PAIN
The
effectiveness of electrical stimulation in producing spinal fusion: Researchers from The Johns Hopkins University School of
Medicine performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of published data on
the effect of electrical stimulation therapies on spinal fusion. They found
significant improvement overall in the rates of bone fusion following a course
of electrical stimulation in both preclinical (animal) and clinical (human)
studies. Journal of Neurosurgery
Experimental Growth Factor May Aid Knee Osteoarthritis: An
experimental growth factor therapy, sprifermin, may prevent a worsening of
osteoarthritis by increasing the thickness of cartilage in the knee, according
to a study published in the Oct. 8 issue of the Journal of the American
Medical Association.
Caution Urged When Taking Patients Off Opioid Painkillers: Doctors should be more cautious when taking chronic pain
patients off opioid painkillers, according to a new U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services guidance released.
Steroid Injections in the Knee and Hip Can Cause More Damage Than Previously Realized: A new study
finds that corticosteroid shots may accelerate arthritis in knee and hip
joints, even as it removes pain. Radiology
Osteoarthritis can increase your risk for social isolation: When
older adults become lonely -- a condition health professionals call
"social isolation" -- their health and well-being can suffer. In
fact, there may be a link between being socially isolated and osteoarthritis
(arthritis) which causes joint pain and can limit your ability to get around. Journal
of the American Geriatrics
Physical Therapy, Lifestyle Advice Underused in Knee OA: For patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA), physical
therapy (PT) and lifestyle counseling seem to be underutilized, while
medication use has increased, according to a study published online Oct. 8 in Arthritis
Care & Research.
COMPLEMENTARY
& ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
Massage
and Music Therapy May Be Better Than Pills for Certain Dementia Symptoms: Massage,
music therapy, and other non-drug interventions are effective at treating
dementia symptoms such as aggression and agitation suggests a new studyTrusted Source
published in the Annals of Internal
Medicine.
Chairy oga more effective than music therapy in older adults with advanced dementia: Researchers assessed the ability of older adults with
advanced dementia to participate in non-pharmacological interventions and
compared chair yoga with chair-based exercise and music therapy. Results showed
that participants with moderate-to-severe dementia could safely adhere to
non-pharmacological interventions; more than 97 percent fully engaged in each
session. The chair yoga group reported a higher quality of life score,
including physical condition, mood, functional abilities, interpersonal
relationships, and ability to participate in meaningful activities. American
Journal of Alzheimer's Disease & Other Dementias
Cultivating joy through mindfulness: An antidote to opioid misuse, the disease of
despair: New research shows that a specific
mind-body therapy, Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE), increases
the brain's response to natural, healthy rewards while also decreasing the
brain's response to opioid-related cues. Science Advances
Mindfulness may reduce opioid cravings, study finds: People
suffering from opioid addiction and chronic pain may have fewer cravings and
less pain if they use both mindfulness techniques and medication for opioid
dependence, according to researchers.
Drug and Alcohol Dependence
FDA ACTION
• Approved Mavyret as 8-Week Treatment for Hep C, Compensated Cirrhosis
• Approved Vaccine for Prevention of Smallpox, Monkeypox
•
Approved Reyvow (lasmiditan) tablets for
acute treatment of migraine
• Approved Scenesse (afamelanotide),
a melanocortin-1 receptor agonist, for adult patients with a history of
phototoxic reactions from erythropoietic protoporphyria
• Approved Descovy
(emtricitabine 200 mg and tenofovir alafenamide 25 mg) for HIV-1 preexposure
prophylaxis (PrEP)
• Approved Rituxan (rituximab)
injection to treat granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and microscopic
polyangiitis (MPA) in combination with glucocorticoids in children 2 years and
older
PREVENTION
Don't make major decisions on an empty stomach, research suggests: The study found that hunger significantly altered people's
decision-making, making them impatient and more likely to settle for a small
reward that arrives sooner than a larger one promised at a later date. Psychonomic
Bulletin & Review
Dog ownership associated with longer life, especially among heart attack and stroke survivors:
Dog ownership may be associated with
longer life and better cardiovascular outcomes, especially for heart attack and
stroke survivors who live alone, according to a new study and a separate
meta-analysis published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes,
a journal of the American Heart Association.
Regular
exercise is good for your heart, no matter how old you are! Regular
exercise is highly beneficial for all patients with cardiovascular disease
regardless of age, report investigators in the Canadian
Journal of Cardiology. Their results
showed that the patients who benefited most from cardiac rehabilitation were
those who started out with the greatest physical impairment.
Increase health benefits of exercise by working out before breakfast: According to a new study, published in the Journal of
Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, health scientists Birmingham found
that by changing the timing of when you eat and exercise, people can better
control their blood sugar levels. The six-week study, which involved thirty men
classified as obese or overweight and compared results from two intervention
groups (who ate breakfast before / after exercise) and a control group (who
made no lifestyle changes), found that people who performed exercise before
breakfast burned double the amount of fat than the group who exercised after breakfast.
Cancer patients who exercise have less heart damage from chemotherapy: Patients with cancer should receive a tailored exercise
prescription to protect their heart, reports a paper published today in the European
Journal of Preventive Cardiology
Violence linked to social isolation, hypervigilance and chronic health problems: Exposure to violence can negatively impact a person's
physical and psychosocial health, according to two new studies. The studies
were based on in-person surveys of more than 500 adults living in Chicago
neighborhoods with high rates of violent crime, and in predominantly racial and
ethnic minority groups. Health Affairs
CTE risk, severity increases with years playing American football: The risk and severity of developing chronic traumatic
encephalopathy (CTE) increases with the number of years playing American
football according to a new study that appears online in Annals of Neurology.
These findings reaffirm the relationship between playing tackle football and
CTE, and for the first time quantify the strength of that relationship. In a
sample of 266 deceased former amateur and professional football players, the
study found that the risk of developing CTE increased by 30 percent per year
played, meaning that for each 2.6 additional years of football played, the odds
of developing CTE doubled. Among those with CTE, for each additional 5.3 years
played, the odds of developing severe CTE doubled.
Cleaning with Bleach Can Release Harmful Airborne Particles: When bleach fumes mix with a citrus
compound found in many household cleaners, they can form ultrafine particles
like those found in smog. This compound is called limonene and is usually
relatively mild but in large amounts can irritate the eyes, throat, lungs and
skin. Some green products may be safer
than traditional bleach, but some experts say using vinegar and baking soda can
also be non-toxic way to clean your home.
Ex-smokers,light smokers not exempt from lung damage: A
new study shows that smoking even a few cigarettes a day is harmful to lungs
and that former smokers continue to lose lung function at a faster rate than
never-smokers for decades after quitting. People who smoke fewer than five
cigarettes a day cause long-term damage to their lungs, according to a new
study. The Lancet Respiratory Medicine
Flight
Attendants Avoid Drinking Tap Water on Planes. You Should Too: Recent testing found the tap water on airplanes isn’t very
sanitary and the quality varies greatly between different airlines. Researchers
advise airline passengers to never drink water aboard an airplane unless it’s
sealed in a bottle. That includes coffee or tea. They also advise passengers to
avoid washing your hands in the bathrooms. Use hand sanitizer instead. Airline
Water Study 2019,
What
Is IQOS, and How Is It Different from Vaping or Smoking? Smoking
giants Philip Morris and Altria have launched IQOS, a “HeatStick” that heats up
rather than burns tobacco, for sale in the United States. IQOS looks like other
e-cigarettes. It is being pitched as a
safer product than vaping. At this juncture it’s soon to know if it’s a safer
choice and what the long term effects might be. As with any tobacco product,
there are health risks. Healthline
NUTRITION/SUPPLEMENTS
Panel
Votes Yes to Current Level of Red, Processed Meat Intake: An international panel suggests that adults continue their
current levels of consumption of red or processed meat based on evidence from
five systematic reviews published online Oct. 1 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Since the study was released, a number of members of the
scientific community have come out against the study, which is in opposition to
the current belief. Equally concerning is a new report that found ties between
the lead author and the food industry, which he failed to disclose. The study
was funded by International Life Sciences Institute
(ILSI), an industry trade group heavily funded by big business.
Large, long-term study suggests link between eating mushrooms and a lower risk of prostate cancer: Results from the
first long-term cohort study of more than 36,000 Japanese men over decades
suggest an association between eating mushrooms and a lower risk of prostate
cancer. International Journal of Cancer
Science Finds Simple Way to Lower Diabetes, High Blood Pressure Risk: New research
finds a diet high in fiber, like shredded wheat, can help combat effects of
type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Those on a high-fiber diet had lower
cholesterol, lower blood pressure, and lower blood sugar. Only 25 percent of adults get the recommended
amount of fiber daily. American College of Cardiology Conference
In major meta-analysis of clinical trials, omega-3 fish oil supplements linked with lower cardiovascular disease risk People who increase their
consumption of sugary beverages-whether they contain added or naturally
occurring sugar-may face moderately higher risk of type 2 diabetes. The study
also found that drinking more artificially sweetened beverages (ASBs) in place
of sugary beverages did not appear to lessen diabetes risk. However, diabetes
risk decreased when one daily serving of any type of sugary beverage was
replaced with water, coffee, or tea. Diabetes Care.
Vitamin D and fish oil show promise in prevention of cancer death and heart attacks: The VITamin D and OmegA-3 Trial (VITAL) is the largest and
most recent to test whether vitamin D or fish oil can effectively prevent
cancer or cardiovascular disease. Results to date have been mixed but show
promise for some outcomes, now confirmed by updated pooled (meta) analyses.T he
North American Menopause Society (NAMS) Annual Meeting in Chicago
Alcohol consumption may increase dementia risk for people with mild cognitive impairment:
Adults age 72 and older with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) who drank more
than 14 alcoholic
drinks a week were 72% more likely to progress to dementia over an eight-year
period than those who drank less than one drink a week. For participants without MCI, alcohol consumption was not
associated with higher dementia risk.
Replacing less healthy foods with nuts could help lower risk of long-term weight gain: People who
ate a daily half-serving of nuts (about a
handful) instead of the same amount of refined grains, red meat, or dessert
gained less
weight over a 24-year study period than those who ate nuts less frequently.
Diabetes
Vitamins B-6 and B-12 linked with increased risk of hip fracture: A study of
postmenopausal women in the Nurses’ Health Study found that a combined high intake of vitamins B6 and B12
was associated with an increased risk of hip fracture. The intakes were far
higher than the recommended dietary allowances. These findings add to previous
studies suggesting that vitamin supplements should be used cautiously because
adverse effects can occur. JAMA Open Network
Frequent drinking is greater risk factor for heart rhythm disorder than binge drinking: Drinking small amounts of alcohol frequently is linked with
a higher likelihood of atrial fibrillation than binge drinking, according to
new research. EP Europace
Drinking more sugary beverages of any type may increase type 2 diabetes risk: People who increase their consumption of sugary beverages --
whether they contain added or naturally occurring sugar -- may face moderately
higher risk of type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care
Vitamin C therapy linked to better survival rates after sepsis: New research suggests that patients with sepsis and septic
lung injury could have a better chance of survival and recover more quickly
when treated with vitamin C infusions. On average, the vitamin C group spent
three fewer days in the ICU at day 28 and a week less in the hospital overall
by day 60 than the placebo group. JAMA
To fight effects of sleep deprivation, reach for healthy snacks: In a study of 245 Stanford physicians, researchers found
that a better diet is associated with reduced side effects of sleep
deprivation. Stanford Medicine
TREATMENT
Commonly
used drug for Alzheimer's disease doubles risk of hospitalization: A drug
commonly used to manage symptoms of Alzheimer disease and other dementias --
donepezil -- is associated with a two-fold higher risk of hospital admission
for rhabdomyolysis, a painful condition of muscle breakdown, compared with
several other cholinesterase inhibitors, found a study in CMAJ (Canadian Medical
Association Journal).
Rivaroxaban
Cuts Recurrent Blood Clots in Obese Patients: Real-world
evidence shows that rivaroxaban reduces the risk for recurrent venous
thromboembolism (VTE) in morbidly obese patients, with similar safety and
efficacy as warfarin, according to a study published in the October issue of Thrombosis
Research.
Nivolumab Therapy Prolongs Survival in Advanced Melanoma: More patients with advanced melanoma receiving nivolumab
plus ipilimumab or nivolumab alone have sustained long-term survival at five
years compared with those receiving ipilimumab alone, according to a study
published online Sept. 28 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Long-term study data shows DBS is effective treatment for most severe form of depression: A study published online on Friday, October 4, in the American
Journal of Psychiatry found that deep brain stimulation (DBS) of an area in
the brain called the subcallosal cingulate (SCC) provides a robust
antidepressant effect that is sustained over a long period of time in patients
with treatment-resistant depression--the most severely depressed patients who
have not responded to other treatments.
More evidence linking common bladder medication to a vision-threatening eyecondition:A drug widely prescribed for a
bladder condition for decades, now appears to be toxic to the retina, the light
sensing tissue at the back of the eye that allows us to see. After an initial
report last year that Elmiron (pentosan polysulfate sodium) may be associated
with retinal damage, three ophthalmologists conducted a review of patients at
Kaiser Permanente in Northern California. They found that about one-quarter of
patients with significant exposure to Elmiron showed definite signs of eye
damage, and that this medication toxicity could masquerade as other known
retinal conditions, such as age-related macular degeneration or pattern
dystrophy. Annual Meeting
of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Surgery May Be Best Option for Some With Refractory Heartburn: In patients who truly have proton pump inhibitor
(PPI)-refractory heartburn, including those with reflux hypersensitivity,
surgery may be the best treatment option, according to a study published in the
Oct. 16 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Dopamine Agonists Tied to Higher Risk for Psychiatric Events: Patients with primary restless leg syndrome who begin
dopamine agonist (DA) therapy may be at increased risk for adverse psychiatric
events, according to a large study published in the September issue of the Journal
of Clinical Sleep Medicine.
Some Blood Pressure Medications May Increase a Person’s Risk for Suicide: Certain types
of medications used for blood pressure, kidney disease, heart failure, and
diabetes could increase suicide risk. People using angiotensin receptor II
blockers (ARBs) are 1.5 times more likely to die by suicide than people who
take angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors). The research is
preliminary and needs follow-up studies, but they say people with mental health
issues should consult with their physicians before taking these types of
medications. JAMA Network Open
Estrogen exposure may stave off cognitive decline in women: The conclusion of a study of 2,000 postmenopausal women followed for 12 years found that estrogen exposure is linked with better cognitive healthin older women. Benefits were stronger for the oldest women in the sample who started taking estrogen the earliest. Menopause
Artificial Pancreas Helps T1DM Patients Meet Glycemic Targets: Patients with type 1 diabetes using an artificial pancreas or closed-loop system spend a greater percentage of time in a target glycemic range compared with those using a sensor-augmented insulin pump, according to a study published online Oct. 16 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
OTHER
Sanofi
is recalling Zantac: The pharmaceutical company Sanofi announced today that it’s undertaking a voluntary
recall of Zantac due to concerns about a potential cancer-causing
chemical. This comes weeks after the
popular heartburn drug ranitidine, known by the brand name Zantac, was found to
contain a cancer-causing chemical. Last month, multiple drugstores decided to
no longer sell the medication.
Johnson
& Johnson Recalls Baby Powder Due to Presence of Asbestos: A shipment of baby powder has been recalled by Johnson &
Johnson after U.S. authorities found asbestos in it. The recall comes after
months of denial from the company about the presence of the cancer-causing
substance in its talc-based products, The New York Times reported
Friday. But the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found trace levels of
chrysotile asbestos in samples from a bottle of baby powder bought from an
online retailer, according to Johnson & Johnson. The recalled lot of baby
powder is #22318RB and includes 33,000 bottles sold by an unidentified
retailer, said company spokesman Ernie Knewitz. He added that this is the first
time Johnson & Johnson has pulled its baby powder from the market, The
Times reported.
No comments:
Post a Comment