in this issue:
abortion: LAMINARIA TENTS
birth control pill: RISKS
human embryo: EUGENIC MEASUREMENTS
infertility: ETHICAL TREATMENT
media: MARIE CLAIRE POLL
power of prayer: BLOODSTREAT INFECTION / HEART PATIENTS
united nations: EXPOSED
vaccines: UPDATES
reflection for prayer: POPE PAUL VI
abortion
LAMINARIA TENTS: Researchers point out that when laminaria tents are used to facilitate surgical abortion by dilation and extraction, the possibility of toxic shock syndrome exists.
(Reading: “Toxic shock syndrome after laminaria insertion,” Obstetrics and Gynecology, 11/01, pp. 959-960, paid subscription)
birth control pill
RISKS: Researchers find that users of second-generation pills are more likely than users of third-generation pills to experience a risk of myocardial infarction, even among pill users who “had a prothrombotic mutation.” However, an accompanying editorial claims, “past users or oral contraceptives (regardless of the generation) have no lingering risk from the exposure.”
COMMENT: Strange that this claim is based on an eleven-year-old study.
(Reading: “Oral contraceptives and the risk of myocardial infarction,” New England Journal of Medicine, 12/20/01, pp. 1787-1793; “Oral contraceptives and myocardial infarction — the search for the smoking gun,” New England Journal of Medicine, 12/20/01, pp. 1841-1842)
human embryo
EUGENIC MEASUREMENTS: Researchers argue that “quantitative grading” of the human blastocyst improves their ability to distinguish which embryos will actually implant if placed in a mother’s womb.
(Reading: “Quantitative grading of a human blastocyst: Optimal inner cell mass size and shape,” Fertility and Sterility, 12/01, pp. 1157-1167, paid subscriptions)
infertility
ETHICAL TREATMENT: New Zealand researchers are using Lipiodol, a dye used in taking X-rays of the fallopian tubes, to flush the tubes in an effort to increase a woman’s ability to conceive a child.
(Reading: “Childless couple offered new hope,” New Zealand Herald, 12/26/01)
media
MARIE CLAIRE POLL: See “Where You Stand on Abortion,” the results of a poll involving 2,624 Marie Claire readers.
power of prayer
BLOODSTREAM INFECTION: A professor of medicine discovered that “remote, retroactive intercessory prayer said for a group is associated with a shorter stay in hospital and shorter duration of fever in patients with a bloodstream infection and should considered for use in clinical practice.”
(Reading: “Effects of remote, retroactive intercessory prayer on outcomes in patients with bloodstream infection: Randomized controlled trial,” British Medical Journal, 12/22/01, pp. 450-452)
HEART PATIENTS: Researchers studying the effects of praying the rosary or using yoga mantras found that favorable outcomes appear linked to the act of concentrating and reflecting in a manner consistent with relaxation: “The rosary might be viewed as a health practice as well as a religious practice.”
(Reading: “Effect of rosary prayer and yoga mantras on autonomic cardiovascular rhythms: Comparative study,” British Medical Journal, 12/22/01, pp. 1446-1449)
united nations
EXPOSED: Msgr. Michel Schooyans has written a scathing expose, “The Hidden Face of the United Nations.” The book addresses the religion of population control and the effective manner in which the United Nations proselytizes for the culture of death. A must read. The book is $15.00 (plus $2.50 postage and handling) and can be ordered by check or money order from Central Bureau, 3835 Westminster Place, St. Louis, MO 63108 or by phone by calling 314-371-1653. Volume discounts available upon request.
vaccines
UPDATES: Children of God for Life continues to provide pro-life, pro-family grass roots leaders and concerned citizens with a concise, regular update on topics such as Debi Vinnedge’s appearance on Hannity and Colmes, outbreaks of chicken pox among vaccinated children, and more. To get on the list, contact “>Children of God for Life.
reflection for prayer
POPE PAUL VI: “I am bound to proclaim that Jesus is Christ, the Son of the living God. Because of Him we come to know the God we cannot see. He is the firstborn of all creation; in Him all things find their being. Man’s teacher and redeemer, He was born for us, died for us, and for us He rose from the dead.”
(Reading: A homily by Pope Paul VI, Liturgy of the Hours, Vol. 3, Page 418)