MRI and X-Ray Often Worse than Useless for Back Pain
Reading through this article I went from peeved to enraged. This has been in the literature for decades and yet, STILL, people consider an MRI the gold standard and demand it. Doctors sort of have to oblige. And yet imaging, Xray AND MRI lead to higher disability for a number of reasons. Back pain does…
Read MoreFailed Back Surgery Syndrome: A Review Article
Background research for my writing project. Back surgery is one of the most expensive surgeries that have a troubled past and current state of affairs. It is one of those “biologically plausible” procedures that can wreak havoc. Asian Spine J. 2018 Apr; 12(2): 372–379. Published online 2018 Apr 16. doi: 10.4184/asj.2018.12.2.372 PMCID: PMC5913031 PMID: 29713421 Failed…
Read MoreNumbers Needed to Treat
Numbers needed to treat. This is a crucial concept. It illustrates brilliantly the concept of First, Do No Harm, which also happens to be the title of the first chapter of my writing project “Deep Resilience”. This graphic comes from this excellent article with the even more excellent title when evidence says no but doctors…
Read MoreDavid Sinclair on Anti-Aging
This is more on David Sinclair. I covered him in the longevity chapter, here. https://getpocket.com/explore/item/this-scientist-believes-aging-is-optional?utm_source=pocket-newtab ” His 2019 book, Lifespan: Why We Age and Why We Don’t Have To ($28, Atria Books), out this fall, details the cutting-edge science that’s taking place in the field of longevity right now. The quick takeaway from this not-so-quick read: scientists…
Read MoreDeep Resilience. First Drafts of Introduction and Longevity Chapter and Do No Harm
I am posting first drafts of two chapters from my writing project called Deep Resilience. The references haven’t been completed and there is plenty of polishing to do. I may add my own story to the Introduction, but for the sake of brevity left it out on this iteration. Introduction here Introduction-Deep Resilience-8.3.2020 Do No Harm…
Read MoreHow This Anti-Aging Scientist Turns His Findings Into a Lifestyle
This article looks at the longevity scientist David Sinclair. How This Anti-Aging Scientist Turns His Findings Into a Lifestyle ‘I practice what I discover.’
Read MoreAcupuncture promotes mTOR-independent autophagic clearance of aggregation-prone proteins in mouse brain
This study is a bit complicated. They look at acupuncture at GB 34 and its effect on autophagy, dopamine and motor function in a mouse model of Parkinson’s condition. Though acupuncture increases autophagy of α-synuclein romoted the autophagic clearance of α-synuclein (α-syn), a well known aggregation-prone protein closely related to Parkinson’s disease (PD), in the…
Read MoreThe effectiveness of electronic pulsed soft tissue vibration compared with topical anaesthesia in reducing the pain of injection of local anaesthetics in adults: a randomized controlled split-mouth clinical trial
Of interest to me because of the obvious parallel with the scratching I do before inserting needles. In doing this type of intervention you occupy the pain circuits with touch/vibration, an example of the “gating” principle popularized by Melzack and Wall back in the late 80’s. Still alive and well and useful. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0901502720302563 The effectiveness…
Read MoreElectroacupuncture Enhances Number of Mature Oocytes and Fertility Rates for In Vitro Fertilization
Studies showing improved blood flow to the uterus with acupuncture are well known. This study shows improvement in number of mature ooctyes with electroacupuncture versus sham acupuncture. Med Acupunct. 2019 Oct 1; 31(5): 289–297. Published online 2019 Oct 17. doi: 10.1089/acu.2019.1368 PMCID: PMC6795274 PMID: 31624528 Electroacupuncture Enhances Number of Mature Oocytes and Fertility Rates for In Vitro Fertilization Ayu Cintani Kusuma,1 Nadia…
Read MoreEffects of Moxibustion on the Levels of Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1: A Pilot Study
I like this study especially because moxibustion can be applied by patients at home and via Insulin-Like Protein Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) can improve insulin uptake and help longevity. Win win. Easy and safe. Effects of Moxibustion on the Levels of Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1: A Pilot Study Jaung-Geng Lin 1, Shinn-Zong Lin 2, Lih-Hwa Lin 3 4, Chun-Chang Wu 5, Wan-Ting Tsai 5, Horng-Jyh Harn 6, Li-Hui…
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