Rheumatology News and Research

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Rheumatology is a sub-specialty in internal medicine and pediatrics, devoted to the diagnosis and therapy of rheumatic diseases. Rheumatologists mainly deal with clinical problems involving joints, soft tissues and allied conditions of connective tissues.

Gene causing periodontitis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis identified

Investigators at Hospital for Special Surgery, collaborating with researchers from other institutions, have contributed to the discovery that a gene called interferon regulator factor-8 (IRF-8) is involved in the development of diseases such as periodontitis (gum disease), rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. The study, which will be published online August 30, ahead of print, in the journal Nature Medicine, could lead to new treatments in the future.

2 Sep 2009

Polymyositis and dermatomyositis affected patients more prone to cardiovascular diseases

Patients suffering from two serious autoimmune disorders which cause muscular inflammation are at increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, says a group of Montreal researchers. Dr. Christian A. Pineau and his team at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) have linked muscular inflammation to increased cardiovascular risk for the first time.

2 Sep 2009

Study reveals that downregulation of IRF-8 gene causes gum diseases, arthritis and osteoporosis

31 Aug 2009

U.S. FDA agrees to the study design for cardiovascular outcomes trial of alogliptin

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited ("Takeda") and Takeda Global Research & Development Center, Inc., a wholly owned United States (U.S.) subsidiary, today jointly announced that the latter has received notification that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has agreed to the study design for a cardiovascular (CV) outcomes trial titled EXAMINE (EXamination of CArdiovascular OutcoMes: AlogliptIN vs. Standard of CarE in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Acute Coronary Syndrome) for alogliptin, a selective dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitor under investigation for the treatment of type 2 diabetes as an adjunct to diet and exercise.

28 Aug 2009

Clinical data added to ORENCIA labeling help treat patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company announced today that clinical data added to the labeling for ORENCIA (abatacept) support use of ORENCIA for patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis of less than or equal to two years duration.

27 Aug 2009

Significant drop in prevalence of rheumatoid vasculitis between 2000 and 2001

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health examined records of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients from the national Veterans Health Administration (VHA) system to determine the prevalence of rheumatoid vasculitis (RV) in this population. The study found a downward trend in the number of RA patients who go on to develop RV, with a significant drop of 53% among inpatients and 31% among outpatients between 2000 and 2001.

27 Aug 2009

Collagen deficiency in mice causes premature development of osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease

Osteoarthritis (OA) and degenerative disc disease (DDD) are common, chronic musculoskeletal disorders. Both diseases cause joint pain, loss of function, and decreased quality of life for the more than 27 million OA and 59 million DDD suffers in the US. According to a 2003 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, arthritis such as OA costs the U.S. economy nearly $128 billion per year in medical care and indirect expenses including lost wages and productivity.

27 Aug 2009

Takeda Canada reacquires commercial rights for an oral type 2 diabetic treatment drug

Takeda Canada, Inc. announced that it has reacquired the Canadian commercial rights to ACTOS(R) (pioglitazone HCl), an oral treatment for type 2 diabetes, from Eli Lilly Canada Inc. Takeda, the discoverer of ACTOS, licensed the drug to Lilly as part of a worldwide agreement in 1999.

21 Aug 2009

Marijuana/Cannabis may protect against osteoporosis

Scientists investigating the effects of cannabis on bone health have found that its impact varies dramatically with age.

13 Aug 2009

Biospecifics Technologies reports Q2 2009 financials

BioSpecifics Technologies Corp. (Nasdaq: BSTC), a biopharmaceutical company developing first in class collagenase-based products, today announced its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2009.

12 Aug 2009

Traditional Chinese acupuncture affects the brain's long-term ability to regulate pain

Acupuncture has been used in East-Asian medicine for thousands of years to treat pain, possibly by activating the body's natural painkillers. But how it works at the cellular level is largely unknown.

10 Aug 2009

Association of Specialty Professors announces the 2009 T. Franklin Williams scholars

The Association of Specialty Professors (ASP) is pleased to announce the eighth class of T. Franklin Williams Scholars. These scholars are recipients of two- to four-year career development awards funded by a generous grant from the Atlantic Philanthropies (USA) Inc. and the John A. Hartford Foundation, and co-sponsored by 12 internal medicine specialty societies.

10 Aug 2009

Depression and inflammation linked to rheumatoid arthritis pain

Researchers at Nagoya City University and Nagoya University Graduate Schools of Medicine in Japan studied the interrelationship between levels of depression symptoms, C-reactive protein (CRP) level, and pain, confirming a significant positive association between depressive symptoms and CRP level in RA.

4 Aug 2009

Early inflammatory signs of osteoarthritis

Researchers at The University of Nottingham are hoping to find out if inflammation of the knee could be an early sign of osteoarthritis - a condition which leads to pain, stiffness, swelling and disability.

23 Jul 2009

FDA approves Onsolis pain reliever for cancer patients

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Onsolis, medication intended for certain patients with cancer to help manage breakthrough pain – severe flares of pain that break through regular pain medication.

16 Jul 2009

Research pinpoints antibodies that may prevent Alzheimer's

Antibodies to a wide range of substances that can aggregate to form plaques, such as those found in Alzheimer's patients, have been identified in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid of healthy people. Levels of these antibodies decline with age and, in Alzheimer's patients, with increasing progression of the disease.

6 Jul 2009

Discovery of new trigger for chronic inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis

A signal molecule made by the human body that triggers the immune system into action may be important in rheumatoid arthritis, according to new research published today in Nature Medicine. The authors of the study, from Imperial College London, say that if scientists could block this signal, it may be possible to develop more effective arthritis treatments.

29 Jun 2009

Gene expression differences could bring better classification and treatment of juvenile arthritis

Scientists have discovered gene expression differences that could lead to better ways to classify, predict outcome, and treat juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Eventually such findings could enable doctors to target more aggressive treatment to children at risk of more severe arthritis, while those likely to have milder disease could be spared the stronger treatments that carry a greater risk of side effects. The researchers were supported by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), a part of the National Institutes of Health.

29 Jun 2009

Golimumab shows promise for rheumatoid arthritis

Golimumab, a new tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) inhibitor reduces the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis in patients who have previously received any other TNF-α inhibitor, and might be a good option for patients who have inadequate responses to one or two other TNF-α inhibitors, finds an Article published Online first and in this week's edition of The Lancet.

28 Jun 2009

FDA approves injectable Ibuprofen

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Caldolor, the first injectable dosage form of the common pain medication ibuprofen, to treat pain and fever.

11 Jun 2009

Rheumatology News and Research

Further Reading

Gene causing periodontitis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis identified

Polymyositis and dermatomyositis affected patients more prone to cardiovascular diseases

Study reveals that downregulation of IRF-8 gene causes gum diseases, arthritis and osteoporosis

U.S. FDA agrees to the study design for cardiovascular outcomes trial of alogliptin

Clinical data added to ORENCIA labeling help treat patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Significant drop in prevalence of rheumatoid vasculitis between 2000 and 2001

Collagen deficiency in mice causes premature development of osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease

Takeda Canada reacquires commercial rights for an oral type 2 diabetic treatment drug

Marijuana/Cannabis may protect against osteoporosis

Biospecifics Technologies reports Q2 2009 financials

Traditional Chinese acupuncture affects the brain's long-term ability to regulate pain

Association of Specialty Professors announces the 2009 T. Franklin Williams scholars

Depression and inflammation linked to rheumatoid arthritis pain

Early inflammatory signs of osteoarthritis

FDA approves Onsolis pain reliever for cancer patients

Research pinpoints antibodies that may prevent Alzheimer's

Discovery of new trigger for chronic inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis

Gene expression differences could bring better classification and treatment of juvenile arthritis

Golimumab shows promise for rheumatoid arthritis

FDA approves injectable Ibuprofen

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