Rheumatism News and Research

RSS

Rheumatism is a group of disorders marked by inflammation or pain in the connective tissue structures of the body. These structures include bone, cartilage, and fat.

Research findings link some autoimmune disorders with cancer

Patients with a certain type of scleroderma may get cancer and scleroderma simultaneously, Johns Hopkins researchers have found, suggesting that in some diseases, autoimmunity and cancer may be linked.

8 Jul 2010

Study implicates cytokine molecule IL-17 in low back pain associated with herniated discs

An immune cell known to cause chronic inflammation in autoimmune disorders has been identified as a possible culprit in low back pain associated with herniated discs, according to doctors at Duke University Medical Center.

29 Jun 2010

Cartilage loss plays a role in development of OA, study says

A recent study determined that bone area predicted the development of medial (inner side) and lateral (outer side) knee cartilage damage and loss of medial cartilage volume. Subchondral bone mineral density (BMD) was associated with medial defect development but not cartilage loss. Researchers believe subchondral bone changes and loss of cartilage contribute to the development of osteoarthritis (OA).

28 Jun 2010

Additional results from BLISS-76 Phase 3 trial of BENLYSTA presented at International Congress on SLE

Human Genome Sciences, Inc. today announced the presentation of additional results from BLISS-76, one of two pivotal Phase 3 trials of BENLYSTA (belimumab) in seropositive patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. The additional data will be presented in Vancouver at the 9th International Congress on Systemic Lupus Erythematosus on Friday and Saturday, June 25-26.

28 Jun 2010

Researchers uncover association between free radical-mediated reactions and progression of SLE

University of Texas Medical Branch researchers have uncovered an association between free radical-mediated reactions and the severity and progression of system lupus erythematosus. Higher levels of oxidative and nitrosative stress markers were found in SLE patients with greater disease activity suggesting a causal relationship. Full findings of the study are available in the July issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American College of Rheumatology.

25 Jun 2010

Nuon study confirms potential utility of tranilast as uricosuric agent

Nuon Therapeutics, Inc., a privately held, clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, announced that results from clinical and preclinical studies demonstrating the ability of tranilast to reduce serum uric acid levels and monosodium urate crystal-induced inflammation - two important risk factors for gout - were presented at The European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) 2010 Annual European Congress of Rheumatology in Rome, Italy, June 16-19, 2010.

22 Jun 2010

Phase IIb EMBLEM study results of epratuzumab in patients with SLE presented at EULAR 2010

Immunomedics Inc. today announced that clinical trial results from the Phase IIb EMBLEM study of epratuzumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting CD22, in patients with moderate-severe systemic lupus erythematosus were presented at the 2010 annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism in Rome, Italy.

21 Jun 2010

Achieving remission in patients lessens burden of RA on societies with aging populations: Study

Achieving disease remission in patients with rheumatoid arthritis provides superior outcomes across measures of socio-economic importance including work productivity and quality of life according to results presented today at EULAR 2010, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism in Rome, Italy. These Austrian findings are reported in addition to improvements in measures of physical functioning, when compared with RA patients achieving low disease activity.

21 Jun 2010

Too much tea raises the risk of rheumatoid arthritis: Study

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) a severely debilitating inflammatory disease of the joints is on the rise worldwide. It leads to severe pain, stiffness, swelling and loss of movement of joints like knees, wrist and even fingers. RA affects women more than men. RA occurs in people who develop a rogue immune system that attacks the tissue that lines the joint cavities called the synovium leading to degeneration of the joints and the symptoms of the disease. In 1995 36.4 per 100,000 women were diagnosed with RA whereas in 2005 the number rose to 54 per 100,000 women.

20 Jun 2010

Disparity between rich, poor countries in access to biological treatments for RA

There is significant disparity between 'richer' and 'poorer' countries in terms of access to biological treatments for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to results from a multinational study across four continents presented today at EULAR 2010, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism in Rome, Italy. Furthermore, findings from a separate study show that RA patients report the severity of their disease in the same way, irrespective of the country where they live.

19 Jun 2010

Incidence of blood based deficiencies is strong predictor of poor outcome in pSS patients: Study

For healthcare professionals diagnosing primary Sj-gren's Syndrome (pSS, an autoimmune disorder in which immune cells attack and destroy moisture-producing glands), the incidence of blood based deficiencies is the strongest predictor of a poor outcome in patients according to the results of a study presented today at EULAR 2010, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism in Rome, Italy.

19 Jun 2010

Additional positive data from Ardea Biosciences' RDEA594 Phase 2 program presented at EULAR

Ardea Biosciences, Inc. announced that additional positive data from its Phase 2 program for RDEA594, its lead product candidate for the treatment of hyperuricemia and gout, are being presented at the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology hosted by the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) in Rome, Italy. RDEA594, a first-in-class selective inhibitor of the URAT1 transporter, treats the underlying cause of gout by increasing the excretion of uric acid in order to bring the body's levels of uric acid into a normal range.

18 Jun 2010

SLE and RA negatively affect patients' emotional relationships, sex lives: Study

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus patients from Brazil and Rheumatoid Arthritis patients from France report that their rheumatic conditions negatively affect their emotional relationships and sex lives, according to research presented today at EULAR 2010, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism in Rome, Italy.

18 Jun 2010

Recommended supplementation not sufficient to normalise vitamin D levels in RA patients: Study

Two separate studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency is common in patients with a range of rheumatic diseases, with over half of all patients having below the 'normal' healthy levels of vitamin D (48-145 nmol/L) in their bodies. A further study assessing response to vitamin D supplementation found that taking the recommended daily dose did not normalise vitamin D levels in rheumatic disease patients.

18 Jun 2010

Risk of MI increases six-fold in young women with RA: Study

Rheumatoid Arthritis patients face a two-fold increased risk of suffering a Myocardial Infarction (MI, heart attack) versus the general population, which is comparable to the increased risk of MI seen in diabetes patients, according to results of a new study presented today at EULAR 2010, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism in Rome, Italy.

18 Jun 2010

Additional results from BLISS-52 Phase 3 trial of BENLYSTA for SLE to be presented at EULAR 2010

Human Genome Sciences, Inc. and GlaxoSmithKline PLC today announced the presentation of additional results from BLISS-52, one of two pivotal Phase 3 trials of BENLYSTA (belimumab) in seropositive patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. The additional data will be presented in Rome at the 2010 Congress of the European League against Rheumatism on Saturday, June 19.

18 Jun 2010

Expression of BCRP in RA patients may indicate higher disease activity, predict resistance to DMARDs

The expression of a transporter protein called the Breast Cancer Resistance Protein in rheumatoid arthritis patients may indicate higher disease activity and could be a barrier to the effectiveness of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, according to the results of a study presented today at EULAR 2010, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism in Rome, Italy.

18 Jun 2010

Interim epidemiological information on SLE patients in China presented at EULAR 2010

The Chinese Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Treatment and Research Group (CSTAR) announced interim epidemiological information on SLE patients in China today at EULAR 2010, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism in Rome, Italy. Robust data on SLE patients has been scarce to date; but now CSTAR provides the first online registry of this magnitude in China. To date the registry has collated data from 2,104 SLE patients across 30 Chinese provinces.

18 Jun 2010

Smoking cigarettes may influence RA disease progression: Study

Smoking cigarettes is a significant risk factor for developing rheumatoid arthritis and may have a negative impact on the effectiveness of anti-tumour necrosis factor inhibitors in RA patients taking these treatments, according to results of two studies presented today at EULAR 2010, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism in Rome, Italy.

18 Jun 2010

Study validates NT-proBNP as strong indicator for cardiovascular risk in arthritis patients

The role of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP, a protein thought to be a regulator of cardiovascular function) as a robust, non-invasive predictor of cardiovascular (CV) risk in patients with arthritis taking cyclooxygenase inhibitors has been reinforced by the results of a multinational study presented today at EULAR 2010, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism in Rome, Italy.

18 Jun 2010

Rheumatism News and Research

Further Reading

Research findings link some autoimmune disorders with cancer

Study implicates cytokine molecule IL-17 in low back pain associated with herniated discs

Cartilage loss plays a role in development of OA, study says

Additional results from BLISS-76 Phase 3 trial of BENLYSTA presented at International Congress on SLE

Researchers uncover association between free radical-mediated reactions and progression of SLE

Nuon study confirms potential utility of tranilast as uricosuric agent

Phase IIb EMBLEM study results of epratuzumab in patients with SLE presented at EULAR 2010

Achieving remission in patients lessens burden of RA on societies with aging populations: Study

Too much tea raises the risk of rheumatoid arthritis: Study

Disparity between rich, poor countries in access to biological treatments for RA

Incidence of blood based deficiencies is strong predictor of poor outcome in pSS patients: Study

Additional positive data from Ardea Biosciences' RDEA594 Phase 2 program presented at EULAR

SLE and RA negatively affect patients' emotional relationships, sex lives: Study

Recommended supplementation not sufficient to normalise vitamin D levels in RA patients: Study

Risk of MI increases six-fold in young women with RA: Study

Additional results from BLISS-52 Phase 3 trial of BENLYSTA for SLE to be presented at EULAR 2010

Expression of BCRP in RA patients may indicate higher disease activity, predict resistance to DMARDs

Interim epidemiological information on SLE patients in China presented at EULAR 2010

Smoking cigarettes may influence RA disease progression: Study

Study validates NT-proBNP as strong indicator for cardiovascular risk in arthritis patients

Sensing a Healthier Future

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Latest News