• Chronic Pain May Trigger Many Cases of Addiction: Chronic pain may
be a major driver behind the recent surge in addiction to opioids. More than
eight in 10 people abusing prescription drugs said they were doing so to treat
pain. Journal of General Internal Medicine
• Experimental Light Therapy for Migraines: Researchers in Boston exposed 69
migraine patients to different colors of light. They found that while blue
light exacerbated headache pain, a narrow spectrum of low-intensity green light
significantly reduced light sensitivity. In some cases, this green light also
reduced migraine pain by about 20 percent, the
researchers found. Brain
• Cells Carry Memory of Injury, Which Could Reveal Why Chronic Pain Persists: A new
study offers clues as to why chronic pain can persist, even when the injury
that caused it has gone. Although still in its infancy, this research could
explain how small and seemingly innocuous injuries leave molecular ‘footprints’,
which add up to more lasting damage, and ultimately chronic pain. Cell Reports
• Emotional Expression Shows Benefits vs. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain: A
therapeutic intervention involving confronting and expressing emotional and
traumatic experiences shows greater improvement in fibromyalgia pain compared
with conventional cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), randomized trial results
show. It was also linked to significant pain reductions when offered as a
one-time intervention in the primary care setting.
• Yoga, Aquatic Exercise can Help Combat MS Symptoms: Exercise can have a positive influence on certain
symptoms of multiple sclerosis, say researchers. Patients who do yoga and
aquatic exercise suffer less from fatigue, depression and paresthesia, as
reported by researchers. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise
• Tai Chi Deemed Beneficial for Knee Osteoarthritis: For knee osteoarthritis, similar
benefits are seen for Tai Chi and standard physical therapy, according to a
study published online in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
• CAM Use in Those with More than One Chronic Condition:
Researchers found that chronic conditions were common, with 22.3 and 33.8
percent of U.S. adults reporting one and two or more conditions, respectively.
Many reported use of at least one form of CAM, with the most common being
multivitamins, multiminerals, or both (52.7 percent), vitamins (34.8 percent),
and minerals (28.4 percent). Adults with two or more conditions were more
likely than those with no conditions to use multivitamins or multiminerals or
both, vitamins, minerals, nonvitamins or herbs, mind-body therapies,
chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation, massage, movement therapies, special
diets, acupuncture, naturopathy, or some combination of these therapies.
Preventing Chronic Disease
• Yoga May Improve Memory Better than Brain Training: A
small study of adults with mild cognitive impairment found that those who
practiced yoga versus brain training had bigger improvement in visual spatial
memory and reductions in depression and anxiety. Live Science
• Yoga
Could Help Asthma Suffers Breathe more easily: A meta
analysis by the Cochrane Review found evidence yoga can improve the quality of
life and symptoms of sufferers to some extent.
FDA ACTION
• Launches Ad
Campaign Against Chewing Tobacco
• Warns that
antifungal drug fluconazole during pregnancy may raise the risk of miscarriage
• Will examine
what makes a food “healthy”
• Approves Tecentriq
(atezolizumab) to treat the most common type of bladder cancer, urothelial
carcinoma.
• Issued Stronger Warning on Side Effects of
Fluoroquinolones-Should not prescribe these drugs to people with sinusitis,
bronchitis or uncomplicated urinary tract infections.
• Approved Brintellix, antidepressant, Changing Name
to Trintellix, to Avoid Confusion with Brilinta
• Approves Nuplazid for Parkinson’s Hallucinations
• Approved generic
Crestor, statin
• Lonely, Isolated People May be Prone to Heart Disease, Stroke: Social isolation raised risk by about 30
percent, exerting the same level of influence on heart health as risk factors
such as anxiety and job stress, the British review found. Heart
• Regular Exercise May Boost Prostate Cancer Survival: A
study of more than 10,000 men with localized prostate cancer found that men
with the highest levels of exercise before their diagnosis were 30 percent less
likely to die of their prostate cancer than those who exercised the least. More
exercise seemed to confer an even bigger benefit. American Association for
Cancer Research
• Physical Activity Associated with Lower Risk for Many Cancers: A study
of 1.4 million participants during a median of 11 years of follow-up found that
higher levels of physical activity compared to lower levels were associated
with lower risks of 13 of 26 cancers: esophageal adenocarcinoma (42% lower
risk); liver (27%); lung (26 %); kidney (23%); gastric cardia (22%);
endometrial (21%); myeloid leukemia (20%); myeloma (17 %); colon (16 %); head
and neck (15% ), rectal (13%); bladder (13%); and breast (10%)Most of the
associations remained regardless of body size or smoking history. Overall, a
higher level of physical activity was associated with a 7 percent lower risk of
total cancer. JAMA Internal Medicine
• About Half of Women May Benefit from Mammograms at 40: New
research suggests that all women turning 40 should get a breast cancer risk
assessment, since half of them may have risks that are high enough to warrant
annual mammograms right away. The finding is important because the latest
guidelines on mammograms advise that most women can wait until the age of 45 or
50 to start having annual screenings. American Cancer Society and the American
Society of Breast Surgeons
• Night Shift May be Tough on aWoman’s Heart: Women
who work rotating night shifts may face a slightly increased risk of heart
disease, a new study suggests. "We saw a modest increased risk of heart
disease associated with longer duration of rotating night shift work, which
appears to wane after stopping shift work." JAMA
• Pesticides
Linked to Raised Risk of ALS: Exposure to pesticides and other
chemicals may increase the risk for ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), a
fatal neurological disease, researchers say. Persistent exposure to the
pesticide cis-chlordane increased ALS risk nearly sixfold. Exposure to
pentachlorobenzene -- which was used in the manufacture of fungicides -- doubled
the odds for ALS. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers, used as a flame retardant in
furnishings and textiles, raised the risk by about 2.7 times, the researchers
said. Military service was also linked to greater risk for developing ALS, but
the investigators can't explain why. JAMA Neurology
• A Healthy Lifestyle Can Prevent Cancer: A large proportion of cancer
cases and deaths among U.S. individuals who are white might be prevented if
people quit smoking, avoided heavy drinking, maintained a BMI between 18.5 and
27.5, and got moderate weekly exercise for at least 150 minutes or vigorous
exercise for at least 75 minutes, according to a new study. JAMA
•
Alcohol Processed Meats May Increase Stomach Cancer Risk: Alcohol,
processed meats -- such as hot dogs, ham and bacon -- and excess weight all may
raise a person's risk of stomach cancer, a new review finds. Further, the risk
seems to increase as a person drinks more alcohol, or eats more processed meats
or gains more weight. The report suggests that: Three or more alcoholic drinks
per day every day increases risk; For every 1.8 ounces of processed meat eaten
every day -- the equivalent of one hot dog or two slices of bologna -- the risk
of cancer in the lower stomach rises by 18 percent. Diet, Nutrition, Physical
Activity and Stomach Cancer 2016
• Omega
-3 Fish Oil Supplements Might Boost Antidepressants’ Effects:Researchers reviewed the findings of eight clinical trials worldwide, as well
as other evidence, and concluded that the Omega 3 fish oil supplements appear
to help battle depression in people already on medication. American Journal of
Psychiatry
• Teens
Who Eat Lots of Fruit May Lower Their Breast Cancer While Women Who Drink Alcohol Increase Risk: Consumption of apples, bananas and grapes during adolescence was
strongly associated with a drop in breast cancer risk. Roughly three daily
servings of such fruits was linked to a 25 percent drop in risk by middle age.
drinking fruit juice did not appear to confer any benefit. A second in the same
journal found that women who increased their overall alcohol intake by two
drinks per day ended up boosting their breast cancer risk by up to 30 percent.
BMJ
• Food that Can Help Fight the Risk of Chronic Inflammation: A new
study by the University of Liverpool's Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease
has identified food stuffs that can help prevent chronic inflammation that
contributes to many leading causes of death. Diets rich in fruits and
vegetables, which contain polyphenols, protect against age-related inflammation
and chronic diseases. The results of our study suggest that (poly)phenols
derived from onions, turmeric, red grapes, green tea and acai berries may help
reduce the release of pro-inflammatory mediators in people at risk of chronic
inflammation. British Journal of Nutrition
• Too Many Potatoes can Increase Blood Pressure: Consuming four or more servings
of potatoes a week was linked with an increased risk for high blood pressure --
11 percent for baked, boiled or mashed and 17 percent for fried -- compared
with eating less than one serving a month. Surprisingly, potato chips didn't
appear to increase the risk, the Harvard researchers reported. BMJ
•Genetically Modified Crops are Safe Review: Crops created through genetic
engineering are as safe to eat as crops developed through traditional
plant-breeding methods, according to the National Academies of Sciences,
Engineering and Medicine panel. The panel could find no link between
consumption of genetically modified crops and rates of cancer, kidney disease,
obesity, type 2 diabetes, gastrointestinal diseases, celiac disease, food
allergies or autism, the report stated. Genetically Engineered Crops:
Experiences and Prospects
• Probiotic Supplements Beneficial for those with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Probiotic
supplementation seems beneficial for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
The probiotic capsule contained three viable, freeze-dried strains: Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, and Bifidobacterium bifidum. The
International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases
• Calorie Restriction Improves Mood, Health in Non-Obese: Calorie
restriction may improve health, mood, sexual function, and stress levels even
in non-obese individuals, according to research published online May 2 in JAMA
Internal Medicine.
TREATMENT
• Low Dose Aspirin Tied to Better Cancer Survival in Study: People
with cancers of the colon, breast or prostate may have better survival odds if
they use low-dose aspirin, a new research review suggests. PLOS ONE
•
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy May Help Depressed Teens: A
study of 200 teens who were unwilling to take medication to treat their depression
found that those who tried a type of short-term "talk therapy" --
known as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) -- were more likely to recover than
those who didn't. Pediatrics
• Botox Can be Used for Chronic Migraine: Botox is a safe and effective
treatment for chronic migraine, spasticity in adults, cervical dystonia and
blepharospasm, an updated guideline from the American Academy of Neurology
says. American Academy of Neurology's Annual Meeting
•
Metformin Safer for Heart than Other Common Type 2 Diabetes Drugs: Metformin reduced the risk of dying from heart attack and
stroke by about 30 percent to 40 percent compared with other commonly used
drugs called sulfonylureas, such as glibenclamide, glimepiride, glipizide and
tolbutamide, researchers report. Annals of Internal Medicine
• Metformin May Reduce Cancer Death Risk: The study found that for women with
type 2 diabetes and cancer, the odds of dying from cancer appeared to be 45
percent higher compared to women with cancer who didn't have diabetes. But, in
women with cancer who took metformin to treat their type 2 diabetes, the risk of
dying from cancer seemed about the same as it was for women without diabetes.
International Journal of Cancer
•
Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention of Lyme Disease: Evidence
is evolving regarding the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of Lyme disease,
HGA, and babesiosis. Recent evidence supports treating patients with erythema
migrans for no longer than 10 days when doxycycline is used and prescription of
a 14-day course of oral doxycycline for early neurologic Lyme disease in
ambulatory patients. The duration of antimicrobial therapy for babesiosis in
severely immunocompromised patients should be extended to 6 weeks or longer.
JAMA
• Statins Might Not Lower Colon Cancer Risk: Long-term use of
cholesterol-lowering statins does not appear to reduce the risk of colon
cancer, but a person's cholesterol levels might affect risk, a new study
suggests. University of Pennsylvania
• With Flu Shot, Timing May be Everything: British researchers assessed 276
people 65 and older who received vaccinations against three different flu
strains between 2011 and 2013. Flu shots may be more effective when people get
them in the morning than in the afternoon. Vaccine
•
Lithium Beats Newer Meds for Bipolar Disorder: Lithium
outperforms newer mood stabilizers in the treatment of bipolar disorder, a new
study has found. Patients taking lithium had lower rates of self-harm and
unintentional injury compared to those taking other bipolar drugs, such as
valproate (Depacon, Depakote), olanzapine (Zyprexa) or quetiapine (Seroquel).
JAMA Psychiatry
• Warfin Tied to Dementia: Patients on the clot-preventing drug warfarin showed
a higher dementia risk if their blood levels of the medication were frequently
too high or too low. And that was true not only for people with atrial
fibrillation, but also for those using warfarin for other reasons.
• Too Many People Still Take Unneeded Antibiotics: Nearly one-third of the
antibiotics prescribed in the United States aren't appropriate for the
conditions being treated, a new federal government study shows. JAMA
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Advised for Chronic Insomnia: Cognitive behavioral therapy is
recommended as the initial treatment for all adults with chronic insomnia
disorder, according to a clinical practice guideline published online May 3 in
the Annals of Internal Medicine.
• Depression Strikes Many Caregivers of Critically Ill: Caregivers to patients who have
spent at least seven days in the intensive care unit] commonly experience
symptoms of depression for the full first year after ICU discharge, according
to a Canadian study. A large portion of them improve over the year, but a sub
group does not. Younger caregivers and those making under $39,000 were more apt
to be more depressed. NEJM
• Early
Palliative Care Helps Caregivers: Introducing palliative care
shortly after cancer diagnosis led to better quality of life for caregivers. It
also led to fewer symptoms of depression among the caregivers. This study is
the first to show that offering palliative care early may offer significant
benefits for people caring for dying cancer patients, the researchers said.
ASCO
OTHER
• Obamacare Expanding Coverage for the Poor: State
Medicaid expansions under Obamacare have improved low-income Americans'
insurance coverage, increased their doctor visits and enhanced detection of
chronic health conditions, which could lead to improvements in health, a new
study suggests. The findings are important as policymakers continue to debate
the value of expanding Medicaid, the publicly funded health insurance program
for the poor, researchers said. Annals of Internal Medicine
• Americans Getting Adequate Water Daily: Americans' worries about not being
properly hydrated may be unfounded: A new government report finds most are
getting enough water each day. The data, from the U.S. National Health
Nutrition Examination Survey for 2009 to 2012, found that adult men take in 117
ounces of water daily, on average -- more than 14 cups. For women, the number
is 93 ounces, or almost 12 cups daily. In 2004, the Institute of Medicine set
"adequate" daily intake of water at 125 ounces for men and 91 ounces
for women. The new data suggest that the average man approaches the needed
level, and the average woman more than meets it. Data Brief
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