First to Know Bulletin Reported by Ivanhoe Broadcast News

Letter from Ivanhoe's President

From Diamonds to Diagnostics

In the midst of everyone’s grief about the Boston Marathon bombings and the explosion in West, Texas, we have two stories this week that may offer some comfort. See our stories below on the healing effects of music, and how therapy dogs are making a difference in emotional distress and improving other patient outcomes.

Watch our Medical Headline Videos:

Imagine being able to see a person’s individual molecules or examine a strand of DNA with a resolution up to 10,000 times better than a standard MRI. See “Nanoscale MRI: Medicine’s Next Big Thing?” where Carlos Meriles, PhD, Professor of Physics at the City College of New York, talks about a nanoscale MRI which was created by scientists using defects in diamonds.
Using patients’ own stem cells, Dr. Omaida Velazquez, Chief of the Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, hopes to restore blood circulation for the millions of people with dangerous circulation problems. Take a look at “Using Your Own Stem Cells For Circulation” to learn about this process and about the clinical trial which is recruiting participants around the country. Anyone interested in enrollment information can go to http://clinicaltrials.gov.
Nine million Americans suffer from neck pain, but there’s now a unique ultrasonic tool to help relieve neck pain and numbness. Take a look at our story from South Florida Spine Clinic, “Help For Severe Spine Pain: The BoneScalpel,” for details on this innovative approach which orthopedic surgeon Jeffrey B. Cantor, MD says can relieve numbness and pain with less bleeding and less damage to surrounding tissue and muscle compared to the traditional technique.

In this week’s In-Depth Doctor’s Interview, Dr. Maciej Mrugala at the University of Washington talks about a cancer killing cap which uses an electrical tumor treatment field as a way to stop cancer cell growth and shrink tumors in patients with glioblastoma, one of the most deadly forms of human cancers. Dr. Mrugala says there are ongoing trials using this modality in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma in combination with chemotherapy.

If you’ve ever wondered why music moves you or makes you want to move, don’t miss our story from the University of Florida where Board Certified Music Therapist, Elizabeth Stegemöller, PhD discusses using music to help battle different diseases and conditions. Research at the University of Kentucky found music reduced surgery patients’ pain and recovery time, and music programs for vets with PTSD are also showing promise, with a 21-percent reduction in overall symptoms and a 37-percent increase in health related quality of life.

In case you missed them, you may want to check our past reports, Premium Content in Archives Fighting E.D. Naturally or Premium Content in Archives The Salt of the Earth. Premium Content in the Archives may be purchased for as little as $9 for 24-hour, unlimited access. If you would like to access Premium Content for the first time click here.

Finally, anyone with a dog already knows what scientific research has determined: dogs are good medicine! San Antonio Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center Medical Director, Dr. Elizabeth Johnson, believes therapy dogs are “…probably the most holistic approach to treatment that I think is out there.” Among other benefits, research shows therapy dog visits lead to significant reduction in pain and emotional distress. Read the story to learn about the other beneficial effects of pet therapy. For example, I was particularly interested in the recent Japanese study findings about how a dog’s gaze can actually increase the “cuddle hormone” in their owners. I know that’s true for me, because my two dogs, Mona and Trajan are great cuddlers!

And there's more where that came from...

Marjorie Bekaert Thomas

President, Ivanhoe Broadcast News

“During the marathon, we are one family. We cheer for each other, we carry each other across the finish lines. And when tragedy strikes, we are also one family. We hurt together, we help each other together.”
-- Elizabeth Warren

April 22, 2013

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If this story or any other Ivanhoe story has impacted your life or prompted you or someone you know to seek or change treatments, please let us know by contacting Susan Bekaert at sbekaert@ivanhoe.com.

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Health Tips from the Webdoctor

Foods to Help You Snooze:

Tart Cherries: This sweet treat is naturally high in melatonin, a compound that makes you sleepy. It’s equally effective in juice or dried form.

Lemon Balm: This “calming” herb has been used to induce sleep for ages. Make some lemon balm tea by steeping two teaspoons of the dried herb in a cup of hot water for five minutes.

good ol’ Carbs and Protein: Experts say high carb and low protein snacks help boost the sleep–aiding chemicals tryptophan and serotonin. Milk and cereal, peanut butter on toast or cheese and crackers can all do the trick.

Experts say it’s important to keep your pre-bedtime protein low, because protein-rich foods can actually stimulate brain activity.

(Sources: University of Pennsylvania, University of Rochester and VA Center of Canandaigua, WebMD)

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