In a White House press conference on Tuesday, President Obama said his decision to ease some of former President George W. Bush's restrictions on federal funding of embryonic stem cell research was the "right thing to do and the ethical thing to do," the AP/Google reports. Obama's March 9 executive order on embryonic stem cell research allows federally funded scientists to access hundreds of new lines created since Bush's 2001 order restricting the research to 21 lines in existence at the time (AP/Google[1], 3/25). At Tuesday's press conference, a reporter asked Obama how much he "personally wrestled with the morality or ethics of federally funding this kind of research, especially given the fact that science so far has shown a lot of progress with adult stem cells, but not a lot with embryonic." Obama said, "I believe that it is very important for us to have strong moral guidelines, ethical guidelines, when it comes to stem cell research or anything that touches on ... the issues of possible cloning or issues related to ... the human life sciences." He continued that "those issues are all critical," adding, "I wrestle with it on stem cell[s]; I wrestle with it on issues like abortion." Obama said that "the guidelines that we provided meet that ethical test" and that "for embryos that are typically about to be discarded, for us to be able to use those in order to find cures for Parkinson's or for Alzheimer's or ... all sorts of other debilitating diseases ... that is the right thing to do." He added that his opinion is shared by "a number of people who are also against abortion" (Press conference transcript, AP/Google [2], 3/25). Obama said that he has "no investment in causing controversy" and that he is "happy to avoid it if that's where the science leads us." However, he added that he does not want to "predetermine this based on a very rigid ideological approach, and that's what I think is reflected in the executive order" (AP/Google [1], 3/25).
Obama Signals 'Flexibility' in Embryonic Stem Cell Research Debate, Editorial Says
A Washington Post editorial addressing Obama's apparent "flexibility" in his budget request notes that Obama also "appeared to signal flexibility" on the issue of embryonic stem cell research in his remarks on Tuesday. The editorial notes that Obama in his executive order "said he would approve federal funding on stem cells derived from embryos, with no mention of limitations or restrictions," and he would direct NIH to draft the regulations. "Last night, unlike in his original announcement, he referred to 'embryos that are typically about to be discarded,' of which many thousands exist in fertility clinics," the editorial says, adding, "Does that mean he might draw a line at the creation of embryos for the purpose of research?" The answer is "unclear, but it would be a positive step if his comment means he will decide, rather than leaving to scientists, the question of whether to limit the research to embryos already slated for destruction," according to the editorial (Washington Post, 3/25).
Reprinted with kind permission from nationalpartnership. You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.
© 2009 The Advisory Board Company. All rights reserved.
суббота, 27 августа 2011 г.
суббота, 20 августа 2011 г.
Women Twice As Likely As Men To Seek Treatment For Hyperhidrosis
Whether it's sweaty palms causing embarrassment when shaking hands on a job interview or unsightly underarm stains that could make anyone think twice about wearing a white shirt, the excessive sweating disorder known as hyperhidrosis can impact all facets of a person's personal and professional life. Although the prevalence of this chronic medical condition is the same for men and women, a new study examining hyperhidrosis patients finds that women sought treatment much more frequently than men.
Speaking today at the 65th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology, dermatologist Dee Anna Glaser, MD, FAAD, professor and vice chairman of dermatology at Saint Louis University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Mo., discussed how a patient's age, gender and the site of the excessive sweating affected diagnosis and treatment.
Hyperhidrosis is categorized as either primary hyperhidrosis (no known cause) or secondary hyperhidrosis (known cause) and can be limited to certain areas of the body or throughout the body. Primary hyperhidrosis affects nearly 3 percent of the U.S. population, or an estimated 7.8 million people, and most commonly affects the palms, soles, underarms, face and scalp. Secondary hyperhidrosis is due to an underlying condition, such as an infection, a medical disorder, anxiety or certain medications.
"While there have been a number of studies focusing on the treatment of hyperhidrosis, few studies have described the patient population impacted by this condition," explained Dr. Glaser. "Our study set out to identify common trends and associations of patients with primary hyperhidrosis in order to better understand the patients affected by this common condition."
Dr. Glaser and a team of researchers examined the medical records of 515 patients evaluated and treated for hyperhidrosis at their university-based dermatology practice. Of the total number of patients who sought treatment for hyperhidrosis, more than two-thirds (67.2 percent) were female and one-third (32.8 percent) were male. Interestingly, men were significantly more likely to seek treatment for facial hyperhidrosis, while women were much more likely to seek treatment for hyperhidrosis limited to the underarm area. The average age of the onset of hyperhidrosis for patients was 14.
When patients were asked to rate their condition on the Hyperhidrosis Disease Severity Scale which rates sweating from 1 (mild) to 4 (severe) Dr. Glaser reported that an overwhelming majority of patients rated their condition a 4, describing it as intolerable and always interfering with their daily activities. In addition, patients reported that stress, anxiety, heat and exercise were the most common aggravating factors.
The study also found that the patient's family history, age and site of hyperhidrosis affected diagnosis. "We have known for some time that a genetic component may contribute to primary hyperhidrosis, as 30 percent to 65 percent of patients have a family history of the condition," said Dr. Glaser. "Our study showed that patients who reported the onset of hyperhidrosis prior to age 20 were more likely to have a family history of the condition."
While hyperhidrosis commonly first occurs during puberty or early adolescence, some of the study patients developed hyperhidrosis at a much younger age than other patients. For example, 55 percent of patients affected by hyperhidrosis on the palms of their hands or the soles of their feet developed the condition before age 11. However, the vast majority of patients with hyperhidrosis of the underarm area were more likely to develop their first symptoms after puberty 68 percent developed the condition between the ages of 12 and 19.
"If left untreated, hyperhidrosis can really inhibit the way people live their lives," added Dr. Glaser. "Fortunately, dermatologists now have a number of newer therapies, as well as tried-and-true treatments, available to help patients with hyperhidrosis. Patients should consult their dermatologist if they experience unusual amounts of sweating over a prolonged period of time or perspiration that is not triggered by obvious factors. As this study suggests, not all hyperhidrosis patients are affected equally by this condition, and we're hopeful that future treatments will address the differences we found between genders and age groups."
Headquartered in Schaumburg, Ill., the American Academy of Dermatology (Academy), founded in 1938, is the largest, most influential, and most representative of all dermatologic associations. With a membership of more than 15,000 physicians worldwide, the Academy is committed to: advancing the diagnosis and medical, surgical and cosmetic treatment of the skin, hair and nails; advocating high standards in clinical practice, education, and research in dermatology; and supporting and enhancing patient care for a lifetime of healthier skin, hair and nails. For more information, contact the Academy at 1-888-462-DERM (3376) or aad.
American Academy of Dermatology
930 E. Woodfield Rd.
Schaumburg, IL 60173-4927
United States
aad
Speaking today at the 65th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology, dermatologist Dee Anna Glaser, MD, FAAD, professor and vice chairman of dermatology at Saint Louis University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Mo., discussed how a patient's age, gender and the site of the excessive sweating affected diagnosis and treatment.
Hyperhidrosis is categorized as either primary hyperhidrosis (no known cause) or secondary hyperhidrosis (known cause) and can be limited to certain areas of the body or throughout the body. Primary hyperhidrosis affects nearly 3 percent of the U.S. population, or an estimated 7.8 million people, and most commonly affects the palms, soles, underarms, face and scalp. Secondary hyperhidrosis is due to an underlying condition, such as an infection, a medical disorder, anxiety or certain medications.
"While there have been a number of studies focusing on the treatment of hyperhidrosis, few studies have described the patient population impacted by this condition," explained Dr. Glaser. "Our study set out to identify common trends and associations of patients with primary hyperhidrosis in order to better understand the patients affected by this common condition."
Dr. Glaser and a team of researchers examined the medical records of 515 patients evaluated and treated for hyperhidrosis at their university-based dermatology practice. Of the total number of patients who sought treatment for hyperhidrosis, more than two-thirds (67.2 percent) were female and one-third (32.8 percent) were male. Interestingly, men were significantly more likely to seek treatment for facial hyperhidrosis, while women were much more likely to seek treatment for hyperhidrosis limited to the underarm area. The average age of the onset of hyperhidrosis for patients was 14.
When patients were asked to rate their condition on the Hyperhidrosis Disease Severity Scale which rates sweating from 1 (mild) to 4 (severe) Dr. Glaser reported that an overwhelming majority of patients rated their condition a 4, describing it as intolerable and always interfering with their daily activities. In addition, patients reported that stress, anxiety, heat and exercise were the most common aggravating factors.
The study also found that the patient's family history, age and site of hyperhidrosis affected diagnosis. "We have known for some time that a genetic component may contribute to primary hyperhidrosis, as 30 percent to 65 percent of patients have a family history of the condition," said Dr. Glaser. "Our study showed that patients who reported the onset of hyperhidrosis prior to age 20 were more likely to have a family history of the condition."
While hyperhidrosis commonly first occurs during puberty or early adolescence, some of the study patients developed hyperhidrosis at a much younger age than other patients. For example, 55 percent of patients affected by hyperhidrosis on the palms of their hands or the soles of their feet developed the condition before age 11. However, the vast majority of patients with hyperhidrosis of the underarm area were more likely to develop their first symptoms after puberty 68 percent developed the condition between the ages of 12 and 19.
"If left untreated, hyperhidrosis can really inhibit the way people live their lives," added Dr. Glaser. "Fortunately, dermatologists now have a number of newer therapies, as well as tried-and-true treatments, available to help patients with hyperhidrosis. Patients should consult their dermatologist if they experience unusual amounts of sweating over a prolonged period of time or perspiration that is not triggered by obvious factors. As this study suggests, not all hyperhidrosis patients are affected equally by this condition, and we're hopeful that future treatments will address the differences we found between genders and age groups."
Headquartered in Schaumburg, Ill., the American Academy of Dermatology (Academy), founded in 1938, is the largest, most influential, and most representative of all dermatologic associations. With a membership of more than 15,000 physicians worldwide, the Academy is committed to: advancing the diagnosis and medical, surgical and cosmetic treatment of the skin, hair and nails; advocating high standards in clinical practice, education, and research in dermatology; and supporting and enhancing patient care for a lifetime of healthier skin, hair and nails. For more information, contact the Academy at 1-888-462-DERM (3376) or aad.
American Academy of Dermatology
930 E. Woodfield Rd.
Schaumburg, IL 60173-4927
United States
aad
суббота, 13 августа 2011 г.
Are Cities Designed For Women? Penn-ICOWHI Conference Examines Urban Women's Health
Women comprise more than half the population of the nation's cities, are three times as likely as their male counterparts to live alone after the age of 65, and are primary caregivers for their families at all ages and stages of life. The University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, with the International Congress of Women's Health Issues, will host "Cities and Women's Health: Global Perspectives," Wednesday, April 7, through Saturday, April 10, on Penn's campus to examine how urban environments affect their health.
The Penn-ICOWHI conference will bring experts in city planning, health policy, public policy, education, sociology, and others from across the globe together to address how health issues facing women are exacerbated by city living. This includes environmental pollution, sedentary lifestyles, diminished space and opportunity for exercise, traffic accidents, exposure to stress and violence, and limited access to healthy and fresh foods.
Health scientists will join urban planners to analyze the specific effects that the layouts and design of streets, houses, and transportation systems have on women in cities. For the first time in history, more than half of the world's population lives in urban environments, and the Penn-ICOWHI 18th Conference will explore redesigning cities for active living, increasing access to health care, treating adolescent girls in high-risk environments, eliminating policy gaps that undermine women's health, and curbing intimate-partner violence.
Speakers include:
-- President Obama's Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Health, Melanne Verveer, who will discuss the progress that has been made in women's health since the United Nation's 1995 conference on women
-- Mamphela Ramphele, MD, an authority on socioeconomic issues and leader in spearheading projects for disadvantaged persons throughout South Africa
-- Sheela Patel, founder and director of a Mumbai-based NGO designed to address the needs of "slumdog's mother" women living on pavements and in slums in different parts of India
"When women are healthy, their communities are healthy and vice versa. We need to understand the challenges we face," said Afaf I. Meleis, dean of Penn Nursing.
Source: University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
The Penn-ICOWHI conference will bring experts in city planning, health policy, public policy, education, sociology, and others from across the globe together to address how health issues facing women are exacerbated by city living. This includes environmental pollution, sedentary lifestyles, diminished space and opportunity for exercise, traffic accidents, exposure to stress and violence, and limited access to healthy and fresh foods.
Health scientists will join urban planners to analyze the specific effects that the layouts and design of streets, houses, and transportation systems have on women in cities. For the first time in history, more than half of the world's population lives in urban environments, and the Penn-ICOWHI 18th Conference will explore redesigning cities for active living, increasing access to health care, treating adolescent girls in high-risk environments, eliminating policy gaps that undermine women's health, and curbing intimate-partner violence.
Speakers include:
-- President Obama's Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Health, Melanne Verveer, who will discuss the progress that has been made in women's health since the United Nation's 1995 conference on women
-- Mamphela Ramphele, MD, an authority on socioeconomic issues and leader in spearheading projects for disadvantaged persons throughout South Africa
-- Sheela Patel, founder and director of a Mumbai-based NGO designed to address the needs of "slumdog's mother" women living on pavements and in slums in different parts of India
"When women are healthy, their communities are healthy and vice versa. We need to understand the challenges we face," said Afaf I. Meleis, dean of Penn Nursing.
Source: University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
суббота, 6 августа 2011 г.
Women, Water and Hygiene Are Key to Change in Africa
Women, water and basic hygiene are the key to creating lasting change in Africa, but national water and sanitation plans are still leaving women out, leaders in development said today.
UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman joined other prominent women, including Hilde Frafjord Johnson, Norway's Minister for International Development, to call for more attention and funds to help the millions of African women and girls suffering disproportionately for lack of these basic services.
"Unsafe water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene habits play a major role in child mortality," said UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman. "Bringing basic services to Africa's women and girls could transform their lives and boost child survival in the region."
Veneman said she is joining Minister Johnson and Minister Maria Mutagamba, Uganda's Minister of State for Water, in the Women Leaders for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) initiative. Launched last year by the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC), Women Leaders in WASH helps governments to link women with sanitation and hygiene programmes, and supports the UNICEF drive to put safe water and basic sanitation into all primary schools by 2015. The group is meeting at UNICEF today to set out a plan of action for Africa.
Lack of safe water and sanitation remains one of the world's most urgent health issues. Some 1.1 billion people worldwide still lack safe water and 2.6 billion have no sanitation, according to a UNICEF and World Health Organization 2005 report Water for Life.
Sub-Saharan Africa is the only region likely to miss Millennium Development Goal (MDG) targets on both safe water and basic sanitation, unless the world acts quickly to turn this around. MDG 7 calls on countries to reduce by half the number of people living without these basic services. But despite good progress in some countries, currently only 58 per cent of Africans live within 30 minutes walk of an improved water source and only 36 percent have even a basic toilet.
The consequences are particularly severe for African women and children, condemning millions to a life of illness, lost opportunities and virtual slavery.
In rural Africa, 19 per cent of women spend more than one hour on each trip to fetch water, an exhausting and often dangerous chore that robs them of the chance to work and learn. Women without toilets are forced to defecate in the open, risking their dignity and personal safety. Education suffers too: more than half of all girls who drop out of primary school do so for lack of separate toilets and easy access to safe water.
Unsafe water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene habits play a major role in Africa's high child mortality rate. Diarrhoea is the third-biggest child killer in Africa after pneumonia and malaria, accounting for 701,000 child deaths out of 4.4 million on the continent every year. It also leaves millions of children with a legacy of chronic malnutrition, the underlying cause of over half of all child mortality. The burden of caring for sick relatives inevitably falls to women and girls, keeping them at home and shutting them out of economic development.
Bringing relief to women and girls will result in better services for all and benefit entire communities, said Minister Johnson and Minister Mutagamba.
"Women can be key agents of change if they are empowered and involved," said Minister Johnson. "Since they are the primary victims of unsafe water and poor sanitation, we must start with them if we are to liberate Africa from cycles of illness, child mortality and low productivity."
"In Uganda, we saw how rapidly school attendance can rise and illness fall when schools have safe water and separate toilets for boys and girls," said Minister Mutagamba. "There is no excuse not to put these effective and sustainable interventions into practice everywhere."
Veneman, Johnson and Mutagamba hailed the great progress made by many poor countries as proof that water and sanitation goals are achievable everywhere. They called on Millennium Summit leaders to commit to a strong action plan for the next decade.
unicef/media/media_28260.html
UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman joined other prominent women, including Hilde Frafjord Johnson, Norway's Minister for International Development, to call for more attention and funds to help the millions of African women and girls suffering disproportionately for lack of these basic services.
"Unsafe water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene habits play a major role in child mortality," said UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman. "Bringing basic services to Africa's women and girls could transform their lives and boost child survival in the region."
Veneman said she is joining Minister Johnson and Minister Maria Mutagamba, Uganda's Minister of State for Water, in the Women Leaders for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) initiative. Launched last year by the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC), Women Leaders in WASH helps governments to link women with sanitation and hygiene programmes, and supports the UNICEF drive to put safe water and basic sanitation into all primary schools by 2015. The group is meeting at UNICEF today to set out a plan of action for Africa.
Lack of safe water and sanitation remains one of the world's most urgent health issues. Some 1.1 billion people worldwide still lack safe water and 2.6 billion have no sanitation, according to a UNICEF and World Health Organization 2005 report Water for Life.
Sub-Saharan Africa is the only region likely to miss Millennium Development Goal (MDG) targets on both safe water and basic sanitation, unless the world acts quickly to turn this around. MDG 7 calls on countries to reduce by half the number of people living without these basic services. But despite good progress in some countries, currently only 58 per cent of Africans live within 30 minutes walk of an improved water source and only 36 percent have even a basic toilet.
The consequences are particularly severe for African women and children, condemning millions to a life of illness, lost opportunities and virtual slavery.
In rural Africa, 19 per cent of women spend more than one hour on each trip to fetch water, an exhausting and often dangerous chore that robs them of the chance to work and learn. Women without toilets are forced to defecate in the open, risking their dignity and personal safety. Education suffers too: more than half of all girls who drop out of primary school do so for lack of separate toilets and easy access to safe water.
Unsafe water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene habits play a major role in Africa's high child mortality rate. Diarrhoea is the third-biggest child killer in Africa after pneumonia and malaria, accounting for 701,000 child deaths out of 4.4 million on the continent every year. It also leaves millions of children with a legacy of chronic malnutrition, the underlying cause of over half of all child mortality. The burden of caring for sick relatives inevitably falls to women and girls, keeping them at home and shutting them out of economic development.
Bringing relief to women and girls will result in better services for all and benefit entire communities, said Minister Johnson and Minister Mutagamba.
"Women can be key agents of change if they are empowered and involved," said Minister Johnson. "Since they are the primary victims of unsafe water and poor sanitation, we must start with them if we are to liberate Africa from cycles of illness, child mortality and low productivity."
"In Uganda, we saw how rapidly school attendance can rise and illness fall when schools have safe water and separate toilets for boys and girls," said Minister Mutagamba. "There is no excuse not to put these effective and sustainable interventions into practice everywhere."
Veneman, Johnson and Mutagamba hailed the great progress made by many poor countries as proof that water and sanitation goals are achievable everywhere. They called on Millennium Summit leaders to commit to a strong action plan for the next decade.
unicef/media/media_28260.html
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