Osteoarthritis News and Research

Latest Osteoarthritis News and Research

New epigenetic path toward a cure for osteoarthritis

In what could be a breakthrough in the practical application of epigenetic science, U.K. scientists used human tissue samples to discover that those with osteoarthritis have a signature epigenetic change (DNA methylation) responsible for switching on and off a gene that produces a destructive enzyme called MMP13.

7 Jul 2012

Epigenetic changes due to methylation play a key role in altering genes in RA

It's not just our DNA that makes us susceptible to disease and influences its impact and outcome. Scientists are beginning to realize more and more that important changes in genes that are unrelated to changes in the DNA sequence itself - a field of study known as epigenetics - are equally influential.

4 Jul 2012

Osteoarthritis susceptibility: eight potential genes discovered

The largest genome-wide association study (GWAS) of osteoarthritis to date, published Online First in The Lancet, has uncovered eight new genetic variants or loci that appear to increase susceptibility to the most common form of arthritis, which affects about 40% of the world population older than 70 years. These findings bring the total number of osteoarthritis susceptibility genes isolated in European populations to 11.

3 Jul 2012

Current diagnosis and treatment approaches for rheumatoid arthritis

In the realm of deadly and disabling diseases, conditions such as cancer and Alzheimer's seem to attract the most media attention. But there are others that take a similarly high toll, and rheumatoid arthritis is one of them, Mayo Clinic researchers say. It is a common cause of disability: 1 of every 5 rheumatoid arthritis patients is unable to work two years after diagnosis, and within five years, that rises to one-third. Life expectancy drops by up to five years.

2 Jul 2012

Implantable sensor technology and cartilage scaffolding systems for bone and joint repair

A group of biomedical engineering researchers have cited recent advances in implantable sensor technology and cartilage scaffolding systems as major developments in the use of engineered cartilage for bone and joint repair.

27 Jun 2012

Flavocoxid liver damage reported

A prescription medical food used to treat osteoarthritis may induce reversible liver damage in some users, suggests research published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

25 Jun 2012

Birmingham hip resurfacing offers lowest mortality risk

Men with osteoarthritis who undergo Birmingham hip resurfacing have a lower risk for mortality than patients undergoing cemented or uncemented total hip arthroplasty, UK researchers reveal.

25 Jun 2012

Wraparound knee brace for osteoarthritis patients

Breg, Inc., a premier provider of sports medicine products and services, has introduced five new products, including a first-of-its-kind wraparound knee brace for osteoarthritis (OA) patients. New products also include two ankle braces designed to help prevent ankle injury, a cold therapy system with longer ice time, and an upgrade to Breg's inventory management system created specifically for the orthopedic office.

22 Jun 2012

Lead 8A analog can treat osteosarcoma in children

Jiayuh Lin, PhD, and colleagues at Nationwide Children's Hospital have developed a drug to target the most common cancerous bone tumor in children, osteosarcoma, using a version of the FDA-approved drug, Celebrex. The team will soon begin testing the drug using human and canine tumor cell lines thanks to a two-year, $200,000 grant from Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer.

22 Jun 2012

Biomimedica closes Series-B financing

Biomimedica, Incorporated, a medical device start-up company focused on the development and commercialization of its proprietary GRADION Total Cartilage Replacement technology, announced today that it has closed its Series-B financing, raising $11.9 million from a combination of new and existing investors, including conversion of approximately $2.8 million in bridge loans.

22 Jun 2012

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy safer than bariatric and metabolic surgery

Studies from Stanford University, Cleveland Clinic Florida and the Naval Medical Center in San Diego show laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, an increasingly popular surgical procedure where the stomach is reduced by 85 percent, is as safe as or safer than laparoscopic gastric bypass or gastric banding. The studies* were presented here at the 29th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).

21 Jun 2012

Grunenthal to commercialize Horizon Pharma's DUEXIS in Latin America

Horizon Pharma, Inc. a biopharmaceutical company developing and commercializing innovative medicines to target unmet therapeutic needs in arthritis, pain and inflammatory diseases, today announced that it entered into an exclusive agreement with Grunenthal for the commercialization of DUEXIS in Latin America.

19 Jun 2012

Hyaluronic acid injections ‘discouraged’ for knee osteoarthritis

Intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid offer a small, clinically irrelevant decrease in osteoarthritis knee pain at the risk for serious adverse events, suggest the results of a review and meta-analysis.

19 Jun 2012

Mallinckrodt, Horizon enter co-promotion agreement for DUEXIS

Mallinckrodt, the Pharmaceuticals business of Covidien, today announced that it has entered into a co-promotion agreement with Horizon Pharma, Inc. to promote DUEXIS (ibuprofen and famotidine).

18 Jun 2012

Multipronged approach relieves osteoarthritis pain

Using behavioral weight-management strategies alongside standard pain-coping skills training reduces the level of disability and pain experienced by overweight or obese individuals with osteoarthritis, US study results suggest.

13 Jun 2012

iWalk announces availability of BiOM bionic lower limb system for above-knee amputees

iWalk, the personal bionics company advancing technology to restore natural movement for lower-limb amputees, today announced the availability of its BiOM bionic lower limb system for above-knee amputees.

13 Jun 2012

Ampio’s CRO completes Optina clinical trial for DME

Ampio Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, whose lead drugs treat inflammatory diseases, including osteoarthritis and complications of Diabetes Mellitus such as diabetic macular edema (and others) announced today that it's CRO has completed analysis of the primary end point in the Optina clinical trial for DME conducted at St Michael Diabetes Hospital in Toronto Canada.

11 Jun 2012

Smoking RA patients don't respond to anti-TNF drugs

A new study presented today at EULAR 2012, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism, reinforces current thinking that smoking negatively affects treatment response in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients treated with anti-tumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF) drugs.

8 Jun 2012

Hypocaloric diet may help achieve minimal disease activity in psoriatic arthritis patients

According to a study presented today at EULAR 2012, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism, patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) who are starting anti-tumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF) treatment and adhere to a hypocaloric diet have a significantly greater chance of achieving minimal disease activity (MDA, an important measure of disease activity) at six months compared to those on a standard diet.

8 Jun 2012

Lung changes in association with ACPA status are a primary manifestation of RA

A new study presented today at EULAR 2012, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism, shows that lung changes in association with anti-citrullinated protein autoantibody (ACPA) status are a primary manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

8 Jun 2012