News and information about the National Data Bank for Rheumatic Diseases (NDB) and arthritis and rheumatology research. Written for NDB participants and anyone with a rheumatic disease.
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Monday, August 30, 2004
Hot topics in the forum!
Have you joined the NDB forum? Current hot topics include Enbrel use, Humira, and the ever-popular discussion on cost of medications. Click here to read and join in.
National Databank Forum: Arthritis-rheumatology
Have you joined the NDB forum? Current hot topics include Enbrel use, Humira, and the ever-popular discussion on cost of medications. Click here to read and join in.
National Databank Forum: Arthritis-rheumatology
Monday, August 23, 2004
Researchers find gene with lupus link
"Researchers at the University of Minnesota have identified, for the first time, a gene variation associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a potentially fatal disease which causes the body's defence system to attack itself...."This appears to be a very important gene for lupus," said Timothy W. Behrens, M.D., professor of medicine, Medical School, and principal investigator, "and this is the first time we have identified a variant that predisposes to many different autoimmune diseases. We hope that this discovery will lead to the identification of other genes associated with lupus and other immune disorders." Behrens believes that dozens of genes may be responsible for lupus and that discovering the combination of these genes will be important to developing better diagnosis and treatment of the disease. - from News-Medical.Net...
"Researchers at the University of Minnesota have identified, for the first time, a gene variation associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a potentially fatal disease which causes the body's defence system to attack itself...."This appears to be a very important gene for lupus," said Timothy W. Behrens, M.D., professor of medicine, Medical School, and principal investigator, "and this is the first time we have identified a variant that predisposes to many different autoimmune diseases. We hope that this discovery will lead to the identification of other genes associated with lupus and other immune disorders." Behrens believes that dozens of genes may be responsible for lupus and that discovering the combination of these genes will be important to developing better diagnosis and treatment of the disease. - from News-Medical.Net...
Thursday, August 19, 2004
Genetic role in OA development
"New research published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, shows that children whose parents have osteoarthritis of the knee are twice as likely to develop the condition themselves. This research suggests that genetic make-up plays a role in osteoarthritis development....Older age was a risk factor for osteoarthritis. But even allowing for important risk factors, such as smoking habit, heavy weight, age and gender, the siblings were still more than twice as likely to have knee osteoarthritis as the practice list patients. " - from News-Medical.net
"New research published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, shows that children whose parents have osteoarthritis of the knee are twice as likely to develop the condition themselves. This research suggests that genetic make-up plays a role in osteoarthritis development....Older age was a risk factor for osteoarthritis. But even allowing for important risk factors, such as smoking habit, heavy weight, age and gender, the siblings were still more than twice as likely to have knee osteoarthritis as the practice list patients. " - from News-Medical.net
Monday, August 09, 2004
Are you in an arthritis support group?
Do you participate in an arthritis support group? If so, we'd like to ask a favor of you. The ongoing success of NDB research depends on the ability to bring new arthritis patients into the study. Our latest recruiting method is an informative pamphlet with a postage paid postcard that is returned to us. We’ll respond with our enrollment forms. Would you consider taking these pamphlets to you support group members? If you would like pamphlets for your support group meeting, or you think your doctor would like to offer the pamphlets in the waiting room, please contact us at info@arthritis-research.org or 800-323-5871 ext. 133 or 140. Thank you!
Do you participate in an arthritis support group? If so, we'd like to ask a favor of you. The ongoing success of NDB research depends on the ability to bring new arthritis patients into the study. Our latest recruiting method is an informative pamphlet with a postage paid postcard that is returned to us. We’ll respond with our enrollment forms. Would you consider taking these pamphlets to you support group members? If you would like pamphlets for your support group meeting, or you think your doctor would like to offer the pamphlets in the waiting room, please contact us at info@arthritis-research.org or 800-323-5871 ext. 133 or 140. Thank you!
Friday, August 06, 2004
Researchers find new marker for OA
"To improve the early diagnosis and effective treatment of OA, medical researchers have turned to the promise of biochemical markers – molecules released into bodily fluids during the process of tissue turnover. Recently, researchers in the Netherlands identified a novel marker, CTX-II, linked to both the prevalence and the progression of OA, particularly at the knee and the hip....According to the researchers' calculations, subjects with a CTX-II level in the highest quartile had a 4-fold increased risk of developing OA in either the knee or hip compared with subjects in the lowest quartile. During the follow-up period, confirmed by repeated radiographs, subjects with the highest concentration of CTX-II were significantly more likely to experience rapid, destructive progression of OA – 6 times more likely at the knee and 8 times more likely at the hip. The subjects with the highest CTX-II levels also had the highest complaints of joint pain. - from eurekalert.org
"To improve the early diagnosis and effective treatment of OA, medical researchers have turned to the promise of biochemical markers – molecules released into bodily fluids during the process of tissue turnover. Recently, researchers in the Netherlands identified a novel marker, CTX-II, linked to both the prevalence and the progression of OA, particularly at the knee and the hip....According to the researchers' calculations, subjects with a CTX-II level in the highest quartile had a 4-fold increased risk of developing OA in either the knee or hip compared with subjects in the lowest quartile. During the follow-up period, confirmed by repeated radiographs, subjects with the highest concentration of CTX-II were significantly more likely to experience rapid, destructive progression of OA – 6 times more likely at the knee and 8 times more likely at the hip. The subjects with the highest CTX-II levels also had the highest complaints of joint pain. - from eurekalert.org
Thursday, August 05, 2004
Extended release Tramadol called effective for OA
"Tramadol is a recommended treatment for osteoarthritis pain that cannot be controlled adequately with nonopioid drugs, Dr. Najib Babul and associates report in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. However, it must be taken every 6 hours for optimal pain relief....Babul, a pharmacologist at TheraQuest Biosciences in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, and his team evaluated an extended-release formulation of tramadol in patients with moderate to severe osteoarthritis of the knee. - from Yahoo! Health
"Tramadol is a recommended treatment for osteoarthritis pain that cannot be controlled adequately with nonopioid drugs, Dr. Najib Babul and associates report in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. However, it must be taken every 6 hours for optimal pain relief....Babul, a pharmacologist at TheraQuest Biosciences in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, and his team evaluated an extended-release formulation of tramadol in patients with moderate to severe osteoarthritis of the knee. - from Yahoo! Health
Wednesday, August 04, 2004
RA nasal spray in the works
"Preliminary tests suggest nasal drops or a spray would be an effective way to deliver a shot of the key compound - called Interleukin-10. This compound not only switches off the harmful, inflammatory process that causes RA, it also seems to stimulate cells that can hold the potentially harmful immune system cells in check. Other researchers have tested Interleukin-10 as a treatment for RA. However, when it is delivered by intravenous injection it has been shown to cause side effects such as generalised suppression of the immune system. Administering the IL-10 gene via the nose may produce a more targeted effect, rather than affecting the whole immune system, so avoiding side effects." - from BBC News Nasal spray for arthritis planned
"Preliminary tests suggest nasal drops or a spray would be an effective way to deliver a shot of the key compound - called Interleukin-10. This compound not only switches off the harmful, inflammatory process that causes RA, it also seems to stimulate cells that can hold the potentially harmful immune system cells in check. Other researchers have tested Interleukin-10 as a treatment for RA. However, when it is delivered by intravenous injection it has been shown to cause side effects such as generalised suppression of the immune system. Administering the IL-10 gene via the nose may produce a more targeted effect, rather than affecting the whole immune system, so avoiding side effects." - from BBC News Nasal spray for arthritis planned
Now available for your support group or arthritis meetings....Our new pamphlets explain what we do and how you and can help. Each one has a postage-paid postcard to request more information or join the project. The pamphlets and a small table-top stand are available free from the NDB. Just send us an email!