Copyright 2008 Medical News Today Latest Pain / Anesthetics News From Medical News Today. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/sections/pain/ admin@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Admin) editors@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Editors) en-us Sun, 12 Oct 2008 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/125047.php A novel therapy using a miniature nerve stimulator instead of medication for the treatment of profoundly disabling headache disorders improved the experience of pain by 80-95 percent, according to a new study from the University of California, San Francisco and the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London. Headache / Migraine Fri, 10 Oct 2008 06:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/125120.php Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: BIIB) announced today that its Phase II trial of baminercept (BG9924, LTBR-Ig) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who have had an inadequate response to conventional therapy with a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) did not meet its primary endpoint. The primary endpoint was defined as the proportion of baminercept-treated patients who achieved an ACR50 response, a standard measure of disease improvement in RA, compared to placebo at 14 weeks. Bones / Orthopaedics Fri, 10 Oct 2008 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/125085.php Forty-five thousand runners will be pounding the pavement during the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon on October 12. Training for the 26.2-mile-run can put a tremendous amount of stress on the body, especially the knees. In fact, statistics show that about one-third of injured runners struggle with knee pain. But a new complimentary guide introduced by the Neurologic & Orthopedic Hospital (NOHC) of Chicago can help reduce the risk of knee injuries. Sports Medicine / Fitness Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/124973.php SCOLR Pharma, Inc. (Amex: DDD) announced the completion of patient enrollment and dosing for the third of its three pivotal trials to evaluate the safety and efficacy of its formulation of 12-hour extended-release (ER) ibuprofen for the over-the-counter (OTC) market. The Company expects to report top-line results from this pivotal trial in November 2008. Pain / Anesthetics Thu, 09 Oct 2008 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/124879.php Arthritis is the nation's most common cause of disability. The number of adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis is projected to increase to 67 million by 2030, and a large proportion of U.S. adults will limit their activity as a result, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Arthritis / Rheumatology Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/124805.php More people suffer from pain than from heart disease, diabetes and cancer combined, but many of the drugs used to relieve suffering are not completely effective or have harmful side effects. Now researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine and the University of Helsinki have discovered a new therapeutic target for pain control, one that appears to be eight times more effective at suppressing pain than morphine. Pain / Anesthetics Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/124812.php Lumbar spine (lower back) surgery is a common treatment for a herniated or "slipped" disk, and patients need to know whether it is better to sit still or get moving during their recovery period. An updated review from the Netherlands suggests that exercise programs starting four to six weeks after the operation could lead to more rapid pain relief and a quicker recovery from disability without increasing the risk of additional surgery. Pain / Anesthetics Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/124725.php Analysis of data from 38 studies that enrolled more than 2.7 million women - the largest of its kind - by researchers at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, and the University of Santiago de Compostela reveals that regular use of Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) is associated with a 12 per cent relative risk reduction in breast cancer compared to non-users. Breast Cancer Tue, 07 Oct 2008 09:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/124558.php Cortex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE Alternext US (COR)) reported that top-line data from its second Phase IIa study in opioid-induced respiratory depression (RD) demonstrated that a single oral dose of 1500mg of the AMPAKINE® compound CX717 achieved statistical significance (p = 0.005) over placebo on the primary endpoint measure of spontaneous basal respiration without affecting opioid-induced analgesia. Depression Tue, 07 Oct 2008 05:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/124519.php A study of brain activity in brain-damaged patients in a minimally conscious state (MCS) suggests that they could have similar pain perception to healthy people. Thus these patients could need painkilling treatment. The findings are reported in an Article published early Online and in the November edition of Lancet Neurology, written by Dr Steven Laureys, Coma Science Group, Cyclotron Research Center and Department of Neurology, University of Liege, Belgium, and colleagues. Neurology / Neuroscience Tue, 07 Oct 2008 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/124423.php Findings establish a platform to understand G protein-coupled receptors; may help in development of new class of Parkinson's treatments Scientists from The Scripps Research Institute have determined the structure of an adenosine receptor that plays a critical role in a number of important physiological processes including pain, breathing, and heart function. Parkinson's Disease Mon, 06 Oct 2008 08:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/124352.php Hospitalized kids with painful ailments from broken bones to cancer are often dosed with strong, painkilling drugs known as opiates. The medications block pain, but they can have nasty side effects. Constipation, for instance, is one side effect that can cause discomfort - and even extend a child's hospital stay. Pediatrics / Children's Health Sat, 04 Oct 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/124237.php Pharmaleads has obtained from the French Medicine Agency (AFSSAPS) the authorization to perform a single ascending dose Phase I study with PL37, its lead compound for oral treatment of neuropathic pain. Pain / Anesthetics Fri, 03 Oct 2008 05:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/124164.php There has been rapid growth of new, innovative palliative care consultation services in the nation's hospitals. More than half of the 50-bed or larger hospitals in the U.S. offer palliative care services to ease pain and suffering for seriously ill patients and their families. However, the availability of these services varies widely across geographic regions, according to a study published in the October 2008 issue of the peer-reviewed, Journal of Palliative Medicine. Caregivers / Homecare Thu, 02 Oct 2008 04:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/123957.php An acupressure treatment applied to children undergoing anesthesia noticeably lowers their anxiety levels and makes the stress of surgery more calming for them and their families, UC Irvine anesthesiologists have learned. According to Dr. Zeev Kain, anesthesiology and perioperative care chair, and his Yale University collaborator Dr. Shu-Ming Wang, this noninvasive, drug-free method is an effective, complementary anxiety-relief therapy for children during surgical preparation. Complementary Medicine / Alternative Medicine Wed, 01 Oct 2008 09:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/123784.php Biotechnology company Arana Therapeutics Limited (ASX: AAH) announced it has submitted an Investigational New Drug application (IND) to the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) for the anti-inflammatory product ART621 in a rheumatoid arthritis (RA) indication. The IND includes a Phase II dose ranging study of ART621/221 in RA which is planned to be an international multi-centred trial of approximately 200 patients. Arthritis / Rheumatology Wed, 01 Oct 2008 08:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/123771.php Columbia Laboratories, Inc. (Nasdaq: CBRX) today announced results from its Phase II study of vaginally-administered lidocaine, which the Company is investigating for the prevention and treatment of dysmenorrhea. No treatment currently exists to prevent dysmenorrhea. Seventy women with a history of moderate-to-severe dysmenorrhea participated in this first documented attempt to show prevention of uterine cramping and pain. Women's Health / Gynecology Wed, 01 Oct 2008 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/123716.php We all know there are times that kids seem to complain of a stomach ache to get out of chores or going to school. Don't be so sure that the pain they feel is all in their minds. We're learning more now about a condition called 'functional abdominal pain' that is experienced by millions of kids every day. Like many teenagers, Kyle Brust makes it a point to do his homework as soon as he gets home. Unlike most, Kyle often did his with a crippling stomach ache. Pediatrics / Children's Health Wed, 01 Oct 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/123639.php Primary care physicians are at the forefront of fibromyalgia management, and deservedly so, a pain management expert said at a Meet-the-Experts Program entitled "Case Studies in Fibromyalgia: Connecting the Dots from Diagnosis to Pain Management" held in conjunction with PAINWeek 2008. "That's just as it should be," moderator Kevin L. Zacharoff, MD, an anesthesiologist and pain management consultant in Setauket, New York, noted. Primary Care / General Practice Tue, 30 Sep 2008 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/123489.php Pain is more than a symptom of osteoarthritis, it is an inherent and damaging part of the disease itself, according to a study published today in journal Arthritis and Rheumatism. More specifically, the study revealed that pain signals originating in arthritic joints, and the biochemical processing of those signals as they reach the spinal cord, worsen and expand arthritis. Arthritis / Rheumatology Tue, 30 Sep 2008 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/123496.php Researchers at the Indiana University School of Medicine seek 200 people with fibromyalgia to determine if motivational reminder telephone calls can prompt patients to exercise more regularly. Fibromyalgia is a disease that causes pain in joints and muscles in about 5 percent of the population. Although not life-threatening, fibromyalgia can have a debilitating effect on a person's quality of life by causing body aches, headaches, stiffness and disrupted sleep. Pain / Anesthetics Sun, 28 Sep 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/123265.php The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has been formally notified by UCB Pharma S.A. of its decision to withdraw the application for a centralised marketing authorisation for the medicine Lacosamide Pain UCB Pharma (lacosamide) film-coated tablets. Lacosamide Pain UCB Pharma was expected to be used for the treatment of diabetic neuropathic pain in adults. Diabetes Sat, 27 Sep 2008 12:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/123179.php Springer will partner with the Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society (CAS) to publish the Canadian Journal of Anesthesia / Journal canadien d'anesthésie (CJA) starting in January 2009. CJA, a monthly publication previously self-published by CAS, will enhance Springer's expanding portfolio of books and journals in the field of anesthesiology. Pain / Anesthetics Thu, 25 Sep 2008 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/122906.php GE Healthcare's Datex-Ohmeda anesthesia delivery solutions have been ranked #1 for the 10th straight quarter by MD Buyline, a customer opinion research company on medical devices and service. Solid scores in six categories GE Healthcare maintained strong scores in the six opinion categories: system performance, system reliability, installation/implementation, applications training, service response time and service repair quality. Pain / Anesthetics Wed, 24 Sep 2008 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/122721.php South Florida law firm Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley PA (Searcy Denney) has stepped up its investigation into claims stemming from the use of pain pumps following a recent study confirming their dangers. According to the new study, the medication delivered by these pumps causes significant cartilage damage. This study confirms and explains earlier reports of adverse outcomes associated with pain pump use. Pain / Anesthetics