 “The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has decided that resources are better directed at this time to testing other potential therapies for autism spectrum disorders, and is not pursuing the additional review required to begin the study.” Continue reading Chelation study for autism cancelled
Category Archives: K. SPECIAL GROUPS
Benefits of vitamin A and zinc on malaria
 Researchers report positive effects when vitamin A and zinc were given to young children from the country of Burkina Faso in West Africa. Continue reading Benefits of vitamin A and zinc on malaria
Comparing benefits of massage vs touch in cancer patients
 Small studies suggest that massage therapy may relieve pain and other symptoms.
Here are results from a large study. Continue reading Comparing benefits of massage vs touch in cancer patients
Integrating CAM into pain management at the end of life
Dr. Perry Fine — an anesthesiologist from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City — has published an excellent review of this topic. It is essential reading for healthcare professionals as well as family and patient caregivers.
Among other issues, it provides good perspective on the role of CAM approaches to pain management in palliative care, which I have summarized here.
Continue reading Integrating CAM into pain management at the end of life
Treating aggression in preschool children
 It “could be an easy and inexpensive way to decrease aggression and abnormal behavior among preschool children,” according to researchers at Uppsala University in Sweden. Continue reading Treating aggression in preschool children
Acupuncture for pelvic and back pain in pregnancy
Researchers from the University of Melbourne in Australia review the results of 3 studies. Continue reading Acupuncture for pelvic and back pain in pregnancy
Negative results: Acupuncture for in vitro fertilization
The lead author of this study is Dr. Alice Domar, an international leader in the field of mind/body medicine and women’s health. Her website states that the Domar Center offers acupuncture for pre and post embryo transfer sessions.
It will be interesting to see how these results influence that policy. Continue reading Negative results: Acupuncture for in vitro fertilization
Benefits of music in kids with cancer
Researchers from Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina report on the value of music in children with leukemia receiving chemotherapy. Continue reading Benefits of music in kids with cancer
Music therapy doesn’t reduce anesthesia during surgery
A recent review concluded that among 42 studies of music therapy around the time of surgery, positive effects on reducing anxiety and pain were reported in about half.
Researchers from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and Children’s Medical Center at Dallas looked for changes in the amount of inhaled anesthetic needed during surgery in adult patients exposed to music. Continue reading Music therapy doesn’t reduce anesthesia during surgery
B vitamins fail to prevent depression
Researchers from the University of Western Australia in Crawley examined whether vitamins B-12, B-6, and folate might reduce the severity of depressive symptoms and the incidence of clinically significant depression. Continue reading B vitamins fail to prevent depression
Tai chi improves diabetes control
After 14 weeks of practicing tai chi, older Chinese women showed improved A1c values in this study by researchers at the Beijing Sport University in China.
There were other benefits, but let’s focus on A1c. Continue reading Tai chi improves diabetes control
Safety of American ginseng in children
In January, the FDA recommended that over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold products should not be used to treat infants and children less than 2 years of age because of serious and potentially life-threatening side effects.
But what about using ginseng in children from 3 to 12 years old? Continue reading Safety of American ginseng in children
Pacifiers and the risk of middle ear infections
Acute otitis media (middle ear infection) is a common childhood infection, leading to doctor visits, antibiotics, and even surgery.
Researchers from the University Medical Center Utrecht in the Netherlands studied if pacifier use might increase the risk. Continue reading Pacifiers and the risk of middle ear infections
Music helps cast broken bones in children
Researchers from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio report that playing soft music in the cast room decreases anxiety in young children who require placement or removal of a cast on a broken bone. Continue reading Music helps cast broken bones in children
Importance of eyeglasses for nursing home residents
Place your parent in a nursing home and soon the staff reports that she lost her socks, needs more sweaters, can’t find one shoe.
So, it’s easy to put off replacing the missing eyeglasses. After all, does a demented person really have to keep up with reading the news?
The answer is yes, and here’s why. Continue reading Importance of eyeglasses for nursing home residents
CAM for perinatal depression
Further research is needed, but Dr. Marlene Freeman from The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas brings us up to date. Continue reading CAM for perinatal depression
Benefits of running in the elderly
Vigorous exercise (running) at middle and older ages is associated with reduced disability in later life, according to this study by researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine in California.
Would you start running based on these results? Continue reading Benefits of running in the elderly
Breastfeeding and cholesterol later in life
Is it possible that infant feeding patterns can influence long-term changes in cholesterol metabolism?
An international group of researchers think it might. Continue reading Breastfeeding and cholesterol later in life
Lavender baths lower stress in mother and child
Researchers from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in Florida report that adding lavender-scented bath oil to the infant bath results in lower stress in the mother and child, less crying, and better sleep. Continue reading Lavender baths lower stress in mother and child
Feeding synbiotics to newborn infants
Live probiotic bacteria and dietary prebiotic oligosaccharides (together termed synbiotics) are being used in infancy, but evidence of their long-term effects and safety is lacking.
Now, researchers from Helsinki University Central Hospital in Finland report their effects. Continue reading Feeding synbiotics to newborn infants