Monthly Archives: January 2013

Low Level Laser Therapy LLLT / Cold Laser Literature watch for Sept – Dec 2012

Posted on 7 January 2013 by James Carroll

73 papers for your review this time including LLLT clinical trials for temporomandibular joint disorder, pain associated with orthodontic separators, meniscal tears and a third molar extraction study. An interesting case history of a stroke patient treated with LLLT, the effect of red light on sleep, endurance and performance in basketball players. There are several systematic reviews of LLLT out, including reviews on onychomycosis, TMJD, orofacial pain, oral mucositis, lymphedema and orthodontic pain (not necessarily favourable). AND HOW ABOUT THIS : “Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) combined with swimming training improved the lipid profile in rats fed with high-fat diet” The authors conclude: “LLLT decreased the total cholesterol (p < 0.05), triglycerides (p < 0.01), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p < 0.05), and relative mass of fat tissue (p < 0.05), suggesting increased metabolic activity and altered lipid pathways. The combination of exercise and LLLT increased the benefits of exercise alone. However, LLLT without exercise tended to increase body weight and fat content. LLLT may be a valuable addition to a regimen of diet and exercise for … Continue reading →

Posted in Research | on Low Level Laser Therapy LLLT / Cold Laser Literature watch for Sept – Dec 2012

BMJ says Death from opioid pain relievers is an epidemic in the USA

Posted on 6 January 2013 by James Carroll

The BMJ reported that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had declared there was a national epidemic of prescription drug overdoses which led to 14,800 deaths in 2008. This is more than cocaine and heroin combined for the same period. If you think this an exaggeration click here to see the full government report.

They highlight the following key points :

  • Death from opioid pain relievers (OPR) is an epidemic in the United States.
  • Sales of OPR quadrupled between 1999 and 2010.
  • Enough OPRs were prescribed last year to medicate every American adult for a month
  • Abuse of OPRs costs health insurers approximately $72.5 billion annually in health-care costs.

And just in case you were not astonished already, I will remind those of you that have not heard me say it before that NSAIDs were the 15th biggest cause of death in the USA according to the New England Journal of Medicine 1999. Unfortunately there is no abstract so I am going to show you a little snip from the … Continue reading →

Posted in Rants | on BMJ says Death from opioid pain relievers is an epidemic in the USA