Musician’s dystonia improved by stimulating hand muscles

Musician’s dystonia improved by stimulating hand muscles

A new research has found that musician’s dystonia, a movement disorder that causes muscles spasms in musicians, may be treated by a therapy that stimulates the hand muscles. – Stimulating the hand muscles may help treat the condition called musician’s dystonia. Musician’s dystonia – a focal dystonia is a nerological movement disorder that causes muscles spasms in musicians.

New screening strategy for detection of chagas disease

A new screening strategy could make it easier to diagnose and treat Chagas disease caused by a single cell parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, according to a US study. – A new targeted screening strategy could make the diagnosis and treatment of Chagas disease more feasible in low-resource settings, concludes a new study, publishing on December 26, 2007, in the open-access journal PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases.

Most parents underestimate children’s obesity

Despite ongoing reports of the global obesity epidemic, many American parents whose children are obese do not see it, a new survey finds. – Large numbers of parents fail to recognize that their children are overweight or obese, and therefore may be less inclined to modify their children’s diet and activity levels. More than 40 percent of parents with obese children ages 6 to 11 describe their child not as obese, but as “about the right weight.”

7 tips to keep the holidays happy

Take seven steps for happy holidays as mentioned by Dennis Orthner to prevent tension at family gatherings. – Today’s busy families have moved toward a pattern of individual activities (listening to an iPod, surfing the internet), rather than joint activities, according to Dennis Orthner, a professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Social Work.

Safety warning on fentanyl skin patch by US FDA

The FDA warned, for the second time in two years, that improper use of the fentanyl patch, a painkiller, is still claiming lives. – The US Food and Drug Administration issued its second safety warning about the fentanyl transdermal system, an adhesive patch that delivers a potent pain medicine through the skin. In July 2005, the agency issued a similar warning to the public and to health care providers, saying that the directions on the product label and on the patient package insert should be followed exactly in order to avoid overdose.

Medical myths even doctors believe

In a study entitled ?Medical Myths Even Doctors Believe? published in the Christmas issue of the British Medical Journal, Indiana University School of Medicine researchers explored seven commonly held medical beliefs. – Indiana University School of Medicine researchers explored seven commonly held medical beliefs. The study entitled “Medical Myths Even Doctors Believe” is published in the Christmas issue of the British Medical Journal.

Gene changes may lead to hardening of arteries, atherosclerosis

A genetic mutation expands lesions in the aorta and promotes coronary atherosclerosis, more commonly known as hardening of the arteries, according to a study by Yale School of Medicine in Cell Metabolism. – Researchers revealed that changes in gene may lead to hardening of the arteries and expands lesions in the aorta and promotes coronary atherosclerosis. The study was done by researchers from Yale School of Medicine and published in Cell Metabolism.

New warning for nonoxynol 9 OTC contraceptives in US

Nonoxynol 9 or N9 in the widely available stand-alone contraceptive products do not protect against sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV infection. – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a final rule that requires that manufacturers of over-the-counter (OTC) stand-alone vaginal contraceptive and spermicidal products containing the chemical ingredient nonoxynol 9 (N9) include a warning that the chemical N9 does not provide protection against infection from HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) or other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

Massage eases pain and anxiety after surgery

Massage can ease pain after surgery and may complement the use of drugs for patients, US researchers said. – A 20-minute evening back massage may help relieve pain and reduce anxiety following major surgery when given in addition to pain medications, according to a report in the December issue of Archives of Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.