The “New & Interesting” series is a biweekly compilation of select research findings, news articles, and random tidbits in bullet-point format. The entries are highly abbreviated, but provide links to the original articles or abstracts if you desire to read further.

General Articles

• Video games may cause kids to suffer finger and wrist pain (WebMD)

• Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine employed high-sensitivity MRI scanners to evaluate the effect of glucosamine on progression of knee osteoarthritis. They “did not find any evidence that glucosamine can prevent or slow joint damage in individuals with mild to moderate knee pain.” The results from the study resemble findings from an earlier meta-analysis that did not demonstrate substantive symptomatic benefit from the use of chondroitin. (WebMD)

• Universal health coverage in Massachusetts does not reduce visits to the Emergency Department (American Medical News)

Technical Articles

• Prophylactic administration of acetaminophen for febrile reactions at the time of vaccination reduces antibody responses to vaccine antigens in children (Lancet)

I am not familiar with Mitchell and Webb, but a brief Bing search reveals that they are British comedians known for starring in several popular comedy sketches and sitcoms. In one of their shows, The Mitchell and Webb Look, they satirize homeopathy and its impotence in treating serious diseases.

“A&E” stands for “Accident & Emergency” and is more commonly used in the Commonwealth countries. It is analogous to the “ED” (Emergency Department) or “ER” (Emergency Room) acronym used in the United States.

Scientific research has so far not found any superiority in homeopathy above placebo, but it is a brand of therapy more readily accepted in some countries. Several European health services will reimburse the use of certain homeopathic remedies. In India, homeopathy is an officially recognized form of medicine.

One could argue that if homeopathy were not doing any harm, why bother? There can nevertheless be great potential for harm when homeopaths counsel against the use of conventional treatments (see article in Telegraph with follow-up in BBC). Having obtained degrees in biochemistry, molecular biology, and medicine, I know I’m biased, but that is why we have double-blinded randomized control trials.