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.

Rheumatoid arthritis significantly increases risk of death due to cardiovascular causes

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been associated with increased risk of death in the past, but a new study by investigators from Brigham and Women's Hospital brings that risk into sharper focus. Using data from the Nurses' Health Study, which has followed more than 100,000 female registered nurses since 1976, researchers found that rheumatoid arthritis significantly increased participants' overall risk of death, especially risk of death due to respiratory or cardiovascular causes.

3 Nov 2015

Coating implants with tissue plasminogen activator can prevent biofilm-related infections

Biofilms--mats of bacteria similar to the plaque that grows on teeth--frequently coat the surfaces of catheters, and of various medical implants and prostheses, where they can threaten lives or lead to failure of the implants. Antibiotics are impotent against biofilms.

31 Oct 2015

Mallinckrodt announces approval of INOmax for cardiovascular surgery in Australia and Japan

Mallinckrodt plc, a leading specialty biopharmaceutical company, today announced that INOmax (nitric oxide) for inhalation has received regulatory approval in Australia and Japan for pulmonary hypertension in conjunction with heart surgery.

30 Oct 2015

Some insurance plans of Affordable Care Act have no in-network physicians in key specialties

In a study of federal marketplace insurance plans, nearly 15 percent completely lacked in-network physicians for at least 1 specialty, a practice found among multiple states and issuers, raising concerns regarding patient access to specialty care, according to a study in the October 27 issue of JAMA.

28 Oct 2015

Novel modular partial wrist implant may provide relief for patients with painful wrist arthritis

Studies are underway to determine if a new modular partial wrist replacement will allow for better movement and last longer than traditional implants for people seeking relief from painful wrist arthritis. Although current options such as total wrist replacement and wrist fusion can alleviate pain, patients are often limited in performing certain activities after surgery.

26 Oct 2015

Biosimilars offer access to both established and new treatment options for inflammatory diseases

Drugs produced using biotechnology are among the most expensive medicines available. Biosimilars that offer a real alternative are becoming increasingly available on the market.

20 Oct 2015

Sleep apnea may increase gout risk

Sleep apnea may increase the risk of developing gout, a new study shows. Among 9865 patients with newly-diagnosed sleep apnea and 43,598 comparators of similar weight, investigators identified 270 new cases of gout over one year of follow-up, resulting in incidence rates of 8.4/1000 and 4.8/1000 person-years, respectively. The increased risk of gout was 60% higher among patients with sleep apnea.

20 Oct 2015

ImmunArray launches SLE-key Rule-Out test for lupus patients

Following a limited three-month trial period in which more than one hundred and fifty patients with lupus-like symptoms were tested for the difficult-to-diagnose disease, a new blood test for lupus is being rolled out nationally.

12 Oct 2015

Clinical study data on Mallinckrodt's H.P. Acthar Gel to be presented at ACR 2015

Mallinckrodt plc, a leading specialty biopharmaceutical company, today announced that data from a pilot study for its H.P. Acthar Gel (repository corticotropin injection) will be presented at the American College of Rheumatology 2015 Annual Meeting to be held November 7-11 in San Francisco.

8 Oct 2015

Immune system protein has potential to prevent onset of aggressive form of rheumatoid arthritis

Scientists have discovered what they believe has the potential to prevent the onset of an aggressive and hard-to-treat form of rheumatoid arthritis - a condition that affects 700,000 adults in the UK.

7 Oct 2015

Using well-worded warning texts could reduce DNAs, potentially save NHS £64 million

As many as 400,000 missed hospital appointments a year could be prevented simply by using well-worded warning texts, potentially saving the NHS £64 million.

30 Sep 2015

Study: Biomarkers in maternal blood may predict risk for adverse outcomes in pregnant women with SLE

Pregnant women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), are at higher risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preeclampsia, placental insufficiency, fetal death, miscarriages, and other complications.

29 Sep 2015

Edward-Elmhurst Health, UChicago Medicine agree to provide advanced care to children in west and southwest regions

Edward-Elmhurst Health and the University of Chicago Medicine have reached an agreement to expand access to advanced subspecialty care for infants and children in west and southwest suburban communities. The affiliation will bring nationally recognized UChicago Medicine Comer Children's Hospital experts across a dozen pediatric subspecialties to new outpatient clinics at Edward Hospital in Naperville and Elmhurst Hospital.

26 Sep 2015

ACR releases new recommendations for treatment of AS and non-radiographic axial SpA

The American College of Rheumatology has released new recommendations for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (SpA).

26 Sep 2015

AbbVie reports positive results from ABT-494 Phase 2 clinical trials in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

AbbVie, a global biopharmaceutical company, today announced results from two Phase 2 clinical trials evaluating its investigational selective JAK1 inhibitor, ABT-494, in patients with inadequate response to either methotrexate or TNF inhibitors.

25 Sep 2015

Yoga improves physical, mental wellbeing of people living with common forms of arthritis

A randomized trial of people with two common forms of arthritis has found that yoga can be safe and effective for people with arthritis. Johns Hopkins researchers report that 8 weeks of yoga classes improved the physical and mental wellbeing of people with two common forms of arthritis, knee osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

16 Sep 2015

Experts and researchers develop new classification criteria for gout

A panel of experts and researchers have developed a new classification system for gout, the most common form of inflammatory arthritis. This new system standardizes the classification of this condition using a variety of evidence-based criteria.

15 Sep 2015

ACR releases two new publications to improve treatment of polymyalgia rheumatica, gout

The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) has released two new publications - recommendations aimed at improving the treatment of patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), and new classification criteria for gout.

10 Sep 2015

AccentHealth launches new digital patient engagement platform

AccentHealth, the leader in patient education media at the point of care, announced today the launch of a new digital patient engagement platform, the AccentHealth Exam Room Tablet, as part of the industry's most comprehensive exam room program.