Tinnitus treatment: A thoroughly researched trial of the effectiveness of Ginkgo Biloba in the treatment of tinnitus (ringing in the ears) has failed to show it brings any benefit. Extracts from the Ginkgo Biloba tree have been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years and are reputed to help relieve the symptoms of cerebral insufficiency, including memory loss and tinnitus. However, this UK trial showed no benefit for the 1,100 people who took 50mg of the extract three times a day for 12 weeks. Tinnitus affects about 10 per cent of the population. (British Medical Journal)
Learning disability: Fragile X is the most commonly identifiable genetically inherited cause of learning disability and may account for up to 10 per cent of cases, according to the Irish Fragile X Society. A workshop for special education teachers and others involved in educating special needs children goes ahead on Friday at St Patrick's College, Drumcondra from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The workshop leader is Marcia Braden, a psychologist and special education consultant from the US. For more information, contact Lisa Mullen at tel: 014926314 or e-mail: iatse@iol.ie
Testing allergies: Vegatest electrodermal testing cannot be used to diagnose environmental allergies, according to a study of 30 volunteers in a general practice in southern England. Half of the participants tested had previously shown an allergic reaction to house dust mite and cat dander with a skinprick test. However, the results of the electrodermal tests did not correlate with those of the skin-prick test. In fact, the Vegatest readings did not differ significantly between groups. The researchers concluded that electrodermal testing could not distinguish between those with allergic reactions and those without. (British Medical Journal)
Babies' heartrates: Changes in babies' heartbeats have been linked to the onset of bacterial infections. Neonatologist Pamela Griffin and cardiologist Randall Moorman, from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, US, have found that picking up tiny decreases in heartrate in newborn babies can be used as an early detection method for bacterial infections. Griffin concluded that heartbeat analysis can identify cases of bacterial infection known as sepsis that blood tests can miss. Reliable detection could alert doctors to illness in babies so that antibiotics could be started earlier. (New Scientist)
PMS study: A study of 170 women at the Institute of Health Care and Science in Huttenberg, Germany, has found agnus castus fruit extract to be an effective and well-tolerated treatment for the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. The participants were given one tablet daily or a matching placebo over three consecutive menstrual cycles. The women who took the dry extract of agnus castus fruit reported significantly better improvements in mood, headaches and other PMS symptoms. (British Medical Journal)