Biomedical subjects

Margaret W Beal

Publications and source records attributed to Margaret W Beal.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Role of human papilloma virus testing in cervical cancer prevention.

A clear causal relationship has been established between human papilloma virus (HPV) infection and the development of cervical cancer. Genital HPV infection is currently the most common sexually transmitted disease worldwide. The recent 2001 American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology Consensus Guidelines have included HPV testing for management of women with cervical cytological abnormalities. Clinicians now face the challenge of deciding when to use HPV testing in follow-up of abnormal Pap tests. This article includes updates on HPV, cervical cancer screening, and HPV testing technology. Recommendations for integration of HPV testing into clinical practice are provided.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Complementary therapies as adjuncts in the treatment of postpartum depression.

Postpartum depression affects an estimated 13% of women who have recently given birth. This article discusses several alternative or complementary therapies that may serve as adjuncts in the treatment of postpartum depression. The intent is to help practitioners better understand the treatments that are available that their clients may be using. Complementary modalities discussed include herbal medicine, dietary supplements, massage, aromatherapy, and acupuncture. Evidence supporting the use of these modalities is reviewed where available, and a list of resources is given in the appendix.

Acupuncture↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Current issues in emergency contraception: an overview for providers.

Emergency contraception has the potential to greatly reduce the number of unintended pregnancies occurring each year in the United States. Emergency contraception is a safe and effective intervention to which all women should have easy access in the event of an act of unprotected intercourse. Methods of emergency contraception include combined hormone oral contraceptive pills, progestin-only oral contraceptive pills, a dedicated progestin-only emergency contraceptive product, and insertion of a copper intrauterine device. Barriers exist to the increased use of emergency contraception, including the prescription-only status of all of the methods and lack of accurate knowledge on the part of health care providers and consumers. This article provides an overview of the clinical management of emergency contraception.

Contraception↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Update on medication abortion.

This article provides an overview of medication abortion in the United States 6 years after the approval of mifepristone (RU486; Mifeprex; Danco Laboratories, LLC, New York, NY) by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The adoption of mifepristone is considered in the context of epidemiologic data on abortion, abortion access, and the safety of abortion. The risks of medication and aspiration abortion are discussed in the context of abortion-related mortality, recent experience with obstetric and gynecologic infection with Clostridium sordellii, and the limits of scientific knowledge on the incidence of this infection in women. Innovative protocols studied since FDA approval of mifepristone are presented, and implications for clinical practice are discussed.

Abortifacient Agents↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The role of exercise in the prevention and treatment of wasting in acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

Involuntary weight loss with lean tissue depletion is a serious and AIDS-defining complication of HIV infection. This article explores definitions of AIDS wasting syndrome (AWS), its etiology, methods of assessing body composition, and pharmacological treatments. Recent research literature on the role of exercise in the prevention and treatment of AWS is reviewed. Included are studies of the safety of exercise, the effects of exercise on the immune system, and the effects of exercise on weight gain and body composition as well as studies of exercise in combination with medications and other interventions. Implications for clinical practice are discussed.

Anthropometry↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical uses of mifepristone: an update for women's health practitioners.

In September 2000, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of mifepristone for the provision of medical abortion. Although mifepristone was developed and marketed because of its potential to effect early first-trimester medical abortion, it has additional applications to health care, including the treatment of gynecologic conditions, cancer, and Cushing's disease. The controversial nature of abortion has dominated the publicity about mifepristone. The evidence for the safety and efficacy of mifepristone in medical abortion has been overshadowed, and many clinicians are unaware of the other potential uses of the drug. This article provides a discussion of background information on the pharmacology, development of, and research on mifepristone and an update on current and potential uses in health care today. Information on the FDA-approved regimen and alternative protocols for management of mifepristone in its use in abortion care are presented.

Abortifacient Agents, Steroidal↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Homeopathy and women's health care.

A 1997 survey revealed that 40% of Americans use some type of complementary therapy or medicine and that many use such therapies in conjunction with treatments prescribed to them by conventional medical practitioners. One alternative modality that is growing in popularity is homeopathy. Although use of this modality is growing, many health care providers know very little about it. This article provides an introduction to homeopathy, including its historical origins and theoretical principles. Also included is a review of two meta-analyses that examined the efficacy of homeopathy in clinical trials. The homeopathic approach to prolonged pregnancy is presented as an example of a potential application to women's health. Information on education and certification in homeopathy is provided, along with resources on homeopathy available to women's health care providers. Implications for nursing practice are discussed.

Adult↗