Reumafonds wil landelijke cijfers
over chronisch ziek en werk
Het Reumafonds pleit ervoor de positie van
chronisch zieken op de arbeidsmarkt in kaart te brengen en na te gaan of zij sneller
ontslagen worden vanwege hun beperking. Het Reumafonds signaleert een sterke toename van
het aantal chronisch zieke werknemers in outplacement trajecten. De versoepeling van het
ontslagrecht vorig jaar lijkt daar debet aan te zijn. De jaarlijkse Support Award van het
Reumafonds laat zien dat chronisch zieke werknemers heel goed in staat zijn hun functie
uit te oefenen met hulp van de werkgever. Vandaag is tijdens het RondReuma Congres de
Support Award 2010 door jurylid Loek Hermans (MKB Nederland) uitgereikt aan de collega's
van Sjaak Deurloo (38), werkvoorbereider bij de TechTron Groep, een elektrotechnisch
bedrijf in Veenendaal.
Lodewijk Ridderbos, algemeen directeur van
het Reumafonds: "In 2009 hebben wij opgeroepen chronisch zieken niet buiten spel te
zetten in tijden van economische teruggang. Juist voor hen is het van economisch en
sociaal belang dat zij aan het werk kunnen blijven. Nu, een jaar later, signaleren wij dat
de bemiddeling voor werknemers met reuma of artrose en hun werkgevers weliswaar succesvol
verloopt, maar we moeten niet te vroeg juichen. Uit het Project Chronisch Ziek en Werk
blijkt dat het aantal outplacementtrajecten van chronisch zieken is toegenomen sinds de
versoepeling van het ontslagrecht in 2009. Dat is een zeer zorgelijke ontwikkeling".
De CG Raad (Raad voor Chronisch zieken en
Gehandicapten) en Boaborea (de brancheorganisatie voor reïntegratiebureau's) bevestigen
dat er geen duidelijke, landelijke cijfers zijn over de positie van chronisch zieken op de
arbeidsmarkt. Het Reumafonds vindt het van groot belang dat snel duidelijk wordt of de
cijfers afkomstig uit voornoemd Project een landelijke tendens vertegenwoordigen.
Daarnaast roept het Reumafonds werkgevers
op om meer moeite te doen om chronisch zieken voor hun bedrijf te behouden. De Support
Award juryleden Alexander Rinnooy Kan (voorzitter SER), Loek Hermans (voorzitter MKB
Nederland) en Hans Wiegel (voorzitter Zorgverzekeraars Nederland) sluiten zich hierbij
aan: "Laten we er voor zorgen dat een chronische ziekte geen reden is en mag zijn
voor ontslag, maar dat we ons richten op wat er binnen het bedrijf wél mogelijk is. De
Support Award van het Reumafonds laat zien dat er met begrip en ondersteuning een hoop
bereikt kan worden bij de eigen werkgever, tot tevredenheid van beide partijen."
Vroegtijdig en intensief behandelen
van reumatoïde artritis voorkomt definitieve gewrichtsbeschadiging
Reumatoïde artritis is een gevreesde
chronische inflammatoire gewrichtsaandoening. Er zijn vandaag doeltreffende therapeutische
opties die reumatoïde artritis onder controle kunnen houden en zelfs volledig tot rust
kunnen brengen. Maar - zo blijkt uit uitgebreid onderzoek in UZ Leuven - voor goede
resultaten moet de behandeling intensief starten vóór de eerste gewrichtsletsels
optreden.
Bij reumatoïde artritis (RA), een
chronische inflammatoire gewrichtsaandoening die gepaard gaat met pijn en functieverlies
van de gewrichten, kan de ontsteking op termijn leiden tot gewrichtsmisvorming.
“Reumatologen hebben de mogelijkheid om de evolutie van RA te vertragen, maar het
succes van de behandeling wordt sterk bepaald door de manier waarop de behandeling tijdens
de eerste maanden van de ziekte wordt toegepast”, zegt prof. dr. Rene Westhovens van
de dienst reumatologie van UZ Leuven.
De dienst reumatologie van UZ Leuven doet
onderzoek naar de optimale behandelingsstrategie voor beginnende (RA). Voor dit onderzoek
- de CareRA studie - werkt de dienst samen met twaalf reumatologiepraktijken in
Vlaanderen. De studie heeft als doel de meest optimale combinatie en dosis van
antireumatica en glucocorticoïden te bepalen met het oog op een succesvolle inductie van
remissie bij beginnende RA. Daarenboven wordt gestreefd naar een betere implementatie van
intensieve behandelingsstrategieën in Vlaanderen.
“Met de CareRA studie willen we niet
alleen de efficiëntie van de verschillende behandelingsarmen vergelijken, maar ook aan de
hand van vragenlijsten de percepties en ervaringen van patiënten en artsen omtrent
dergelijke intensieve behandelingen bestuderen. Zo kunnen we inzicht verwerven in de
determinanten van hun effectiviteit in de dagelijkse praktijk”, zegt prof. dr.
Patrick Verschueren. “Verder is het de bedoeling om via deze studie de deelnemende
centra vertrouwd te maken met de meer intensieve behandelingsstrategieën voor beginnende
RA”.
Eind jaren negentig werd het principe van
remissie inductie volgens de zogenaamde ‘step down’ strategie voor beginnende RA
geïntroduceerd. Het snel tot rust brengen van de ziekte met een combinatie van
antireumatica, tijdelijk aangevuld met glucocorticoïden ter overbrugging van de periode
waarbinnen het effect van de traag werkende antireumatica op zich laat wachten, bleek
duidelijk efficiënter dan een therapie met één antireumaticum. Een dergelijke aanpak is
echter niet in trek in de dagelijkse praktijk. Nog te veel wordt gekozen voor de
‘step up’ behandeling waarbij de arts start met een monotherapie en in functie
van de respons van de patiënt, een of meerdere antireumatica en /of glucocorticoïden
toevoegt.
De ervaring leert dat een intensieve
behandeling bij patiënten met beginnende RA in belangrijke mate de kansen op een
succesvolle controle van de ziekteactiviteit bepaalt. Een snelle beheersing van
gewrichtsontsteking zal bovendien de psychosociale en professionele gevolgen voor de
patiënt beperken.
Video - Dr
Hilary Jones explains how we are eating ourselves sick
Food intolerance is a delayed
food allergy and can affect long term health and quality of life with symptoms such as
IBS, bloating, tiredness, migraines and digestive complaints. Up to 45% of the UK
population suffer from food intolerance and a new study shows that it could be what we are
eating that is makng us sick. Dr Hilary Jones,resident Doctor on GMTV beleives that the
resuts of this research offers a chance to get to the root of these conditions such as IBS
and arthritis by tackling the possible cause, rather than relying on long-term treatments
for chronic conditions.
Invloed van leeftijd en geslacht op
reuma
Mede door de vergrijzing neemt het aantal
patiënten met chronische aandoeningen, waaronder reumatoïde artritis (reuma), toe.
Beáta Radovits deed onderzoek naar de invloed van leeftijd en geslacht op reuma. Ze keek
hierbij naar de behandeling, het verloop en het resultaat van de behandeling. Uit dit
onderzoek komt naar voren dat ook oudere patiënten (65+) behandeld dienen te worden met
intensieve anti-reumatische medicatie, zoals de relatief nieuwe anti-TNFa middelen.
Ondanks een goede klinische conditie en het ontbreken van bijkomende ziekten, hebben
oudere reumapatiënten veel minder kans om met deze nieuwe, effectieve therapieën
behandeld te worden. Bij diegenen die wel behandeld zijn, is er een forse verbetering in
ziekteactiviteit en kwaliteit van leven merkbaar. Ondanks de revolutie in de behandeling
van reuma is de levensverwachting voor reumapatiënten nog steeds lager dan gemiddeld.
Intensievere behandeling van oudere patiënten, met aandacht voor bijkomende ziekten en
risicofactoren, kan hier in de toekomst verbetering in brengen
Werknemer met reuma durft niet voor
ziekte uit te komen
Ruim tweederde van de werknemers met reuma
verzwijgt hun aandoening op het werk. De voornaamste reden daarvoor is dat zij verwachten
nadelen te ondervinden als ze wèl openhartig zijn. Zo is 31% bang om hun baan te
verliezen als de werkgever weet dat ze reuma hebben. Op de vraag welke andere redenen
werknemers hebben om hun reuma te verzwijgen, antwoordt ruim 10%: "Ik wil mijn
collega's niet met meer werk belasten". "Omdat de ziekte grillig is; geen dag is
hetzelfde", antwoordt 25%. Dit blijkt uit onderzoek van het Reumafonds, dat is
uitgevoerd ter gelegenheid van WereldReumaDag, aanstaande maandag 12 oktober. Het thema
dit jaar is 'werk en reuma'. In Nederland hebben 2,3 miljoen mensen reuma of artrose.
Tweederde van hen is jonger dan 65 jaar en arbeidsproductief. Het Reumafonds vindt het
belangrijk dat mensen met reuma aan het werk kunnen blijven. "Dat is van belang voor
hun eigenwaarde, sociale netwerk en economische situatie," stelt Lodewijk Ridderbos,
algemeen directeur van het Reumafonds. "Juist nu we in een economische recessie
zitten, is het nodig aandacht te vragen voor dit onderwerp. Mensen met een chronische
ziekte worden meestal het snelst buiten spel gezet en dat is een slechte zaak." Het
Reumafonds beseft dat het ook voor werkgevers moeilijk is als één van hun werknemers een
chronische ziekte zoals reuma blijkt te hebben. Daarom vraagt het Reumafonds minister
Donner van Sociale Zaken en Werkgelegenheid om steun. Ridderbos: "Wij willen graag
samen met de overheid de drempel verlagen voor werknemers en werkgevers, zodat reuma goed
bespreekbaar wordt op de werkvloer. Dit kan uitval van werknemers voorkomen en levert
daardoor het bedrijf èn de samenleving een besparing op. Bovendien blijft zo
arbeidskracht en ervaring van werknemers behouden." Op maandag 12 oktober zal
Lodewijk Ridderbos minister Donner het eerste exemplaar overhandigen van 'Plan de Dag',
een dagplanner voor werkgevers, werknemers met reuma en hun behandelaars. In deze planner
biedt het Reumafonds dagelijks praktische informatie over reuma in de werkomgeving.
Blueberries may help prevent
diabetes and arthritis
Toss some wild blueberries onto your cereal, a salad, or into the blender for a smoothie
— they're a powerhouse for good health, says Marva Irene Sweeney-Nixon, Ph.D., an
associate biology professor at the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) in
Charlottetown, P.E.I.
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Rheumatoid arthritis breakthrough
Rheumatoid arthritis is a painful, inflammatory type of arthritis that occurs when the
body's immune system attacks itself. A new paper, published in this week's issue of PLoS
Biology, reports a breakthrough in the understanding of how autoimmune responses can be
controlled, offering a promising new strategy for therapy development for rheumatoid
arthritis. Normally, immune cells develop to recognise foreign material – antigens;
including bacteria - so that they can activate a response against them. Immune cells that
would respond to 'self' and therefore attack the body's own cells are usually destroyed
during development. If any persist, they are held in check by special regulatory cells
that provide a sort of autoimmune checkpoint. A key player in these regulatory cells is a
molecule called Foxp3. People who lack or have mutated versions of the Foxp3 gene lack or
have dysfunctional immune regulation, which causes dramatic autoimmune disease. Scientists
at the Medical Research Council's Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, and funded
by the Arthritis Research Campaign, have genetically engineered a drug-inducible form of
Foxp3. Using this, scientists can 'switch' developing immune cells into regulatory cells
that are then capable of suppressing the immune response.
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Jefferson scientists uncover key
pathway, potential drug targets in autoinflammatory disease
Molecular biologists at Jefferson's Kimmel Cancer Center in Philadelphia have detailed the
cascade of cellular events behind some potentially dangerous autoinflammatory diseases. In
doing so, they not only have gained a greater understanding of the disease process, but
have also identified new potential drug targets for diseases ranging from arthritis to
cancer.
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Bromelain can work wonders for
arthritis
Bromelain helps with arthritis because it is one of the most powerful anti-inflammatories
in nature. It can be used for virtually any inflammatory condition from rheumatoid or
osteoarthritis to strains, sprains and back pains. All of this also makes bromelain a very
useful natural pain killer.
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The revolutionary jab that could
cure arthritic pain
A revolutionary therapy using the body's own defence system could repair the damage caused
by osteoarthritis. Orthokine treatment involves injections of the patient's own blood
protein into the affected area.
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Blood clotting protein linked to
rheumatoid arthritis
Researchers at Cincinnati Children's have issued the first study showing that a protein
involved in blood clotting (fibrin), also plays an important role in the development of
rheumatoid arthritis. Inflammatory joint disease appears to be driven by the engagement of
inflammatory cells with fibrin matrices through a specific integrin receptor, aMD2.
Researchers suggest that therapies designed to interrupt the localized interaction of
inflammatory cells and fibrin may help arthritis patients.
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Research proves tai chi benefits
for arthritis
A new study by The George Institute for International Health has found Tai Chi to have
positive health benefits for musculoskeletal pain. The results of the first comprehensive
analysis of Tai Chi suggest that it produces positive effects for improving pain and
disability among arthritis sufferers. The researchers are now embarking on a new trial to
establish if similar benefits can be seen among people with chronic low back pain.
"This is the first robust evidence to support the beneficial effects of Tai Chi. Our
study proves that Tai Chi relieves pain and disability among people with arthritis and
shows a positive trend towards effects for overall physical health. We now want to see if
these benefits are the same for people suffering from low back pain", said author Dr
Chris Maher at The George Institute. Musculoskeletal pain, such as that experienced by
people with arthritis, places a severe burden on the patient and community and is
recognised as an international health priority. Arthritis is the major cause of disability
and chronic pain in Australia, with 3.85million Australians affected. Low back pain is the
most prevalent and costly musculoskeletal condition in Australia, estimated to cost up to
$1billion per annum with indirect costs exceeding $8billion.
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Researchers discover how rheumatoid
arthritis causes bone loss
Researchers have discovered key details of how rheumatoid arthritis (RA) destroys bone,
according to a study published in the Aug. 22 edition of the Journal of Biological
Chemistry. The findings are already guiding attempts to design new drugs to reverse
RA-related bone loss and may also address more common forms of osteoporosis with a few
adjustments. Two million Americans suffer from rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which causes
swelling, pain and deformity in joints and also lead to the thinning of bone. In
autoimmune diseases like RA, the body's disease-fighting immune cells mistakenly identify
parts of a person's body as foreign invaders, akin to bacteria, and produce chemicals to
destroy them. Among the immune chemicals known to play a central in autoimmune disease is
tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), which ramps up the production of immune cells and
chemicals as part of the body's response to disease. When overproduced in RA patients, TNF
alpha signals for the destruction of cartilage and bone. Beyond its control over immune
cells, TNF alpha also influences bone mass. Human bone is continually regenerated to
maintain strength. Under the control of signaling molecules which include TNF alpha, two
cell types, balanced against each other, make bone recycling possible. Osteoclasts break
down aging bone to make way for new bone, while osteoblasts build new bone at the sites
where osteoclasts have removed it. Going into the study, the field understood that TNF
alpha decreases the number of bone-building osteoblasts, but not how. The current study
provides the first direct proof that the TNF alpha affects osteoblasts through an enzyme
called Smad Ubiquitin Regulatory Factor 1 (Smurf1), which in turn shuts down two proteins
that would otherwise drive bone-building. While traditional RA drugs like NSAIDs and
steroids treat symptoms, a newer class of best-selling drugs (e.g. Humira, Remicade and
Enbrel) reverses the disease process by shutting down TNF alpha activity. While the new
drugs are effective for many patients, others experience infections and even lymphoma in a
few cases. The new drugs are based on bioengineered versions of proteins made by human
immune cells called antibodies, and are very expensive to make. Thus, the field has been
searching for smaller, simpler chemicals that would be effective, but with lower costs and
fewer side effects.
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Disclosing your feelings may help
the course of rheumatoid arthritis
The health and physiological effects of an intervention which facilitates the opening of
feelings are described in a paper published in the current issue of Psychotherapy and
Psychosomatics. The efficacy of emotional disclosure in alleviating psychological and
physical stress has been well documented in controlled laboratory studies. A next step is
to evaluate its clinical utility in 'real world' settings. A group of Dutch investigators
adapted the emotional disclosure intervention for use in home-based settings by
stimulating the suggested effective ingredients of cognitive-emotional processing, and
evaluated its psychological and clinical effectiveness. Reviews indicated the need to
examine the physiological changes brought about by emotional disclosure, which may be
particularly relevant in immune-mediated diseases. This study was the first to examine
neuroendocrine and immune changes after emotional disclosure in patients with rheumatoid
arthritis. Sixty-eight patients were randomly assigned to four weekly oral emotional
disclosure or time management sessions.
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New test to diagnose osteoarthritis
early
A newly developed medical imaging technology may provide doctors with a long-awaited test
for early diagnosis of osteoarthritis (OA), scientists from New York reported today at the
236th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society. By far the most common form of
arthritis, OA is a bane of the Baby Boom generation, causing joint pain and disability for
more than half of those over 65 – nearly 21 million people in the United States.
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Tai Chi may help ease arthritis
Researchers in Australia conducted a systematic review of Tai Chi studies and found it
produces positive effects in those suffering from arthritis.
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Researchers identify genes that
increase rheumatoid arthritis risk
Researchers in the United States and Sweden have identified a genetic region associated
with increased risk of rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic and debilitating inflammatory
disease of the joints that affects an estimated 2.1 million Americans. The US arm of the
study involved a long-time collaboration between intramural researchers of the National
Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases and other organizations.
NIAMS is one of 27 institutes and centers at the National Institutes of Health.
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Study shows pine bark naturally
reduces knee osteoarthritis
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), osteoarthritis, the most common type of
arthritis, is on the rise. A new study published in the August journal of Phytotherapy
Research, reveals Pycnogenol, bark extract from the French maritime pine tree, reduced
overall knee osteoarthritis (OA) symptoms by 20.9 percent and lowered pain by 40.3
percent. To date, this is the third clinical trial on osteoarthritis treatment with
Pycnogenol. This study investigated what happens to joint symptoms after treatment with
Pycnogenol is terminated and the results show that no relapse occurred after two weeks.
Pycnogenol acts as potent anti-inflammatory and the lasting effects found in this study
suggest that Pycnogenol may help the joints to recover.With osteoarthritis cases on the
rise, many are seeking non-traditional medication to help ease the pain and reduce the
amount of traditional medication taken. The CDC estimates osteoarthritis affects 34
percent of all adults over the age of 65. In 2005, an estimated 26.9 million adults in the
U.S. had osteoarthritis, which was up from 21 million in 1990. While there's no known cure
for osteoarthritis, treatments such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or
analgesics can help reduce pain and also maintain joint movement, to help the quality of
life for people living with the disease. In more severe cases, cortisone shots and joint
replacement surgery are used to treat OA.
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1 in 2 adults at risk for painful
knee arthritis
A landmark government study suggests nearly one in two people (46 percent) will develop
painful knee osteoarthritis over their lifetime, with the highest risk among those who are
obese. According to the Arthritis Foundation, the study underscores the immediate need for
the public to understand what they can do to reduce the tremendous pain, disability and
cost associated with arthritis.
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Researchers Offer First Direct
Proof of How Arthritis Destroys Cartilage
A team of orthopaedic researchers has found definitive, genetic proof of how the most
common form of arthritis destroys joint cartilage in nearly 21 million aging Americans,
according to a study published today onlinein the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.
The findings serve as an important foundation for the design of new treatments for
osteoarthritis (OA), researchers said. OA gradually destroys all cartilage in joints while
forming scar tissue and painful bony growths. Advanced cases bring deformity and severe
pain as patients loose the protective cushion between bones in weight-bearing joints like
knees and hips. Until the late 1980s, OA was regarded as part of growing old. Since then,
studies have revealed that biochemical changes contribute to the disease that might be
reversed by drugs. Current medications, NSAIDs and Cox 2 inhibitors, are used to reduce
symptoms in patients with mild cases, and joint replacement surgery for severe cases. Few
options exist for those in between. Going into the current study, little was known about
the cellular and molecular events that cause cartilage to break down in osteoarthritic
joints. Past studies had suggested that higher levels of a key signaling protein,
beta-catenin, were connected to osteoarthritis, but there was no direct evidence to
confirm it, or to suggest its role. The current study provides both.
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Doctors should watch for depression
in arthritis patients
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis are twice as likely to experience depression but are
unlikely to talk to a doctor about it, according to researchers at the University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill.
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An anti-inflammatory response to
the vegan diet
Rheumatoid arthritis patients who eat a gluten-free vegan diet could be better protected
against heart attacks and stroke. RA is a major risk factor for these cardiovascular
diseases, but a gluten-free vegan diet was shown to lower cholesterol, low-density
lipoprotein and oxidizedLDL, as well as raising the levels of natural antibodies against
the damaging compounds in the body that cause symptoms of the chronic inflammatory disease
rheumatoid arthritis, such as phosphorylcholine.
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Scientists shine new light on
inflammatory diseases
Investigators at Hospital for Special Surgery have identified a new mechanism involved in
the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. The mechanism may
also shed some light on why gene therapy experiments that use adenoviruses to deliver
genes to humans have run into problems.
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Bad mix of bacterial remnants and
genetics leads to arthritis
Here's another reason to hate leftovers. A research study appearing in the April 2009
issue of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology (http://www.jleukbio.org) sheds light on one
cause of arthritis: bacteria. In the study, scientists from the United States and The
Netherlands show that a specific gene called NOD2 triggers arthritis or makes it worse
when leftover remnants of bacteria cell walls, called muramyl dipeptide or MDP, are
present. This discovery offers an important first step toward new treatments to prevent or
lessen the symptoms of inflammatory arthritis."Despite recent advances in the
treatment of arthritis, none target its cause," said Michael Davey, Associate Chief
of Staff for Research at the Portland Oregon Veteran's Affairs Medical Center and one of
the researchers involved in the study. "Our work with MDP and NOD2 is a step toward
understanding the root cause of arthritis which one day may allow certain forms of
arthritis to be prevented altogether." Davey and colleagues made this discovery
through experiments using two groups of mice, one group was normal and the other had been
genetically modified so that their NOD2 gene was deactivated (commonly referred to as
"knocked out"). Then they administered MDP to the joints of mice in each group,
and unlike the normal group of mice, the mice with the deactivated NOD2 gene did not
experience signs of arthritis. This may also be an important advance in the understanding
and treatment of Blau Syndrome, a rare genetic disease characterized by granulomatous
arthritis (arthritis caused by bacteria), uveitis (inflammation in the middle layer of the
eye), skin rash and cranial neuropathy (a disorder affecting nerves that control sight,
eye movement, hearing, and taste). "Now that we know that bacterial products can
activate this NOD2 pathway and that this signal contributes to arthritis," said John
Wherry, Ph.D., Deputy Editor of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology, "the next step is
to find treatments that either rid the body of this inflammatory signal or mask it. Either
way, the net effect would be the same: people would be spared from a very crippling
disease. "
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Fight arthritis with these foods
When it comes to specific foods you should eat, an anti-inflammatory diet involves
avoiding foods that make inflammation worse (saturated fat, trans fat and simple refined
carbohydrate) and eating plenty of foods that reduce inflammation.
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Arthritis Trust of America
You've been told that rheumatoid arthritis and other forms of arthritis are not curable.
That's false! I had "galloping" rheumatoid arthritis in the late 70's and early
80's. My doctor said I would soon be crippled. I recovered with the use of recommended
treatments and the grace of God and have been well since! Are you filled with pain day and
night, and want relief? Do you view the future as a cripple, suffering from constantly
decreasing abilities? Do you want to stop this crippling? Do you or your child live pain
free for but minutes each day and then only at the will of a drug, a doctor, or by
courtesy of a fat pocketbook? Especially are you a person who wants relief from this
centuries-long scourge?
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Working environment is one cause of
rheumatoid arthritis
It has long been known that environmental factors play a part in the development of
rheumatoid arthritis; smoking and drinking alcohol, along with heredity, are particularly
instrumental in increasing the risk of the disease. Scientists at Karolinska Institutet
have now produced results that suggest that working environment factors can also increase
the chances of developing rheumatoid arthritis.This is especially true of psychosocial
workload, in particular what is called "low decision latitude", according to the
results of a study in progress due to be published in Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics.
The project is being led by Professor Lars Alfredsson of the Department of Environmental
Medicine and Professor Lars Klareskog of the Department of Medicine. "We've uncovered
clear correlations between the disease and jobs in which one cannot control one's own
situation," says Professor Alfredsson.
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Study links arthritis, work
limitations
About a third of U.S. adults with arthritis say the chronic condition — the
nation‘s leading cause of disability — has limited their ability to work, the
government said Thursday.
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Gene expression findings a step
toward better classification and treatment of juvenile arthritis
Scientists have discovered gene expression differences that could lead to better ways to
classify, predict outcome, and treat juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Eventually such
findings could enable doctors to target more aggressive treatment to children at risk of
more severe arthritis, while those likely to have milder disease could be spared the
stronger treatments that carry a greater risk of side effects. The researchers were
supported by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
(NIAMS), a part of the National Institutes of Health. JIA is an inflammatory and sometimes
disabling joint disease that affects an estimated 294,000 children in the United States.
At present, making a diagnosis of JIA is imprecise and based largely on the presence of
joint inflammation persisting for at least six weeks, for which no other cause can be
determined, says Robert A. Colbert, M.D., Ph.D., chief of the NIAMS Pediatric
Translational Research Branch. Based on the number of joints involved and other clinical
features (fever and rash, for example), doctors classify patients into one of four or five
major subtypes of JIA, which helps them predict a patient's most likely outcome and guide
appropriate treatments. "But, recent research suggests there is more variability in
JIA than the four or five major subtypes we currently recognize," Dr. Colbert says.
In the first of two such NIAMS-supported studies to be published in the July issue of
Arthritis & Rheumatism, scientists led by Michael Barnes, Ph.D., of Cincinnati
Children's Hospital Medical Center used a large data set to compare a number of children
newly diagnosed with one of four major subtypes of JIA – persistent oligoarthritis
(affecting four or fewer joints), polyarthritis (affecting five or more joints), systemic
arthritis (with fever and rash and inflammation throughout the body) and
enthesitis-related arthritis (affecting the junctions between tendons and bones). Using
gene expression technology – a method by which scientists can determine the relative
levels of expression of thousands of different genes at the same time and compare a
pattern from one subject with another – the researchers looked for differences in the
children's blood samples that corresponded with the different forms of JIA. "We
analyzed gene expression patterns in blood cells and found that we could indeed
distinguish the major subtypes of JIA," says Dr. Colbert, who was a leader of this
research program at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center before coming to NIAMS.
"Many of the genes whose expression is altered function in the immune system. This
means that not only is there immune activation, but it differs depending on the subtype of
JIA that is present."
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UT rheumatologists discover 2 genes
related to disabling form of arthritis
Work done in part by researchers at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston has
led to the discovery of two genes that cause ankylosing spondylitis, an inflammatory and
potentially disabling disease. The findings are published in the Oct. 21 online edition of
Nature Genetics, a journal that emphasizes research on the genetic basis for common and
complex diseases.
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New trigger for chronic
inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis discovered
A signal molecule made by the human body that triggers the immune system into action may
be important in rheumatoid arthritis, according to new research published today in Nature
Medicine. The authors of the study, from Imperial College London, say that if scientists
could block this signal, it may be possible to develop more effective arthritis
treatments. Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common autoimmune disease, affecting around 1
in 100 people. It causes painful and persistent swelling in the joints that can result in
damage to the bone and cartilage. Around half of all patients do not respond to one or
more of the treatments currently available, and even these can become less successful over
time. The researchers behind the new study say stopping the disease closer to the root of
the problem could be the best way to treat it, and their results suggest a new target for
therapies. When a microbe infects the body, the body responds by turning on a molecular
switch to set the immune system into action and protect the body from disease. Today's
findings show that a signal molecule called tenascin-C can trigger the same molecular
switch and also activate the immune system. High levels of tenascin-C present in joints
therefore may cause the activated immune system to attack the joint leading to the
persistent inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis. The molecular switch is called TLR4, and
is found on the surface of immune cells. Previous research has shown that mice without
TLR4 do not show chronic joint inflammation. The researchers hope scientists can develop
new treatments that target the interaction between tenascin-C and TLR4, which may help to
combat rheumatoid arthritis.Dr Kim Midwood, lead author of the study from the Kennedy
Institute of Rheumatology at Imperial College London, said: "Rheumatoid arthritis is
a debilitating and painful disease and, unfortunately, there is no cure. Furthermore,
current treatments are not effective for many patients." "We have uncovered one
way that the immune system may be triggered to attack the joints in patients with
rheumatoid arthritis. We hope our new findings can be used to develop new therapies that
interfere with tenascin-C activation of the immune system and that these will reduce the
painful inflammation that is a hallmark of this condition," added Dr Midwood.
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Cod liver oil 'can help arthritis
sufferers cut reliance on drugs'
SCIENTISTS have uncovered further evidence that cod liver oil can benefit people suffering
rheumatoid arthritis. A study published today in the journal Rheumatology showed that
people taking a cod liver oil supplement could cut their reliance on anti-inflammatory
drugs by more than 30 per cent.
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Scientists discover how gold eases
pain of arthritis
Scientists at Duke University Medical Center may have solved the mystery surrounding the
healing properties of gold -- a discovery they say may renew interest in gold salts as a
treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory diseases.
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Genes and smoking play role in
rheumatoid arthritis
Recent genetic studies have revealed several new sites of genes that are risk factors for
developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The strongest association with anti-citrullinated
protein antibody (ACPA)-positive RA (ACPAs are autoantibodies detected in RA that are used
as a major diagnostic tool) has been found for the HLA-DRB1 gene, and this site seems to
play a central role in susceptibility to the disease in Caucasian populations. Previous
studies have shown a high increase in the risk of ACPA-positive RA associated with smoking
in those who have certain variations of the HLA-DRB1 gene. There are several types of such
alleles related to a particular amino acid sequence known as shared epitope (SE). ACPAs
occur in about 60 percent of RA patients and are closely linked to the presence of SE
alleles. In fact, SE alleles are the strongest genetic risk factor for ACPA-positive RA.
Of several environmental factors that predispose people toward developing RA, smoking has
been found to be the main risk factor and a strong gene-environment interaction between
smoking and SE alleles for ACPA-positive patients has been shown in previous studies in
Europe. Results in North America have not been as conclusive, however. A new large
population-based study examined the gene-environment interaction between smoking and SE
alleles in RA and found that all SE alleles strongly interact with smoking in conferring
an increased risk of ACPA-positive RA. T
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Study examines relationship between
bone density and erosion in arthritis
Up to 50 percent of RA patients show evidence of focal erosions, and RA doubles the risk
of osteoporosis and fractures. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the most common form of
inflammatory arthritis, affects almost three percent of people over age 65. RA patients
experience pain, functional limitations and two forms of disabling bone disease: focal
erosions and osteoporosis. After five years of disease, up to 50 percent of RA patients
show evidence of focal erosions and RA doubles the risk of osteoporosis and fractures. A
new study examined the relationship between these two RA-related processes, in the hopes
of providing insight into the underlying pathophysiology of RA-related bone disease. The
study was published in the June issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism. Led by Daniel H.
Solomon of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston , the study involved 163 postmenopausal
women with RA, none of whom were taking osteoporosis medications. Participants underwent
bone density scans of the hip and spine, as well as X-rays of the hand to determine if
they had bone erosions. The results showed that hip bone mineral density (BMD) correlated
with bone erosion, but the relationship was not statistically significant after adjusting
for clinical factors such as age, BMI and use of oral glucocorticoids used to treat RA.
The relationship did appear stronger, however, in patients with early RA. "Our
findings suggest that the relationship between focal erosions and generalized osteoporosis
is complicated and modifed by many aspects of RA and other factors," the authors
state. They point out that with longer disease duration, other variables such as the use
of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), disease activity and markers of
inflammation may dilute the relationship between focal erosions and hip BMD. As to why
there was a stronger relationship between hip BMD and erosions than with spine BMD, there
are several possible explanations. It's possible that the inflammation underlying RA
affects the hip more than the spine or that the effects are more apparent at the hip,
which may more closely relate to joint mobility and overall functional status.
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New Study Proves that Pain is Not a
Symptom of Arthritis, Pain Causes Arthritis
Pain is more than a symptom of osteoarthritis, it is an inherent and damaging part of the
disease itself, according to a study published today in journal Arthritis and Rheumatism.
More specifically, the study revealed that pain signals originating in arthritic joints,
and the biochemical processing of those signals as they reach the spinal cord, worsen and
expand arthritis. In addition, researchers found that nerve pathways carrying pain signals
transfer inflammation from arthritic joints to the spine and back again, causing disease
at both ends. Technically, pain is a patient’s conscious realization of discomfort.
Before that can happen, however, information must be carried along nerve cell pathways
from say an injured knee to the pain processing centers in dorsal horns of the spinal
cord, a process called nociception. The current study provides strong evidence that
two-way, nociceptive “crosstalk” may first enable joint arthritis to transmit
inflammation into the spinal cord and brain, and then to spread through the central
nervous system (CNS) from one joint to another. Furthermore, if joint arthritis can cause
neuro-inflammation, it could have a role in conditions like Alzheimer’s disease,
dementia and multiple sclerosis. Armed with the results, researchers have identified
likely drug targets that could interfere with key inflammatory receptors on sensory nerve
cells as a new way to treat osteoarthritis (OA), which destroys joint cartilage in 21
million Americans. The most common form of arthritis, OA eventually brings deformity and
severe pain as patients loose the protective cushion between bones in weight-bearing
joints like knees and hips. “Until relatively recently, osteoarthritis was believed
to be due solely to wear and tear, and inevitable part of aging,” said Stephanos
Kyrkanides, D.D.S., Ph.D., associate professor of Dentistry within the Eastman Dental
Center at the University of Rochester Medical Center. “Recent studies have revealed,
however, that specific biochemical changes contribute to the disease, changes that might
be reversed by precision-designed drugs. Our study provides the first solid proof that
some of those changes are related to pain processing, and suggests the mechanisms behind
the effect,” said Kyrkanides, whose work on genetics in dentistry led to broader
applications. The common ground between arthritis and dentistry: the jaw joint is a common
site of arthritic pain.
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Occupational therapy gets people
with osteoarthritis moving
Physical activity is the cornerstone of any healthy lifestyle – and especially for
people with osteoarthritis as exercise helps maintain good joint health, manage their
symptoms, and prevent functional decline. Osteoarthritis, however, often makes physical
activity, such as exercise, and even performing daily activities, a challenge. But an
occupational therapist-led approach – called activity strategy training – could
provide patients with knee and hip osteoarthritis the opportunity to lead more active
lives and even improve their overall health, according to a new study led by researchers
at the University of Michigan Health System. In the pilot study, the researchers found
that patients who engaged in activity strategy training along with regular exercise
increased their physical activity, more so than those patients who only took part in
exercise and health education sessions. Study results are now online and are set to appear
in the October issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism.
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Tai chi improves pain in arthritis
sufferers
The results of a new analysis have provided good evidence to suggest that Tai Chi is
beneficial for arthritis. Specifically, it was shown to decrease pain with trends towards
improving overall physical health, level of tension and satisfaction with health status.
Musculoskeletal pain, such as that experienced by people with arthritis, places a severe
burden on the patient and community and is recognized as an international health priority.
Exercise therapy including such as strengthening, stretching and aerobic programs, have
been shown to be effective for arthritic pain. Tai Chi, is a form of exercise that is
regularly practiced in China to improve overall health and well-being. It is usually
preformed in a group but is also practiced individually at one's leisure, which differs
from traditional exercise therapy approaches used in the clinic. Recently, a new study
examined the effectiveness of Tai Chi in decreasing pain and disability and improving
physical function and quality of life in people with chronic musculoskeletal pain. The
study is published in the June issue of Arthritis Care & Research. Led by Amanda Hall
of The George Institute in Sydney, Australia, researchers conducted a systematic review
and meta-analysis. They analyzed seven eligible randomized controlled trials that used Tai
Chi as the main intervention for patients with musculoskeletal pain. The results
demonstrate that Tai Chi improves pain and disability in patients suffering arthritis.
Lees verder
Statins Impair Antitumor Effects of
Rituximab by Inducing Conformational Changes of CD20
Statins were shown to interfere with both detection of CD20 and antilymphoma activity of
rituximab. These studies have significant clinical implications, as impaired binding of
mAbs to conformational epitopes of CD20 elicited by statins could delay diagnosis,
postpone effective treatment, or impair anti-lymphoma activity of rituximab.
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Risk of tuberculosis from arthritis
medication examined
Treatment with anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents is recognized as a risk factor for
tuberculosis (TB) in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases such as
rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Crohn's disease, psoriatic arthritis and
psoriasis. Most TB cases develop as a result of reactivation of a latent TB infection, and
health authorities worldwide recommend screening for latent TB and treating patients
before initiating anti-TNF treatment. A new study examined cases of TB associated with
anti-TNF therapy and found that the risk of TB is higher for patients receiving anti-TNF
monoclonal antibody therapy (infliximab or adalimumab) than for those receiving soluble
TNF receptor therapy (etanercept). The study is published in the July issue of Arthritis
& Rheumatism (http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/76509746/home). Led by Xavier
Mariette of the Université Paris-Sud, researchers set up a national registry in France to
collect all cases of TB occurring during a three-year period in patients receiving
anti-TNF therapy for any reason. Researchers collected data on 69 cases of TB, assessing
risk factors for TB before anti-TNF therapy began and anti-TNF treatment history.
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The Potential Effect of Statins on
Rituximab Immunotherapy
Assuming long-term statin treatment does indeed substantially reduce CD20 detection in
vivo, two obvious changes to clinical management should be made. First, extensive use of
statins for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia should be a contraindication for the use
of CD20 as a diagnostic marker for mature B cells. Second, statins should be removed from
the treatment of patients with either malignant or autoimmune disease who are required to
undergo CD20-specific therapy.
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Chondroitin Slows Progression and
Relieves Symptoms of Knee Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) causes disability and is a major public health problem. A new study
examined the effect of chondroitins 4 and 6 sulfate (CS) on OA progression and symptoms.
CS, unlike other chondroitin sulfate products sold as dietary supplements in the U.S., has
been approved as a prescription symptomatic slow acting drug for OA in many European
countries. The study was published in the February issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism
(http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/76509746/home). Led by Andre Kahan of the
University of Paris Descartes in Paris, the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled
study involved 622 patients with OA from France, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria and the
U.S. Patients had knee X-rays at the time of enrollment and at 12, 18 and 24 months. The
X-rays were evaluated for joint space loss and patients were also assessed for OA symptoms
and pain.
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Exposure to Traffic and Risk of
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Consistent associations between cigarette smoking and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may be
mediated by chronic inflammation and oxidative stress. Hart et al. (p. 1065) studied
90,297 U.S. women in the Nurses’ Health Study to determine whether particulate air
pollution, another potential cause of systemic inflammation, might also be a risk factor
for RA. The authors used Cox proportional hazard models to estimate the association
between incident RA (between 1976 and 2004) and residential proximity to roads, a proxy
measure of exposure to traffic-related air pollution. Women living within 50 m of a road
had an increased risk of RA compared with women living ? 200 m from a road [adjusted
hazard ratio (HR) = 1.31; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.98–1.74], with a somewhat
stronger association estimated for nonsmokers [HR = 1.62 (95% CI, 1.04–2.52)].
However, women living 50–200 m from a road did not appear to have an increased risk
of RA relative to other women. The authors conclude that results were consistent with an
effect of traffic-related air pollution on RA, but recommend that more specific measures
of exposure be used in future research.
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Mediterranean diet may benefit
arthritis sufferers
The traditional diets of people in the Mediterranean region tend to be high in fruits,
vegetables, fish and olive oil, and comparatively low in red meat. A number of studies
have linked this style of eating to alower risk of heart disease, but there has also been
some evidence that it's beneficial for people with rheumatoid arthritis, or RA.
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'Bee sting honey' for arthritis
A New Zealand company is seeking EU approval to market honeybee venom to help people with
arthritis ease their pain.
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Childhood Arthritis - Common but
Preventable Consequence of Lyme Disease
When left untreated, children infected with Lyme disease can experience many severe
complications as a result including arthritis, problems with the heart or central nervous
system. Early detection is the key to preventing the lasting complications seen frequently
at Hospital for Special Surgery.Lyme disease in children is often overlooked in its
earliest stages, leading to these complications later on, according to Emma Jane
MacDermott, M.D., pediatric rheumatologist at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.
This problem is particularly common in the Northeast: the ticks that carry the disease are
found in this area and up to 90 percent of the cases occur here. After the initial
exposure, which occurs when a tick bites an infected animal — usually a deer or a
mouse — and then feeds on a child, the disease is considered to be in its early
stage. Lyme disease first presents with a rash occurring at the site of the tick bite.
“This rash may be completely red, but usually develops a pale area in the center that
makes it look like a bull’s eye,” said Dr. MacDermott. “Symptoms of early
disease occur within days or weeks of the bite and resemble the flu. In fact, early
disease is often dismissed as a viral infection in children and therefore not
treated.” Children can progress to ‘late disease’ if their illness is not
recognized and treated, often many months later. “This can involve the heart, nervous
system and very commonly the joints,” explained Dr. MacDermott. “More than half
of untreated patients may develop arthritis and Lyme arthritis can affect any joint.
Arthritis often involves one large joint, usually the knee, which rapidly becomes markedly
swollen and painful, but symptoms may be more subtle.”
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Study finds reduced vitamin B6 and
elevated homocysteine levels more prevalent in rheumatoid arthritis patients
The March, 2008 edition of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association published a
report by Kathleen Woolf, PhD, RD of Arizona State University in Mesa, and Melinda M.
Manore, PhD, RD of Oregon State University in Corvallis which revealed that women with
rheumatoid arthritis have higher homocysteine levels and lower vitamin B6 levels than
women without the disease.
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Considering Anemia when Treating
Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients
“Since anemia afflicts such a large proportion of patients with RA, it should be an
important consideration in clinical assessment and management,” stated Dr. Daniel
Furst, a rheumatologist and Professor at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine.
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A natural mineral supplement
provides relief from knee osteoarthritis symptoms
This small preliminary study suggested that a multi mineral supplement (Aquamin) may
reduce the pain and stiffness of osteoarthritis of the knee over 12 weeks of treatment and
warrants further study. Aquamin is composed of multiple minerals and the 'active
ingredient' for the complex is difficult to determine. A number of the minerals in Aquamin
may have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties which might directly and/or
indirectly influence the efficacy of this unique complex. While the prominent mineral
present in Aquamin is calcium (dosage = 80% Ca U.S RDA), its role in joint health is
unclear. Magnesium however, was given at the daily dosage providing 14% (male) to 18%
(female) U.S. RDA [12] and over the course of this study, this increased consumption of
magnesium may have influenced OA symptoms by affecting the utilization of calcium or by
potentially reducing inflammation around the affected joint. Both manganese and selenium
were given at the daily dosage providing up to 16% and 4% of their RDA respectfully. Both
of these trace minerals have been reported to reduce the appearance of osteoarthritic
lesions and reduce the severity of symptoms in OA.
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Comparison of glucosamine sulfate
and a polyherbal supplement for the relief of osteoarthritis of the knee
Both reparagen and glucosamine sulfate produced substantial improvements in pain,
stiffness and function in subjects with osteoarthritis. Response rates were high and the
safety profile was excellent, with significantly less rescue medication use with
reparagen. Reparagen represents a new natural productive alternative in the management of
joint health.
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Rheumatoid arthritis as a modifier
of periodontitis
Periodontitis is a chronic tissue-destructive condition in which the tooth-supporting
collagen fibers of ligament and bone are broken down mainly by the host’s
overreactive immune inflammatory response. The relation between periodontitis and other
chronic inflammatory destructive diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), has been
dealt with in some studies because, in spite of their different etiologies, similar
mechanisms of tissue destruction have been described in these conditions. The findings
concerning the periodontal conditions of adults with RA are disputed. Some studies have
shown no association between the two conditions while others have supported a worse
periodontal status in these patients. Little is known about the oral conditions of
individuals with the forms of arthritis that affect children and adolescents, i.e.
juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), except for a higher caries prevalence. Information
regarding periodontitis in JIA subjects is lacking and thus is needed.In conclusion, this
thesis shows that adolescents with JIA, especially those more systemically affected, have
a worse periodontal condition than controls. However, longitudinally, the effects of
disease remission and anti-rheumatic treatment are potentially able to modulate the
inflammatory process in the periodontium.
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Gender bias may affect care of
people with osteoarthritis, study finds
Unconscious prejudices among doctors may explain why women complaining of knee pain are
less likely than men to be recommended for total knee replacement surgery, a study in
today's issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal suggests.
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Potassium Supplementation May
Reduce Pain in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
The results of this study suggest that in hypokalemic patients with active RA,
supplementation with potassium may be a safe and effective way of alleviating pain.
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Health Salon - arthritis
Your Source for Cutting Edge Information in Alternative Health Care thats hard to find.
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Nitric oxide in inflammation and
pain associated with osteoarthritis
he role played by NO in the function of normal and pathological joints is still
incompletely understood. Although it is clear that NO and RNOS both play a role in the OA
disease process, as well as in the perception of pain, studies analyzing the effects of
NO-donating agents in both chondrocytes and other cell types are providing insights that
suggest that there are also protective functions for NO and its redox derivatives in
individual cell types. Future research into the role played by NO in OA and the utility of
NO-donating agents may provide a new therapeutic option for the treatment of OA with an
improved risk profile compared with currently available therapies.
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Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients do
Worse After a Heart Attack
Following a heart attack, people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) suffer greater
heart-related complications, including an increased risk for dying, when compared to other
heart attack patients, according to research presented this week at the American College
of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in San Francisco. Mayo Clinic researchers
determined that patients with RA do suffer higher mortality and are at higher risk of
heart failure after a heart attack, but reasons for the increase are still unknown. The
results of this study emphasize the need for better strategies for prevention, diagnosis
and treatment of heart attacks in these patients.
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Rheumatoid Arthritis Rising Among
Women
After four decades on the decline, rheumatoid arthritis is on the upswing among women in
the United States. That's the finding presented by Mayo Clinic investigators at the annual
meeting of the American College of Rheumatology/Association of Rheumatology Health
Professionals in San Francisco."This is a significant finding and an indicator that
more research needs to be done to better understand the causes and treatment of this
devastating disease," says Sherine Gabriel, M.D., Mayo Clinic rheumatologist and lead
investigator on the study.>From 1955 to 1994, the incidence of rheumatoid arthritis had
continually been on the decline. That apparently changed beginning in the mid-1990s. When
Mayo researchers analyzed patient data from early 1995 to the start of 2005, they found
that both the incidence and prevalence (percentage) of the condition were rising.
Lees verder
Chlamydia May Play Role In a Type
of Arthritis
Spondylarthritis (SpA) represents a group of arthritidies that share clinical features
such as inflammatory back pain and inflammation at sites where tendons attach to bone. It
includes ankylosing spondylitis (AS), psoriatic arthritis, inflammatory
bowel-disease-related arthritis, reactive arthritis (ReA) and undifferentiated
spondylarthritides (uSpA). Since Chlamydia trachomatis or Chlamydia pneumoniae (which are
often asymptomatic) frequently cause ReA, a new study examined whether there was a
connection between these two infections and uSpA. The study was published in the May issue
of Arthritis & Rheumatism (http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/76509746/home).
Led by John D. Carter of theUniversity of South Florida, the study involved blood and
synovial tissue analysis from 26 patients who had chronic uSpA or Chlamydia-induced ReA.
Synovial tissue samples from 167 osteoarthritis patients were used as controls. Samples
were analyzed to assess chlamydial DNA and the 26 subjects were asked if they had any
known exposure to Chlamydia trachomatis or Chlamydia pneumoniae and if so, the infection
was documented in relation to the onset of their uSpA. They also underwent a physical exam
that included evaluation of swollen and tender joints and other symptoms of SpA. The
results showed that the rate of Chlamydia infection was 62 percent in uSpA patients,
significantly higher than the 12 percent seen in control subjects.
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Researchers identify new risk
factor gene for rheumatoid arthritis
Scientists at The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research and a team of collaborators
from across the country have identified a new risk factor gene for rheumatoid arthritis.
The paper will be published in Nature Genetics and the finding brings light to the nature
of the disease. The gene, dubbed REL, is a member of the NF-?B family, important
transcription factors that have many roles in the body. The NF-?B family seems to have a
big hand in regulating the body's immune response as well. "The NF-?B is a key
switching point for many cellular activities," said Peter K. Gregersen, MD, head of
the Robert S. Boas Center for Genomics and Human Genetics at the Feinstein Institute and
lead author of the study. Dr. Gregersen is part of a nationwide consortium of
investigators seeking to identify risk genes for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The hope is to
figure out the genetic triggers and identify treatments that block this autoimmune
process. In theory, such advances can point the way to understanding other autoimmune
disorders. About one percent of the population will develop rheumatoid arthritis, which
can be crippling. REL is a key regulator of CD40, which works through the NF-?B pathway.
"This paper represents the latest in a series of important publications chronicling
an exceptionally productive collaboration between extramural and intramural scientists
through the North American Rheumatoid Arthritis Consortium," said Daniel Kastner, MD,
PhD, clinical director of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin
Diseases. "In describing yet another gene in the CD40 signaling pathway that is
involved in rheumatoid arthritis susceptibility, this paper reinforces the possibility of
targeting this pathway in selected patients with this debilitating illness." The
consortium has helped identify many genes involved in rheumatoid arthritis but this
genetic finding is significant because of its key role in immune system regulation. It did
not reveal itself in previous genetic studies because the sample size was just not large
enough. In previous studies, genetic samples from about 2,000 patients were used to
identify markers associated with risk for RA. In the latest study, the scientists analyzed
samples from 4,000 RA patients and controls. According to Dr. Gregersen, this particular
genetic variant is rather common, found in about a third of people in North America. That
means that it must confer an important survival advantage. That said, scientists need to
figure out its role in increasing the risk for RA. Next on the research agenda is to see
if they can measure how the gene is regulated under specific conditions that set the stage
for RA. "There are a huge number of unknowns," said Dr. Gregersen. "These
findings are clear – this pathway is involved – but there is a lot of work to be
done." Genetic differences between individuals help scientists understand many
diseases. But this is just the beginning, added Dr. Gregersen. Today, most markers that
are used to identify genes represent variants that occur in more than five percent of the
population. The next wave in genetic screening will have to include the variants that
occur in less than one percent of the population.
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$1.4M Grant to UMDNJ to Study
Impact of Massage on Osteoarthritis
The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) has received a $1.4 million
federal grant for a two-year study to determine the optimal dosing regimen of massage that
benefits patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. Dr. Adam Perlman, MD, M.P.H., executive
director of the Institute for Complementary & Alternative Medicine at the UMDNJ-School
of Health Related Professions, is the study’s principal investigator. Perlman led a
2006 pilot study which demonstrated that a course of Swedish massage was safe, and
decreased pain and increased function, for patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. Pilot
study results were published in Annals of Internal Medicine in December 2006. The new
study will build upon that pilot study. “Safe and effective adjunct treatments for
osteoarthritis are extremely important,” Perlman said, “in light of the pain and
disability caused by this condition, the prevalence (more than 21 million Americans), and
the high rates of undesirable side effects associated with current drug treatments.”
Perlman is the UMDNJ Endowed Professor of Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Chair
of the Department of Primary Care at the UMDNJ-School of Health Related
Professions.According to Perlman, a total of 125 participants will be enrolled in this
study. Subjects will be randomly assigned to one of five groups – a usual care group
or one of four different massage groups. Among the massage groups, massages will vary by
length (one hour versus 30 minutes) and frequency (once a week versus twice a week) over a
two-month period.
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Natural Therapeutic Treatments for
Arthritis
New natural treatments may help improve the quality of life for more than 21 million
osteoarthritis (OA) sufferers, according to new research presented at the 2009 Institute
of Food Technologists (IFT) Annual Meeting and Food Expo®. Studies show that a novel,
natural chicken derivative is more effective and longer-lasting than traditional
chondroitin and glucosamine treatments. OA causes localized joint inflammation, often with
crippling effects. Conventional medicines used to treat OA include non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, which can cause gastric injury. Alternatives
such as rofecoxib and valdecoxib increase the rise of cardiovascular dysfunctions,
including stroke. The new natural arthritis treatments do not have these side effects,
making them more appealing to those with arthritis symptoms. Studies show that UC-II, a
novel undenatured type II collagen derived from chicken sternum cartilage, decreased
arthritis pain scores by 33 percent, compared to 14 percent in groups treated with
glucosamine and chondroitin. "In addition, the UC-II continued to work even after the
glucosamine-chondroitin results plateaued, making it more effective over time," said
Manashi Bagchi, Ph.D., of Interhealth Nutraceuticals, Inc., Benicia, CA. In studies with
arthritic dogs and horses, daily treatment with UC-II markedly alleviated arthritis
symptom as well. The natural supplements were tolerated well with no adverse effects.
Lees verder
Inhibiting Proteins May Prevent
Cartilage Breakdown in Arthritis Patients
Current arthritis medications can ease the pain, but stopping the progression of the
disease requires more aggressive treatments: use of very limited available drugs or
surgical intervention. University of Missouri researchers hope to find new therapeutic
targets for arthritis by studying the interaction between two proteins that, if
interrupted, may prevent arthritis pain caused by joint damage. In a new study,
researchers have found potential evidence that blocking the proteins responsible for
inducing inflammation prevents cartilage breakdown. “We are looking to intervene in
specific molecular events to prevent the depletion of cartilage in arthritis,” said
Bimal K. Ray, professor of veterinary pathobiology in the MU College of Veterinary
Medicine. “Certain proteins play a major role in the development of arthritis. When
we understand how these proteins interact, we will have a better idea of how to slow or
even reverse the progression of the disease.” When the human body develops arthritis,
specific protein functions are altered and inflammation is triggered, leading to pain. In
the MU study, Ray examined the interaction between the proteins AP-1 and SAF-1 and found
that the interaction of these proteins plays a significant role in inducing inflammation.
SAF-1 and AP-1 can partner to work together to induce activation of the MMP-1 gene causing
breakdown of collagen (the proteins that constitute cartilage). Arthritis patients start
to experience pain when cartilage starts to erode.
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Genetic pathway responsible for
link between body clock disturbance and worsening arthritis
The genes that regulate human circadian rhythm, or 'the body clock', are significantly
disturbed in individuals with arthritis, according to the results of a new study presented
today at EULAR 2009, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism in
Copenhagen, Denmark. Notably, a specific genetic pathway has been identified as
responsible for interactions between the genes that regulate the body clock and those that
may worsen symptoms of arthritis. In a sample of 200 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients,
sleep was determined to be significantly disturbed in over 61%, as determined by a
Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score of >5 (the PSQI global score was 8.55
±4.69). These values were shown to correlate with several measures of arthritis disease
activity, including levels of c-reactive protein, swollen joint count and DAS28*. A
further element of the study looked into the expression patterns of certain genes in mice
with arthritis. Here, researchers identified a novel biochemical pathway in which the
circadian regulatory gene CRY was found to up-regulate expression of a gene which promotes
the activation of TNF-alpha (tumour necrosis factor-alpha, a pro-inflammatory cytokine
used by the body to boost the immune system) by two fold, when comparing mice with the CRY
gene removed to those with a normal copy of the gene. Professor Shunichi Shiozawa of Kobe
University Graduate School of Medicine and University Hospital, Japan, who led the
research said: "Our study has shown that arthritis interferes with the genetics
behind an individual's circadian rhythm and, specifically, that certain body clock genes
may play a part in the activation of TNF-alpha, a signaling molecule that has an important
role in the inflammation commonly seen in a number of rheumatologic conditions. The
identification of this curious pathway may help to explain the 24-hour symptom cycle seen
by many patients who experience worsening of joint pain and stiffness in the mornings, and
lead to further research into new approaches for improving daily quality of life."
Lees verder
New imaging technique ensures rapid
profiling autoantibodies in rheumatoid arthritis
Using a new imaging technique, a fast and accurate profile of auto-antibodies present in
the blood serum of rheumatic patients can be made. This profile can give valuable
information about the progress of the disease. A unique feature of this so-called Surface
Plasmon Resonance (SPR) technique is that it directly tests on blood serum, without
complex preprocessing. A special chip will enable many parallel tests. Scientists from the
University of Twente and the Radboud University Nijmegen, both in The Netherlands, will
publish about the new imaging technique in the Journal of the American Chemical Society
(JACS).
Lees verder
New insights into inflammation in
osteoarthritis
The most common degenerative joint disease, osteoarthritis (OA) is marked by the breakdown
of articular cartilage, which is the type of cartilage that lines the ends of most limb
bones. It can afflict any joint—fingers, toes, wrists, ankles, elbows, shoulders, and
the spine, as well as the weight-bearing knees and hips. As OA progresses, sufferers often
experience inflammation around the affected joint. This inflammation has been attributed
to bits of cartilage breaking off and aggravating the synovium, the thin, smooth membrane
lining a joint. Yet, MRI detection of prominent synovitis in early OA—when joint
cartilage appears normal—suggests that other joint structures may be involved in
triggering this inflammation. Recent studies of inflammation in spinal arthritis implicate
the enthesis, which is the attachment site of ligament or tendon to bone as being a
potential driving factor in joint inflammation.
Lees verder
New clues to healing arthritis
caused by traumatic injury
A strain of laboratory mice that has "superhealing" powers has been found to
resist inflammation after a knee injury, and also to avoid developing arthritis at the
injury site in the long term, according to researchers at Duke University Medical Center.
Their findings illuminate the mechanisms of post-traumatic arthritis and could point to
therapies for this condition, which commonly afflicts younger people who lose productivity
during their prime working years. "After a patient's traumatic injury, orthopaedic
surgeons realign the joint surface as anatomically as possible and then hope for the
best," said Steven A. Olson, MD, FACS, principal investigator of the post-traumatic
arthritis project and chief of the Duke orthopaedic trauma section. "They haven't
been thinking about why patients with injuries are subsequently getting arthritis. Our
research examines how we could possibly prevent arthritis development with growth factors
and anti-inflammatory therapies after a fracture, either before or at the time of the
surgery to fix it." Olson said 10 percent of all arthritis cases - about 4.6 million
- are post-traumatic arthritis patients, many of whom suffer for years and are too young
for joint replacement surgeries. The economic cost thus is about $12.8 billion annually
for this group, according to Arthritis Foundation statistics. The scientists examined the
differences in inflammatory response between two types of mice: one type known as
superhealers (or MRL/MpJ) versus a strain of control mice (C57BL/6). Previously,
scientists discovered that the superhealer mice had such regenerative powers that holes
made in their ears for lab identification purposes grew over completely with no sign of
scar tissue. Earlier work done at Duke showed no differences between healthy and fractured
limbs when the superhealers healed from a fracture of the knee joint.
Lees
verder
Meditation therapy for rheumatoid
arthritis patients
Mindfulness-based stress reduction shows promise for easing psychological distress
associated with disease symptoms.
Lees verder
Fruit may help joint problems
People who reported consuming the highest amounts of vitamin C, primarily from eating
fruit, were the least likely to have developed bone changes associated with
osteoarthritis.
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The Hidden Cause of Many
Inflammatory Disorders
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the estimated cases of
arthritis alone will be 21.4 million by end of 2005. However, because of the influx of
aging baby boomers, those figures are expected to rise to 41.1 million by 2030 in North
America alone - not taking into account all other forms of inflammatory disorders,
including heart disease.
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Modulation of immune function by
dietary lectins in rheumatoid arthritis
Despite the almost universal clinical observation that inflammation of the gut is
frequently associated with inflammation of the joints and vice versa, the nature of this
relationship remains elusive. In the present review, we provide evidence for how the
interaction of dietary lectins with enterocytes and lymphocytes may facilitate the
translocation of both dietary and gut-derived pathogenic antigens to peripheral tissues,
which in turn causes persistent peripheral antigenic stimulation. In genetically
susceptible individuals, this antigenic stimulation may ultimately result in the
expression of overt rheumatoid arthritis (RA) via molecular mimicry, a process whereby
foreign peptides, similar in structure to endogenous peptides, may cause antibodies or
Tlymphocytes to cross-react with both foreign and endogenous peptides and thereby break
immunological tolerance. By eliminating dietary elements, particularly lectins, which
adversely influence both enterocyte and lymphocyte structure and function, it is proposed
that the peripheral antigenic stimulus (both pathogenic and dietary) will be reduced and
thereby result in a diminution of disease symptoms in certain patients with RA.
Lees
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Diagnosis of arthritis 5 years
earlier in childless women compared to those with children
Nulliparous women (those who have not given birth to children) are diagnosed with chronic
arthritides (including ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid
arthritis (RA) an average of 5.2 years before parous women (those who have given birth to
children), according to a new study presented today at EULAR 2009, the Annual Congress of
the European League Against Rheumatism in Copenhagen, Denmark. Previous studies have
highlighted that pregnancy may be a protective factor against the development of RA,
whereas this is the first study to assess the effect of pregnancy and having children on
the development of chronic arthritic conditions in premenopausal women. Within the study,
the mean age at time of diagnosis for nulliparous women was 26 years, compared with 31.2
years for parous women (p<0.001). Rheumatoid factor (an autoantibody sometimes found in the immune systems of people with RA) was also present in 37.1% of the nulliparous women compared with 41.1% of the parous women (p="0.21)," which, although not statistically significant, may indicate that the parous women studied may possess a higher disposition to developing arthritis than the nulliparous women. Dr Marianne Wallenius, of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway, who led the study, said: "Arthritic conditions tend to occur more commonly in women, particularly those of childbearing age. Some symptoms of RA, for example, can improve during pregnancy, but our study indicates that the processes of pregnancy and childbearing could delay the onset of arthritic conditions. Continued examination of the complex interactions between the female reproductive processes and the epidemiology of RA could yield further interesting insights." The retrospective study analysed 557 women aged 18-45 years from the Norwegian Disease Modifying Antirheumatic Drug (NOR-DMARD) study, who were all diagnosed with chronic arthritides before the age of 45 years. Information about parous status was confirmed through linking the NOR-DMARD patient cohort with the Medical Birth Registry of Norway (MBRN). Lees verder
Arthritis is Built-Up Toxicity in
the Joints
According the Associated Press, patients, particularly arthritis patients, are
"fretting" over reduced access to acetaminophen, a drug that's known to cause
liver damage. One patient claims the lack of access to this known poison might encourage
those in pain to turn to street drugs for relief. While no one wants to be in pain, the
real shame is that it's not common knowledge that arthritis is often simply a build up of
toxic matter in the joints - toxic matter that can be removed by deeply cleansing the body
internally. The inflammation of the surrounding tissues occurs as a result of the
proximity to these acidic toxins hidden in the joints.
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verder
Manchester researchers identify
gene behind rheumatoid arthritis
University of Manchester researchers have identified a genetic variant in a region on
chromosome 6 that is associated with rheumatoid arthritis, the most common inflammatory
arthritis affecting 387,000 people in the UK.
Lees verder
Seaweed supplement may aid knee
arthritis
A mineral supplement derived from seaweed may help people with knee arthritis cut down on
painkillers, a preliminary study suggests.
Lees verder
Two faces for TNF-alpha in
antiviral and antitumor immunity
Antagonists of the soluble factor TNF-alpha are used to treat individuals with
inflammatory and autoimmune diseases mediated by immune cells known as T cells, e.g.
rheumatoid arthritis. Despite this there are contradictory reports as to the effects of
TNF-alpha on T cell responses. New research in mice by Pamela Ohashi and colleagues at the
Ontario Cancer Institute, Toronto, has provided a potential explanation for these
contradictory reports by demonstrating that the inflammatory milieu is a critical factor
in determining the importance of TNF-alpha to the T cell response.
Lees verder
Tracking levels of key biomarkers
reflects disease activity and progression of rheumatoid arthritis
New research has identified biomarkers associated with inflammation and progression in
joint erosion in individuals with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to the
results of a new study presented today at EULAR 2009, the Annual Congress of the European
League Against Rheumatism in Copenhagen, Denmark. The researchers suggest a potential role
for these biomarkers in the monitoring of ongoing disease activity through assessing
inflammation and joint destruction, two important targets for the treatment of early
RA.Over the 12-month study period, levels of the serological biomarkers sYKL-40 and sMMP3
were consistently associated with three measures of disease activity: MRI (RAMRIS (RA MRI
score) synovitis score and RAMRIS bone marrow oedema score) and clinical scores (DAS28*)
of inflammation (p<0.05), when the analyses were corrected for age, gender, c-reactive protein (CRP, a marker for inflammation) levels and treatment type. The bone marker sCTX1 and the cartilage marker uCTXII were also shown to be predictors of erosive progression (RAMRIS erosion score; beta 2.42 (95%CI 0.48-4.36)). Dr Silje Syversen of Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Norway, who led the study, said: "Disease monitoring in RA can be problematic and patients 'at-risk' of future irreversible joint destruction can go undetected. Current predictors of joint destruction such as radiographic abnormalities are signs of later-stage disease development. Biomarkers could offer a novel, more sensitive, rapid and reliable approach to disease monitoring and prediction, and importantly could be useful predictors of bone and cartilage damage before such abnormalities have occurred." In the study, 84 patients with early RA (disease duration <1 year, mean age 58.4 years, 73.9% females, 55% anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPA) positive) were assessed at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months including clinical examination, conventional radiographs (CR) of the hands and MRI scans of the dominant wrist. RAMRIS score (erosions range 0-150, synovitis range 0-9 and bone marrow oedema range 0-45) was used to evaluate MRI images and the van der Heijde modified Sharp score (vdHSS) was used for for the CRs. Lees verder
Increased levels of certain
cytokines and chemokines predict onset of rheumatoid arthritis
Up-regulation of certain cytokines and chemokines (signaling molecules involved in the
functioning of the immune system) can predict the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
three years before the onset of symptoms, according to the results of a new study
presented today at EULAR 2009, the Annual Congress of the European League Against
Rheumatism in Copenhagen, Denmark. The results of the study showed that up-regulation of
certain cytokines (specifically Th1, Th2 and Treg) involved in the growth and
proliferation of various cells integral to the immune system, predicted which individuals
go on to develop RA. Interestingly, post-disease onset, chemokines, stromal cell and
angiogenic-related markers were important in differentiating up-regulation in those who
had developed RA compared to findings in the same individual before symptoms of RA.
Cytokines and chemokines are small signalling molecules which are integral to the immune
system, as they mediate and regulate immunity, inflammation, and the development of blood
cells (haematopoiesis). In this study, several of these molecules, as well as some
cytokine receptors, showed significantly increased levels before disease onset compared
with controls (median 3.3 years before symptoms), indicating general immune activation (p<0.05-0.001)* and therefore a progression of disease activity. The levels were seen to be particularly elevated in individuals identified as being ACPA- (anti-citrullinated peptide antibody) and RF- (rheumatoid factor) positive (both known risk factors for RA), and most of the concentrations increased further after disease onset. Notably, the concentration of interleukin 17 (IL-17, a cytokine which acts as a regulator of multiple immune functions) was found to be significantly higher before onset compared with post-diagnosis (p>0.01).
Prof Solbritt Rantapää Dahlqvist, of the University Hospital Umeå, Sweden, who led the
study said: "Our findings add another important piece to the complex puzzle of
pathophysiological processes responsible for the occurrence of RA. Understanding more
about what happens in the body, to precipitate the onset of RA, could potentially
contribute to the development of new strategies for the treatment and even prevention of
this debilitating disease."
Lees verder
Immune cells from patients with
rheumatoid arthritis have prematurely aged chromosomes
Telomeres, structures that cap the ends of cells' chromosomes, grow shorter with each
round of cell division unless a specialized enzyme replenishes them. Maintaining telomeres
is thought to be important for healthy aging and cancer prevention. By this measure, T
cells, or white blood cells, from patients with the autoimmune disease rheumatoid
arthritis are worn out and prematurely aged, scientists at Emory University School of
Medicine have discovered. Compared with cells from healthy people, T cells from patients
with rheumatoid arthritis have trouble turning on the enzyme that replenishes telomeres,
they found. Reversing this defect could possibly help people prone to the disease maintain
a balanced immune system.The results are published online this week in Proceedings of the
National Academy of Sciences. In rheumatoid arthritis, T cells are chronically
over-stimulated, invading the tissue of the joints and causing painful inflammation. This
derangement can be seen as a result of the loss of the immune system's ability to
discriminate friend from foe, says senior author Cornelia Weyand, MD, PhD, co-director of
the Kathleen B. and Mason I. Lowance Center for Human Immunology at Emory University. In
childhood, new T cells are continually produced in the thymus, she says. But after about
age 40, the thymus "involutes" – or shrinks and ceases to function. After
that, the immune system has to make do with the pool of T cells it already has. "What
we see in rheumatoid arthritis is an aged and more restricted T cell repertoire," she
says. "This biases the immune system toward autoimmunity." Weyand, postdoctoral
fellow Hiroshi Fujii, MD, PhD, and their colleagues were interested in mechanisms of T
cells' premature aging, because scientists had previously observed that in rheumatoid
arthritis, T cells tend to shift the molecules on their surface and function differently.
They found the answer in telomerase, the enzyme that renews telomeres and is necessary to
prevent loss of genetic information after repeated cell division.
Lees verder
artritis
Arthritis trust of America articles
Fighting Back Against Arthritis, useful articles.
Lees verder
artritis
Avoid Pills in 7 Common Ills
In the April 2008 issue of the Harvard Health Letter, researchers highlight how to manage
seven common conditions without taking medication. While no one should stop taking
prescribed medication without talking to a doctor, the researchers write that with
discipline, the nonpharmacological approach can do as much as pills in many cases.
Lees verder
artritis
Natural product discovery by Cleveland medical researchers blocks tissue destruction
Scientists at Case Western Reserve University's School of Medicine have published in the
Journal of Inflammation a remarkable discovery with a natural product derived from the
Amazon rainforest. The discovery's unique actions suggest a broad set of applications in
various joint, skin and gastrointestinal diseases, including osteoarthritis and irritable
bowel syndrome.
Lees verder
artritis
Knee arthritis link to lung cancer
Arthritis of the knee may be the first sign of a type of lung cancer that is hard to treat
in heavy smokers, suggests research published ahead of print in the Annals of the
Rheumatic Diseases. The researchers reviewed the case notes of all patients with rheumatic
disorders, diagnosed at one tertiary referral centre over six years.
Lees verder
artritis
Protein discovery brings hope of new treatments for arthritis and osteoporosis
British researchers have identified a protein that could lead to the development of new
treatments for osteoarthritis and osteoporosis.
Lees
verder
artritis
Study identifies genetic risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis, lupus
A genetic variation has been identified that increases the risk of two chronic, autoimmune
inflammatory diseases: rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus).
These research findings result from a long-time collaboration between the Intramural
Research Program of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin
Diseases and other organizations.
Lees verder
New Study Shows Seaweed Supplement
Can Ease Your Arthritis Pain
A new study reveals that a supplement derived from seaweed can lead to a reduction of
inflammation in knee arthritis.
Lees
verder
Groundbreaking, inexpensive, pocket-sized ultrasound device can help treat
cancer, relieve arthritis
A prototype of a therapeutic ultrasound device, developed by a Cornell graduate student,
fits in the palm of a hand, is battery-powered and packs enough punch to stabilize a
gunshot wound or deliver drugs to brain cancer patients. It is wired to a ceramic probe,
called a transducer, and it creates sound waves so strong they instantly cause water to
bubble, spray and turn into steam.
Lees verder
Pediatric researchers find possible
'master switch' gene in juvenile arthritis
Researchers have found that a gene region known to play a role in some varieties of adult
rheumatoid arthritis is also present in all types of childhood arthritis. The researchers
say the responsible gene may be a "master switch" that helps turn on the
debilitating disease.
Lees
verder
Heavy birthweight increases risk of
developing rheumatoid arthritis
People who have a birthweight over 10 pounds are twice as likely to develop rheumatoid
arthritis when they are adults compared to individuals born with an average birthweight,
according to a study published by researchers from Hospital for Special Surgery online in
advance of print in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. While the mechanism for this
association is unclear, the study identifies a potentially modifiable risk factor and
highlights a potential way to decrease the incidence of the disease.
Lees
verder
Antibodies produced within joints
in rheumatoid arthritis
Studying joint biopsies from people with rheumatoid arthritis, Costantino Pitzalis of
Barts and the London School of Medicine and colleagues found that tiny structures in the
joint lining mimic key functions of antibody-producing lymph nodes, and can support the
production of specific antibodies that may play a role in joint destruction. They found
that these processes continued after joint tissue bearing the lymphoid structures was
transplanted into mice without immune systems of their own, indicating that potentially
destructive antibody production within joints can proceed independently of the body's
lymph nodes.
Lees verder
Biologic treatment for rheumatoid
arthritis and the risk of cancer
Findings of various clinical trials and observational studies conflict over the risk of
malignancy related to the use of tumor necrosis factor alpha blockers.
Lees verder
Scripps research scientists find
cause of cartilage degeneration in osteoarthritis
The scientists describe their work in this week's Early Edition of the Proceedings of the
National Academy of Sciences. In the study, the team shows how the loss of the protein
HMGB2, found in the surface layer of joint cartilage, leads to the progressive
deterioration of the cartilage that is the hallmark of osteoarthritis."We have found
the mechanism that begins to explain how and why aging leads to deterioration of articular
cartilage," says Scripps Research Professor Martin Lotz, M.D., a world-renowned
arthritis researcher who led the study with Noboru Taniguchi, M.D., Ph.D., a senior
research associate in his lab. "Our findings demonstrate a direct link between the
loss of this protein and osteoarthritis."Osteoarthritis typically begins with a
disruption of the surface layer of cartilage. The cartilage surface layer, called the
superficial zone, is the most important functionally of the four layers of cartilage
present in joints. In normal joints the cartilage surface is perfectly smooth, enabling
joints to slide across one another without friction. Once the cartilage of the superficial
zone starts to deteriorate, though, osteoarthritis sets in, triggering an irreversible
process that eventually leads to the loss of underlying layers of cartilage until bone
begins to grind painfully against bone. Osteoarthritis most commonly affects the spine,
temporomandibular joints, shoulders, hands, hips and knees."We knew that the first
phase of osteoarthritis is the destruction of cartilage in the superficial zone,"
says Lotz, who has spent the past five years studying the role of HMGB2 in osteoarthritis.
"Now we know that before this layer is destroyed, there is loss of the critical DNA
binding protein HMGB2 and that this loss is directly related to aging."
Lees verder
Could arthritis wonder drugs
provide clues for all disease?
Drugs that have helped treat millions of rheumatoid arthritis sufferers may hold the key
to many more medical conditions, including atherosclerosis – a leading cause of heart
disease – says the researcher who jointly invented and developed them. Professor Marc
Feldmann will tell scientists attending the 2008 Congress of European Pharmacological
Societies (EPHAR) – hosted by the British Pharmacological Society – that drugs
he and colleagues helped develop have already proved successful against other autoimmune
diseases. The drugs target proteins called cytokines, which are protein messaging
molecules released by immune cells to alert the immune and other systems that the body is
under attack from a pathogen and to initiate a protective counter-response against the
infection. "In autoimmune diseases, such as arthritis, we discovered that cytokines
are over-produced causing the immune system to fight itself, resulting in inflammation and
tissue destruction," said Professor Feldmann, from Imperial College London, who is
speaking at the EPHAR 2008 conference at The University of Manchester this week. "We
further found that by blocking just one cytokine – Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) alpha
– we were able to block all the cytokines involved in the inflammation, with
remarkable clinical results."
Lees verder
Scientists Find Cause of Cartilage
Degeneration in Osteoarthritis
A team led by scientists at The Scripps Research Institute has found an important link
between a protein that declines with age and the development of osteoarthritis, the most
common disease of aging affecting nearly 27 million Americans. The finding opens the door
to developing effective new treatments for osteoarthritis. Currently, no treatment for
this degenerative disease exists apart from palliative drugs for pain and inflammation.
The scientists describe their work in the January 12, 2009, Early Edition of the
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. In the study, the team shows how the loss
of the protein HMGB2, found in the surface layer of joint cartilage, leads to the
progressive deterioration of the cartilage that is the hallmark of osteoarthritis.
"We have found the mechanism that begins to explain how and why aging leads to
deterioration of articular cartilage," says Scripps Research Professor Martin Lotz, a
world-renowned arthritis researcher who led the study with Noboru Taniguchi, a senior
research associate in his lab. "Our findings demonstrate a direct link between the
loss of this protein and osteoarthritis."
Lees verder
Frankincense 'can ease arthritis'
A herb known as "Indian Frankincense" can reduce the symptoms of arthritis, US
researchers have suggested.
Lees verder
U of M researchers discover a
pathway to turn off immune system cells
University of Minnesota researchers have discovered a new way to turn genes off in human T
cells, a type of white blood cell that helps the immune system fight infections. Turning
off genes, through a process known as mRNA decay, is important for regulating the body's
immune response after fighting infection. This research could lead to development of new
drugs that turn off the immune system in patients with autoimmune diseases -- such as
rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
Lees verder
Chinese suffer aches and pains too
The study also shows that elderly people in the north of China suffer the most from these
painful and chronic joint complaints including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
The prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in mainland China ranged from 0.2% to 0.37%, a
prevalence similar to most Asian and South American countries, but lower than that in
Caucasians. “Interestingly, we found that the prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis in
urban and suburban parts of Taiwan was closer to the Caucasians rate,” says Dr Qing
Yu Zeng who led the study. “These areas are more developed than mainland China. Apart
from genetic factors, it looks as if environmental and socio-economic factors might be
important risk factors for RA. That’s something we'd certainly like to investigate
further.”
Lees
verder
Osteoarthritis risk linked to
finger length ratio
People whose index finger is shorter than their ring finger are at higher risk of
osteoarthritis, a new University of Nottingham study has found.
Lees
verder
NYU, Tel Aviv University create
non-invasive imaging method for diagnosing osteoarthritis
Researchers at New York University and Tel Aviv University have developed a non-invasive
imaging method that can be used to diagnose and monitor a number of diseases, including
osteoarthritis and inter-vertebral disc degeneration, in their early stages. Their work
appears in the latest issue of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
(PNAS).
Lees verder
Protein's new role discovered in
autoimmune disease
A chemical messenger has been shown to have a previously unknown major role in autoimmune
diseases like arthritis and lupus. Investigators at the University of Alabama at
Birmingham found interleukin 17 plays a major role on shaping B cells' ability to create
more and more disease-causing antibodies, which may generate new ideas in the ongoing
search for better drug targets.
Lees verder
Krill Oil Dramatically Lowers
C-Reactive Protein
Canadian researchers published the findings of a randomized, double blind study designed
to assess the effects of Neptune Krill Oil (NKO) on levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) in
patients with chronic inflammation. The study was published in the Journal of the American
College of Nutrition.
Lees verder
Researchers identify cell group key
to Lyme disease arthritis
A research team led by the La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology and Albany
Medical College has illuminated the important role of natural killer (NK) T cells in Lyme
disease, demonstrating that the once little understood white blood cells are central to
clearing the bacterial infection and reducing the intensity and duration of arthritis
associated with Lyme disease. "Our findings are that the NK T cells are critical to
preventing the chronic inflammatory infection that causes Lyme arthritis and they
participate in clearing the bacteria which cause it," said Mitchell Kronenberg,
Ph.D., the La Jolla Institute's president & scientific director and co-senior author
on the study, which used a mouse model of Lyme disease. Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia
burgdorferi, a bacterium transmitted to humans by the bite of infected deer ticks. Typical
symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and sometimes skin rashes. If left untreated,
it can spread to the joints, the heart and the nervous system, and it can lead to serious
health problems. Lyme disease currently is the most common vector (insect)-borne disease
in the United States. "What this study demonstrates is that NK T cells are an
important part of our defense against Lyme disease," said Timothy J. Sellati, Ph.D.,
an associate professor at Albany Medical College and co-senior author on the study.
"This offers the possibility that we can exploit that knowledge therapeutically and
potentially develop immunological agents that can trigger more NK T cells to aide in
fighting this disease." Sellati added that "NK T cells alone cannot clear Lyme
disease, but are a key part of a collective immune defense." The study's findings are
outlined in a paper, "NKT cells prevent chronic joint inflammation after infection
with Borrelia burgdorferi," published this week in the online version of the journal
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Lees verder
Novel proteins could potentially
treat arthritis
Our study shows that unique ASV derived from receptors which play key roles in
angiogenesis - namely VEGFR1 and, for the first time, Tie1 - can markedly reduce arthritis
severity. More broadly, our results demonstrate that ASV are a source of novel proteins
with therapeutic potential, in diseases in which angiogenesis and cellular hyperplasia
play a central role, such as RA.
Lees verder
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