Blood Test for Pain: A study published in Molecular Psychiatry tracked
hundreds of participants at the Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center in
Indianapolis to identify biomarkers in the blood that can help objectively
determine how severe a patient's pain is. The blood test, the first of its
kind, would allow physicians far more accuracy in treating pain -- as well as a
better long-term look at the patient's medical future.
Diabetes linked to back pain: People with diabetes have a 35 percent higher risk
of experiencing low back pain and 24 percent higher risk of having neck pain
than those without diabetes, researchers have found. PLOS ONE
Knee Pain Not Tied to Activity Levels in Knee Osteoarthritis: Knee pain is not
associated with daily walking levels in individuals with mild-to-moderate,
symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (KOA), according to a study published online
March 6 in Arthritis Care & Research.
Menopause Symptoms Linked to Chronic Pain in Midlife: Menopause symptoms are associated with chronic pain
among midlife female veterans, according to a study published online March 4 in
Menopause.
Autoimmune Disorders May Up Risk for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Common autoimmune
disorders are associated with an increased risk for carpal tunnel syndrome
(CTS), according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the Association
of Academic Physiatrists.
COMPLEMENTARY &
ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
People with osteoporosis should avoid spinal poses in
yoga, study says: Yoga postures that
flex the spine beyond its limits may raise the risk of compression fractures in
people with thinning bones, according to new research from Mayo Clinic. Mayo
Clinic Proceedings.
Yoga May Help With Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms, Severity: Yoga may be effective as a complementary or adjunct
therapy for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) taking disease-modifying
antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), according to a study published online Feb. 1 in
Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience.
Acupressure Reduces Lasting Symptoms in Breast Cancer Survivors: Acupressure is associated
with improvements in co-occurring symptoms in breast cancer survivors with
fatigue, according to a study recently published in JNCI Cancer Spectrum.
Most Patients Do Not Disclose Complementary Medicine
Use: Lack of inquiry from providers,
fear of disapproval, belief CM is safe among reasons for nondisclosure. Just
one-third of users of biologically based complementary medicine (CM) disclose
their use to traditional health care providers, according to a review published
online Feb. 7 in Scientific Reports.
Acupuncture Alleviates Moderate-to-Severe Menopause
Symptoms: Decreases seen in hot
flushes, day-and-night sweats, sleep problems, emotional and physical symptoms.
BMJ Open
Peer support, healing hands may curb prescription
opioid misuse in Chronic Pain Patients: Study shows holistic approach may help prevent drug deaths in
vulnerable populations. A program offering group support, acupuncture,
mindfulness, massage and gentle exercise may help prevent patients on
prescription opioids from
spiraling down to drug misuse, overdose and death, according to a new study. Journal of General Internal
Medicine
FDA ACTION
• FDA Administration
Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., announced his resignation. Ned Sharpless MD,
head of the National Cancer Institute will temporarily oversee the FDA
•
Warns Americans Not to Buy Drugs from CanaRx, who sell unapproved and
mislabeled medicines to Americans.
• Warned that a safety
clinical trial has revealed that tofacitinib (Xeljanz, Xeljanz XR) 10 mg twice
daily is associated with an increased risk for pulmonary embolism (PE) and
death among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
•
Warned that the gout medicine Uloric (febuxostat) carries a higher risk of
death than allopurinol
•
Allowed
marketing of a new device, ClearMate, intended to be used in an emergency room
setting to help treat patients suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Approved
a new indication for a heart valve repair device that is intended to reduce
moderate-to-severe or severe mitral regurgitation
•
Approved a new generic of Diovan (valsartan). Valsartan is an angiotensin II
receptor blocker (ARB) that treats high blood pressure and heart failure.
• Approved
Spravato (esketamine) nasal spray, in conjunction with an oral antidepressant,
for the treatment of depression in adults who have tried other antidepressant
medicines but have not benefited from them (treatment-resistant depression).
PREVENTION
Moderate muscle strength may lower risk for type 2 diabetes: New research shows
building muscle strength may lower risk for the disease by 32 percent. Mayo
Clinic Proceedings
Getting a flu shot while hospitalized lowers the chance of a heart attack: Largest
study to date bolsters evidence for heart benefits of vaccination. There's now
another reason to get your yearly flu shot. Not only can it protect you from
the body aches, fever and fatigue associated with a bout of influenza, it may
even prevent you from having a heart attack. The study of nearly 30 million
hospital records shows that people who got a flu shot while hospitalized had a
10 percent lower risk of having a heart attack that year compared to people who
visited a hospital but did not get the vaccine during their stay. American
College of Cardiology's 68th Annual Scientific Session
E-Cigarettes May Threaten Goal of Achieving Tobacco Endgame: Concern increasing that use
of newer tobacco products may catalyze transition to tobacco products, drugs.
There is considerable concern regarding the potential negative impact that
electronic cigarettes and other new products may have on ending all tobacco use
and nicotine addiction, according to a presidential advisory issued by the
American Heart Association and published online March 13 in Circulation.
E-cigarettes linked to heart attacks, coronary artery disease and depression: Concerns
about the addictive nature of e-cigarettes -- now used by an estimated 1 out of
20 Americans -- may only be part of the evolving public health story
surrounding their use, according to new data. New research shows that adults
who report puffing e-cigarettes, or vaping, are significantly more likely to
have a heart attack, coronary artery disease and depression compared with those
who don't use them or any tobacco products. American College of Cardiology's
68th Annual Scientific Session
Sustained Smoking Cessation May Delay, Prevent Seropositive Rheumatoid Arthritis:
While smoking is a strong risk factor for seropositive rheumatoid arthritis
(RA), sustained smoking cessation could delay or even prevent disease
development, according to a study published online Feb. 21 in Arthritis Care
& Research.
Ultrasound readings of left or right foot can predict good versus poor bone quality:
Ultrasonography (US) of the calcaneus is efficient for screening bone health,
according to a study published in the March issue of the Journal of the
American Osteopathic Association.
Periodontitis may raise the risk for developing dementia: Gum disease (gingivitis)
that goes untreated can become periodontitis. When this happens, the infection
that affected your gums causes loss in the bone that supports your teeth.
Periodontitis is the main cause of tooth loss in adults. It is also a risk
factor for developing dementia, one of the leading causes for disability in
older adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
Light physical activity linked to lower risk of heart
disease in older women: Light
physical activity such as gardening, strolling through a park, and folding
clothes might be enough to significantly lower the risk of cardiovascular
disease among women 63 and older, a new study has found. This kind of activity,
researchers said, appears to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease events
such as stroke or heart failure by up to 22 percent, and the risk of heart
attack or coronary death, by as much as 42 percent. JAMA
A nap a day keeps high blood pressure at bay: Catching some midday shut-eye linked to similar
drops in blood pressure seen with other lifestyle changes, some medications. It
seems that napping may do more than just reboot our energy level and improve
our mood. New research being presented at the American College of Cardiology's
68th Annual Scientific Session found that people who took advantage of a midday
snooze were more likely to have a noticeable drop in blood pressure compared
with those who didn't nap.
NUTRITION/SUPPLEMENTS/VITAMINS
What is association of dietary cholesterol or eating eggs with risk of cardiovascular disease, death? Eggs are a source of dietary cholesterol. This observational
study pooled data from six study groups for more than 29,000 people to
determine the associations of consuming dietary cholesterol or eating eggs with
risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and death. Adults who ate more eggs and
dietary cholesterol had a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular disease
and death from any cause. People need to consume lower amounts of cholesterol
to have a lower risk of heart disease, the study authors said.
Eating mushrooms may reduce the risk of cognitive decline: Researchers found that
seniors who consume more than two standard portions of mushrooms weekly may
have 50 percent reduced odds of having mild cognitive impairment. Journal of
Alzheimer's Disease,
Low-carb diet tied to common heart rhythm disorder: Study suggests using caution when restricting
carbohydrates for weight loss Low-carb diets are all the rage, but can cutting
carbohydrates spell trouble for your heart? People getting a low proportion of
their daily calories from carbohydrates such as grains, fruits and starchy
vegetables are significantly more likely to develop atrial fibrillation (AFib),
the most common heart rhythm disorder, according to a new study. American
College of Cardiology
More vitamin D may improve memory but too much may
slow reaction time: How much vitamin
D can boost memory, learning and decision-making in older adults, and how much
is too much? A unique study found that overweight and obese older women who
took more than three times the recommended daily dose (a daily dose is 600 IUs)
of vitamin D showed improvements in memory and learning -- but also had slower
reaction times. The researchers hypothesize that slower reaction times may
increase the risk of falling among older people. Journals of Gerontology:
Series A
Daily intake of nutritional supplements cannot
prevent depression: The largest
randomized clinical trial to study the effects of nutritional strategies on the
prevention of major depressive disorder concludes that daily intake of
nutritional supplements cannot prevent depression. Science Daily
TREATMENT
Tramadol May Up Mortality Risk in Osteoarthritis Patients: The initial prescription
of tramadol compared with commonly prescribed nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs may be associated with increased all-cause mortality among patients with
osteoarthritis, according to a study published in the March 12 issue of the
Journal of the American Medical Association.
Underweight Status Increases Shoulder Arthroplasty Complications: Underweight patients
have a high number of adverse events and postoperative infections after total
shoulder arthroplasty, even compared with super morbidly obese patients,
according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of
Orthopaedic Surgeons.
Patients with irreparable rotator cuff tears may have another surgical option: The
arthroscopic superior capsule reconstruction (SCR) surgical technique offers
patients with irreparable rotator cuff tears restored shoulder function and the
opportunity to return to sports and physically-demanding work, according to
research presented today at the AOSSM/AANA Specialty Day in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The study, which examined patient outcomes up to five years after surgery,
built upon earlier research, which examined short-term patient results.
Operative Treatment Seems Most Effective for Adult Lumbar Scoliosis: In as-treated
analyses, surgery is superior to nonoperative care at two years among patients
with adult symptomatic lumbar scoliosis, according to a study published in the
Feb. 20 issue of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
Recommendations Developed for Ulcerative Colitis Management: Recommendations have
been developed for management of adults with ulcerative colitis (UC); the
American College of Gastroenterology clinical guideline was published online
Feb. 21 in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.
Surgery no better than medication at preventing
serious complications of atrial fibrillation: Catheter ablation, a common cardiovascular procedure, appears no more
effective than drug therapies in preventing strokes, deaths, and other
complications in patients with atrial fibrillation. However, patients who get
the procedure experience much greater symptom relief and long-term improvements
in the quality of life, including fewer recurrences of the condition and fewer
hospitalizations, than those who get only drugs. The findings are from two new
studies published in the March 15 issue of the Journal of the American Medical
Association.
Few treatment guidelines for heart disease are based on rigorous study: Less than 10
percent of the treatment recommendations U.S. doctors rely on to manage care
for heart patients are based on evidence gained from multiple large, randomized
clinical trials -- the gold standard for obtaining scientific data. In fact,
the proportion of well-supported recommendations for heart care has actually
declined compared to 10 years ago, when an earlier analysis found a similar
dearth of rigorous studies supporting treatment guidelines. The latest study,
led by the Duke Clinical Research Institute, appears online March 15 in JAMA.
Adding Bempedoic Acid to Statin Therapy Reduces LDL Cholesterol: Bempedoic acid, an
inhibitor of ATP citrate lyase (ACLY), added to maximally tolerated statin
therapy, significantly reduces levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
cholesterol in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and/or
heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, according to a study published in the
March 14 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
OTHER
National Health Spending Set to Increase 5.5 Percent Annually: Long-observed demographic
and economic factors expected to drive growth in health spending. National
health spending is projected to increase at an annual rate of 5.5. percent from
2018 to 2027, with fundamental economic and demographic factors the main
drivers, according to a report published online Feb. 20 in Health Affairs.
Homes With High Ventilation Rates Tied to Respiratory Issues: People living in homes with
high average air exchange rates (AAERs) are more likely to report chronic
cough, asthma, or asthma-like symptoms, according to a study published in the
February issue of Environmental Research.
Veterans More Likely to Have Heart Disease: After the war is over, veterans face a new threat. They are
more likely to have heart disease at a younger age than nonveterans, and this
could herald a new health crisis on the horizon. Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine.
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