Wednesday, 20 August 2008

New Mothers Speak Out Report Paints A Troubling Picture Of American Women In Postpartum Period

�Childbirth Connection, a leading national nonprofit organization that works to improve the quality of maternity guardianship, today released New Mothers Speak Out, National Survey Results Highlight Women's Postpartum Experiences. The report is based on new information from the national Listening to Mothers II Postpartum survey, and includes relevant results from the national Listening to Mothers II survey, which was conducted six months earlier and focused on childbearing experiences of the same women. Combined survey results from these landmark surveys provide an in-depth look at women's postpartum experiences during the number one eighteen months after giving birth.

Persistent Physical and Emotional Health Problems


Many mothers grappled with ongoing physical and emotional health problems while caring for their baby. The women reported high rates of freshly experienced problems in the first two months subsequently birth. At six or more months after birth, substantial proportions of mothers were motionless feeling accented (43%), had problems with weight control (40%), experienced sleep loss (34%), deficiency of intimate desire (26%) and backache (24%). Among those world Health Organization had a cesarean birth, 31% reported numbness and 18% reported continued pain sensation at the incision web site after at least six-spot months. One-third of mothers reported that during the first deuce months later on birth, their postpartum physical health (33%) or emotional health (30%) interfered at least "some" with their ability to care for their baby, with 44% of all mothers coverage that physical and/or emotional health impairment had interfered with the care of their babies. A class after giving birth mothers reported a net weighting gain of six pounds from their pre-pregnancy weighting.


"Postpartum mothers experience a troubling load of physical and emotional health challenges after giving birth. Although many of these problems abate over time, far too many women were still experiencing them from 6 to 18 months after birth. With more than 4.3 1000000 births each year in the United States, it is an urgent priority to better understand the reason for these challenges, their implications for women and their families, shipway to keep distress and morbidity, and ways to help women and families before they experience detrimental effects," declared Maureen Corry, MPH, Executive Director of Childbirth Connection.

Breastfeeding Experiences


Although 61% of the mothers had intended to solely breastfeed as they neared the end of their pregnancies, simply 51% were doing so a week after the birth. Those mothers had experienced high rates of hospital practices that rear disrupt breastfeeding such as water or formula supplement and formula samples or offers. Fewer than half (46%) of the mothers who were breastfeeding at one week and not breastfeeding at the clip of the Listening to Mothers II Postpartum go over reported that they had breastfed as long as they wanted. One-third or fewer of black non-Hispanic women, younger women and women with lower incomes breastfed as long as they wished.

Co-sleeping and Demographic Variation


The study reveals significant disparities in experiences across major U.S. race/ethnicity subgroups in a practice that has been the subject of considerable attention - infants sleeping in the same bed as their parents. Overall 18% of mothers reported that their baby "always" slept in bed with them and another 10% reported their infant "often" did in the first six months after birth. Among black non-Hispanic mothers more than a third (36%) reported their baby slept with them "always" compared to 30% of Hispanic mothers and 12% among white non-Hispanic mothers. Dr. Eugene Declercq of Boston University School of Public Health and lead generator of the report stated, "Co-sleeping was one of the many areas, including breastfeeding, gestation intention and circumcision rates, in which we plant postpartum experiences of mothers varying widely by race/ethnicity. These variations merit further research."

Nonexistent or Insufficient Social Support from Husbands, Partners and Others


Having a spouse or partner did not of necessity ensure that women received various forms of support. Overall, nigh of the mothers (73%) said that they provided more of the baby care than their hubby or married person. Even among mothers world Health Organization were employed full time, 49% reported they provided most of the child care, in contrast to just 3% of husbands or partners who provided most of the child care and 48% world Health Organization shared it equally. About 20 pct of women with a husband or partner reported that person provided lovesome, emotional, enjoyment or practical support "none" or "little" of the time.

Meager Paid Maternity Leave Benefits and Multiple Employment Challenges


Of those mothers who had been employed by mortal else during pregnancy, 40% said that their employer provided paying maternity leave benefits, with 50% of those operative full-time and 14% working part-time receiving these benefits. Among mothers who received paid gestation benefits, 50% indicated they received 100% of pay. Thus for the entire survey sample, the results indicate that of those women employed full-time outside of their home patch pregnant, 23% received at least sise weeks of their wide pay as a maternal quality benefit and 38% received at least six weeks of half-pay or more as a maternity benefit.


Almost 3 in 10 (29%) of the mothers in the postpartum follow said they were presently employed full-time. Another 14% were employed part-time. Those mothers presently employed were more likely to hold one baby rather than two or more and be unmarried with a partner rather than married. Among once employed mothers more than a third base had returned to work by 6 weeks, and most (84%) were back to work by 12 weeks. About half (48%) of mothers who had returned to work by the fourth dimension of the survey aforementioned they had not stayed home as long as they treasured. The leading reason cited for returning to knead prematurely (81%) was because they could not afford more time off. When we asked employed mothers and mothers on motherhood leave what would be the ideal amount of time off with their baby, the overall mean was sevener months, with 60% of mothers naming six months or more as the ideal pregnancy leave. By contrast, just now 1% of mothers wHO had been employed outside the menage during pregnancy had full paid depart of quatern or more months.


Mothers returning to work reported facing numerous challenges. For example, 79% reported that being aside from their baby was a major or minor challenge in their transition to employment, followed in frequency by childcare arrangements (50%), breastfeeding issues (37%), amount of support by partner/spouse (36%) and want of support in the workplace as a new mother (29%).



"This important new study underscores the urgent pauperism to better maternity and pregnancy-related benefits for women in the United States," said National Partnership for Women & Families President Debra L. Ness. "While nearly every other economically competitive carry Amelia Moore Nation provides paid maternity allow for and stronger supports for working mothers, women here struggle to cobble together the time off, income and childcare they motivation. This survey shows the toll that is pickings on mothers and families. We tooshie and must do better."


"The overall picture is of recent mothers engaged in a juggling pretend, carrying multiple and sometimes conflicting responsibilities while experiencing high levels of social, physical and emotional health challenges. There are concerns about whether large segments of this population take access to adequate health and social services and social support. We are letting our mothers and babies down at ane of the most vital and vulnerable times in their lives. These survey results ar a clarion call to action for programs, policies, clinical services, and research to better understand and improve the experiences of new mothers and their families," said 2%

About New Mothers Speak Out

New Mothers Speak Out, National Survey Results Highlight Women's Postpartum Experiences, is based on new data from the national Listening to Mothers II Postpartum survey and includes relevant results from the national Listening to Mothers II follow, which was conducted six-spot months in the first place and focussed on women's childbearing experiences. Combined survey results from these landmark surveys provide an in-depth look at women's postnatal experiences during the

Sunday, 10 August 2008

Boosted Reyataz And Lopinavir/R Achieve Similar Results For Undetectable Viral Load In Treatment-Naive HIV-1 Infected Patients

�Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY) announced results from a pre-specified subanalysis of the CASTLE study, in which once-daily boosted REYATAZ� (atazanavir sulfate) (REYATAZ three hundred mg taken with C mg of ritonavir, or REYATAZ/r) and twice-daily co-formulated lopinavir 400 mg and ritonavir 100 mg (lopinavir/r), each as part of HIV combination therapy, showed similar results for undetectable viral encumbrance at 48 weeks careless of sex in treatment-naive HIV-1 infected adults. Women comprise half of all people living with HIV around the world, and, in 2006, more than 25 per centum of new HIV-1 infections in the U.S. were in women.i Moreover, women have been shown to have differences in HIV viral load, drug-related side effects and drug pharmacokinetics compared to men, but at that place are few data to guide deciding about choice of therapy and dosing by grammatical gender.ii


CASTLE is the first large-scale, open-label, randomised study designed to show the non-inferiority of REYATAZ/r to lopinavir/r in previously untreated HIV-1 infected adult patients. The CASTLE sexuality subanalysis was conducted to determine the effect of both cogitation regimens on women and men. The CASTLE written report enrolled 277 women and 606 work force from 29 countries. Results from this gender subanalysis were presented for the first time at the 17th International AIDS Conference (IAC) today in Mexico City.


"It is identical important for women to be involved in clinical research so we tin better translate efficacy and tolerability of antiretroviral therapy in women," said Dawn Averitt Bridge, Founder and Chair of the Board, The Well Project. "This subanalysis of the CASTLE study has made a significant contribution to that understanding."


Overall in the CASTLE work, 78 percent of the 440 patients in the REYATAZ� (atazanavir sulfate)/r arm and 76 percent of the 443 patients in the lopinavir/r weapon system met the non-inferiority chief endpoint of achieving insensible viral load (defined as HIV-1 RNA less than 50 copies/mL) at 48 weeks.


The gender subanalysis data showed that 76 percent of the 138 female patients in the REYATAZ/r weapon system and 73 percent of the 139 female patients in the lopinavir/r sleeve achieved undetectable viral lode at 48 weeks. In male patients, 79 per centum of the 302 patients in the REYATAZ/r arm and 78 percent of the 304 patients in the lopinavir/r arm achieved undetectable viral load. In female patients, the mean increase in CD4+ cellular telephone count from baseline at 48 weeks was 199 cells/mm3 in the REYATAZ/r arm and 221 cells/mm3 in the lopinavir/r arm. In male person patients, the mean increase in CD4+ cell count from baseline at 48 weeks was 205 cells/mm3 in the REYATAZ/r arm and 219 cells/mm3 in the lopinavir/r arm.


In female patients, Grade twenty-four treatment-related inauspicious events were reported by 30 per centum in the REYATAZ/r subdivision and 32 percent in the lopinavir/r arm. In male patients, Grade 24 treatment-related adverse events were reported by 24 percentage in the REYATAZ/r arm and 28 percent in the lopinavir/r arm.

About the CASTLE Study


The international, multi-center, open-label, non-inferiority, 96-week CASTLE study randomized 883 treatment-naive patients infected with HIV-1, of which 31 percent (n=277) were women and 69 percent (n=606) were men. Four one C and 40 patients were randomized to receive REYATAZ 300 mg and ritonavir 100 mg once day-after-day and 443 patients were randomized to receive co-formulated lopinavir cd mg and ritonavir hundred mg twice daily, each in compounding with a once-daily, fixed-dose combination of emtricitabine cc mg/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate ccc mg. Patients were required to give a baseline viral load (HIV-1 RNA) of greater than or equal to 5,000 copies/mL; there was no CD4+ cell count limitation for written report entry. The primary end point for the study was the symmetry of patients who achieved undetectable viral load (HIV-1 RNA of less than 50 copies/mL) at 48 weeks.

Important Information About REYATAZ� (atazanavir sulfate) Capsules


REYATAZ� (atazanavir sulphate) is a protease inhibitor that has been studied extensively in both treatment-naive and treatment-experienced HIV-infected patients and is administered once-daily in all patient populations.


REYATAZ is a prescription medicine secondhand in combination with other medicines to treat people who are infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). REYATAZ has been studied in 48-week trials in both patients world Health Organization have interpreted or take never taken anti-HIV medicines.

REYATAZ does not cure HIV or help keep passing HIV to others.

REYATAZ should non be taken with the following medicines ergot medicines, Versed (midazolam), Halcion(triazolam), Orap(pimozide), Propulsid(cisapride), Camptosar(irinotecan), Crixivan(indinavir), Mevacor(lovastatin), Zocor(simvastatin), rifampin, or St. John?s wort (Hypericum perforatum).

People taking REYATAZ should address with their healthcare provider before taking the following medicines: Viagra(sildenafil), Levitra(vardenafil), Cialis(tadalafil), Vfend(voriconazole), AcipHex(rabeprazole), Nexium(esomeprazole), Prevacid(lansoprazole), Prilosec(omeprazole), Protonix(pantoprazole), Axid(nizatidine), Pepcid AC(famotidine), Tagamet(cimetidine), or Zantac(ranitidine), Advair(fluticasone propionate and salmeterol inhalation pulverisation), Flonase(fluticasone propionate), or Flovent(fluticasone propionate). The above lists of medicines are non complete. The use of all prescriptions and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, herbal supplements, or other health preparations should be discussed with a health care provider.


The following side effects or conditions should be reported to a healthcare supplier right off:


-- A change in the way the essence beats may occur and could be a symptom of a heart problem.


-- Mild rash (redness and itching) without other symptoms sometimes occurs in patients taking REYATAZ, most ofttimes in the first few weeks later the medicine is started, and commonly goes away within deuce weeks with no change in handling.


-- Severe rash has occurred in a small number of patients taking REYATAZ. This type of roseola is associated with other symptoms which could be serious and potentially suit death. If rash develops with whatsoever of the following symptoms, the patient should stop using REYATAZ and call a health care provider correct away:


- Shortness of breath

- General ill-feeling or �flu-like? symptoms

- Fever

- Muscle or joint aches

- Conjunctivitis (red or inflamed eyes, like "pinkeye")

- Blisters

- Mouth sores

- Swelling of the face


-- Yellowing of the pelt and/or eyes english hawthorn occur ascribable to increases in bilirubin levels in the blood (bilirubin is made by the liver).



-- In patients with liver disease, including hepatitis B or C, the liver disease may commence worse when taking anti-HIV medicines like REYATAZ.


-- Kidney stones hold been reported in patients taking REYATAZ. Signs or symptoms of kidney stones include pain in the side, blood in the urine, and pain when urinating.


-- Diabetes and high blood sugar may occur in patients taking proteolytic enzyme inhibitor medicines like REYATAZ� (atazanavir sulphate).



-- Some patients with hemophilia have increased bleeding problems with peptidase inhibitor medicines like REYATAZ.



-- Changes in body fat have been seen in some patients taking anti-HIV medicines. The cause and long-term personal effects are not known at this time.

Other side effects of REYATAZ taken with other anti-HIV medicines include: nausea, vexation, stomach pain in the neck, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, febricity, dizziness, fuss sleeping, numbness, and ingling or burning of hands or feet.


REYATAZ and other anti-HIV medicines should be taken just as instructed by healthcare providers. Please see resultant Full Prescribing Information, or visit hypertext transfer protocol://www.reyataz.com or http://www.BMS.com.


REYATAZ� is a registered hallmark of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. The other brands listed are registered trademarks of their respective owners and are non trademarks of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.

About Bristol-Myers Squibb


Bristol-Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to hold out and enhance human life. For more information visit http://www.BMS.com.


i. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Sex of adults and adolescents with HIV/AIDS diagnosed during 2006." Factsheet: HIV/AIDS in the United States. March 2008. Available at: http://www.cdc.