Research May Indicate HIV Diagnosis Reversal at Birth
Posted by on October 6, 2014 - 3:15pm

A new drug treatment administered to HIV positive babies at birth shows high success rates in reversing an HIV positive diagnosis. While HIV positive mothers in the United States rarely pass HIV along to their children (due to preventative drugs and procedures), the likelihood of HIV positive babies being born in other parts of the world is still troubling. Research indicates that roughly 330,000 babies are infected with HIV each year. Women in less-developed countries are less likely to be treated during pregnancy, and therefore a post-birth option for HIV prevention or remission could be groundbreaking.

Babies in this trial received a high dose of AZT, 3TC, and nevirapine and were found to be HIV-negative and sero-reverted after being born with HIV. Researchers still need to closely monitor the children as they grow older to observe any long-term effects. While some researchers still remain skeptical, advising further research, these results could be an early indication of a game-changer in HIV prevention.

Source: The New York Times

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President Obama Supports Women in STEM
Posted by on October 2, 2014 - 1:24pm

President Obama's speech on economy delivered today at Northwestern University emphasized the support of women as one tactic to improve our economy. President Obama stated, "Let's inspire and support more women in growing fields of science, technology, engineering, and math." Women are still underrepresented in certain STEM fields and medical disciplines. Furthermore, despite women outpacing men with undergraduate and graduate diplomas, they are still entering the workforce with lower salaries than men. Obama stated that ensure women's equal pay will not only help women, but "it'll give their families and the entire economy a boost."

Obama's speech emphasized strengthening our economy though multiple outlets, including healthcare, education, energy and technology. The President's comments on equal pay for women and support of women in male-dominated fields was met with applause. As Obama stated, it's time to "catch up to 2014" and start giving women equal support to succeed and advance.

Read President Obama's full speech here: The Wall Street Journal

Should your boss deny you birth control coverage?
Posted by on September 30, 2014 - 12:18pm

The Supreme Court recently ruled some businesses can deny birth control coverage for women across the country. These companies can make all the money they want yet they can deny important health coverage to their workers.  We don't hear about limiting coverage for male services, just those that impact women!

According to the National Women's Law Center, "the Obama administration has proposed rules that would ensure women have coverage of birth control regardless of their boss's religious beliefs. It's up to us to make sure these rules are strong and provide women coverage that is easy to get and hassle free".

Send a comment to the Administration telling them to take the steps necessary to ensure birth control coverage for the women left behind by the Supreme Court. Send your message now!   It's time to undo the unfairness of this Supreme Court decision on U.S. women.   Large businesses get tax breaks, they swing elections, and the can make their bosses rich---let's not let them control women's bodies, too!

Tamoxifen in gel form is effective with less side effects
Posted by on September 25, 2014 - 2:54pm

Seema Khan, MD, professor of surgery, found a new skin gel that reduced the growth of cancer cells minimizing dangerous side effects. A gel form of tamoxifen applied to the breasts of women with noninvasive breast cancer reduced the growth of cancer cells to the same degree as the drug taken in oral form but with fewer side effects that deter some women from taking it, according to new Northwestern Medicine research.

Tamoxifen is an oral drug that is used for breast cancer prevention and as therapy for non-invasive breast cancer and invasive cancer. Because the drug was absorbed through the skin directly into breast tissue, blood levels of the drug were much lower, thus, potentially minimizing dangerous side effects -- blood clots and uterine cancer.

The gel was tested on women diagnosed with the non-invasive cancer ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in which abnormal cells multiply and form a growth in a milk duct. Because of potential side effects, many women with DCIS are reluctant to take oral tamoxifen after being treated with breast-saving surgery and radiation even though the drug effectively prevents DCIS recurrence and reduces risk of future new breast cancer.

The paper was published in Clinical Cancer Research on July 15.

“Delivering the drug though a gel, if proven effective in larger trials, could potentially replace oral tamoxifen for breast cancer prevention and DCIS and encourage many more women to take it,” said lead author Seema Khan, MD, a Northwestern Medicine surgical oncologist. “For breast cancer prevention and DCIS therapy, effective drug concentrations are required in the breast. For these women, high circulating drug levels only cause collateral damage.”

Khan is a professor of surgery and the Bluhm Family Professor of Cancer Research at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. She also is a surgeon at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and co-leader of the breast cancer program at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University

NIH Bolsters Sex-based Research
Posted by on September 23, 2014 - 1:15pm

 National Institutes of Health has invested $10.1 million in supplemental funding to bolster the research of 82 grantees to explore the effects of sex in preclinical and clinical studies.

This investment encourages researchers to study females and males, and is a catalyst for considering sex as a fundamental variable in research. The current overreliance on male subjects in preclinical research can obscure key findings related to sex that could guide later human studies. This progressive approach will result in greater awareness of the need to study both sexes, demonstrate how research can incorporate sex, and reinforce the value of taking it into account as these studies yield results.

The Women's Health Research Institute has been actively supporting more sex equity in research not only at the human level but also in critical preclinical animal and cell research.  To read more about the NIH announcement, click HERE.

NIH Request for Information: Consideration of Sex as a Variable in Research
Posted by on September 11, 2014 - 4:07pm

Help Advocate!! Send a comment...Keep the pressure on!!!

In a May 14, 2014, Nature commentary (see Nature. 2014 May 15;509(7500):282-3.), NIH leadership stated an intention to develop and implement policies requiring applicants to consider sex as a biological variable in the design and analysis of NIH-funded research involving animals and cells.    Animal studies have typically focused on males, and investigators studying cell models have often not reported the sex of the individual from which the cells were obtained.  Even if both sexes are included in a study design, resulting data may not be analyzed or disaggregated by sex. The failure to consider sex as a variable may leave critical knowledge gaps and undermine the quality and  reproducibility of research findings (see Nature. 2014 Jan 30;505 (7485):612-3).  Consideration of sex is a critical component of rigorous experimental design, just like randomization, blinding, sample-size calculations, or other basic design elements.  By developing a policy to ensure that sex is considered in NIH-funded studies, NIH will ensure that sex and sex differences are examined in all aspects of biomedical research. This will lead to a stronger foundation upon which to build clinical research and clinical trials.

Request for Information

The NIH has formed a trans-NIH working group to inform the development of these policies. This Request for Information (RFI) seeks input from the research community and other interested stakeholders on the following topics regarding the consideration of sex as a biological variable in biomedical research. Public comment is sought for but not limited to the following:

  • Whether consideration of sex as a biological variable is an issue affecting the reproducibility, rigor, and/or generalizability of research findings.
  • Areas of science (e.g., cancer, neuroscience) or phases of research (e.g., basic, translational) conducted with animals that have the greatest opportunity or need for considering sex as a biological variable.
  • Areas of science or phases of research conducted with cells and/or tissues that have the greatest opportunity or need for considering sex as a biological variable.
  • Main impediments (e.g. scientific, technical, and other) to considering sex as a biological variable in research.
  • Ways in which NIH can facilitate the consideration of sex as a biological variable in NIH-supported research.
  • Any additional comments you would like to offer to NIH about the development of policies for considering sex as a biological variable in research involving animals, tissues, or cells.

Responses

Responses to this RFI must be submitted electronically using the web-based form at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/rfi/rfi.cfm?ID=37.  Please do not submit comments by other mechanisms, such as fax or email.

Responses will be accepted through October 13, 2014.Notice Number: NOT-OD-14-128

National Institutes of Health (NIH)  IT-OD-14-128

 

Experts recommend change in labeling for low-dose vaginal estrogen
Posted by on September 11, 2014 - 3:25pm

As more post menopausal women change to a low dose local vaginal estrogen to control vaginal atrophy, a group of experts have recommended that the FDA modify the package Black Box Warning label  on the product packaging.  The current warning is based on research done mainly on oral estrogen which is a systemic rather than local therapy.   The local low-dose therapy, in fact, was designed to reduce estrogen exposure to the woman while still providing localized (vaginal) relief from vaginal atrophy.   The panel of experts who wrote the editorial published in the journal Menopause, believe that the current warning is not based on this form of the estrogen and is harming women by discouraging their use of this very effective product that could improve their quality of life and prevent some serious health problems.

Vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) is a common and progressive condition that is due to the lack of estrogen during and after the menopause.  This results in  the  thinning, drying and inflammation of the vaginal walls that can lead to painful sex and urinary disorders.   Localized estrogen is an approved treatment for this disorder.   To read more about menopause and the latest evidence based treatment options, visit MenopauseNU.org. a site developed by the Women's Health Research Institute at Northwestern University.

 

 

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Selfies and Self-Reflection: The Endocrine Society Meeting
Posted by on September 5, 2014 - 1:56pm

By Katie Cobian

In 2009, I was one of twelve participants in the San Diego Oncofertility Saturday Academy.  Entering the program as a rising high school sophomore, I had no idea what to expect from the program; in fact, I barely knew what the word ‘oncofertility’ meant.  Little did I know the impact this one summer would have on the rest of my life.  This one summer gave me an unexpected sense of belonging in the scientific community.  This one summer taught me lessons far beyond the confines of the lab.  This one summer introduced me to many of the most inspirational people I have ever met.  This one summer changed my life forever.  It’s not everyday that a fourteen-year-old comes across such a life-directing experience; I am so lucky it happened to me.

Fast-forward five years.  I’m currently a rising junior at the University of Notre Dame.  Because of my involvement with the Oncofertility Academy, I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the Endocrine Society Meeting in Chicago earlier this summer.  I was assigned many mentors during the conference—scientists from all over the U.S., including members of the Woodruff Lab.  My first day at the conference was overwhelming.  I was made aware that there were 10,000 attendees at the meeting this year—a number difficult to comprehend.  The intellectual energy was high in every room at the conference center.  As clinical practitioners and basic scientists sat in the same rooms together, there was dynamic sense of collaboration.  More impressive to me, however, was Dr. Teresa Woodruff, President of the Endocrine Society.  It was Dr. Woodruff who led the masses every morning and made appearances at all the major events.  And though she was clearly the busiest and most demanded person at the conference, she still took the time to meet and interact with eager undergraduates dying to shake the hand of a true inspiration.

One afternoon after visiting lectures on the challenge of preserving the fertility of cancer patients, I visited a poster session that contained the work of thousands of labs from all over the world.  As I walked through the reproductive endocrinology section, I was shocked to run into a very familiar face: that of Dr. Chang from our very own San Diego Oncofertility Academy.  In conversation with Dr. Chang, I couldn’t help but think about how much we have discovered about the world, but simultaneously, how many new questions arise with every new discovery.  It is this reason, precisely, that I have always been drawn to biological sciences—the sheer magnitude of the field is enough to fuel my interest in the life sciences.   At the conference, I was able to visit posters from the Woodruff Lab and was utterly amazed at the advances that are occurring in the field of oncofertility, including the growth of ovaries in vitro--yet another reminder of the power and innovation that oncofertility represents.

In addition to attending the conference’s daily scheduled events, I was given the opportunity to attend the Women in Endocrinology dinner during my time at the conference.  The women that surrounded me at the dinner were inspiring—a true testament to the power and strength of women in science.  They were brilliant, and their stories were powerful.  Leaders in their field, they support each other and celebrate the accomplishments of peers working alongside them.  The room full of glamorously dressed, influential women was an uplifting look into the force that women have become in STEM fields.

After a weekend of high-powered, intellectually stimulating events, I found myself at a more intimate event in Dr. Woodruff’s suite with current and past members of her lab.  Dr. Teresa Woodruff has been my idol since my first introduction to Oncofertility.  Her vision to create a new field of science has always astounded me.  I met Dr. Teresa in person for the first time four years ago on a visit to Northwestern to tour the campus.  She opened the doors of her lab to me and welcomed me with a bright smile and encouraging words.  During this first visit to the Woodruff Lab, I took a series of photos that I still cherish.   While chatting with Dr. Teresa this summer, she shared with me that she still keeps one of those photos on her desk in her office.  At once, I was humbled and filled with pride.

At the event, I was fortunate to rub elbows with the founders and grant-writers vital to oncofertility’s establishment.  Dr. Teresa made her way through the crowd like a superstar—followed by cameras and people anxiously awaiting their chance to chat with her.  But unlike a pop-sensation, Dr. Teresa was down-to-earth and obviously respected by everyone in the room.  Just that morning, I had the honor of witnessing her star power as she spoke to a crowd of six thousand people.  And here she was a few hours later with a heart-warming smile and joyous embraces for the children of her current lab members.  As I left Dr. Teresa’s event that night, she asked me to take a selfie with her so she could place it next the picture on her desk from four years ago.  I was thrilled to take that selfie with one of the most inspirational women in my life.

Dr. Teresa Woodruff has been and will continue to be that source of inspiration as I continue my education in life sciences.  It’s her work and her character that motivate me to work toward my own goal of pursuing a career in science.  I see my life coming full-circle, fulfilling an even greater role in the field that had the power to change the life of a fourteen-year-old, sitting wide-eyed and eager on a summer Saturday morning in San Diego.

Tattoos and Permanent Make-up
Posted by on September 5, 2014 - 10:15am

Some women get tattoos for beauty, self-expression, or cultural events.  Whatever your reason, know the facts before and after you get a tattoo.

Types of Tattoos
  • Permanent Tattoo: A needle inserts colored ink into your skin. Permanent tattoos last a lifetime.
  • Permanent Make-Up: A needle inserts colored ink into your skin to look like eyeliner, lip liner, eyebrows or other make-up.
  • Henna: Plant dye called henna or mehndi is used to stain your skin.
  • Black Henna: Developed from henna, may contain hair dye or other dye to darken the stain and make it last longer.
  • 'Sticker' Temporary Tattoo: A tattoo design is on a coated paper. It is put on your skin with water. Temporary tattoos may last up to 3-4 weeks. Sticker tattoos last hours to days.
Tattoo Risks

Problems can happen.

  • Infections and serious illness, like HIV or hepatitis, from unclean tattoo tools, practices, or products
  • Allergic reactions to the inks or stains can cause skin problems, such as rashes
  • Other skin problems like increased chance of sunburn, bumps, redness, or scarring
  • Swelling and burning of the tattoo when you get an MRI test
  • Pain and high costs if you want to remove a permanent tattoo

Contact your state or local health department for tattoo safety information to reduce your risk. Tell your doctor about any tattoos you have before any medical procedure.

FDA's Role

FDA--

  • has not approved any inks for injecting into your skin.
  • has not approved henna or hair dye for use on your skin.  Some people have reported serious skin problems after using henna or black henna.
  • does not regulate tattoo parlours.
  • does monitor problems from tattoos and permanent make-up.

Report problems online to FDA or call 1-800-332-1088

Removing Your Tattoo

Permanent tattoos can be hard and painful to remove. It may take several treatments that cost a lot of money. Talk to your doctor about your options. Remember:

  • You may not be able to completely remove your tattoo.
  • You could get a scar when you remove your tattoo.
Laser Removal

The FDA approves certain laser devices to remove tattoos. Lighter colors such as yellow, green, and red are more difficult to remove than darker colors such as dark blue and black. It may take 6-10 treatments to remove a tattoo. Some side effects may include bleeding, redness or soreness.

Surgery

Tattoos can sometimes be removed by cutting out the tattooed skin then sewing the skin back together.  Other times, the skin can be sanded down to remove the tattoo.

Ointments and Creams

The FDA does not approve tattoo removal ointments and creams or do-it-yourself tattoo removal kits. These products may cause skin rashes, burns or scars.

Sex inclusion study cited in 'Atlantic'
Posted by on September 4, 2014 - 1:49pm

The lack of females in basic research was highlighted by the Atlantic today.  Melina R. Kibbe, MD and Teresa K Woodruff, PhD, two of the co-authors of a study published in Surgery this month, reported that 22% of the publications in five high-impact surgical journals between 2011 and 2012 did not specify  the sex of their animal subjects, and of those that did, 80% only used male animals.

According to Kibbe, a surgeon and professor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine,  "The obvious issue is, if you're only studying males, you don't know if that therapy is going to work in females."   Kibbe along with Dr. Woodruff, the director of the Women's Health Research Institute at Northwestern University and a professor of OB/Gyn have been advocating for sex inclusion in all research-- cells, animals and humans.   Other members of the WHRI Leadership Council are looking at sex inclusion in their respective fields that are not typically consider to be impacted by sex:  dermatology, anesthesiology, and neuroscience.

Last May, NIH Director Francis Collins acknowledged the lack of females in animal and cell research and is planning to development new guidelines for researchers.   "It's really an exciting for all of us who have been advocating for sex inclusion science," Woodruff stated in the Atlantic article.  "If we can fundamentally study the way sex influences biology, I think we're going to learn a great deal...that's going to change, frankly, our health."

 

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