Osteoarthritis News and Research

Latest Osteoarthritis News and Research

'Sprouty' protein linked to regulation of bone mass and body fat

Here's good news for anyone trying to lose weight or has osteoporosis: Scientists from Maine are on the trail of a weight loss drug that may revolutionize how we treat these two conditions. In a new research report published in the September 2010 print issue of The FASEB Journal, the researchers describe a newly discovered protein, called "Sprouty," responsible for regulating body fat and bone mass. Then they manipulated how much of this protein was expressed in different groups of mice specially bred to have some human genes.

2 Sep 2010

Tapentadol ER improves average intensity of chronic osteoarthritis knee pain: Study

Phase 3 safety and efficacy data comparing tapentadol extended release (ER) tablets, an investigational pain medication, to placebo in patients with moderate to severe chronic osteoarthritis knee pain have been published by Clinical Drug Investigation.

31 Aug 2010

New non-invasive method to diagnose osteoarthritis

Researchers at New York University have developed an innovative way to look at the development of osteoarthritis in the knee joint-one that relies on the examination of sodium ions in cartilage. Their work, which appears in the Journal of Magnetic Resonance, may provide a non-invasive method to diagnose osteoarthritis in its very early stages.

30 Aug 2010

Afferent Pharmaceuticals' P2X3 receptor antagonist reduces bladder hyperactivity

Afferent Pharmaceuticals, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class, small molecule compounds that target P2X3 receptors, today announced preclinical in vivo results demonstrating that an investigational P2X3 receptor antagonist reduced experimentally induced bladder hyperactivity.

26 Aug 2010

Artimplant implements new organization for staff cutbacks

Artimplant is following through on its strategy of focusing the company on the market even further and has now concluded negotiations under the Swedish Co-Determination Act, resulting in staff cutbacks within functions not related directly to sales. Once the periods of notice have been completed the annual saving at Artimplant AB will be approximately SEK 5 million.

23 Aug 2010

'Rotten eggs' gas inside knee joint protects against inflammation

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a gas more commonly associated with the smell of 'rotten eggs' and blocked drains. However, it has now been shown to be present naturally in our bodies and reside in knee joint synovial fluid, the protective fluid found in the cavities of joints that reduces friction between the cartilage of joints during movement. Synovial fluid H2S may play a role in reducing inflammation in joints.

21 Aug 2010

FDA Advisory Committee votes in favor of expanding pain indications for Eli Lilly's Cymbalta

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Anesthetic and Life Support Drugs Advisory Committee voted 8-6 in favor of expanding the pain indications for Eli Lilly and Company's (NYSE: LLY) Cymbalta® (duloxetine HCl) to a broader pain population that will be further defined by the FDA, if approved.

20 Aug 2010

Acupuncture not superior to sham acupuncture in knee osteoarthritis

17 Aug 2010

Study finds sham acupuncture superior to traditional Chinese acupuncture in osteoarthritis treatment

Researchers from MD Anderson Cancer Center determined patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee who are treated with traditional Chinese acupuncture (TCA) do not experience any more benefit than those receiving sham acupuncture (placebo). The team did find that the communication style of the acupuncturist could have a significant effect on pain reduction and satisfaction in patients. Full findings are now online and will publish in the September print issue of Arthritis Care & Research, a journal of the American College of Rheumatology.

17 Aug 2010

Ancient discovery holds key to joint tissue regeneration

Osteoarthritis is a crippling disease worldwide, with an estimated eight million sufferers in the UK alone. It has been described as like "wearing a suit of rusty armour," with unrelenting, razor-like pain.

17 Aug 2010

Emisphere second-quarter net loss increases to $13.7 million

Emisphere Technologies, Inc. today announced financial and operational results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010.

16 Aug 2010

Exercise can ease arthritis pain

People with arthritis who exercise have less pain, more energy, improved sleep, and better day-to-day function, according to the American College of Rheumatology.

16 Aug 2010

PROFIT magazine ranks Prollenium as one of Canada's Fastest Growing Companies

Ario Khoshbin, President of Prollenium Medical Technologies Inc., a privately held specialty medical device company, reported today that his firm will continue to record strong year on year gains in revenues and profitability for its 2010 Fiscal Year ending June 30th. Over the past five years, Prollenium has recorded aggregate revenue growth of more than 524% ranking it amongst Canada's fastest growing firms.

13 Aug 2010

FDA grants BioMimetic Therapeutics orphan drug designation for rhPDGF-BB in treatment of OCD

BioMimetic Therapeutics, Inc. today announced that it has received orphan drug designation from the Food and Drug Administration for its protein therapeutic, recombinant human platelet derived growth factor, to be used in conjunction with autograft and/or commercially available osteochondral allograft for the treatment of osteochondritis dissecans of the knee, elbow or ankle.

12 Aug 2010

Major bone-related meetings to take place in Valencia, Spain in March 2011

Two bone-related meetings, jointly organized by the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis and International Osteoporosis Foundation will take place in Valencia, Spain in March 2011.

11 Aug 2010

Anika second-quarter product revenue increases 56% to $13.7 million

Anika Therapeutics, Inc., a leader in products for tissue protection, healing, and repair, based on hyaluronic acid technology, today reported financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2010.

10 Aug 2010

RNL BIO research identifies adult stem cell's ability to inhibit cancer

The leading biopharmaceutical company specialized in adult stem cell therapeutics, RNL BIO Co., Ltd, announced on July 27th that adult stem cell was identified to have cancer suppressive activity in a preclinical study.

10 Aug 2010

Study identifies options for restoring knee cartilage lubrication to prevent OA

An injury to the anterior cruciate ligament is fairly common, especially among young athletes. While it can often be corrected through surgery, the injury can lead to increased risk of developing degenerative joint diseases, including osteoarthritis. The problem is that fluid in the knee joint, which lubricates the cartilage, is impacted by the trauma of the injury and begins to deteriorate.

6 Aug 2010

U.S. Physical Therapy net income for second-quarter 2010 increases 23% to $4.5 million

U.S. Physical Therapy, Inc., a national operator of outpatient physical therapy clinics, today reported results for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2010.

6 Aug 2010

Penn. effort fades to override cuts to family planning; Ill. faces budget cuts to health care; Mich. focuses on high cost of chronic disease

The Philadelphia Inquirer: "As two Democratic state lawmakers initiated a campaign to override the governor's veto of $7.5 million for family-planning health centers, six Republican state senators who previously voted to restore the funding reversed course, most likely ending any hopes of restoring the money. Democrats would need at least four Republican votes for an override in the Senate, which now appears unlikely.

5 Aug 2010