Good Monday ! We will start our news this morning with a revelation that a once deadly virus is now under firm control via the three pronged approach of surveillance, treatment and vaccination ! I speak, of course of the Human Papilloma Virus,(HPV), responsible for causing cervical dysplasia and cervical cancer.
A new CDC study published in The Journal of pediatrics reports states that" thanks to a vaccination program that began decade ago fewer US women are entering adulthood infected with” HPV. Apparently this study is the first to show falling levels of dangerous strains of the virus in women in their 20s. Human papilloma virus vaccine also known as Gardisil, has been available for use for children ages 9 through 26 for many years now. It was initially only available for girls because the studies were done first on girls but subsequently it was released also to boys.
Zika is our newest viral threat. It has ravaged South and Central America and proceeds northward into areas where the Aedes aegypti mosquito can live. Zika is blood borne and spread by this mosquito. Male to female sexual transmission of ZIka is now also confirmed. It is also vertically transmitted, meaning from mother to unborn child, and is strongly linked to the development of microcephaly in the the growing fetus, which produces severe brain damage. Conclusive proof of the connection is likely to come in June when a large cohort of nearly 5000 women mostly in Columbia will give birth.
Zika infection is also a threat to the nonpregnant in that it is strongly associated with a much higher risk of developing post viral paralysis, Known as a Guillain-Barré syndrome. World Health Organization researchers note that there is been a spike of Guillain-Barre "everywhere that we are seeing to seek a virus".
In the good news department, breast cancer survivors are now believed to be able to safely use vaginal estrogen therapy. Vaginal estrogen therapy is used to treat vaginal atrophy, often see in menopause or after breast cancer treatments which stop a woman from producing estrogen. Vaginal atrophy is a painful condition which causes various problems and prohibits intercourse. We do not give systemic estrogen to breast cancer survivors since we are concerned it could encourage a cancer recurrence. Vaginal treatments are not believed to produce a systemic dose.
In more good news, a cheap easy to use vaginal ring is helping to curb HIV transmission rates in Africa. The rings slowly releases an antiviral drug to combat HIV and it needs to be changed every 4 weeks. It reduces transmission by 30 %.
In concerning news, preeclampsia in pregnancy seems to be associated with a measurable risk of cardiovascular disease later in life. The effect is so pronounced, that left ventricular functional abnormalities can be seen on imaging family soon after delivery.
Also concerning is new research indicating that breast cancer risk may be increased in those with hyperthyroidism.
Finally, in the news-that-sounds-like-science-fiction department, the first uterus transplant in America has been performed. The recipient is 26 years old. She will have to wait year before attempting In vitro fertilization. If she succeeds, she will be permitted to keep her uterus for one of two children and then it will be removed.