Lots of studies have suggested that drinking alcohol – in moderation, of course – can bestow certain health benefits, most notably a reduced risk of heart disease.

Now, new research indicates it may also lessen the pain and disability of rheumatoid arthritis. The results are based on 873 rheumatoid arthritis patients who completed questionnaires about their drinking habits and underwent a series of medical tests.

“We found that the severity of the arthritis diminished as the frequency of alcohol consumption increased,” said one of study authors, James Maxwell of the University of Sheffield in Britain.

In particular, “X-rays showed there was less damage to joints, blood tests showed lower levels of inflammation and there was less joint pain, swelling and disability.”

The study, published this week in the journal Rheumatology, marks the first time that the frequency of alcohol consumption has been linked to the severity of this disease.

Dr. Maxwell cautioned that the findings must be confirmed by additional studies. He also emphasized that the participants did not drink to excess. The most frequent drinkers consumed alcohol about 10 days a month.

“ What's really significant about this new study is that it may give researchers fresh insights into the workings of the immune system...”

Even so, the results seem to make sense based on what is already known about rheumatoid arthritis and the effects of alcohol.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune disorder in which the body's disease-fighting immune system goes wonky and starts attacking the joints.

Over time, the chronic inflammation can disfigure joints, leading to permanent disability.

Dr. Maxwell noted that there is some evidence to suggest that alcohol can suppress the immune system. “It's possible that the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of alcohol may play a role in reducing the severity of symptoms,” he said.

Physicians are normally reluctant to recommend alcohol to their patients because too much booze can be extremely destructive to mind and body. And Dr. Maxwell shares those concerns. Still, he says, “small amounts of alcohol probably won't do them any harm and it may even help their joints a little.”

But what's really significant about this new study is that it may give researchers fresh insights into the workings of the immune system and that could help them develop more effective treatments for the debilitating disease, said Dr. Maxwell.

Mouth-free lifesaver

Does the thought of performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on a perfect stranger make you feel a bit squeamish? Well, don't let your inhibitions prevent you from saving a life. Two new studies indicated that “hands-only” chest compressions can do the job – without a single breath being exchanged.

Traditional cardiopulmonary resuscitation, commonly known as CPR, calls for a combination of chest compressions and quick breaths into the mouth. But a growing body of research suggests that the breathing part of CPR may not be necessary.

The two new studies, published this week in the New England Journal of Medicine, provide further evidence of the merits of the hands-only approach. Both studies found that when bystanders were instructed by emergency dispatchers to give either standard CPR, or chest-compressions only, the survival rates were similar between the two techniques.

The hands-only method involves pressing hard and fast at a rate of 100 times a minute in the middle of the person's chest without stopping until emergency medical responders arrive, according to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.

Some experts have being calling for greater public awareness of the chest-compression technique. After all, it's better do something than nothing – and the research suggests the rescue method actually works.

Safer epilepsy options

Medical experts are well aware that drugs used to treat epilepsy can sometimes trigger a very serious side effect – an increased risk of depression and suicide. But a new study provides encouraging news – only some of these medications seem to be associated with an elevated risk.

The research is based on more than 44,000 patients in Britain who were prescribed epilepsy drugs from 1989 to 2005. During that time, 453 patients harmed themselves or attempted suicide and 78 died at their own hands. By looking at which drugs the patients were taking, the researchers were able to estimate the level of suicide risk associated with the various medications.

The findings, published in the journal Neurology, reveal that the risk for self harm is primarily associated with some of the newer anti-epilespy drugs which were introduced in the 1990s. Anticonvulsant medications in this high-risk category include levetiracetam, topiramate and vigabatrin.

By contrast, some of the other new medications as well as the older anti-seizure drugs were not linked to depression or suicidal behaviour. This group included: lamotrigine, gabapentin, carbamazepine, valproate and phenytoin.

“These results may be helpful for doctors and patients with epilepsy as they decide which drugs to use,” the study's lead author, Frank Andersohn of Charité University Medical Center in Berlin, said in a statement.

However, the researchers point out that the some of the drugs were taken by a relatively small number of patients, so the results must be confirmed with additional studies. Furthermore, they warn that patients should not abruptly stop or change their epilepsy medication based on this one study and should discuss the issue with their physician. The risks of not taking drugs to control seizures is significantly greater than the potential risk of suicide, they said. （中国疼痛网本期编辑：西西）