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.

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

People who suffer arthritis also suffer double the amount of medical costs

The expenses for medical care for those with arthritis are at least double the amount spent by those without this debilitating disease, according to research presented this week at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in San Antonio, Texas.

18 Oct 2004

COX-2 agents have influenced the way physicians prescribe rheumatology medication

COX-2 agents, with their perceived reduction in side effects, have contributed substantially to a dramatic increase in NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) prescription utilization and influenced the way physicians prescribe rheumatology medication

18 Oct 2004

Pneumococcal vaccinations help protect patients with rheumatoid arthritis against serious pneumococcal infections of the lungs, brain, blood, and ears

Rheumatoid arthritis patients have an approximately two-fold increased morbidity and mortality in infections compared to a population without the disease.

18 Oct 2004

Researchers have discovered an effective new way to treat giant cell arteritis

Mayo Clinic researchers have discovered an effective new way to treat giant cell arteritis (GCA), a debilitating cause of headaches, fatigue, muscle pain and even blindness. The findings of this research will be presented at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting.

13 Oct 2004

Atheromatosis, which lies behind heart attacks, stroke, and other cardiovascular problems, has a major impact on public health

These two diseases are completely different from each other, but they do have one common denominator: inflammation. Researchers at Lund University in Sweden can now show that it might also be possible to treat them with the same drug.

10 Oct 2004

Shortage of pediatric rheumatologists often leads to improper diagnosis and treatment

More than 150,000 children in the United States are affected by rheumatic diseases such as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, dermatomyositis, scleroderma, and systemic vasculitis.

10 Oct 2004

Canadian Rheumatology Association issues statement on Vioxx alternatives

The Canadian Rheumatology Association (CRA) has issued a statement to its 350 members and other interested parties, recommending alternative treatment considerations in the wake of the worldwide recall of Merck's rofecoxib, (Vioxx(R)) last week.

7 Oct 2004

Cancer drug may reduce kidney disease in lupus

A drug that is already being tested as an anticancer agent, especially in lymphoma, may also reduce the kidney disease that is a result of systemic lupus, according to a researcher at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.

10 Sep 2004

Researchers study whether people’s genetic makeup could make them more likely to develop osteoarthritis of the knee and hip

Researchers at The University of Nottingham are studying whether people’s genetic makeup could make them more likely to develop osteoarthritis of the knee and hip — the most common medical condition to affect the joints.

3 Aug 2004

Women with a condition called vulvodynia process pain differently

The researchers tested 17 women with vulvodynia and 23 similar women without pain at 23 sites throughout the vulva and at the deltoid muscle, the shin and the thumbnail to assess pain tolerance. They found the women with vulvodynia had lower tolerance at all sites than the women without vulvodynia.

13 Jul 2004

New guidelines for pulmonary arterial hypertension caution the use of calcium channel blockers

A new evidence-based guideline for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) cautions the use of calcium channel blockers, a commonly used treatment for high blood pressure, in unstable patients due to the potentially fatal side effects associated with the medication.

13 Jul 2004

Best hospital in America

For the 14th consecutive year, The Johns Hopkins Hospital has topped U.S. News & World Report's rankings of American hospitals.

2 Jul 2004

Launch of the Jeffrey Modell Diagnostic Center for Primary Immunodeficiencies

Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA announced the launch of the Jeffrey Modell Diagnostic Center for Primary Immunodeficiencies at UCLA June 28.

29 Jun 2004

Mysterious disease that causes the body’s immune system to turn against itself

A mysterious disease that causes the body’s immune system to turn against itself also sends a warning signal to alert doctors of the onset of its worst symptoms, University of Florida physicians have found.

25 Jun 2004

New findings may help better understand how harmless viruses can cause severe disease among patients with weakened immune systems

When a major branch of the mouse immune system is disabled, a normally harmless virus can rapidly mutate into a lethal one, according to researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

17 Jun 2004

Results from study of Rituxan in rheumatoid arthritis show promise

Genentech, Inc., Biogen Idec and Roche have announced that the New England Journal of Medicine published the results of a Phase IIa study showing that two doses of Rituxan® (Rituximab), administered two weeks apart, improved symptoms in patients with moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for up to 48 weeks when combined with methotrexate (MTX), compared to MTX alone.

16 Jun 2004

Enbrel therapy allowed more rheumatoid arthritis patients to achieve clinical remission

New results from TEMPO (Trial of Etanercept and Methotrexate with Radiographic Patient Outcomes) demonstrated that Enbrel® (etanercept) therapy allowed significantly more rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients to achieve clinical remission at two years compared to patients treated with methotrexate alone.

11 Jun 2004

Remicade shows improvement in both the arthritis and psoriasis associated with psoriatic arthritis

In this trial, REMICADE provided a 70 percent improvement (as measured by ACR 70) in symptoms of arthritis in nearly one-third of patients, compared with only 2 percent of patients on placebo at 24 weeks.

10 Jun 2004

Vitamin C can increase the severity of spontaneous knee osteoarthritis

High doses of vitamin C increase the severity of spontaneous knee osteoarthritis in an animal model of the disease, according to a new study by Duke University Medical Center researchers.

5 Jun 2004

Rheumatology News and Research

Further Reading

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

People who suffer arthritis also suffer double the amount of medical costs

COX-2 agents have influenced the way physicians prescribe rheumatology medication

Pneumococcal vaccinations help protect patients with rheumatoid arthritis against serious pneumococcal infections of the lungs, brain, blood, and ears

Researchers have discovered an effective new way to treat giant cell arteritis

Atheromatosis, which lies behind heart attacks, stroke, and other cardiovascular problems, has a major impact on public health

Shortage of pediatric rheumatologists often leads to improper diagnosis and treatment

Canadian Rheumatology Association issues statement on Vioxx alternatives

Cancer drug may reduce kidney disease in lupus

Researchers study whether people’s genetic makeup could make them more likely to develop osteoarthritis of the knee and hip

Women with a condition called vulvodynia process pain differently

New guidelines for pulmonary arterial hypertension caution the use of calcium channel blockers

Best hospital in America

Launch of the Jeffrey Modell Diagnostic Center for Primary Immunodeficiencies

Mysterious disease that causes the body’s immune system to turn against itself

New findings may help better understand how harmless viruses can cause severe disease among patients with weakened immune systems

Results from study of Rituxan in rheumatoid arthritis show promise

Enbrel therapy allowed more rheumatoid arthritis patients to achieve clinical remission

Remicade shows improvement in both the arthritis and psoriasis associated with psoriatic arthritis

Vitamin C can increase the severity of spontaneous knee osteoarthritis

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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