Medical Monday: Breaking News from the World of Obstetrics and Gynecology

It is no secret by now that the Trump administration is systematically enacting policies to ban abortion and limit access to contraception. Medical experts have indicated their concern all along, saying these policies are likely to backfire, increasing unplanned pregnancies and abortions overall. 

Legal challenges to Trump administration policies are now coming from many quarters. Mississippi and Louisiana have pending legislation to ban abortion after 15 weeks. Both laws will now go to Federal court to be tested. Meanwhile, New Jersey is suing the Federal government against the exemption which permits corporations to purchase insurance without contraception coverage if they object to it on “moral” grounds. Since when can a corporation have morality ? People, owners, and board members can have morality or the lack of it.

The Federal Courts are going to have a big role in determining how much of this Trump era law stands. For example, a federal judge in Washington struck down the decision by the HHS (Department of Health and Human Services) to withhold funds for the teen pregnancy prevention program. The judge called the cancellation of funds “capricious”.  HHS actions have been struck down by federal courts four times to date. 

A survey of various health care groups has shown the 95% have strongly criticized the Trump administrations efforts to weaken the ACA (Affordable Care Act). The American College of Physicians has published a paper calling for recognition and addressing of the discrimination against women in health care. Health care disparities include those pertaining to reproduction, family and medical leave, domestic and sexual abuse and inclusion in clinical trials. 

Elsewhere in the world, Ireland has voted to repeal the countries ban on abortion. The popular vote passed by a margin of 2 to 1. To put things in perspective in this historically Catholic country, divorce was only legalized in 1995. Gay marriage has also been ratified in Ireland, and an openly gay man has served as Prime Minister. 

Medical News

We all know that genes influence our physical health. But they also influence our mental health. They are a number of genes which are associated with the development of Schizophrenia. However, even if they are present, the odds of actually developing schizophrenia are low. New research has indicated that pregnancy complications such as gestational diabetes and preeclampsia increase the risk of schizophrenia in susceptible individuals, as can smoking. This is all thought to take place via epigenetics and the placenta. More research is needed. 

A new study indicates what we have often observed; that those women who introduce a bottle in the hospital are much more likely to give up breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is recommended as the sole food source for babies for six months. 

The Nurses Health Study has produced data about nutrition and healing loss. Turns out those who had a diet most closely resembling a Mediterranean or DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet were 30% less likely to experience moderate or severe hearing loss later in life. 

You will hear all kinds of unscientific reasons from patients about why they will not get a certain vaccine. We all know vaccines stimulate the immune systems and we all know they can make you feel a bit flu like in the process- no fun. New research has now proven that HPV ( human papilloma virus) vaccine does not cause increased autoimmune activity in girls. This confirms two prior large cohort studies. Despite all this, there is still a lot of push back against vaccines. It is hard for a caregiver to persist when a patient or a parent declines a needed vaccine. However new research indicates that physician persistent leads to 94% of children being vaccinated against HPV. 

Many times I hear talk to the affect that obesity alone is not a problem. There must be other factors such as diabetes or hypertension for obesity to be a threat to health. FALSE.. Newer date now tells us that having obesity ALONE makes you 39% more likely to have heart disease. 

We have been finding a lot of vitamin deficiency up here in the North Country. This has been true in pregnancy. We have undertaken supplementation regimens with the input of Endocrinology and are tailoring better maintenance regimens for both diet and supplements. New research has now show some good news : that those who take vitamin D in pregnancy are 28 % less likely to have low birth weight babies or stillbirth. 

In other vitamin D related news, new research also indicated that women with sufficient levels of vitamin D are 10% more like to get pregnant after a miscarriage, and 15% more likely to have a live birth after a miscarriage. 

Folic acid is also important in pregnancy and is known to prevent birth defects such as spina bifida. New research indicates that poorer women rarely takeout before it during pregnancy. This is something that should have a really easy fix. 

Stay tuned for more news from the fascinating world of Obstetrics and Gynecology, here, next week on Medical Monday. 

Medical Monday: Delayed Edition

POLICY NEWS 

The Department of Health and Human Services wants to expand funding for “ natural family planning” and “ fertility awareness” which are largely ineffective methods of timing based birth control. In other words, DHHS want Medicaid to begin covering visits where patients are told this is a viable method of contraception. In other words, the DHHS wants to spend your tax dollars on an ineffective, scientifically invalid method of birth control. Meanwhile the rest of the administration is working on dismantling the Contraceptive Mandate, the part of current insurance law which states that insurers must cover, without copay, real effective birth control. Additionally, the DHHS has announced it is moving away from “ comprehensive sexual education” which is evidence based, and instead will be using your tax dollars to teach “ abstinence only” which has been proven not to work. It is beginning to seem like the administration wants women to have more babies. Maybe they see this as stimulating the economy through having more consumers, I don’t know. 

California Judge Haywood Gilliam has stood up to the Feds determined to weaken the contraceptive mandate. He has blocked changes to the ACA in California, saying that he will not allow these changes “ transform contraceptive coverage from an entitlement to a benefit subject to employer discretion.”

Utah is writing law which will require radiologists to specifically notify women of dense breast tissue. In this warning they are to explain that screening is less effective, and that they may be eligible for other screening modalities. 

New Jersey has replaced Republican Governor Chris Christie with Democrat Phil Murphy. Governor Murphy has reversed 8 years of policy by restoring funding to Planned Parenthood and other women’s health organizations. He has also signed a bill expanding coverage for Medicaid coverage of family planning, prenatal care and cancer screening. 

DHHS is working on various plans to reduce the price of prescription drugs to consumers. Sounds good right ? However one of the cost control measures is capping the amount of prescription drug benefit that Medicare Recipients can receive. The other strategies include enabling as many as 5 states to collectively bargain with suppliers over prices. 

The administration is at it again, proposing bargain basement plans for people. In the words of Admiral Akbar, “It’s a trap !”. 

These plans are cheap, and some fear that consumers might not realize their limitations on coverage or pre-existing conditions. These plans which do not comply with the protections and coverage of the ACA ( Affordable Care Act) are a recipe for future disaster. They contribute little to the collective pot and cover little for their purchasers. 

MEDICAL NEWS 

In the important and alarming department, we have cleaning sprays. New research published in the American Journal or Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine has shown that the “regular use of cleaning sprays can have as much impact on health as smoking a pack of cigarettes a day." In this 6000 person study, “ cleaning even once per week was associated with an accelerated lung decline risk”. I will try to find out more about the types of cleaning agents used. 

HPV vaccine is still underused. Fewer than a third get their first dose by age 13, and fewer than half of all children are up to date on all their doses

In other vaccine news, a recent inventory of 400,000 births confirms that both influenza and TDaP vaccines are safe in pregnancy, and confer protection to both mom and baby. 

When we think of a heart attack, we think of an older man with check pain. However, women suffer heart attacks almost as much as men. However in women, particularly women under 55, symptoms may not be recognized since they are different than mens. These patients are more likely to have what is described as indigestion, shortness of breath, palpitations, or jaw pain. 

In related news, women’s heart attacks may have a different mechanism, coronary vasoconstriction, rather than the blockage from plaques that male patients often have. A new study confirms that among women with chest pain, and clean arteries, nearly 8% have scarred areas on the heart confirming that a heart attack occurred. 

About half of all breast cancer patient facing radiation heard “ frightening stories” about it. However after the therapy, only 2% agreed that the stories were true. 

Illinois has targeted maternal morbidity, specifically maternal morbidity due to severe maternal hypertension. A “quality initiative” specifying a “suite of interventions” was implemented. Participants qualified for the study by having BP at or greater than 160/110 (yikes!). Interventions included prompt pharmacologic treatment of maternal hypertension, specifically designed discharge education, and short postpartum follow up intervals. Severe maternal morbidity such as stroke as already decreased by 41%.

Stay tuned for more exciting news from the world of Obstetrics and Gynecology right here, next week, on Medical Monday. 

Medical Monday: Breaking News from the World of Obstetrics and Gynecology

So by now all of your know that the Republican Tax bill passed. Most of you also know the tax bill is not just about taxes. With it’s passage, the Individual Mandate of Obamacare has been repealed. Therefore it is now no longer incumbent upon people to hold any health insurance. So, like an uninsured driver in a bad accident, someone else will foot the big bill when fit hits the shan. 

Those of us in medicine realize that in the short term this will save the Fed money. However in the medium and longer term, it will cost far more than was saved in both monetary, productivity and human terms. I only hope that this resultant data will be kept properly so that can see the true results of our lawmaking and course corrections in policy can be made accordingly. I am beginning to consider all such bills on taxes and health insurance as politically charged estimates, and how costs and benefits actually turn out are another matter. How costs and benefits are actually tallied and reported are yet a third concern, and I daresay I will view all reports with skepticism unless their methods are sources are clearly declared. Transparency in reckoning will be critical, and in this climate of alternative facts, something fundamental will have to change. 

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that premiums will go up about 10% for all policies through Obamacare simply because of the loss of the Individual Mandate. The CBO also estimates about 4 million people will either lose or forgo health insurance because of the change. 

The current administration is also trying to roll back in the Contraceptive Mandate. This is the part of Obamacare which requires all health insurance to provide coverage for birth control without copay. The Democratic States Attorneys General have banded together to prevent this from happening. Their argument is that the planned rollback of the Contraceptive Mandate "for employers to include birth control in their health insurance plans is an unconstitutional endorsement of religion” and "violates the constitutional separation of church and state and encourages illegal discrimination against women.” 

In science there is a phenomenon called a natural experiment. This occurs when happenstance set up a comparison between one set of circumstance and another, allowing a later comparison. For example, there have been instances of twins separated at birth and raised under different conditions. The resulting differences can then be studied. 

What if there were a modern country where birth control was not readily available ? What might that be like ? While considering that Venezuela and the United States are very different, one can still view the situation in Venezuela a cautionary tale. Venezuela is experiencing a shortage of birth control. Women are using the “ counting method” otherwise known as rhythm, and using unproven folk remedies. Venezuelan health officials are noting spikes in unplanned pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, and unsafe abortions. Data in the United States while the contraceptive mandate was in place show abortion has hit an all time low. 

In the nobody-saw-this-coming department, Ob/Gyn residency training programs in Wisconsin and perhaps across the nation might be at risk of de-accreditation. At present, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education requires that abortion training be part of residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Two Wisconsin state representatives have introduced legislation that would eliminate resident’s  ability to complete this training, thereby putting the program out of compliance with the accrediting body. As it is, a national shortage of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is looming; it is already the case in rural areas, and will be so everywhere if trends continue. 

CMS, the Center for Medicaid Services is floating a proposal to allow individual States to determine what constitutes “ essential benefits”. These are things which insurers MUST cover.  As of right now, under Obamacare, things like annual exams, cancer screening, like paps mammograms and colonoscopies, and prenatal care are covered. Medically necessary surgery is covered. Emergency room visits are covered. However, with this proposal, this might change, and it might vary widely between individual states. Health care providers are worried this will leave many necessities uncovered, and insurers are worried States will want to keep insurers providing benefits, which will cost them more money. 

The deadline to sign up for the ACA is December 15th. As of last week, about a million more people are signed up than at this time last year. That's what I call an endorsement. 

On to the Medical News. 

A new study has shown us something we have always suspected. We have known for some time that obesity is a risk factor for uterine, or more specifically endometrial cancer. (Endometrium is the lining of the uterus. ) The reality is even more stark. It turns out that fat cells drive the growth of endometrial cancer cells. In particular, a protein produced by fat cells “tells” endometrial cels to proliferate. It’s one more powerful reason to make sure your weight is optimized

In the we-already-knew-this department, robotic assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy is looking good. In particular, a recently published study compared robot hysterectomies with “open”  hysterectomies, meaning the ones using a large incision similar to the incision used for Cesarean Sections. Guess what ? The robot cases with the tiny incisions, precise instrumentation and excellent visualization had better results than the open cases with large incisions, manual instrumentation, and variable visualization. In particular, this study shows  they had fewer complications across the board and shorter hospital stays compared to the open cases. I should add that literature and the prevailing experience is that patients having robot cases also have less post op pain. 

Stay tuned for more gripping news from the world of Obstetrics and Gynecology, here, next week, on Medical Monday.