by OB/GYN | Nov 30, 2021 | OB/GYN News
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Topic: Scientists Make Headway in Baffling Cases of Male Infertility
Scientists at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital appear to have made headway in discovering some of the baffling causes of male infertility. The new findings point to the malfunction of a specific gene that can hamper the production of sperm, inadvertently leading to infertility in some males.
A New Study in Male Infertility
A recent study published on October 26, 2021, has pointed to the malfunctioning of a specific gene as a root cause of inadequate sperm production. The new findings were relayed in Cell Reports and came about as the result of the joint efforts of a team led by co-first authors Anna Heinrich, BS, Bidur Bhandary, Ph.D., and senior author Tony De Falco, Ph.D., who closely examined the functioning of Sertoli cells. They also collaborated with the lab of Nancy Ratner, Ph.D., who is an expert in nerve tumors at the hospital, and cited this collaboration as a key component to the success of the study.
Sertoli cells line up in seminiferous tubules, which are long and narrow tubes located in the testes, where the production of sperm takes place. Importantly, these cells are also referred to as “nurse cells” and function as docking stations that offer much-needed nutrients to sperm cells that are in the midst of developing.
The research team experimented with mouse models and discovered that the gene Cdc42 plays a crucial role in male fertility. For example, when this gene is not present or is malfunctioning, the polarity of the Sertoli cells is disrupted. In turn, this means that some may be not properly attached or oriented within the seminiferous tubules. Thus, the misaligned cells are not quite able to support sperm cells and some of them may even die, impacting the testes’ capacity to produce a supply of sperm. However, researchers and scientists noted that this phenomenon only happens in the testes of adults and not juveniles.
It is the researchers’ hope that treatments enhancing the functioning of Sertoli cells may improve sperm production. However, these treatments would be experimental and might have unanticipated consequences for future generations. Thus, the testing would need to be rigid and have safety precautions in place. It is more likely that these findings can instead be used to develop better diagnostic testing of the functioning of Sertoli cells that do not require a biopsy. In addition, if a non-invasive diagnostic test could be developed and point to the high risk of a child having misaligned Sertoli cells as an adult, testicular or sperm biobanking may be an option, but further research on the subject of Sertoli cells and other types of cells is needed.
Key Takeaway
New research has surfaced, pointing to the gene Cdc42 as playing a critical role in the production of sperm, and thus, male infertility. However, more research is needed, but the researchers are hopeful that they are turning a corner on some of the baffling causes of male infertility.
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by OB/GYN | Nov 6, 2021 | OB/GYN News, Women's Health
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Topic: Menopause: Study links THIS habit to heart disease risk, and it’s not diet
Heart disease is a leading cause of death globally – with smoking, alcoholism, high-fat and high-sugar diet, obesity and diabetes being the leading risk factors. However, for older, menopausal women, there is an additional risk factor that can contribute to heart disease risk, and it’s not diet.
New Delhi: Menopause marks the end of the reproductive years of a woman’s life. With its onset between 45-55 years age, menopause is when a menstrual cycles does not take place for a period of 12 consecutive months. Although a natural transition, menopause can be debilitating owing to symptoms like hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood swings and dipping sex drive to name a few. However, according to a new published in the journal Menopause of the North American Menopause Society, there is one post-menopausal habit that can increase risk of heart disease in the long run.
How heart disease risk and menopause are related?
Heart disease is a leading cause of death globally – with smoking, alcoholism, high-fat and high-sugar diet, obesity and diabetes being the leading risk factors. However, for older, menopausal women, there is an additional risk factor that can contribute to heart disease risk, and it’s not diet.
According to the study published in Menopause journal, older women are more like to develop heart disease if they are prone to eating alone. For this study, experts from the The Catholic University of Korea, the University of Ulsan, and Semyung University evaluated data o 590 menopausal women about 65 years of age. It was discovered that women who ate more than two meals alone were 2.58 times more prone to angina – chest pain triggered by reduction in blood circulation to the heart. As per the American Heart Association, this condition is often linked to coronary microvascular disease and coronary heart disease.
Is loneliness the only driving factor?
The study’s experts revealed that despite the results, loneliness may not be the only factor associated with heart disease in older women. Women eating alone at a later stage in life are likely to have poor nutritional knowledge with low awareness on nutrition labels on food as opposed to their counterparts. These women were more likely to consume fewer carbohydrates, fibre, potassium, calories and sodium. Therefore, heart disease is not the only go-to conclusion for loneliness.
The best diet for menopausal women
According to the American Heart Association, menopausal women are recommended lots of fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy, poultry, fish and while grains to dodge heart disease risk. Additionally, exercising throughout the week, quitting smoking and alcoholism and maintaining a healthy body mass index may further help lower heart disease risk.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
According to the study published in Menopause journal, older women are more like to develop heart disease if they are prone to eating alone.
The study’s experts revealed that despite the results, loneliness may not be the only factor associated with heart disease in older women.
Women eating alone at a later stage in life are likely to have poor nutritional knowledge with low awareness on nutrition labels on food as opposed to their counterparts.
Topic Discussed: Menopause: Study links THIS habit to heart disease risk, and it’s not diet
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by OB/GYN | Nov 3, 2021 | OB/GYN News, Postpartum Depression, Women's Health
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Topic: Financial stress burdens more than half of new U.S. moms
The joys of motherhood may be overshadowed in the United States since as many as 50% of new or expectant moms can’t pay their bills, including health care bills, new research suggests.
“Financial hardship is highly prevalent among pregnant and postpartum women,” said study co-author Dr. Michelle Moniz. She is an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor, and its Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation.
For the study, the researchers reviewed data from the U.S. National Health Interview Survey from 2013 to 2018, looking at pregnant or recently pregnant women. This was a time when the Affordable Care Act had been signed into law and the economy was robust. The Affordable Care Act aimed to improve access to health care in the United States.
Despite such good tidings, one in four women skipped doctors’ visits due to the cost of care, 60% said health care was unaffordable and 54% cited general financial stress, according to the report.
The lower the household income, the more likely women were to have trouble making ends meet, the study showed.
New moms without insurance were more likely to have unmet health care needs, while women with private health insurance were more likely to say that the cost of health care was way too high, the study found.
Research shows that privately insured women have strikingly high out-of-pocket costs, including deductibles and co-insurance payments for pregnancy and childbirth-related care, Moniz noted. “Findings from the current study call for targeted policy interventions to alleviate financial strain and remove financial barriers to health care access for privately insured families,” she said.
Similarly, families with lower incomes were more likely to say health care was unaffordable. Small out-of-pocket costs or health care-associated costs—such as costs for transportation, parking or childcare during a visit—account for a larger share of the family’s income, she said.
“Sliding-scale deductibles are one solution that might mitigate economic hardship and remove cost-related barriers to health care for pregnant and postpartum women,” Moniz said.
The study was published online Oct. 29 in the journal JAMA Network Open.
The findings are very much in line with what Dr. Kavita Vani sees in her practice. She is an obstetrician-gynecologist at the Montefiore Medical Center in New York City.
“The results of this study give an objective lens to what we are seeing in real life, and give us leverage to use the information to create policies that can relieve hardships of new and expectant moms,” said Vani. She has no ties to the new study.
These women are often forced to make really hard choices: go to work to put food on the table or see the doctor for a follow-up exam, Vani said.
Topic Discussed: Financial stress burdens more than half of new U.S. moms
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by OB/GYN | Nov 1, 2021 | OB/GYN News, Women's Health
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Topic: A Faster, Cheaper Test to Gauge the Risk of Premature Delivery?
A two-minute test can accurately detect vaginal bacteria associated with preterm birth, researchers have found, pointing to a possible way to identify pregnant women at increased risk of early delivery.
In the United States, about one in 10 babies are born preterm, according to the nonprofit March of Dimes. Babies born preterm (before the 37th week of pregnancy) are at increased risk of health problems affecting the lungs, heart, brain and eyes — particularly if they are born very early.
Often, the reason for preterm labor is unknown. But certain factors put pregnant women at greater risk.
The new test focuses on one factor: the vaginal microbiome. The microbiome refers to the collection of trillions of bacteria and other microbes that normally populate the body. In areas like the gut, diversity in those microbes is considered healthy; but in the vagina, uniformity — with dominance of Lactobacillus bacteria — is a marker of good health.
Studies have linked a less-than-healthy vaginal microbiome to an increased risk of preterm birth.
“We think that the vaginal microbiome can affect the risk of preterm birth in several ways,” said David MacIntyre, a researcher at Imperial College London who led the new study.
In some cases, he explained, pathogenic (“bad”) bacteria may ascend the reproductive tract and infect the uterus, placenta or fetal membranes, triggering preterm birth.
And whenever there is wide diversity in vaginal microbes, that can include the bad kind. There is evidence that such changes can trigger inflammation that leads to “ripening” of the cervix (the womb opening), MacIntyre explained.
In contrast, early research suggests that certain “good” Lactobacillus bacteria might help prevent build-up of pathogenic bacteria and suppress inflammation.
Until now, though, researchers have had no rapid way to accurately assess the composition of the vaginal microbiome. To be useful in the real world, such a test would have to be quick and relatively cheap.
MacIntyre’s team developed a test that, based on a simple vaginal swab, can determine the composition of the vaginal microbiome and detect signs of inflammation in minutes.
Topic Discussed: A Faster, Cheaper Test to Gauge the Risk of Premature Delivery?
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by OB/GYN | Oct 30, 2021 | OB/GYN News, Women's Health
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Topic: Should You Try Acupuncture for Morning Sickness?
Whether this is your first or fourth pregnancy, chances are you may be feeling icky with morning sickness. In fact, between 50 and 80 percent of pregnant people experience some form of nausea and vomiting. And despite what it sounds like, these symptoms can hit at any time of the day or night.
More and more people are turning to acupuncture to help ease their nausea and other pregnancy symptoms, and there’s research to back up this alternative therapy. Here’s what you need to know before you go.
Nausea and vomiting during pregnancy
Even before you see the positive sign on your pregnancy test, your body is hard at work increasing your levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) to support your baby’s growth. As your hCG rises, you may feel queasy or even throw up.
Some people only have brief periods of nausea each day and otherwise feel quite normal. Others may find themselves feeling sick for hours on end with frequent vomiting.
If you’re going to experience morning sickness, you’ll likely start having symptoms by week 9 (and it’s not always just in the morning, by the way). Fortunately, most will also start feeling better a few weeks later in the second trimester or by 14 weeks gestation. Some pregnant people don’t get sick at all. And others may be sick their entire pregnancies.
If you had horrible nausea and vomiting with your first child, it doesn’t guarantee that you’ll experience that level of sickness again. Each pregnancy is unique. That said, feeling sick at all isn’t fun and can make it difficult to keep yourself and your baby hydrated, among other issues. This is where acupuncture comes in.
Research about acupuncture and morning sickness
Acupuncture is a part of traditional Chinese medicine. It involves placing tiny needles along different points (meridians) on the body to align the flow of energy (chi/qi) and promote wellness. The practice has been around for thousands of years and is gaining clout as a possible treatment for morning sickness. But what does the science say?
In one older (but very relevant) 2002 studyTrusted Source, researchers split nearly 600 women who were less than 14 weeks pregnant into groups that received either traditional acupuncture, pericardium 6 acupuncture, sham acupuncture, or no acupuncture.
The group receiving traditional acupuncture had less nausea and dry heaving just 2 weeks into treatment. The other acupuncture groups saw similar results compared to the no-acupuncture group after 3 weeks. The researchers did point out, though, that the incidence of vomiting didn’t change in any of the groups despite treatment.
Topic Discussed: Should You Try Acupuncture for Morning Sickness?
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by OB/GYN | Oct 26, 2021 | Mammogram, OB/GYN News, Women's Health
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Topic: When to Get a Mammogram
Expert groups often disagree with each other on breast cancer screening. CR makes sense of the different recommendations.
Every October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which always brings a flurry of reminders to women to stay up to date with their mammograms: X-rays that help detect lesions in the breast that may signal cancer. After a year when—according to research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—many people appeared to delay their routine screenings because of the COVID-19 pandemic, these reminders may feel particularly urgent.
But determining who actually needs a mammogram is not so straightforward. Cancer experts don’t agree on when women should begin to have this breast cancer screening test, or how often to do so.
For instance, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), an independent panel of medical experts that evaluates preventive medical services, says women at average breast cancer risk should start screenings at age 50.
But the American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends starting at 45, and the American College of Radiology (ACR) advises beginning at age 40.
And the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) says women should start screening no later than age 50 but with the choice to begin sooner.
Why the different advice? In part, it’s because these expert groups may evaluate scientific studies on mammography differently, some placing more weight on the benefits of mammography and some emphasizing the screening’s potential downsides, according to the American College of Physicians (ACP).
They may also differ in the types of studies they rely on or on how to grapple with issues of cost when writing screening recommendations.
The result: “Both patients and clinicians are frustrated and sometimes confused,” says Joann Elmore, MD, MPH, professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and director for the UCLA National Clinician Scholars Program.
In addition, like all screening tests, mammograms themselves have their pros and cons.
Here, what to know about mammography, what the various recommendations may mean for you, and how to work with your doctor to make the best decision for yourself.
Topic Discussed: When to Get a Mammogram
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