A team of researchers St. James Hospital in Dublin, Ireland, conducted a study that found the erectile dysfunction (ED) has a higher prevalence in men who have rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Previous studies have linked erectile dysfunction to vascular events, such as stroke and heart attacks, but this study indicates that there ...
In one of the most exciting discoveries, researchers at the Hanson Institute in Adelaide and the St. Vincent’s Institute in Melbourne believe they have made great progress on developing a new treatment which will ‘stop’ leukemia and inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and asthma.
The discovery relates to the way ...
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an auto-immune, inflammatory disease. People with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have higher levels of inflammatory proteins, called cytokines, and other cytokine related factors in their blood. According to a recent study, those markers are present as many as three years before any RA symptoms emerge.
Previous studies have ...
Researchers at Imperial College London (officially The Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine) have identified a protein that acts as a “master switch” for certain white blood cells to govern whether they increase or impede inflammation. The results of this study could lead to the development of new treatments ...
Still’s Disease is a form of arthritis that is characterized by high spiking fevers and transient salmon-colored rash. Still’s disease was first described in children, but it is now known to occur, much less commonly, in adults (in whom it is referred to as adult-onset Still’s disease). There is commonly swelling of the lymph glands, enlargement of the spleen and liver, and sore throat. Some patients develop inflammation of the lungs (pleuritis) or around the heart (pericarditis) with occasional fluid accumulation around the lungs (pleural effusion) or heart (pericardial effusion). Although the arthritis may initially be overlooked because of the impressive nature of the systemic symptoms, everyone with Still’s Disease eventually develops joint pain and swelling. This usually involves many joints (polyarticular arthritis). Any joint can be affected, although there are preferential patterns of joint involvement in Still’s Disease.
There is no known cause or cure for Still’s Disease but there is research into treatment options. One such study was reported in the January, 2011 issue of Arthritis Care & Research.
This was a small cohort study which included only 14 patients with Still’s Disease. The study participants had failed all available therapies, which in some cases included three TNF inhibitors, abatacept, and rituximab. Eight of the patient’s had suffered irreversible joint damage as a result of their arthritis. Recurrent systemic symptoms were present in seven of the patients.
The 14 study participants were treated with the anti-interleukin (IL)-6 receptor antibody tocilizumab (Actermra). The dosages varied in the study, but the most common was the recommended dose for rheumatoid arthritis – 8mg/kg every 4 weeks.
The average disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28) decreased from 5.61 at the beginning of the study to 3.21 after three months and decreased further, to 2.91 after six months.
Based on the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR), a good response to treatment requires a DAS28 score or 3.2 or lower. 64% of the patients achieved this level. In addition, EULAR describes remission as a DAS28 score below 2.6, which was achieved by 57% of the patients.
Concurrent with the treatment with tocilizumab the patient’s average dosage of prednisone fell from 23.3 mg/day and the beginning of the study to 13 mg/day after three months and to 10.3 mg/day after six months.
A 60% improvement was seen in number of tender and swollen joints and in patient global health rating at six months and systemic symptoms resolved in 86% by three months.
The study was conducted by Xavier Puéchal, MD, PhD, of Le Mans General Hospital in Le Mans, France, and colleagues.
A woman has been awarded nearly $4 million by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice for chronic pain and fibromyalgia syndrome.
“This latest judgment will set a precedent as it demonstrates powerfully and convincingly the importance and severity of fibromyalgia and chronic pain syndrome as disabilities,” said a release from law firm Singer Kwinter, which represented Diane Degennaro.
“This will demonstrate to the insurers, the public, and the legal system the severity of this disability and its implication on future judgments.”
According to the law firm, Degennaro was 30 years old when her son was admitted to a hospital. The woman was told she could sleep on a bed in the boy’s room, but when she sat on the end of it, it collapsed.
She fractured her tailbone and later developed fibromyalgia, which has caused chronic pain throughout her body.
She has been unable to return to work and doctors say she won’t be able to work in the future.
Source: Law Times, July 20, 2009
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Originally posted 2009-12-10 07:00:55. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
An ancient Chinese herb that has been used for 2,000 years to treat malaria and reduce fevers is now being tested for use in treating autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. The new drug is made from the herb chang shan, from the root of the blue evergreen hydrangea.
The active compound in chang shan, febrifugine, is too toxic for use as a modern drug. U.S. Army scientists created a febrifugine derivative called halofuginone in the 1960’s as a possible malaria drug, but discontinued additional study. Scientists had not been able to determine how the drug worked.
But recently Harvard Medical School researchers Mark S. Sundrud, PhD, Anjana Rao, PhD, and colleagues show that halofuginone inhibits Th17 cells. Th17 cells are a specific kind of immune cell that was not identified until 2006.
Researchers discovered that Th17 cells regulate autoimmune inflammatory responses. Those are the types of immune response that can result in several diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, eczema, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis,.
“Halofuginone may herald a revolution in the treatment of certain types of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases,” Rao says in a news release.
Current treatments for autoimmune diseases inhibit many different immune responses, which leaves patients vulnerable to infections and cancers. However, a drug that specifically inhibits one type of immune response would be a major breakthrough. It may be that Halofuginone is such a drug.
“This is really the first description of a small molecule that interferes with autoimmune pathology but is not a general immune suppressant,” Sundrud says in the news release.
An added bonus: Halofuginone could probably be taken orally, rather than by injection.
The current findings by Drs. Sundrud and Rao are based only on mouse studies. They must be refined and confirmed in humans before any actual drug is developed.
The findings of this research are published in the June 5 issue of Science.
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Originally posted 2009-06-09 15:08:03. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) drugs are the newest class of therapies used for treating inflammatory diseases, such as Crohn’s disease, psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Our last post discussed the benefits of treating RA with a combination of anti-TNF medication and methotrexate. But there is new research that indicates concern for treating certain individuals with anti-TNF drugs.
British researchers report in the July 17 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine about the case of a 69 year old female ex-smoker who was being treated for Crohn’s disease with anti-TNF medications. During this time she developed lung cancer. After stopping the medication, the researchers discovered that the cancer disappeared.
A theory being considered is that the woman, who had been a heavy smoker for 35 years, had an immune system that kept the cancer in check. But the anti-TNF treatments may have weakened her immune system which allowed the cancer to develop.
According to co-author Jack Satsangi, professor of gastroenterology at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, the woman’s lung cancer “was expected to be fatal within months.” After stopping the anti-TNF treatments “the cancer has completely regressed – and she is health more than two years after.”
“This is most remarkable, and adds to the concerns regarding the use of these agents, and we do not use these drugs in patients with heavy smoking histories,” Satsangi said.
Researchers have seen an association between TNF medications and lung cancer, particularly in ex-smokers. There are also concerns about these drugs and the development of other cancers, such as lymphoma.
“There is an underlying concern about the use of these drugs and the possible increase of certain kinds of cancer,” said Dr. Len Lichtenfeld, deputy chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society. “This report raises the awareness that doctors and patients have to have in using these drugs. We certainly need to be more vigilant about lung cancer in patients who get these treatments.”
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Originally posted 2008-07-17 23:01:45. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Lyme disease, or borreliosis, is an infectious bacterial disease that can result from the bite of an infected deer tick. Symptoms generally begin with a bulls-eye skin rash and flu-like symptoms followed by muscle and joint pain and potentially heart problems including heart block and palpitations. Lyme disease can be treated successfully with antibiotics if diagnosed early. Patients do not start treatment early enough develop intermittent or persistent arthritis, generally arthritis of the knee. Some of these patients experience arthritis symptoms for months or even years. This condition is known as antibiotic-refractory Lyme arthritis.
Recently, a team of researchers at the Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School and the National Center for Infections Diseases studied the survival of the bacteria that causes Lyme following antibiotic treatment. What they found was that joint inflammation persisted after the bacteria had been killed. Their report is being published in the December, 2007 issue of Arthritis Rheumatism.
The team compared blood samples taken from people that had contracted Lyme disease in the late 1970’s before the cause of the disease was known. Three classes of patients were identified which included patients with antibiotic-refractory arthritis, antibiotic-responsive arthritis and non-antibiotic-treated controls.
3 blood samples were studied for each patient and were tested for levels of the bacteria. The non-antibiotic treated group had high levels of bacteria and persistent arthritis lasting 2 to 5 years. The antibiotic-reactive patients show reducing levels of bacteria and relief from joint swelling within the first 3 months of treatment. The antibiotic-refractory patients showed slight increases in bacteria during the first 1 to 3 months of treatment with persistent arthritis for an average of 10 months. However, the bacteria level did decline to the level of the other antibiotic treated group within 4 to 6 months.
They concluded that antibiotics did result in the eradication of the bacteria even though the arthritis symptoms could continue after the infection was cleared.
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Originally posted 2007-11-29 21:03:46. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
May is national Arthritis Awareness Month and if you hadn’t noticed, there are several activities being held around the U.S. Many communities are holding walks or runs to raise funds for arthritis research.
The Los Angeles walk in Brentwood had over 650 participants that raised nearly $200,000. The participants included former Dodger Ron Cey.
Nearly 300 people participated in the Arthritis Walk in Charlottesville, many who walked with their 4 legged friends. 20 teams participated in the 2nd annual run/walk in Bismark North Dakota.
If you are interested in helping out in one of these events you can check the Arthritis Foundation’s event page to find the date of the event near you.
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Originally posted 2008-05-05 18:49:36. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has begun an investigation into links between anti-TNF (tumor necrosis factor) drugs, used to treat arthritis, and an increased risk of cancer in children. TNF blockers, sold under the names Enbrel, Remicade and Humira, are commonly used for the treatment of arthritis. The review is being conducted by the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.
The FDA has received 30 reports of cancer in children under the age of 18 who had been treated for JIA with anti-TNF drugs along with other medications, such as methotrexate, or similar immunosuppressant drugs.
Nearly 50% of the reports state the patients developed Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The other reports indicate development of melanoma, leukemia and solid organ cancers.
Besides rheumatoid arthritis, TNF blockers are used to treat psoriatic arthritis, Crohn’s disease, plaque psoriasis, ankylosing spondylitis, as well as other diseases. TNF blockers are know to result in inflammation and weakening of the immune system.
The manufacturers of these drugs have been directed by the FDA to provide information about all TNF blocker recipients who have developed cancer, and in some cases to track cancer reports for 10 years. The FDA has also requested the assistance of medical professionals and patients in reporting any side effects from TNF blockers through the MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program at www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm.
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Originally posted 2008-06-06 22:25:05. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Lyme disease, or borreliosis, is an infectious bacterial disease that can result from the bite of an infected deer tick. Symptoms generally begin with a bulls-eye skin rash and flu-like symptoms followed by muscle and joint pain and potentially heart problems including 
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