Implanting a small spacer between lumbar vertebrae during a procedure called interspinous process decompression may be an effective and minimally invasive way to treat spinal stenosis, according to a new report.
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A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study of healthy marathon runners over age 50 showed that cardiovascular disease occurs among seemingly healthy endurance athletes and may be difficult to distinguish from the effects of training the heart muscle. The findings were presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA)."Radiologists can use MRI to identify cardiovascular disease that is not yet causing symptoms," said Torleif A. Sandner, M.D.
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In a new twist on the slogan "milk does a body good," radiologists are testing use of the dairy staple as a contrast agent in gastrointestinal imaging exams -- with excellent results. The researchers reported their findings at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.
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Radiologists are using an unusual approach, hypnosis, to ease patient pain and anxiety during breast biopsy procedures. A new study from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School in Boston found that women who were guided into a state of hypnotic relaxation during biopsy experienced less pain and anxiety during the procedure. The study was presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.
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An implantable pump can help heart-failure patients live and recover strength while they wait for a transplant. But an evaluation concludes that the UK's National Health Service should continue to restrict the technology's use -- at least for now.
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Sixty per cent of doctors' surgeries in Scotland prescribe homeopathic or herbal remedies, according to a study of nearly two million patients, published in the December issue of the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.Researchers from the University of Aberdeen analysed official prescribing data from 2003-4, covering 1.9 million patients from 323 practices.
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Couples struggling with infertility face uncertain odds when considering various treatment options. But a new study reveals that embolization, a minimally invasive treatment for arguably the most common cause of infertility in men, can significantly improve a couple's chances for pregnancy. The findings were presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.
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Intentionally losing weight and then regaining it may increase men's risk for gallstones later in life, according to a report in the November 27 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.Gallstone disease - which occurs when a solid mass of cholesterol, bile and calcium salts forms in the gall bladder - is common among adults in Western countries, according to background information in the article.
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As Christmas draws closer, winter allergies are once again on the rise. According to a recent survey, (3 out of 4) adults experience an increase of allergy attacks including headaches, eye irritation and sinus congestion from Thanksgiving through New Year's Day. ??The survey was conducted by SiCap Industries, makers of the world's first hot pepper nasal spray known as "Sinus Buster".
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It is time to protect patients from "vile and cynical exploitation" by the alternative medicines industry, argues a cancer expert in this week's British Medical Journal. It is estimated that up to 80 percent of all patients with cancer take a complementary treatment or follow a dietary programme to help treat their cancer, writes Jonathan Waxman, Professor of Oncology at Imperial College London.
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