|
Kathleen Turner: Rheumatoid Arthritis Affected Acting Career
Actress Kathleen Turner has found it difficult to get acting
roles since she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. According
to a report in the New York Daily News, Turner feared the
impact of arthritis on her career and decided it...
Review: Overdosed America
Have you ever asked your doctor to write a prescription for
a medication you saw advertised? Did your doctor write the
prescription without any discussion of the benefits or risks
associated with the medication? Before you asked for the prescription,...
Cannabis: Sativex (Cannabis-based drug) Relieves Rheumatoid
Arthritis
In the first ever controlled trial of a cannabis-based medicine
for rheumatoid arthritis, Sativex oromucosal spray (a cannabis-based
medicine) produced promising results. Statistically significant
improvement was observed in study participants taking the
cannabis-based medicine when researchers assessed: Pain with
movement...
CAROL'S HIP REPLACEMENT DIARY: PreOp Tests
The last month before surgery has not been overly eventful.
I donated my second autologous unit of blood and also completed
my PreOp testing. The PreOp tests seem so routine and almost
a hassle. The surgical patient needs to be...
Normal Blood Test Results - Do they rule out the diagnosis
of RA or other rheumatic disease?
Is it possible to have rheumatoid arthritis (or other rheumatic
diseases) and have blood work that is within normal range
for inflammation markers? How much of the diagnosis is based
on the blood tests for inflammation? Read Dr. Zashin's answer...
Viagra Relieves Symptoms Of Raynaud's Phenomenon
Viagra (sildenafil), developed and prescribed as a treatment
for male erectile dysfunction, may also improve circulation
in other medical conditions. German researchers report that
in a small study of patients with severe Raynaud's phenomenon
who were previously non-responsive to conventional...
Proactive Attitude Helps People With Arthritis Cope
According to Mayo Clinic, having a proactive and positive
attitude helps people cope with arthritis. Research shows
that when people feel in control they are more compliant with
treatment options. Some of the ways you can be proactive include:
Stress...
Arthritis Medications - Test Your Knowledge
There are several different classes of arthritis medications,
and often many drugs within each class. In recent years, new
arthritis drugs have become available. More are in the product
pipeline. How much do you know about arthritis medications?
Take Arthritis...
Merck: Jury Finds Merck Not Liable in Second Vioxx Case
Merck, the maker of Vioxx, was found to be not liable by a
New Jersey state jury for the 2001 heart attack of a man who
had been taking Vioxx for two months prior to suffering the
attack. The jury...
Taxol (paclitaxel): Anti-cancer drug may help fight scleroderma
according to new research
Researchers from Duke University Medical Center have published
important new findings regarding scleroderma. Experiments
in mice reveal that Taxol (paclitaxel), an anti-cancer drug,
may prevent the skin thickening and small blood vessel destruction
that characterizes scleroderma. Researchers also report that...
Tylenol for Arthritis: Popular brand of acetaminophen is
half century old
Tylenol, a brand of non-prescription pain reliever acetaminophen,
is 50 years old. Reportedly, 70 percent of households in the
United States have tylenol on the shelf in their medicine
cabinet and the medication is becoming even more popular.
The growing...
Rituxan Granted Priority Review Status By FDA - What Does
That Mean For Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients?
Rituxan (rituximab) has been granted "priority" review status
by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a treatment for
rheumatoid arthritis. Priority review means that the FDA will
make a decision regarding rituxan for rheumatoid arthritis
within six months rather...
Flu Shots: Should people with rheumatoid arthritis/other
rheumatic diseases get a flu shot?
Should people with rheumatoid arthritis or other rheumatic
diseases get a flu shot? What guidelines should be followed
regarding flu shots for that population of patients? Is there
ever a contraindication for getting a flu shot? Read Dr. Zashin's
answer...
AccuWeather Launches Arthritis Index
According to AccuWeather, surveys have revealed that as many
as 93% of arthritis sufferers believe that weather affects
their pain level (68% believe that weather severely affects
their pain level. Falling temperatures, changes in atmospheric
pressure, high humidity, and precipitation...
Cherry Juice Concentrate Cures Gout And More? FDA Warns
Companies About Unproven Claims
The Food and Drug Administration has issued warning letters
to 29 companies that manufacture, market, or distribute products
made from cherries or other fruits. The companies were warned
about making unproven claims on their web sites and product
labels, and...
Site: Arthritis Research &
Therapy - Latest articles
B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) isoforms in systemic lupus
erythematosus: disease activity correlates better with blood
leukocyte BLyS mRNA levels than with plasma BLyS protein levels
Considerable evidence points to a role for B lymphocyte stimulator
(BLyS) overproduction in murine and human systemic lupus erythematosus
(SLE). Nevertheless, the correlation between circulating levels
of BLyS protein and disease activity in human SLE is modest
at best. This may be due to an inadequacy of the former to
reflect endogenous BLyS overproduction faithfully, in that
steady-state protein levels are affected not just by production
rates but also by rates of peripheral utilization and excretion.
Increased levels of BLyS mRNA may better reflect increased
in vivo BLyS production, and therefore they may correlate
better with biologic and clinical sequelae of BLyS overexpression
than do circulating levels of BLyS protein. Accordingly, we
assessed peripheral blood leukocyte levels of BLyS mRNA isoforms
(full-length BLyS and BLyS) and plasma BLyS protein levels
in patients with SLE, and correlated these levels with laboratory
and clinical features. BLyS protein, full-length BLyS mRNA,
and ?BLyS mRNA levels were greater in SLE patients (n = 60)
than in rheumatoid arthritis patients (n = 60) or normal control
individuals (n = 30). Although full-length BLyS and BLyS mRNA
levels correlated significantly with BLyS protein levels in
the SLE cohort, BLyS mRNA levels were more closely associated
with serum immunoglobulin levels and SLE Disease Activity
Index scores than were BLyS protein levels. Moreover, changes
in SLE Disease Activity Index scores were more closely associated
with changes in BLyS mRNA levels than with changes in BLyS
protein levels among the 37 SLE patients from whom repeat
blood samples were obtained. Thus, full-length BLyS and BLyS
mRNA levels are elevated in SLE and are more closely associated
with disease activity than are BLyS protein levels. BLyS mRNA
levels may be a helpful biomarker in the clinical monitoring
of SLE patients.
Correction: Tolerability and adverse events in clinical
trials of celecoxib in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis:
systematic review and meta-analysis of information from company
clinical trial reports
Analysis of FC Receptor haplotypes in rheumatoid arthritis:
FCGR3A remains a major susceptibility gene at this locus,
with an additional contribution from FCGR3B
The Fc receptors play important roles in the initiation and
regulation of many immunological and inflammatory processes,
and genetic variants (FCGR) have been associated with numerous
autoimmune and infectious diseases. The data in rheumatoid
arthritis (RA) are conflicting and we previously demonstrated
an association between FCGR3A and RA. In view of the close
molecular proximity with FCGR2A, FCGR2B and FCGR3B, additional
polymorphisms within these genes and FCGR haplotypes were
examined to refine the extent of association with RA. Biallelic
polymorphisms in FCGR2A, FCGR2B and FCGR3B were examined for
association with RA in two well characterized UK Caucasian
and North Indian/Pakistani cohorts, in which FCGR3A genotyping
had previously been undertaken. Haplotype frequencies and
linkage disequilibrium were estimated across the FCGR locus
and a model-free analysis was performed to determine association
with RA. This was followed by regression analysis, allowing
for phase uncertainty, to identify the particular haplotype(s)
that influences disease risk. Our results reveal that FCGR2A,
FCGR2B and FCGR3B were not associated with RA. The haplotype
with the strongest association with RA susceptibility was
the FCGR3A?FCGR3B 158V-NA2 haplotype (odds ratio 3.18, 95%
confidence interval 1.13?8.92 [P = 0.03] for homozygotes compared
with all genotypes). The association was stronger in the presence
of nodules (odds ratio 5.03, 95% confidence interval 1.44?17.56;
P = 0.01). This haplotype was also more common in North Indian/Pakistani
RA patients than in control individuals, but not significantly
so. Logistic regression analyses suggested that FCGR3A remained
the most significant gene at this locus. The increased association
with an FCGR3A FCGR3B haplotype suggests that other polymorphic
variants within FCGR3A or FCGR3B, or in linkage disequilibrium
with this haplotype, may additionally contribute to disease
pathogenesis.
Adalimumab clinical efficacy is associated with rheumatoid
factor and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody titer
reduction: a one-year prospective study
Studies on autoantibody production in patients treated with
tumor necrosis factor- (TNF) inhibitors reported contradictory
results. We investigated in a prospective study the efficacy
of a treatment with human monoclonal anti-TNF- antibody (adalimumab)
in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and we evaluated
the relationship between treatment efficacy and the incidence
and titers of disease-associated and non-organ-specific autoantibodies.
Fifty-seven patients with RA not responsive to methotrexate
and treated with adalimumab were enrolled. Antinuclear, anti-double-stranded(ds)DNA,
anti-extractable nuclear antigens, anti-cardiolipin (aCL),
anti-2 glycoprotein I (anti-2GPI) autoantibodies, rheumatoid
factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP)
autoantibodies were investigated at baseline and after 6 and
12 months of follow-up. Comparable parameters were evaluated
in a further 55 patients treated with methotrexate only. Treatment
with adalimumab induced a significant decrease in RF and anti-CCP
serum levels, and the decrease in antibody titers correlated
with the clinical response to the therapy. A significant induction
of antinuclear autoantibodies (ANA) and IgG/IgM anti-dsDNA
autoantibodies were also found in 28% and 14.6% patients,
respectively, whereas aCL and anti-?2GPI autoantibodies were
not detected in significant quantities. No association between
ANA, anti-dsDNA, aCL and anti-2GPI autoantibodies and clinical
manifestations was found. Clinical efficacy of adalimumab
is associated with the decrease in RF and anti-CCP serum levels
that was detected after 24 weeks and remained stable until
the 48th week of treatment. Antinuclear and anti-dsDNA autoantibodies,
but not anti-phospholipid autoantibodies, can be induced by
adalimumab but to a lower extent than in studies with other
anti-TNF blocking agents.
Differential direct effects of cyclo-oxygenase-1/2 inhibition
on proteoglycan turnover of human osteoarthritic cartilage:
an in vitro study
Treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs (NSAIDs) diminishes inflammation along with mediators
of cartilage destruction. However, NSAIDs may exert adverse
direct effects on cartilage, particularly if treatment is
prolonged. We therefore compared the direct effects of indomethacin,
naproxen, aceclofenac and celecoxib on matrix turnover in
human OA cartilage tissue. Human clinically defined OA cartilage
from five different donors was exposed for 7 days in culture
to indomethacin, naproxen, aceclofenac and celecoxib agents
chosen based on their cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-2 selectivity.
As a control, SC-560 (a selective COX-1 inhibitor) was used.
Changes in cartilage proteoglycan turnover and prostaglandin
E2 production were determined. OA cartilage exhibited characteristic
proteoglycan turnover. Indomethacin further inhibited proteoglycan
synthesis; no significant effect of indomethacin on proteoglycan
release was found, and proteoglycan content tended to decrease.
Naproxen treatment was not associated with changes in any
parameter. In contrast, aceclofenac and, prominently, celecoxib
had beneficial effects on OA cartilage. Both were associated
with increased proteoglycan synthesis and normalized release.
Importantly, both NSAIDs improved proteoglycan content. Inhibition
of prostaglandin E2 production indirectly showed that all
NSAIDs inhibited COX, with the more COX-2 specific agents
having more pronounced effects. Selective COX-1 inhibition
resulted in adverse effects on all parameters, and prostaglandin
E2 production was only mildly inhibited. NSAIDs with low COX-2/COX-1
selectivity exhibit adverse direct effects on OA cartilage,
whereas high COX-2/COX-1 selective NSAIDs did not show such
effects and might even have cartilage reparative properties.
52-kDa Ro/SSA epitopes preferentially recognized by antibodies
from mothers of children with neonatal lupus and congenital
heart block
Neonatal lupus erythematosus is a rare disorder caused by
the transplacental passage of maternal autoantibodies. The
52-kDa Ro/SSA antigen (Ro52) ribonucleoprotein represents
an antigenic target strongly associated with the autoimmune
response in mothers whose children have neonatal lupus and
cardiac conduction disturbances, mainly congenital heart block.
The objective of this study was to identify putative Ro52/60-kDa
Ro/SSA antigen (Ro60) epitopes associated with neonatal lupus
and congenital heart block. The reactivity of IgG antibodies
present in the sera from mothers with systemic lupus erythematosus
and Sjögren's syndrome and in the sera from asymptomatic mothers
(a longitudinal study of 192 samples from 66 subjects) was
investigated by ELISA using Ro52, Ro60 and 48-kDa La/SSB antigen
proteins, as well as 45 synthetic peptides, 1324 residues
long, of Ro52/Ro60 proteins. One to 19 samples collected before,
during and after pregnancy were available for each mother.
Forty-three disease controls selected randomly and normal
sera were tested in parallel. Although no differences were
found between Sjögren's syndrome and asymptomatic mothers
of group I, who had at least one infant with neonatal lupus,
and of group II, who had healthy babies only, significant
differences were observed between lupus mothers from both
groups. In the former group of lupus mothers, a significantly
higher frequency of antibodies to Ro52 peptides 107 122 and
277 292 was observed. Between 18 and 30 weeks of gestation,
the period of risk, there was clearly an elevated level of
antibodies reacting with Ro52 peptides 1?13, 277 292 and 365
382. Antibodies to Ro52 peptide 365?382 have been shown previously
to cross-react with residues 165 185 of the heart 5-HT4 serotoninergic
receptor, and might be pathologically important. The level
of these Ro52 antibody subsets decreased at the end of pregnancy
and after delivery. IgG antibodies to Ro52 peptides 1 13,
107, 122, 277, 292 and 365, 382 may therefore represent important
biomarkers to predict a complication in pregnant lupus women
with Ro52 antibodies.
Regulatory polymorphisms in extracellular matrix protease
genes and susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis: a case-control
study
Many extracellular matrix (ECM) proteases seem to be important
in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and regulation of their transcription
levels is a critical mechanism for controlling their activity.
We have investigated, therefore, whether the best-characterized
single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) affecting transcription
of the ECM proteases that have been related with joint pathology
are associated with RA susceptibility. Nine SNPs in eight
genes were selected by bibliographic search, including SNPs
in the genes encoding matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)1, MMP2,
MMP3, MMP7, MMP9, MMP13, plasminogen activator, tissue type
(PLAT) and PAI-1. They were studied in a case-control setting
that included 550 RA patients and 652 controls of Spanish
ancestry from a single center. Genotyping was performed by
single-base extension. Only two of the nine SNPs showed significant
association with RA susceptibility. RA patients showed increased
frequencies of the -7351 T allele of the gene encoding PLAT
(36.4% versus 32.1% in controls, p = 0.026) and the -1306
T allele of the gene encoding MMP2 (24.5% versus 20.3% in
controls, p = 0.013). These two alleles seemed to cooperate
according to an additive model with respect to increased RA
susceptibility (p = 0.004), and they were the low-expression
alleles of the respective SNPs in a PLAT enhancer and the
MMP2 promoter. These findings are in agreement with previous
data suggesting that these two ECM proteases have a protective
role in RA pathology. Confirmation of these associations will
be needed to support these hypotheses. The remaining SNPs
did not show association, either individually or collectively.
Therefore, although regulatory SNPs in ECM proteases did not
show any major effect on RA susceptibility, it was possible
to find modest associations that, if replicated, will have
interesting implications in the understanding of RA pathology.
The 3rd International Meeting on Gene Therapy in Rheumatology
and Orthopaedics
The 3rd International Meeting on Gene Therapy in Rheumatology
and Orthopaedics was held in Boston, Massachusetts, USA in
May 2004. Keystone lectures delivered by Drs Joseph Glorioso
and Inder Verma provided comprehensive, up-to-date information
on all major virus vectors. Other invited speakers covered
the application of gene therapy to treatment of arthritis,
including the latest clinical trial in rheumatoid arthritis,
as well as lupus and Sjögren's syndrome. Applications in mesenchymal
stem cell biology, tissue repair, and regenerative medicine
were also addressed. The field has advanced considerably since
the previous meeting in this series, and further clinical
trials seem likely.
It's all in the blood: circulating endothelial progenitor
cells link synovial vascularity with cardiovascular mortality
in rheumatoid arthritis?
No abstract available
Dipeptidyl peptidase IV activity and/or structure homologs:
Contributing factors in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis?
Several of the proinflammatory peptides involved in rheumatoid
arthritis pathogenesis, including peptides induced downstream
of tumor necrosis factor-as well as the monocyte/T cell-attracting
chemokines RANTES and stromal cell-derived factor (SDF)-1
and the neuropeptides vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)
and substance P, have their biological half-lives controlled
by dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV). Proteolysis by DPPIV regulates
not only the half-life but also receptor preference and downstream
signaling. In this article, we examine the role of DPPIV homologs,
including CD26, the canonical DPPIV, and their substrates
in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. The differing
specific activities of the DPPIV family members and their
differential inhibitor response provide new insights into
therapeutic design.
Site: Powered by Mambo 4.5.2
ACL injury of the knee
From The Doctor's JournalJuly 11th 2005 36 year old male came
in today for evaluation of his left knee. Patient...
Patellar tendonitis or jumper‘s knee
From The Doctor's JournalJuly 8th 2005 35 year old professional
Basketball player came in for evaluation today; complaining
of knee...
Cartilage damage in a young man
From The Doctor's JournalJuly 4th 2005 (Happy Independence
Day)21 year old College Football player came in last week
with chief...
Ankylosing spodylitis
From The Doctor's JournalJuly 1st 2005 39 year old male came
in today with chief complaint of not being able...
Labrum tear in the hip
From The Doctor's JournalJune 30th 2005 31 year old male presents
with one month of ache and pain in the... |
