Study Shows Pressure Applied To The Acupoint PC6 Neiguan Using Sea-Band Effective At Controlling Nausea During Migraine

Main Category: Headache / Migraine
Also Included In: Complementary Medicine / Alternative Medicine
Article Date: 27 Jul 2012 - 1:00 PDT Current ratings for:
Study Shows Pressure Applied To The Acupoint PC6 Neiguan Using Sea-Band Effective At Controlling Nausea During Migraine

Migraine can be a disabling neurological disorder, often aggravated by accompanying nausea. Stimulation of the acupoint PC6 Neiguan, an approach to controlling nausea adopted by traditional Chinese medicine, has never been documented by published clinical studies in medical literature for the control of migraine-related nausea, until now. Published in a recent Neurological Sciences (journal of the Italian Neurological Society)*, "Acupressure in the control of migraine-associated nausea" is a clinical trial demonstrating that continuous stimulation of the acupoint PC6 Neiguan on the inner wrist, as provided by Sea-Band® wristbands, showed statistically significant improvement in migraine-related nausea versus not using the wristbands.

Previous studies have demonstrated the efficacy of Sea-Band and its continual stimulation of the acupressure point PC6 for nausea relief due to motion sickness, postoperative nausea and chemotherapy-induced nausea. However, this study is the first published research aimed at verifying that pressure applied to the acupoint PC6 with Sea-Band is effective at relieving nausea during migraine.

Migraine affects more than 29.5 million Americans, according to the National Headache Foundation, and is considered by the World Health Organization as the 19th leading cause of all years lived with disability for both males and females. Eight out of every 10 people in the U.S. who are diagnosed with migraine report experiencing nausea.

"This new research supports what millions of Sea-Band users already know; that the acupressure wristbands provide fast, consistent, drug-free relief for nausea associated with migraine headaches," commented Leonard Nihan, president, Sea-Band U.S. "We're pleased to have this published study to reinforce Sea-Band's efficacy to the scientific and medical communities."

The Italian study included 40 female patients suffering from migraine without aura, if nausea was always present as an accompanying symptomatology of their migraine. The patients were treated randomly for a total of six migraine attacks: three with the application of Sea-Band wristbands, which applies continual pressure to the PC6 acupoint (phase SB), and three without it (phase C).

The intensities of nausea at the onset at 30, 60, 120 and 240 minutes were evaluated on a scale from zero to 10. The values were always significantly lower in phase SB than in phase C. Also the number of patients who reported at least a 50 percent reduction in the nausea score was significantly higher in phase SB than in phase C at 30, 60 and 120 minutes. The average nausea scores dropped in the SB phase from 6.36 ± 0.35 in T0, to 4.60 ± 0.39 in T1, to 3.11 ± 0.40 in T2, to 1.88 ± 0.31 in T3 and to 0.92 ± 0.22 in T4. At each time step taken into consideration after the application of the Sea-Band wristbands, there was a statistically significant improvement over the non-treated phases. Moreover, there were a high percentage of responders to the treatment: i.e. 46.8 percent at 60 minutes; 71.8 percent at 120 minutes; 84.3 percent at 240 minutes with a consistent response over time.

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Click 'references' tab above for source.
Visit our headache / migraine section for the latest news on this subject. *Neurol Sci (2012) 33 (Suppl 1):S207-S210; DOI 10.1007/s10072-012-1069-y; Gianni Allais, Sara Rolando, Ilaria Castagnoli Gabellari, Chiara Burzio, Gisella Airola, Paola Borgogno, Paola Schiapparelli, Rita Allais and Chiara Benedetto. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Women's Headache Center, University of Turin, Turin, Italy. Published in Neurological Sciences, ISSN 1590 – 1872, 5/20/2012, vol 33, suppl 1:207-10.
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Study Finds Medicare And Medicaid CT Scan Measure Unreliable

Main Category: Headache / Migraine
Also Included In: Public Health;  Radiology / Nuclear Medicine
Article Date: 27 Feb 2012 - 0:00 PST Current ratings for:
Study Finds Medicare And Medicaid CT Scan Measure Unreliable

Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) have published findings that question the reliability of a new Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) quality measure. The study, "Assessment of Medicare's Imaging Efficiency Measure for Emergency Department Patients With Atraumatic Headache" finds that the CMS measure - an attempt to reduce computed tomography (CT) scans in emergency departments (ED) - does not accurately determine which hospitals are performing CT scans inappropriately.

The study is electronically published in the Annals of Emergency Medicine.

With the recent surge of CT use in EDs, comes concern about radiation exposure and cost. CMS developed measure OP-15, "Use of Brain Computed Tomography in the Emergency Department for Atraumatic Headache," to evaluate the use of brain CT in the ED for atraumatic headache in order to improve imaging efficiency. The measure was implemented into the Outpatient Prospective Payment System in January 2012 but was never field-tested.

Jeremiah Schuur, MD, BWH Department of Emergency Medicine, and colleagues at 21 EDs in the United States studied the reliability, validity, and accuracy of measure OP-15. The measure uses Medicare billing records to determine whether a CT was clinically appropriate.

The researchers compared the data reliability of the measure as obtained from CMS administrative data against data from ED medical records. They reviewed 748 patient visits that CMS labeled as having undergone inappropriate brain CTs based on billing data. However, when the patients' medical records were reviewed, they showed that the bills didn't tell the whole story; the researchers discovered that 65 percent of the CT scans actually complied with Medicare's measure and another 18 percent of patients had valid reasons for the CTs documented on their charts. Overall, 83 percent of the patients should not have been labeled as having been inappropriately imaged.

This led researchers to conclude that CMS measure OP-15 may lead to inaccurate comparisons of EDs' imaging performance.

"It is important for physicians, hospitals and payers to work together to develop systems that ensure that every CT that is performed is appropriate," said Schuur. "Our research finds that OP-15 may not be a valid measure of imaging in elders and that when calculated from Medicare claims, can produce unreliable data."

"Further research should focus on developing scientific evidence that could be used to better inform this measure," added Ali Raja, MD, associate director for trauma, BWH Department of Emergency Medicine, and study co-author. According to Raja, "existing guidelines built around solid evidence for the appropriate use of CT for other clinical conditions could serve as a guide for the measurement of these and similar conditions."

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Click 'references' tab above for source.
Visit our headache / migraine section for the latest news on this subject. Data collection efforts at BWH for this study were partly funded by an internal grant from the Brigham and Women's Physicians Organization.
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First Study To Refute A Common Health Misconception: Children's Headaches Rarely Indicate A Need For Eyeglasses

Main Category: Headache / Migraine
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health;  Eye Health / Blindness
Article Date: 14 Nov 2012 - 0:00 PST Current ratings for:
First Study To Refute A Common Health Misconception: Children's Headaches Rarely Indicate A Need For Eyeglasses

A new study provides the first clear evidence that vision or eye problems are rarely the cause of recurring headaches in children, even if the headaches usually strike while the child is doing schoolwork or other visual tasks. Many parents assume that frequent headaches mean their child needs glasses, so they ask their doctor to refer their child for an eye exam. This study was conducted by pediatric ophthalmologists who wanted to find reliable answers for parents, family doctors and pediatricians facing this common health question. The research was presented at the 116th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, conducted jointly this year with the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology.

In this retrospective study, which was conducted at the ophthalmology clinic of Albany Medical Center in New York state, researchers reviewed the medical records of 158 children under age 18 who were seen at the clinic for frequent headaches from 2002-11. All of the children received complete eye exams by the clinic's ophthalmologists.

No significant correlation was found between their frequent headaches and a need for vision correction. The researchers reached this conclusion by comparing the results of the clinic's exams of the children with headaches to the records of their previous eye exams and other relevant medical care. Eye health and vision test results remained unchanged from earlier exams for 75 percent of the children. Also, children who already had eyeglasses were not found to need new prescriptions at the time they were seen at the clinic for headaches. Although about 14 percent of the children reported that their headaches occurred while doing visual tasks like homework, and about nine percent reported visual symptoms associated with their headaches, a need for vision correction did not appear to be the primary cause or a significant factor in any of these cases, according to the study.

The researchers considered it positive that most of the children's headaches resolved over time. Follow up reports from parents showed that headaches improved in 76.4 percent of all study subjects, including those who did and those who did not receive new vision correction prescriptions. Children who received new prescriptions were not more likely than others to have their headaches improve. Assessing the causes of the headaches and addressing the children's long-term outcomes were beyond the scope of this study.

"We hope our study will help reassure parents that in most cases their children's headaches are not related to vision or eye problems, and that most headaches will clear up in time," said Zachary Roth, M.D., who led the research team. "The information should also be useful to family doctors and pediatricians in caring for children and parents who have this common health concern."

About thirty percent of the children in the study had eye conditions that went beyond the need for vision correction, including strabismus (misaligned eyes) amblyopia ("lazy eye") or other rarer, more serious conditions. Seventeen percent had a family history of migraine. Because this was a retrospective study, the researchers were unable to connect these factors with headache causes.

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Click 'references' tab above for source.
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Study Of Indoor Air Quality Risks In United Arab Emirates Is Culturally Sensitive

Main Category: Water - Air Quality / Agriculture
Also Included In: Respiratory / Asthma;  Headache / Migraine
Article Date: 11 May 2012 - 1:00 PDT Current ratings for:
Study Of Indoor Air Quality Risks In United Arab Emirates Is Culturally Sensitive

The rapid shift from nomadic life to modern-day culture in the United Arab Emirates has exposed residents to significant indoor air quality risks that can lead to respiratory illness, according to a new study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

With the swift modernization of the country, UAE governmental agencies have not performed the research required to pinpoint health risks, the study reported. The need to develop governmental research capacity makes collaborations with U.S. research teams vital, but the studies must be conducted in a culturally appropriate way.

"This is an important area of investigation, and the UAE is completely under-researched," said Karin Yeatts, Ph.D., lead study author and assistant professor of epidemiology at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. "There are many good scientific questions that need to be answered, and this area of the world is very deserving of science and public health work."

Knowing about indoor air quality risks is important, Yeatts said, because people in the UAE spend 80 percent to 95 percent of their time indoors escaping the high temperatures.

In the study published in May's Environmental Health Perspectives, Yeatts coordinated a research team from UAE and UNC's public health school to test air quality in 628 urban and rural family residences from October 2009 to May 2010. The study reached 1,590 participants, including men, women and children, ages 6 to 18.

Researchers collected data for five air pollutants - sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, formaldehyde and carbon monoxide - and monitored indoor air quality for one week.

Thirty percent of homes had measurable levels of sulfur dioxide, and 29 percent had quantifiable levels of formaldehyde. For nitrogen dioxide and hydrogen sulfide, 9 percent and 12 percent of households, respectively, recorded measurable concentrations.

Researchers compared the results to households without significant pollutant levels and discovered family members in homes with measurable sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and hydrogen sulfide were twice as likely to have doctor-diagnosed asthma. The team also found an increased prevalence of wheezing, including symptoms that limited speech, with these same pollutants. Neurological difficulties, such as difficulty concentrating, were loosely linked to quantifiable exposure of formaldehyde.

UAE households also were exposed to pollutants not found as frequently in the United States, specifically incense. Roughly 86 percent of UAE homes burn incense at least once a week, and formaldehyde levels are three times higher among those households that do so more frequently. Family members in these homes are more likely to report headaches, forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating.

'Burning incense in this region of the world is an important cultural practice, but I do think there are things people can do to reduce exposure," Yeatts said. "People can reduce their exposure by opening windows, burning incense for a shorter time or burning smaller amounts."

Ultimately, Yeatts said, researchers hope the data collection and analysis will help improve public health knowledge in the UAE and support campaigns to limit exposures and risks associated with indoor air pollutants.

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Click 'references' tab above for source.
Visit our water - air quality / agriculture section for the latest news on this subject. Yeatts' study was funded by the Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi and partially supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
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St. Jude Medical's Peripheral Nerve Stimulation Study Confirms Benefit For Chronic Migraine Patients

Main Category: Headache / Migraine
Also Included In: Neurology / Neuroscience
Article Date: 04 Oct 2012 - 2:00 PDT Current ratings for:
St. Jude Medical's Peripheral Nerve Stimulation Study Confirms Benefit For Chronic Migraine Patients

St. Jude Medical, Inc. (NYSE:STJ), a global medical device company, has announced publication of results from the first large-scale study of peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) of the occipital nerves in patients suffering from chronic migraine. The study results, published online by Cephalalgia the journal of the International Headache Society, show a significant reduction in pain, headache days and migraine-related disability.

Conducted at 15 medical centers in the U.S., the study followed 157 participants who, on average, suffered from headache approximately 21 days per month. At 12 weeks, patients receiving PNS therapy reported an average of six fewer headache days a month.

Additional key findings at 12 weeks were as follows: 43 percent improvement in overall disability scores, as measured using the Migraine Disability Assessment questionnaire (MIDAS) 53 percent of the patients ranked their relief as excellent or good Patients reported a 42 percent improvement in pain relief "One of the primary reasons that patients seek therapy is to try to find a way to lessen the number of days they experience migraine," said Stephen D. Silberstein, M.D., past president of the American Headache Society, director of the Jefferson Headache Center, and the principal investigator in the study. "For the millions who suffer from chronic migraine, these study results are important, as they confirm that peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) of the occipital nerve may help improve their quality of life and lessen the number of days per month they suffer with this debilitating condition."

PNS therapy for this condition involves the delivery of mild electrical pulses to the occipital nerves that are located just beneath the skin at the back of the head. A small electrical lead or leads are placed under the skin and connected to a neurostimulator, which produces pulses of stimulation.

In this prospective, randomized, controlled study, participants were implanted with the St. Jude Medical Genesis™ neurostimulator and randomly assigned to an active or control group for 12 weeks. The active group received stimulation immediately upon implantation, while patients in the control group did not receive stimulation until after the first 12 weeks. Both the investigators and the patients were blinded to treatment.

Although statistical significance was demonstrated across most measures, it was not observed for the primary endpoint (defined as the difference in the percentage of patients in the active group versus control who achieved 50 percent or greater pain reduction at 12 weeks). However, patients in the active group were more likely than control patients to experience 30 percent or greater pain reduction, which is considered clinically meaningful.

"When this study was initially designed, the primary endpoint was based on a reduction in pain, which at the time was the standard measurement for neurostimulation studies," said, Dr. Mark Carlson, chief medical officer and senior vice president of research and clinical affairs for the St. Jude Medical Implantable Electronic Systems Division. "However during the course of the study, many neurologists began to recognize reduction in the number of headache days as a more significant improvement in patient quality of life than the measurement of pain reduction alone."

The most common adverse event was persistent pain and/or numbness at the implant site, followed by lead migration. The majority of adverse events were classified as mild or moderate in severity.

Preliminary data from this study was presented at the International Headache Congress (IHC) in 2011. The Genesis neurostimulation system used in this study is approved in Europe and Australia for the management of the pain and disability associated with intractable chronic migraine.

About Chronic Migraine

Chronic migraine is a disabling neurological disorder that can last for hours or days at a time. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 1.7 to 4 percent of adults have headache on more than 15 days per month. Compared with people who periodically experience migraine headache, individuals with chronic migraine experience significantly greater disability, economic burden, and impairments in health-related quality of life. According to the European Journal of Neurology the total annual cost attributed to migraine amounts to €111 billion in the EU.

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Source: St. Jude Medical, Inc
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posted by Katie on 18 Oct 2012 at 12:11 pm

I am greatly interested in studies like this one in a long term state. As a daily sufferer of headache and migraines, reducing the number of days with head pain would be a great victory.
I hope that studies such as this one will continue to make progress in this field and find a way to drastically improve the quality of life in chronic migraine patients.

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'St. Jude Medical's Peripheral Nerve Stimulation Study Confirms Benefit For Chronic Migraine Patients'

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