Audio Medica News - Medical News Interviews

Audio Journal of Medicine, August 2nd 2007

Reporting from: 23rd Annual Conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, 1-4 July 2007, Lyon, France

Lapraroscopic Ovarian Diathermy Or Clomifene as First Line Treatment for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome?

REFERENCE: O-148

SAAD AMER, The Derby Medical School, Nottingham University

More reassurance about the use of clomifene for treating anovulatory women with polycystic ovarian syndrome has emerged from a randomised study from Nottingham reported to the fertility conference held in Lyon. Laparoscopic ovarian diathermy, normally used as second line treatment (after clomifene), was found to be equivalent for inducing ovulation and pregnancy in a study with over sixty women. But Saad Amer explained to Sarah Maxwell why he still favours clomifene.

Audio Journal of Medicine, August 2nd 2007

Reporting from: 23rd Annual Conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, 1-4 July 2007, Lyon, France

Single Embryo Transfer: Just as High Live Birth Rates as Double Transfer, But Without Risks

REFERENCE: O-004

KERSTI LUNDIN, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden

The same birth rates following in-vitro fertilisation can be achieved with single embryo transfer as with double transfer, according to the findings of a study from Sweden. A retrospective investigation looked at whether multiple births, and other risk factors associated with double embryo transfer, can be avoided when single transfer is used whilst still achieving the same live delivery rates. Sarah Maxwell talked with study author Kersti Lundin during the European fertility conference in Lyon.

Audio Journal of Medicine, August 9th 2007

Tuberculosis: Non-Adherence to Treatment is a Major Obstacle to Therapy Success

REFERENCE: PLoS Med 4(7):e238. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.0040238

SIMON LEWIN, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

Non-adherence is a big factor reducing the efficacy of tuberculosis treatment according to a review of research released by the Public Library of Science's online medical journal, PLoS Medicine. The article suggests that more needs to be done to resolve barriers to therapy compliance in order to help reduce the global burden of tuberculosis. Nicola Solomon interviewed Simon Lewin.

Audio Journal of Medicine, August 9th 2007

Etravirine for HIV-1-infected Patients Failing Antiretroviral Therapy

REFERENCE: Lancet 2007; 370:39-48

MARGARET JOHNSON, Royal Free Hospital, London

A new non-nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor has demonstrated its activity in patients infected with HIV-1. TMC125, or etravirine, was compared with placebo in over 500 treatment-experienced patients in the DUET-2 trial, and Derek Thorne heard more from Margaret Johnson of the Royal Free Hospital in London.

Audio Journal of Medicine, August 8th 2007

Visual Cervix Cancer Screening Test: Cheap and Effective in the Developing World

REFERENCE: Lancet 2007;370:398-406

RENGASWAMY SANKARANARAYANAN, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon

An inexpensive visual cervix cancer-screening test has proved its worth in India according to a publication in the Lancet. Inspecting the cervix visually after applying 4% acetic acid can reduce the incidence and mortality from cervical cancer in developing countries. Nicola Solomon interviewed Rengaswamy Sankaranarayanan.

Audio Journal of Medicine, August 2nd 2007

Reporting from: 23RD Annual Conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, 1-4 July 2007, Lyon, France

GnRH Antagonist Protects of Ovarian Function During Chemotherapy

REFERENCE: O-144

KATE STERN, Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne

A potential new way of preserving ovarian function during chemotherapy for cancer could be treatment with an antagonist of gonadotropin-releasing hormone: GnRH. A pilot study from Melbourne looked at 18 young women with cancer or auto immune disease due to receive cyclophosphamide therapy. Sarah Maxwell spoke with Kate Stern and heard more about the study.

Audio Journal of Medicine, August 2nd 2007

Reporting from: 23rd Annual Conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, 1-4 July 2007, Lyon, France

Ovarian Stimulation Does Not Affect Fetal Birth Weight

REFERENCE: O-103

GEORG GRIESINGER, University Clinic of Schleswig-Holstein, Luebeck, Germany

Although low fetal birth weight is associated with singleton babies born after in-vitro fertilisation, a new prospective study has demonstrated that this is not a result of ovarian stimulation. Correspondent Sarah Maxwell interviewed Georg Griesinger at the ESHRE meeting in Lyon to get more details.

Audio Journal of Medicine, August 2nd 2007

Shorter Anti-Viral Treatment for Hepatitis C: Less Effective Than Standard Regimen

REFERENCE: N Engl J Med 2007;357:124-34

MITCHELL SHIFFMAN, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond

Standard anti-viral therapy for Hepatitis C needs to be used to the full duration according to a publication in the New England Journal of Medicine. Following provocative evidence from previous smaller studies, suggesting that anti viral therapy can be shortened, the ACCELERATE trial (the largest international study with genotypes 2 and 3) was set up to resolve whether shortening the duration of therapy for patients would give the same virologic response rates as with the standard regimen. It found that full-dose, full-duration therapy with interferon and ribavirin needs to be adhered to. Nicola Solomon interviewed Mitchell Shiffman to find out more.

Audio Journal of Medicine, August 2nd 2007

Best Evidence Yet that Folic Acid Fortification Reduces Neural-Tube Defects

REFERENCE: N Engl J Med 2007;357:135-42

PHILIPPE DE WALS, Laval University, Quebec

Compulsory food fortification with folic acid has been given new impetus following findings from a Canadian study published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Fifty per cent fewer neural–tube defects were detected in the Canadian population after compulsory fortification of cereals as compared with before. Nicola Solomon spoke to Philippe De Wals to get details about his group's study.

Audio Journal of Medicine, July 16th 2007

Rosiglitazone for Patients with Diabetes: Cardiovascular Outcomes Trial Findings

REFERENCE: N Engl J Med 2007; 357: 28-38

STUART POCOCK, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

Reassuring findings about the safety of the anti-diabetic drug rosiglitazone have been published in the New England Journal of Medicine following an interim analysis of the Rosiglitazone Evaluated for Cardiac Outcomes and Regulation of Glycaemia in Diabetes (RECORD) study. This latest publication follows a meta-analysis in June 2007 by Nissen and Wolski which raised doubt about the safety of the drug. Nicola Solomon spoke with the RECORD trial’s statistician, Stuart Pocock, to get the latest data from this largest study specifically designed to look at cardiovascular outcomes.