Pain News and Research

Latest Pain News and Research

FDA approves Remodulin for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension

United Therapeutics Corporation announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an approval letter for the intravenous use of Remodulin based on data establishing its bioequivalence with the previously approved subcutaneous administration of Remodulin.

24 Nov 2004

Biomedical engineering project creates eyes that will never tire

A pair of eyes that follow you around the room is normally the hallmark of a successful portraitist. Tim Nelson, however, is working to achieve a similar effect by employing a pair of disembodied, robotic eyes.

24 Nov 2004

FDA approval of Tysabri, for the treatment of multiple sclerosis

Biogen and Elan Corporation have announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Tysabri (natalizumab), as treatment for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) to reduce the frequency of clinical relapses.

24 Nov 2004

Topical cream alternative to Vioxx

A clinical study recently published in The Journal of Rheumatology concludes that a topical cream consisting of a blend of natural oils called cetylated fatty acids significantly increased range of motion and physical performance in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee with no reported side effects.

24 Nov 2004

Revolutionary new procedure an alternative to spinal fusion

With the FDA's recent approval of an artificial disc that makes spinal fusion "a thing of the past," one nationally renowned spine surgeon is receiving a flood of phone calls from patients interested in seeking relief from chronic back pain.

24 Nov 2004

Patients with knee osteoarthritis should avoid long term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Current guidelines recommend the use of oral NSAIDs in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis and they are used regularly by half of all patients with painful osteoarthritis.

23 Nov 2004

Information about serious adverse effects of cerivastatin were known within months after drug launched

A review of the published literature and of internal company documents from the manufacturer of cerivastatin, a cholesterol lowering drug removed from the market in 2001, suggests that information about serious adverse effects of this medication was known to the company within months after this drug was launched

23 Nov 2004

Long-term use of opioid prescriptions by veterans

Veteran patients who receive long-term opioid prescriptions generally are treated with modest and stable medication dosages, according to an article in the November 22 issue of The Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

23 Nov 2004

Survey shows need for conservative, drug-free options

A new survey showing that nearly half of all Americans are concerned about the safety of the medical care they receive should send a strong signal to the health and insurance industries that safer non-drug, non-surgical treatments should be considered whenever possible, according to the American Chiropractic Association (ACA).

20 Nov 2004

Urinary incontinence and abdominal pain are key symptoms of ovarian cancer

Results from an Olmsted Medical Center and Mayo Clinic study analyzing symptoms recorded in the medical records of ovarian cancer patients suggest ovarian cancer, long considered asymptomatic until late-stage cancer develops, does in fact have early symptoms, including urinary incontinence and abdominal pain.

18 Nov 2004

Biotoxin from puffer fish may provide treatment for opioid withdrawal

On November 10, 2004 investigators involved in a Phase IIa clinical trial of the novel biotoxin Tetrodotoxin (TTX) for the treatment of opioid withdrawal enrolled their first participants.

18 Nov 2004

Acupuncture better than drugs alone for osteoarthritis of the knee

Acupuncture, as a complementary therapy to drug treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee, is more effective than drug treatment alone, find researchers from Spain in this week's BMJ.

18 Nov 2004

High levels of stress double the risk of painful periods

Primary dysmenorrhoea, otherwise known as painful periods without any organic cause, is one of the most common gynaecological problems among women of childbearing age.

17 Nov 2004

Researchers find effective treatment for Unusual Fever Syndrome caused by cold exposure

Remember when Grandma used to say, "don’t go out in the cold; you’ll get sick”? It turns out that she was right for a small number of people who have a condition called familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome (FCAS)

16 Nov 2004

Chronic pain influenced by social background

Griffith University research has shown that recovery from chronic pain is heavily dependent on the socio-economic status of the patient, rather than the nature of the healthcare they receive.

16 Nov 2004

FDA commits to use of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is stepping up its efforts to improve the safety and security of the nation's drug supply through the use of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology.

16 Nov 2004

Startling new blood pressure findings - atherosclerosis slowed

A new study led by The Cleveland Clinic shows that giving blood pressure lowering medication to heart disease patients with a “normal” blood pressure dramatically reduces risk of adverse cardiac events and slows disease progression.

16 Nov 2004

Vasogen announces full patient enrollment in its trial of Celacade in peripheral arterial disease

Vasogen today announced that it has reached full enrollment in its 500-patient pivotal phase III SIMPADICO trial of Celacade (immune modulation therapy) for the treatment of peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

16 Nov 2004

Acetaminophen shows positive cardioprotective effects In heart attack, arrhythmia

Long an under-studied yet widely-used over-the-counter medication, acetaminophen over the last few years is becoming recognized for a range of potential therapeutic uses beyond headache and pain.

16 Nov 2004

Hormone replacement therapy patches have considerable potential as prostate cancer therapy

Men using the female estrogen hormone replacement therapy (HRT) patches as treatment for advanced prostate cancer suffer fewer side effects than with other treatments, according to a new study reported in the latest issue of the Journal of Urology.

16 Nov 2004