Medical News: Placebo Effect Is Real, Not Attempt to Deceive - in Pain Management, Pain Management from MedPage Today

Medical News: Placebo Effect Is Real, Not Attempt to Deceive - in Pain Management, Pain Management from MedPage Today

The placebo effect works -- even when the patient knows it's a placebo -- demonstrating that it is a 'ritual of medicine' and not an attempt to fool patients, according to the results of a small randomized clinical trial.

In the trial of 80 irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients, those who took an open-label placebo showed clinically meaningful -- and statistically significantly -- higher global improvement scores and reduced symptom severity compared with those who got the same physician attention but didn't pop a placebo pill, Ted J. Kaptchuk, OMD (Doctor of Oriental Medicine), of the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard, and colleagues found.

Five simple eating principles your body is dying to follow

Five simple eating principles your body is dying to follow

(NaturalNews) There are several basic principles of health that your body is dying to follow. Here is a brief discussion of 5 of these, as they pertain to eating, below. If we follow these principles we can be assured of great benefits because indeed an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Regularity In Meals

First let's look at regularity in meals. It is ideal to maintain a regular schedule not eating too late or eating at irregular times. By eating at the same time daily, the stomach will get used to eating at a certain time each day. This will encourage rhythm within the stomach. This will facilitate the entire gastrointestinal tract. Many people set the stage for gastrointestinal problems by eating and drinking at irregular times.


Learn more:http://www.naturalnews.com/030812_eating_body.html#ixzz18w9KlaKG

Medical News: U.S. Hospitals Facing Largest Drug Shortage in Decades - in Public Health & Policy, General Professional Issues from MedPage Today

Many hospital patients are not getting potentially life-saving treatments because of what may be the largest U.S. hospital drug shortage in more than 20 years.

Most of the drugs in short supply are injectables, including sedating agents such as propofol (Diprivan), the popular blood thinner heparin, and hard-hitting chemotherapy drugs like doxorubicin (Adriamycin).

"I've been in practice more than 30 years and this is the first time I've encountered shortages that may affect patient care," said Dr. Michael Link, president-elect of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Limited manufacturing, lagging production time, and lack of profits from these drugs are contributing to the shortage, according to an August 2010 editorial published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The production cost outweighs the profits for some companies.

Medical News: U.S. Hospitals Facing Largest Drug Shortage in Decades - in Public Health & Policy, General Professional Issues from MedPage Today

Allergy treatment may cause new allergy


Allergic contact dermatitis from aluminium has previously been considered very unusual. However, there are now reports of pruritic nodules and aluminium allergy arising after vaccinations or treatments for allergies. Researcher Eva Netterlid has studied the problem in a thesis recently defended at Lund University in Sweden.

'Pruritic nodules' are small lumps under the skin that cause itching and which, according to some studies, can remain for several years. A study of whooping cough vaccinations in Gothenburg a few years ago showed that almost one per cent of the children developed pruritic nodules in the area of the vaccination. Three out of four of the children who had a reaction with nodules also developed an allergy to aluminium.

"This was completely unexpected. Aluminium has been used as an adjuvant, intensifier, in vaccines for over 70 years with only a small number of reports of pruritic nodules and allergic contact dermatitis", says Eva Netterlid. Her research has been carried out at the Occupational and Environmental Dermatology Unit in Malmö.

There are a number of possible explanations as to why aluminium allergy has become more common.

Scientists discover potential strategy to improve cancer vaccines


The promise of vaccines targeted against various types of cancer has raised the hopes of patients and their families. The reality, however, is that these promising treatments are difficult to develop. One of the challenges is identifying a discrete cellular target to stop cancer growth without inactivating the immune system. Scientists at UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center report a laboratory finding that has the potential to increase the effectiveness of therapeutic cancer vaccines.

A positive mood allows your brain to think more creatively


People who watch funny videos on the internet at work aren't necessarily wasting time. They may be taking advantage of the latest psychological science -- putting themselves in a good mood so they can think more creatively.

"Generally, positive mood has been found to enhance creative problem solving and flexible yet careful thinking," says Ruby Nadler, a graduate student at the University of Western Ontario. She and colleagues Rahel Rabi and John Paul Minda carried out a new study published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. For this study, Nadler and her colleagues looked at a particular kind of learning that is improved by creative thinking.

FDA cracks down on illegal supplements


(AP) --  The Food and Drug Administration is cracking down on manufacturers of certain weight loss, body building and sexual enhancement supplements that contain potentially dangerous ingredients.

The FDA said Wednesday that some manufacturers are deceptively labeling products to hide that they contain ingredients known to cause adverse health effects. Other supplements contain ingredients that should only be available by prescription.

"These tainted products can cause serious adverse effects, including strokes,organ failure, and death," said FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg. "The manufacturers selling these tainted products are operating outside the law."

Dietary supplements can slip through the regulatory cracks because, unlike drugs, they do not have to be approved by the FDA before they are marketed. Manufacturers are responsible for making sure their products are safe.

Study shows garlic could protect against hip osteoarthritis


Researchers at King's College London and the University of East Anglia have discovered that women who consume a diet high in allium vegetables, such as garlic, onions and leeks, have lower levels of hip osteoarthritis.

The findings, published in the BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders journal, not only highlight the possible effects of diet in protecting against osteoarthritis, but also show the potential for using compounds found in garlic to develop treatments for the condition.

A relationship between body weight and osteoarthritis was previously recognised, although it is not yet completely understood. This study is the first of its kind to delve deeper into the dietary patterns and influences that could impact on development and prevention of the condition.

Immune cell plays unexpected role in autoimmune disease


A new study provides fascinating insight into the underlying pathology associated with the autoimmune disease, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).  The research, published by Cell Press in the December issue of the journal Immunity, reveals an unexpected role for a key type of immune cell and provides a potential new therapeutic strategy for SLE and, potentially, other autoimmune diseases.

The high price of sleep disorders


Danish sleep researchers at the University of Copenhagen and the Danish Institute for Health Services Research have examined the socio-economic consequences of the sleep disorder hypersomnia in one of the largest studies of its kind. The sleep disorder has far-reaching consequences for both the individual and society as a whole.

US Surgeon General lies by omission: Smoking one cigarette can kill you? Seriously?

US Surgeon General lies by omission: Smoking one cigarette can kill you? Seriously?

(NaturalNews) In what can only be called a bizarre leap of pseudoscience, U.S. Surgeon General Dr Regina M. Benjamin recently announced that smokingone cigarettecan kill you. In fact, she says, just breathing in the smoke from someone else cigarette can kill you, she claims. It's all part of a just-released report entitledA Report of the Surgeon General: How Tobacco Smoke Causes Disease: The Biology and Behavioral Basis for Smoking-Attributable Disease(http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/libra...)


Learn more:http://www.naturalnews.com/030820_Surgeon_General_cigarette_smoke.html#ixzz18w7Dk8RQ

Drugmaker pulls painkillers from US market over heart risks


Drugmaker Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals Inc. agreed Friday to pull two of its painkillers, Darvon and Darvocet, from the US market over heart risk concerns, the US Food and Drug Administration said.

Similar withdrawals from the market of the drug also known as propoxyphene were recommended in Europe in 2009 and are already under way.

"The FDA sought market withdrawal of propoxyphene after receiving new clinical data showing that the drug puts patients at risk of potentially serious or even fatal heart rhythm abnormalities," the agency said.

"As a result of these data, combined with other information, including new epidemiological data, the agency concluded that the risks of the medication outweigh the benefits."

Preventing physician medication mix-ups by reporting them


The most frequent contributors to medication errors and adverse drug events in busy primary care practice offices are communication problems and lack of knowledge, according to a study of a prototype web-based medication error and adverse drug event reporting system.

Researchers discover new way to reduce anxiety, stress


Two North American researchers have made a major discovery that will benefit people who have anxiety disorders. Bill Colmers, a professor of pharmacology and researcher in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Alberta, collaborated with Janice Urban, an associate professor in the department of physiology and biophysics at the Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science. The duo, who have been researching anxiety for five years, discovered that blocking a process in nerve cells reduces anxiety, meaning a new drug could now be developed to better treat anxiety disorders. Their findings were published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Neuroscience in December’s edition.

Genes and smoking play role in rheumatoid arthritis

Recent genetic studies have revealed several new sites of genes that are risk factors for developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The strongest association with anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA)-positive RA (ACPAs are autoantibodies detected in RA that are used as a major diagnostic tool) has been found for the HLA-DRB1 gene, and this site seems to play a central role in susceptibility to the disease in Caucasian populations. Previous studies have shown a high increase in the risk of ACPA-positive RA associated with smoking in those who have certain variations of the HLA-DRB1 gene. There are several types of such alleles related to a particular amino acid sequence known as shared epitope (SE). ACPAs occur in about 60 percent of RA patients and are closely linked to the presence of SE alleles. In fact, SE alleles are the strongest genetic risk factor for ACPA-positive RA.

Of several environmental factors that predispose people toward developing RA, smoking has been found to be the main risk factor and a strong gene-environment interaction between smoking and SE alleles for ACPA-positive patients has been shown in previous studies in Europe. Results in North America have not been as conclusive, however. A new large population-based study examined the gene-environment interaction between smoking and SE alleles in RA and found that all SE alleles strongly interact with smoking in conferring an increased risk of ACPA-positive RA. The study was published in the June issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism .

Led by Emeli Lundström of Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, the study consisted of genetic analysis of 1,319 RA cases and 943 controls in Sweden and included Caucasian smokers and non-smokers. Researchers set out to determine whether all HLA-DRB1 SE alleles demonstrated a similar gene-environment interaction or if the interaction was restricted to a particular DRB1 SE group. A total of 972 cases and 488 controls were SE positive.

"Our data illustrate that regardless of the fine specificity of the SE alleles of DRB1, the interaction between these genetic risk factors and smoking is evident," the authors state.

It's a pain to take care of pain


While many studies have looked at the treatment of chronic pain from the patient's perspective, there has been little research on those who provide care for chronic pain.

In a study in the November 2010 issue of the journal Pain Medicine, researchers from the Regenstrief Institute, the Indiana University School of Medicine, the IU School of Liberal Arts and the Roudebush VA Medical Center report that chronic pain takes a toll on primary care providers as well as their patients. They conclude that providers' needs should not be ignored if pain care is to be improved.

Most chronic pain is treated by primary care providers and necessitates frequent interactions with the patient. In this study the researchers surveyed 20 primary care providers (15 physicians, four nurse practitioners and one pharmacist) with varying clinical experience in the Roudebush VA Medical Center in Indianapolis. All 10 men and 10 women were asked open-ended questions designed to elicit their experiences with chronic pain management.

Adrenal fatigue - Support your adrenal glands naturally

Adrenal fatigue - Support your adrenal glands naturally

(NaturalNews) Feeling sluggish and low on energy? Are you tired even though you have just got out of bed? If so, you may have adrenal fatigue - a little known condition that manifests itself through a number of seemingly unrelated symptoms such as persisting fatigue, fuzzy thinking, lack of sex drive, mood disorders and cravings for salt or sugar. While you may look normal with no obvious symptoms of acute disease, your unexplainable low energy levels leave you with little doubt that something has gone wrong. Fortunately, you don't have to suffer needlessly because there is a lot you can do to restore and support youradrenal glandsnaturally.

Learn more:http://www.naturalnews.com/030781_adrenal_fatigue_energy.html#ixzz18eL5vvzE

The HLA-DRB1 gene and premature death in rheumatoid arthritis

People with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an inflammatory autoimmune disease, tend to die younger and, largely from cardiovascular disease (CVD).  One explanation for this increasingly recognized fact is that inflammation promotes atherosclerosis.  A marker of inflammation, elevation of the C-reactive protein (CRP) level has been shown to predict CVD in the general population.  However, other highly inflammatory diseases—Crohn’s, for example—do not carry the same high risk of premature death from heart disease.

To identify other possible suspects, researchers in the United Kingdom investigated whether genetic variants linked to the likelihood of developing RA might also make patients more likely to die from CVD. Led by Dr. Tracey M. Farragher at the University of Manchester and funded by the Arthritis Research Campaign (arc), the study focused on two genes—HLA-DRB1and PTPN22—and their interactions with known RA risk factors.

The evidence, presented in the February 2008 issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism, implicates HLA-DRB1 genotypes, already associated with RA susceptibility and severity, as a predictor of premature death from CVD for inflammatory arthritis patients. For RA patients in particular, having the shared epitope (SE)—a group of HLA-DRB1 alleles with kindred amino acid traits—plus anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies and current smoking is an especially deadly combination.

The study focused on 1,022 patients with inflammatory polyarthritis (IP) recruited from a primary-care-based register of adults. The subjects were all white and nearly 65 percent female, with a mean age of 54 at the onset of symptoms. Starting anywhere between 1989 and 1994, data on file for each participant included the results of blood tests for rheumatoid factor (RF), elevation of the C-reactive protein (CRP), and anti-CCP antibodies; evaluations of joint pain and functional disability; smoking habits; and, when applicable, the cause and date of death. DNA samples were also available. 751 of the total patients met the American College of Rheumatology criteria for RA.

Ciarettes Smoking Increases Rheumatoid Arthritis Risk In African Americans

Cigarette smoking increases rheumatoid arthritis risk in African-Americans


A new study determined that African Americans who smoke cigarettes have a higher risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA risk is more pronounced among individuals positive for the HLA-DRB1 shared epitope, a genetic risk factor for RA. Findings from this study -- the largest to date examining the impact of smoking on RA risk in an African American population -- are available in the December issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR).

Smoking found to be behind more than a third of severe rheumatoid arthritis cases

Smoking behind more than a third of severe rheumatoid arthritis cases


Smoking accounts for more than a third of cases of the most severe and common form of rheumatoid arthritis, indicates research published online in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.


And it accounts for more than half of cases in people who are genetically susceptible to development of the disease, finds the study.

The researchers base their findings on more than 1,200 people with rheumatoid arthritis and 871 people matched for age and sex, but free of the disease. The patients came from 19 health clinics in south and central Sweden, while their healthy peers were randomly selected from the population register. All the participants were aged between 18 and 70.

They were quizzed about their smoking habits and grouped into three categories, depending on how long they had smoked.

Blood samples were taken to assess all the participants' genetic profile for susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis and to gauge the severity of their disease, as indicated by their antibody levels.

House bill to give seniors $250 is defeated - Social Security News - AARP Bulletin

House bill to give seniors $250 is defeated - Social Security News - AARP Bulletin

By JIM ABRAMS

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8, 2010 (AP Online delivered by Newstex) -- The House has rejected a Democratic effort to pay Social Security recipients $250 to make up for the lack of a cost-of-living increase for next year.

Democrats argued that the payment was needed to offset the hardships of seniors facing a second consecutive year without an increase.

But Republicans contended that the nation couldn't afford the estimated $14 billion cost of the one-time payment, and that the two-year freeze comes after seniors received a significant boost in 2009.

Dem's Trying To Pass Food Safety Act By Hiding It Inside Appropriations Bill HR 3082

(NaturalNews) In a last-ditch effort to resurrect S.510, the Food Safety Modernization Act, House Democrats are effectively hiding approval of the bill inside another bill -- HR 3082, an appropriations bill meant to fund the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Health freedom attorney Ralph Fucetola has been monitoring this situation closely and warns that the House could "sneak" approval for S.510 through as early as tomorrow (Thursday).

The John Birch Society website reports that HR 3082 is "a complicated affair," encompassing, "...more money for Obama's 'Race to the Top,' for NASA, the Veterans Administration, increased military pay and for military programs that pay compensation for private citizens in Iraq and Afghanistan, for fighting terrorism in Yemen and for helping the Israelis anti-rocket defense shield. plus the funding of many other government agencies and programs."

Learn more:http://www.naturalnews.com/030661_Food_Safety_HR_3082.html#ixzz17qOPZgMZ

New Recommendations, Guidelines, for Vitamin D, Calcium Levels - AARP Bulletin

A report from the Institute of Medicinesetting new guidelines forvitamin D and calciumincreases the recommended level of D but actually maintains the same or decreases the recommended levels for calcium.

Most Americans and Canadians, the report states, are getting enough vitamin D and calcium, although older men and women may fall short.

The long-awaited 2010 recommendations update those set in 1997.

New Recommendations, Guidelines, for Vitamin D, Calcium Levels - AARP Bulletin

New research shows vitamin D slashes risk of cancers by 77 percent; cancer industry refuses to support cancer prevention

Exciting new research conducted at the Creighton University School of Medicine in Nebraska has revealed that supplementing with vitamin D and calcium can reduce your risk of cancer by an astonishing 77 percent. This includes breast cancer, colon cancer, skin cancer and other forms of cancer. This research provides strong new evidence that vitamin D is the single most effective medicine against cancer, far outpacing the benefits of any cancer drug known to modern science.

Learn more:http://www.naturalnews.com/021892_vitamin_D_American_Cancer_Society.html#ixzz17qN3ilwI

To Go Or Not To Go Herbal, That's the Question....

Many people nowadays are turning to “organics” and “naturals” otherwise known as herbals.  The rising popularity of herbal supplements has created a new fad if not a new health lifestyle.  Here are some things you may want to consider about what this means.


What is the difference between a drug and a dietary supplement?

According to the definition, set by The Food and Drug Administration in different countries, drugs are chemicals that can prevent, prolong your life, treat other effects of a health condition, improve the quality of life, and/or cure ailments and diseases, or alter the function of any part or chemicals inside the body.

Herbal supplements are not classified as drugs but as dietary supplements. The main difference is.....to continue Click Here

About Clinical Depression

Experts from the field of psychiatry say that depression is a mental illness that is often characterized by prolonged periods of sadness and melancholy.


But just because one person is moping around and just generally hating the world around him or her, doesn't mean that it's already depression. But, if this kind of behavior, the feeling of emptiness, loss of self-worth and absolutely no hope for happiness just goes on and on, then, yes, that individual is very much, indeed, depressed.

Still, there are various types of depression, from Manic or Bipolar depression - characterized by sudden and extreme changes in one's mood wherein one minute he or she is in an elevated state of euphoria while the next minute (day or week) he or she is feeling to be in a personal hell. Postpartum depression - characterized by a prolonged sadness and a feeling of emptiness by a new mother wherein physical stress during child birth, an uncertain sense of responsibility towards the new born baby can be just some...to continue click here

Advocacy l Arthritis Prevention, Control and Cure Act l Arthritis Priorities l Congress l Research l Juvenile Arthritis l Rheumatology

Advocacy l Arthritis Prevention, Control and Cure Act l Arthritis Priorities l Congress l Research l Juvenile Arthritis l Rheumatology

Romantic Love Helps Ease Pain: Study

Can you believe being "head-over-heels" in love can act as a natural painkiller? Researchers at Stanford University found that being in love activates the same dopamin e-oriented bran centers that are affected by illegal drugs such as cocaine. Want more? Click on link to read the rest of the article!


Romantic Love Helps Ease Pain: Study

I have for the past month been battling with finding the right dosage of Synthroid/levothyroxin.  I stayed exhausted, and at times unable to even get out of bed.  I would sleep most days not able to even start any project or chore without falling out before even getting a good start.  I ran out of my meds the first week of September and I just didn't go to refill them, it seemed that there was always something going on that kept me from going to the pharmacy.  I had an appointment with my doctor to get blood work done on the 21 of Sept. and then a follow-up on the 28th.  My labs results showed that my TSH was at 4.7, a tad bit high according to the new standards but right on target with the old standards. 

For those three weeks I was in heaven.  I had so much energy that I could go all day and when I finally settled in to go to sleep, I slept like a babe.  I lost 15 lbs because I was so active.  I had no problem going to the bathroom (BM) two or three times a day instead of the usual once every several days.  My fibromyalgia and arthritis pain were non existant.  It was AWSUME!!! 

Then, on the 28th follow-up, my doctor decided, when she saw how high my TSH was, to put me on a lower dose.  I was crushed.  I had been feeling so good and I thought for sure that maybe I didn't need the meds any more.  I picked up my meds on Thursday and took my first dose on Friday.  OMG!! I wanted to throw up but couldn't, my whole body felt like someone had taken a ball bat to it, and the fatigue was crippleing.  This went on over the weekend and then on Tuesday when I took my meds, I threw it back up, I couldn't get out of bed, I was so tired. 

I decided to do what my business is set up to do for others, RESEARCH into what was going on.  I contacted several experts in the field of thyroid disease and told them what was going on with me.  I also did a little digging myself.  I found out that everything I was experiencing, the itching and swelling of my face and eyes, the feeling that my sinuses were filled to the brim, the excruating pain from the fibromyalgia and arthritis, the extreme levels of fatigue, were all signs of hypothyroidizm.  But the real kicker is that I had these symptoms when I took the meds, not before I took them.

The experts got back with me and told me that I may be allergic to the fillers, which was a whole new set of problems and that I may need to take a more purer form of T3.  Also, I called my doctor and she has taken me off of the meds for the time being and will monitor my TSH levels to see what happens.  In the mean time I am starting to regain my energy levels and the sinus problems are slowly fading away, and the fibromyalgia pain has subsided to almost nothing again.

PLEASE everyone, listen to your body.  It will tell you what you need and what you don't.  It seems that I have a built in radar for when I have had enough medicine, no matter what it is, my body will reject it by making me throw it back up.  Take control of your health!!  Get as much information as you can about what is going on in your body.

Vaccine To Prenvent Colon Cancer

I was at my weekly GroupLink Womens meeting last night and we started talking about colon cancer.  It was mentioned that researchers were working on a vaccine for colon cancer.  Here is the updated information:


Vaccine To Prevent Colon Cancer Being Tested In Patients

ScienceDaily (2009-03-25) -- Researchers have begun testing a vaccine that might be able to prevent colon cancer in people at high risk for developing the disease. If shown to be effective, it might spare patients the risk and inconvenience of repeated invasive surveillance tests, such as colonoscopy, that are now necessary to spot and remove precancerous polyps. ... > read full article

It's October, So Now What? - Chronic Pain

It's October, So Now What? - Chronic Pain

Action Alert: FDA Voting on Sodium Oxybate for Fibromyalgia - Chronic Pain

Action Alert: FDA Voting on Sodium Oxybate for Fibromyalgia - Chronic Pain

Sitting Versus Lifespan

Several weeks ago, the American Journal of Epidemiology published a study entitled "Leisure Time Spent Sitting in Relation to Total Mortality in a Prospective Cohort of US Adults."A shortened title might have read, "The More You Sit, the More You Die." As might be expected, it rippled through the wire services. And why not? It offered catchy headlines and high shock value -- just what the media craves these days during the decline of investigative journalism and the rise of wire service paraphrasing. Check out some of the headlines:  Check it out

Secrets of the 'Magic' Antidepressant

Researchers describe secrets of 'magic' antidepressant




Yale researchers have discovered how a novel anti-depressant can take effect in hours, rather than the weeks or months usually required for most drugs currently on the market. The findings, described in the August 20 issue of the journal Science, should speed development of a safe and easy-to-administer form of the anti-depressant ketamine, which has already proven remarkably effective in treating severely depressed patients.

Eat Berries for Brain Health

Berries beneficial for brains




If humans are anything like rats, scientists at Tufts University in Boston may be on the road to discovering the fountain of youth for the human brain.

Eating Berries Helps With Brain's Natural Housekeeping

Eating berries may activate the brain's natural housekeeper for healthy aging




Scientists today reported the first evidence that eating blueberries, strawberries, and acai berries may help the aging brain stay healthy in a crucial but previously unrecognized way. Their study, presented at the 240th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS), concluded that berries, and possibly walnuts, activate the brain's natural "housekeeper" mechanism, which cleans up and recycles toxic proteins linked to age-related memory loss and other mental decline.

Genome-Wide Study Identifies Factors That May Affect Vit D Levels

Genome-wide study identifies factors that may affect vitamin D levels




An international research consortium has identified four common gene variants that are associated with blood levels of vitamin D and with an increased risk of vitamin D deficiency. The report from the SUNLIGHT consortium - involving investigators from six countries - will appear in The Lancet and is receiving early online release.

Vitamin D Found to Influence Over 200 Genes

Vitamin D found to influence over 200 genes, highlighting links to disease




The extent to which vitamin D deficiency may increase susceptibility to a wide range of diseases is dramatically highlighted in research published today. Scientists have mapped the points at which vitamin D interacts with our DNA - and identified over two hundred genes that it directly influences. The results are published today in the journal Genome Research.

Mouse Virus Link to Chronic Fatigue

Mouse virus link to chronic fatigue is studied




A U.S. government study has uncovered a family of mouse viruses in some people with chronic fatigue syndrome, raising still more questions about whether an infection may play a role in the complicated illness.

Tai Chi beats stretching in fibromyalgia study

By Gene Emery


BOSTON
Wed Aug 18, 2010 5:33pm EDT

BOSTON (Reuters) - The slow, flowing movements of tai chi are better for relieving pain and other symptoms of fibromyalgia than conventional stretching exercises, doctors reported on Wednesday.

The improvements continued throughout the three months of lessons for 33 volunteers receiving the movement and breathing exercises, study leader Dr. Chenchen Wang of the Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston said in a telephone interview.


"Week by week they changed. The pain and depression improved, and a lot of people were depressed," said Wang, whose study is published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

"They feel better. People said it changed their life. Only two or three feel it didn't help."

To read the rest of this article click here.

More Drugs Going Generic Over Next Five Years

Americans spend $275 billion a year on prescription medications and most of that is on expensive, brand name drugs.


But in the next five years, 63 of the most popular drugs will be available in a generic version, as patents on some of the most popular medications are set to expire and bring big savings to consumers.

"There's a tidal wave of generic drugs … and we are just in the beginning of that tidal wave," said Laizer Kornwasser of Medco Health Solutions.

Generic alternatives are on average 50 percent cheaper than brand name drugs, and in some cases can be 70 percent cheaper than the brand name version.

Take, for exampl,e the sleeping aid Ambien, which costs $125 for a 30-day supply -- insurance companies typically pay $85, leaving the patient left with a $40 co-pay.

The new generic version goes for $45, insurance companies pay $30 and the patient co-pay is reduced to $15 with a big savings for the patient without a compromise on quality.

The following is a list of some of the most popular drugs which will be available in a generic form by 2012.

Allergies/Asthma
Singulair (2012)

Bipolar Disorder
Depakote (2008)
Lamictal (2009)
Zyprexa (2011)
Seroquel (2012)

Depression
Effexor XR (2011)
Lexapro (2012)

Diabetes (Type 2)
Actos (2011)
Avandia (2012)

Enlarged Prostate
Flomax (2010)

For the rest of the list click here

Vitamin D Really Does Prevent Cancer and Autoimmune Diseases

(NaturalNews) A new study out of Oxford University pinpoints vitamin D deficiency as a culprit in serious illnesses like cancer and autoimmune disorders. According to the report, which was recently published online in the journal Genome Research, genetic receptors throughout the body need adequate vitamin D levels to prevent these and other serious illnesses from developing.  http://www.naturalnews.com/029605_vitamin_d_prevention.html

The Power of Birdsong to Calm Children In Hospital

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Index Birdsong: the cure for all ills?Recordings of the dawn chorus are being used to calm children in hospital

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Stephen Moss guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 24 August 2010 20.00 BST Article history

The greenfinch is noted for its twittering and wheezing song. Photograph: Alamy



Keats and Shelley certainly knew the power of birdsong, as in their respective odes to a nightingale and skylark. Now medical science has woken up to the therapeutic powers of the dawn chorus. An art project at Liverpool's Alder Hey hospital, using recordings made by children, is being used to calm young patients as they receive injections and other treatments.

The project is the brainchild of Chris Watson. Calling Chris a sound recordist is a bit like saying George Best could kick a ball about, or Michelangelo was handy with a paintbrush. This former stalwart of 80s prog-rock combo Cabaret Voltaire is famous for putting microphones where our ears cannot go: inside a glacier, under the waves, and inside a zebra carcass being eaten by vultures.  Click here to read the rest of the story

Natural health movement achieving key victories over HFCS, MSG, GMOs and more

Natural health movement achieving key victories over HFCS, MSG, GMOs and more

Barron Report: Natural Alternative for Relief of Chronic Joint Pain and Inflammation

Barron Report: Natural Alternative for Relief of Chronic Joint Pain and Inflammation

A Revolutionary Approach to Chronic Joint Pain and Inflammation

Joint pain is an interesting animal. Everyone has it at some point. For many people, it's only an occasional problem -- easily taken care of by a single aspirin or some Ben Gay (or by some Essential Relief^™ for that matter). For others, though, it's a chronic problem, reducing them to a lifetime of dependency on high doses of NSAIDS or prescription drugs.

Over the years, I've formulated and recommended a number of products for pain. Years ago, before they were all the rage, I recommended Glucosamine and Chondroitin sulfate. Also, over the years, I've recommended CMO (cetyl myristoleate), MSM, Fish oil, Boswellia, and Proteolytic Enzymes, among others.

Why so many things?

Because no one solution works for everyone! That's so important, I'm going to repeat it one more time. No one solution works for everyone!

Shattering the false philosophy and junk science of conventional medicine

Shattering the false philosophy and junk science of conventional medicine

Have you ever wondered why pharmaceuticals don't work? By that, I mean that they don't make people healthier. Sure, some pharmaceuticals can modify a measurable chemical marker, but they don't make people healthier. We have 40 percent of the U.S. population on at least one prescription drug, yet our nation shows skyrocketing rates of all sorts of chronic diseases, like cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's disease and osteoporosis. If pharmaceuticals work to make people healthier, we should be the healthiest nation on the planet. We have people here taking more drugs than any other nation in the world. The older you get in this society, the more drugs you end up taking. Many of our senior citizens are on a dozenprescriptions a day, and half of those are usually prescribed to cover up symptoms and side effects from the first few prescriptions.

New Anti-Viral Drug Shows Promise For Hepatitis C Treatment

New anti-viral drug shows promise for dramatic improvement in hepatitis C treatment


Adding a direct acting anti-viral drug to the standard treatment regimen for hepatitis C significantly increases the cure rate in the most difficult to treat patients, according to a research report published Monday in the online edition of the journal The Lancet.

Fractures Significantly Reduce Quality Of Life In Post-Menopausal Women

Fractures significantly reduce quality of life in postmenopausal women


(PhysOrg.com) -- Two in five women over 50 will suffer a fracture of the hip, spine or wrist that will lead to increased risk of chronic pain, reduced mobility, loss of independence and, in some cases, death.

Osteoporosis Fractures Significantly Reduce Quality Of Life

Osteoporosis fractures significantly reduce quality of life


Women who suffer fractures from osteoporosis experience a significant reduction in their quality of life similar to or worse than that of patients with diabetes, arthritis, lung disease and other chronic illnesses.

Ethical, Scientific Issues Related To 'Post-Market' Clinical Trials

Report: ethical, scientific issues related to 'post-market' clinical trials


Amid growing concerns about clinical trials for drugs that have been approved by the F.D.A. but are later linked to serious health risks, an independent committee at the Institute of Medicine led by two professors from Johns Hopkins University has developed a conceptual framework to guide the agency through the tough decision of ordering such controversial "post-market" drug-safety trials.

Menstrual Cramps May Alter Brain Structure

Menstrual cramps may alter brain structure


Primary dysmenorrhea (PDM), or menstrual cramps, is the most common gynecological disorder in women of childbearing age. Lower abdominal pain starts with the onset of menstrual flow and this ongoing pain stimulus can cause alterations throughout the nervous system. In a study scheduled for publication in the September issue of PAIN, researchers report abnormal changes in the structure of the brain in PDM patients, whether or not they are in fact experiencing pain.

Researchers Define Traits Associated With Prescription Drug Disorders

Researchers define traits associated with prescription drug disorders in a primary care setting


Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have identified clinical characteristics associated with prescription drug use disorder (PDUD) in primary care patients with chronic pain. The study found that by identifying characteristics of prescription drug abuse, primary care clinicians can identify those at risk and provide appropriate treatment. This study currently appears on-line in Journal of Pain.

Understand the Meaning of Health, Part I (Opinion)

Understand the Meaning of Health, Part I (Opinion)

(NaturalNews) Health is a very ill defined term. In the western countries many people see health as a black and white concept. You are healthy unless you have a disease. Many people go to a doctor with some conditions that the doctor will send away saying, "You look healthy to me".

It may be more useful to look at health as a gray scale of 1 to 100 (1 being almost dead and 100 being incredibly healthy). In this way a person can always be motivated to get healthier. As a person progresses down the scale to ill health that's when they start to have diseases that a doctor can identify like heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis, etc. These conditions could have been prevented had the person looked at health in the way of getting healthier way before they got sick.

When Is A Drug Too Risky To Stay On The Market?

When is a drug too risky to stay on the market?


(AP) -- The arthritis pill Vioxx was withdrawn but menopause hormones were not, even though both were tied to heart risks. A multiple sclerosis medicine was pulled and later allowed back on. So, when is a drug too risky to stay on the market?

All Pain Is Not The Same

All pain is not the same: Psychologist discusses gender differences in chronic pain

Women experience chronic pain longer, more intensely and more often than men, according to a psychologist who works with both men and women dealing with diseases and conditions that leave them suffering.

"Chronic pain affects a higher proportion of women than men around the world," said Jennifer Kelly, PhD, of the Atlanta Center for Behavioral Medicine. "We need to encourage women to take a more active role in their treatment and reduce the stigma and embarrassment of this problem."

Speaking Thursday at the 118th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, Kelly said the latest research offers interesting insights into how physicians and mental health providers can better treat women with chronic pain.

Pain is considered chronic when it lasts six months or longer and most medical treatment options have been exhausted. Chronic pain conditions that are more prevalent in women than in men include fibromyalgia, irritable bowelsyndrome, rheumatoid arthritis and migraines, said Kelly, referencing the International Association for the Study of Pain's 2007-2008 report on pain in women.

Brainwave Entertainment: Current Theories

The placement of sensors on the scalp allows for the measurement of brainwave patterns that reflect the current state of an individual.  The best studied brainwave frequencies range from the delta frequencies (1-4 Hertz), which is used to induce deep sleep; to theta frequencies (4-8 Hertz) which is used to induce light sleep, creativity, and insight; to alpha frequencies (8-12 Hertz) used to create a calm and peaceful yet alert state; to beta frequencies (13-21 Hertz) that are associated with a thinking, focusing state; to high beta frequencies (20-32 Hertz), which are associated with intensity and anxiety. 

Research has shown that a consistent rhythmic pulsating light or a tone, within the 8 - 10 Hertz range will cause brainwaves in the occipital lobe (this is where your vision is located), parietal lobe (this part of the brain is where the bodily sensations are held) to exhibit a frequency-following response that either repeated in a series of reflected sound waves with the existing stimulus (stimulus means something that causes you to take action) or shows a frequency balance of a stimulus. 

There are many researchers who believe that the same process or technique can apply to other frequencies, but this has been harder to substantiate.  Although, recent research suggests the the baseline electroencrephalogram or EEG, or emotional unstability may have an influence on the post-stimulus EEG changes.  Most researchers do agree that the emotional or cognitive changes do correlate with the changes in the EEG but how or whether the EEG changes are likely to be dependent on the individual's current state.

An Introduction To Brainwave Entertainment (BWE)

I have tried to replace the scientific language with more understandable language and include definitions of the terms used where I could without taking away from the meaning of the sentence or paragraph.

Brainwave entertainment (BWE), which is the use of rhythmic stimuli to alter the brainwave frequency and thus the brain state, has been investigated and used since the late 1800's but yet there are many scientist and others in the medical field that have not heard of it. This article is to raise awareness and to inform you of it's existence and the benefits it offers for those who suffer with pain, depression, anxiety and a variety of other health issues.

I have been using brainwave entertainment for over 5 months now and I've noticed a remarkable difference in my fibromyalgia and arthritis pain, the fibromyalgia fog has lifted and my concentration levels have risen as well. I am able to do many of the things, like walking my dog and mowing all in the same day, that I haven't been able to do since I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia in 1999. I have passed my experiences on to others who have fibromyalgia and chronic pain but it's been met with fear, anxiety and just plain resistance of the unknown. Hopefully, this article will eliminate those fears, anxieties, and resistance and others will be able to experience the same results as I have.

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5 Ways To Regain Intamacy When You Have Arthritis

My husband and I had only been married for two years before I had knee surgery that set off a barrage of problems for me. During the surgery they found arthritis under the knee cap but decided not to remove it because they felt it would interfere with my recovery from the knee surgery. After the surgery I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, Chronic Pain, Chronic Fatigue, and a few other problems that come up when you have these conditions.

My husband had also had back surgery and was in pain on most days. Our sex life before my knee surgery and after my husbands surgery was great. After my knee surgery, not so. It was difficult at best to get any pleasure out of any intimacy when my pain levels overshadowed the pleasure. Unfortunately, it hasn't improved in the 14 years since my surgery.

The effects of arthritis, the pain, stiffness, fatigue, lack of mobility, and the twisted, enlarged joints, can make sex difficult and at best down right unappealing. When arthritis affects your back, knees,hips, hands, wrist, feet or ankles it can be especially difficult. Not to mention the medications the doctor's prescribe that can diminish any sexual desire. They can have side effects, including vaginal dryness, and fatigue that can lessen your interest in sex. You may even perceive yourself as not very sexually attractive and this doesn't help you to relax and enjoy the experience of sex, it also brings anxiety into the bedroom adding to the issues above.

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Study Found Fish Oil Doesn't Prevent Arrhythmia

Ever since scientists found out that Greenland Eskimos, who eat a diet rich in fish, have a low risk of dying from heart attacks, they've been studying the substances in fish oils called omega-3 fatty acids. Some research has shown that omega-3s do actually reduce the risk of heart problems. There's been several small studies that showed that they can also help to slightly, lower the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

Scientists have theorized though, that at least part of the reason why omega-3s protect against death from heart attack is that they prevent irregular heart rhythms, or arrhythmia. To test this theory, researchers did a study of omega-3s in people who had recently gone through an episode of arrhythmia that affected the parts of the heart called the ventricles. Every one of the people who participated used an implanted cardioverter defibrillator, or ICD, to detect irregular heart rhythms and correct them by delivering a small electric shock. The study was published in the June 15 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association, where researchers randomly assigned the 200 people who signed up for the study, to get either 1,800 mg a day of a fish oil supplement or a placebo. The researchers followed up with the participants after 6, 12, and 24 months. What they found was that the fish oil supplements didn't prevent any episodes of arrhythmia and in fact, some of the people had more episodes.

The researchers concluded that omega-3s may not prevent ventricular arrhythmia, and that people with an ICD and repeated episodes of ventricular arrhythmia shouldn't take fish oil supplements. If you have heart rhythm irregularities, talk to your doctor before you try fish oil supplements.

Another thing that you will want to be wary of, is that over-the-counter fish oils may not be pure. The manufacturers will add fillers to the fish oils, so be sure to read the label on the bottles and you should be able to get a prescription from your doctor for a more pure form of the fish oil.

Study Shows No Difference In Knee When Using Glucosamin/Chondrotin

In the 2009 Glucosamine/chondrotin Arthritis Intervention Trial or GAIT, found that people with knee osteoarthritis who took supplements with glucosamine and chondrotin sulfate showed no difference in the loss of  cartilage in their knees than those taking a placebo. In the study, published in Arthritis & Rheumatism, researchers tracked 572 people with moderate or severe OA in one or both knees.

Those who took part in this study took either glucosamine, chondrotin, glucosamine plus chondrotin, the anti-inflammatory drug celecoxib or Celebrex, or placebo for two years. The x-rays of the affected knee joint were examined before and after treatment and the width of the space between the bones in the knee were measured.

A narrower joint space means that the cartilage of the bone ends has worn away, which is a clear sign of OA. The study found no significant difference in joint space narrowing among the groups, but researchers did note that the results were complicated because the joint space narrowing among people taking placebo was much less than expected.

But, overall, the results were inconclusive, like an earlier GAIT result about the supplements being used as a pain reliever.

Sited from January/Feburary 2009 Arthritis Management

So Many People In Pain!

I spent my morning reading other people's blogs on how they are suffering with fibromyalgia and arthritis pain.  I realize that it is only 9:12 am, but I've been up for 4 hours now and my day is almost half done.  I have fibromyalgia and rheumatoid and osteo arthritis and I use to be in pain 24/7/365.  I know what it's like to not be able to even get out of bed, or walk down to the mail box.  I would end up laying on the couch after being up only for a couple of hours, with braces on my hands and I would have to take two Tramadol to deaden the pain instead of the one that I now take. 

I have a hard time understanding why, if you are in pain continously, you would not want to try to find something other than pills, to get rid of your pain.  When I was first diagnosed in 1999, I tried everything I could to get relief and that includes pain medication that was prescribed and over the counter.  That is 11 years of trying everything that has come down the pipeline and I must say that I have finally found two things that work for me.  One is Tramadol which I have been taking since 1998 and the other is BrainWave Entertainment.

I know that Tramadol is considered an opiod and that the experts say that it is addictive but I've been taking it for 12 years and I take it only as needed.  I take three 50 mil. a day, one around 12:30 pm and two at night, I can take up to six per day if needed before it will effect my liver.  At one time, when I first started taking it, I was taking six, but over the years I made up my mind to cut it back and did so without any withdrawal symptoms.  I even opted to take the Tramadol instead of the morphine that was perscribed for me after my total knee replacement and it worked just as good without the side effects.  It works for me.

Now for the BrainWave Entertainment.  BrainWave Entertainment mimics the frequencies that your brain produces.  There are some contoversy over whether or not it really works, the only thing that I know is that it works on me.  I listened to these three times a day when I first started doing them five months ago. 

Three days after I started, I walked my dog a mile and came home and got on the riding mower and mowed until I broke the riding mower and then I got the push mower and finished the yard.  We have .9 acres with bushes all over.  After mowing I took my Tramadol, did my Fibromyalgia/Pain BrainWave Entertainment binary beats, and laid down.  I slept that afternoon until my husband got home, he fixed supper and had me stay put in the bed.  I slept all evening and that night and when I woke up the next morning at 4 am., I had no pain, it was like I hadn't done a thing the day before. 

My energy levels were up and my concentration levels were and still are, out of this world.  I was and still am  totally amazed.  It's so awesome!!  Before this I was lucky to even get a walk in with my dog let alone mow the yard in the same day.  My recovery time before  was anywhere from two days to a month after doing just one of these activities.  Now my husband can't even keep up with me.  Now, I am able to mow, clean my house, and walk my dog a mile, all in the same day with a recovery time of one afternoon.  I am able to get more done in one morning than I could in one day before BrainWave Entertainment.

I still do the BrainWave Entertainments but I only do them once or twice a week and this is only for maintence.  The research shows that the longer you do them, the more likely the changes can be permanent.  All I know is that I am almost back to where I was before I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, rheumatoid and osteo arthritis.  For me that is proof enough that it works.

This is the reason why I started this blog and my business, to help, you, suffers of chronic pain and arthritis and fibromyalgia pain, to find new ways to relieve your pain.  I think that if you are not willing to experiment with new alternatives to find relief, maybe you want others to feel sorry for you.  I don't mean to hurt anyone's feelings by saying that, but what other reason would you not want to try new ways to relieve your pain.  If you decide to try BrainWave Entertainment you can read more at:

New Health Care Law

New Health Care Law

3 Steps To Managing Your Arthritis Flare-Ups

Even when your arthritis is well-controlled, it's still possible to have a flare-up. Arthritis symptoms will get temporarily worse after a time of being less severe. When you experience a flare-up, a joint or joints may swell or become more swollen; you may even feel more pain and stiffness, especially in the morning; then your body may feel more fatigued. When you have all these things happening at the same time, the flare-up is considered more serious. There are ways to deal with your flare-ups, here are three steps you may want to take to help yourself when you have an arthritis flare-up.


Step 1: Recognizing what is happening, when it's happening.

The first step to managing a flare is to first recognize when you are having one. If you can identify that you are having a flare-up then it becomes easier to start managing it. Being aware of your body and how it feels and learning to pay attention to how arthritis affects your body makes it easier to see if there are any changes, then you will be able to recognize it. When you realize there has been a change, admit it, don't go into denial and hope that everything will just get better on its own. It doesn't.   To Read More Click Here

The excitement of the positive pregnancy test, for most expectant mothers, can be clouded with concern for a healthy pregnancy and baby. But, if you have RA or Lupus, it can be multiplied. You also have to worry about if your pregnancy will cause a flare-up, what medicines are safe for your baby, and whether or not your condition will affect your growing fetus or your own long-term health.


This article addresses the issues of two, out of many, rheumatic conditions: rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus).

RA and lupus are autoimmune diseases and in autoimmune diseases the immune system, which is suppose to protect your body from any foreign substances that may harm it, malfunctions and attacks your own body's tissues. If you have RA or lupus you are probably taking medication that reduces the immune systems activity to a greater or lesser degree. But pregnancy has its own impact on the immune system and your system must make some adjustments so that your body won't attack what it perceives to be foreign, the genes that come from the father of your baby. These adjustments make it possible for your baby to grow safely. But there are other effects which can impact your rheumatic conditions such as RA and lupus in different ways.  To Read More Click Here

Chronic Pain - FDA Proposes New Opioid Guidelines

Chronic Pain - FDA Proposes New Opioid Guidelines

Disposal by Flushing of Certain Unused Medicines: What You Should Know

Disposal by Flushing of Certain Unused Medicines: What You Should Know

It is important to note that disposal by flushing is not recommended for a large number of medicines. Unused or expired medicines that do not have flushing directions in the label can be disposed of safely in the household trash by:

1. Mixing the with something that will hide the medicine or make it unappealing, such as kitty litter or used coffee grounds.

2. Placing the mixture in a container such as a sealed plastic bag.

3. Throwing the container in your household trash.

Outdated Meds Pose Problems If Kept or Tossed

FRIDAY, June 25 -- It's a common find in medicine cabinets and bathroom drawers: a prescription vial containing years-old medication or an over-the-counter cold remedy that's embarrassingly past its sell-by date.


But unless they're spring-cleaning, many people don't bother throwing away these items. And when they do, people often turn to the toilet and flush the products away.

Both behaviors are big mistakes.

Keeping out-of-date medications in the house poses dangers to everyone in the family. And flushing old medications down the toilet can be harmful to the environment.

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