Botox is famous for its ability to smooth wrinkles in the face, and now Johns Hopkins researchers may have found another use that goes beyond the cosmetic.
The researchers gave patients with thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS), a debilitating nerve compression disorder, one low-dose injection of Botox in a neck muscle. After the Botox, the patients reported a significant reduction in their short-term pain.
The study suggests that Botox could be a less-invasive alternative to the syndrome’s treatment of last resort—surgery to remove a rib.
“There haven’t been many alternatives to the use of surgery to treat this syndrome,” says the study’s lead author, Paul J. Christo, M.D., M.B.A., an assistant professor of anesthesiology and critical care medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “Botox seems to be an effective treatment that avoids surgery’s obvious drawbacks, such as its invasive nature and long recovery time.”
The effect from Botox lasts only a few months, so repeated injections would be necessary to maintain the results. However, repeated treatments could lead to the development of antibodies to the compound in patients; as a result Botox would no longer block the pain. Dr. Christo says that means that not all patients with TOS are candidates for Botox.
Botox’s use as a cosmetic procedure remains very popular, even as more therapeutic uses are discovered. The American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery reported that it was the number one less-invasive cosmetic procedure in the United States in their 2009 cosmetic surgery statistics. Botox is one of the services Dr. Stacy offers at her Bellevue, Washington office and is the most popular cosmetic treatment in Bellevue and Seattle, according to her website.
Scientists believe that Brooke Greenberg, a 17-year old girl whose cognitive and physical growth never moved beyond the state of a toddler, can give us insight about the aging process.
Although she has experienced many health problems, her body has changed very little over the years, an oddity that has piqued the interest of medical researchers at the University of South Florida.
Because her body is seemingly “frozen in time,” they believe that Brooke has some kind of gene mutation that could potentially be used for anti-aging purposes. Research on her condition was presented last week at The Royal Society, the UK’s national academy of science.
Dr. Richard Walker, who is leading the research, says he hopes the team can “compare her genome to the normal version” so they can find and study certain genes that affect aging and possibly control them.
Today begins National Women’s Health Week, a time when we should “recommit to breaking existing barriers and improving the health of American women for generations to come.”
A proclamation by Barack Obama issued in this press release recommends several steps to help achieve these goals:
Lead healthy lives and set an example for your children.
Take advantage of preventive care with routine screenings and checkups.
Practice simple everyday activities like using sunscreen, exercising regularly, and eating healthy.
Emphasize the role of women in promoting the vitality of our children and communities.
The anti-aging/skin care industry has always been competitive, but this battle for market share has been escalating recently and now the competition between makers of medical grade skin care products has taken an interesting turn. ZO Skin Health just filed suit against Obagi Medical Products (OMP), both companies being founded by the same leader in the industry, Dr. Zein Obagi.
According to the complaint filed in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, OMP allegedly interfered with the distribution of Dr. Obagi’s new line of anti-aging products that he developed for his current company, ZO Skin Health. Reports say the disagreement likely stems from a non-compete agreement between the two parties, and whether that agreement should stop ZO Skin Health from distributing its new line of anti-aging products directly to consumers over the internet. OMP denies any wrongful conduct in the matter, and says it will vigorously defend the suit.
As the demand for anti-aging skin care products has increased over the last decade, so has the competition within that market. Between 2006 and 2008, U.S. sales alone rose 13% to 1.6 billion dollars, and the trend shows no sign of weakening as baby-boomers take advantage of advances in skin care science to address the effects of aging on their appearance.
The Grossman Burn Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Grossman Burn Center, has this week announced that Solta Medical Inc. has donated a Fraxel re:store laser system to the Burn Center, offering immediate benefits to Burn Center patients.
The Fraxel system will be used to reduce the appearance of scarring caused by traumatic thermal damage. The Burn Center is a worldwide leader in innovative treatment and care for burn patients and their families.
In making the donation, the Chairman of the Board, President and CEO of Solta Medical, Inc., Stephen J. Fanning, applauded the Grossman Burn Foundation’s efforts to provide highly-skilled non-profit reconstructive surgery to treat patients’ scars and help their recovery, adding that “The Grossman Burn Foundation is well known for their humanitarian efforts to assist burn victims and their families throughout the world…”
And it’s true. The Grossman Burn Foundation provides burn care and medical resources in developing countries all over the globe, including a burn center in Kabul and a physician triage training program for doctors in underdeveloped countries. The Foundation is also involved in the development and distribution of satellite based telemedicine equipment to doctors and first responders all over the globe. The donation of the Fraxel system, therefore, was a natural fit for Solta Medical, a world leader in the laser skin resurfacing technology.
“The goal of restorative burn care is to return the patient to as close to pre-injury status as possible…” said Rebecca Grossman, the Chair of the Grossman Burn Foundation. “We plan to use the cutting-edge Fraxel technology to restore our burn-injured patients and play a key role in providing better and faster patient outcomes.”
Beauty may be more than skin-deep after all. According to new research, your appearance may actually be an accurate indicator of your health and potential for survival.
The study: “Perceived age as clinically useful biomarker of ageing: cohort study” was recently published in the British Medical Journal.
Danish researchers measured the perceived age of twins and found that perceived age was correlated with survival; i.e. the younger looking twin was likely to live longer than his or her twin counterpart. Researchers also found significant correlations between perceived age and healthy functioning – both cognitive and physical.
Journalists have been talking about the so-called “Botax” non-stop since the proposal was unveiled last week as part of the latest healthcare reform bill. Plastic and cosmetic surgeons have strongly opposed the tax, calling it discriminatory, arbitrary, and very likely to be an auditing mess.
What do you think? Is this the right way to finance health care reform?
These articles are pretty common in Cosmo, but it’s a little surprising to see them in the men’s magazine, Details. Nonetheless, the fellas definitely need some guidance in this area.
The 5 Tips You Need to Fight Aging offers a very practical spin on the topic; lift weights, tame that hair (or lack thereof) and take care of your skin by doing the following:
In the morning, rub on both a moisturizer with SPF to protect against sun damage and a cream with vitamin C to help rebuild collagen and plump up your skin.
Beginning September 18th 2009, Dr. Lynn A. Jones will welcome Stacy J Davies MD of Dr. Stacy Cosmetic to provide non-surgical cosmetic services for face and body, including Botox, Juvederm, Radiesse, SmartLipo, Thermage, and Fraxel. Dr. Stacy will be available in Dr Jones’ Bellevue Place office every Friday beginning mid-September 2009.
If you’re a local resident of the Bellevue area, we’re looking forward to helping you improve your appearance through the best minimally invasive procedures and the finest medical grade skin care products. Contact us for more information about scheduling an appointment in Bellevue!
Botox is famous for its ability to smooth wrinkles in the face, and now Johns Hopkins researchers may have found another use that goes beyond the cosmetic.
market share has been escalating recently and now the competition between makers of medical grade skin care products has taken an interesting turn. ZO Skin Health just filed suit against 
appearance may actually be an accurate indicator of your health and potential for survival.
them in the men’s magazine, Details. Nonetheless, the fellas definitely need some guidance in this area.
Beginning September 18th 2009, Dr. Lynn A. Jones will welcome Stacy J Davies MD of Dr. Stacy Cosmetic to provide non-surgical cosmetic services for face and body, including Botox, Juvederm, Radiesse, SmartLipo, Thermage, and Fraxel. Dr. Stacy will be available in Dr Jones’ Bellevue Place office every Friday beginning mid-September 2009.
