*** News You Can Use! -- 24 August 1996 ***
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have conducted a study that bolsters the argument that pain is both physical and mental in nature. In a study presented at the World Congress of Pain, they found that negative thoughts can intensify feelings of pain, while positive thoughts can increase the person's tolerance of pain. 72 people were asked to hold their hands in ice water, and concentrate on positive, negative, or neutral messages. The people who were thinking negative thoughts ("Ice water destroys human tissue") pulled their hands out of the water much sooner than those who had positive thoughts ("Ice water helps heal wounds"). The study supports the belief that most pain involves a biological cause, and an emotional response to it. And effective treatment should address both factors. (CBS Radio, 19 August 1996)
The Pentagon now says there were seven reports of chemical weapons detected during the first week of the war in the Persian Gulf. Previously, it had acknowledged receiving such reports. But it continues to maintain there's no evidence linking Iraqi chemical weapons with the post-war illnesses reported by American veterans. The Pentagon notes that all the reports came from French or Czech units, and none were substantiated by U-S troops. In addition, no Czech or French veterans have reported suffering symptoms of the so-called Gulf War Syndrome. (Associated Press, 22 August 1996)
Researchers at the Neurosciences Institute of San Diego say that substances in chocolate mimic the effects of marijuana. Dr. Danielle Piomelli says, "We're talking about something much, much, much, much milder than a high." Those effects are subtle, but some ingredients in chocolate act directly on the brain, instead of the taste buds. The study, reported in the journal Nature, says the chemicals might also combine with other ingredients like caffeine to make a person feel good. However, another researcher is questioning the speculation. Christian Felder of the National Institute of Mental Health estimated that a 130-pound person would have to inject the equivalent of 25 pounds of chocolate in one sitting to get any marijuana-like effect. Which, I guess, would come after the Pepto-Bismol effect. (Associated Press, 21 August 1996)
See the CNN story. See the USA Today story.
The companies that make two competing prostate drugs financed a head-to-head comparison study. Only one of them is happy with the results, which were reported in The New England Journal of Medicine. A study of men at Veterans Affairs hospitals found that Hytrin, made by Abbott Laboratories, worked much better than Merck and Company's Proscar. Hytrin eased discomfort by a third, while Proscar had almost no effect. The director of the study says that, for the majority of patients, Proscar is no more than "an expensive placebo." However, one prominent prostate surgeon said Proscar may work better for men with significantly enlarged prostates. (Associated Press, 21 August 1996)
See the USA Today story.
An outbreak of drug-resistant bacteria has caused nine patients to be put under quarantine at St. Paul's Hospital, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Earlier this year, the bug emerged in several North American cities. Two other hospitals in the province, Regina and Prince Albert, each have one person quarantined. A total of 14 people have been diagnosed with the bacteria at St. Paul's -- four are showing symptoms of infection, while the others are carriers showing no such signs. Health officials term the Saskatchewan cases "well under control." (Broadcast News, 22 August 1996)
The authors of the study stress that the increased risk is modest, but they do see a connection between exposure to magnetic fields, and breast cancer. Researchers from Boston University compared 6900 women with breast cancer with 9500 with no history of the disease. After looking at how much exposure to magnetic fields they experienced at work, the study found that those with higher exposure had a 43% greater chance of having breast cancer. High-risk occupations for women appear to be: electrical engineering, computer equipment or mainframe operators, and anyone working with flourescent lights. The study is published in the September issue of the journal "Epidemiology." (Associated Press, 20 August 1996)
See the CNN story. See the USA Today story.
FDA approves a new device for incontinent women
It comes with risk, but the Food and Drug Administration has given its approval to the Reliance urinary control insert. The tampon-like device forms a plug to block urine leakage. About five million women, particularly pregnant and elderly women, experience such leaks during physical stress, such as coughing or heavy lifting. The manufacturer, Uromed Corporation, says the device completely blocks leaks 80% of the time. However, the FDA estimates 44% of women who use the Reliance insert will develop a uninary tract infection within the first year. It should be available in pharmacies before January. (Associated Press, 21 August 1996)
- Don't worry, eat fish. According to "Men's Health" magazine, you might want to cure your depression in a seafood restaurant. Studies find a strong link between depression and low levels of Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. What foods have good supplies of the stuff? Try sardines, mackarel, trout, salmon and herring. (CBS Radio, 19 August 1996)
- You've heard of an "ice cream headache." How about a "gumball headache?" "American Health" magazine says the strain of chewing causes stress in the jaw joints, and creates tension in the muscles at the side of the head.(CBS Radio, 22 August 1996)
- The fatal brain ailment linked to mad cow disease has claimed another victim. A 20-year-old British man died in February of a newly discovered form of Creuztfeldt-Jacob disease. But there are good reasons not to link this case with the outbreak that led to the slaughter of British cows: he was a vegetarian since age 16. (Broadcast News, 19 August 1996)
- Do you have a crease in your earlobe? You may be at risk for heart disease or a heart attack. It sounds incredibly strange, but I keep coming across this story. According to "Family Circle," heart disease patients with one creased earlobe have a 33% increased risk of needing bypass surgery, or suffering a heart attack or even death in the next ten years. And if both earlobes are creased, your risk is 77% higher. (CBS Radio, 23 August 1996)
- Lower your cholesterol -- by drinking milk? Golden Jersey Products of Florida says its new fortified milk contains a mix of nonfat milk and oat flour. The new ingredient is called Replace, is derived from Oatrim, a product developed by the Agriculture Department from hydrolyzed oats. Golden Jersey says Oatrim works as an all-natural, all-grain fat replacement that reduces excess cholesterol. As part of Replace, it will be sold directly to dairies to mix with skim milk. The fortified milk is expected to hit stroes this fall. (Associated Press, 8 August 1996)
- A drug company in Brazil says it has the world's first birth control pill for men. Hebron S-A has unveiled Nofertil, a pill made from a substance extracted from cotton. The company says tests on 500 men in eight nations show it's 96 to 98% effective, has no side effects, and its effects disappear 20 to 40 days after a man stops taking it. Nofertil is scheduled to begin manufacture next June. (Broadcast News, 18 August 1996)
- According to "Family Circle" magazine, if you have asthma, you should try to stay indoors during thunderstorms. The magazine says people are more prone to suffering asthma attacks during thunderstorms. It may have to do with a drop in the air temperature and a rise in the grass pollen count. (CBS Radio, 23 August 1996)
- "The American Journal of Public Health" has linked cases of childhood lead poisoning to kohl eye makeup, typically worn by Middle Eastern, Indian, Pakistani, and some African women. Experts say pregnant women who wear it pass the kohl through the placenta to the fetus, exposing him or her to lead poisoning. (CBS Radio, 19 August 1996)
STB's News You Can Use! edited and written by --
Tom Connolly, for Infant Moose Web Page Creations.
Past newsletters: 17 August 1996 | 9 August 1996 | 2 August 1996 | 25 July 1996 | 18 July 1996 | 11 July 1996 | 3 July 1996 | 26 June 1996 | 20 June 1996 | 12 June 1996 | 6 June 1996 | 31 May 1996 | 25 May 1996 | 16 May 1996 | 9 May 1996
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