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.
| Contact the NDB | Enroll in NDB Research | NDB Forum |
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
How to find a good arthritis website
A new study published in the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy looks at what makes a good arthritis website. The authors found that the quality of arthritis information on the Internet varied widely. In general, sites ending with .gov and .edu were better. Here's the authors' list of suggestions for evaluating a medical information website:
A new study published in the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy looks at what makes a good arthritis website. The authors found that the quality of arthritis information on the Internet varied widely. In general, sites ending with .gov and .edu were better. Here's the authors' list of suggestions for evaluating a medical information website:
- Ownership of the site (including disclosure of sponsors and affiliations),
- Purpose of the site (including a statement about the purpose, advertising policy, etc.),
- Credibility of sources (including references and authors’ credentials),
- Contact information (including for questions or feedback),
- Currentness of information (including the date of the most recent update),
- Credible content (including methods of selection of content, editorial board members, etc.), and
- Usability (including search functions, ease of use, and accessibility).
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Cough medicine for fibromyalgia?
"Florida researchers said dextromethorphan, an ingredient in over-the-counter cough medications, may help reduce the pain of fibromyalgia.... Laurence Bradley, a fibromyalgia expert at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, said although the findings look promising, it's too soon for patients or physicians to use dextromethorphan to treat the disorder. More research needs to be done to determine how to reduce the risk of side effects, Bradley said." - from MedlinePlus:
"Florida researchers said dextromethorphan, an ingredient in over-the-counter cough medications, may help reduce the pain of fibromyalgia.... Laurence Bradley, a fibromyalgia expert at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, said although the findings look promising, it's too soon for patients or physicians to use dextromethorphan to treat the disorder. More research needs to be done to determine how to reduce the risk of side effects, Bradley said." - from MedlinePlus:
Thursday, May 19, 2005
Remicade OK'd for Psoriatic Arthritis
"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced its approval for Remicade, made by Johnson & Johnson's Centocor divison, to be used 'to reduce the signs and symptoms of active psoriatic arthritis.' This type of arthritis demonstrates rashes and skin lesions along with joint inflammation." - from HealthDay
"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced its approval for Remicade, made by Johnson & Johnson's Centocor divison, to be used 'to reduce the signs and symptoms of active psoriatic arthritis.' This type of arthritis demonstrates rashes and skin lesions along with joint inflammation." - from HealthDay
Monday, May 16, 2005
Future RA therapy in the very early stages?
"Scientists studying mice have identified a gene that allows immune cells known as neutrophils to protect themselves from the inflammatory chemicals they secrete. Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis showed that knocking the gene out in mice prevented the development of an arthritis-like disorder by making the neutrophils victims of their own damaging secretions....'We already know a great deal about Foxo3a from studies of its role in some cancers, and hopefully that puts us in a good position to devise ways to manipulate its activity,' says senior author Stanford Peng, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of medicine and of pathology and immunology. 'If the human version of this gene functions in a similar fashion, modifying its activity may be a useful approach for arthritis therapy even when the disease is already well underway.'" - from Medical News Today
"Scientists studying mice have identified a gene that allows immune cells known as neutrophils to protect themselves from the inflammatory chemicals they secrete. Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis showed that knocking the gene out in mice prevented the development of an arthritis-like disorder by making the neutrophils victims of their own damaging secretions....'We already know a great deal about Foxo3a from studies of its role in some cancers, and hopefully that puts us in a good position to devise ways to manipulate its activity,' says senior author Stanford Peng, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of medicine and of pathology and immunology. 'If the human version of this gene functions in a similar fashion, modifying its activity may be a useful approach for arthritis therapy even when the disease is already well underway.'" - from Medical News Today
Friday, May 13, 2005
Advance in Lupus treatment?
"Tests that spot heightened expression of a specific group of genes could improve the treatment of lupus patients, according to a new report. The finding also provides important new insight into the role that interferon -- a protein key to the immune response -- plays in the progression of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). SLE, which is characterized by the production of autoantibodies throughout the body, affects women more than men and can cause problems ranging from skin rash and joint pain to kidney failure and stroke, the researchers said." - from HealthDay
"Tests that spot heightened expression of a specific group of genes could improve the treatment of lupus patients, according to a new report. The finding also provides important new insight into the role that interferon -- a protein key to the immune response -- plays in the progression of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). SLE, which is characterized by the production of autoantibodies throughout the body, affects women more than men and can cause problems ranging from skin rash and joint pain to kidney failure and stroke, the researchers said." - from HealthDay
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms Worse in African Americans
"African Americans with rheumatoid arthritis report more severe disease and more disability than whites with the disease, a new study shows.... The study also found African Americans had more other illnesses than whites did, were less likely to be taking, or to have taken, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, and had significantly lower self-sufficiency scores. After adjusting the data for the possible effects of socioeconomic factors, the researchers found that race was no longer independently associated with rheumatoid arthritis disease severity. " - from MedlinePlus
"African Americans with rheumatoid arthritis report more severe disease and more disability than whites with the disease, a new study shows.... The study also found African Americans had more other illnesses than whites did, were less likely to be taking, or to have taken, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, and had significantly lower self-sufficiency scores. After adjusting the data for the possible effects of socioeconomic factors, the researchers found that race was no longer independently associated with rheumatoid arthritis disease severity. " - from MedlinePlus
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!