Arthritis & Rheumatology News and Research

Latest Arthritis & Rheumatology News and Research

Scientists uncover new role for TLR4 in development of tissue fibrosis or scarring

An international multi-disciplinary research team led by Northwestern Medicine scientists has uncovered a new role for the protein toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in the development of tissue fibrosis, or scarring.

21 Nov 2012

Generic scale compares manual ability across diagnoses

Researchers have developed a generic manual ability scale unbiased by diagnosis that could allow quantitative comparisons of manual ability between diagnostic groups.

20 Nov 2012

Treatment-related heart failure risk for rheumatoid arthritis patients revealed

Rheumatoid arthritis patients have no greater risk for heart failure with tumor necrosis factor-alpha therapy than with nonbiologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, research suggests.

19 Nov 2012

Texting service helps patients reduce their blood pressure

A simple telehealth intervention could be an effective way to reduce blood pressure in patients, research suggests.

19 Nov 2012

Two equally effective TNF inhibitors in rheumatoid arthritis

Adalimumab and etanercept are equally effective as tumor necrosis factor inhibitors in the treatment of patients with active rheumatoid arthritis, report researchers.

19 Nov 2012

MusculoskeletalNetwork features special coverage of sessions from ACR annual meeting

UBM Medica US announces that MusculoskeletalNetwork features special coverage of sessions from the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), including the latest information about new FDA processes for approval of biosimilars that are like generic versions of expensive medications now used to treat painful rheumatologic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

17 Nov 2012

Caterpillar fungi may benefit asthma patients

Research shows that cordycepin, extracted from a group of rare parasitic caterpillar fungi of the genus Cordyceps, has unusual anti-inflammatory properties that may make it a good candidate for treating conditions such as asthma and rheumatoid arthritis.

16 Nov 2012

First HSS medical symposium to take place in Rio de Janeiro from Nov. 28-29

The first medical symposium in Brazil presented by Hospitalys Ortopedia in Rio de Janeiro and New York City's Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) will take place November 28 and 29 in Rio de Janeiro.

16 Nov 2012

Peak interest in health issues comes at about age 51 for baby boomers

For baby boomers, the peak interest in health issues comes at about age 51, with a second peak coming near age 65, according to a new study.

16 Nov 2012

Tanshinones protect against sepsis: Study

Researchers at The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research have discovered that tanshinones, which come from the plant Danshen and are highly valued in Chinese traditional medicine, protect against the life-threatening condition sepsis. The findings are published in the December issue of Biochemical Pharmacology.

16 Nov 2012

Genetic link between rheumatoid arthritis and the X chromosome

Researchers have pieced together new genetic clues to the arthritis puzzle in a study that brings potential treatments closer to reality and could also provide insights into why more women than men succumb to the disabling condition.

15 Nov 2012

Feinstein seeks NDA approval for Fluorodopa F 18 PET scan to diagnose parkinsonian syndromes

The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research announced today the submission of a New Drug Application to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the Fluorodopa F 18 positron emission tomography (PET) scan used to diagnose parkinsonian syndromes.

15 Nov 2012

Female athletes more likely to suffer serious ACL knee injuries than males

Female athletes are far more likely than males to suffer serious ACL knee injuries.

15 Nov 2012

Exposure to uranium may increase lupus rates

People living near a former uranium ore processing facility in Ohio are experiencing a higher than average rate of lupus, according a new study conducted by scientists at the University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.

14 Nov 2012

Neuroticism can be good for health under certain circumstances

Under certain circumstances neuroticism can be good for your health, according to a University of Rochester Medical Center study showing that some self-described neurotics also tended to have the lowest levels of Interleukin 6 (IL-6), a biomarker for inflammation and chronic disease.

14 Nov 2012

TRILOGY-ACS platelet function substudy results revealed

The platelet function substudy of the TRILOGY-ACS trial shows that there is no significant difference between prasugrel and clopidogrel in cardiovascular mortality, myocardial infarction, or stroke outcomes.

12 Nov 2012

Gout diagnosis possible for rheumatoid arthritis patients

Rheumatoid arthritis patients can develop gout, say researchers who believe changes in treatment and obesity may explain why the comorbidity is now occurring.

12 Nov 2012

Calcium intake does not increase risk of coronary artery calcification

Researchers at the Institute for Aging Research (IFAR) at Hebrew SeniorLife, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School (HMS), have published a study that shows no evidence of a link between calcium intake and coronary artery calcification, reassuring adults who take calcium supplements for bone health that the supplements do not appear to result in the development of calcification of blood vessels.

8 Nov 2012

Treatment with AMG 145 reduces LDL cholesterol

Amgen today announced that results from the LAPLACE-TIMI 57 and MENDEL Phase 2 studies evaluating AMG 145 in hypercholesterolemic patients with or without statins, respectively, showed that treatment with AMG 145 resulted in a statistically significant reduction in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.

7 Nov 2012

Lexicon announces data from LX4211 Phase 2b trial on type 2 diabetes

Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that data from the Phase 2b clinical trial of LX4211 are being presented today as a Clinical Sciences Special Report in the Emerging Therapeutics for Diabetes and Dyslipidemia section of the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions Conference held in Los Angeles, California.

7 Nov 2012