Pain News and Research

Latest Pain News and Research

14-3-3 zeta protein involved in generating chronic pain

Researchers in France and Sweden have discovered how one of the body's own proteins is involved in generating chronic pain in rats. The results, which also suggest therapeutic interventions to alleviate long-lasting pain, are reported in The EMBO Journal.

13 Jun 2012

Utah-based company licenses new biomedical device from BYU for chronic back pain

In between the vertebrae of the human spine are 23 Oreo-sized, cartilage-filled discs that hold the vertebrae together and allow for spine movement. While the discs are critical for movement, they can become the source of back pain when they degenerate or herniate - a major health problem that affects 85% of Americans and drains the U.S. economy to the tune of $100 billion every year.

13 Jun 2012

Acorda commences AMPYRA clinical study for post-stoke deficits

Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. today announced that the first patient has been enrolled in a proof-of-concept study exploring the use of AMPYRA(dalfampridine) Extended Release Tablets, 10 mg in treating patients who have post-stroke deficits.

13 Jun 2012

Consequences of female genital mutilation could be reduced by reconstructive surgery

Reconstructive surgery after female genital mutilation (FGM) appears to reduce pain and restore sexual pleasure in women, according to the first large prospective trial to assess long-term outcomes of a new surgical technique published Online First in The Lancet. Over the past 10 years, between 130 and 140 million women worldwide have been subject to FGM.

12 Jun 2012

AMS announces FDA clearance of MEVION S250 Proton Therapy System

AMERICAN SHARED HOSPITAL SERVICES, a leading provider of turnkey technology solutions for advanced radiosurgical and radiation therapy services, today shared a recent announcement from Mevion Medical Systems, Inc. regarding Mevion Medical Systems' receipt of FDA 510(k) clearance for its MEVION S250 Proton Therapy System.

12 Jun 2012

New set of computer models predicts negative side effects in current drugs

A new set of computer models has successfully predicted negative side effects in hundreds of current drugs, based on the similarity between their chemical structures and those molecules known to cause side effects, according to a paper appearing online this week in the journal Nature.

12 Jun 2012

Pharmanest commences SHACT Phase II study in women

Today, Pharmanest AB announced that the first patient has been dosed in a randomized Phase II study of SHACT, a product developed for pain relief associated with intrauterine device (IUD) insertion. Karolinska Development AB (STO:KDEV) owns 58.9 percent of Pharmanest.

12 Jun 2012

Initial trial results from KYTHERA’s second of two Phase III trials with ATX-101

KYTHERA Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced the presentation of initial trial results from Study ATX-101-10-17, the second of two pivotal European Phase III clinical trials with ATX-101, a facial injectable drug for the aesthetic treatment of submental fat, which commonly presents as an undesirable double chin.

12 Jun 2012

RGS proteins play an essential role in night blindness

In a pair of related studies, scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute have identified several proteins that help regulate cells' response to light-and the development of night blindness, a rare disease that abolishes the ability to see in dim light.

12 Jun 2012

Ethnic minority women ill-informed about heart disease

Black and Hispanic women are less likely than White women to be aware of heart disease risk and the symptoms of a heart attack, researchers say.

11 Jun 2012

Theramine may reduce chronic low back pain

Physician Therapeutics, Inc., a division of Targeted Medical Pharma, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company that develops and distributes prescription medical foods to physicians, pharmacies and skilled nursing facilities, published results from a clinical trial of the company's proprietary medical food Theramine.

11 Jun 2012

State roundup: Md. hospital rate-setting system under scrutiny

News outlets report on a variety of health policy news in Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Oregon and Texas.

11 Jun 2012

Rapid test to identify patients not responding to painkiller tramadol

French researchers have found a way to identify quickly the 5-10% of patients in whom the commonly used painkiller, tramadol, does not work effectively. A simple blood test can produce a result within a few hours, enabling doctors to switch a non-responding patient on to another painkiller, such as morphine, which will be able to work in these patients.

11 Jun 2012

Positive results from Cara’s CR845 Phase II study on acute post-operative pain

Cara Therapeutics, Inc. today announced positive results from a Phase II study for the treatment of acute post-operative pain with its novel, peptide-based, peripherally-acting kappa opioid agonist, CR845.

11 Jun 2012

UMI, Toshiba partner to sell ultrasound systems in the U.S.

To meet the increased need for advanced ultrasound equipment, Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc. has partnered with United Medical Instruments (UMI), a worldwide provider of new and pre-owned ultrasound systems, parts and transducers, to sell Toshiba's ultrasound systems to the private physician office and clinic market in the U.S.

11 Jun 2012

Simple blood test can quickly identify 'poor metabolisers'

11 Jun 2012

Dapagliflozin more effective than sitagliptin for adult patients with type 2 diabetes

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and AstraZeneca today announced results from a Phase 3 clinical study that showed the investigational compound dapagliflozin 10 mg demonstrated significant reductions in blood sugar levels (glycosylated hemoglobin levels, or HbA1c) compared with placebo at 24 weeks when either agent was added to existing sitagliptin therapy (with or without metformin) in adult patients with type 2 diabetes.

11 Jun 2012

Adolescent mental disorders have repercussions for addiction

Adolescents with mental health disorders are significantly more likely to become addicted to prescription opioid pain relievers than those without mental disorders, experts say.

8 Jun 2012

Positive results from Amgen Sensipar/Mimpara Phase 3 trial for HPT, CKD

Amgen today announced top-line results of the Phase 3 EVOLVE (EValuation Of Cinacalcet HCl Therapy to Lower CardioVascular Events) trial, which evaluated Sensipar/Mimpara (cinacalcet) for the reduction of the risk of mortality and cardiovascular (CV) events among 3,883 patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (HPT) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) receiving dialysis.

8 Jun 2012

Data from abatacept versus adalimumab Phase IIIb comparison study on RA

Data from one of the few head-to-head trials in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) presented today at EULAR 2012, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism, demonstrates that at one year, 64.8% of patients receiving abatacept (Orencia) and 63.4% of patients receiving adalimumab (Humira) achieved ACR20.

8 Jun 2012