Around 100 trillion insects fly in the skies above the USA on a summer's day, according to estimates by researchers from the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL) and the USA. Using weather radar, they have for the first time estimated the number of flying insects above the contiguous US.

Around 100 trillion insects fly in the skies above the USA on a summer's day, according to estimates by researchers from the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL) and the USA. Using weather radar, they have for the first time estimated the number of flying insects above the contiguous US.

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a debilitating, chronic syndrome that causes sudden, severe, electric shock-like pain in the face. While TN isn’t life-threatening, it can severely alter quality of life and disrupt everyday activities, such as talking, chewing and smiling by triggering intense bouts of pain. The condition occurs when a blood vessel puts pressure on the trigeminal nerve near the brainstem, which provides sensation to the face and head.

Several types of treatments, surgically and through medications, can help manage symptoms, but it is typically a long-term condition. Many patients do not see results with medications alone and require some sort of surgical treatment.

University Hospitals is the first health system in the world to offer a new type of minimally-invasive treatment with the OneRF® Trigeminal Nerve Ablation System. The two initial patients, successfully treated this month, reported pain relief from the procedure without complications.