world's scientific and medical literature a freely available public resource. For more information, visit plos/.
Source: Mary Kohut
Public Library of Science
Heritability of schizophrenia has been well established through epidemiological studies in past years. However, efforts to identify the genes associated with this devastating disease, which affects about 1% of the human population, have encountered significant difficulties. Technological advances that allow the complete and efficient scanning of the entire genome present a new opportunity to address this challenge.
The authors analyzed 500,000 genetic variants distributed across the whole human genome in DNA from patients with schizophrenia and control subjects. By comparing the genomes of hundreds of patients with schizophrenia with those of healthy controls across several human populations, the researchers identified a gene that significantly increases the risk of developing the disease, but interestingly in women only.
This study represents significant progress in the study of schizophrenia with possible practical implications in the areas of disease diagnosis and drug discovery. Nevertheless, it is important to stress that these possibilities will require many years of additional research, and even then, success cannot be guaranteed.
Link to the published article
CITATION: Shifman S, Johannesson M, Bronstein M, Chen SX, Collier DA, et al. (2008) Genome-wide association identifies a common variant in the reelin gene that increases the risk of schizophrenia only in women. PLoS Genet 4(2): e28. doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.0040028
CONTACT:
Dr. Sagiv Shifman
University of Oxford
Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics
Dr. Ariel Darvasi
Hebrew University
Center for Research on Pain
Disclaimer
This press release refers to an upcoming article in PLoS Genetics. The release is provided by the article authors and/or their institutions. Any opinions expressed in this release or article are the personal views of the journal staff and/or article contributors, and do not necessarily represent the views or policies of PLoS. PLoS expressly disclaims any and all warranties and liability in connection with the information found in the releases and articles and your use of such information.
About PLoS Genetics
PLoS Genetics (plosgenetics/) reflects the full breadth and interdisciplinary nature of genetics and genomics research by publishing outstanding original contributions in all areas of biology. All works published in PLoS Genetics are open access. Everything is immediately and freely available online throughout the world subject only to the condition that the original authorship and source are properly attributed. Copyright is retained by the authors. The Public Library of Science uses the Creative Commons Attribution License.
About the Public Library of Science
The Public Library of Science (PLoS) is a non-profit organization of scientists and physicians committed to making the world's scientific and medical literature a freely available public resource. For more information, visit plos/.
Source: Mary Kohut
Public Library of Science
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