(Press-News.org) Acupuncture and sham acupuncture appear equally effective in treating migraines, according to a clinical trial published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) (pre-embargo link only) http://www.cmaj.ca/site/embargo/cmaj110551.pdf.
An international team of researchers conducted a randomized controlled trial to determine the effect of acupuncture compared with sham acupuncture in treating migraines in 480 patients at nine hospitals in China. The patients were randomly assigned to four groups, including one sham acupuncture group and three groups receiving different types of acupuncture. Patients were aged 18 to 65 years and were eligible if they had experienced migraines for more than one year, with two to three attacks in the three months preceding the study period.
Migraines affect about 6%-8% of men and 16%-18% of women in the US and England. Acupuncture is used to treat migraines, but evidence is mixed on its effectiveness in treating the condition and whether it is the placebo effect rather than a therapeutic effect that alleviates symptoms. Acupuncture distinguishes between real acupuncture points and nonacupuncture (or sham) points.
"We found that the outcomes following acupuncture were significantly better than with sham acupuncture during weeks 13-16, but the effect was clinically minor," writes Dr. Fan-rong Liang, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China, with coauthors.
About half to three-quarters of people with migraines were better after acupuncture and sham acupuncture after 16 weeks. "Acupuncture has a large effect on treating migraines, but the specific therapeutic effect may be minor," state the authors.
In related commentary http://www.cmaj.ca/site/embargo/cmaj112032.pdf, Dr. Albrecht Molsberger, Ruhr University, Bochum, Germany and the University of North Carolina, writes that evidence from other studies has indicated that acupuncture is helpful in treating severe migraine attacks. "On the basis of the existing evidence, acupuncture should be an option for the first-line treatment of migraine to supplement other nonpharmacologic treatment options," he states.
In a second randomized controlled trial http://www.cmaj.ca/site/embargo/cmaj110908.pdf, researchers in the Netherlands looked at whether a proactive approach by primary care physicians to patients with suboptimal migraine treatment would result in improvements. They enrolled 490 patients from 64 general practices, 233 patients who attended consultations to evaluate treatment of their migraines and 257 patients in the control group.
In the Netherlands, a substantial number of people with migraines use too much medication for migraine attacks, whereas only 8%-12% of all migraine patients use prophylaxis.
Although the approach resulted in more people taking prescription medication to prevent migraines, no clinically relevant effect was seen after six months.
"We found no clinically relevant effect of a proactive approach to migraine in primary care for patients who were using two or more doses of triptan per month," writes Dr. Antonia Smelt, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, the Netherlands, with coauthors.
"It is possible that the intervention resulted in better treatment for patients not using prophylactic medication at baseline who had two or more attacks of migraine per month. Future interventions in primary care should target these patients," the authors conclude.
INFORMATION: END
A new study suggests that middle-aged adults recently diagnosed with diabetes and hypertension have time to try to learn how to control their high blood pressure without medications, but not too much time.
The consequences of delaying effective hypertension treatment for up to a year were small—a two-day reduction in quality-adjusted life expectancy—according to a study by University of Chicago researchers published online for the Journal of General Internal Medicine. But as the delay gets longer, the damages multiply. A ten-year delay decreased life expectancy by almost ...
Award Winning International Branding and Consumer Product Development Firm to Launch Products in Spring-2012
Florence, KY Geoff Ficke, President of Duquesa Marketing announced today that his Firm has been retained to act as Managing Consultants for the creation, testing Branding and market introduction of Dr. Ajit Nemi's line of targeted skin treatment products.
"Ajit Nemi MD MBA is a brilliant young doctor and researcher who has built a thriving Eye Care practice in the Atlanta area", said Mr. Ficke. "His extensive work with patients provides Dr. Nemi ...
The main symptom of Rotor syndrome is jaundice caused by a buildup of a substance known as conjugated bilirubin. Bilirubin is a yellow substance generated in large quantities when the body recycles red blood cells. It is conjugated in the liver to make it soluble in water so that it can be cleared from the body. Although Rotor syndrome is known to be a genetic disorder, it is not known which genes are involved. However, a team of researchers — led by Alfred Schinkel, at The Netherlands Cancer Institute, The Netherlands; and Milan Jirsa, at the Institute for Clinical and ...
Hereditary spastic paraplegias (HSPs) are a group of inherited neurodegenerative disorders characterized by progressive weakness and spasticity (stiffness) of the legs. Mutations in more than 30 genes have been linked to HSPs. A team of researchers — led by Stephan Züchner, at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami; Evan Reid, at the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom; and Antonio Orlacchio, at the Centro Europeo di Ricerca sul Cervello–Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Santa Lucia, Italy — has now associated mutations in the gene ...
The Latinva Instructor Workshop is scheduled for Saturday, March 24, 2012, 9:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., at Spectrum Athletic Clubs in Canoga Park, 2235 Sherman Way, Canoga Park, CA 91303. The workshop is ACE and AFAA Certified: ACE trainers receive 0.7 CEC's and AFAA trainers receive 5.5 CEU's.
The Latinva Dance Fitness Workshop will provide fitness enthusiasts with all the fundamentals of teaching a dance fitness class, with detailed emphasis on choreography, cueing, dance, music, and teaching techniques. With these five methods, instructors will learn how to choreograph ...
EDITOR'S PICK: Genetic and mechanistic basis for rotor syndrome uncovered
The main symptom of Rotor syndrome is jaundice caused by a buildup of a substance known as conjugated bilirubin. Bilirubin is a yellow substance generated in large quantities when the body recycles red blood cells. It is conjugated in the liver to make it soluble in water so that it can be cleared from the body. Although Rotor syndrome is known to be a genetic disorder, it is not known which genes are involved. However, a team of researchers — led by Alfred Schinkel, at The Netherlands Cancer Institute, ...
SAN DIEGO -- Researchers at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) have begun to identify mutations and cellular pathway changes that lead to lung cancer in never-smokers — a first step in developing potential therapeutic targets.
"This is the starting point. We certainly have a lot of pathways and gene expression alterations that we're going to be very interested in confirming and looking at in larger cohorts of patients," said Dr. Timothy G. Whitsett, Senior Postdoctoral Fellow in TGen's Cancer and Cell Biology Division.
Whitsett presented the findings ...
The goal of the procedure is to reshape flat, square or A-Shaped bottoms for a more voluptuous, curvaceous and sensual backside.
During the surgery, Jugenburg takes fat from unwanted areas of the body, such as flanks, hips, or tummy, and strategically transfers this fat to the buttocks. The reshaping and sculpting techniques to the lower backside, can provide lift and a more voluptuous shape and contour. http://www.Torontosurgery.ca
The results are customized to the individual and cultural desires of each woman.
http://www.torontosurgery.ca/Toronto-Cosmetic-Surgery-Photo-Gallery.html
There ...
Dozens of giant tortoises of a species believed extinct for 150 years may still be living at a remote location in the Galápagos Islands, a genetic analysis conducted by Yale University researchers reveals.
The analysis, published Jan. 9 in the journal Current Biology, suggests that direct descendants of at least 38 purebred individuals of Chelonoidis elephantopus live on the volcanic slopes of the northern shore of Isabela Island — 200 miles from their ancestral home of Floreana Island, where they disappeared after being hunted by whalers.
"This is not just an academic ...
Cosmetology students at ITS Academy of Beauty, 750 Sunland Park Drive in Sunland Park Mall in El Paso are ambassadors of beauty and savings by offering perms and hair relaxer treatments at deeply discounted prices now through Feb. 29.
Perm services will be 50% off the regular price and all relaxer services will be 40% the school's already reduced prices. Services are performed by cosmetology students under the supervision of a licensed cosmetology instructor.
"A new year is a great time to change your look and with discounts of 40% off relaxer services and 50% ...
