Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in OBGYN & Women’s Health for February 2019. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
Flu Vaccination During Pregnancy Does Not Cause Miscarriage
THURSDAY, Feb. 28, 2019 (HealthDay News) — An influenza vaccine cannot cause a pregnant woman to miscarry, researchers say.
Robotically Assisted Devices Not Approved for Cancer Surgery
THURSDAY, Feb. 28, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The use of robotically assisted surgical devices for breast removal and other cancer-related surgeries is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration because there is no proof of its safety or effectiveness in such cases, the agency says in a warning to doctors and patients.
Performance Improvement Sustained After DBT Adoption
THURSDAY, Feb. 28, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Performance improvements after adoption of digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) relative to digital mammography (DM) performance have been sustained, regardless of DBT volume, according to a study published online Feb. 26 in Radiology.
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CDC: Progress in HIV Prevention Has Stalled in the United States
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 27, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The battle against new HIV infections has lost some steam in recent years, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Prenatal Vitamin Intake in Early Pregnancy May Cut Autism Risk
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 27, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Maternal prenatal vitamin intake during the first month of pregnancy is associated with a reduced risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in siblings of children with ASD, according to a study published online Feb. 27 in JAMA Psychiatry.
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Lymphadenectomy Does Not Up Survival in Advanced Ovarian Cancer
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 27, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For patients with advanced ovarian cancer who have undergone intra-abdominal macroscopically complete resection and have clinically negative lymph nodes, lymphadenectomy is not associated with longer overall or progression-free survival, according to a study published in the Feb. 28 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Decline Observed in HPV Type 16/18 Cervical Precancers in U.S.
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 27, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The proportion of human papillomavirus (HPV) 16/18-positive cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grades 2 to 3 or adenocarcinoma in situ (CIN2+) declined from 2008 to 2014, according to a study published online Feb. 21 in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
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Achievement of Targets in T2DM Varies by Season
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 27, 2019 (HealthDay News) — There is seasonal variation in achievement of the guideline targets for hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), blood pressure (BP), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol among persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), according to a study published online Feb. 22 in Diabetes Care.
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Antenatal Corticosteroid Tx Tied to Reduction in Birth Size
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 27, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Antenatal corticosteroid therapy (ACT) is associated with reductions in birth size for infants, according to a study published online Feb. 26 in PLOS Medicine.
Sufficient Investment Could Reduce HIV Epidemic by 2030
TUESDAY, Feb. 26, 2019 (HealthDay News) — New HIV infections could be reduced and prevalence could begin to decline by 2030 with sufficient investment, including meeting 95 percent targets for diagnosis, care retention, and viral suppression by 2025, according to a study published online Feb. 22 in AIDS and Behavior.
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Program Aids Weight Loss in Patients With Mental Illness
TUESDAY, Feb. 26, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A behavioral weight loss intervention is effective among overweight and obese individuals with serious mental illness (SMI), regardless of their diabetes status, according to a study published online Feb. 14 in Diabetes Care.
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Excessive Gestational Weight Gain Tied to Maternal Morbidity
TUESDAY, Feb. 26, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Gestational weight gain in excess of guidelines from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) is associated with increased risk of severe maternal morbidity, according to a study published in the March issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Environmental Exposures Before, After Birth Tied to Lung Function
TUESDAY, Feb. 26, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Exposure to several chemicals before and after birth appears to be associated with a decrease in lung function later in childhood, according to a study published in the February issue of The Lancet Planetary Health.
Knowledge of Transgender Health Care Not Linked to Education
MONDAY, Feb. 25, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Transphobia — not formal or informal education — predicts provider knowledge of transgender health care, according to a study recently published in Medical Education.
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Prognostic Bleeding Risk Models Developed for Aspirin Use
MONDAY, Feb. 25, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Prognostic bleeding risk models that can estimate the absolute bleeding harms of aspirin have been developed for individuals in whom aspirin is being considered for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to a study published online Feb. 26 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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FDA: Thermography No Substitute for Mammograms
MONDAY, Feb. 25, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Despite claims to the contrary, thermography should not be used in place of mammography for breast cancer screening, detection, or diagnosis, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Prenatal Care Inadequate for Moms With Child Taken Into Care
MONDAY, Feb. 25, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Mothers with a history of having a child taken into care by child protection services have an increased risk for inadequate prenatal care in a future pregnancy, according to a study published online Feb. 25 in CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.
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Serious Medical Outcomes Reported With Kratom Exposure
MONDAY, Feb. 25, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Kratom, or Mitragyna speciosa, exposure is associated with serious medical outcomes, especially as part of multiple-substance exposure, according to a study published online Feb. 20 in Clinical Toxicology.
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Incidence of Acute Myocardial Infarctions Up Among Young Women
MONDAY, Feb. 25, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The incidence of acute myocardial infarctions (AMI) has increased among younger women, and sedentary time is associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) among women, according to two studies published in the Feb. 19 issue of Circulation, a “Go Red for Women” theme issue on cardiovascular disease in women.
Abstract/Full Text – Arora
Editorial
Abstract/Full Text – Bellettiere
2014 to 2017 Saw Improvement in Burnout for U.S. Physicians
MONDAY, Feb. 25, 2019 (HealthDay News) — From 2014 to 2017, there was an improvement in burnout and satisfaction with work-life integration among U.S. physicians, according to a study published online Feb. 22 in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
Some Characteristics Unique to Depression Before, After Birth
MONDAY, Feb. 25, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Several unique characteristics are linked with depression at different time points before and after giving birth, according to a study published online Feb. 5 in the Journal of Neuroscience Research.
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National Health Spending Set to Increase 5.5 Percent Annually
FRIDAY, Feb. 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) — National health spending is projected to increase at an annual rate of 5.5. percent from 2018 to 2027, with fundamental economic and demographic factors the main drivers, according to a report published online Feb. 20 in Health Affairs.
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Most Patients Do Not Disclose Complementary Medicine Use
FRIDAY, Feb. 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Just one-third of users of biologically based complementary medicine (CM) disclose their use to traditional health care providers, according to a review published online Feb. 7 in Scientific Reports.
One-Third of PCPs Discuss Breast Cancer Treatments With Patients
FRIDAY, Feb. 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) — One-third of primary care providers (PCPs) report participating in breast cancer treatment decisions, according to a study published online Feb. 1 in Cancer.
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Cholecystectomy in Pregnancy Tied to Worse Outcomes
FRIDAY, Feb. 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Women who undergo cholecystectomy during the third trimester of pregnancy experience worse outcomes than women who wait until after delivery, according to a study published online Feb. 12 in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.
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Intervention Can Reduce Orders for Inpatient Urine Cultures
FRIDAY, Feb. 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) — An intervention that makes changes to urine testing orderables can reduce the urine culturing rate, according to a study published online Feb. 21 in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.
44.4 Million Estimated to Be Diagnosed With Cervical Cancer by 2069
FRIDAY, Feb. 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) — In the absence of further intervention, in the next 50 years, an estimated 44.4 million women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer globally, according to a study published online Feb. 19 in The Lancet Oncology.
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8 More U.S. Communities to Be Assessed for PFAS Toxin Exposure
THURSDAY, Feb. 21, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Eight additional communities near current or former U.S. military installations that will be included in assessments of human exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were announced Thursday by federal officials.
FDA Advances Regulation to Ensure Sunscreen Safety, Efficacy
THURSDAY, Feb. 21, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration took steps Thursday to tighten regulation of over-the-counter sunscreen products.
More Information: FDA
More Information: EWG
U.S. Agencies Probing Johnson & Johnson Over Asbestos in Talc
THURSDAY, Feb. 21, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Johnson & Johnson is being investigated by the U.S. Justice Department and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission over possible asbestos contamination of the company’s baby powder and other talc-based products.
The New York Times Article
More Information – American Cancer Society
2005 to 2015 Saw Drop in Primary Care Physician Supply
THURSDAY, Feb. 21, 2019 (HealthDay News) — From 2005 to 2015, there was a decrease in primary care physician supply per capita in the United States, with increased supply associated with lower mortality, according to a study published online Feb. 18 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Midlife Cognitive, Physical Activity May Cut Dementia Risk
THURSDAY, Feb. 21, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Midlife cognitive and physical activity is associated with a reduced risk for dementia and dementia subtypes, according to a study published online Feb. 20 in Neurology.
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Many Experience Improvement in Sex Life After Bariatric Surgery
THURSDAY, Feb. 21, 2019 (HealthDay News) — About half of women and men who report some level of dissatisfaction with their sexual life prior to bariatric surgery experience clinically meaningful improvement during five years of follow-up, according to a study published online Feb. 20 in JAMA Surgery.
Abstract/Full Text
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Acupuncture Alleviates Moderate-to-Severe Menopause Symptoms
THURSDAY, Feb. 21, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A brief acupuncture intervention is associated with reductions in moderate-to-severe menopausal symptoms, according to a study published online Feb. 19 in BMJ Open.
Sacituzumab Govitecan Promising in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
THURSDAY, Feb. 21, 2019 (HealthDay News) — An antibody-drug conjugate, sacituzumab govitecan-hziy, shows promise in refractory metastatic triple-negative breast cancer, according to a study published in the Feb. 21 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Vertical Integration Has Little Impact on Quality Measures
THURSDAY, Feb. 21, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Vertical integration between hospitals and physicians has little impact on quality measures, while increased hospital market concentration is strongly associated with reduced quality in measures of patient satisfaction, according to a study published online Feb. 9 in Medical Care Research and Review.
Wellness Problems Prevalent Among Ob-Gyn Residents
THURSDAY, Feb. 21, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Wellness problems are prevalent among obstetrics and gynecology residents, according to a study published online Feb. 4 in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
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Experimental Test May Quickly Diagnose Sepsis
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 20, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A blood test that can quickly diagnose dangerous sepsis infections has been developed, according to research published in the Feb. 1 issue of Biosensors and Bioelectronics.
New Kaiser Permanente Medical School Plans to Waive Tuition
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 20, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A new medical school to be opened by California-based health system Kaiser Permanente will waive tuition for all students in its first five graduating classes.
The New York Times Article
More Information
Eating Nuts Tied to Reduced CVD Incidence, Death in T2DM Patients
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 20, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Higher consumption of nuts, especially tree nuts, is associated with reduced cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence and mortality among patients with type 2 diabetes, according to a study published online Feb. 19 in Circulation Research.
AMI, Stroke Risk Elevated for Women With Preeclampsia Within 20 Years 
Sexual Dysfunction Common Among Young Women With Cancer 
Self-Cut Mesh Noninferior for Pelvic Organ Prolapse Procedure 
How PCOS Diagnosis Is Communicated May Affect Later Well-Being 
2013 to 2024 Saw Decrease in Benzodiazepine Prescribing 
Childhood Cancer Survivors Often Have Mental Distress in Adulthood 
Air Pollution Tied to Higher Risk for Suicide 
Psychiatrists Only Agree 55 Percent of the Time on Diagnoses 
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