World's largest opioid review finds they often don't work

The largest review ever conducted on opioids for acute pain found that these widely prescribed drugs often deliver only small, short-lived benefits. For many common conditions, including some surgeries and kidney stone pain, opioids performed no better than a placebo. Researchers also found higher rates of side effects and warned that dependence can begin after only a short period of use.


http://dlvr.it/TTCvN2

Should Your Parent Risk an Anesthesia Disaster or Forego Surgery?

Just last week, a reader asked me whether she should try to sway her mother, who had colon cancer, toward surgery. Her...


The post Should Your Parent Risk an Anesthesia Disaster or Forego Surgery? appeared first on Minding Our Elders.
             

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http://dlvr.it/TTCSpg

Osteopenia is silently weakening bones in millions of people

Osteopenia is a common but often overlooked condition that causes bones to become less dense and more fragile. Because it develops silently, many people only discover they have it after a fracture or bone scan. Aging, menopause, poor diet, and inactivity can all contribute to bone loss. Fortunately, exercise, adequate calcium and vitamin D, and other healthy habits can slow or even partially reverse the decline.


http://dlvr.it/TTCCDS

Copper drug clears toxic Alzheimer’s proteins and restores memory

A copper-based compound restored the brain’s ability to clear toxic Alzheimer’s proteins, dramatically reducing amyloid buildup and improving memory in laboratory experiments. The findings point to a potentially fast-tracked new treatment strategy because the drug has already been tested in humans for other neurological conditions.


http://dlvr.it/TTBzJY

MIT scientists discover amino acid that helps the gut heal itself

MIT scientists have identified cysteine — an amino acid found in foods like meat, dairy, beans, and nuts — as a potent trigger for intestinal repair. In mice, a cysteine-rich diet activated immune cells that released healing signals, helping stem cells rebuild damaged intestinal tissue after radiation exposure. Researchers say the discovery could eventually lead to new dietary therapies for cancer patients suffering from treatment-related gut damage.


http://dlvr.it/TT9z7K