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An injection that relieves low back pain by helping damaged spinal discs regenerate appears to have sustained benefits, new clinical trial data show. Most patients who received an injection of VIA Disc received back pain relief that lasted at least three years, said lead researcher Dr. Douglas Beall, chief of radiology at Clinical Radiology of Oklahoma in Edmond. About 60% of patients had a 50% or better improvement in their pain three years after treatment, results showed, while more than 70% had a greater than 20-point improvement in movement and function. “This is durable relief out through 36 months,” said Beall, who is scheduled to present these findings Monday at a meeting of the Society for Interventional Radiology, in Phoenix. Findings presented at medical meetings are considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal. VIA Disc — the trade name for viable disc allograft supplementation — is a blend of bone marrow cells and ground-up spinal disc tissue from donors, Beall said. The cells are “one of the precursors to forming disc,” Beall said. They are selected from exactly the area where they’re precursors to form the disc material, tested for their capability to renew and differentiate from other cells and then mixed with the allograft (disc material) and injected. Once injected, the VIA Disc blend of cells and donor tissue encourages the cells within…  read on >  read on >

An outbreak of serious bacterial infections in 13 U.S. states linked to use of artificial tears has prompted experts to offer tips for keeping dry eyes safe. Five of the 58 people infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa had vision loss, and one person died, leading to the recall of EzriCare and Delsam Pharma artificial tears. Some of those sickened also reported lung and urinary tract infections. Tests of opened bottles used by those affected found a rare, highly drug-resistant strain of the bacterium — one never before reported in the United States, according to the U.S. National Eye Institute. While it’s unclear if the contamination occurred during or after manufacturing, and while testing continues, there are ways regular users of artificial tears for dry eye disease, contact lens use and refractive surgery can keep themselves safer. “Formulations with preservatives reduce the risk of bacterial growth and potential infection,” said Dr. Chantal Cousineau-Krieger, an ophthalmologist at the National Eye Institute. “However, commonly added preservatives such as benzalkonium chloride, polyquaternium, or sodium chlorite themselves can be irritating to the eye, especially if used five or more times a day,” she said in an institute news release. Repeatedly using an eyedrop bottle that contains no preservatives can lead to contamination, increasing infection risk. “People who require preservative-free artificial tears can purchase single-use, individual dose vials, which cut contamination risk…  read on >  read on >

Playing sports can be good for kids of all abilities. A leading medical organization offers some tips for getting children involved, while helping keep them safe and injury-free. “We encourage children to play a variety of sports, both to increase their enjoyment over time and to avoid injuries we often see with overuse,” said Dr. Alison Brooks, chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness. “Parents can play a big role in influencing their children to play sports that are appropriate for their age, development and physical abilities,” Brooks explained in an AAP news release. Sports help kids stay fit and feel good about themselves, the AAP noted. Pediatricians also encourage young people with disabilities to participate in sports, recreation and physical activities whenever possible, the academy added. Among the many benefits of playing sports are improved physical and mental health; better social skills and relationships; enhanced well-being and self-esteem; and improved sleep and behavior. Still, all sports do have risks of injuries. Among the most frequent ones are sprains, which are injuries to ligaments; strains, which are injuries to muscles; growth plate irritation; and stress fractures. The AAP recommends having a doctor evaluate tenderness over a bone in a growing child even if there is minimal swelling or limitation in motion. Here are some tips to reduce the…  read on >  read on >

You toss, you turn, you can’t fall asleep. Certainly, there are sleep medications that can be prescribed by a doctor. And with some investment of time, cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia is considered to be an effective option. Yet, there are also a lot of healthy sleep habits and natural sleep aids that some experts believe can make a difference, too. With more than 60 million Americans suffering from poor sleep quality, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine, it seems like these easily accessible options could be worth a try when searching for the best natural sleep aid. Practice good sleep hygiene About 20% of Americans take sleep medication, according to recent research from the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics. Those include a long list of drugs, such as Sonata, Lunesta and Ambien. But Dr. Sanjeev Kothare, a sleep expert and pediatric neurologist at Cohen Children’s Medical Center in Queens, N.Y., suggests starting with some basics to make sleep a little easier. ‘There are certain natural things that you can take and there are certain things that you can do,” Kothare said. Start with healthy sleep hours, Kothare recommends. For adults, that means going to bed at roughly 10 to 11 p.m. and waking up at 7 a.m., to get a good seven to eight hours of sleep. Teenagers need eight or nine hours a night.…  read on >  read on >

There is little that is harder than watching a loved one struggle with depression. So what can you do? More than you might think, experts say. First, depression is a mood disorder that can affect anyone, regardless of age, race, socioeconomic status or gender. Symptoms ranging from mild to severe and it impacts the way you feel, think and behave, according to the American Psychiatric Association. Here are a few simple facts about depression, also known as major depressive disorder. According to the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): It’s common. An estimated 21 million adults have experienced major depression at least once. It’s one of the most common mental health disorders in the United States. It’s serious. Major depression leads to impairment that impacts your ability to function on a day-to-day basis. Simple activities like eating, sleeping, working and concentrating can become almost impossible. It can lead to feelings of guilt and worthlessness and suicidal thoughts or attempts. It’s treatable. Depression is treated with psychotherapy and/or medication. Experts at NIMH remind patients that treatment is a process. It can take time to find a regimen that’s effective. When someone you care about is experiencing symptoms of depression, it can be hard to know what to do, what to say, or how to help. “The most important thing we can offer is ourselves, our…  read on >  read on >

Have you ever been in a social situation where you felt nervous? Maybe starting a new job caused you to sweat a lot on your first day. Or going to a party where you didn’t know anyone gave you a nervous stomach. These are normal feelings that most people experience at different times in their lives. But social anxiety is a much different experience. It can be debilitating and interfere with simple, day-to-day activities like going to work, attending social gatherings or even going to the store. What is social anxiety? Experts from the Anxiety and Depression Association of America describe social anxiety as “intense anxiety or fear of being judged, negatively evaluated or rejected in a social or performance situation.” Fear of appearing awkward or dumb intensifies anxious feelings and often leads to avoiding the social situation altogether. Since avoidance is a common response, social anxiety can be a life-limiting disorder if left untreated. The avoidance turns into missed opportunities, experiences or relationships, which leads to low achievement in school and work, poor social skills, low self-esteem, social isolation, depression and even suicidal thoughts or attempts. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Fifteen million American adults have social anxiety disorder, according to Mental Health America. Social anxiety symptoms Mayo Clinic says the criteria for diagnosing social anxiety disorder include: Persistent, intense fear or…  read on >  read on >

Alarmed by the increasing spread of medical misinformation, 50 U.S. medical and science organizations have announced the formation of a new group that aims to debunk fake health news. Called the Coalition for Trust in Health & Science, the group brings together reputable associations representing American academics, researchers, scientists, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, drug and insurance companies, consumer advocates, public health professionals and even medical ethicists. A small sampling of the groups that have currently signed on includes the American Board of Internal Medicine, the American College of Physicians, the American College of Preventive Medicine, the American Psychological Association, the American Medical Association, the American Nurses Association and the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health. The coalition plans to take direct aim at what it is calling a “health infodemic.” “I’ll start in saying that we in health care are very aware that American society — the contemporary society that we live in — is characterized to a significant degree by a distrust in almost all of institutions of our society, and by uncertainty as to the truthfulness or accuracy of the information that is being presented to them,” noted Dr. Reed Tuckson, chair and co-founder of the Black Coalition Against COVID (BCAC) and a core convening committee member of the newly formed coalition. He argues that this predisposition to distrust is compounded by the…  read on >  read on >

(HealthDay News) – A brain-eating amoeba has killed a Florida man, state health officials reported. The man may have acquired this very rare infection after rinsing his sinuses with tap water, the Florida Department of Health in Charlotte County said in a news release. While health officials continue to investigate the cause of the Naegleria fowleri infection, they emphasized that it can’t be contracted from drinking tap water. These infections only happen when contaminated water enters through the sinuses, officials said. That more typically happens from swimming in warm lakes or rivers in summer. N. fowleri grows in warm temperatures, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It can be found in soil and fresh water. Health officials have not publicly identified the man who died. Cases have been reported in United States for each of the past four years, including three cases last year that happened in Arizona, Iowa and Nebraska. The Iowa case happened last June and involved a Missouri resident who swam in the Lake of Three Fires in Taylor County. The Nebraska case was a child who died within 10 days of being hospitalized after swimming in the Elkhorn River in August, NBC News reported. The disease typically progresses quickly after patients have symptoms that include headaches, fever, nausea, disorientation, loss of balance, a stiff neck and seizures.…  read on >  read on >

Don’t put lip balm on your eyelid, even if you saw it on TikTok. It’s bad for your eyes, according to a Michigan Medicine expert. The trend first began back in the 2010s, but has seen a resurgence in 2023. Called “beezin’,” because the trend is to use Burt’s Bees lip balm in particular, some believe it gets them high, heightens the sensation of being drunk or high, or increases feelings of alertness. It doesn’t, said Dr. Olivia Killeen, a clinical lecturer in the department of ophthalmology and visual sciences at Michigan Medicine, in Ann Arbor. “The peppermint oil or menthol in the balm can cause a tingling sensation, but it is not actually getting people high or causing the same type of chemical reaction in the body that’s produced by drugs or alcohol,” Killeen said in a Michigan Medicine news release. Rather, it can irritate the eyelids, causing redness, swelling and inflammation. If it ends up getting into the eyes, it can cause tearing, redness and painful burns to the surface of the eyes. It may even scar the eyes in severe cases or cause vision loss. It may also increase the risk of infection, especially if the balm was also used on the lips, because it may introduce viruses or bacteria into the eye. Among the potential infections are conjunctivitis, or “pink eye.”…  read on >  read on >

It won’t come as a surprise to those who love their furry friends, but a new poll finds many Americans saying their pets offer them mental health benefits and are a part of the family. Roughly 86% of cat and dog owners said their pets had a positive impact on their well-being, the American Psychiatric Association’s (APA) Healthy Minds Monthly Poll found. Owners of fish, birds and turtles were less likely to say so, at 62%. Still, about 88% of all pet owners said their animals were part of their family. “People recognize that there is something special about bonds between humans and their pets,” said APA President Dr. Rebecca Brendel. “The animals we bring into our lives and our families play many roles, from nonjudgmental companions that we love to key partners in reducing our stress and anxiety,” she said in an APA news release. “Americans clearly recognize that our relationships with our pets can have noticeable benefits for our overall mental health.” About 50% of 2,200 people surveyed in February said they had dogs, 35% had cats, 3% had a variety of other pets and 31% had no pets. But there were some downsides to being so attached to their pets. Among the concerns pets brought their owners were worries about the pets aging or dying, at 71%, their pets’ health conditions, at…  read on >  read on >