Pain News and Research

Latest Pain News and Research

Non-surgical needle biopsies in the lung may eliminate the need for children to undergo surgery

A pediatric study published in the September Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology shows non-surgical needle biopsies in the lung were 91 percent successful in providing sufficient tissue to determine a diagnosis.

14 Sep 2004

New study on female sexuality reveals increased use of sexual aids by women

The use of sexual aids and devices is often a sensitive and embarrassing topic for women, but a new landmark study on sexual aid usage conducted by the Berman Center and funded by an unrestricted educational grant from the Sexual Well-being store may help change women's acceptance of sexual aids

14 Sep 2004

Missing link between inflammatory markers in the bloodstream and the increased risk of heart attack

The study of 386 Olmsted County, Minn., residents used transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) to obtain high-quality images of the lining of the aorta, the main artery through which the heart pumps blood to the body.

14 Sep 2004

Potential new drug for the treatment of sickle cell disease

The results were published in the June 2004 issue of The British Journal of Haematology (BJH). MX-1520 is a prodrug of vanillin, a very popular food additive generally regarded as safe (GRAS) by the FDA.

13 Sep 2004

Botox injections to treat children with cerebral palsy

Botox injections are best known for reducing wrinkles on the face. However, experts at Loyola University Health System are finding new ways to use the injections in children with cerebral palsy, with most benefit in patients who are younger than 5 years old.

12 Sep 2004

500 WTC recovery workers and volunteers have new and persistent respiratory problems

Nearly half of more than 1,000 screened rescue and recovery workers and volunteers who responded to the World Trade Center attacks have new and persistent respiratory problems

12 Sep 2004

Many factors influence quality of life for patients with irritable bowel syndrome

The quality of life for patients with irritable bowel syndrome is as related to non-gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, including tiring easily and feeling tense, as it is to GI symptoms associated with the disorder

12 Sep 2004

Magnetic resonance imaging helps measure osteoarthritis

Researchers from Australia's Monash University have revolutionised knee scans with the development of new technology that harnesses the power of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

10 Sep 2004

Early success of the meningococcal B immunisation programme celebrated

Experts in science and medicine will focus on New Zealand's Meningococcal B Immunisation Programme today and tomorrow at an Immunisation Conference in Rotorua.

10 Sep 2004

Missing genes may help explain why plague bacteria are so deadly

What makes the germ that causes plague so fearsomely lethal, while a close relative only produces digestive disorders and is rarely fatal?

10 Sep 2004

Depressed patients may need treatment for both physical and emotional symptoms

Physical symptoms (such as headache, back pain, stomach problems, joint or muscle pains, and dizziness) are nearly as common in depression as emotional symptoms and are the predominant complaint depressed patients present with in the primary care setting.

8 Sep 2004

Study shows that naturopathic medicine helps women experiencing jaw pains

A study involving a painful jaw disorder and the role of naturopathic medicine demonstrates how this holistic approach to care can empower patients to improve their own health.

8 Sep 2004

Study shows lasers safely and effectively treat eye conditions in children

The first study to document the safety and effectiveness of the use of excimer lasers to treat a variety of eye maladies in children was published today in the September edition of the Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery.

8 Sep 2004

Bill Clinton is recovering after undergoing successful quadruple bypass surgery

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton is recovering after undergoing successful quadruple bypass surgery from New York Presbyterian Hospital; the first accredited Chest Pain Center in New York. His heart disease was extensive, with blockages in some arteries well over 90 percent, doctors said.

8 Sep 2004

Cymbalta approved for diabetic peripheral neuropathy pain

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Eli Lilly's Cymbalta, a balanced and potent serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. Cymbalta is the first and only FDA-approved treatment for pain caused by diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

8 Sep 2004

50 year old frozen smallpox vaccines are nearly 100 percent effective

Diluted doses of a smallpox vaccine, originally manufactured in the 1950s and stored as a frozen preparation, are nearly 100 percent effective, allowing for expansion of the current stockpile if needed, according to an article in the September 8 issue of JAMA.

8 Sep 2004

Study looks at the patient-practitioner relationship in complementary and alternative therapies

Why do patients opt for complementary and alternative therapies when they are ill? Is the relationship and communication between a patient and a practitioner as important in the treatment as the complementary treatments prescribed?

6 Sep 2004

Researchers unravel genetic makeup of ticks to tackle disease

Ticks as small as a freckle can transmit a number of illnesses for which there is no vaccine and, in some cases, no cure. These creatures even could become bioterrorism weapons.

4 Sep 2004

Health Canada is advising consumers of a recall of potassium replacement products

Health Canada is advising consumers of a recall of potassium replacement products distributed in Canada by EuroPharm International Canada Inc. and Laboratoire Riva Inc. Potassium replacement products are used in the treatment and prevention of potassium depletion.

2 Sep 2004

Rural doctors less likely to diagnose depression in men than in women

It is known that doctors are generally less likely to diagnose depression in men than in women. Little research has been undertaken to explore the reasons for this in rural settings, or to compare GPs' and male patients' assessments of perceived depression.

2 Sep 2004