• New Guidelines Issued for Cancer Patients’ Post Treatment Pain: More people are surviving cancer, but
many are left with persistent pain after treatment. New guidelines from the
American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) recommend that doctors routinely
screen for such pain. The guidelines also advise doctors to consider the use of
non-traditional treatments for pain. These include hypnosis, meditation and
medical marijuana where it's legal. ASCO also cautioned doctors to assess
patients' risk for overuse of opioid painkillers. Journal of Clinical Oncology
• Chronic
Pain Linked to Partners of People with Depression: Partners
of people with depression are more likely to suffer from chronic pain, research
has found. The study shows that the two conditions share common causes -- some
of which are genetic whilst other causes originate from the environment that
partners share. PLOS Medicine
•Genetic and Environmental Risk Factors for Chronic Pain: Both
genetic factors and family environment contribute to risk for chronic pain, and
contributions of many genes contribute to risk of both chronic pain and major
depressive disorder (MDD), according to a new study. PLOS
• Smoking Marijuana Provides More Pain Relief for Men Than Women: Men
had greater pain relief than women after smoking marijuana, a new study has
found. Despite differences in pain relief, men and women did not report
differences in how intoxicated they felt or how much they liked the effect of
the active cannabis. Drug and Alcohol Dependence
• Swimming is an Effective Part of the Treatment for Fibromyalgia: A study performed by researchers at the
Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP) shows swimming is as effective as
walking to relieve pain and improve quality of life for patients with
fibromyalgia. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
• Brain Stimulation Technique Shown Effective in
Phantom Limb Pain: A new
study shows that transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) administered to the
scalp can stimulate the brain and provide significant reductions in phantom
limb pain. The Journal of Pain
COMPLEMENTARY & ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
• Body Mind Meditation Can boost Attention and Health, Lower Stress: Meditation has long been promoted
as a way to feel more at peace. But research shows it can significantly improve
attention, working memory, creativity, immune function, emotional regulation,
self-control, cognitive and school performance and healthy habits while
reducing stress. Science Daily
• Active Music Therapy Beneficial in Parkinson’sDisease Patients: Active music therapy has beneficial
effects on cognition in Parkinson's disease (PD). Journal of the American
Geriatrics Society
• Music Demonstrated to Alleviate
Cancer Patients’ Symptoms: A
review looking at studies on the effect music interventions have on the
treatment of cancer patients found treatment benefits for anxiety, pain,
fatigue and overall quality of life. Chochrane Library
• Acupuncture
May Slow Pre-Dementia Memory Loss: A meta analysis of five
students, including nearly 600 people has found that acupuncture
may benefit people who have memory loss, but don't yet have dementia. Nothing
has yet been proven to halt the progression to dementia in those who are
destined to progress. But, acupuncture used alone or along with another
treatment, such as the medication nimodipine, might help retain some memory
function, the researchers said. Acupuncture in Medicine
• Mindfulness Combats Depression: Eight
weeks of mindfulness training helped alleviate depressive symptoms and reduce
stress in African-American women with lower socio-economic status, providing an
effective alternative to more conventional treatment, report scientists. Complementary
Therapies in Clinical Practice
FDA ACTION
• Approved
first intraocular lens with extended range of vision for cataract patients
• Approved
Xiidra for the treatment of signs and symptoms of dry eye disease
• Approved
Adlyxin, a new injectable type 2 Diabetes medication that lowers blood sugar
levels and doesn’t boost risk of heart problems.
• Strengthens
Safety Warnings for Fluoroquinolones (Cipro, Levaquin)
• Banned
E-Cigarette Sales to Minors
• Warned Anti
Aging, skin lightening products may contain mercury. If
"mercurous chloride," "calomel," "mercuric,"
"mercurio" or "mercury" is listed on the label, stop using
the product immediately. Do not use products if ingredients are not listed, the
agency says.
PREVENTION
• An Hour of Moderate Exercise a Day Counters Health Risk from Prolonged Sitting: The health risks associated with
sitting for eight or more hours a day -- whether at work, home or commuting --
can be eliminated with an hour or more of physical activity a day, according to
a new study. The Lancet
• Fitness Almost as Important as Not Smoking for Longevity: Poor physical fitness ranks right behind smoking as
leading risk factors for early mortality. European Journal of Preventive
Cardiology.
• Health Diet, Exercise May Help Keep Alzheimer’s at Bay: Researchers
studied 44 patients between the ages of 40 and 85 who had mild memory problems.
The investigators found that the brains of those who followed a Mediterranean
diet and were physically active had fewer plaques and tangles, a hallmark of
Alzheimer's, than those whose diet was less healthy and who were less active.
American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
•
Regular Exercise Antidote for Deadly Diseases: Researchers
analyzed 174 studies published between 1980 and 2016, and found that people
with high levels of weekly physical activity had a lower risk of breast cancer,
colon cancer, diabetes, heart disease and stroke. The study findings showed the
biggest benefit at 3,000 to 4,000 MET minutes a week. A person could get 3,000
MET minutes by weaving activity into their daily routine -- for example, 10
minutes of climbing stairs; 15 minutes of vacuuming; 20 minutes of gardening;
20 minutes of running; and 25 minutes of walking or cycling. BMJ
•
Exercise Can Tackle Symptoms of Schizophrenia: Aerobic
exercise, such as treadmills and exercise bikes, in combination with their
medication, can significantly help people coping with the long-term mental
health condition schizophrenia, according to a new study. Schizophrenia
Bulletin
• Does Flossing Help or Not? Flossing
has quietly lost its place among recommendations for daily health, as least as
prescribed in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which are
issued every five years by the U.S. departments of Health and Human Services
and Agriculture. That could be because there's scant evidence that flossing
does much to keep teeth and gums healthy. NPR
• Working,
Volunteering Could Reduce Disablement in Seniors: A
study found people ages 50 to 64 who worked full-time or part-time or
volunteered up to 100 hours per year experienced a reduction in the extent to
which chronic conditions were associated with subsequent functional
limitations, such as the ability to walk a block or climb a flight of stairs.
The findings are published in The Journals of Gerontology, Series B:
Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences.
• High Animal Protein Intake Associated with Increase Mortality: The largest study to
examine the effects of different sources of dietary protein found that a high
intake of proteins from animal sources -- particularly processed and
unprocessed red meats, which include both beef and pork products, and not to
protein from fish or poultry. -- was associated with a higher mortality rate,
while a high intake of protein from plant sources- breads, cereals, pasta,
beans, nuts and legumes- was associated with a lower risk of death. More
careful analysis revealed that the association of animal protein intake with an
elevated mortality risk only applied to participants with at least one factor
associated with an unhealthy lifestyle -- being either obese or underweight,
heavy alcohol consumption, a history of smoking, or physical inactivity. In
fact, the association disappeared in participants with a healthy lifestyle.
JAMA Internal Medicine
• High Doses of Fish Oil Might Help Healing After Heart Attack: Heart attack patients who took high doses of fish oil
supplements for six months showed improved heart function and less scarring,
researchers report. Circulation
• Vitamin D Levels May Fall When Women Stop Taking Birth Control:
Vitamin D levels may drop after women stop using birth control pills or other
contraceptives with estrogen, researchers report. Journal of Clinical
Endocrinology & Metabolism
• Diet Designed to Lower Blood Pressure Also Reduces Risk of Kidney Disease: People who ate a diet
high in nuts and legumes, low-fat dairy, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables
and low in red and processed meat, sugar-sweetened beverages and sodium were at
a significantly lower risk of developing chronic kidney disease over the course
of more than two decades, new research suggests. American Journal of Kidney
Diseases
• Eating a Mediterranean Diet Can Slow Down Cognitive Decline: By sticking to the
Mediterranean diet the study showed that people had slowed rates of cognitive
decline, reduced conversion to Alzheimer's, and improved cognitive function.
The main foods in the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) include plant foods, such as
leafy greens, fresh fruit and vegetables, cereals, beans, seeds, nuts, and
legumes. The MedDiet is also low in dairy, has minimal red meat, and uses olive
oil as its major source of fat. Frontiers in Nutrition
• Calcium Supplements Linked to Dementia Risk in Women WithCertain Conditions: Calcium supplements
may be associated with an increased risk of dementia in older women who have
had a stroke or other signs of cerebrovascular disease. Neurology.
• Fatty Fish May
Curb Eye Risks for Diabetics: Two servings of fish a week may be
enough to lower the heightened risk for blindness that those with diabetes
face-diabetic retinopathy- a new Spanish study suggests. JAMA Opthalmology
On-line
TREATMENT
• Generic Biologic Drugs Seem as Effective as Originals: Generic biologic drugs are similarly
effective to brand-name counterparts in treating rheumatoid arthritis,
inflammatory bowel disease and psoriasis, a new study says. Annals of Internal
Medicine
• Treating Psoriasis May Reduce Risk for Other Ills: "People
with psoriasis, particularly those with more severe disease, have an increased
risk for a variety of other health problems, including obesity, diabetes, high
blood pressure, high cholesterol, stroke and heart attack. Psoriasis patients,
even those with mild disease, need to be aware of how this condition affects
their overall health.” Treating skin inflammation in psoriasis patients may
also lower inflammation in other areas of the body and reduce heart disease
risk. American Academy of Dermatology
• Treating at the Earliest Sign of MS: Starting
medication for multiple sclerosis (MS) in people who show the beginning signs
of the disease is associated with prolonging the time before the disease is
definitively diagnosed, according to a long-term study. Neurology
• Asthma Pill Could Reduce Symptoms in Severe Suffers The first new asthma pill for
nearly 20 years has the power to significantly reduce the severity of the
condition, a new study has found. Fevipiprant (QAW039) significantly decreased
the symptoms of asthma, improved lung function, reduced inflammation and
repaired the lining of airways. The Lancet Respiratory Medicine
• New Treatment Option for Alzheimer’s Disease Possible: A research project has shown that an experimental
model of Alzheimer's disease can be successfully treated with a commonly
used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drug. Nature Communications
• Arhalofenate Beats Allopurinol for Gout Flares: Arhalofenate (800 mg) is safe and significantly
decreases gout flares compared to allopurinol (300 mg). Arthritis &
Rheumatology
• Abaloparatide Reduces Risk of Fracture Among Women with Osteoporosis: Among
postmenopausal women with osteoporosis at risk of fracture, daily injection of
the drug abaloparatide for 18 months significantly reduced the risk of new
vertebral and nonvertebral fractures compared with placebo. JAMA
OTHER
• Online
Support Helps Women Newly Diagnosed with Breast Cancer:Researchers surveyed thousands of women not long after they learned they had
breast cancer. Those who turned to online resources -- whether to share the
news or gain information or support -- felt more satisfied with their
treatment, the study found. JAMA Oncology
• Depression
Can Stalk Families Through Generations: People whose parents and
grandparents suffered from depression are at much higher risk of developing the
illness, a new study suggests. The research found that if a person's
grandparent and parent each had depression, their own odds for the disorder
tripled. JAMA Psychiatry
• Most
sick, Aging Americans Live Far From In-Home Care: Most
older Americans struggling with chronic illnesses live too far from
"in-home" medical care providers to get the help they need to stay in
their homes, a new study finds. Health Affairs
• Long-Lived
Parents Could Mean a Healthier Heart Into Your 70s: The
longer our parents lived, the longer we are likely to live ourselves, and the
more likely we are to stay healthy in our 60s and 70s, experts say. Having
longer-lived parents means we have with much lower rates of a range of heart
conditions and some cancers. The major study, funded by the Medical Research
Council and involving almost 190,000 participants in the UK Biobank, is the
largest of its kind. It found that our chances of survival increased by 17 per
cent for each decade that at least one parent lives beyond the age of 70.
Journal of the American College of Cardiology
• Time of Day Influences Our Susceptibility to Infections: We are
more susceptible to infection at certain times of the day as our body clock
affects the ability of viruses to replicate and spread between cells, suggests
new research. The findings may help explain why shift workers, whose body
clocks are routinely disrupted, are more prone to health problems, including
infections and chronic disease. PNAS
•Physical Function Tied to Neurological Disease: Physical
function is associated with clinical and subclinical brain disease. Slow
walking and weak handgrip linked to increased risk of Alzheimer’s Disease.
Journal of Alcheimer’s Disease
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