Neurontin Used for Pain: Doctors Influenced by Drug Reps

Neurontin was approved for the treatment of partial seizures in epilepsy but was increasingly used for pain management due to doctors being illegally influenced by a drug company. Drug company representatives frequently promoted non-approved uses of the drug gabapentin (Neurontin) to doctors and these visits often resulted in doctors planning to increase their use of gabapentin (Neurontin). In the [...]

Herbal Remedies for Depression

St. John’s Wort is one of the best natural herbal remedies for depression. New research provides support for the use of St. John’s wort extracts in treating major depression. A Cochrane Systematic Review backs up previous research that showed the plant extract is effective in treating mild to moderate depressive disorders. “Overall, we found that [...]

Breast Cancer Risk Factors – Birth Size

Scientists have identified several risk factors that increase a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer by comparing the characteristics of populations of women with and without breast cancer. Well-established risk factors for breast cancer include increasing age, not having children, and having a late menopause, but another potential risk factor for breast cancer is birth [...]

The Odds of Dying of Lung Cancer for Non Smokers

Because lung cancer is so common, even the small fraction of lung cancer that occurs in lifelong nonsmokers represents a large number of people. For example, about 20,000 of this year’s US lung cancer deaths will be in never-smokers. Clinical studies have shown that lung tumors in never-smokers have a different molecular profile and better [...]

Vitamin D Deficiency is Linked to Autism

Dear Dr. Cannell: Anything new on your theory that vitamin D is involved in autism? Sally, New York Dear Sally: Science News reported that two Swedish doctors recently proposed vitamin D deficiency is linked to autism. Doctors eye vitamin D link to autism Another article looked at the amazingly high rate of autism in dark-skinned [...]

Natural Ways to Lower Cholesterol

Pterostilbene, a berry compound found in blueberries and grapes, can help lower cholesterol and prevent heart disease. It was found that pterostilbene was similar in activity to ciprofibrate, a commercial drug that lowers LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Agricultural Research Service Chemist Agnes Rimando said: “But ciprofibrate can have side effects such as muscle pain and [...]