User login
Calcium and Colorectal Cancer Risk
High intake of dietary calcium in women is significantly associated with reduction in the risk of colorectal cancer in a dose-response fashion, according to a report by Andrew Flood, Ph.D., of the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, and his colleagues.
In a prospective cohort of 45,354 women who completed dietary questionnaires over an average of 8.5 years, those in the highest quintile of calcium consumption (median 985 mg /day) had a significant, 26% reduction in risk of colorectal cancer, compared with women in the lowest quintile (median of 337 mg /day), after adjustment for age. Supplemental calcium alone did not show the same dose-response relationship with colorectal cancer risk.
But women who had high intakes of calcium from their diet and supplements had a significant, 46% reduction in the risk of colorectal cancer after adjustment for age. None of the associations changed after adjustment for other confounding factors (Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev. 2005;14:126-32).
Black Women and HIV
Black women account for the majority of new cases of HIV and AIDS among U.S. women, and this is particularly true in North Carolina, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In 2003, the HIV infection rate in that state was 14 times higher for black women, compared with white women (MMWR 2005;54:89-94).
An epidemiologic investigation of 31 of the 208 black women aged 18-40 years in North Carolina who were diagnosed with HIV between January 2003 and August 2004 and 101 controls showed that most women in both groups engaged in HIV sexual risk behaviors. Those receiving public assistance were more likely to be HIV positive (adjusted odds ratio 7.3), as were those with a history of genital herpes (adjusted OR 10.6). Women who discussed sexual behaviors and history with their male partners were less likely to be HIV positive (adjusted OR 0.6).
The most common reasons given for engaging in risky sexual behaviors were financial dependence on male partners, feeling invincible, low self-esteem, coupled with a need to feel loved by a male and alcohol/drug use.
The findings underscore the need for a multifaceted approach to reducing HIV infection among black women, including programs that encourage delayed sexual activity, condom use, monogamy, and communication.
Improved availability of HIV and STD testing and treatment and attention to the economic constraints that appear to contribute to increased HIV risk in black women are also needed, according to the CDC.
Resistant UTIs
Urinary tract infections caused by drug-resistant Escherichia coli may have an animal origin, Meena Ramchandani, M.D., of the University of California, Berkeley, and colleagues reported.
A number of cases across the United States caused by a trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ)-resistant E. coli strain belonging to a single clonal group sparked concerns about a possible association with contaminated food products.
An investigation of 495 animal isolates showed that 128 had an electrophoretic pattern indistinguishable from that of the resistant strain in humans, and 14 of those were TMP-SMZ resistant. One, from a cow, was 94% similar to the pattern of a uropathogenic E. coli strain recovered from a human patient (Clin. Infect. Dis. 2005;40:251-7).
However, in an editorial, Thomas Hooten, M.D., and Mansour Samadpour, M.D., of the University of Washington, Seattle, said that although they agree with the basic premise of the article, the study failed to provide clear epidemiologic linkage between the strains (Clin. Infect. Dis. 2005;40:258-9).
Health Advisory Issued for Nevirapine
The Food and Drug Administration has issued a public health advisory to alert physicians to label changes for nevirapine (Viramune), addressing an increased risk of liver toxicity in certain women.
The Indications and Usage section of the HIV drug's label now cautions against starting nevirapine treatment in women with CD4+ cell counts greater than 250 cells/μL unless benefits clearly outweigh risks.
The recommendation is based on a higher observed risk of serious liver toxicity in patients with higher CD4+ cell counts prior to the initiation of therapy. The revised label also includes a medication guide informing patients of the risks associated with nevirapine when used to treat HIV.
The advisory is available at
Calcium and Colorectal Cancer Risk
High intake of dietary calcium in women is significantly associated with reduction in the risk of colorectal cancer in a dose-response fashion, according to a report by Andrew Flood, Ph.D., of the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, and his colleagues.
In a prospective cohort of 45,354 women who completed dietary questionnaires over an average of 8.5 years, those in the highest quintile of calcium consumption (median 985 mg /day) had a significant, 26% reduction in risk of colorectal cancer, compared with women in the lowest quintile (median of 337 mg /day), after adjustment for age. Supplemental calcium alone did not show the same dose-response relationship with colorectal cancer risk.
But women who had high intakes of calcium from their diet and supplements had a significant, 46% reduction in the risk of colorectal cancer after adjustment for age. None of the associations changed after adjustment for other confounding factors (Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev. 2005;14:126-32).
Black Women and HIV
Black women account for the majority of new cases of HIV and AIDS among U.S. women, and this is particularly true in North Carolina, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In 2003, the HIV infection rate in that state was 14 times higher for black women, compared with white women (MMWR 2005;54:89-94).
An epidemiologic investigation of 31 of the 208 black women aged 18-40 years in North Carolina who were diagnosed with HIV between January 2003 and August 2004 and 101 controls showed that most women in both groups engaged in HIV sexual risk behaviors. Those receiving public assistance were more likely to be HIV positive (adjusted odds ratio 7.3), as were those with a history of genital herpes (adjusted OR 10.6). Women who discussed sexual behaviors and history with their male partners were less likely to be HIV positive (adjusted OR 0.6).
The most common reasons given for engaging in risky sexual behaviors were financial dependence on male partners, feeling invincible, low self-esteem, coupled with a need to feel loved by a male and alcohol/drug use.
The findings underscore the need for a multifaceted approach to reducing HIV infection among black women, including programs that encourage delayed sexual activity, condom use, monogamy, and communication.
Improved availability of HIV and STD testing and treatment and attention to the economic constraints that appear to contribute to increased HIV risk in black women are also needed, according to the CDC.
Resistant UTIs
Urinary tract infections caused by drug-resistant Escherichia coli may have an animal origin, Meena Ramchandani, M.D., of the University of California, Berkeley, and colleagues reported.
A number of cases across the United States caused by a trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ)-resistant E. coli strain belonging to a single clonal group sparked concerns about a possible association with contaminated food products.
An investigation of 495 animal isolates showed that 128 had an electrophoretic pattern indistinguishable from that of the resistant strain in humans, and 14 of those were TMP-SMZ resistant. One, from a cow, was 94% similar to the pattern of a uropathogenic E. coli strain recovered from a human patient (Clin. Infect. Dis. 2005;40:251-7).
However, in an editorial, Thomas Hooten, M.D., and Mansour Samadpour, M.D., of the University of Washington, Seattle, said that although they agree with the basic premise of the article, the study failed to provide clear epidemiologic linkage between the strains (Clin. Infect. Dis. 2005;40:258-9).
Health Advisory Issued for Nevirapine
The Food and Drug Administration has issued a public health advisory to alert physicians to label changes for nevirapine (Viramune), addressing an increased risk of liver toxicity in certain women.
The Indications and Usage section of the HIV drug's label now cautions against starting nevirapine treatment in women with CD4+ cell counts greater than 250 cells/μL unless benefits clearly outweigh risks.
The recommendation is based on a higher observed risk of serious liver toxicity in patients with higher CD4+ cell counts prior to the initiation of therapy. The revised label also includes a medication guide informing patients of the risks associated with nevirapine when used to treat HIV.
The advisory is available at
Calcium and Colorectal Cancer Risk
High intake of dietary calcium in women is significantly associated with reduction in the risk of colorectal cancer in a dose-response fashion, according to a report by Andrew Flood, Ph.D., of the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, and his colleagues.
In a prospective cohort of 45,354 women who completed dietary questionnaires over an average of 8.5 years, those in the highest quintile of calcium consumption (median 985 mg /day) had a significant, 26% reduction in risk of colorectal cancer, compared with women in the lowest quintile (median of 337 mg /day), after adjustment for age. Supplemental calcium alone did not show the same dose-response relationship with colorectal cancer risk.
But women who had high intakes of calcium from their diet and supplements had a significant, 46% reduction in the risk of colorectal cancer after adjustment for age. None of the associations changed after adjustment for other confounding factors (Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev. 2005;14:126-32).
Black Women and HIV
Black women account for the majority of new cases of HIV and AIDS among U.S. women, and this is particularly true in North Carolina, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In 2003, the HIV infection rate in that state was 14 times higher for black women, compared with white women (MMWR 2005;54:89-94).
An epidemiologic investigation of 31 of the 208 black women aged 18-40 years in North Carolina who were diagnosed with HIV between January 2003 and August 2004 and 101 controls showed that most women in both groups engaged in HIV sexual risk behaviors. Those receiving public assistance were more likely to be HIV positive (adjusted odds ratio 7.3), as were those with a history of genital herpes (adjusted OR 10.6). Women who discussed sexual behaviors and history with their male partners were less likely to be HIV positive (adjusted OR 0.6).
The most common reasons given for engaging in risky sexual behaviors were financial dependence on male partners, feeling invincible, low self-esteem, coupled with a need to feel loved by a male and alcohol/drug use.
The findings underscore the need for a multifaceted approach to reducing HIV infection among black women, including programs that encourage delayed sexual activity, condom use, monogamy, and communication.
Improved availability of HIV and STD testing and treatment and attention to the economic constraints that appear to contribute to increased HIV risk in black women are also needed, according to the CDC.
Resistant UTIs
Urinary tract infections caused by drug-resistant Escherichia coli may have an animal origin, Meena Ramchandani, M.D., of the University of California, Berkeley, and colleagues reported.
A number of cases across the United States caused by a trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ)-resistant E. coli strain belonging to a single clonal group sparked concerns about a possible association with contaminated food products.
An investigation of 495 animal isolates showed that 128 had an electrophoretic pattern indistinguishable from that of the resistant strain in humans, and 14 of those were TMP-SMZ resistant. One, from a cow, was 94% similar to the pattern of a uropathogenic E. coli strain recovered from a human patient (Clin. Infect. Dis. 2005;40:251-7).
However, in an editorial, Thomas Hooten, M.D., and Mansour Samadpour, M.D., of the University of Washington, Seattle, said that although they agree with the basic premise of the article, the study failed to provide clear epidemiologic linkage between the strains (Clin. Infect. Dis. 2005;40:258-9).
Health Advisory Issued for Nevirapine
The Food and Drug Administration has issued a public health advisory to alert physicians to label changes for nevirapine (Viramune), addressing an increased risk of liver toxicity in certain women.
The Indications and Usage section of the HIV drug's label now cautions against starting nevirapine treatment in women with CD4+ cell counts greater than 250 cells/μL unless benefits clearly outweigh risks.
The recommendation is based on a higher observed risk of serious liver toxicity in patients with higher CD4+ cell counts prior to the initiation of therapy. The revised label also includes a medication guide informing patients of the risks associated with nevirapine when used to treat HIV.
The advisory is available at