Rheumatology News and Research

RSS

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.

Elevated cytokine levels are early indicator of rheumatoid arthritis

Researchers from University Hospital in Umea, Sweden, have identified several cytokines, cytokine-related factors, and chemokines that increase significantly prior to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease onset. These findings confirm those of earlier studies which suggest that the risk of developing RA can be predicted and disease progression may be prevented.

28 Jan 2010

Investigators identify new disease mechanism and therapeutic approach for lupus kidney disease

Investigators have identified a new disease mechanism and therapeutic approach for a type of advanced kidney disease that is a common cause of complications in patients with lupus. The

27 Jan 2010

New report describes state of lupus research, impact of disease and barriers to care

A major report on lupus from the Secretary of Health and Human Services to the U.S. Congress this week reviews the state of the disease and documents the need for a comprehensive national provider health education program to help eliminate the barriers of racial disparities in the early medical diagnosis and treatment of lupus.

23 Jan 2010

MACI/ACI therapies could prevent total joint replacement in OA patients

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the ten most disabling diseases in the developed world and is set to become more of a financial burden on health services as average life expectancy increases.

23 Jan 2010

Natural grass/cleat combination lowers strain and less likely to cause ACL injury

Athletes put less strain on their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) while making a cut on a natural grass surface while wearing a cleat.

21 Jan 2010

Hospital for Special Surgery helps Haiti victims

A team of anesthesiologists, nurses and orthopedic trauma surgeons from Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan headed for Haiti on Friday and have been performing surgery and tending to those impacted by the earthquake ever since.

20 Jan 2010

HGS reports commercialization of late-stage products for systemic lupus and chronic hepatitis C

Human Genome Sciences, Inc. today will announce its priority goals for 2010 and report on the Company’s increasing momentum toward commercialization of late-stage products for systemic lupus and chronic hepatitis C in a presentation by H. Thomas Watkins, President and Chief Executive Officer, to financial analysts and investors at the 28th Annual JPMorgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco.

12 Jan 2010

Pfizer commences SBI-087 Phase 2 clinical trial for RA

Trubion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that its collaboration partner, Pfizer, has initiated a Phase 2 clinical trial of SBI-087 (PF-05230895) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). SBI-087 is a next-generation, humanized Small Modular ImmunoPharmaceutical (SMIP(TM)) protein therapeutic directed against the CD20 antigen. SBI-087 is also being evaluated in Phase 1 clinical trials for RA and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

12 Jan 2010

Vertex Pharmaceuticals plans proof-of-concept clinical trials in RA and epilepsy

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated today provided an update on key 2010 business priorities in conjunction with the 28th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco. The company also discussed recent progress in its lead development programs in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and cystic fibrosis (CF) and outlined proof-of-concept clinical trials planned in other serious diseases for 2010.

11 Jan 2010

New breakthroughs in AS genome-wide association study

Work done in part by researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston has led to the discovery of two new genes that are implicated in ankylosing spondylitis (AS), an inflammatory and potentially disabling disease. In addition, the international research team pinpointed two areas along stretches of DNA that play an important role in regulating gene activity associated with the arthritic condition.

10 Jan 2010

Selection of therapeutic workshops to be presented at the Twelfth Annual BIO CEO & Investor Conference

“This year’s BIO CEO & Investor Conference will provide a unique forum to showcase therapeutic areas with key catalysts – from new and dynamic therapies to cutting edge investment opportunities,” said Alan Eisenberg, executive vice president of Emerging Companies & Business Development at BIO.

9 Jan 2010

Jiangsu Government grants $1.8M for research and development of hUC-MSC technologies

The Jiangsu Government's Science and Technology Department has announced a $1.8 million grant - the Jiangsu Technological Achievements Transformational Grant - to support the research and development of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell (hUC-MSC) technologies. The grant recipient and administrator, Shenzhen Beike Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (http://www.beikebiotech.com ), is working with Jiangsu University and Nanjing University's Drum Tower Hospital to fulfill the grant's requirements.

9 Jan 2010

Genentech's ACTEMRA approved to treat RA

Genentech, Inc., a wholly owned member of the Roche Group, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved ACTEMRA® (tocilizumab) for the treatment of adult patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who have had an inadequate response to one or more tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonist therapies.

8 Jan 2010

Scientists and clinicians address diagnosis and treatment for autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases

Autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases are a major health issue. The National Institutes of Health reports that up to 23.5 million Americans are afflicted. The American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association reports the number is closer to 50 million. Scientists and clinicians at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston can address the diagnosis and treatment of these conditions, as well as the latest advances in research.

8 Jan 2010

Rituximab treatment reduces patients' response to pneumonia vaccine

Researchers from Johns Hopkins University determined that immune responses to the tetanus vaccine were not changed when rituximab in combination with methotrexate (MTX) was compared with MTX alone in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

7 Jan 2010

Flu vaccine safe but ineffective for RA patients treated with rituximab

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients are partially protected by the influenza vaccine 6-10 months after treatment with rituximab. Researchers determined that while the flu vaccine is safe, it is ineffective for RA patients in the first 6 months following rituximab treatment.

7 Jan 2010

Study finds self-management alone may effectively treat knee osteoarthritis

Researchers participating in the Multidimensional Intervention for Early Osteoarthritis of the Knee (Knee Study) determined that physically inactive, middle-aged people with symptomatic osteoarthritis benefitted equally from strength training regimens, self-management programs, or a combination of the two. Details of this study are available in the January 2010 issue of Arthritis Care & Research, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American College of Rheumatology.

6 Jan 2010

BioPlex 2200 Anti-CCP test for early detection of RA launched

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., a multinational manufacturer and distributor of life science research and clinical diagnostics products, and Axis-Shield plc, an international in-vitro diagnostics (IVD) company, today announced the launch of Bio-Rad's BioPlex® 2200 Anti-CCP test for the early detection of rheumatoid arthritis.

5 Jan 2010

Changes needed in orthopedic training programs, but restrictions and generational differences compromise learning experience

Changes are needed in the programs that train orthopedic surgeons to ensure these doctors are adequately trained, according to a study by researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York City.