Antibiotics May Reduce IUD Problems
Women who take a single antibiotic dose about an hour before insertion of an intrauterine device (IUD) can reduce the chance of pelvic inflammatory disease and other IUD-related problems, according to a researcher at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta.
Kenneth Schulz is scheduled to discuss his findings about prophylactic antibiotics and IUDs today at a New York symposium sponsored by GynoPharma Inc., manufacturer of the Copper T380A, a new IUD expected to be available in May.
The Copper T380A is the first “true” IUD available to American women since 1986, when manufacturers withdrew the devices from the market, partly because they feared liability lawsuits. (Another IUD, the Progestasert, works by releasing small amounts of a birth control hormone and is not widely regarded as a true IUD.)
But the Copper T380A won’t be offered by all physicians locally. CIGNA Healthplans of California, for example, won’t offer the new IUD, said spokesman Del Bowman. But Kaiser Permanente, another health maintenance organization, has the IUDs on order, said spokeswoman Karen Constine, and “hundreds of women waiting.” Private practice gynecologists are likewise divided.
“There will be a certain amount of caution initially,” predicted Dr. Reinhold Ullrich, a Torrance obstetrician-gynecologist and president-elect of the Los Angeles County Medical Assn., who said he plans to offer appropriate patients the new IUD.
Cross-Trainer Shoes
Fitness enthusiasts who engage in more than one sport can face an out-of-shape budget when their running shoes, court shoes and aerobic-dance footwear all wear out at once.
Enter the cross-trainer shoe, introduced by several manufacturers in the last year and designed to take exercisers from sport to sport without changing shoes.
But cross trainers aren’t for everyone, experts agree. They’re best used by people who indulge just a little in a lot of different sports, said Paul Oparowski, a Puma U.S.A. spokesman. “If you run more than, say, three miles a session,” he said, “you’re pretty serious about running and should wear shoes specifically designed for running. And if you’re going to play a lot of tennis, you should buy a tennis shoe.”
“I probably wouldn’t run more than 20 miles a week in these (cross trainer) shoes,” agreed Kevin Brown, Nike spokesman. But they’re a boon, he added, for “people who may not decide what they want to do until they get to the (health) club” and for travelers who want to stay fit.
But Jerome Osler, a podiatrist at Daniel Freeman Marina Hospital, believes cross-trainer shoes should never be used for running. “Joggers, sprinters and runners should wear regular running shoes,” he said. The cross-trainer shoes are OK, he added, for such sports as basketball, racquetball, tennis and paddle ball.
Calcium and Skin
Mom was right about the importance of drinking milk--and maybe for more reasons than she knew.
Besides building strong bones and teeth, “calcium may play a role in the normal growth of the skin,” said Dr. Janet Fairley, an assistant professor of dermatology at the University of Rochester (New York) School of Medicine and Dentistry. She writes in the March issue of the Archives of Dermatology about the potential calcium-skin connection now being studied by many researchers.
“Abnormal use of calcium (by the body) may be involved in psoriasis (a chronic skin disease marked by scaly, reddish patches),” Fairley added.
But it’s too soon to recommend increasing calcium intake to prevent psoriasis and other problems, she said. For now, “everyone should maintain an adequate calcium intake.” (The current recommended daily allowance of calcium is about 800-1500 milligrams; drinking three cups of milk can satisfy the calcium need.)
Armed for Thirst
For runners intent on bettering their race times, a Paramount half-marathoner has developed a speedy approach to conquering thirst.
Greg Peel’s “water bottle for runners” has a flip top and a Velcro band that attaches to another Velcro-covered armband. Worn on the upper arm, Peel claims the bottle system doesn’t interfere with arm swing, is more comfortable than wearing a water bottle at the waist and allows runners to rehydrate quickly. Best of all, says Peel, the 6-ounce armband bottle allows racers to bypass water stations--and to avoid tripping over discarded paper cups--during runs. He developed it first for his own use and began producing it for mail-order sale ($4 each, or two for $7) last month. Information: (213) 531-4771.
