_ On the Horizon: A New Way to Treat Pain By Jane Farrell article Researchers have identified two molecules that perpetuate chronic pain, and that may pave the way for more effective, less addictive medicines. A study from the Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland said that the molecules may play a role in the phenomenon that causes uninjured areas of the body to be more sensitive to pain if they are near an area that has been injured. The findings were published in the journal Neuron. "With the identification
Hearing Loss Hastens Brain Tissue Loss By article Although the brain becomes smaller with age, the shrinkage seems to be fast-tracked in older adults with hearing loss, according to the results of a study by researchers from Johns Hopkins and the National Institute on Aging. The findings add to a growing list of health consequences associated with hearing loss, including increased risk of dementia, falls, hospitalizations, and diminished physical and mental health overall.
_ Needed: A New Approach to Health-Care Surrogates By Jane Farrell article Almost half of hospitalized Americans 65 and older need decision-making assistance from family members because they are too impaired to make decisions on their own, a new study has found. And those health-care surrogates need to be taken more seriously. Most surrogates are children or spouses. Some patients have two or more family members making decisions toether. Researchers from Indiana University said the problem is only going to grow more prevalent as the U.S.
Fibromyalgia and Alternative Treatments By Jane Farrell article http://dirline.nlm.nih.gov/Fibromyalgia, a collection of painful symptoms that may be linked with anxiety and depression, is often difficult to diagnose and to treat.
_ Meds That Fight Fever May Spread the Flu By article Better not reach for the Advil or some aspirin when you have the flu. You may end up infecting others. Research done at McMaster University in Ontario showed that the widespread use of medications containing fever-reducing drugs may lead to tens of thousands more influenza cases and more than a thousand deaths attributable to influenza, each year across North America. These drugs include ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and acetylsalicylic acid. The study was published in January 2014 in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
Genetic Counseling Via Phone Is Effective By article Genetic counseling delivered over the telephone is as effective as face-to-face counseling, according to the largest randomized study to date comparing the two methods. The multi-center study, led by researchers at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, was published in January 2014 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
_ The FDA May Not Know Enough About the Drugs It Approves By Jane Farrell article Although many of us assume that the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) bases its approval of drugs on solid evidence, that may not be the case, a new study shows. Researchers from the Yale School of Medicine found that between 2005 and 2012, the clinical trials used by the FDA to approve new drugs varied widely in their thoroughness. The study, published in JAMA, is the first systematic analysis of the standards used by the FDA in making decisions about drug approval.
_ Sleep Deprivation & Prostate Cancer By article Lower levels of melatonin, a hormone involved in the sleep-wake cycle, may suggest an increased risk for developing advanced prostate cancer, according to findings presented in San Diego at the American Association for Cancer Research Conference held January 18th to 21st 2014.
The Joys of a Birthday Morning on Facebook By Sondra Forsyth blog When I booted my computer early on the morning of January 14th 2014, I went straight to my Facebook timeline. Sure enough, the birthday wishes had already begun to arrive. What a joy to be in touch with such a diverse group of people! I had long since lost touch with many of them before I started to use Facebook at the end of 2008. In a very real sense, the hundreds of people who are my Facebook friends give me the invaluable benefits of social support -- the buzz phrase for having frequent contact with people you care about and who care about you.
_ Study: Warning Labels Don't Always Work By Jane Farrell article Although warning labels are meant to warn consumers of a product's potential dangers, they may actually decrease awareness of those dangers over time. A new study Dr. Yael Steinhart of Tel Aviv University's Recanati Business School, along with Prof. Ziv Carmon of INSEAD in Singapore and Prof.
_ Most Car Accident Victims Aren't Lawsuit-Happy By Jane Farrell article Better think twice about that old “whiplash” stereotype. Most people who complain about pain after an auto accident actually do feel it. That conclusion comes from a new study led by University of North Carolina School of Medicine researchers, It’s is the first large prospective study to evaluate musculoskeletal pain outcomes after motor vehicle collision in the U.S.
_ Caregiving is Tough Even for Geriatrics Professionals By Jane Farrell article The difficulties of caregiving seem to be universal: even specialists in geriatrics can find it hard to deal with in their own lives. That discovery, by researchers from Boston Medical Center (BMC) and Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM), appears in the journal Gerontologist.
Cervical Screening Up to Age 69 Saves Lives By article A study published this week in PLOS Medicine suggests that screening women for cervical cancer beyond age 50 clearly saves lives, and also that there are benefits for women with normal (negative) screening results to continue screening up to the age of 69 years.
Heart Health Surprise! Dense Heart Plaques Are Better, Not Worse By article A surprise finding of study led by researchers at the University of California-San Diego School of Medicine shows that that coronary artery calcium (CAC) density may be protective against cardiovascular events rather than raising the risk of disease as has long been assumed. A release from the university quotes lead author Michael H. Criqui, MD, MPH as saying, "Current scoring systems assume that denser heart plaque (CAC) is more hazardous, but we found the opposite.
_ States' Restrictions on ACA Hampering Access By article The first study to gauge the impact of state restrictions on the roll-out of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) indicates that community health centers across the country are engaged in an intensive effort to find and enroll eligible and uninsured patients and community residents.
_ Flu Forecasting Website Posts Predictions By article Infectious disease experts at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health in New York City have launched a website that reports weekly predictions for rates of seasonal influenza in 94 cities in the United States based on a scientifically validated system. The URL is cpid.iri.columbia.edu. New predictions are posted every Friday afternoon during the flu season.
_ Mental Exercises Have Long-Term Effect By Jane Farrell article The benefits of mental-sharpness exercises for older adults can last for as long as ten years, according to new research. The research, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, found that even after a decade, participants who underwent cognitive training had less difficulty in performing everyday tasks. Known as Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly, or ACTIVE, the study is the first to establish that link, according to Frederick W. Unverzagt, Ph.D., professor at Indiana University School of Medicine.
_ Women's Health and Wellness A Nonsurgical Treatment for Pelvic Pain By Jane Farrell article Experts say that a nonsurgical option can be as good as medicine or sugery for women suffering from pelvic floor dysfunction, which includes bladder and bowel probems as well as pelvic pain.