Pain News and Research

Latest Pain News and Research

Consumer groups still concerned as insurance rules are considered by HHS

The Wall Street Journal Health Blog: Consumer groups are already concerned that insurers might lobby HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to weaken the medical-loss ratio rules suggested by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners last week. "Today, consumer representatives sent a letter to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to urge her not to tinker too much with what the NAIC came up with." The medical-loss ratio rules will determine "how much insurers pay out in health care compared with the total premiums they collect.

28 Oct 2010

Causes, prevention, and management of inferior alveolar nerve injury during implant dentistry

Although implant dentistry has become widely accepted to restore esthetics and function of teeth, it is not without risks. One serious complication that can occur is alteration of sensation due to nerve injury. Some reports place this occurrence as high as 13%. For dental practitioners, thorough understanding of anatomy, surgical procedures, and implant systems along with proper planning of treatment are essential to reduce this complication.

28 Oct 2010

New national campaign to drive awareness on DVT and PE prevention in women

As many as 600,000 people are affected by deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) every year, and more than half of those are never diagnosed. Some people experience swelling and varying levels of discomfort in the affected area, and some don't feel anything at all. But the symptoms of DVT can be similar to other conditions, like a pulled muscle, and because some people with DVT do not have any symptoms, there is often a delay in diagnosis. That's when DVT can be fatal.

28 Oct 2010

Nymox updates NX-1207 Phase 3 pivotal trials for benign prostatic hyperplasia

Nymox Pharmaceutical Corporation provided an update today on the Company's Phase 3 pivotal trials for NX-1207, Nymox's investigational drug for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

28 Oct 2010

More effective therapeutic exercises underutilized in treatment of chronic neck pain

Duke University and University of North Carolina (UNC) researchers report in the November issue of Arthritis Care & Research that narcotics and diagnostic testing are overused in treating chronic neck pain. Their findings indicate clinicians may overlook more effective treatments for neck pain, such as therapeutic exercise. According to reviews cited in the study, evidence to support the effectiveness of therapeutic exercise in treating chronic neck pain is good, yet only 53% of subjects were prescribed such exercise.

28 Oct 2010

BDSI to initiate BEMA Buprenorphine Phase 3 program following positive End-of-Phase 2 meeting with FDA

BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc. today announced a positive End-of-Phase 2 meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which took place on September 14, 2010. At that meeting, agreement was reached on the BEMA Buprenorphine development plan for the treatment of chronic pain.

28 Oct 2010

Sandoz initiates voluntary recall of Methotrexate Injection

Sandoz Inc. announced today it has initiated a voluntary recall in the US of all 50mg/2mL and 250mg/10mL vials of Sandoz and Parenta brand Methotrexate Injection, USP product ("methotrexate") to the consumer/user level. Consistent with its commitment to quality and patient safety, Sandoz is initiating this voluntary recall of all 24 lots of the affected product following the finding of small glass flakes by Sandoz quality control in a limited number of vials in four lots.

28 Oct 2010

Cipher reports net revenue of $1.1 million for 2010 third quarter

Cipher Pharmaceuticals Inc. today announced its financial and operational results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010.

27 Oct 2010

AZ-TMJ develops effective treatment for migraine headaches

AZ-TMJ is once again leading the way in innovative and effective treatments for severe cases of Temporomandibular Joint Disorders or TMD. AZ-TMJ has developed a variety of highly effective treatments to greatly reduce the frequency and severity of migraine headaches for a large percentage of sufferers. Approximately 16% to 17% of the population suffers from migraine headaches, which often have a debilitating effect on suffers' daily lives.

27 Oct 2010

Marital adjustment associated with better health status for RA patients

Rheumatoid arthritis is a painful and debilitating condition, but a study reported in The Journal of Pain, published by the American Pain Society, shows that being in a strong, non-distressed marriage is associated with experiencing less pain and enjoying better functioning and quality of life.

27 Oct 2010

New type of radiation reduces GI side effects but does not improve survival rate in prostate cancer patients

A new British review of existing research suggests that while a newer type of radiation for the treatment of prostate cancer does not help patients live longer compared to an older type at least when similar doses are given it does appear to reduce gastrointestinal side effects.

27 Oct 2010

Evotec, Apeiron Biologics enter collaboration

Evotec AG today announced that it has entered into a collaboration with Apeiron Biologics AG, to initially identify small molecule modulators of DREAM (Downstream Regulatory Element Antagonistic Modulator), a novel target involved in perception of various pain mechanisms. Further projects will be evaluated to potentially expand this cooperation in due course.

27 Oct 2010

CHORI hosts 2nd annual international Advanced Workshop on Sickle Cell Disease

Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland is hosting the 2nd annual international Advanced Workshop on Sickle Cell Disease October 28 and 29. This impressive conference will bring together hematologists from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil, and beyond, and the premier sickle cell experts from the United States for a dialogue on research, comprehensive care, and new treatments and therapies.

27 Oct 2010

Survey shows Americans are unaware about causes of lung cancer

Men and women worry about prostate and breast cancer, yet the number one cancer killer in the United States – lung cancer – isn't on their radar. According to a survey released today by the National Lung Cancer Partnership, Americans know little about lung cancer's causes, symptoms and the number of lives it takes compared to other cancers.

27 Oct 2010

Pain could predict survival of liver cancer patients

Understanding the role of pain hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or liver cancer is critical since pain has adverse effects on quality of life and could be a predictor of survival, according to research reported in The Journal of Pain, published by the American Pain Society, www.ampainsoc.org.

27 Oct 2010

New technologies streamline health IT system; Electronic medical records raise privacy issues

The Associated Press: Although many healthcare providers are making the jump to computerized medical records, an "e-chart stored in one doctor's computer too often can't be read by another's across town." Surescripts, "the country's largest network for paperless prescribing," is expanding "so that doctors around the country can choose to share medical reports, X-rays and other health data over its network much as they send e-prescriptions to drugstores today, regardless of what competing brand of computerized health records they use."

27 Oct 2010

PinPointe FootLaser receives FDA clearance for treatment of nail fungus

The podiatry practice of Mark E. Spier, DPM, announced today that the PinPointe™ FootLaser™ has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of nail fungus (onychomycosis). Dr. Spier is the first certified provider of the treatment in the Baltimore area.

26 Oct 2010

Purdue and Mundipharma assume worldwide development for Infinity's fatty acid amide hydrolase program

Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that Purdue Pharmaceutical Products L.P. and its independent associated company, Mundipharma International Corporation Ltd., have exercised their right to assume worldwide development and commercialization activities for Infinity's fatty acid amide hydrolase, or FAAH, program. The decision reflects progress made in the development of Infinity's oral FAAH inhibitor, IPI-940.

26 Oct 2010

Admissions for medication, drug-related conditions increase by 117% among Americans aged 45 and older

The number of hospital admissions among Americans ages 45 and older for medication and drug-related conditions doubled between 1997 and 2008, according to a new report released today by HHS' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Medication and drug-related conditions include effects of both prescription and over-the-counter medications as well as illicit drugs.

26 Oct 2010

Salk discovers potential new target for MS

Scientists are closer to solving one of the many mysteries of multiple sclerosis and other demyelinating diseases, thanks to a recent study conducted at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. The research revealed a previously unknown connection between two ion channels, which, when misaligned, can cause the many bizarre symptoms that characterize the condition.

26 Oct 2010