Fish oil may reduce breast cancer risk

Fish oil may reduce risk of breast cancer – A recent report in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, adds to the growing evidence that fish oil supplements may play a role in preventing chronic disease like breast cancer.

Estrogen lowering drugs minimize surgery in breast cancer patients

Estrogen-lowering drugs minimize surgery in breast cancer patients – A US study has confirmed the benefit of giving estrogen-lowering drugs before surgery to breast cancer patients. The treatment increased the likelihood that women could undergo breast-conservation surgery, also called lumpectomy, instead of mastectomy.

Ulcer medicines may lead to infections and fractures

Studies document risks associated with common acid-suppressing medications – Proton pump inhibitors, medications that suppress acid in the stomach, appear to be associated with fractures in postmenopausal women and bacterial infections in many patients, and higher doses do not appear any more beneficial for treating bleeding ulcers.

Osteoporosis drugs linked to atypical fractures

Quantity vs. quality: Long-term use of bone-building osteoporosis drugs — Studies find possible links between prolonged bisphosphonate treatments – Bisphosphonate treatments, proven to enhance bone density and reduce fracture incidence in post-menopausal women, may adversely affect bone quality and increase risk of atypical fractures of the femur when used for four or more years.

Antidepressants may raise stroke risk in postmenopausal women

Study finds increased risk of death, stroke in postmenopausal women taking antidepressants — Findings signal need for individual risk assessment, additional study – Women participating in the Women’s Health Initiative study who reported taking an antidepressant drug had a small but statistically significant increase in the risk of stroke and of death compared with participants not taking antidepressants.

Less hormone therapy use in women reduced breast cancer rate

Scientists uncover new key to the puzzle of hormone therapy and breast cancer – The decreased use of postmenopausal hormone therapy has played a key role in the declining rate of atypical ductal hyperplasia, a known risk factor for breast cancer, revealed by researchers.

Hormone therapy may increase ovarian cancer risk

Regardless of the duration of use, the formulation, estrogen dose, regimen, progestin type, and route of administration, hormone therapy was associated with an increased risk of ovarian cancer. – Compared with women who have never taken hormone therapy, those who currently take it or who have taken it in the past are at increased risk of ovarian cancer.

HIV progresses faster in women than in men

Study may explain why HIV progresses faster in women than in men with same viral load — Pathways related to elevated immune activation could lead to new treatment strategies. – One of the continuing mysteries of the HIV/AIDS epidemic is why women usually develop lower viral levels than men following acute HIV-1 infection but progress faster to AIDS than men with similar viral loads.

Bone density related to bone erosion in rheumatoid arthritis patients

Study examines relationship between bone density and erosion in arthritis. – A new study has examined the relationship between two rheumatoid arthritis related processes i.e. focal erosions and osteoporosis, in the hopes of providing insight into the underlying pathophysiology of RA-related bone disease.

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