CHRONIC PAIN
Freezing Technique May Ease Phantom Limb Pain
for Amputees: Chronic pain that emanates from the site of a severed
limb can be reduced in some cases when the remaining nerve and scar tissue is
frozen in place. The minimally invasive technique, known as cryoablation
therapy, may offer hope to the roughly 200,000 Americans who undergo an
amputation every year. Society of Interventional Radiology
COMPLEMENTARY & ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
• Meditation May Help Ease Chronic Low Back Pain: Meditation may work better than painkillers when it
comes to soothing chronic low back pain, a new clinical trial suggests. The
study found that mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) beat standard
medical care for managing low back pain. JAMA
• Mindfulness Training May Ease PTSD: Mindfulness
training can trigger brain changes that help veterans with post-traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD) manage disturbing memories and thoughts, according to a
new study of war veterans. This study included 23 U.S. veterans of the Iraq and
Afghanistan wars who all received some form of group therapy. After four months
of weekly sessions, many had reductions in their PTSD symptoms. However, some
of the participants received mindfulness training, and only those veterans
showed brain activity changes that could be detected on functional MRI brain
scans. Depression and Anxiety
• Mindfulness:
What Works for Whom: Mindfulness meditation makes a
difference for patients. Patients felt rested and in better control of their
pain and its role in their life. Only older age predicted better outcome, but patients
who recognized that pain is part of their life and were living under stable
conditions may have been more likely to learn and put forth personal effort,
which may have made change possible. More specific variables have to be
developed to study good match between the specific intervention and the
specific patient. Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine
• Stress Management Training May Help Cardiac Rehab: Patients: he addition of stress
management training can make cardiac rehabilitation programs more effective, a
new study indicates. "Cardiac rehabilitation programs do not routinely
offer stress management, but this may change should demand increase. And
because patients may be reluctant to ask for the programs themselves, the onus
is on the physicians to recognize that stress management is important for the
optimal medical management of patients.” Circulation
• Acupuncture May Ease Hot Flashes for Breast Cancer Patients: Acupuncture can help alleviate the
often-debilitating hot flashes that afflict many breast cancer patients, new
Italian research says. Noting that hot flashes are a fact of life for many
women with breast cancer, the investigators found that pairing lifestyle advice
with weekly acupuncture sessions dramatically improved the women's quality of
life. Journal of Clinical Oncology
• Yoga and Chronic PTSD in Women: Yoga appears to be a useful treatment
modality with the greatest long-term benefits are derived from more frequent
yoga practice. Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine
FDA ACTION
• Approved Cinqair
for Severe Asthma
• Ordered
warning labels on Prescription Narcotic Painkillers
• Approves
Experimental Zika Test for Blood Donation
• Warned that
diabetes drugs containing saxagliptin and alogliptin (Onglyza, Kombiglyze XR,
Nesina, Kazano and Oseni) might raise the risk of heart failure, particularly
in patients with heart or kidney disease.
• Suggests
Limits for Arsenic in Infant Rice Cereal
• Approved first
pacemaker to treat irregular heartbeat without the need for wires between the
device.
PREVENTION
• Exercise May Keep Your Brain 10 Years Younger: A study of 900 seniors found
that those who got moderate to intense exercise retained more of their mental
skills over the next five years, versus older adults who got light exercise or
none at all. On average, those less-active seniors showed an extra 10 years of
"brain aging," the researchers said. Neurology
• PTSD May Stiffen Veterans’ Arteries, Boosting Heart Risk:
Veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may have blood
vessels that don't expand normally, a new study suggests. If vessels don't
widen as they should, the risk of heart attack and stroke goes up, the
researchers noted. The researchers also found that risk factors usually
associated with blood vessel problems -- such as high blood pressure, diabetes,
high cholesterol and smoking -- didn't seem to account for why people with PTSD
were more likely to have blood vessels that didn't dilate properly. Journal of
the American Heart Association
• Heavy Pot Use Tied to Social, Money Troubles in Mid Life: Middle-aged adults who've smoked a lot
of pot for a long time may find themselves with lower paying, less skilled and
less prestigious jobs, a new study finds. These people may also suffer more
money problems and have more difficulties with both work and personal
relationships than their non-marijuana-smoking peers, the researchers added.
Clinical Psychological Science
• Brain Scans Give Clues to Stress-Heart Attacks Link: A new
brain study might help explain why a high level of stress is linked to an
increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Increased activity in the amygdala
-- the fear center of the brain -- appears to create an immune system reaction
that increases inflammation in the arteries. American College of Cardiology
meeting in Chicago.
• Endometriosis Linked to Heart Disease: Women
who have endometriosis, the abnormal growth of uterine tissue outside the
uterus, may face a 60 percent higher risk of developing heart disease than
women without the disorder, a new study suggests. The potential risk was
especially high for women who were 40 or younger: they were three times more
likely to have heart disease than women in the same age range without the
gynecological condition, the researchers found. Circulation: Cardiovascular
Quality and Outcomes
• Smoking Triggers Changes in Mouth Bacteria: Smoking can dramatically change
the balance of bacterial species in the mouth, which may affect the risk of mouth,
lung and digestive system diseases, a new study says. The research also found
that the proper mix of bacteria in the mouth is restored if people quit
smoking. ISME Journal
• Adults Don’t Need Tetanus Short Every Decade: Adults can get tetanus and
diphtheria vaccine boosters every 30 years instead of the recommended 10 years,
a new study suggests. Investigators examined immunity levels in over 500 adults
and found that after completing the standard five-dose childhood vaccine
series, adults remain protected against tetanus and diphtheria for at least 30
years without the need for further booster shots. Clinical Infectious Diseases
• Smoking Increases Risk of Early Death for Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients:
Smoking increases the chances of early death in people with rheumatoid
arthritis, but quitting smoking significantly reduces that risk, a new study
suggests. Arthritis Care and Research
• Tanning May Limit Skin’s Ability to Produce Vitamin D: While
the sun helps the body make vitamin D, a new study says that too much exposure
might actually lower the levels of the essential vitamin. Tan skin may provide
some protection against the sun's harmful UV rays, but this increase in pigment
blocks vitamin D synthesis and limits the skin's ability to produce vitamin D.
Endocrine Society
• Right Neighborhood May Mean 90 Extra Minutes Exercise a Week: People
who live in bustling neighborhoods get at least 90 more minutes of exercise a
week than other city dwellers, a new global study finds. The study included
more than 6,800 adults, aged 18 to 66, in 14 cities in 10 countries. On
average, study participants did 37 minutes a day of moderate to vigorous
physical activity, such as brisk walking or more intense exercise. The Lancet
• Exercise May Counter Harms from Too Much Sitting: Regular exercise helps
counteract the harmful health effects of too much sitting, a new British study
suggests. BMC Public Health
NUTRITION/SUPPLEMENTS/VITAMINS
• Increased Vitamin C in the Diet Could Protect Against Cataracts: Higher
dietary intake of vitamin C (not supplements) has been found to have a
potentially preventative effect on cataract progression in the first twin study
of cataracts to examine to what degree genetic and environmental factors
influence their progression with age. Ophthalmology
•
Beans, Chick Peas May Help with Weight Loss: Beans, chickpeas, peas, lentils:
Humble foods that may pack a punch for weight loss, Canadian researchers
report. A new analysis of data from 21 clinical trials on these foods --
collectively known as "pulses" -- finds that they can help dieters
feel full, and shed unwanted pounds. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
• Mediterranean Diet May Help Lower Hip Fracture Risk in Older Women: Women
who most closely followed a Mediterranean diet -- one high in fruits,
vegetables, nuts, legumes and whole grains -- had a 20 percent lower risk for
hip fractures compared to women who didn't follow this regimen, the researchers
found. The study couldn't prove cause-and-effect, however. And the researchers
stressed that the absolute reduction in risk of a hip fracture for any one
woman was still pretty slight -- only about a third of one percent. JAMA
Internal Medicine
• Paleo Diet May Help Older Women’s Hearts, Waistlines: The
so-called Paleo diet may help older women lose weight and lower their future
risk of diabetes and heart disease, a new study has found. Women experienced
these benefits by sticking to the guidelines of the Paleo diet, even though
they were not required to restrict their calorie intake, the researchers said.
The diet typically includes foods that could be obtained by hunting and
gathering -- lean meats, fish, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds -- and limits
foods that became common with the advent of farming, such as dairy products,
grains and legumes. Endocrine Society
• Coffee Might Cut Colon Cancer Risk: Drinking coffee may cut your risk of
colon cancer by as much as 50 percent, a new study suggests. The more you
drink, the more you may reduce your risk -- and it makes no difference whether
the coffee is regular or decaf, researchers said. Cancer Epidemiology,
Biomarkers and Prevention
• Fruit Every Day Might Help Heart: Adults who ate fresh fruit, such as
apples and oranges, every day had about a one-third reduced risk of dying from
a heart attack or stroke, compared to those who rarely or never ate fruit,
researchers found. NEJM
TREATMENT
• No Heart Risk from SSRI Antidepressants: Widely used antidepressants known
as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)- Celexa, Lexapro, Prozac,
Paxil and Zoloft- don't appear to raise the risk for heart trouble among young
and middle-age patients, a large analysis suggests. BMJ
• Antipsychotic
Drugs Tied to Risk of Early Death in Parkinson’s Patients: New
research suggests that Parkinson's patients who are given antipsychotics to
treat dementia and psychosis may be more likely to die early. However, the
medications provide important benefits and the study authors aren't suggesting
that these patients stop taking them. And it's still not clear exactly why
there seems to be an increased risk of early death. JAMA Neurology
• Men,
Avoid Impotence Drugs Before Surgery: Men should not take erectile
dysfunction drugs such as Viagra and Cialis just before surgery, experts say.
The drugs contain nitric oxide, which opens blood vessels and relaxes muscles.
This can cause a patient's blood pressure to become dangerously low when
combined with anesthesia and other drugs used during surgery, according to the
American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA).
• Randomized Trial of Longer-Term Therapy for Symptoms Attributed to Lyme Disease In
patients with persistent symptoms attributed to Lyme disease, longer-term
antibiotic treatment did not have additional beneficial effects on health-related
quality of life beyond those with shorter-term treatment. NEJM
• Anti Addiction May Help Curb Painkiller Heroin Dependence: The newer anti-addiction drug
naltrexone may become an important weapon in the country's escalating addiction
to opioid painkillers and heroin, a new study suggests. Researchers found that
monthly injections of extended-release naltrexone -- which blocks the euphoric
effects of opioids -- resulted in a significantly lower relapse rate among
treated addicts compared to a similar group that didn't receive the drug.
Additionally, during the six-month study there were no overdoses in the
naltrexone group compared to five in the other group. NEJM
• Could Low Risk Surgery Help Chronic Heartburn: A minimally invasive surgery to
treat chronic heartburn is safer than generally believed, and could be a desirable
alternative to long-term use of acid reflux medications, new research
indicates. Scientists found the death rate following so-called laparoscopic
fundoplication surgery for gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, was far
lower than the 1 percent often quoted. British Journal of Surgery
• More Evidence Diabetes Drug Actos Raises Bladder Cancer Risk a Bit: Actos
(pioglitazone) appears to increase risk of bladder cancer by 63 percent, Canadian
researchers say. The findings, published March 30 in The BMJ, stem from an
analysis of nearly 146,000 patients treated between 2000 and 2013.
• Brain Stimulation May Help with Anorexia: Brain stimulation may ease major
symptoms of the eating disorder anorexia nervosa, a typically hard-to-treat
condition, a new study suggests. British researchers evaluated anorexia
patients before and after they underwent repetitive transcranial stimulation
(rTMS), a treatment approved for depression. PLoS One
• Cost
of Insulin Rises Threefold in a Decade: A new study finds the price of
insulin has tripled in only 10 years. Moreover, since 2010, per-person spending
on insulin in the United States was more than spending on all other diabetes
drugs, the study found. One reason for the price climb, he said, is a switch
from human insulins to analog insulins, which cost more but may offer
additional benefits. Also, doctors are more apt to prescribe insulin for people
with type 2 diabetes now. JAMA
• Weight Loss Surgery May Help Control Type 2 Diabetes in Long Run: New
research adds to growing evidence that weight-loss surgery helps patients with
type 2 diabetes lower their blood sugar levels for at least five years. The
Lancet
• Common Heartburn Drugs Linked to Kidney Disease: The research is the latest to
highlight potential risks from drugs called proton pump inhibitors
(PPIs)-Prilosec, Prevacid and Nexium. PPI users were more likely than people on
other heartburn medications to develop chronic kidney disease or kidney failure
over five years. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology
• Additional
benefits of type 2 diabetes treatment found for non-alcoholic fatty liver
disease patients: A type 2 diabetes treatment has been found to also have 'off-label'
benefits for glucose control in the liver and in fatty cells known as adipose.
The study shows that exenatide, a treatment that targets the pancreas to
improve glucose absorption, enhances glucose uptake and reduces insulin
resistance in the liver and in adipose tissue. The
International Liver Congress
• Treatment
for Chronic Hepatitis B Linked to Increased Cancer Risk: A new
study demonstrates a potential link between treatment of long-term oral
nucleos(t)ide analogues and an increased risk of colorectal and cervical cancer
in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV). The International Liver
Congress
• Expert Panel Reaffirms Daily Aspirin's Use Against Heart Disease, Colon Cancer: People in their 50s who are at
increased risk of heart disease should take a low-dose aspirin (81 Milligrams)
each day to reduce their risk of both heart disease and colon cancer, the U.S.
Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends. Americans in their 60s who
are at increased risk of heart disease can also benefit from taking aspirin,
the influential expert panel said, but the benefit is somewhat smaller for this
age group. Therefore, the decision to take low-dose aspirin between age 60 to
69 should be made with a doctor, based on the patients' risk of heart disease
and gastrointestinal bleeding, as well as their overall health and personal
preferences. The USPSTF said that there is not enough evidence to determine the
risks or benefits of daily low-dose aspirin in adults who are either younger
than 50, or older than 70.
CAREGIVING
• Caregivers Often Give Up Necessities to Cover Alzheimer’s Costs: Caring for someone with Alzheimer's
disease means caregivers often skimp on their own food and medical care, and
even sell their belongings to support their loved one, according to the
Alzheimer’s Association Annual Report. According to the survey, caregivers were
28 percent more likely to eat less or go hungry, and one-fifth cut back on
doctor visits. Nearly half of them cut back on their own expenses to afford
dementia-related care. And more than one-third reduced their hours at work or
quit their job to care for a loved one, losing an average of $15,000 in income.
OTHER
• Anti Vaxxers are Officially to Blame for the Rise in Preventable disease: A new NIH study has found a
correlation between vaccine refusal and the rise of measles and whooping cough,
two common vaccine-preventable conditions. Huffington Post
• Less
Than 3% of Americans Live a Healthy Lifestyle: The study looked at data on more
than 4,700 people who took part in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition
Survey. The researchers assessed how many people followed four general
"principles of healthy living" -- a good diet, moderate exercise, not
smoking and keeping body fat under control. Overall, 71 percent of the adults
surveyed did not smoke, 38 percent ate a healthy diet, 10 percent had a normal
body fat percentage and 46 percent got sufficient amounts of physical activity.
Sixteen percent had three of the healthy lifestyle behaviors, 37 percent had
two, 34 percent had one and 11 percent had none. Mayo Clinic Proceedings
