Month: June 2015

Babies whose mothers took drugs for depression may be slightly more likely to have a severe circulation disorder, a new study suggests. But the condition is rare, the study found. The study focused on a birth defect called persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn. It disrupts normal circulation. Blood does not go to the lungs to pick up oxygen. Instead, it is pumped throughout the body without oxygen. This condition can be fatal. Researchers looked at data on 3.7 million pregnant women enrolled in Medicaid. During the last third of pregnancy, about 3% filled prescriptions for antidepressant drugs. Overall, 21 of every 10,000 babies whose mothers did not take these drugs while pregnant were born with the circulation problem. Among women who did take drugs for depression, there were 29 to 32 cases per 10,000.

Removing a little more tissue during a lumpectomy for breast cancer might help prevent second surgeries, a small study suggests. The study included 235 women. All of them had a lumpectomy. This procedure aims to preserve as much of the breast as possible while removing all of the cancer. About one-third of each group had some cancer cells at or near the edges of the tissue removed. This is known as a positive margin. Then, while they were still in the operating room, the women were randomly divided into 2 groups. One group had a slightly wider margin of tissue removed. Only 19% had cancer cells at or near the edges of the extra tissue. About 10% of the group that had extra tissue removed later had a second surgery to remove more tissue. This compares with about 21% of the standard-lumpectomy group. Both groups had similar rates of problems after surgery.

Giving doctors brief training on how to talk to families about vaccines did not reduce reluctance for those that had concerns, a study found. The new study included 56 clinics. They were randomly divided into 2 groups. Doctors at 30 clinics were given training in how to talk to families about vaccines for their children. The training emphasized how to address questions and concerns. It emphasized showing empathy and building trust as well as providing information. About two-thirds of the doctors took the class. Doctors in the other 20 clinics did not get trained. Researchers recruited 347 mothers whose children were patients in the clinics. They were given questionnaires to assess whether they were hesitant about giving vaccines to their children. After their children’s doctors talked to them about vaccines, they answered the questions again.