Many people who use the club drug ketamine – known as “special K” – may risk abdominal pain, bladder control problems and other urinary tract issues, and the heavier the dose or frequency of use, the more likely the problems, according to a UK study.

The study, which appeared in the British Journal of Urology International, found that of 1,285 young adults who said they’d abused ketamine in the past year, 27 percent had developed urinary tract symptoms.

In medicine, ketamine is used as an anesthetic. In clubs, where it’s better known as “special K,” ketamine is snorted or sometimes injected, with users saying it creates feelings of euphoria and being “out of your body.”

Related: Ketamine: A miracle antidepressant?

Ketamine abuse is on the rise in many countries, and repeated use has been linked to mental problems such as hallucinations and impaired memory, thinking and concentration. It can also cause high blood pressure.

The study, led by Angela Cottrell, a researcher at the Bristol Urological Institute, looked at the prevalence of urinary tract symptoms such as pain in the lower belly, painful urination, blood in the urine and bladder-control problems.

“The take-home message is that regular ketamine use can lead to severe urinary symptoms,” Cottrell said, although she did say it was not clear how the rate of urinary problems among ketamine users compared to young people in general.

The findings were based on an online survey promoted by a UK club-music magazine called “MixMag.”

Of 3,806 young people who responded, half said they’d tried it at least once, while 1,285 – or a third of the whole group – said they’d used it in the last year.

The researchers found that among all of the past-year users, 17 percent had symptoms of ketamine dependence such as wanting, but failing, to cut down on the drug. Not surprisingly, they tended to take the drug in bigger doses, and more often, than other users.

In general, the odds of urinary problems and abdominal pain went up as people’s ketamine doses climbed, and with more frequent use.

Those symptoms often seem to go away once the ketamine abuse stops.

For the study, 251 survey respondents described their experience. half said they’d stopped using the drug and their symptoms had improved. Another 43 percent still had urinary problems, but were also still abusing ketamine.

Then there was the 4 percent who said their urinary problems were getting worse even though they were off ketamine.

“There may be a stage where irreversible damage may occur,” Cottrell said. “However, little is known about this.”

CHICAGO — an investigational drug for influenza that targets a host-cell factor necessary for infection reduced viral loads by more than 100-fold in a randomized trial, a researcher said here. an inhalable fusion protein called DAS181 reduced viral loads by 2.38 log10 relative to placebo on day five after symptom onset in the 297-patient trial (P=0.008), according to Roy Steigbigel, MD, of the State University of New York at Stony Brook. three days of once-daily treatment led to decreases in viral loads of 1.01 log10 on day two and 1.46 log10 on day three relative to placebo (both P<0.01), Steigbigel told attendees at the Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC). Action Points  

• Note that this study was published as an abstract and presented at a conference. these data and conclusions should be considered to be preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.
• Explain that an investigational drug for influenza that targets a host-cell factor necessary for infection reduced viral loads by more than 100-fold in a randomized trial.
• Note that the drug studied, an inhalable fusion protein called DAS181, targets sialic acid, a receptor on airway cells to which the flu virus’s hemagglutinin protein binds.

However, elevations of alkaline phosphatase were seen in most patients receiving the drug but only rarely in the placebo group, Steigbigel said. the same signal was seen in preclinical studies with DAS181 and is apparently the result of systemic exposure to the drug, causing reduced clearance of the enzyme.

DAS181 targets sialic acid, a receptor on airway cells to which the flu virus’s hemagglutinin protein binds. This is the process that allows the virus to enter host cells and begin replicating.

The drug combines a sialidase enzyme molecule with an anchor protein attaching the drug to cell surfaces so that its effect is prolonged.

Steigbigel reported results from an international phase II trial conducted across three flu seasons in the northern and southern hemispheres.

Patients were 18 to 68 years old and were enrolled within 48 hours of symptom onset, with confirmation of flu infection by a standard rapid test.

They were assigned to three double-blind treatment groups: three doses of placebo; DAS181 given as a single 10-mg dose on the first day, followed by two daily placebo doses; or three daily doses of 10 mg DAS181.

Excluding patients who didn’t receive the assigned doses, there were 88 patients in each group.

The single dose of DAS181 was only slightly more effective than placebo for the major study endpoints, which included time to decreased viral shedding as well as viral loads in gargle washes.

But the three-dose regimen was significantly superior to placebo for both endpoints.

Decreased viral shedding was assessed as the time from baseline to a 1-log10 decrease in viral burden in gargle washes. among patients receiving three daily doses of DAS181, it was achieved in a median of two days, compared with four days for the placebo group.

Steigbigel said the study was not powered for clinical efficacy endpoints, and he did not report on whether the drug shortened time with symptoms.

He did indicate, though, that use of acetaminophen for symptom relief was more frequent in the placebo group.

Session co-moderator Laurent Kaiser, MD, of the University Hospital of Geneva in Switzerland, questioned whether the deactivation of sialic acid receptors could create increased opportunities for bacterial infection.

Some research had suggested that pneumococcal bacteria might be better able to infect airway tissue in the absence of sialic acid.

Steigbigel responded this had been a concern with DAS181 and was examined in animal studies, which found no evidence of increased susceptibility to such infections.

“The proof of the pudding will be in the clinical data,” he added. the phase I and phase II studies had so far not revealed any increased risk, Steigbigel said.

At a separate press briefing, Kaiser said DAS181 was one of several promising new anti-flu agents in the development pipeline.

He noted that, currently, the only drugs specific for flu are inhibitors of the virus’s neuraminidase enzyme.

“We will have soon, hopefully, other drugs than the neuraminidase inhibitors to target influenza and to open the possibility of combined therapy for severe cases,” Kaiser said.

The study was funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. DAS181 is under development by NexBio.

Steigbigel declared he had no relevant financial interests. all other investigators on the study were NexBio employees.

Have you ever experienced creepy-crawly, tingly-tightening sensations in your legs just as you sit down and relax, especially in the evening or night? You are not alone. it is estimated that nearly 10 percent of the U.S. adult population experiences the symptoms of restless legs syndrome (RLS) while approximately 2 to 3 percent of adults have moderate to severe RLS. even though these sensations usually occur in the legs, the fact is that RLS is a neurologic condition.

“Although the exact cause of RLS is unknown, studies continue to indicate that RLS is a long-term, neurological disorder. RLS symptoms often occur when people are about to rest or relax, causing both motor (the urge to move the legs) and sensory symptoms (the sensations in the legs),” says RLS researcher Richard Bogan, MD, president and medical director of SleepMed of South Carolina and associate clinical professor in the University of South Carolina Medical School. “Many people may live with the disruptive symptoms of RLS for years depending on the type they have, primary or secondary RLS,” he adds.

There are two types of RLS: primary RLS and secondary RLS. in primary RLS, symptoms tend to become more troublesome as adults get older, which is why most people are diagnosed in middle-age. Also, women are twice as likely as men to have RLS, and symptoms tend to become worse over time. Interestingly, a family history is reported by many patients with primary RLS, suggesting a genetic link to the disease. Research in this area is ongoing at respected institutions such as the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, but there are still many aspects of the condition that are not well understood.

Secondary RLS is typically a short-term condition due to an underlying medical condition or certain medications. Examples include kidney failure, low levels of iron and pregnancy.

You might have RLS if your symptoms match the following four criteria:

* an urge to move the legs, usually accompanied or caused by uncomfortable and unpleasant legs sensations

* Symptoms begin or worsen during periods of rest or inactivity such as lying or sitting

* Symptoms are partially or totally relieved by movement, such as walking or stretching, at least as long as the activity continues

* Symptoms are worse or occur only in the evening or at night

Dr. Bogan advises, “If you think your symptoms match the diagnosis criteria for RLS, then speak with your physician. only a doctor can diagnose RLS. There are lifestyle changes that may help alleviate symptoms as well as some over the counter products and FDA-approved prescription medications.”

For more information on RLS, visit RLS.org or Restlesslegs.com.

By Joseph Brownstein, MyHealthNewsDaily Contributor

A new study of influenza and air travel shows that passengers seated in the two rows either in front of or behind someone with the flu are at greatly increased risk of getting the flu themselves ? almost half as likely to become infected as the people who are seated next to the sick passenger.

Australian researchers found a “splash zone” of sorts ? within two seats, in any direction, of an infected passenger ? while studying flu infections that spread aboard two large airliners that entered the country during the swine flu pandemic in May 2009.

There was an increased risk of 3.6 percent for passengers sitting within two rows of someone with flu-like symptoms, the researchers said. that jumped to 7.7 percent for those within two seats on either side of the infected passenger.

“The closer you are to an infectious person, the higher your chances of becoming infected yourself,” said study researcher Paul Kelly, an epidemiologist at Australian National University in Canberra. “This is especially the case on long-haul flights,” those lasting more than four hours.

Researchers hope the results will help officials make better decisions when it comes to screening travelers to avoid the spread of not only influenza but other infectious diseases.

Governments should “screen and stop symptomatic patients from flying,” Kelly said.

For travelers who are worried about an infected seat neighbor, Kelly had the following advice: “Change seats!”

He added: “If you have a mask, wear it or suggest your neighbor wears it. Wash your hands, and avoid touching your own face to minimize the chances of spread via that route.”

The two flights studied had a total of 738 passengers, and 319 of them responded to the surveys. the researchers also used databases with reports of the H1N1 flu virus to find additional cases. However, they acknowledged there may have been more flu cases they did not obtain information on.

At least eight passengers on one flight, which left from Los Angeles, had flu-like symptoms at takeoff. Shortly after landing in Sydney, 2 percent of tested passengers on the plane had confirmed cases of H1N1, and there may have been more unreported cases.

The other flight, which arrived in Sydney from Singapore, was not suspected of posing a problem because Singapore had not yet reported any cases of H1N1. One passenger had flu-like symptoms before takeoff, and two others developed them in-flight. Only one of those three passengers was tested later, and that person did not have H1N1. Shortly after the plane landed, however, a child on the flight was found to have contracted H1N1.

The researchers said a major obstacle to warding off epidemics comes with delays in flu symptoms. Five of the nine infected passengers did not show signs of flu when boarding the plane.

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“It’s these people who are asymptomatic who may be the most troublesome, because they’re harder to find,” said Brian Coburn, a research scientist who does mathematical modeling at UCLA. “They’re going through life without awareness that they’re infected yet.”

Coburn, who was not involved in the study, and the Australian investigators emphasized the importance of screening, particularly of passengers seated around a person known to be infected. that might include the need to contact them after the flight once an infection is discovered.

“It’s that one person that actually gets away that could actually cause a major outbreak in an area,” Coburn said.

Coburn said the results of the study are in line with previous projections of how influenza spreads on an airplane. (Coburn and colleagues made one such projection during the swine flu pandemic.) so there now seems to be a way to try to determine the spread of other infectious diseases, such as avian flu and tuberculosis, if they emerge.

“If you have the data on a virus … for airborne diseases, I think this is an excellent framework for people to follow with other diseases,” he said.

More from MyHealthNewsDaily:

• 10 Medical Myths that just Won’t go Away
• 7 Foods you Can Overdose On
• Myth or Truth: 7 Wonders of Cultural Health

In Study, Screen Detected Signs of Autism, Other Developmental Problems 75% of the Time

April 28, 2011 — a simple checklist completed by parents can help doctors screen for signs of autism as early as the child’s first birthday, according to new research.

”I am hoping it will become the standard of care,” researcher Karen Pierce, PhD, an assistant professor of neuroscience at the University of San Diego School of Medicine, tells WebMD.

She recently tested the screen, asking 137 pediatricians throughout San Diego County to take part. At the 12-month well baby visit, the doctors asked the parents to answer the 24-item checklist. the questions ask about their child’s emotions, eye gaze, communication, gestures, and other behaviors.

The screen found suspected autism, autism spectrum disorder, language delays, or other developmental problems about 75% of the time, Pierce says.

“One of every four times, it will be wrong,” she says. “The price to pay for that is actually very tiny” compared to the benefit of early intervention.

Currently, 5.7 years is the median age (half older, half younger) at which children receive an autism diagnosis, according to a 2009 study.

About one in 110 children in the U.S. has autism or autism spectrum disorder, a group of developmental disabilities that cause social, behavioral, and communication challenges.

The new study is published online in the Journal of Pediatrics.

Screen for Autism: a Closer Look

The screen used is already published and is available online for free download. it is called the CSBS DP IT checklist (Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales Developmental Profile Infant-Toddler).

The questionnaire takes about five minutes to complete, Pierce says.

Among the questions:

• Do you know when your child is happy and when your child is upset?
• Does your child do things just to get you to laugh?
• Does your child string sounds together, such as uh oh, mamma, gaga, bye-bye?
• When you call your child’s name, does he/she respond by looking or turning toward you?
• Does your child wave to greet people?
• Does your child smile or laugh while looking at you?

“This is not an autism-specific screen,” Pierce tells WebMD. “It’s a screen to catch autism and other developmental delays.”

The doctors screened 10,479 infants. of them, 1,318 children failed. Pierce evaluated 184 of the children who failed the screen and were evaluated for autism, autism spectrum disorder, language delays, or other developmental delays. the researchers also tracked 41 of the 9,161 children who passed the checklist, who served as a comparison group.

To date, 32 of the children got a final or provisional diagnosis of autism or autism spectrum disorder, which encompasses a wider spectrum of developmental problems. another 46 received a false-positive diagnosis of autism, uncovered with evaluation.

Five babies who tested positive for ASD later no longer met the criteria. Fifty-six were diagnosed with learning disabilities, nine with developmental problems, and 36 with “other” developmental problems.

It is critical, Pierce says, that a doctor who uses the screen has access to a center where he can refer patients for more evaluation.

In 2007, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a report introducing universal screening for autism at ages 18 months and 24 months.

A study found 1.5 per 200?000 British children under 10 had anorexia. Photograph: David Sillitoe for the Guardian

symptoms ofMore children have anorexia than previously though?More than two and a half times as many children under 10 have anorexia nervosa as previously thought? according to the first study into eating disorders among British children.

On average? 1.5 in every 200?000 British children under 10 have anorexia? according to experts from the UCL (University College London) Institute of Child Health? who carried out the research.

Direct comparison with previous UK data is limited but a general practice registry study in the early 1990s found an incidence estimate of 0.6 per 200?000 for anorexia among children aged up to nine.

The findings have shocked experts? who called for urgent action to help save young lives. there are no national paediatric guidelines for the care of individuals with eating disorders.

Recognition of eating disorders in children by GPs can be poor and? unfortunately? many eating disorder services are aimed specifically at adolescents? said Dr Dasha Nicholls? a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist at the UCL Institute of Child Health and the studys lead researcher.

Childhood eating disorders are not quick or easy to treat. for a minority of children it may be the start of a severe and enduring illness? with death rates comparable to some forms of leukaemia.

Early-onset eating disorders defined as those starting before 13 years of age represent a significant clinical burden to paediatric and mental health services. Efforts to improve early detection are needed but our study also shows there is an urgent need to consider the needs of children with eating disorders separately and not simply lower the age range of existing adolescent services? said Nicholls.

Most of the 208 patients in Nichollss study were girls 82% but boys accounted for almost one in five cases.

More than 80% of the children in the study? to be published in the British Journal of Psychiatry? had an anorexia-like illness: 37% had diagnosable symptoms while 43% were classified as having an unspecified eating disorder because although they showed symptoms of anorexia they were not underweight. Only 4% had bulimia.

An additional one in five children had symptoms of disordered eating? such as food avoidance and being underweight? but did not have a preoccupation with their weight or shape.

Half were admitted to hospital? over 70% of whom had anorexia. after a year? almost two thirds were still receiving treatment. 73% had improved but 6% were worse and 10% unchanged.

Almost 44% of the children had a close family member with a history of mental illness? most commonly anxiety or depression. another fifth had a history of early feeding problems? particularly fussy or picky eating.

Studies suggest that although the incidence of eating disorders has been fairly static over the past few decades? anorexia is being diagnosed among children in increasingly younger age groups.

Data on the rate and outcome of early-onset eating disorders is sparse. The National Inpatient Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Survey found that eating disorders were the most common diagnosis among child and adolescent psychiatric in-patients in England and Wales? 9.2% of whom were under 13.

The survey? however? did not include children on paediatric wards. ours are the first published data on the scale of paediatric resource used by this patient group in the British Isles? said Nicholls.

Previous research from the NHS Information Centre has found that children aged 14 to 16 account for one in every three patients treated in hospital for an eating disorder? an 11% rise on the 2?316 cases recorded for the previous 12 months.

The centres data? however? found only a small number of 10-year-olds diagnosed with conditions including anorexia and bulimia.

A 1999 Office for National Statistics study found 0.3% of 11- to 15-year-olds had an eating disorder? with no one in the five- to 10-year-old age group.

The new study found wide variation in confidence among paediatricians over how to treat children. this study provides the baseline figures needed to determine whether increases in hospitalisation rates are real or perceived? and can aid planning of age-appropriate services? said Nicholls.

Because the new study gives the first estimate of the incidence of early-onset eating disorders? Nicholls said she was unable to say if there hsymptoms of bulimiaas been a rise in this group. But we hope our research can be used as a baseline from which to monitor future trends? she added.

The findings have galvanised concern that societys obsession with physical appearance is making children become body-conscious at an increasingly early age. Blame has been placed on everything from poor parenting to the media and websites such as Facebook.

When Miranda turned eight? her parents took her to a pizza parlour to celebrate. for any other child? it would have been a common enough treat. But for Miranda ?????????? ????? the trip was nothing short of momentous as it signified a return to health.

Now 11? Miranda finds it hard to remember why? at seven? she developed an eating disorder so severe that she stopped eating and drinking and ended up almost 10kg underweight? with a body mass index (BMI) of 12.5. (A BMI of under 18.5 is officially underweight.)

I remember living in a clinic with other children. None of us could eat normally? she said. I was there for five months. they said I had food avoidance emotional disorder. I dont know where it came from but in my diary? I said it was like having a pixie in my tummy. The pixie was like the devil. when I wanted to eat? the pixie would fight me. At the beginning? in my diary? I said the pixie was stronger than me. But then I got stronger than him. I remember it being like he got smaller and I got bigger. The pixies not in my tummy any more. I hope he never comes back.

What is Zeitgeist? Zeitgeist is an experiment in showing trending news? topics and articles from the Guardian. Find out more in our blog post.

Ideal for a variety of terrain? these lightweight ice treads will improve footing on ice? snow? mud or grass.

.m-guardianbookshop .rank float: left; margin-left: -15 .m-guardianbookshop .thumb .rank margin-left: 0; .m-guardianbookshop h4 border-top: none !important; font-weight: bold; margin-left: 5px !important; padding: 5px 0 8px 0 !important; .m-guardianbookshop .bestsellers background-color: fff; padding-bottom: 17.m-guardianbookshop ol padding: 0 5 .m-guardianbookshop .l1 clear: both; padding-left: 15 .m-guardianbookshop .thumb padding-left: 0; .m-guardianbookshop .thumb img float: left; margin: 2px 10px 9px 0.m-guardianbookshop .price display: inline; .m-guardianbookshop .thumb .price display: block; .m-guardianbookshop .rank? .m-guardianbookshop .book-title font-weight: bold; .m-guardianbookshop input border: 1px solid 999; width: 75%; min-height: 16 margin-top: 8 padding: 3px 2

Fears grow over care of mentally ill as GPs say they dont want the job

Family doctors feel unready to order mental health services? polls find

Teenage girls on diets more likely to suffer eating disorders

Teenage girls who diet even moderately are five times more likely to develop a serious eating disorder like bulimia or anorexia? according to research published today in the British Medical Journal.

Link Found between Poor Sleep Quality and Greater Risk of Pain for Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

Feb. 16, 2011 — People with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who don’t sleep well face significant risks of greater functional disability due to pain and fatigue symptoms associated with poor sleep quality, a new study shows.

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh studied the relationship between sleep quality and functional disability in 162 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. All patients had been diagnosed with RA for at least two years; their average age was 58.5 and 76% were female.

In addition, each participant had rheumatoid arthritis on average for 14 years. Data were drawn from patient questionnaires on sleep quality, depression, and overall health. Patients provided information concerning fatigue, depression, severity of pain, and functional disability.

RA Questionnaire

Results derived from the questionnaire showed that 61% of participants were poor sleepers; 33% reported pain that disturbed their sleep at least three times per week.

“The primary finding of our study is that poor sleep quality is associated with greater functional disability among patients with [rheumatoid arthritis] and this relationship may be explained by pain severity and fatigue,” says study researcher Faith S. Luyster, PhD, in a news release. Luyster is a research assistant at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

“These results highlight the importance of addressing sleep complaints among patients with [rheumatoid arthritis],” she says. “By treating sleep problems, either pharmacologically or behaviorally, symptoms and activity limitations associated with [rheumatoid arthritis] may be reduced.”

The researchers say their findings are consistent with other evidence that suggests that disruption of sleep may lower the threshold for pain, and also worsen it, in otherwise healthy adults.

The study is published in the Feb. 15 issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease that affects about 1.3 million adults in the U.S., causing pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of function in joints. People with RA have long reported problems with sleep.

Disability from joint disease in people with rheumatoid arthritis may limit their ability to walk, groom themselves, and write, and can be further affected by fatigue, pain, and depression.

Pain, Fatigue, and Depression

The researchers say it’s possible that disability may affect depression, pain severity, and fatigue, which affect sleep quality, but also possible that sleep quality may worsen pain and fatigue and increase risks of depression.

“Not sleeping well at night can contribute to greater pain sensitivity and fatigue during the day, which in turn can limit patient’s ability to engage in activities of daily living and discretionary activities,” Luyster says in the news release.

“Addressing sleep problems via pharmacological or behavioral interventions may have a critical impact on the health and lives of patients” with rheumatoid arthritis, the researchers write.

The researchers also say more study is needed to determine whether improving sleep quality can reduce pain, depressive symptoms, fatigue, and disability in people with rheumatoid arthritis.

Latest Depression News

An Hour of Light a Day may Brighten Mood, Improve Sleep in Elderly People with Depression

By Jennifer WarnerWebMD Health News

Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

Jan. 3, 2011 — Exposure to bright light may ease symptoms of depression in elderly people.

A new study shows that three weeks of bright light therapy using specially designed light boxes improved symptoms of depression by as much as 54% in older adults with depression.

In addition to lifting their moods, bright light therapy improved sleep and optimized levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin. low levels of serotonin are associated with depression and often targeted by antidepressant drugs.

Researchers say it’s the first major study to show a beneficial effect of bright light therapy on treating depression in the elderly with non-seasonal major depressive disorder.

“bright light treatment may provide a viable alternative for patients who refuse, resist, or do not tolerate antidepressant treatment,” researcher Ritsaert Leiverse, MD, of the department of psychiatry at VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and colleagues write in the Archives of General Psychiatry.

Bright Light Helps Elderly

Researchers say depression commonly causes sleep problems and other symptoms because of a disruption of the body’s natural circadian rhythms or body clock. Circadian rhythm disturbances are also frequently found among elderly people who expose themselves less frequently to bright environmental light.

Previous studies have suggested that bright light therapy can help restore circadian rhythms and target depression-related neurotransmitters in the brain.

In this study, researchers evaluated the effects of three weeks of bright light therapy in 89 adults over age 60 diagnosed with depression. The participants were randomly divided into two groups and exposed to either an hour of bright pale blue light therapy or dim red light treatment (placebo treatment) from a light box at home during the early morning hours.

After three weeks of treatment, the study showed bright light therapy improved depressive symptoms by 43%, compared with the 36% improvement found with the placebo treatment.

Three weeks after the treatment ended, researchers found symptoms of depression continued to improve among the bright light therapy group (54% improvement vs. 33% in the placebo group).

In addition, the results showed levels of the stress hormone cortisol decreased among people who received bright light therapy. Sleep quality also improved among the bright light therapy group.

Researchers say the improvements found with bright light therapy in treating depressed elderly people in this study is similar to the improvements found with antidepressant drug treatment.

SOURCE: Lieverse, R. Archives of General Psychiatry, January 2011; vol 68: pp 61-70.©2010 WebMD, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Depression in Elderly People – Depression Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments Including Clinical and Manic Depression on MedicineNet.com

An Hour of Light a Day may Brighten Mood, Improve Sleep in Elderly People with Depression

Jan. 3, 2011 — Exposure to bright light may ease symptoms of depression in elderly people.

A new study shows that three weeks of bright light therapy using specially designed light boxes improved symptoms of depression by as much as 54% in older adults with depression.

In addition to lifting their moods, bright light therapy improved sleep and optimized levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin. low levels of serotonin are associated with depression and often targeted by antidepressant drugs.

Researchers say it’s the first major study to show a beneficial effect of bright light therapy on treating depression in the elderly with non-seasonal major depressive disorder.

“Bright light treatment may provide a viable alternative for patients who refuse, resist, or do not tolerate antidepressant treatment,” researcher Ritsaert Leiverse, MD, of the department of psychiatry at VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and colleagues write in the Archives of General Psychiatry.

Bright Light Helps Elderly

Researchers say depression commonly causes sleep problems and other symptoms because of a disruption of the body’s natural circadian rhythms or body clock. Circadian rhythm disturbances are also frequently found among elderly people who expose themselves less frequently to bright environmental light.

Previous studies have suggested that bright light therapy can help restore circadian rhythms and target depression-related neurotransmitters in the brain.

In this study, researchers evaluated the effects of three weeks of bright light therapy in 89 adults over age 60 diagnosed with depression. The participants were randomly divided into two groups and exposed to either an hour of bright pale blue light therapy or dim red light treatment (placebo treatment) from a light box at home during the early morning hours.

After three weeks of treatment, the study showed bright light therapy improved depressive symptoms by 43%, compared with the 36% improvement found with the placebo treatment.

Three weeks after the treatment ended, researchers found symptoms of depression continued to improve among the bright light therapy group (54% improvement vs. 33% in the placebo group).

In addition, the results showed levels of the stress hormone cortisol decreased among people who received bright light therapy. Sleep quality also improved among the bright light therapy group.

Researchers say the improvements found with bright light therapy in treating depressed elderly people in this study is similar to the improvements found with antidepressant drug treatment.

Posted on: Thursday, 30 December 2010, 13:27 CST

Trips to the emergency room from food allergies may be more common than previously thought.

Researchers report that Americans made just over a million visits to the ER for allergic reactions to food between 2001 and 2005.

That averages out to about 200,000 ER visits each year, including about 90,000 visits for serious, sometimes life-threatening, allergic reactions known as anaphylaxis.

These findings suggest that the numbers are now significantly higher than previously thought.

"While severe, life-threatening food-related allergic reactions are still relatively uncommon, our study suggests that they are more common than previously thought," lead researcher Sunday Clark, of the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, told Reuters Health in an email.

The new findings suggest that ER visits for all levels of allergic reaction to food are more common than past studies have indicated.

Another report recently found that Americans made 125,000 trips to the ER for food allergies in 2003, with about 14,000 of those involving anaphylaxis.

The current study is based on different data sources than previous studies.

Clark told Reuters that the team used figures from an annual government survey of hospitals, along with two recent medical studies, in order to estimate the frequency of ER visits for true food allergies.

According to Clark, it is possible that a growing number of Americans have been going to the ER more often for food reactions in more recent years.

The team found evidence that more children are turning up in ERs with serious food reactions than in years past.

The number of food-induced allergic reactions treated at Children’s Hospital Boston more than doubled over six years.

The researchers were unable to determine why figures rose, but they did say that the increase was in line with the national increase in the number of children being diagnosed with food allergies.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that three million school-aged children in the U.S. had a food allergy during 2007, which jumped 18 percent compared to 10 years earlier.

The most common triggers of food allergies include milk, soy, eggs, wheat, shellfish, peanuts and treat nuts.

Clark told Reuters the current findings highlight the importance of recognizing the signs of food-induced allergic reactions.

Food allergy symptoms range from the relatively mild to the more severe signs of anaphylaxis.

The study was published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

On the Net:

• University of Pittsburgh
• Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

Source: RedOrbit Staff & Wire Reports

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