A small study shows good results for treatment of arthritis pain of the knee with an "electromagnetic stimulator."  Pretty cool.  Here's a quote from the article:

The participants experienced pain relief of more than 40 percent on the first day of treatment, according to the study.

I dunno, sounds like snake oil to me.  I'm sure there will be a lot of interest in this presentation at the orthopaedics meeting, though.  If any InteractMD.com readers happen to be at that meeting, kindly drop us a line to let us know what you think.  Of course, none of the source documentation is available.

I never cease to be amazed by what's out there.  You can spend all day every day checking out "alternati

Large European study reports reduced rates of gastric cancer in people who eat a "Mediterranean diet." The diet is "rich in fruit, vegetables, legumes, fish, cereals and olive oil, with a relatively low intake of red meat and dairy products," according to Reuters' coverage.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE60E58N20100115

Results indicate Amgen's denosumab originally developed for osteoporosis helps with bone health in women with advanced breast cancer as well. NYT reported the info yesterday. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/08/business/08amgen.html?partner=rss&emc=... The prior major report we had on this drug was from 2008 and showed similar efficacy to conventional bisphosphonates.

I'm sorry to ask a profound question but what exactly is fish oil? Is it an antiarrhythmic or is it a cholesterol drug?

The word on the street is that patients who take fish oil have better cardiac outcomes not because of the effects on cholesterol or triglycerides but because of prevention of cardiac arrhythmias.  But in 2008 a meta-analysis came out in BMJ that throws cold water on that concept at least in retrospective studies.

A prospective study OMEGA is evidently finished recruiting and hopefully will publish soon.

At least the AVAIL study got the platinum right--I am sick and tired of criticism from radiation oncologists that researchers aren't even using the proper platinum in their clinical trials. The AVAIL study just got published in our top oncology journal JCO. This study has been making the rounds since at least 2007 where it was presented at the ASCO meeting. Evidently that wasn't enough time for the survival data to mature so the researchers didn't report survival outcomes for the use of Avastin with cisplatin/gemzar chemotherapy in advanced lung cancer.

Avoiding iron in polycythemia vera: The following is a list of foods high in iron. These are meant as examples and not meant to represent a comprehensive list. The goal in polycythemia vera is to regulate iron intake as a way of controlling the hemoglobin and preventing more frequent phlebotomies. The purpose of phlebotomy or removal of blood in polycythemia vera is to induce an iron-deficiency state which prevents the excessive production of red cells in the bone marrow.

Archaeological evidence has shown that Peppermint is 'the world's oldest medicine' and is in use since time immemorial. Peppermint is rich in menthol content and is used to flavor tea confectionery ice cream chewing gum and toothpaste. Its oil contains menthone and menthyl esters. Peppermint is also used in shampoos and soaps which gives a cooling effect on the skin. Scientific studies have measured the useful effects of enteric-coated peppermint capsules for treating symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) such as pain bloating gas and diarrhea.

Peppermint oil appears to relieve irritable bowel symptoms

Aloe vera tea tree oil not helpful for burns