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Discovery Of Ebola In Pigs Raises Concerns
Scientists studying a strain of Ebola virus found in domestic pigs in the Philippines last year suggest that although the particular strain is not one
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Study Shows Teen Contraception Use Declining, Level Of Sexual Activity Unchanged
After years of declining teenage pregnancy rates and improved teen contraception use during the 1990s and early 2000s, the trends appeared to have flattened or even reversed among some groups of teens in recent years, according to a study from Columbia University"s Mailman School of Public Health and the Guttmacher Institute, the Christian Science Monitor reports. Researchers found that from 2003 to 2007, teens" contraceptive use declined by 10%, while their level of sexual activity did not change. The decrease in contraceptive use was particularly prevalent among black teens. The figures take into account the rate of contraception use as well as the types of contraceptives used, as methods vary in effectiveness. Teen condom use leveled off and in some cases declined, according to the study. The study also reported that the teen birth rate increased by 5% from 2005 to 2007. According to the study"s authors, the findings suggest a link between declining teen contraception use and the rise in abstinence-only education during former President George W. Bush"s administration. President Obama"s fiscal year 2010 budget proposal calls for redirecting some abstinence-only funds toward increased comprehensive sex education, the Monitor reports. In addition to the effects of abstinence-only sex education, the decline in condom use also could be tied to lessening concern about sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS. A shift in the teen population to include a higher number of Hispanics -- who have the highest rates of teen pregnancy and birth -- also could contribute to the findings. Laura Lindberg, one of the study"s authors and a senior research associate at Guttmacher, said, "In the end, this story is really about the loss of momentum." She added that although the statistical changes are small, "they raise concern about what the next few years will bring in this country." Sarah Brown, director of the National Campaign To Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, noted that the proportion of births to unmarried women, particularly among women ages 20 to 24, also is on the upswing (Feldmann, Christian Science Monitor, 6/18).
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Rapid Changes In Clinical Practice For Drug-Eluting Stents Due To Fast Release Of Data
E-mail, search engines, smart phones and other new technologies that can disseminate new medical information quickly led to an almost immediate change in clinical practice for drug-eluting stents, according to a study reported in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
Cardiovascular

Indiana University Simon Cancer Center's Tissue Bank Collecting Samples Aug. 8

Although Hispanic women tend to develop breast cancer less than Caucasian women, it is usually more aggressive and advanced when it does develop. That difference is one puzzle researchers with the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Tissue Bank at the IU Simon Cancer Center hope to address by encouraging women, especially Hispanic women, to donate breast tissue and a blood sample. The cancer center"s Komen Tissue Bank is collecting breast tissue and blood samples from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, in the Hematology Clinic and Women"s Center (second floor) in the new patient building of the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center, 1030 W. Michigan St. Parking is available across the street in the Vermont Street Garage on the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) campus. "Breast cancer develops and spreads in a different manner in Latin women than in women from other races. By donating, researchers around the world will have access to Latin women breast tissue to study how it develops and evolves," said Ivanesa Pardo, M.D., of the IU School of Medicine. Dr. Pardo is a volunteer with the cancer center"s Komen Tissue Bank. Dr. Pardo pointed out that Latina women are 2.7 times more likely than other races to have an advanced cancer, which lessens the effectiveness of treatments. What to Expect During the Donation Process During the donation process, a tissue sample is taken from one breast with a needle and local anesthesia. The amount of tissue taken is about one gram (or the size of two peas). To participate, women must: - be age 18 or older - have the ability to understand and the willingness to sign an informed consent - be willing to give one hour of their time to complete a questionnaire and a breast biopsy - not be allergic to local anesthetics (numbing medicine) - not be receiving a therapeutic blood thinner (this does not include aspirin) - not have breast implants or have had a breast reduction To register, visit http://www.komentissuebank.iu.edu or contact Pat Mitchum at (317) 274-2366 or pamitchu@iupui.edu. Donors must have a confirmed appointment time. By collecting samples from women with and without breast cancer, researchers will be able to determine the differences between these populations, which could lead to a better understanding of the disease. Samples taken from women without the disease are especially helpful because there are few collections of so-called "normal" specimens. The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Tissue Bank at the IU Simon Cancer Center will ultimately give researchers valuable and unprecedented research data. Indiana University


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