A new systematic evidence review finds short-term improvements in pain management for cannabis products relatively high in THC, but they’re also high in side effects like sedation, dizziness and nausea. It also finds that CBD has only a trivial effect on pain. Roger Chou, M.D., says, “The idea or hope has been that the CBD component might be the one that provides the therapeutic effects. Unfortunately, what we found was that the CBD products essentially had no impact on pain.”

A new systematic evidence review finds short-term improvements in pain management for cannabis products relatively high in THC, but they’re also high in side effects like sedation, dizziness and nausea. It also finds that CBD has only a trivial effect on pain. Roger Chou, M.D., says, “The idea or hope has been that the CBD component might be the one that provides the therapeutic effects. Unfortunately, what we found was that the CBD products essentially had no impact on pain.”

New OHSU research finds that that air pollution is associated with structural changes in the adolescent brain. Calvin Jara, M.D., says, “What we’re discovering is that chronic exposure to common, low-level air pollutants may act like a slow, subtle pressure on the developing brain. It may not cause symptoms right away, but over time it appears capable of nudging brain development off its typical course, with potential consequences for developmental trajectories and outcomes across the life course.”

OHSU researchers contribute to a collaborative new analysis providing crucial insight into the rapid growth in concierge and direct primary care.

HealthCentral covers treatments available for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a genetic condition that causes muscle thickening in the middle wall of the heart. In a guide for patients, Ahmad Masri, M.D., says it’s important to recognize symptoms during exercise: “This is a condition that affects patients when they exert themselves, almost universally, rather than when they are resting.”

New OHSU research finds that the rate of opioid use during pregnancy has risen two-fold over the past decade. Kristin Prewitt, M.D., says, “Evidence shows that linking patients to care earlier improves outcomes. If we’re aware early on that an individual faces these additional risks, we can ensure they receive personalized, multidisciplinary care in the prenatal and postnatal periods, and ultimately when they move onto pediatric care with their child.”

Road Bike Rider notes two studies from OHSU that find adequate sleep leads to longer lives.

Amy Valent, D.O., recommends dietary guidance in pregnant individuals with diabetes be reframed with a comprehensive approach to glycemic optimization. She says, “We’ve commonly forgotten about the placental demands (for fuel). We appreciate all the work the placenta does, but we don’t appreciate how much energy it has to have. And we clearly haven’t accommodated for that in our [nutritional] guidelines.”

A new systematic evidence review finds short-term improvements in pain management for cannabis products relatively high in THC, but they’re also high in side effects like sedation, dizziness and nausea. It also finds that CBD has only a trivial effect on pain. Roger Chou, M.D., says, “The idea or hope has been that the CBD component might be the one that provides the therapeutic effects. Unfortunately, what we found was that the CBD products essentially had no impact on pain.”

Hyunjee Kim, Ph.D., shares insight with OPB News on how insurers make decisions about what medical devices to cover. She says, “If doctors or hospitals strongly believe in the value of certain devices or drugs, I think that can put really huge pressure on the insurer.”