December 1, 1999

Web posted at: 1:17 p.m. EST (1817 GMT)

(CNN) Traditional Western medicine has been skeptical of the benefits of acupuncture, but researchers in New Jersey say that evidence derived from brain imaging shows the treatment helps to relieve pain. Although it's considered a relatively new alternative in the West, acupuncture has been practiced in China for over 2,500 years. During the treatment, very fine needles are inserted slightly into the skin at certain prescribed points to relieve pain or other ailments. Scientists at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) compared brain images of 12 people experiencing pain with images after they received acupuncture. Under brain imaging, the brain "lights up," or shows activity, in specific areas when a person experiences pain. Following acupuncture, researchers found a marked depletion in that activity.

"We found activity subsided in 60 percent to 70 percent of the entire brain," said Wen-Ching Liu, Ph.D., a co-author of the study and assistant professor of radiology at UMDNJ.

Released at a conference of the Radiological Society of North America, the study also found the amount of pain depletion can vary from person to person, and some of the people in the study experienced a change in their pain threshold.

"The person (being tested at the time) actually experienced a high tolerance of pain. We gave a pain stimulation and after acupuncture we applied the same degree of pain stimulation. He didn't feel it," said Dr. Huey-Jen Lee, chief of neuroradiology at UMDNJ. Although there are 401 acupoints on the body, this study focused on the Hegu acupoint, or the point on the hand between the thumb and forefinger. Most acupuncture treatments involve stimulating more than one point, but the Hegu acupoint is one that is frequently used, according to Lee.

This research backs up what many Chinese have believed for centuries acupuncture works to relieve pain. But how or why it works is still unclear.

Historically the Chinese have theorized that the body has an energy force call Qi (chee) running throughout it. The Qi is divided into two opposing forces, the Yin and Yang, which work together when balanced. The flow of the Qi through a person's body influences all essential life activities, including health. If its flow is interrupted, the Yin and Yang become unbalanced, causing pain or illness.

The Chinese believe the Qi flows through special pathways or meridians. Acupuncture points are specific locations where these pathways come to the surface of the skin. The procedure is said to restore balance to the flow of the Qi.

No matter how it works, acupuncture is continuing to gain acceptance in Western medicine. In 1997, the National Institutes of Health published official guidelines for its use. Researchers are optimistic it will become a useful tool for pain management, especially for those who cannot tolerate medication.

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A LETTER FROM LINDA

This letter was actually "lurking" in the bowels of my Microsoft Outlook. It had been there since 11/26/99 (unopened). Apparently, the computer gods were keeping it from me for a time. If you should decide to contactLinda, you can reach her at:

How ya doing Myrl?

I of course had the same experience with Melvin Belli's son, Cesar Belli & his ass. Kevin Mc Clean this year. Lucky a firm in Florida picked up my case so who knows.

I am so pissed off about all this I have great interest for our future and still think we can all file a class action against all concerned and name our Government as the first action. That's one of my thoughts for the future, and even if by some lucky chance I should be paid anything I still intend to fight for all of those who were not paid any compensation which seems to be most of us. Hey?

Well now I have decided to write a book on the subject of us ' THE SISTERS" and our lives in general. I would also love to do a documentary in the future and I know I could do a great one telling the whole truth of the story!

I am writing you now since you touched on the issue of attorneys or snakes as I call them. I really do not have many story's about this attorney game that's been played on us and this is really one of the biggest parts of the whole story. THIS REALLY NEEDS TO BE IN PRINT! Maybe next time they'll think a little harder before playing games with innocent people's lives. Most of them should be bared from ever practicing law again but we both know that's never going to happen. Anyway I was wondering if you could request more attorney stories for me to archive and put in my book about our real horror stories. This is just such a real issue to me since I know these 2 headed snakes sold us down the river without batting an eye.

I would post the request myself but a lot of the ladies never answer me because of my name and some screwball started a rumor that I was on the other side, who ever they are???

I am trying not to get disappointed as I can see a lot of women are just dropping out and seem to be giving up. Sad huh?

I sure love your news letter and have gotten so much good info from you that it's amazing how in the world do you keep it up?

I am normally a very active person but have been so ill lately with my breast masses & also lymph node masses & STILL trying to get explanted with the right doctor, what a nightmare! Also in a Federal lawsuit on a different case, & am trying to get them to settle soon so we'll see. THIS IS WHY I KNOW WE CAN FILE A FEDERAL CLASS ACTION, I HAVE THE EXPERIENCE & THIS IS THE ONLY WAY WE'LL GET ACTION & MAKE OUR GOVERNMENT STAND UP & TAKE ACTION & STOP THIS MADNESS! Once the US starts taking action then the rest of the world will follow suite.

Will stop for now. I know you have enough to do and again I love & appreciate you guys for all that you are doing. It's wonderful! If you have any other stories of the 2 headed snakes please send them on to me & I'll try to get them all in the book. This is also an area that needs government intervention but we'll have to fight for that one since most Governors & Congressmen are attorneys so it's understandable as to whats wrong with Government today.

God Bless you and keep smiling!

Linda

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ABSTRACT

Osseointegrated silicone implants.

18 patients with 57 MCP joints followed for 2 years [see comments]

AUTHORS: Moller K; Sollerman C; Geijer M; Branemark PI

AUTHOR AFFILIATION: Department of Hand Surgery, Sahlgrenska

University Hospital, Goteborg, Sweden. karin.moller@swipnet.se

SOURCE: Acta Orthop Scand 1999 Apr;70(2):109-15

CITATION IDS: PMID: 10366907 UI: 99294983

COMMENT: Comment in: Acta Orthop Scand 1999 Apr;70(2):107-8

ABSTRACT:

20 patients were operated on consecutively with osseointegrated MCP joint prostheses in 64 joints at our department between September 1993 and February 1995. The one-stage procedure included joint resection and cancellous bone grafting from the iliac crest before insertion of screw shaped titanium fixtures, connected with a flexible silicone spacer. 18 patients (57 joints) were clinically and radiographically examined at median 28 (18-37) months postoperatively. Indications for surgery were joint destruction due to chronic arthritis in 17 patients (56 joints), and posttraumatic arthrosis in 1 patient (1 joint). Postoperative median range of motion was 40 (15-85) degrees, with an extension deficit of 30 (-20-70) degrees. 16 patients were satisfied, and had good pain relief and substantially improved postoperative hand function, evaluated with the standardized Sollerman hand function test. Radiographic osseointegration was obtained in 112 of 114 titanium fixtures (98%), but fracture of the silicone spacer was observed in 14 implants (25%). We conclude that osseointegration of longitudinal titanium fixtures in the bone marrow canal is possible in a one-stage procedure, but our findings show the need for anew, more durable joint spacer.

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Adverse Upper Gastrointestinal Effects of Rofecoxib

Compared With NSAIDs

Michael J. Langman, MD; Dennis M. Jensen, MD; Douglas J. Watson, PhD; Sean E. Harper, MD; Peng-Liang Zhao, PhD; Hui Quan, PhD; James A. Bolognese, MS; Thomas J. Simon, MD

Context Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-induced gastrointestinal (GI) toxic effects, such as upper GI tract perforations, symptomatic gastroduodenal ulcers, and upper GI tract bleeding (PUBs), are thought to be attributable to cyclooxygenase 1 (COX-1) inhibition. Rofecoxib specifically inhibits COX-2 and has demonstrated a low potential for causing upper GI injury.

Objective To compare the incidence of PUBs in patients with osteoarthritis treated with rofecoxib vs NSAIDs.

Design Prespecified analysis of all 8 double-blind, randomized phase 2b/3 rofecoxib osteoarthritis trials conducted from December 1996 through March 1998, including one 6-week dose-ranging study, two 6-week efficacy studies vs ibuprofen and placebo, two 1-year efficacy studies vs diclofenac, two 6-month endoscopy studies vs ibuprofen and placebo, and one 6-week efficacy study vs nabumetone and placebo.

Setting Multinational sites.

Participants Osteoarthritis patients (N = 5435; mean age, 63 years [range, 38-94 years]; 72.9% women).

Interventions Rofecoxib, 12.5, 25, or 50 mg/d (n = 1209, 1603, and 545, respectively, combined) vs ibuprofen, 800 mg 3 times per day (n = 847), diclofenac, 50 mg 3 times per day (n = 590); or nabumetone, 1500 mg/d (n = 127) (combined).

Main Outcome Measure Cumulative incidence of PUBs for rofecoxib vs NSAIDs, based on survival analysis of time to first PUB diagnosis, using PUBs that met prespecified criteria judged by a blinded, external adjudication committee.

Results The incidence of PUBs over 12 months was significantly lower with rofecoxib vs NSAIDs (12-month cumulative incidence, 1.3% vs 1.8%; P = .046; rate per 100 patient-years, 1.33 vs 2.60; relative risk, 0.51; 95% confidence interval, 0.26-1.00). The cumulative incidence of dyspeptic GI adverse experiences was also lower with rofecoxib vs NSAIDS over 6 months (23.5% vs 25.5%; P = .02), after which the incidence rates converged. Conclusion In a combined analysis of 8 trials of patients with osteoarthritis, treatment with rofecoxib was associated with a significantly lower incidence of PUBs than treatment with NSAIDs.

JAMA. 1999;282:1929-1933

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