Articles tagged with Placebo Effect
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A new perspective on placebos suggests that they can be effective in healthcare settings without relying on 'dummy' medication. According to Professor Howard Brody, features of a positive healing environment, including care and compassion from healthcare providers, play a crucial role in treating patients.
Researchers found that wrist bands with acupressure or stimulation applied to an acupuncture point on the wrist reduced nausea in breast cancer patients by 15% compared to no band. Patients who expected the bands to ease their nausea experienced even greater relief, reporting a 25% decrease in nausea severity.
Researchers analyzed 37 randomized controlled trials and found that most showed no significant improvement in pain, appetite, weight gain, quality of life, or performance status for patients receiving a placebo. Individual patient responses to placebos were also variable, with some improvements observed in certain symptoms.
A new study from the University of Washington found that neither natural porcine secretin nor a synthetic form of the hormone reduced symptoms of autism. The research involved 85 children with autism and tested the effects of both forms of secretin versus a placebo, concluding there is no evidence for its effectiveness.
A follow-up study of the VEGF in Ischemia for Vascular Angiogenesis (VIVA) trial found that gene therapy did not increase the risk of cancer or adverse events in patients with severe angina. The results showed a lower rate of adverse events in patients receiving the high-dose VEGF, and encouraging reductions in chest pain after one year.
New data suggest anakinra accelerates joint damage progression slowdown and improves health-related quality of life for RA patients. Studies found accelerated slowing of joint destruction with treatment, leading to nearly twice the rate of reduction in joint destruction as placebo groups.
Researchers found that smokers who continued using the smoking cessation aid Zyban gained an average of 9.02 pounds less than those on placebo over 45 weeks. Women in this group lost significantly more weight, with an average loss of 13.86 pounds at 52 weeks.
A 12-week study found that 49% of patients treated with Zyban had not used tobacco for the previous four weeks, compared to 26% in the placebo group. The three-month figures showed a slight increase in quit rates, but further research is needed.
A recent study led by Drs. Bodfish and Sandler found no significant improvement in behavior among children with autism treated with synthetic secretin, compared to a placebo. The researchers emphasized the need for further studies to determine the hormone's potential benefits and risks.
A cholesterol-lowering drug, pravastatin, has been shown to reduce stroke risk by 20% in patients with heart disease or high cholesterol. The study pooled data from three clinical trials involving over 19,700 participants and found a significant reduction in stroke rate, particularly among those with coronary heart disease.
A meta-analysis of 19 drug studies involving 2,318 patients suggests that three-quarters of the beneficial effect of anti-depressant medications can be attributed to the placebo effect. The remaining 25 percent may be due to side effects of the medication.
A Duke University study found that patients who received magnesium during CPR were 69% less likely to experience brain damage and had better neurological outcomes. The researchers discovered that magnesium may have neuroprotective effects by preventing calcium flow into brain cells, but more trials are needed to confirm the results.
Researchers develop a new family of drugs called neuroprotectants designed to minimize disabling damage to brain tissue after an ischemic stroke. A test of one such drug, lubeluzole, showed greater recovery in patients' ability to function and significantly less disability compared to those receiving a placebo.
A new study found that TPA significantly improves functional outcomes in stroke patients, reducing hospitalization costs by $2 million and nursing home care costs by $4.8 million. The study suggests that using TPA results in a net cost savings of almost $5 million to the healthcare system for every 1,000 ischemic stroke patients treated.