nAccording to a study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, women who are on birth control, whether oral or non-oral, are more prone to Female Sexual Dysfunction, which includes decreased sexual desire. Dr. Lisa-Maria Wallwiener of the University of Heidelberg, Germany says, “FSD is a very common disorder, with an estimated prevalence of about two in five women having at least one sexual dysfunction.” While stresses in the workplace and in relationships are heavy factors in FSD, contraceptives are now thought to alter arousal and satisfaction, which in turn can adversely affect a romantic relationship. Of the different types of birth control, non-oral hormonal contraceptives presented the highest risk for FSD, followed by oral contraceptives, while non-hormonal contraceptives presented the lowest risk.
nSeveral recent studies have attempted to break down the elements of marriage and fidelity to science – one such study, performed by Dr. Hasse Walum of Sweden, revealed a trend among men who carried a variation in a “fidelity gene” related to the body’s regulation of vasopressin, a bonding hormone. Men who carried the variation were less likely to get married in the first place, while those who did marry were much more likely to have marital problems. Of men who carried two copies of the variation, one-third studied had experienced a major relationship crisis in the past year, which is twice the number of non-carrying men.
n2010 saw the largest ever Louisiana State University Health Sciences graduating class, with 775 degrees conferred at the ceremony on May 13. Schools included Allied Health Professions, Nursing, Public Health, Graduate Studies, Dentistry and Medicine. Among the graduates there are 165 medical students, 60 percent of whom will continue training in Louisiana residency programs, the highest Residency Match rate for LSUHSC and Louisiana in the last decade.
nOn May 10, Ochsner Medical Center and the University of Queensland formally dedicated the University of Queensland School of Medicine Clinical School at Ochsner, forming a unique joint affiliation between the American and Australian institutions. “Transnational global medical education,” will combine not only the schooling and techniques of both countries, but will also provide cultural benefits, as students can train in both New Orleans and Brisbane. “To create exceptional doctors it is imperative our students receive medical education of the highest quality and we have aligned ourselves with one of the top hospitals in the U.S. to do just that,” said Professor David Wilkinson, Head of the UQ School of Medicine, in a press release.
nAs of Jan. 1, 2011, Nicholls University in Thibodeaux will become smoke- and tobacco-free, thus joining the 360 other campuses nationwide that have banned tobacco use. The current policy prohibits smoking and the use of other tobacco products within 25 feet of campus buildings or on university sidewalks, but the policy change will widen the ban to include the entire campus. Other universities that have implemented smoke-free policies include the University of Kentucky, the University of Arkansas, Stanford School of Medicine and the University of Florida.
