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.

Study predicted cardiovascular risk of Cox-2 inhibitors

Amid the recent controversy and confusion over serious side effects from pain medications, a new UCLA and Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System study demonstrates that for arthritis sufferers at high risk for gastrointestinal problems who traditionally may have used a drug like Vioxx, the most cost-effective and safest treatment is actually a common painkiller combined with an acid-reducing drug.

11 Apr 2005

Experts call for improved access to treatment for psoriatic arthritis

MPs gathered at the House of Commons on Tuesday (April 5th) as experts and patient groups urged members of parliament to lobby for improved access to treatment for patients with psoriatic arthritis, a little known and poorly understood condition in which patients experience symptoms of both psoriasis and arthritis.

6 Apr 2005

Important that menopause not viewed as a disease

An independent panel convened last week by the National Institutes of Health found that many women move through the menopausal transition with few disabling symptoms, and that it is important that menopause not be viewed as a disease.

28 Mar 2005

Inflammation is a strong risk factor for cardiovascular disease among rheumatoid arthritis patients

Mayo Clinic epidemiologists have found that the systemic inflammation characterizing rheumatoid arthritis may be to blame for the increased risk of cardiovascular death in patients with the disease.

3 Mar 2005

Measuring hyaluronan in joints and fluid that lubricates cartilage might enable doctors to diagnose osteoarthritis more accurately

Measuring a biological chemical called hyaluronan found naturally in joints and the fluid that lubricates cartilage might enable doctors to diagnose osteoarthritis of the knee and hip earlier or more accurately, a new study concludes.

27 Feb 2005

People with rheumatoid arthritis have more silent, unrecognized heart attacks and sudden cardiac deaths

People with rheumatoid arthritis not only have a higher risk of coronary heart disease than those in the general population, but they have more silent, unrecognized heart attacks and sudden cardiac deaths, according to a Mayo Clinic study published in the February issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism.

3 Feb 2005

Promising new evidence for the optimal use of biologic therapies for rheumatoid arthritis

A major cause of pain and disability, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is also potentially the most treatable form of chronic arthritis. Researchers, doctors, and patients agree that a group of drugs called disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) can effectively reduce joint pain and stiffness.

7 Jan 2005

Red meat consumption is an independent risk factor in the development of inflammatory arthritis

A chronic inflammatory disease of the immune system, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been linked to a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

2 Dec 2004

Topical cream alternative to Vioxx

A clinical study recently published in The Journal of Rheumatology concludes that a topical cream consisting of a blend of natural oils called cetylated fatty acids significantly increased range of motion and physical performance in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee with no reported side effects.

24 Nov 2004

Researchers find effective treatment for Unusual Fever Syndrome caused by cold exposure

Remember when Grandma used to say, "don’t go out in the cold; you’ll get sick”? It turns out that she was right for a small number of people who have a condition called familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome (FCAS)

16 Nov 2004

Research opens up new avenues to diagnosis and treat Lyme disease

Researchers at Yale School of Medicine have identified a Lyme disease receptor called TROSPA that is used by disease agents to invade ticks.

14 Nov 2004

Major bone trial to test high dose corticosteroid steroid tablets

Researchers in Aberdeen are about to launch a major multi-centre clinical trial to test whether a new drug could prevent bone thinning in adults taking moderate to high dose corticosteroid "steroid" tablets, such as prednisolone.

8 Nov 2004

Remicade (infliximab) is able to reverse the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis

A new study published today in Arthritis & Rheumatism demonstrates that Remicade (infliximab) is able to reverse the symptoms of the debilitating disease rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in patients who are newly diagnosed.

5 Nov 2004

Study clearly showed the benefit of weight loss in terms of pain, function and quality of life

Over 18 months, researchers at University Hospitals of Cleveland and Case Western Reserve University studied the frequency and prevalence of musculoskeletal (MSK) complaints in obese patients before and after undergoing gastric bypass surgery.

21 Oct 2004

Cymbalta significantly reduced pain in more than half of women treated for fibromyalgia, with and without major depression

The antidepressant Cymbalta (duloxetine HCl), a dual-reuptake inhibitor of serotonin and norepinephrine, 60 mg once or twice daily, significantly reduced pain in more than half of women treated for fibromyalgia, with and without major depression, according to 12-week data presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology.

18 Oct 2004

Investigational drug for pulmonary hypertension may improve the quality of life for patients with scleroderma and lupus

An investigational new drug for pulmonary hypertension may improve the quality of life for thousands of patients with scleroderma, lupus, and other associated connective tissue diseases, according to research presented this week at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in San Antonio, Texas.

18 Oct 2004

Study underscores the relative safety of infliximab, when used properly

Rheumatoid arthritis patients receiving the recommended starting dose (3mg/kg) of infliximab (REMICADE®) have no more serious rate of infections than do patients taking methotrexate alone

18 Oct 2004

Mycophenolate mofetil is effective for managing symptoms of the most common type of lupus

Mayo Clinic investigators have found that the medication mycophenolate mofetil is effective for managing symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the most common type of lupus, for patients whose SLE does not affect the kidneys.

18 Oct 2004

New treatment antibody - AMG 162 - may help prevent osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis

A novel treatment administered semiannually to postmenopausal women with low bone density appears to rapidly inhibit the bone resorption process, resulting in improvements in bone mineral density at 12 months

18 Oct 2004

$Strontium ranelate may reduce spinal, non-spinal, hip and other fractures in older women with osteoporosis$

Strontium ranelate may reduce spinal, non-spinal, hip and other fractures in older women with osteoporosis

Strontium ranelate, a new oral medication on the horizon, may reduce spinal, non-spinal, hip and other fractures in older women with osteoporosis, according to research presented this week at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in San Antonio, Texas.

18 Oct 2004

Rheumatology News and Research

Further Reading

Study predicted cardiovascular risk of Cox-2 inhibitors

Experts call for improved access to treatment for psoriatic arthritis

Important that menopause not viewed as a disease

Inflammation is a strong risk factor for cardiovascular disease among rheumatoid arthritis patients

Measuring hyaluronan in joints and fluid that lubricates cartilage might enable doctors to diagnose osteoarthritis more accurately

People with rheumatoid arthritis have more silent, unrecognized heart attacks and sudden cardiac deaths

Promising new evidence for the optimal use of biologic therapies for rheumatoid arthritis

Red meat consumption is an independent risk factor in the development of inflammatory arthritis

Topical cream alternative to Vioxx

Researchers find effective treatment for Unusual Fever Syndrome caused by cold exposure

Research opens up new avenues to diagnosis and treat Lyme disease

Major bone trial to test high dose corticosteroid steroid tablets

Remicade (infliximab) is able to reverse the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis

Study clearly showed the benefit of weight loss in terms of pain, function and quality of life

Cymbalta significantly reduced pain in more than half of women treated for fibromyalgia, with and without major depression

Investigational drug for pulmonary hypertension may improve the quality of life for patients with scleroderma and lupus

Study underscores the relative safety of infliximab, when used properly

Mycophenolate mofetil is effective for managing symptoms of the most common type of lupus

New treatment antibody - AMG 162 - may help prevent osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis

Strontium ranelate may reduce spinal, non-spinal, hip and other fractures in older women with osteoporosis

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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