AMD Update 3 Current Studies for Treating Macular Degeneration

In its upcoming February 25th issue, Ocular Surgery News presents a table of ongoing clinical trials for treating age-related macular degeneration. I have reproduced the table below.

For more information on any of these, or the 186 current open trials for treating age-related macualar degeneration, please go to Clinical Trials.gov. By using the “Refine Search” tab, and putting in the name of any of the trials listed in the table into the search box, you should be able to gain more information about each.


(By right-clicking on the table image and opening in a new tab or window, a larger more readable version will appear.)

Primary Responsibilities Of Pain Doctors In Treating Diseases

By Mattie Knight

Its uncomfortable to feel pain when we are currently doing something. To excel at whatever we do, its very important that we invest some time to keep ourselves on our best shape. Otherwise, we may be susceptible to common pains.

But no matter how we try to take good care of ourselves, there are some factors that are really beyond our control and are contributing to our low performance. Pain doctors in Toledo Ohio are professionals who can aid anyone on their need to ward off pain and bring back your previous vitality. The specialize in addressing any kind of pain and are the most efficient professionals who can provide you direct answers for whatever you need.

They generally address pain issues so the coverage of their full service is wide. Unlike a specialist like the neurologist for instance whose focus is one the brain, the experts who study pain are basically concerned with everything pertaining to it. Below are some of the thing that they can do.

Cause of evaluation. This is a primary thing that any doctor does before they can decide on any treatment. With appropriate diagnosis, it will be difficult for them to decide the mode of treatment. Its by evaluation first that they get a clearer idea on what to do next.

Treatment. As soon as the root causes of the pain you are feeling has been identified, one can already start working on strategies and basically any potential methods that will help alleviate the inconvenience that you are feeling. The effect of this one may not be immediate. But at least its a start towards feeling well again.

Prevention. While its good to know that there are now methods on how to remove the discomfort we feel out of pain, its still best if we can prevent it from happening at all. Seeing a professional at an earlier date will help you get an idea on specific things that you can do from your end to prevent the pain from coming.

Consultation. This has something to do with their role in assisting other physicians in any major operation. It is likely that pain will be a side effect after they do the procedure. By consulting to a pain doctor, they can work on methods to somehow lessen the chances of the patient feeling more of it.

Patient care. Recovery period can take long. And this can still be accompanied by certain levels of pain. Having a specialist on board is an efficient means of making sure that the recovery will be less painful as much as possible.

Many seemed to be afraid to visit hospitals for fear of experiencing pain. Having excellent physicians who can ensure the least pain for any procedure will be helpful to encourage many to start bringing whatever body complication they have to the attention of skilled medical practitioner. This is the first step to healing. Unless they do the first decision to get treated, they will not be able to come back to their best shape. If you are the one who is need of assistance, then make the decision as early as now.

About the Author:

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Yoga Effective as An Adjunct to Western Medicine for Treating Depression

by Nina

Morning Glories in Flowers and Buds by Hokusai

Just a quick note today about a study Adjunctive yoga v. health education for persistent major depression: a randomized controlled trial on depression and yoga I just learned about that showed that yoga is effective as an adjunct for improving depression in individuals who are taking anti-depressants. Because anti-depressants are not always effective on their own, these researchers decided to study the effectiveness of hatha yoga as an adjunct treatment. According to sciencedaily.com, the lead scientist, Dr. Uebelacker, said:

"We hypothesized that yoga participants would show lower depression severity over time as assessed by the Quick Inventory of Depression Symptomatology (QIDS), as well as better social and role functioning, better general health perceptions and physical functioning, and less physical pain relative to the control group," said Dr. Uebelacker. "We found that yoga did indeed have an impact on depression symptoms. 

In the largest study of yoga for depression to date, the researchers conducted a randomized controlled trial on individuals who were taking anti-depressants but were still experiencing symptoms of depression. Sixty three of the subjects were given a weekly yoga class. The control group of 59 subjects were given health education classes (the Healthy Living Workshop). All the subjects were assessed after ten weeks, with follow-up assessments after three and six months. Although they did not find significant differences between the two groups after the initial ten-week assessment, the follow-up assessments showed that the yoga group had lower levels of depression and improved in other ways as well.

In their abstract, the researchers reported:

"At 10 weeks, we did not find a statistically significant difference between groups in depression symptoms (b = −0.82, s.e. = 0.88, p = 0.36). However, over the entire intervention and follow-up period, when controlling for baseline, yoga participants showed lower levels of depression than HLW participants (b = −1.38, s.e. = 0.57, p = 0.02). At 6-month follow-up, 51% of yoga participants demonstrated a response (⩾50% reduction in depression symptoms) compared with 31% of HLW participants (odds ratio = 2.31; p = 0.04). Yoga participants showed significantly better social and role functioning and general health perceptions over time. "

Although we did not see a difference in depression symptoms at the end of the intervention period, yoga participants showed fewer depression symptoms over the entire follow-up period. Benefits of yoga may accumulate over time."

According to sciencedaily.com, Dr. Uebelacker put it this way: 

"We did not see statistically significant differences between hatha yoga and a control group (health education) at 10 weeks, however, when we examined outcomes over a period of time including the three and six months after yoga classes ended, we found yoga was superior to health education in alleviating depression symptoms." 

I have a couple of observations about this. First, it’s good to hear that yoga does work well as adjunct with western medicine for improving depression! We’ve been recommending that for a long time (see No Shame, Please! (Western Medicine and Yoga are Complementary)). 

Also it’s not at all surprising to me that the effects of yoga are cumulative (see Take Your Time: Results from Yoga Practice). Most of yoga’s effects do take time. After all, whether you’re talking about improving flexibility, quieting the mind, or fostering emotional healing, a single hatha yoga class is not a magic pill that works with just one dose! It’s actually quite impressive to me that only one yoga class per week had significant effects, as most yoga teachers would recommend three classes per week (or one class plus regular home practice) to see benefits. 

Unfortunately I’m unable to access the full study, so many questions remain. For example, what were the students learning in their yoga classes? Were they just learning everyday yoga or was the program specially tailored for them? And did they continue practicing at home after the study was over? 

But all in all it’s definitely encouraging to hear about yet another study showing the benefits of yoga for emotional healing. 

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