Pain News and Research

Latest Pain News and Research

First Edition: December 3, 2013

Today's headlines include coverage of the mixed reviews regarding healthcare.gov's "relaunch" as well as the White House strategy to move past the website's difficulties.

3 Dec 2013

Lexicon announces top-line results from initial Phase 2 study of LX1033 for treatment of IBS-d

Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced top-line results from an initial Phase 2 study exploring the use of LX1033 in diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome. LX1033 is an investigational drug that inhibits serotonin synthesis in the gastrointestinal tract. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that has been shown to play a role in the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.

3 Dec 2013

CUMC researchers make new breakthrough in regenerative medicine

As fast-growing biotech company Rainbow Coral Corp. works to deliver new cutting-edge treatments in the field of regenerative medicine, a major new breakthrough could soon lead to growing new lungs for patients in a laboratory.

3 Dec 2013

Patients with RA today have easier time with daily living than patients diagnosed two decades ago

New research reveals that patients with rheumatoid arthritis today have an easier time with daily living than patients diagnosed two decades ago. According to results of the study published in Arthritis Care & Research, a journal of the American College of Rheumatology, anxiety, depressed mood and physical disability have been cut in half over the last 20 years. Researchers believe a reduction in disease activity is partly responsible for this positive change.

3 Dec 2013

Scientists investigate factors that influence choice of abused drugs

Prescription opioid abuse has reached epidemic levels in the past 15 years. Scientists investigating why people favor one drug over another have found that oxycodone and hydrocodone are the drugs of choice for 75% of opioid-dependent individuals.

3 Dec 2013

People who suffer with chronic pain face daily struggle with sense of self

People who suffer with chronic musculoskeletal pain face a daily struggle with their sense of self and find it difficult to prove the legitimacy of their condition.

3 Dec 2013

Researchers find evidence that gout clusters in families

It's historically known as 'the king of diseases and the disease of kings' and was long thought to be caused by an overindulgent lifestyle, but now scientists at The University of Nottingham have confirmed that 'gout' strongly runs in families.

3 Dec 2013

Sports concussions increase risk of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, says study

It's been widely reported that football and other contact sports increase the risk of a debilitating neurological condition called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

3 Dec 2013

Research show that risk of diverticulosis is lower than previously thought

People who have diverticulosis, or pouches in the lining of the colon, often worry that they will eventually develop a painful and sometimes serious condition called diverticulitis, as previous research has shown that one in four, or up to 25 percent, of those with the condition will.

3 Dec 2013

Study identifies high burden of pain in older adults

More than half of older adults in the United States - an estimated 18.7 million people - have experienced bothersome pain in the previous month, impairing their physical function and underscoring the need for public health action on pain. Many of those interviewed by investigators for a study published in the current issue of PAIN- reported pain in multiple areas.

3 Dec 2013

FDA extends initial PDUFA date for Biogen Idec's review of ALPROLIX BLA

Biogen Idec announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has extended the initial Prescription Drug User Fee Act date for its review of the Biologics License Application (BLA) for ALPROLIX, the company's investigational long-lasting recombinant factor IX Fc fusion protein candidate for hemophilia B.

2 Dec 2013

Vitamin D2 supplementation is promising treatment for pain, depression in type 2 diabetes

Vitamin D decreases pain in women with type 2 diabetes and depression, according to a study conducted at Loyola University Chicago. These findings were presented at an Oct. 24, 2013 research conference at Loyola's Health Sciences Campus.

2 Dec 2013

WHO releases new report on spinal cord injury

As many as 500 000 people suffer a spinal cord injury each year. People with spinal cord injuries are 2 to 5 times more likely to die prematurely, with worse survival rates in low- and middle-income countries. The new WHO report, "International perspectives on spinal cord injuries", summarizes the best available evidence on the causes, prevention, care and lived experience of people with spinal cord injury.

2 Dec 2013

Visterra secures exclusive patent license for promising dengue virus antibodies from MIT

Visterra, Inc., a developer of novel antibody therapeutics to prevent and treat major infectious diseases, today announced that it has secured an exclusive patent license from Massachusetts Institute of Technology to a family of early-stage monoclonal antibodies that target dengue virus. These antibodies were developed by MIT in the laboratory of Dr. Ram Sasisekharan, a founder of Visterra, using novel protein engineering approaches. Visterra will apply its proprietary network analysis technology to develop a human monoclonal antibody product candidate capable of broadly neutralizing all four dengue virus serotypes.

2 Dec 2013

PRP therapy improves functionality of tendons in athletes with degenerative disease

Ultrasound-guided delivery of platelet-rich plasma improves functionality and reduces recovery time in athletes with degenerative disease in their tendons, according to a study being presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.

2 Dec 2013

Royal Philips showcases EPIQ and AlluraClarity systems at RSNA 2013

Today, at the 99th Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America in Chicago, Royal Philips showcases its EPIQ premium ultrasound system that combines an exceptional level of clinical performance, advanced system intelligence and intuitive design, and its AlluraClarity interventional X-ray system that provides high quality imaging for a comprehensive range of clinical procedures, achieving excellent visibility at low X-ray dose levels for patients of all sizes.

From Philips Healthcare 1 Dec 2013

People with CFS to benefit from Griffith’s National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases

People living with chronic fatigue are set to benefit with the opening next week (Dec 2), of the National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases at Griffith University.

30 Nov 2013

Garden-Gateway believes chronic sufferers can cope with holiday stress

The holidays are a time of high stress for all of us. This is especially true for the many Californians who suffer from chronic illness or disease. It's well documented that stress can aggravate a wide range of chronic ailments, both physical and psychological, such as back pain, cancer, PTSD or immune system deficiency.

30 Nov 2013

Ergoresearch first quarter fiscal 2014 revenues increase 95%

Ergoresearch Ltd - based in Laval and better known under the «Clinique du pied Équilibre», «Orthoconcept» and «Laboratoire Langelier» banners - announced today its first quarter results for the period ended September 30, 2013.

30 Nov 2013

Sea coral could soon be used in bone grafting procedures

Sea coral could soon be used more extensively in bone grafting procedures thanks to new research that has refined the material's properties and made it more compatible with natural bone.

29 Nov 2013