CHRONIC PAIN
• Almost 1 in 5 Americans Plagued by Constant Pain: Almost
one-fifth of Americans do daily battle with crippling, chronic pain, a large
new survey reveals, with the elderly and women struggling the most. The bottom line: Significant and debilitating pain
that endures for three months or more is now a common feature in the lives of
an estimated 39 million Americans. Journal of Pain Oct.
• Smoking and Back Pain: Smokers are three times more likely than
nonsmokers to develop chronic back pain, and dropping the habit may cut their
chances of developing this often debilitating condition, researchers report. Human Brain Mapping
COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
• A Purpose in Life May Extend Yours: A study, involving more than 9,000
British people averaging 65 years of age, found that those who professed to
feeling worthwhile and having a sense of purpose in life were less likely to
die during the more than eight years the researchers tracked them. The Lancet
• Integrative
Medicine Relieves Pain, Anxiety for Cancer Inpatients: Researchers
found that integrative medicine therapies (massage, acupuncture, guided
imagery, relaxation response) can
substantially decrease pain and anxiety for hospitalized cancer patients. Journal of the National Cancer Institute
Monographs
• Marijuana’s Long Term Effects on the Brain: The effects of chronic marijuana use on
the brain may depend on age of first use and duration of use, according to new
research. Researchers for the first time comprehensively describe existing abnormalities
in brain function and structure of long-term marijuana users with multiple
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS
• Mushroom extract,AHCC, helpful in Treating HPV: A Japanese mushroom extract appears to
be effective for the eradication of human papillomavirus (HPV), according to a
pilot clinical trial. Ten HPV-positive women were treated orally with the
extract, AHCC (active hexose correlated compound) once daily for up to six
months. Five achieved a negative HPV test result -- three with confirmed
eradication after stopping AHCC -- with the remaining two responders continuing
on the study. U of Texas Health Science Center
• New Evidence that Exercise Therapy, Acupuncture Benefit Breast Cancer Survivors There
is hope for breast cancer survivors struggling with cancer-related pain and
swelling. Researchers point to ways to enhance muscular strength and body image
in new articles that focus on integrative oncology, which combines a variety of
therapies, some non-traditional, for maximum benefit to cancer patients. Journal of the National Cancer Institute
Monographs
FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION ACTION
• Approves New
Vaccine to Protect against Meningitis
• Cautions against
“undeclared” food allergens as some food labels may not reliably list all
possible food allergens.
• Approves new
treatment for rare form of hemophilia
PREVENTION
• Long-Term PPI TherapyWith Rabeprazole Prevents Peptic Ulcer Recurrence: Long-term
use of rabeprazole prevents the recurrence of peptic ulcers in patients on
low-dose aspirin (LDA) therapy, according to a study presented here at United
European Gastroenterology Week (UEGW).
• Regular
Doctor Visits Help Control Blood Pressure: Researchers analyzed data from
37,000 American adults who had their blood pressure checked between 1999 and
2012. Those who saw their doctor at least twice a year were 3.2 times more
likely to keep their blood pressure under control than those who saw their
doctor once a year or less. Circulation
• Easy-To-Walk Communities Linked to SharperSenior Minds: Living in easy-to-walk communities may slow mental decline in
older adults, according to a small study. Gerontological Society of America
SUPPLEMENTS/NUTRITION/VITAMINS
• Use Chia Seeds with Caution: Despite
potential health benefits, chia seeds may pose a risk if they are not consumed
properly, according to new research. The tiny, oval seeds -- a rich source of
fiber, protein and heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids -- should not be eaten in
their dry, raw form, experts cautioned. This is particularly true for people
with a history of swallowing problems or a constricted esophagus, the
researchers said. American College of Gastroenterology
•
High-Fat, Low-Carb Diet May Help with Tough to treat Epilepsy: A
review of five studies found that a ketogenic, or modified Atkins diet, that
focuses on foods like bacon, eggs, heavy cream, butter, fish and green
vegetables, could help reduce seizures in adults whose condition doesn't
improve with medication. Neurology
• Is Milk Your Friend or Foe?: Women who drank three glasses of milk
or more every day had a nearly doubled risk of death and cardiovascular
disease, and a 44 percent increased risk of cancer compared to women who drank
less than one glass per day, the researchers found. Men's overall risk of death
increased about 10 percent when they drank three or more glasses of milk daily.
BMJ
• Stroke Prevention Guidelines Emphasize Healthy Lifestyle: The new guidelines advise people to
exercise, control blood pressure, don’t smoke, and eat what's known as
Mediterranean or DASH-style (Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension) diets that
emphasize fruits, vegetables, whole grains and seeds, plus poultry and fish.
Stroke
• Big Name Diets All Work for a While: Looking at a dozen clinical
trials, researchers found that three big-name diets -- Atkins, Weight Watchers
and the Zone -- were all "modestly" effective over the course of a
year. In studies that compared the plans head-to-head, people lost anywhere
from 4 to 10 pounds, on average. And in the few trials that lasted two years --
all looking at Atkins or Weight Watchers -- people often regained some of the
pounds they lost. Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality & Outcomes
• Lactose Intolerant Less Likely to Develop Certain Cancers: A
study of nearly 23,000 people in Sweden with lactose intolerance, as well as
members of their families, found those who had trouble digesting dairy had
lower rates of lung, breast and ovarian cancers than those without lactose
intolerance. However, siblings and parents of people with lactose intolerance
had the same risk for these cancers as people in the general population, which
suggests that the lower cancer risk in people with lactose intolerance may have
something to do with their diets. British Journal
• Live Longer? Save the Planet? Better Diet Could Do Both? A new
study shows how a shift away from this trajectory and toward healthier
traditional Mediterranean, pescatarian or vegetarian diets could not only boost
human lifespan and quality of life, but also slash greenhouse gas emissions and
save habitat for endangered species. Nature
• B Vitamins May Not Boost Memory or Thinking: Taking vitamin B12 or folic acid
supplements may not reduce seniors' risk of memory loss, according to a new
study of nearly 3,000 people with an average age of 74. Neurology
TREATMENT RESEARCH
• Parkinson’s Drugs May Spur Compulsive Behaviors: Drugs commonly used to treat Parkinson's disease may
raise the risk of so-called impulse control disorders, according to a new
review. These disorders include compulsive gambling, compulsive shopping and/or
hypersexuality. That increased risk was seen in a fresh review of a decade's
worth of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) records. JAMA Internal
Medicine
• Hormone Therapy May Up Heart-Related Deaths in Some Prostate Cancer Patients: Giving androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) was linked to
triple the risk of heart-related death in men with heart failure or in those
who had a previous heart attack. "ADT is a mainstay of prostate cancer
therapy, but may not be the best option for all men," said lead researcher
BJU International, online
• Common Blood Pressure Drug May Lower Risk for Lou Gehrig’s: Those who took
particular doses of ACE inhibitors for
more than four years appeared to reduce their risk of ALS by 57 percent. National Institute of Neurological Disorders
and Stroke (NINDS)
• New
Drug for Non Alcoholic Steatohepatitis: The FLINT study found that people
with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) who took obeticholic acid
(OCA) had improved liver health during that period, including decreased
inflammation and fat in the liver and decreased body weight versus people
receiving a placebo. OCA was also associated with increases in itching and
total cholesterol. NIH
• Nearly
all Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease Should Take Statins: A
comparison of two different cholesterol management guidelines indicates that
the vast majority of patients with chronic kidney disease are recommended to
receive statins. 50% of people with chronic kidney disease who are recommended
to receive statins are not taking them, the study shows. Journal of the American Society of
Nephrology (JASN)
• MoreEvidence Arthritis/Pain Relieving Drugs May Contribute to Stroke Death: Commonly
prescribed, older drugs (COX-2 inhibitors) for arthritis and pain may increase
the risk of death from stroke, according to a study. "Our study supports
stepping up efforts to make sure people with a higher risk of stroke are not
prescribed these medications when other options are available," authors
concluded. Neurology®
OTHER
• No Link between vaccinations, risk for MS: A new study finds no link between
vaccines and increased risk of multiple sclerosis or similar nervous system
diseases. JAMA Neurology
• 8 Ways to Save Big on Medications from Consumer Reports: Chances are you’re
paying more than you need to for prescription drugs. But thanks to discounts
offered at Costco, CVS, Target, Walgreen, Walmart and others, hundreds of
common generic drugs can be purchased for pennies per pill.
•
Anxiety Can Damage Brain: People with mild cognitive
impairment are at increased risk of converting to Alzheimer's disease within a
few years, but a new study warns the risk increases significantly if they
suffer from anxiety. The American
Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
• Medical Bills Pricey for Americans, Even with Private Insurance: Many
Americans may believe that private insurance can keep major medical bills at
bay. But a new survey finds that one-fifth of people with private plans still
spend at least 5 percent of their income on out-of-pocket health care costs.
The Commonwealth Fund
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