Acupuncture twice a week relieves debilitating symptoms of xerostomia or severe dry mouth among patients treated with radiation for head and neck cancer.
Xerostomia develops after the salivary glands have been exposed to repeated doses of therapeutic radiation.
People who have cancers of the head and neck typically receive large cumulative doses, rendering salivary glands incapable of producing adequate saliva, said Mark S. Chambers, professor of dental oncology at the MD Anderson Cancer Centre of the University of Texas.
"Symptoms can include altered taste acuity, dental decay, infections of the tissues of the mouth, and difficulty with speaking, eating and swallowing. Conventional treatments have been less than optimal, providing short-term response at best," said Chambers, the study's senior author.
Saliva substitutes, lozenges and chewing gum bring only temporary relief, and the commonly prescribed medication, pilocarpine, has short-lived benefits and bothersome side effects of its own.
M. Kay Garcia, clinical nurse specialist and acupuncturist in MD Anderson's Integrative Medicine Program and the study's first author, noted that patients with xerostomia may also develop nutritional deficits that can become irreversible.
Garcia, Chambers and their team of researchers conducted a pilot study to determine whether acupuncture could reverse xerostomia.
Acupuncture therapy is based on the ancient Chinese practice of inserting and manipulating very thin needles at precise points on the body to relieve pain or otherwise restore health, said a University of Texas release.
The study included 19 patients with xerostomia who had completed radiation therapy at least four weeks earlier. The patients were given two acupuncture treatments each week for four weeks. They produced highly statistically significant improvements in symptoms.
These findings were published in the current online issue of Head & Neck.
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Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Obama to invite Middle East leaders to White House
US President Barack Obama will invite the Israeli, Palestinian and Egyptian leaders to the White House in the coming weeks for separate talks on moving forward with the Middle East peace process, the White House said on Tuesday.
Spokesman Robert Gibbs said the president was issuing the invitations in hopes of building on talks he held earlier in the day with Jordan's King Abdullah II, a steadfast Arab ally in the Middle East, which has made peace with Israel, as has Egypt.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak will be asked to sit down with the president in the coming weeks, Mr. Gibbs said. No dates were set. Abbas runs the Palestinian controlled West Bank, but faces a strong challenge for overall authority from the increasingly powerful and militant Hamas faction that runs the Gaza Strip and is relentless in calling for the destruction of Israel.
After meeting the Jordanian monarch, Mr. Obama said he expected Israelis and Palestinians to make "gestures of good faith" within months to revive the languishing Mideast peace process.
Spokesman Robert Gibbs said the president was issuing the invitations in hopes of building on talks he held earlier in the day with Jordan's King Abdullah II, a steadfast Arab ally in the Middle East, which has made peace with Israel, as has Egypt.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak will be asked to sit down with the president in the coming weeks, Mr. Gibbs said. No dates were set. Abbas runs the Palestinian controlled West Bank, but faces a strong challenge for overall authority from the increasingly powerful and militant Hamas faction that runs the Gaza Strip and is relentless in calling for the destruction of Israel.
After meeting the Jordanian monarch, Mr. Obama said he expected Israelis and Palestinians to make "gestures of good faith" within months to revive the languishing Mideast peace process.
Brother Osama welcome in Swat: Taliban
Pakistan was trying to end bloodshed when it let the idyllic Swat Valley fall under Islamic law last week. Instead, it has emboldened the Taliban and prompted an invitation — however improbable — for Osama bin Laden.
The local spokesman for the Taliban, which control the valley, said he'd welcome militants bent on battling US troops and their Arab allies if they want to settle there.
“Osama can come here. Sure, like a brother they can stay anywhere they want,” Muslim Khan said in an interview, his first with a foreign journalist since Islamic law was imposed. “Yes, we will help them and protect them.”
Khan spoke in halting English he learned during four years painting houses in the US before returning to Swat in 2002. He averted his eyes as he spoke to a female journalist, in line with his strict understanding of Islam.
Pakistan reacted with alarm to his comments, saying it would never let him shelter the likes of bin Laden.
“We would have to go for the military operation. We would have to apply force again," said Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira. “We simply condemn this. We are fighting this war against al-Qaida and the Taliban.”
But it is far from clear that the government has the means to do much of anything in the Swat Valley. It agreed to Islamic law in the region — drawing international condemnation — after trying and failing to defeat the Taliban in fighting marked by brutal beheadings that killed more than 850 people over two years.
“We lost the war. We negotiated from a position of weakness,” said Afrasiab Khattak, a leader of the Awami National Party,
which governs the province that includes Swat. He said the region's police force is too underpaid, undertrained and underequipped to take on the militants.
On Friday, Taliban fighters in pickup trucks with black flags rumbled through the rutted streets of the valley's main city of Mingora, demanding over loudspeakers that shops shutter their windows and prepare for prayers.
In the city center, a district police station lay in ruins, destroyed by a suicide bomber. The only music blaring praised the Taliban and extolled the young to fight holy war.
Aftab Alam, president of the district court lawyers,whispered: “They are more than beasts. Our government is impotent, stupid and corrupt. We are helpless (facing) this militancy,” he said, calling the Taliban “barbaric” and “illiterate.”
The local spokesman for the Taliban, which control the valley, said he'd welcome militants bent on battling US troops and their Arab allies if they want to settle there.
“Osama can come here. Sure, like a brother they can stay anywhere they want,” Muslim Khan said in an interview, his first with a foreign journalist since Islamic law was imposed. “Yes, we will help them and protect them.”
Khan spoke in halting English he learned during four years painting houses in the US before returning to Swat in 2002. He averted his eyes as he spoke to a female journalist, in line with his strict understanding of Islam.
Pakistan reacted with alarm to his comments, saying it would never let him shelter the likes of bin Laden.
“We would have to go for the military operation. We would have to apply force again," said Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira. “We simply condemn this. We are fighting this war against al-Qaida and the Taliban.”
But it is far from clear that the government has the means to do much of anything in the Swat Valley. It agreed to Islamic law in the region — drawing international condemnation — after trying and failing to defeat the Taliban in fighting marked by brutal beheadings that killed more than 850 people over two years.
“We lost the war. We negotiated from a position of weakness,” said Afrasiab Khattak, a leader of the Awami National Party,
which governs the province that includes Swat. He said the region's police force is too underpaid, undertrained and underequipped to take on the militants.
On Friday, Taliban fighters in pickup trucks with black flags rumbled through the rutted streets of the valley's main city of Mingora, demanding over loudspeakers that shops shutter their windows and prepare for prayers.
In the city center, a district police station lay in ruins, destroyed by a suicide bomber. The only music blaring praised the Taliban and extolled the young to fight holy war.
Aftab Alam, president of the district court lawyers,whispered: “They are more than beasts. Our government is impotent, stupid and corrupt. We are helpless (facing) this militancy,” he said, calling the Taliban “barbaric” and “illiterate.”
Poll star divides astrologers over violence, winners and losers
Even the stars are split wide open. If pollsters predict no clear majority in the Lok Sabha polls, astrologers are no different. If one soothsayer foresees an eruption of violence during the polls, another thinks to the contrary.
Militancy could rock the country between April 22 and June 22, says 86-year-old astrologer Lachhman Das Madan. But Ashutosh Ojha (66) has the opposite take: “there may be isolated incidents, but no major threat”.
Both psephologists and astrologers are offering more analysis than prediction.
“We are in the midst of the most vulgar show of piety, lies, bluffs, false assurances, mean opportunism,” says K.N. Rao (78) on his site. The prediction: “UPA will form the government with regional parties or the Third Front will triumph with Congress support.”
Madan predicts the NDA will form the government. “In BJP’s horoscope, Venus is helping the party,” he says. Ojha gives the NDA 222 seats, Congress 140 and BSP 23.
Ajai Bhambi (57) foresees a hung verdict. “Advani or Manmohan may not be PM, Sonia will get a jolt. Maya will create fear for others.”
Madan and Bhambi say Sharad Pawar will emerge stronger. No consensus! The stars hide more than they tell.
Militancy could rock the country between April 22 and June 22, says 86-year-old astrologer Lachhman Das Madan. But Ashutosh Ojha (66) has the opposite take: “there may be isolated incidents, but no major threat”.
Both psephologists and astrologers are offering more analysis than prediction.
“We are in the midst of the most vulgar show of piety, lies, bluffs, false assurances, mean opportunism,” says K.N. Rao (78) on his site. The prediction: “UPA will form the government with regional parties or the Third Front will triumph with Congress support.”
Madan predicts the NDA will form the government. “In BJP’s horoscope, Venus is helping the party,” he says. Ojha gives the NDA 222 seats, Congress 140 and BSP 23.
Ajai Bhambi (57) foresees a hung verdict. “Advani or Manmohan may not be PM, Sonia will get a jolt. Maya will create fear for others.”
Madan and Bhambi say Sharad Pawar will emerge stronger. No consensus! The stars hide more than they tell.
Prabhakaran takes charge of Tamil Tigers’ last stand
The SRI Lankan army (SLA) continued to push into the LTTE-dominated “no fire zone” (NFZ) on Tuesday as Tamil militants vowed never to surrender and held Colombo responsible for civilian casualties.
By evening, more than 62,000 civilians had crossed over to government-controlled areas. Television footage showed emaciated and tired men, women and children walking towards military-controlled areas with little or no belongings.
At noon on Tuesday, the 24-hour deadline given by the government to the LTTE to surrender expired without the Tamil Tigers showing any signs of responding.
Within hours of the deadline expiring, the LTTE leader S. Pulveedan told Reuters, “LTTE will never surrender and we will fight and we have the confidence that we will win with the help of the Tamil people.”
“He (Prabhakaran) is with us and he is directing the war against the Sri Lankan armed forces and providing a lot of support and assistance to the people,’’ Puleedevan said.
“The LTTE has not responded to the government’s call to surrender, so we will continue our offensive to rescue the civilians,’’ military spokesperson Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara told reporters.
LTTE leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran was inside the NFZ, a top Tiger leader was quoted as saying. The rebels continued to put stiff resistance from the NFZ with skirmishes reported from across its 12 km-long border.
A Sri Lankan official, meanwhile, said that Colombo was preparing to send a special envoy to New Delhi to address India’s demand that Sri Lanka halt military operations.
In a second media statement, Puleedevan claimed that SLA troops were using civilians who were sandwiched between the army and the LTTE as “human shields.”
The LTTE further alleged that more than 1,000 civilians have been killed and at least 2,300 were wounded since Monday.
Amid rapid internal developments, Colombo continued to resist international appeals for a ceasefire with President Mahinda Rajapaksa snubbing British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
“The request by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown for a pause in military action was deemed as unnecessary by President Mahinda Rajapaksa considering the unexpected exodus of 35,000 civilians to the cleared areas from the NFZ,’’ a statement from the Presidential secretariat said.
According to the UN, the figure of civilians in the NFZ would be more than 60,000.
The US on Tuesday expressed its deep concern over humanitarian situation in the conflict zone. Aid agencies like the International Committee for Red Cross (ICRC) issued a warning.
“The ICRC is extremely worried about tens of thousands of civilians who are trapped in the rapidly shrinking NFZ,” it said.
By evening, more than 62,000 civilians had crossed over to government-controlled areas. Television footage showed emaciated and tired men, women and children walking towards military-controlled areas with little or no belongings.
At noon on Tuesday, the 24-hour deadline given by the government to the LTTE to surrender expired without the Tamil Tigers showing any signs of responding.
Within hours of the deadline expiring, the LTTE leader S. Pulveedan told Reuters, “LTTE will never surrender and we will fight and we have the confidence that we will win with the help of the Tamil people.”
“He (Prabhakaran) is with us and he is directing the war against the Sri Lankan armed forces and providing a lot of support and assistance to the people,’’ Puleedevan said.
“The LTTE has not responded to the government’s call to surrender, so we will continue our offensive to rescue the civilians,’’ military spokesperson Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara told reporters.
LTTE leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran was inside the NFZ, a top Tiger leader was quoted as saying. The rebels continued to put stiff resistance from the NFZ with skirmishes reported from across its 12 km-long border.
A Sri Lankan official, meanwhile, said that Colombo was preparing to send a special envoy to New Delhi to address India’s demand that Sri Lanka halt military operations.
In a second media statement, Puleedevan claimed that SLA troops were using civilians who were sandwiched between the army and the LTTE as “human shields.”
The LTTE further alleged that more than 1,000 civilians have been killed and at least 2,300 were wounded since Monday.
Amid rapid internal developments, Colombo continued to resist international appeals for a ceasefire with President Mahinda Rajapaksa snubbing British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
“The request by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown for a pause in military action was deemed as unnecessary by President Mahinda Rajapaksa considering the unexpected exodus of 35,000 civilians to the cleared areas from the NFZ,’’ a statement from the Presidential secretariat said.
According to the UN, the figure of civilians in the NFZ would be more than 60,000.
The US on Tuesday expressed its deep concern over humanitarian situation in the conflict zone. Aid agencies like the International Committee for Red Cross (ICRC) issued a warning.
“The ICRC is extremely worried about tens of thousands of civilians who are trapped in the rapidly shrinking NFZ,” it said.
More than terrorist’s communal forces within threaten India : Sonia Gandhi
Addressing an election rally in Ranchi (Jharkhand), Congress President Sonia Gandhi appealed to all present to send out the message of unity and harmony in every village. She said, “We need a people’s movement to spread the message of unity, brotherhood and harmony in every village, just like Tana Bhagat had once done.” She said that while Congress Party tries to fill the widening gap between communities, there were parties trying to divide people on the basis of caste and religion. “They don’t care about the country or the society. The real danger for our country is not of terrorists attacking us from outside, but the communal forces who are trying to provide a fertile ground for the terrorists,” she said.
Congress President said “the common man needs peace, he needs employment for his children. The 21st century belongs to young people, a dream that Rajivji dreamt 20 years ago. Many of you will be voting for the first time in these elections and this too has happened because of the efforts of Rajivji,” she said. She asked all present, “Now you have to decide as to which way you want the country to move. Are you going to elect those people who pledge for social justice, for development and fight against terror or for those who are trying to grab power by any means?”
Ms. Gandhi said that the people had witnessed the work and achievements of Congress Party and that of the opposition. She appealed to them to vote on the basis of performance. “UPA government has done revolutionary work. Despite recession, the economy has scaled heights” she said. Enumerating the achievements of the UPA government she said that it had carried out the largest ever Employment Guarantee Scheme for poor people. “More than four crore poor people have got employment through this programme, of which thirty one percent are Dalits and twenty four percent tribal people. “Now they get employment in their respective villages with dignity and don’t need to move to farther places in search of livelihood,” she said.
Congress president said that the government has done a lot for the betterment of farmers. She said, “UPA government launched the largest loan waiver programme of the world, waiving Rs 65,000 crore loans for farmers.” She cited mid-day meal scheme as another big achievement of the UPA government. “This is the biggest scheme of the world and crores of children are getting food in government school, daily,” she said.
Congress President said that her government passed a long overdue law for tribal people ensuring that they had rights to their forest land. She said there had been a special drive for SCs and STs to fill vacancies reserved for them in government departments.
Congress President said “the common man needs peace, he needs employment for his children. The 21st century belongs to young people, a dream that Rajivji dreamt 20 years ago. Many of you will be voting for the first time in these elections and this too has happened because of the efforts of Rajivji,” she said. She asked all present, “Now you have to decide as to which way you want the country to move. Are you going to elect those people who pledge for social justice, for development and fight against terror or for those who are trying to grab power by any means?”
Ms. Gandhi said that the people had witnessed the work and achievements of Congress Party and that of the opposition. She appealed to them to vote on the basis of performance. “UPA government has done revolutionary work. Despite recession, the economy has scaled heights” she said. Enumerating the achievements of the UPA government she said that it had carried out the largest ever Employment Guarantee Scheme for poor people. “More than four crore poor people have got employment through this programme, of which thirty one percent are Dalits and twenty four percent tribal people. “Now they get employment in their respective villages with dignity and don’t need to move to farther places in search of livelihood,” she said.
Congress president said that the government has done a lot for the betterment of farmers. She said, “UPA government launched the largest loan waiver programme of the world, waiving Rs 65,000 crore loans for farmers.” She cited mid-day meal scheme as another big achievement of the UPA government. “This is the biggest scheme of the world and crores of children are getting food in government school, daily,” she said.
Congress President said that her government passed a long overdue law for tribal people ensuring that they had rights to their forest land. She said there had been a special drive for SCs and STs to fill vacancies reserved for them in government departments.
NDA neglected farmers & poor people : Rahul Gandhi
While addressing an election rally in Pipariya (MP), Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi said that UPA has fulfilled all its promises, and for the past 5 years had worked for poor people. He said, “Unlike the opposition, we had made just one promise, to work for poor people, for Dalits and the backward classes, and we fulfilled that promise.”
Congress General Secretary reiterated that the biggest promise made by his government was the implementation of National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. “It is the largest scheme in the world and by implementing it, our government has ensured hundred days of employment for all, without any discrimination on the basis of caste, community and area,” he said. Alleging that the NDA had neglected farmers he said, ‘While the NDA neglected farmers, the UPA government waived loans for them. Our government waived loans worth 70,000 crore rupees and returned their money.”
Congress General Secretary said that the future of India lies in its children. He said, “For school going children our government launched the Mid-day Meal Scheme under Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA).” Enumerating the work done by his government for tribal people, he said “UPA government enacted a law for tribal people, to give tribal people rights over their forestland. The UPA government passed a bill in Parliament to ensure this.”
Rahul Gandhi said that his party is fighting for the cause of poor people but it is unfortunate that funds sent by the Centre were not being used properly at the state level. He said, “My father used to say that only 15 paisa out of hundred, reaches the common man but I will say that it is now reduced to 5 Paisa.” He criticized the BJP for misguiding people on the issue of central grants that were given to states. He said, “Compared to the NDA regime, UPA has given three times more funds to the states.”
Congress General Secretary accused BJP of dividing society on the basis of religion and region. He said, “We believe that all Indians irrespective of his caste, community and area should have equal say in development and it is only then that India can move forward.”
He said, “During election time, the opposition is busy making new slogans instead of talking about poverty and unemployment. Now they are talking about Swiss Banks and terrorism. They say that Manmohan Singh is a weak Prime Minister but fact is that it was the pressure of Manmohan Singh that Pakistan came to our terms after recent Mumbai attacks,” he said.
He questioned BJP leader L K Advani’s role in the Kandhar hijack case and said that if he didn’t know about the release of terrorists in Kandhar he should have resigned. “Now you people have to decide who is strong and who is weak,” he said.
Congress General Secretary accused the BJP led state government of not implementing Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and of neglecting the healthcare sector. He assured people that a new NTPC plant will soon be started in the state. Rahul Gandhi concluded his speech by saying, “vote for a party which will serve the poor & backward people, for Dalits.”
Congress General Secretary reiterated that the biggest promise made by his government was the implementation of National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. “It is the largest scheme in the world and by implementing it, our government has ensured hundred days of employment for all, without any discrimination on the basis of caste, community and area,” he said. Alleging that the NDA had neglected farmers he said, ‘While the NDA neglected farmers, the UPA government waived loans for them. Our government waived loans worth 70,000 crore rupees and returned their money.”
Congress General Secretary said that the future of India lies in its children. He said, “For school going children our government launched the Mid-day Meal Scheme under Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA).” Enumerating the work done by his government for tribal people, he said “UPA government enacted a law for tribal people, to give tribal people rights over their forestland. The UPA government passed a bill in Parliament to ensure this.”
Rahul Gandhi said that his party is fighting for the cause of poor people but it is unfortunate that funds sent by the Centre were not being used properly at the state level. He said, “My father used to say that only 15 paisa out of hundred, reaches the common man but I will say that it is now reduced to 5 Paisa.” He criticized the BJP for misguiding people on the issue of central grants that were given to states. He said, “Compared to the NDA regime, UPA has given three times more funds to the states.”
Congress General Secretary accused BJP of dividing society on the basis of religion and region. He said, “We believe that all Indians irrespective of his caste, community and area should have equal say in development and it is only then that India can move forward.”
He said, “During election time, the opposition is busy making new slogans instead of talking about poverty and unemployment. Now they are talking about Swiss Banks and terrorism. They say that Manmohan Singh is a weak Prime Minister but fact is that it was the pressure of Manmohan Singh that Pakistan came to our terms after recent Mumbai attacks,” he said.
He questioned BJP leader L K Advani’s role in the Kandhar hijack case and said that if he didn’t know about the release of terrorists in Kandhar he should have resigned. “Now you people have to decide who is strong and who is weak,” he said.
Congress General Secretary accused the BJP led state government of not implementing Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and of neglecting the healthcare sector. He assured people that a new NTPC plant will soon be started in the state. Rahul Gandhi concluded his speech by saying, “vote for a party which will serve the poor & backward people, for Dalits.”
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