Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis and the impact of genetic factors on mortality
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Study associates DRB1 shared epitope genotypes with increased risk of death from heart disease or cancer in rheumatoid arthritis patients
A chronic autoimmune disease, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is marked by inflammation that takes a progressive toll on not only the joints, but also various organs and the whole body. RA sufferers, as many studies have shown, tend to face a high risk for early death, increasing with the severity of their symptoms. The most prevalent cause of death among RA patients is cardiovascular disease. As in the general population, classic factors such as age, hypertension, diabetes, and smoking have been implicated in the RA death rate. Little is known, however, about the specific influence of genetic factors on mortality.
Knee alignment doesn’t affect osteoarthritis risk
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Malalignment of the knee does not predict the development of osteoarthritis, but it may be an indication of disease severity or progression in individuals who already have the disease, according to a study conducted by Massachusetts-based researchers.
“We would posit, based on the findings in this study, that abnormalities in frontal plane knee alignment are typically a consequence and not a primary cause of osteoarthritis,” Dr. David J. Hunter from Boston University School of Medicine and colleagues write in the current issue of Arthritis and Rheumatism.
Arthritis makes work tough going for millions
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For almost 7 million American workers, arthritis keeps them from doing their job at peak performance, researchers estimate based on data from the 2002 National Health Interview Survey.
As part of the survey, more than 31,000 working-age adults were asked whether they had doctor-diagnosed arthritis and whether arthritis or joint symptoms limited their ability to work or the type or amount of work that they engage in.
Heart experts say Merck arthritis drug too risky
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Two prominent U.S. heart experts said studies of Merck & Co. Inc. arthritis drug Arcoxia revealed risks that should prevent its approval in the United States and that the drug posed unacceptable dangers in the 63 countries where it is already sold.
The concerns were expressed on Thursday by Steven Nissen, head of cardiology at the Cleveland Clinic, and Dr. Curt Furberg, a professor of public health at Wake Forest University who is a member of the Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
“Female” knee implants sell, but draw skepticism
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Debate about whether an artificial knee implant designed specifically for women has scientific merit continues a year after the device was launched, even as the orthopedics manufacturer racks up better-than-expected sales.
Many orthopedic surgeons say Zimmer Holdings’ female knee is a marketing gimmick, but admit that they will implant them on request.
Pain from fibromyalgia is real, experts say
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Many people with fibromyalgia—a debilitating pain syndrome that affects 2 to 4 percent of the population—have faced the question of whether the condition is real.
Based on a review of published studies, there is now “overwhelming” evidence that fibromyalgia is real, report two researchers from the University of Michigan Medical School in the journal Current Pain and Headache Reports.
Millions with Arthritis May Benefit from Bone Loss Drug
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People taking a widely used medication to strengthen fragile, aging bones may also be protecting their joints, according to a recent study led by Johns Hopkins rheumatologist Clifton Bingham, M.D.
Researchers began to wonder if risedronate might be used to treat osteoarthritis after noticing that the drug, and other compounds in the same class of drugs, not only slowed joint damage in animals, but also reduced cartilage-irritating bone lesions in humans.
Mayo study examines link between rheumatoid arthritis and chronic lung diseases
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For decades, researchers have suspected a connection between chronic lung diseases and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Previous research has yielded widely varying estimates about the strength of this connection, partly because studies have used different diagnosis criteria for these diseases. Addressing this problem, Mayo researchers presented preliminary data at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting on Nov. 11 confirming that patients with rheumatoid arthritis are clearly affected by chronic lung diseases.
The goal of this study is to more precisely measure the cumulative incidence of lung diseases among people with rheumatoid arthritis. Mayo researchers studied a group of 603 people who met strict American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting diagnosis criteria for RA, examining the subjects’ medical records from diagnosis through their death or last follow-up appointment.
Stronger Leg Muscles Can Protect Against Knee Osteoarthritis
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Stronger quadriceps muscles in the legs can help protect against cartilage loss behind the kneecap, according to Mayo Clinic researchers presenting preliminary study data at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting on Nov. 15.
Knee osteoarthritis (OA) occurs when the cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones in the knee joint deteriorates over time. As this cushion wears down, the joint doesn’t function as well and may be painful.
Arthritis drugs have similar risks and benefits
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The two main types of drugs used to treat osteoarthritis offer the same pain-relief benefits and pose a similar risk of causing heart attacks, according to a government review.
Naproxen is the single exception, carrying a lower risk of heart attack than the 25 other drugs included in the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) analysis.
Non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen, represent one type of drug used to treat osteoarthritis, while the other group is a newer type of NSAID, known as COX-2 inhibitors, and includes drugs such as Celebrex.
Arthritis Self-Management Does Not Reduce Pain Levels Or GP Visits
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Self-management programmes for people with osteoarthritis do not reduce pain, or the number of visits patients make to their GP, a new study reveals today.
Osteoarthritis affects around five million people in the UK (8% of the population). Patient-centred arthritis self-management programmes tested on volunteers in the USA indicated a beneficial effect on pain, depression, exercise taken, communication with doctors and participants’ self-perception about their capacity to manage their condition
Researchers from London undertook one of the largest trials to measure the effects of arthritis self-management programmes on patients. The findings showed that whilst these programmes helped to reduce levels of anxiety for arthritis patients, they did little to reduce physical pain. The authors say their findings suggest that more research needs to be done to support the roll-out of the government’s Expert Patient Programme – a generic self-management programme for arthritis and other chronic diseases.
Finger workout may help scleroderma sufferers
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Finger-stretching exercises can improve range of motion in the joints of individuals who suffer from scleroderma (also known as systemic sclerosis)—a chronic disease that causes skin thickening and tightening and the formation of scar tissue.
“Our results indicate that rehabilitation by stretching of the fingers may be effective for improving and maintaining hand function,” the study team concludes in the Journal of Rheumatology.
Dr. Minoru Hasegawa, of Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Ishikawa, Japan, and colleagues assessed the efficacy of self-administered stretching of each finger in 32 patients with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis and 13 with limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis.
Low estrogen levels linked to knee arthritis
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In middle-aged women, low levels of estrogen are associated with the development of knee osteoarthritis, researchers report
“This opens up a new area of investigation that can examine the role and contribution of naturally occurring hormones in the development of osteoarthritis,” lead investigator Dr. MaryFran R. Sowers told Reuters Health.
However, she stressed that this does not mean that doctors “should now prescribe hormone therapy” for their patients with arthritis.
Skin discoloration common with arthritis drug
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Skin discoloration appears to be a common side effect of an antibiotic given to some people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a small study shows.
The drug, called minocycline, is more commonly used to treat acne and certain other skin conditions. But some people with RA take minocycline to help control inflammation in their joints; those with a history of the blood infection sepsis are particularly likely to receive minocycline because some other RA drugs can be dangerous for them.
Clinical trials indicate that minocycline carries fewer side effects than other drugs used to treat RA, the authors of the new study report in The Journal of Rheumatology. However, they add, the rates of side effects in the real world have been less clear.
Getting exercise not easy for folks with arthritis
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The benefits of exercise for people with arthritis are well established. However, arthritis patients say they face a number of barriers to continued physical activity, including a dearth of specialized exercise programs, a focus-group study shows.
“The people in our groups talked a lot about lack of programs for people with arthritis,” Dr. Sara Wilcox of the University of South Carolina in Columbia told Reuters Health. “They were interested in programs where they could be active with other people that had arthritis and professionals that understood the disease. They also perceived that they didn’t get a lot of physician support to be active.”
Arthritis patients who did keep exercising were more likely to have adjusted their activities to their physical limitations, while those who did not tended to give up in the face of such barriers, Wilcox and her colleagues found.