Latest news with #STDs
NDTV
an hour ago
- General
- NDTV
Nearly 200-Year-Old Condom With Erotic Painting Goes On Display At Dutch Museum
An almost 200-year-old, mint-condition condom has been put up for display at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Believed to be made of a sheep's appendix and featuring an erotic print, showing a nun and three clergymen, the "luxury souvenier" is the first-ever contraceptive sheath to be added to the museum's art collection. "The inscription Voila mon choix, meaning 'There, that's my choice', makes the print a parody of both celibacy and the Judgement of Paris from Greek mythology," the museum highlighted. Since the artefact was put on display, the museum has been packed with people, both young and old. Rijksmuseum curator Joyce Zelen said the "response has been amazing", adding that she and her colleague had a hearty laugh when they first spotted the condom at an auction. 'We looked at it with UV light and suspect it was never actually used. It's also unclear whether the nun in the etching is pointing at the bald man, the thin man, or the one who looks slightly overweight.' Ms Zelen clarified. 'That way, any type of man could feel spoken to," she added. Condoms in olden age The condom, which dates back to 1830, is part of an exhibition on 19th-century prostitution and sexuality. Prints, drawings and photographs also form part of the display. Prior to the invention of vulcanised rubber in 1839, primitive condoms were made using linen, animal membranes or even turtle shells. However, they did little to protect from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) or to prevent pregnancy. "In the 1830s, when this condom was made, the use of condoms was still frowned upon, especially by the church,' said Ms Zelen. 'They were mostly sold under the counter at brothels or barber shops, though there are some reports of luxury shops offering bespoke tailoring.' The Dutch museum stated it was "open to loan" the artefact out to other institutions, but noted that the condom was very delicate. It will be on display until the end of November.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
La. proposed bill to criminalize ‘intentional exposure' to STDs, advances
LOUISIANA (KTAL/KMSS) — A Louisiana House bill to criminalize those who intentionally expose others to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) without their consent has moved forward and is awaiting deliberation on the House floor. Louisiana State Representative Patricia 'Pat' Moore (D-Monroe) stated that she has been approached by victims who have contracted incurable STDs from offenders, former partners, or spouses. Her goal is to establish criminal charges, both felonies and misdemeanors, for individuals who intentionally expose others to STDs. House Bill 76 was initially shelved on May 7; however, on May 28, 2025, it was Moore amended the proposal the night before the hearing to include rape and sexual battery, 'to criminalize and fine, not more than $5,000, imprisoned with or without hard labor for not more than ten years, or both.' Nonprofit groups testified against this bill, including the Louisiana Coalition on Criminalization and Health. U.S. Air Force veteran and member of LCCH, Jazmine Carroll, gave testimony discussing her concerns regarding HB76. 'I oppose this bill because I believe that it discourages people from getting tested, because you can only be accused of intentionally exposing your disease to somebody if you know your status. And so, this puts people who know their status at an in and at a higher risk than those who don't.' Carroll is also pursuing a Master's in Public Health, and shares that women are routinely tested for HPV, thus have higher rates of HPV, specifically cervical cancer. 'HPV is only currently diagnosed through routine pap smears that women receive to detect signs of cervical cancer. There is no similarly approved routine HPV test for men. That means that the burden of diagnosis and disclosure will disproportionately fall on women, and that this bill would disproportionately affect, stigmatize, and criminalize women even if they're doing everything right,' said a physician during the House testimonials. During Carroll's testimony, she also highlighted how women in the military experience higher rates of intimate partner violence. She shared that when women in the military disclose their experience, they are often faced with violence. Moore says HB76 specifically targets individuals living with common 'incurable STIs' such as HIV, herpes, HPV, and Hepatitis B. Louisiana bill that would ban fluoride in public drinking water fails in committee 'I just have a problem with no accountability,' emphasised Moore. When asked if it would also pertain to congenital STDs (diseases passed from mother to fetus), Representative Moore said she was unsure. However, she would need to discuss this further with her constituents. 'You're born with it, and it's incurable but manageable, but still, you are aware of this. And if you, your spouse, your partner, or whatever the case may be, if you know that you have this incurable disease, manageable or whatever the case may be, and you did not inform that person, then yes, this would apply to you. But again, I'm not referring to those who are born with it. You know, because this may take years, right?' said Moore the night before the hearing. Carroll said a significant concern is how one proves they disclosed their STD to their partner. 'Let's say someone who let's say I was having sex with someone, and they knew their status, they told me they were living with HPV, and I had no clue that I was already living with HPV. So there's a chance that I could have acquired that from a previous relationship. But because I hadn't been tested quite yet, I could assume that I had transmitted that infection from my partner. And even if my partner discloses that to me, let's say we don't have it written down or there's no witness, it would be very difficult to prove that my partner had disclosed that to me, and I had agreed and consented to that interaction,' says Carroll. La. Treasurer John Fleming on U.S. Senate run, insurance reform, state pension funds, and school choice In the proposed substitute bill, Representative Moore underscores 'not just exposing but infecting,' which would include survivors of sexual abuse. 'That they're they're going to have to be accountable to. So you have an incurable disease. You're now in the same boat as the offender,' says Moore, 'You've got to inform because, you know, so you've got to make sure your partner or whoever is aware of your situation.' Carroll said she is concerned this bill will encourage people not to get tested for STDs, as it only affects those who knowingly infect others. 'There was another woman who gave a testimony and said that she had disclosed her status to her husband when she was living with HIV, and he threatened to harm her had she or if she had decided to leave or he threatened to continue to harm her if she decided to leave, and if she did leave, then she had to prove that she had disclosed her status to him,' said Carroll. She reiterates that choosing to disclose one's STD status is a private and personal conversation, but believes accountability is essential, and it starts with 'strengthening the way that we protect victims and survivors of sexual abuse and assault.' 'So, I believe that we have the same intentions. And I mean, intention is the word of the day, I guess. And so I believe that we all want justice,' says Carroll, 'That was something that was constantly said in the courtroom, when I was there, was that these survivors deserve justice in that we deserve justice, and I agree. But I think, as the Criminal Justice Committee, it is their responsibility to think critically about what justice means and what that looks like. And that doesn't necessarily always mean sending people to prison, or punishing them.' The bill proposes that those who intentionally expose victims under the age of 18 years, and over the age of 65, 'shall be fined not more than $10,000, imprisoned with or without hard labor for not less than ten nor more than 25 years, or both.' During the Administration of Criminal Justice hearing, on May 28th, the proposed bill received seven ayes and five nays, moving it forward, pending floor debate on Monday, June 2, 2025. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
HOLX vs. DGX: Which Women's Health-Focused Stock Is the Better Pick?
With women's health increasingly becoming a global priority, investors are actively targeting companies operating in this space to boost their portfolios. Research and Markets projects the women's health diagnostics market to expand at a compound annual rate of 9.25% through 2030, driven by technological advancements, increasing healthcare expenditures, and initiatives for early detection of women-specific conditions like reproductive health issues, breast cancer, osteoporosis and more. Two U.S. healthcare innovators, Hologic HOLX and Quest Diagnostics DGX, have established a strong foothold in this space, each with its own areas of specialization. Hologic, with a market cap of $12.10 billion, develops products and services across the women's healthcare continuum, such as advanced diagnostics products, medical imaging systems and surgical products. In comparison, Quest Diagnostics, with a market cap of $19.12 billion, provides a comprehensive portfolio of diagnostic tests for all stages of a woman's life — from routine screenings like cervical cancer and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) to pregnancy and fertility testing. Between these two, which one stands out as the smarter pick now? Let's dive deep into their fundamentals, growth drivers and challenges to find out. The Marlborough, MA-based company benefits from its strategy of building multiple durable growth drivers across all its global franchises. Key offerings include Aptima and Panther Fusion assays for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), vaginitis and respiratory infections. The BV/CV/TV assay shows strong double-digit growth, supported by rising awareness and reimbursement in the U.S. vaginitis market. Molecular growth is further backed by the Biotheranostics business, driven by the rising adoption of the Breast Cancer Index test. However, weaker HIV testing in Africa due to federal funding cuts affected the fiscal 2025 second-quarter performance and is likely to persist. Hologic is seeing strong adoption of the Genius Digital Diagnostics System — the first FDA-cleared digital cytology system for cervical cancer screening, combining novel artificial intelligence (AI) with advanced imaging. However, Q2 International cytology and perinatal sales were impacted by South Korea's physician strike and reduced hospital spending in China. On the MedTech side, the company's mammography products continue to command leading market shares. In the second quarter, recurring service revenues (more than 45% of total Breast Health revenues) rose 12% year over year. The addition of Endomagnetics enhanced its Interventional Breast portfolio, with Hologic now selling its products directly through its U.S. salesforce to tap into wireless localization market opportunities. However, as anticipated, softer capital equipment sales caused the segment's revenues to decline 7.4%. Internationally, the Surgical business continues to be a standout. The company demonstrates sound financial health, with the flexibility to execute both tuck-in M&A and share repurchases. Still, macroeconomic challenges, including the ongoing trade war in China, have affected its 2025 outlook. Tariffs are expected to impact manufacturing costs by $20 million to $25 million per quarter, with two-thirds of it tied to imports from Costa Rica. Based in Secaucus, NJ, Quest Diagnostics is experiencing strong growth in Women's and Reproductive Health, one of its five key clinical areas where it offers Advanced Diagnostics. The growth is largely driven by prenatal and hereditary genetic testing over the past several quarters. In March 2025, the company launched a new solution that allows patients to self-collect a specimen for human papillomavirus (HPV) cervical cancer screening in a physician's office or other healthcare setting. The test uses Roche's RHHBY HPV self-collection solution and builds on Quest Diagnostics' STI-related self-collection option, introduced in October last year. Other clinical areas — advanced cardiometabolic, autoimmune, brain health and oncology — also posted double-digit growth in the first quarter of 2025, contributing to the 12% year-over-year revenue increase. Recent introductions include a laboratory-developed test to confirm Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology in symptomatic patients and the Haystack MRD — its first circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) minimal residual disease (MRD) test for assessing early risk of cancer recurrence. The company continues expanding the Advanced Diagnostics portfolio to enable growth across its core channels: Physicians, Hospitals and Consumers. In 2024, Quest Diagnostics completed eight acquisitions, including LifeLabs in Canada, and formed new health plan relationships. These favorably impacted both Q1 Diagnostic Information Services sales and adjusted operating income, translating to 8.3% growth in adjusted earnings per share (EPS). The company also became the first independent lab in the Optum Health preferred network. In February, Quest Diagnostics extended its chronic kidney disease test portfolio to include dialysis-related laboratory and water testing capabilities via a new agreement with Fresenius Medical Care FMS. Operationally, Quest Diagnostics is increasing the use of automation, robotics and AI across the business to drive productivity gains and improve user experience. The company teamed up with Google Cloud to streamline data management using generative AI. Despite broader economic pressures, Quest Diagnostics reaffirmed its 2025 revenue and adjusted EPS guidance. Yet, its escalating debt levels are a concern, ending the first quarter with $5.86 billion in long-term debt and just $188 million in cash and cash equivalents. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Hologic's fiscal 2025 sales and EPS implies a year-over-year improvement of 1.2% and 3.2%, respectively. The bottom-line estimates have shown mixed movements in the last 30 days. (See the Zacks Earnings Calendar to stay ahead of market-making news.) Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The Zacks Consensus Estimate for DGX's 2025 sales and EPS suggests a year-over-year improvement of 9.2% and 8.6%, respectively. Analysts seem more bullish on Quest Diagnostics, given the upward EPS estimate revisions in the last 30 days. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research In the past six months, Hologic's shares have plunged significantly, down 31.6%, while the benchmark S&P 500 slipped just 3.2%. In contrast, Quest Diagnostics held its ground with a 4.9% gain. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Hologic is trading at a forward price-to-sales (P/S) multiple of 2.87X, higher than Quest Diagnostics' 1.75X P/S over the last five years. However, both HOLX and DGX appear discounted when compared to their respective industry averages of 4.04X and 2.71X. Each of them has a Value score of B. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research As a pure-play in women's health, Hologic continues to benefit from its diversified revenue model and growth drivers. International prospects are encouraging, while expanding into new areas through M&A activities instills optimism. While near-term headwinds from both internal and external pressures remain, the company's financial strength and a P/S below the industry suggest potential for long-term stability. For now, holding onto HOLX stock seems like a prudent choice. Meanwhile, Quest Diagnostics, as a clinical laboratory services company, sees strong growth opportunities in the women's and reproductive health space. Steady growth from Advanced Diagnostics and contributions from recent acquisitions are highly promising. Further, the stock's recent favorable performance, attractive valuation and upward analyst estimate revisions make it an equally compelling case to stay invested. HOLX and DGX each carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) at present. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Roche Holding AG (RHHBY) : Free Stock Analysis Report Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (DGX) : Free Stock Analysis Report Hologic, Inc. (HOLX) : Free Stock Analysis Report Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA (FMS) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Top musical actor Jeon Ho Jun, accused of assault and exploitation, denies all allegations, "I will respond strongly"
Recently, the world of the Korean industry has been embroiled in controversies left and right. From the late Kim Sae Ron and Kim Soo Hyun's case to the recent update of footballer Son Heung Min's abortion controversy, a lot of cases have come to light. Another controversial scandal has recently been revealed, shocking fans and the public alike. Musical actor Jeon Ho Jun has become the centre of a physical assault and financial exploitation case, as per reports. Top musical actor Jeon Ho Jun accused of physical assault and financial exploitation Recently, musical actor Jeon Ho Jun has been accused of physical assault and financial exploitation by his ex-girlfriend, who has not yet been named in the case. According to Allkpop, his ex-partner allegedly took to her social media accounts to share a story about her turmoil, all the while directly tagging the actor's personal account. She shared the story with the caption 'I was abused while dating actor Jeon Jo Jun.' sending waves of shock amongst netizens. The woman also shared other photographs on her story as 'evidence' of the abused that she allegedly endured at the hand of actor Jeon Ho Jun. In her statement she also shared that 'After losing contact with him after 9 pm, he returned home around 2 am. He was drunk and I went to open the door as I heard him coming in. He strangled me the moment I opened the door, grabbed my hair, and slammed me to the floor. He pressed his knees into my chest and continued choking me. When I begged for mercy and tried to escape, he slapped me and strangled me again. I hit him back in self-defence, causing him to bleed. That's when he snapped, said he wouldn't let me off, and used my phone to call the police. Because he was bleeding, it turned into a mutual assault case.' Jeon Ho Jun also accused for financially exploiting ex-girlfriend Jeon Ho Jun's ex-girlfriend even made claims about how the actor exploited her for financial gains and support. She alleged that she used to pay for everything during their relationship and had also spent approximately 10.0 million KRW on the actor. She shared that she would get coffee trucks to support the actor at his projects, and she even bought him a smartphone as well as luxury scarves and an expensive necklace. She even shared details on how she paid for a trip to Thailand as well. From accommodations to food and even the plane tickets, Ho Jun's ex-girlfriend alleges that she spent around 5.00 million KRW on the trip alone. She even alleges that she spent an extra 1.00 million KRW on the man per month to ensure that he could attend his Pilates classes. Miscarriage and STDs also contracted The physical assault as well as the financial exploitation are not the only allegations that have wound up against actor Jeon Ho Jun. His ex-girlfriend has also made claims against him, saying that she even suffered a miscarriage while being in a relationship with him. Not only that, but she also shared how she contracted STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) from the man as well. Jeon Ho Jun denies all allegations made by ex-girlfriend Jeon Ho Jun recently broke his silence about all the allegations that have been made against him. The actor shared that he denies all allegations and that everything being said about him is false. He shared in a statement with Newsen that "This is completely unfounded, and I will respond strongly." He shared that the couple had broken up 3 months ago. He also shared that his ex-partner had also made similar claims about a previous boyfriend, which was already investigated by the police.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Nine Florida legislators sign letter to support Planned Parenthood funding
Planned Parenthood funding is under attack (Photo by Michael B. Thomas/Getty Images) Nine Florida Democratic lawmakers sent a letter Monday calling on members of Congress to oppose efforts to defund Planned Parenthood. In all, 562 state lawmakers from 50 states and the District of Columbia signed the letter a letter. The effort was organized by the State Innovation Exchange's Reproductive Freedom Leadership Council (SiX RFLC) and comes after anti-abortion lawmakers in Congress released a draft budget cutting off Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers from Medicaid funds. Reps. LaVon Bracy Davis, Kevin Chambliss, Anna Eskamani, Rita Harris, Dianne Hart, and Felicia Robinson signed the letter. So did Sens. Shevrin Jones, Tina Polsky, and Darryl Rouson. The State Innovation Exchange was founded in 2014 when the Center for State Innovation, the Progressive States Network, and the American Legislative and Issue Campaign Exchange (ALICE) merged. SiX works to promote racial, gender, social, and economic justice. According to Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) one in three women have been to a Planned Parenthood health center for care, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. In Florida, almost 100,000 patients relied on Planned Parenthood health centers for care last year – from birth control and cancer screenings, to STI treatment and wellness visits. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX 'Planned Parenthood is an irreplaceable part of our health care system in Florida,' Laura Goodhue, executive director of the Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates, said in a prepared release. 'These lawmakers understand that 'defunding' Planned Parenthood would shut down health centers and leave patients across our state without access to essential and affordable health care. We are proud to work alongside them to continue fighting relentlessly for access to affordable reproductive health care for all Floridians.' Indeed, Planned Parenthood officials told the Florida Phoenix earlier this month that their clinics expanded their offerings in Florida after the state's six week abortion ban took effect on May 1, 2024. 'We've expanded our service line. I think it's important for the community to know we do much more than abortion care. We do vasectomies, we do prenatal care, we do fertility care. We do menopausal care. It's not just abortions and STDs (sexually transmitted diseases). 'But I think the community is learning that. There's a large need for Planned Parenthood,' Cherise Felix, chief medical officer of Planned Parenthood of South, East, and North Florida told the Florida Phoenix. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
