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Malpractice Suits, Other Factors Contribute To Rise In Caesarean Births, Experts Say
Many doctors believe that the increase in caesarean section births in the U.S. over the last decade has been fueled by three main factors -- fear of malpractice lawsuits, a decrease in vaginal births after c-sections and rising rates of obesity -- the St. Petersburg Times reports. According to the Times, 31.8% of U.S. births were c-sections in 2007, compared with 21% a decade earlier, making c-sections the most commonly performed procedure in the nation"s hospitals.A few decades ago, c-section births were relatively rare, representing only 4% of U.S. births in 1965. According to the Times, c-section rates began to increase when it was believed that many cerebral palsy cases were the result of infants being deprived of oxygen during traumatic vaginal deliveries, which led to malpractice suits against doctors. At the same time, advancements in neonatal care and electronic fetal monitoring in recent decades have helped make the procedure safer and therefore more common. Robert Yelverton, a physician and board member of the Florida Obstetric and Gynecologic Society, said that doctors "tend to opt for the method of childbirth most likely to withstand a legal challenge." Whereas doctors in the past were more likely to use techniques such as vacuum extraction or manually turning an infant during a difficult birth, doctors today automatically opt for a c-section, according to Yelverton. According to the Times, one study found that 76% of U.S. obstetricians reported at least one litigation event, with an average award of $2.3 million for negligence in childbirth.An increase in obesity and a decline in VBACs also have driven the rise in c-section births, the Times reports. VBACs have declined from nearly 30% in the 1990s to 7.9% in 2005, which some doctors say is a result of fear of litigation because of the chance for rare but serious complications during birth. Similarly, obesity puts women at an increased risk for gestational diabetes, delivering prematurely or having larger infants, which can make birth more risky, the Times reports. More than one-third of U.S. women of childbearing age are overweight or obese (Martin, St. Petersburg Times, 6/17).
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Virulence Of Pandemic H1N1 Virus: K-State Study
Laboratory studies at Kansas State University and the work of a K-State researcher are making headway in the effort to control the pandemic H1N1 virus.
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DNA Binding Compound That Kills Bacteria In 2 Minutes Could Lead To New Antibiotics
A synthetic DNA binding compound has proved surprisingly effective at binding to the DNA of bacteria and killing all the bacteria it touched within two minutes. The DNA binding properties of the compound were first discovered in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Warwick by Professor Mike Hannon and Professor Alison Rodger (Professor Mike Hannon is now at the University of Birmingham). However the strength of its antibiotic powers have now made it a compound of high interest for University of Warwick researchers working on the development of novel antibiotics.
Mental Health

800th Implant Of World's Only Approved Total Artificial Heart Performed By Heart And Diabetes Center NRW

On June 12, the Heart and Diabetes Center NRW in Bad Oeynhausen, Germany, performed the 800th implant of the SynCardia temporary CardioWest™ Total Artificial Heart. The 60-year-old patient, who was suffering from biventricular failure, was listed in stable condition post-implant. "This was our 129th implant of the Total Artificial Heart," said implanting surgeon Dr. Latif Arusoglu. "The Total Artificial Heart is the only device that pumps up to 9.5 L/min through both ventricles, helping us to rescue the sickest of the sick." Dr. Arusoglu brought the Total Artificial Heart to the Heart & Diabetes Center NRW and performed the hospital"s first implant in 2001. As an instructor for SynCardia"s Certification Program, Dr. Arusoglu proctors top European transplant centers during their first implant. The Heart & Diabetes Center NRW has performed more Artificial Heart implants than any other center in Germany. "Our Total Artificial Heart patients can wait up to 2 years for a matching donor heart," explained Prof. Jan Gummert, M.D., Director of the Clinic for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. "The portable driver allows stable patients to enjoy an active lifestyle at home and in their communities, similar to people with healthy human hearts." From 2003-2006, the Heart & Diabetes Center NRW pioneered the clinical study of the European portable driver, which resulted in the CE Mark. European Total Artificial Heart patients discharged on the portable driver account for more than 50 years of life outside the hospital without a human heart. In the U.S., an FDA-approved discharge driver has never been available. Total Artificial Heart patients - who are otherwise healthy - often spend months confined to the hospital while they wait for a matching donor heart. This summer, SynCardia will submit an application to the FDA to conduct an IDE clinical study of the new 12-lb Freedom™ discharge driver. Once the study is approved, for the first time in U.S. history, stable Total Artificial Heart patients will be able to leave the hospital and enjoy life at home while they wait for a matching donor heart. Originally designed as a permanent replacement heart, the Total Artificial Heart is currently approved as a bridge to human heart transplant for patients dying from end-stage biventricular failure. The Total Artificial Heart is the only device that provides immediate, safe blood flow of up to 9.5 L/min through both ventricles. The SynCardia Total Artificial Heart is the first and only FDA, Health Canada and CE approved Total Artificial Heart in the world. There have been more than 800 implants of the Total Artificial Heart, accounting for more than 170 patient years of life on the device. SynCardia Systems, Inc.


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