Gout has long been referred to as the “disease of kings” due to its prevalence among European royals.  The condition, caused by the buildup of uric acid in a joint – often the big toe – that leads to pain and inflammation, actually affects many more than just royalty.  Doctors estimate that the condition occurs in nearly 2 percent of the world’s population.

New genetic insights may provide some answers to what causes the condition and its history.  Scientists think that obesity is a major factor in gout, where royalty of the past may have been unaccustomed to significant physical labor; today, rising obesity rates may be to blame.

Researchers from the University at Edinburgh who conducted the study have identified 18 new genetic markers that may provide some answers for those who suffer from this painful condition.   Prevention, management and treatment techniques may become the product of this research, the study team hopes.

Sourced from: Science Daily, Gout Study Offers Genetic Insight into ‘Disease of Kings’

In an unusual case of an irregular heartbeat, doctors successfully used alcohol as a means to treat the condition and restore the natural rhythm of the heart.  But before this is interpreted that boozing that fix a heart problem, consider that this procedure was conducted under very specific circumstances.

The man in question suffered from a condition called ventricular tachychardia, which could be fatal if unchecked.  Doctors at the Bristol Heart Institute ultimately opted to insert a catheter into the man’s heart and identifying which portions of the heart were faulty, causing the irregular rhythm.  The doctors then injected ethanol – not the alcohol you have in cocktails – into those parts of the heart, killing off damaged tissue; the heart’s functionality was restored.

The doctors did caution, though, that this was a very risky procedure that has only been performed a handful of times, so it is not wise to start injecting yourself with hard liquor if you have heart problems.

Sourced from: BBC News, Doctors ‘Save Man’s Life By Using Alcohol’

Numerous studies from the past several years have indicated that cannabis could be useful in reducing post-surgery pain and neuropathic pain.  However, a new study from the Oxford University Centre for Functional MRI of the Brain has found that marijuana, in fact, does not reduce pain at all.  Instead, it appears that the drug alters the brain’s emotional state in a way that makes pain more bearable.

The study subjects were given a THC pill – the principal psychoactive element in marijuana – and had capsaicin cream rubbed on their skin.  Functional MRI scans were performed, and the researchers found that those who took the THC pill did not report any change in the burning caused by the cream, but instead reported that the pain bothered them less.

Though the study was small – involving only 12 subjects – the information learned could provide insight into how the use of medical marijuana may evolve in the future.

Sourced from: Medical News Today, Cannabis Does Not Reduce Pain, It Makes It More Bearable