OAR@UM Collection: /library/oar/handle/123456789/48827 Sun, 09 Nov 2025 00:58:43 GMT 2025-11-09T00:58:43Z Chronic pain : two tested natural compounds may break pain cycle : could they be useful in neurodegenerative disease? /library/oar/handle/123456789/48773 Title: Chronic pain : two tested natural compounds may break pain cycle : could they be useful in neurodegenerative disease? Authors: Cilia-Vincenti, Albert Abstract: Chronic pain is a substantial medical concern because it is common, can be debilitating, and pain medications may be more dangerous than originally thought. Analgesic drugs taken for even a few days are now claimed to increase myocardial infarction risk by 48%, using ibuprofen, and by 53% when using naproxen. Chronic use of NSAIDs like ibuprofen is claimed to increase kidney function impairment by 32%. Furthermore, the current opioid epidemic in the US is said to claim over 100 overdose deaths daily. Tue, 01 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMT /library/oar/handle/123456789/48773 2019-01-01T00:00:00Z Role of the microbiome in health and disease /library/oar/handle/123456789/48772 Title: Role of the microbiome in health and disease Authors: Grech, Alfred; Balzan, Michael Abstract: Understanding the role of the microbiota in health and disease may offer new insights into the factors that start and drive the progression of various diseases, like autism, auto-immune disease, obesity, diabetes, and cancer. In turn, this will offer a platform to stratify the risk of patients for complications and also to deliver new personalised therapeutic strategies. Tue, 01 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMT /library/oar/handle/123456789/48772 2019-01-01T00:00:00Z Lullaby of Bromo-Dragonfly /library/oar/handle/123456789/48771 Title: Lullaby of Bromo-Dragonfly Abstract: Bromo-Dragonfly, also called bromo-benzodifuranil-isopropylamine, is a psychedelic designer drug synthesized by Matthew A. Parker in the laboratory of David E. Nichols at Purdue University in 1998. This drug was first synthesized as a new research probe to investigate central nervous system serotonin receptor structure and activity. Although it was not originally intended for human consumption, it has subsequently been used for recreational purposes. It is a powerful 5-HT2A receptor agonist. This benzodifuran derivative is a strong hallucinogen, similar to LSD but with prolonged duration of action and possible intense hallucination visuals. Heterogeneous effects amongst individuals may be experienced even with the same dose. Overall it is said to be a third as potent as LSD on a weight for weight basis. The drug inhibits monoamine oxidase A. Tue, 01 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMT /library/oar/handle/123456789/48771 2019-01-01T00:00:00Z Carpometacarpal osteoarthritis of the thumb /library/oar/handle/123456789/48770 Title: Carpometacarpal osteoarthritis of the thumb Authors: Pace, Alistair M. Abstract: Osteoarthritis of the trapeziometacarpal joint is the second most common site of degenerative joint disease in the hand and mostly affects postmenopausal women and manual workers. The reported radiographic prevalence of the condition is 7% in males and 15% in females. Studies reveal that 33% of women over 40 years of age will have some Xray changes. To achieve a high degree of prehensile and manipulative function this highly mobile joint is constrained by both the biconcave saddle morphology of the trapezium and the ligamentous constraints. It is theorized that attenuation of the anterior oblique ligament or beak ligament leads to instability, subluxation and eventually arthritis of the CMC (carpometacarpal) joint. The condition can cause pain, weakness, deformity and loss of function of the thumb and can be very debilitating. Tue, 01 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMT /library/oar/handle/123456789/48770 2019-01-01T00:00:00Z