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Studies Examine Cigarette Smuggling In Poor Countries, Deaths Due To Alcohol Abuse In Russia
A new report finds that "a growing global trade in black market cigarettes is killing tens of thousands of people a year, causing massive health problems and costing governments billions of pounds," the Guardian reports.
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University Of Queensland Researcher Trials New Treatments For Whiplash
For physiotherapist Associate Professor Michele Sterling, treating whiplash is all about thinking outside of the box.
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Buprenorphine-naloxone A Helpful Addition To Opioid Substitution Treatment, Australia
People who inject drugs may be less likely to inject buprenorphine-naloxone than other opioid substitutes, according to the results of a recent study published in the Medical Journal of Australia.
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Vertebroplasty For Fractures

Published recently is a study investigating the use of percutaneous vertebroplasty as a treatment for osteoporotic compression fractures. Vertebral compression fractures are a common complication of osteoporosis and can cause extreme pain and limit movement. Type-II fractures are often resistant to non-operative treatments and therefore the authors wanted to investigate percutaneous vertebroplasty as a pain management technique in these cases. Percutaneous vertebroplasty involves injection of acrylic bone into the fractured vertebra, but its long term effects of use on quality of life have to be determined. Thus, this study investigated reduction in pain and quality of life score, first in the short term (ò‰¤12 months) and then in the long term (36 months). The results demonstrated that patients achieved an "immediate, significant and lasting reduction in the average and worst back pain". In addition, a comparison of the pre- and post-vertebroplasty scores showed "a significant and clinically relevant increase in six of eight domains and both summary scores". Therefore, the authors conclude that not only did the "intensity, frequency and duration of back pain decrease", but there was also an improvement in overall physical and mental health after percutaneous vertebroplasty. However, the decision as to whether to undertake this treatment "should be made carefully and according to the risks and potential benefit for each patient". Read the full text article. The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery


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