Allowing women to collect their own cervicovaginal lavage specimens for human papillomavirus (HPV) testing increased coverage and cervical abnormality detection rates in a community-based cervical cancer screening program, Dutch researchers said.

Oral contraceptives won't increase a woman's risk of death (MedPage Today) -- in fact, birth control pill users may live longer, researchers said.

Blood pressure variability over time, not merely its average level, is a powerful risk factor for stroke, myocardial infarction, and other cardiovascular events, researchers said.

Giving kids the new 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine may further decrease disease burden, researchers have found.

NEW ORLEANS (MedPage Today) -- For vertebral compression fractures, balloon kyphoplasty showed benefits over conservative therapy through two years of follow-up, researchers found.

MIAMI BEACH (MedPage Today) -- Pregnant women with psoriasis had a significantly increased risk of poor outcomes, including spontaneous abortion, preterm birth, preeclampsia, placenta previa, and ectopic pregnancy, data from a retrospective chart review showed.

NEW ORLEANS (MedPage Today) -- Injuries from recreational use of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are a significant and growing public health problem, especially for children, according to two studies reported here.

NEW ORLEANS (MedPage Today) -- The gains bisphosphonate use brings in the structural integrity of the femur decay over time in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, researchers found.

NEW ORLEANS (MedPage Today) -- Older patients with a hip fracture are more likely to die when admitted to hospitals with lower nurse staffing levels, a retrospective study showed.

Metabolic drugs (MedPage Today) -- namely cholesterol and diabetes meds -- account for the greatest Medicare prescription expenses, researchers say.