PAIN
New Migraine
Drug Performs Well in Clinical Trial:A new migraine medication has shown promising results in a successful
large-scale clinical trial. The drug, called ubrogepant, performed better than
a placebo and has fewer risks than other drugs, researchers are reporting.
Within 2 hours of being taken in a clinical trial, researchers say ubrogepant
was able to completely stop a severe migraine attack. JAMA
Cannabis May
Help Reduce Migraine Pain — If You Inhale: Researchers say people who inhale cannabis reported
significant reduction in pain from migraine attacks and other severe headaches.
Experts say the research is preliminary, but they add cannabis can relax the
central nervous system and relieve the stress that sometimes causes headaches.
Experts add that inhaling cannabis provides relief more quickly than eating
cannabis products that need to go through the digestive system. The Journal of
Pain
Migraine headaches? Consider aspirin for treatment and prevention: Evidence from 13 randomized trials of the treatment of migraine in 4,222 patients and tens of thousands of patients in prevention of recurrent attacks supports the use of high dose aspirin from 900 to 1,300 milligrams to treat acute migraine as well as low dose daily aspirin from 81 to 325 milligrams to prevent recurrent attacks. Aspirin is available without a prescription, is inexpensive, and has a relatively favorable side-effect profile compared to alternative more expensive medications. The American Journal of Medicine
Researchers Explore A Drug-Free Idea To Relieve Chronic Pain: Green Light: The results of this
migraine study aren't published yet. But they build on a small but growing body
of research suggesting a link between green light and pain. In a study of 25
people exposed to green LED light, on average, people experienced a 60%
decrease in the intensity of their migraines and a drop from 20 migraines a
month to about six. NPR
A New Technique in Knee Surgery — the ‘Artificial Meniscus’: A new “artificial meniscus” is being
hailed as a less painful and less complicated way to perform knee surgery. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has
granted “breakthrough device” status for the product with clinical trials
scheduled to be completed next year and in 2023. Healthline
COMPLEMENTARY & ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
Cannabis found not to be a substitute for opioids: A meta-analysis found cannabis use didn't reduce illicit
opioid use during treatment nor did it retain people in treatment. "There
is limited evidence that cannabis use may reduce opioid use in pain management,
and some high-profile organizations have suggested cannabis is an 'exit drug'
for illicit opioid use, but we found no evidence to suggest cannabis helps
patients with opioid use disorder stop using opioids." Canadian Medical Association Journal
Daily cannabis use lowers odds of using illicit opioids among people who have chronic pain: For those using
illicit opioids to manage their chronic pain, cannabis may be a beneficial --
and a less dangerous -- alternative, according to new research. Researchers
from the BCCSU and University of British Columbia (UBC) interviewed more than
1,100 people at highest risk of opioid overdose in Vancouver between 2014 and
2017 who reported substance use and major or chronic pain. They found that
daily cannabis use was associated with significantly lower odds of daily
illicit opioid use, suggesting people are replacing opioids with cannabis to
manage their pain. Plos Medicine
Purified CBD May Help Treat Drug-Resistant Epilepsy: Among patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), the
reduction in the frequency of TSC-associated seizures was greater in those
receiving a purified version of cannabidiol (CBD) than in those receiving
placebo, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American
Epilepsy Society
NIH study
reports more than half of US office-based physicians recommend CHA: A new study has shown that more than
half (53.1%) of office-based physicians in the U.S., across specialty areas,
recommended at least one complementary health approach (CHA) to their patients
during the previous 12 months, with female physicians (63.2%) more likely to
recommend a CHA than male physicians (49.3%). Overall, massage therapy was the
most commonly recommended CHA, followed by chiropractic/osteopathic
manipulation, herbs/nonvitamin supplements, yoga, and acupuncture. JACM
'Safety
signals' may help slow down anxiety:
For as many as one in three people, life events or situations that pose no real
danger can spark a disabling fear, a hallmark of anxiety and stress-related
disorders. Researchers at Yale University and Weill Cornell Medicine report on
a novel way that could help combat such anxiety. In humans and in mice, a
'safety signal' -- a symbol or a sound that is never associated with adverse
events -- can relieve anxiety through an entirely different brain network than
that activated by existing behavioral therapy. "A safety signal could be a
musical piece, a person, or even an item like a stuffed animal that represents
the absence of threat." Proceedings
of the National Academy of Sciences
Mindfulness Program May Help Lower Blood Pressure:
Participants in a mindfulness program have significant improvements in
self-regulation skills and reductions in blood pressure, according to a small
study published online Nov. 27 in PLOS ONE.
FDA ACTION
• Approved cefiderocol (Fetroja) treat certain UTIs
only to be used as a last resort when other antibiotics have failed.
• Approved Adakveo for Sickle Cell Disease Complication
• Approved Oxbryta for Treatment of Sickle Cell Disease
• Approved Brukinsa for Relapsed, Refractory Mantle Cell Lymphoma
• Approved
First Contact Lens That Slows Myopia Progression in children ages 8 to 12 years
• Approved First System to Insert Ear Tubes Under Local Anesthesia
• Approved Oxbryta for Treatment of Sickle Cell Disease
• Approved XCOPRI for Treatment of Partial-Onset Seizures
• Approved Givlaari for Acute Hepatic Porphyria
• Approved Calquence to Treat CLL, SLL
• Issued
Warning that products that contain cannabidiol may not be as safe as people
think and have sent warning letters to 15 companies that sell products with
cannabidiol. Officials say most of these products haven’t been tested by the
FDA and may have serious side effects.
• Approved
first generics of Fingolimod for MS
• Authorized
the sale of two new reduced nicotine cigarettes.
• Approved
Vascepa, a drug derived from fish oil as an adjuvant therapy for people at risk
of experiencing cardiovascular events.
• Approved
marketing of an interoperable automated glycemic controller device, the Tandem
Diabetes Care Control-IQ Technology
• Approved Padcev for Treatment of Advanced Urothelial Cancer
• Unveiled
plans to allow prescription drug imports from Canada and other foreign nations.
PREVENTION: Exercise
Vigorous
Exercise Can Greatly Reduce Your Risk of Cancer, Heart Disease: Women with a greater exercise capacity
on a heart stress test had a lower risk of dying from heart disease and other
conditions. The study found poor exercisers were twice as likely to die from
cancer and more than four times as likely to die from other causes, compared to
women on a higher fitness level. EuroEcho 2019,
Aerobic Exercise May Slow Cognitive Decline in Older Adults: Among older adults who have
cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and cognitive impairments with no
dementia (CIND), cognitive function was better at one-year follow-up in
participants compared with controls after a six-month exercise intervention,
with or without the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, according
to a study published online Nov. 22 in the Journal of the American
Geriatrics Society.
People with Rheumatoid Arthritis Can Slow Cognitive Decline by Exercising: A new study concludes that exercise can
lower the risk of cognitive decline for people with rheumatoid arthritis. Past
studies have reported that rheumatoid arthritis can increase difficulties with
cognition such as brain fog. The latest findings were from a 10-year study of
1,219 people. ACR
Physical
activity may protect against prostate cancer: Individuals with a genetic variation that increased their
likelihood of being physically active had a 51% lower risk of prostate cancer
than people who did not have this genetic variation. "Physical
activity," in this case, refers to all forms of activity, not just
exercise. the study authors conclude that interventions encouraging males to
ramp up their levels of physical activity may have a protective effect against
this widespread form of cancer. International Journal of Epidemiology
Reducing the
side-effects of prostate hormone therapy with exercise: A prescription of short-term exercise
for patients with advanced prostate cancer could help to reduce the
side-effects of hormone therapy, according to new research. The trial aimed to
reduce the adverse side-effects of hormone therapy such as weight gain and an
increased risk of heart problems. The results show that a three month programme
of aerobic and resistance training intervention prevented adverse changes in
cardiopulmonary fitness and fatigue. British
Journal of Urology International
Moderate Physical Activity Tied to Lower Fasting GLP-1 in Men: For overweight men, physical activity
(PA) even at moderate intensity is associated with lower fasting and greater
glucose-stimulated glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) responses, according to a
study published online Dec. 1 in Endocrine Connections.
PREVENTION: Diet/Nutrition
Plant-based diet may prevent cognitive decline: New research finds that following a
diet rich in plant-based foods and low in animal products during midlife is
associated with a significantly lower risk of cognitive impairment later in
life. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Trusted Source.
High-protein diets may harm your kidneys: "
The promise of saving calories and losing weight is why a high-protein diet is
very often recommended to people who suffer from diabetes or who are obese. But
the crux of the matter is that these groups of people are especially vulnerable
to the kidney-harming effects of a high protein intake. Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation
Healthful diet tied to lower risk of hearing loss: Investigators have found that eating a healthy diet may
reduce the risk of acquired hearing loss. Using longitudinal data collected in
the Nurses' Health Study II Conservation of Hearing Study (CHEARS), researchers
examined three-year changes in hearing sensitivities and found that women whose
eating patterns more closely adhered to commonly recommended healthful dietary
patterns, such as the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, the
Alternate Mediterranean (AMED) diet, and the Alternate Healthy Index-2010
(AHEI-2010), had substantially lower risk of decline in hearing sensitivity. American Journal of Epidemiology
Study finds
no link between statin use and memory harm in older adults: There is no link between statin use and
memory impairment, researchers have concluded, after evaluating effects of the
cholesterol-lowering drugs over 6 years in more than 1,000 older people in
Australia. Journal of the American College of Cardiology
Peas and
beans: Can they improve heart health?
A recent review and meta-analysis focus on the role of legumes in heart health.
Taking data from multiple studies and earlier analyses, the authors conclude
that legumes might benefit heart health but that the evidence is not
overwhelming. Advances In Nutrition
Another Benefit from Coffee: It Can Reduce Risk of Metabolic Syndrome: Coffee consumption at a level of one to
four cups per day is associated with a reduced risk of metabolic syndrome
(MetS) in observational studies. Experts
say that losing weight, not smoking, and getting sufficient exercise are still
the most effective ways to prevent or reverse this condition. 13th
European Nutrition Conference
New diet
that matches biological clock may be better for diabetes: A new study confirming that the three
meals a day approach could be more helpful for those with type 2 diabetes.
"[O]ur research proposes shifting the starch-rich calories to the early hours
of the day. This produces a glucose balance and improved glycemic control among
[people with type 2 diabetes]," the specialist explains. Diabetes Care
Eat For 10
Hours. Fast For 14. This Daily Habit Prompts Weight Loss: Researchers tracked a group of
overweight participants who followed this approach for about three months.
"Typically, people would go for an 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. eating window. During
the fasting period, participants were encouraged to stay hydrated with water.
Each day, they logged the timing of their meals and their sleep in an app.
"We saw a 3% reduction in their weight and a 4% reduction in abdominal
visceral fat." "We didn't ask them to change what they eat." In
addition to the weight loss, "we saw that cholesterol levels improved and
blood pressure [levels] also improved." The study was small, just 19
people. All the participants were overweight and had a cluster of risk factors
(elevated blood sugar, elevated cholesterol levels and high blood pressure) that
put them at higher risk for Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Cell
Metabolism
Even light alcohol consumption linked to higher cancer risk in Japan: In a study conducted in Japan, even
light to moderate alcohol consumption was associated with elevated cancer
risks. The overall cancer risk appeared to be the lowest at zero alcohol
consumption. Cancer
Hydration
may affect cognitive function in some older adults: Among women, lower hydration levels
were associated with lower scores on a task designed to measure motor speed,
sustained attention, and working memory. They did not find the same result for
men. European Journal of
Nutrition
Could hot
chili peppers reduce mortality risk?
According to a recent study, people who regularly consume chili peppers have a
reduced mortality risk compared with those who never eat chilis.
Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Processed meat and cancer link depends on nitrite content: In 2015, the World Health Organization
(WHO) classified processed meats as Group 1 carcinogens, citing sufficient
evidence that they cause cancer in humans. Now, a new review challenges this
blanket classification, having found that the strength of the evidence varies
according to whether the meat contains nitrites. However, not all processed
meats contain nitrites. British and Irish sausages, for instance, are free of
nitrites, whereas frankfurters, chorizo, and pepperoni from the United States
and continental Europe are not. Medical News Today
Cardiovascular
disease: Dietary cholesterol may not raise risk: According to the American Heart
Association (AHA), consumers should continue to stick to heart-healthy diets
for optimum cardiovascular health. However, there is no numerical
recommendation of cholesterol intake from food, as the AHA finds no link
between dietary cholesterol and cardiovascular risk. Circulation.
Ultra-processed
foods may raise the risk of type 2 diabetes: Sugary drinks, packaged snacks, and ready-made meals all
count as ultra-processed foods — that is, foods that contain a higher number of
additives and last longer because of the added preservatives. New research
suggests that these foods also raise the risk of type 2 diabetes. J AMA
Internal Medicine.
PREVENTION: Supplements
Study Finds Omega-3s May Help Your Heart, Doesn’t Increase Prostate Cancer Risk: New research shows that omega-3s may
continue to protect against heart disease-related death without the risk of
prostate cancer. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in foods such as fish and
flaxseeds and in dietary supplements such as fish oil. The study confirmed that
omega-3s may be a contributing factor in lowering certain heart disease risks. American Heart Association Scientific
Sessions
Should You Be Taking Prescription-Strength Fish Oil? An FDA advisory panel has recommended that more people be
eligible for prescription-strength fish oil. The prescription medicine has been
shown to reduce triglyceride levels and heart attack risk. There can be side
effects, including irregular heartbeat and excessive bleeding.
Many Nutritional Supplements Claim to Improve Heart Health. Only 3 Do
When it comes
to your heart health, however, a report published in the Methodist DeBakey Cardiovascular
Journal claims these three nutritional supplements are the ones most likely to
help: Omega 3 Fatty acids; Co Q 10 and Red Rice Yeast.
Vitamin D
Supplementation Alone May Not Reduce Fracture Risk: However, meta-analysis shows significant reduction
in any, hip fracture with vitamin D plus calcium. JAMA Network Open.
PREVENTION:
Other
Shingles Vaccine Is So Effective, There’s Now a Shortage: There is a shortage of the shingles
vaccine Shingrix due to consumer demand because of its effectiveness. The
vaccine is for people over the age of 50, especially those individuals who had
chickenpox as children.
Brush your teeth to protect the heart:
Brushing teeth frequently is linked with lower risks of atrial fibrillation and
heart failure, according to a study published in the European Journal of Preventive
Cardiology. Tooth brushing three or more times a day was associated
with a 10% lower risk of atrial fibrillation and a 12% lower risk of heart
failure during 10.5-year follow up.
Cellphone-Related Injuries to Head, Neck on the Rise:
The number of head and neck injuries related to cellphone use that require
emergency department attention has increased during a 20-year period, according
to a study published online JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
Many of these injuries, particularly in younger patients, result from
distraction while using cellphone.
Reductions in Air Pollution Yield Substantial Health Gains: Reductions in air pollution yield
prompt and substantial health benefits, according to research published in the
December issue of the Annals of the American Thoracic Society. The
researchers note that reducing air pollution can result in prompt and
substantial health gains. An Irish indoor smoking ban had an impact starting
from week 1, with reductions in all-cause mortality, ischemic heart disease,
stroke, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; at one month, workers
experienced decreased wheeze, dyspnea, cough, phlegm, irritated eyes, painful
throat, nasal itch, runny nose, and sneeze. Within weeks of a steel mill
closure, respiratory symptoms, school absenteeism, daily mortality, and
premature births decreased. Asthmatic symptoms improved four weeks after home
heater change. Use of clean cook stoves during pregnancy resulted in higher
birth weights, older gestational age at delivery, and less perinatal mortality.
A reduction in Swiss air pollution resulted in a decrease in respiratory deaths
and cardiac deaths at six years. U.S pollution tracking resulted in a life
expectancy increase at seven years for each 10 µg/m² reduction of fine
particulate matter.
Aspirin's health benefits under scrutiny:
Taking a baby aspirin every day to prevent a heart attack or stroke should no
longer be recommended to patients who haven't already experienced one of these
events, new research suggests. Family Practice
Permanent hair dye and straighteners may increase breast cancer risk: Scientists found that women who use
permanent hair dye and chemical hair straighteners have a higher risk of
developing breast cancer than women who don't use these products. The study
suggests that breast cancer risk increased with more frequent use of these
chemical hair products. International
Journal of Cancer
First Long-Term Study of E-Cigs Finds Link to COPD Risk: People who use e-cigarettes have an
increased risk for developing asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, or chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a long-term study shows. For e-cigarette
users, the odds of developing lung disease increased by about a third, even
after controlling for their tobacco use and their clinical and demographic
information. People who vaped had a lower risk than cigarette smokers. But for
people who both smoked combustible tobacco and vaped — dual users — the risk
for developing respiratory disease was even higher. American Journal of
Preventive Medicine
Advil, Aleve
May Help Women with a Higher Risk of Breast Cancer: Women with an elevated risk of breast cancer
can lower their chances of getting the disease by as much as 40 percent by
taking ibuprofen or naproxen. San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium in Texas.
Low-Dose Aspirin May Cut Dementia Risk in Women With Diabetes: Long-term use of low-dose aspirin may reduce the risk for dementia in women with type 2 diabetes, according to a study published online Dec. 4 in Diabetes Care.
T2DM Risk Cut With Weight Loss Even in Non overweight People: Losing weight is consistently
associated with reduced type 2 diabetes risk across body mass index (BMI),
family history, and genetic risk categories, according to a study published
online Dec. 10 in PLOS Medicine.
Sustained Weight Loss at 50+ May Lower Risk for Breast Cancer: For women aged ≥50 years, sustained
weight loss is associated with a reduced breast cancer risk, according to a
study published online Dec. 17 in the Journal of the National Cancer
Institute.
Menopause Linked to Increase in Sleep-Onset Insomnia: Postmenopausal women more often have sleep-onset insomnia
disorder and are more likely to screen positive for obstructive sleep apnea,
according to a study published online Dec. 13 in Menopause.
Domestic Abuse Increases Risk for Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue: There is an association between a
history of intimate partner violence (IPV) and the development of functional
syndromes, including fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), in women,
according to a study published online Dec. 6 in the Journal of Interpersonal
Violence.
TREATMENT
9 in 10 people who think they are allergic to penicillin may not be: While 10% of people in the United
States report being allergic to penicillin, 9 in 10 are not. However, this can
be difficult to scratch from medical records. ACAII Meeting
Experimental
cholesterol-lowering drug effective at lowering bad cholesterol, study shows: Twice-yearly injections of an
experimental cholesterol-lowering drug, inclisiran, were effective at reducing
low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, often called bad cholesterol, in
patients already taking the maximum dose of statin drugs. American Heart
Association's Scientific Sessions 2019.
Antibody
injection stops peanut allergy for 2 to 6 weeks: One injection of an antibody treatment
let people with severe peanut allergies eat a nut's worth of peanut protein two
weeks later, a small, Stanford-led pilot study showed. JCI Insight
Major Study
on Stents and Heart Disease:
Many people with blocked arteries in their heart may benefit as much from drug
therapy and lifestyle changes alone as from bypass surgery or stenting
procedures, a large study showed. The new study is certain to add fuel to the
ongoing debate among cardiologists about the best treatment for people with
moderate to severe but stable ischemia. The 7-year new study, which enrolled more than 5,000 people, found that
there wasn’t a large benefit for either putting in stents or performing bypass
surgery invasive procedures. AHA Meeting
Ultrasound Procedure Reduces Tremors in Parkinson’s Disease, Essential Tremor Disorder: A
new ultrasound treatment reduces tremors in people with Parkinson’s disease and
essential tremor disorder. The method involves focused beams of
sound energy used to heat and destroy a small part of a structure in the brain
called the thalamus. There are many advantages to using ultrasound: eliminates
surgery and reduces hospital stay. Radiological Society of North America Annual
Meeting
Current
Statin Use May Lower Risk for Lethal Prostate Cancer: New Ultrasound Treatment
for Prostate Cancer Revealed:Researchers have unveiled a new technique using ultrasound to treat prostate
cancer. TULSA doesn’t involve surgery and has minimal side effects. The
technique is already available for clinical use in Europe and has received
initial permission from U.S. regulators to test the device. Radiological
Society of North America.
Recalls May
Be Prompting People to Stop Taking Their Blood Pressure Medications: Researchers say there’s evidence people
have stopped taking their blood pressure medications due to recalls in the past
year. Healthline
Anti-hepatitis medicine surprises: New
effective treatment of hep C not only combats the virus, but is also effective
against complications. Journal
of Viral Hepatitis
Cancer drug
shows promise in Parkinson's disease safety trial: Nilotinib, a drug that regulators have
approved for the treatment of leukemia, has shown promise in a small clinical
trial of people with Parkinson's disease. JAMA
Neurology
CPAP Mask Helps Patients With Mild Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Among patients with mild obstructive
sleep apnea (OSA), quality of life is improved at three months for those
receiving continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy plus standard care
compared with standard care alone, according to a study published online Dec. 2
in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.
Bariatric Surgery May Raise Risk for Colon Cancer Years Later: Individuals who undergo bariatric
surgery may be at increased risk for developing colon cancer years later,
according to a study published online Dec. 4 in the International Journal of
Cancer.
OTHER
Retail Prescription Drug Prices Fall forFirst Time in 45 Years:
Retail prescription drug prices in the United States fell by 1 percent last
year, a new government report shows. The report said the overall decrease was
due to drops in generic drug prices and slow growth in the cost of brand-name
medications, the Associated Press reported.
5 Ways to
Support a Co-Worker with a Chronic Illness: A new
survey from Cancer and Careers found that 88 percent of people have concerns
about their ability to support a co-worker with a serious medical condition. The
following are ways to support your co-worker: Show empathy; Let them guide you;
Respect their privacy; Offer help with work tasks; and Don’t ignore the
situation. Cancer
and Careers
Being
Treated at Home Can Help People Save Money and Heal Faster: A new study found that the home
hospital model can potentially improve care while reducing costs. The cost of
care was nearly 40 percent lower. Trial participants receiving hospital care in
their homes had a 70 percent lower rate of readmission to the hospital. Annals
of Internal Medicine
Outcomes Worse for Rural Residents With Chronic Conditions: Rural Medicare beneficiaries with
complex chronic conditions have higher preventable hospitalization and
mortality rates than their urban peers, which is partially explained by reduced
access to specialists, according to a report published in the December issue of
Health Affairs, a theme issue on rural health.
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