The “placebo effect” is a well-known psychological occurrence in which an inactive or ineffective medical treatment produces beneficial results when the person receiving the treatment believes it to be active/effective. A recent study showed that people with chronic back pain who took a placebo—knowingly—along with standard treatment experienced greater pain relief than people receiving standard treatment alone.

Placebos or “dummy pills” are used in certain clinical trials to help test active medications. They can affect symptoms when the person believes and expects they will work. However, according to this new study, it may not be the power of positive thinking that makes placebos work, but the “ritual” of a treatment program.

The study involved 97 people with lower back pain—most (about 85 percent) of whom were taking pain medication. Participants were divided into two groups for the 3-week study. One group continued with their current treatment and the other continued with treatment but also took a placebo pill from a clearly marked bottle twice a day. Interestingly, the group who continued treatment as usual reported a 9 percent reduction in overall pain and a 16 percent reduction in maximum pain, but the placebo group reported a 30 percent reduction in overall and maximum pain and a 29 percent reduction in pain-related disability.

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Sourced from: MNT, The placebo effect: Knowingly taking sham pills may reduce chronic pain

According to a new study, the number of people with diabetes in the United States who maintain healthy blood sugar levels has dropped in recent years. However, other research has shown an overall improvement in blood sugar control over the past couple of decades.

Researchers analyzed blood sugar test results from 1.6 million people with diabetes from 2006 to 2013 and found that HbA1c levels below 7 decreased from 56 to 54 percent and HbA1c levels at or above 9 percent increased from 10 to 12 percent. They also analyzed information about diabetes medications. During the study period, the use of some diabetes drugs—thiazolidinediones and sulfonylureas, for example—decreased, while use of other medicines—like DPP-4 inhibitors and metformin—increased.

According to researchers, newer diabetes medications may carry fewer side effects than older drugs, but may be less effective at controlling blood sugar levels. It also might be that, with so many medications to choose from, more people with diabetes are overlooking the importance of managing the condition with lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise.

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Sourced from: FOX News, US diabetics have worsening blood sugar control

Hoping to reduce unsafe drinking, the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) of the NIH funded development of a wearable sensor that detects alcohol levels and sends the information to the person’s cell phone. The purpose of the device is to help the individual monitor his/her alcohol intake.

The small sensor, which is worn like a patch on the skin, works by a process called iontophoresis. One component of the device stimulates the skin beneath the patch to produce sweat. Another component measures alcohol levels through changes in the electrical current of the sweat and sends the information to the person’s phone.

The device is discreet and convenient. According to researchers, it can be worn on an area of skin that doesn’t show, and takes just 8 minutes to send the information. The goal is to help prevent alcohol-related dangers, such as binge drinking and impaired driving.

Image Credit: American Chemical Society

Sourced from: ScienceDaily, Wearable tattoo sends alcohol levels to your cell phone