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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Wednesday, November 30, 2005
The difficult doctor, and what to do about it
"Patients say the problems come in many guises. The arrogant or dismissive doctor. The impatient doctor with his hand on the doorknob. The patronizing doctor. Or, as one young woman experienced, the doctor who is callous and judgmental." - from New York Times (free registration required)
"Patients say the problems come in many guises. The arrogant or dismissive doctor. The impatient doctor with his hand on the doorknob. The patronizing doctor. Or, as one young woman experienced, the doctor who is callous and judgmental." - from New York Times (free registration required)
Monday, November 28, 2005
CellCept, new Lupus drug, up for FDA approval
"An immunosuppressant drug normally used to prevent organ rejection shows promise in patients with lupus nephritis, otherwise known as lupus kidney disease. The drug is mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), marketed as CellCept by drug maker Roche. If approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, it would be the first drug approved for lupus in more than 30 years." - from HealthDay
"An immunosuppressant drug normally used to prevent organ rejection shows promise in patients with lupus nephritis, otherwise known as lupus kidney disease. The drug is mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), marketed as CellCept by drug maker Roche. If approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, it would be the first drug approved for lupus in more than 30 years." - from HealthDay
Placebo Effect studied in fibromyalgia
"The University of Michigan Health System study involved people suffering from fibromyalgia -- a type of chronic pain typically involving tenderness, stiffness and fatigue. 'There is substantial evidence that the placebo effect has strong biological underpinnings, and that some individuals are more likely than others to demonstrate this effect,' said Dr. Daniel Clauw, director of the U-M Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center. 'This study suggests individuals with greater hour-to-hour and day-to-day variability in their pain may be more likely to be placebo responders,' said Clauw, senior author of the paper." - from MedlinePlus
"The University of Michigan Health System study involved people suffering from fibromyalgia -- a type of chronic pain typically involving tenderness, stiffness and fatigue. 'There is substantial evidence that the placebo effect has strong biological underpinnings, and that some individuals are more likely than others to demonstrate this effect,' said Dr. Daniel Clauw, director of the U-M Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center. 'This study suggests individuals with greater hour-to-hour and day-to-day variability in their pain may be more likely to be placebo responders,' said Clauw, senior author of the paper." - from MedlinePlus
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Glucosamine, chondroitin don't help mild arthritis pain
"Thinking about taking the supplements glucosamine and chondroitin as a treatment for arthritis? Researchers have been debating for years whether that's a good idea. Now, the largest study yet suggests you're better off saving your money unless you have a moderate-to-severe case of osteoarthritis. And even then it's not clear if the supplements work." - from MedlinePlus:
"Thinking about taking the supplements glucosamine and chondroitin as a treatment for arthritis? Researchers have been debating for years whether that's a good idea. Now, the largest study yet suggests you're better off saving your money unless you have a moderate-to-severe case of osteoarthritis. And even then it's not clear if the supplements work." - from MedlinePlus:
Friday, November 11, 2005
Marijuana-based medicing may help RA
"Doctors who tested a medicine made from a marijuana plant on people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) found it helps ease pain and may also suppress the progression of the disease. While noting the cannabis-based medicine (CBM) produced only small and variable benefits in this small study of 58 patients with RA, the investigators believe the treatment holds promise." - from Ivanhoe's Medical Breakthroughs
"Doctors who tested a medicine made from a marijuana plant on people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) found it helps ease pain and may also suppress the progression of the disease. While noting the cannabis-based medicine (CBM) produced only small and variable benefits in this small study of 58 patients with RA, the investigators believe the treatment holds promise." - from Ivanhoe's Medical Breakthroughs
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Why don't RA treatments work for everybody?
"Researchers have discovered that protein growth factors... have both pro- and anti-inflammatory responses to RA that help explain why some patients respond to current therapy and others don't. By pinpointing the unique immune mechanisms involved in different forms of RA, the scientists hope to guide physicians toward more precise individualized diagnosis of RA patients and more effective therapies that target specific forms of the disease." - from EurekAlert
"Researchers have discovered that protein growth factors... have both pro- and anti-inflammatory responses to RA that help explain why some patients respond to current therapy and others don't. By pinpointing the unique immune mechanisms involved in different forms of RA, the scientists hope to guide physicians toward more precise individualized diagnosis of RA patients and more effective therapies that target specific forms of the disease." - from EurekAlert
Thursday, November 03, 2005
Poor pregnancy outcomes may signal future Lupus diagnosis
"Even before a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus, women who eventually develop the disease are more likely to experience poor pregnancy outcomes, Michigan-based researchers report in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. As lead author Dr. J. Patricia Dhar told Reuters Health, 'poor fetal outcomes -- stillbirths, preterm births and growth restricted infants -- are seen in pregnancies that are complicated by lupus even before the disease is clinically apparent in the mother.... The fetus gives warning, Dhar concluded 'that there is a problem with the mother before the mother has enough symptoms to warrant a diagnosis of lupus.''" - from MedlinePlus
"Even before a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus, women who eventually develop the disease are more likely to experience poor pregnancy outcomes, Michigan-based researchers report in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. As lead author Dr. J. Patricia Dhar told Reuters Health, 'poor fetal outcomes -- stillbirths, preterm births and growth restricted infants -- are seen in pregnancies that are complicated by lupus even before the disease is clinically apparent in the mother.... The fetus gives warning, Dhar concluded 'that there is a problem with the mother before the mother has enough symptoms to warrant a diagnosis of lupus.''" - from MedlinePlus
Merck wins latest Vioxx suit
"In a major victory for Merck & Co., a jury Thursday found the drugmaker properly warned consumers about the risks Vioxx. The finding means Merck will not be held liable for the 2001 heart attack suffered by a man who used the now-withdrawn blockbuster arthritis drug....The drug manufacturer still faces more than 6,000 similar lawsuits, AP reported. - from HealthDay
"In a major victory for Merck & Co., a jury Thursday found the drugmaker properly warned consumers about the risks Vioxx. The finding means Merck will not be held liable for the 2001 heart attack suffered by a man who used the now-withdrawn blockbuster arthritis drug....The drug manufacturer still faces more than 6,000 similar lawsuits, AP reported. - from HealthDay
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