New Technology Aims To Repair The After-Effects Of Gum Disease
Advances in tissue engineering are offering the promise of being able to restore lost bone and gum tissue following periodontal disease. About a third of the population are affected by chronic inflammatory gum disease which can result in loss of the bone and other tissues that support our teeth. Professor Saso Ivanovski, Listerine Chair in Periodontology at Griffith's School of Dentistry and Oral Health, said even when the infection or inflammation was brought under control, people can be left with an unsightly appearance and poor function. The colloquial expression 'long in the tooth' is often used to describe people and things of a significant age, however the unsightly effects of severe gum disease and gum retraction leading to wobbly teeth are not confined to the elderly.
Exercise Program Associated With Denser Bones, Lower Fall Risk In Older Women
Women age 65 or older assigned to an exercise program for 18 months appeared to have denser bones and a reduced risk of falls, but not a reduced cardiovascular disease risk, compared with women in a control group. Wolfgang Kemmler, Ph.D., and colleagues at Freidrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany, studied a total of 246 older women. Half of the women exercised four days per week with special emphasis on intensity while the other half participated in a wellness program that focused on well-being. Among the 227 women who completed the study, the 115 who exercised had higher bone density in their spine and hip, and also had a 66 percent reduced rate of falls.
Animal Models That Help Translate Regenerative Therapies From Bench To Bedside
Clinical testing and development of novel therapies based on advances in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine that will one day enable the repair and replacement of diseased or damaged human muscle, bone, tendons, and ligaments depends on the availability of good animal models. The highlights of a recent workshop that explored the need for and current status of animal models for musculoskeletal regenerative medicine are presented in a special issue of Tissue Engineering, Part B: Reviews, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. The issue is available free online ( http://www.liebertpub.com/ten ). The production of specially engineered tissues to restore the function and viability of cartilage or meniscus in the knee, for example, or of degenerating intervertebral discs in the spine, will likely one day be commonplace.
This Winter, Go For The Gold - American Academy Of Orthopaedic Surgeons
As Olympians push their bodies to the extreme during the upcoming Winter Games in Vancouver, professional and amateur sports enthusiasts alike will be watching their favorite televised sports. Olympic athletes train year round for these Games, and have to balance strength, endurance and stamina throughout the duration of their featured games, while recreational athletes among us may be pushing their body to the limits while skiing, sledding and snowboarding. Hockey, ice skating, sledding, skiing, snowboarding and other cold-weather activities are a great way to get some fresh air and exercise during these long chilly months. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) has some helpful hints to avoid injury on the slopes, rinks and snowy trails.
New Pain Management Approaches Reduce Pain, Speed Recovery For Knee Or Hip Replacement
Patients undergoing knee or hip replacements recover more quickly when treated with targeted pain-blocking medications that may eliminate the need for general anesthesia during surgery and intravenous narcotics drugs after surgery. The February issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter explains the newer pain management options and their benefits. A decade ago, patients undergoing hip or knee replacements were almost exclusively given general anesthesia during surgery and intravenous narcotic pain medications afterward. This approach works for most people and still is commonly practiced. But both general anesthesia and intravenous narcotic drugs can cause nausea, vomiting, grogginess, decreased bowel function and other side effects.
TAU Finds The Female Hormone May Protect Women From Psychosis
Many American women are prescribed estrogen to combat the negative effects of menopause, such as bone loss and mood swings. Now, new evidence from a Tel Aviv University study suggests that hormone replacement therapy might also protect them - and younger women - from schizophrenia as well. Prof. Ina Weiner of Tel Aviv University's Department of Psychology and her doctoral student Michal Arad have reported findings suggesting that restoring normal levels of estrogen may work as a protective agent in menopausal women vulnerable to schizophrenia. Their work, based on an animal model of menopausal psychosis, was recently reported in the journal Psychopharmacology.
QRxPharma Initiates Second Pivotal Phase 3 Study Of MoxDuo TM IR Dual-Opioid TM For NDA Submission
QRxPharma Limited (ASX: QRX and OTCQX: QRXPY) announced initiation of its second pivotal Phase 3 registration trial (Study 009) to evaluate analgesic efficacy and safety of MoxDuo™ IR, a patented 3:2 ratio fixed dose combination of morphine plus oxycodone. This two-arm study will compare the effectiveness and safety of a flexible MoxDuo™ IR dose regimen to a fixed low dose for managing moderate to severe pain in patients who have undergone total knee replacement surgery. The Company expects to complete dosing in Q3 2010 in preparation for filing a New Drug Application (NDA) with the US Food and Drug Administration in Q4 2010. MoxDuo™ IR targets the acute pain market, a $2.
Cracking The Code On Common Wrist Injury - American Academy Of Orthopaedic Surgeons
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) recently approved and released an evidence-based clinical practice guideline on the Treatment of Distal Radius Fractures. A distal radius fracture - one of the most common fractures in the body - usually occurs as a result of a fall. For example, a fall may cause someone to land on his or her outstretched hands, breaking the larger of the two bones in the forearm, near the wrist. - In 2007, more than 261, 000 people visited the emergency room due to a distal radius fracture. "The Academy created this clinical practice guideline to improve patient care for those sustaining a distal radius fracture, " stated David Lichtman, MD, chair of this guideline workgroup.
What Is Osteoarthritis? What Causes Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative arthritis degenerative joint disease, OA, or osteoarthrosis, is a form of arthritis caused by inflammation, breakdown, and the eventual loss of cartilage in the joints - the cartilage wears down over time. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. According to the National Health Service, UK, approximately 8.5 million people are affected by the condition. The Arthritis Foundation, USA, says that about 27 million Americans are affected. Osteoarthritis is a progressive disease; signs and symptoms gradually worsen over time. There is no cure. However, available therapies may help with pain and swelling (inflammation), as well as keeping the patient mobile and active.
GrandpaВ s Broken Hip May Mean Weaker Bones For His Grandsons
If your grandfather has had a hip fracture, you too could be at risk. Researchers at the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, have been able to show, for the first time, a link between hip fractures in elderly men and impaired bone health in their grandsons. The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, shows that hip fractures in grandfathers are linked to low bone density and reduced bone size in their grandsons. "This is the first time this risk factor for low bone mass has been demonstrated across two generations, " says associate professor Mattias Lorentzon, who led the research team at the Sahlgrenska Academy.