News

• HPV vaccine and pregnancy
• Published on Feb 23, 2010

A pooled analysis of five randomised phase III trials of Merck’s quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine Gardasil has found no evidence of an increased risk of neonatal complications (Obstet Gynecol 2009;114:1179–88).

• Small differences between UTI strategies
• Published on Feb 23, 2010

A comparison of five strategies for treating suspected uncomplicated urinary tract infection (UTI) in women – empirical antibiotics (immediate or delayed by 48 hours) or targeted antibiotics based on symptom severity or a positive dipstick or midstream urine analysis – has found little difference in clinical outcomes, but some potential for reducing antibiotic use (BMJ 2010;340:c199).

• MRI does not reduce breast cancer operations
• Published on Feb 23, 2010

Adding magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to the usual preoperative assessment of women with breast cancer does not reduce the rate of repeat operations (Health Technology Assessment 2010;14:1–182).

• Roche analyser for STDs
• Published on Jan 12, 2010

Roche has introduced a new analyser for detecting infection by human papillomavirus (HPV) and Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (CT/NG).

• More calls for PSA screening
• Published on Jan 12, 2010

The Prostate Cancer Charity has again called for men to be offered access to prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests to aid detection of prostate cancer. The charity says diagnosis could be improved by combining PSA screening with a risk analysis tool, resulting in fewer men undergoing unnecessary biopsy and treatment.