Archives - Nov. 6, 2008

Approximately 21 million Americans - 9.5 percent of adults 18 and older - either visited or called a doctor for a prescription to reduce arthritis pain in 2005, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis. It is usually associated with aging and most often causes pain and stiffness in the fingers, knees, and hips.

Event: PSHE! It's all about their future. The third annual Healthy Schools national conference will bring together health and education experts from all the 150 local Healthy Schools programmes across the country, to address the issues around PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education) head-on.

The novel sensor is intended one day to help doctors monitor broken bones as they grow back together. Depending on the values of the forces measured by the sensor, they can decide whether the healing process is progressing normally or whether there is a danger that the fracture or implants might be overloaded. Until now doctors have used expensive and complicated electronic devices which sent the measured data to the outside world as radio signals.

Scientists at the University of Liverpool have received £500,000 to develop a treatment for the rare, genetic disease Alkaptonuria. Patients being treated for the disorder do not have enough of the enzyme, homogentisic acid oxidase, which causes acid to build up in the body. Some of this acid is eliminated in the urine, but the remainder is deposited in body tissue where it is toxic.

The knee replacement business is booming. Media reports cite an expected 525 percent increase by 2030, according to the November issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource. The newsletter describes reasons for this increase, new techniques for knee replacement, and who might benefit. Highlights include: -- Knee replacements are increasing because people are living longer and, to remain active, want the procedure done sooner rather than later.