Low-Dose Aspirin May Benefit Healthy Women Trying To Conceive But Who Have Experienced Pregnancy Loss, Study Indicates.

“In healthy women trying to conceive who have experienced pregnancy loss, treatment with daily, low-dose aspirin was associated with an increase in both pregnancy and live birth rates among those who had higher levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein vs. those assigned a placebo,” researchers found after analyzing “data from 1,228 healthy women aged 40 years or younger with one or two prior pregnancy losses.” The findings were published online in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. http://www.healio.com/endocrinology/cardiometabolic-disorders/news/in-the-journals/%7B32a0d613-2939-4037-a31e-5b7eed8a3325%7D/low-dose-aspirin-increases-live-birth-rate-in-women-with-low-grade-inflammation-pregnancy-loss

Certain Patients With Sickle-Cell Trait May Have Lower HbA1c Levels, Possibly Causing Clinicians To Miss Signs Of Diabetes, Research Indicates.

A genetic trait that affects red blood cells and is fairly common among African Americans and Hispanic Americans can cause an important blood sugar test to miss signs of diabetes, researchers” found. The NPR (2/7, Harris) “Shots” blog and “All Things Considered” program report that African-Americans with the sickle cell trait appear to have lower HbA1c levels than African-Americans without the trait, researchers from the National Institutes of Health and Brown University found after examining data from two large studies encompassing some 4,600 patients. The findings were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/02/07/513891129/the-a1c-blood-sugar-test-may-be-less-accurate-in-african-americans

New Year, New Vaccination Guidelines CDC and AAP committees offer updates for flu shots, HPV, and others

http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/Vaccines/62954?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2017-02-07&eun=g721819d0r&pos=3

Still No Consensus on Antibiotics for Persistent Sinus Infection To prescribe or not prescribe?

The way that I distinguish an allergic sinusitis from a bacterial sinusitis is that when I have an allergic sinusitis, the symptoms improve within about a week to 10 days, but with a bacterial sinusitis I get physically weak and can't even get out of bed," the statement said. "When I go to a visit, I generally do not say, 'I want an antibiotic.' The doctor will ask me, 'Why are you here, and tell me about what is going on,' and I have found that, after reviewing my history, she ends up saying, 'I think you may need an antibiotic,'" Mr. X concluded. "I would delve into the patient's history a bit more, particularly with regard to prior episodes that were diagnosed as bacterial sinusitis, documentation of prior episodes of pneumonia, and his allergic reaction to ampicillin. Microbiological data and vaccination history would also be of interest, because this information may point to potentially useful preventive measures and/or clues to an immunodeficiency state. Use of intranasal steroids is appropriate for allergic rhinosinusitis, but because of the delayed effect of steroids, waiting until symptoms are 'bad' probably undermines their effectiveness," he stated. http://www.medpagetoday.com/Pulmonology/URIstheFlu/62949?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2017-02-07&eun=g721819d0r&pos=2

Male Birth Control Gel Works In Monkeys, Study Suggests.

reports a new study found that a male contraceptive called Vasalgel was effective at preventing pregnancy in monkeys. The treatment “consists of a polymer gel injected into the vas deferens...that blocks sperm from escaping.” Researchers observed sixteen males over one mating season, and seven males over two. They are “optimistic that human clinical trials of the method could begin in 2018,” but admit they “still need to test the reversibility of the method in monkeys,” as well as other safety studies. Their findings were published Monday in the journal Basic and Clinical Andrology. AFP (2/7) also covers the study. http://time.com/4661209/male-birth-control-gel/

WOW Maternal Licorice Consumption In Pregnancy May Be Associated With Lower IQ, AD/HD-Like Behavior, Early Puberty In Kids.

reported that “eating large amounts of licorice during pregnancy could lead to a lower IQ,” attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD)-like “behavior, and early puberty in kids,” researchers found. The findings of the 378-participant study were published online Feb. 3 in the American Journal of Epidemiology. Eating too much licorice is potentially harmful even for those not pregnant. In particular, black licorice contains glycyrrhizin, a sweetening compound taken from licorice root. The compound can cause potassium levels in the body to fall, which can lead to abnormal heart rhythms, high blood pressure, oedema (swelling), lethargy, and heart failure, according to the Cleveland Clinic. During pregnancy, glycyrrhizin is believed to impair the placenta by allowing stress hormones to cross from the mother to the baby. High levels of hormones like glucocorticoids are thought to affect fetal brain development, and are linked to behavioral disorders in children. In a 2013 study, Professor Jonathan Seckl, an endocrinologist at the Queen’s Medical Research Institute at the University of Edinburgh, and study author, explained to The Telegraph: “If you inhibit this barrier then you start to get children being born with low birth weight and who have altered stress responses and depression. This may be what underpins the variation you get from one individual to another.” http://www.medicaldaily.com/eating-licorice-candy-during-pregnancy-may-lead-adhd-symptoms-early-puberty-410245 Inappropriate use of licorice can produce pseudoaldosteronism, by inactivating 11β-hydroxysteroiod-dehydrogenase and by binding to mineralocorticoid receptors. Licorice possesses many other therapeutic properties as to potentiate the action of cortisol, to reduce testosterone synthesis, especially in women, to exert an estrogen-like activity and to reduce body fat mass.

Couples Who Are Both Obese May Have Harder Time Conceiving Than Couples Who Are Both At A Healthy Weight, Researchers Say.

“Couples who are both obese may have a harder time conceiving a child than couples who are both at a healthy weight, researchers” from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development found after studying some “500 couples in Michigan and Texas...as they tried to conceive.” When the female partner “was overweight or obese, the couple typically took longer to conceive,” the study revealed. When both partners had a BMI of 35 or higher, “they were 60 percent less fecund than slimmer couples,” investigators found. The findings were published online in Human Reproduction. HealthDay (2/3, Pallarito) and Endocrine Today (2/3, Cox) also covered the study. http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/obese-couples-take-longer-conceive-study-finds-n716471