Thanks for the updates. The entire RA community is waiting for a drug that will turn off the RA and just not manage the chronic inflammation. That way monoclonal antibodies
have better chances if they prove effective against RA. Since biologics have been targeting molecules that sits in the middle of complex biological networks like TNF, tinkering with it always has the possibility of perturbing several biochemical processes essential for the body not just controlling inflammation. Inflammation itself can be caused in the body via several diffferent pathways where different target molecules are involved. So targeting one molecule just forces the body to take another pathway. If only we can understand the molecular mechanism behind the human body losing its immune control such that it starts attacking its own parts, would help to switch off autoimmune diseases altogether. I know it is an Eutopian thought and I am crossing my fingers to see that breakthrough in my lifetime even if I cannot enjoy the benefits.
Ratnapriya
Thanks for the update about recent drug studies. Those of us with RA enjoy hearing about what was presented at the recent ACR meeting. Still waitin' for a cure!
Andrew
http://livingwithra.wordpress.com/
Here Dr Borginin likens sufferers of the debilitating neurological illness (from which people have died) CFS to terrorists:
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/overcoming-pain/201001/the-terrorists-health-the-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-jihad
The Terrorists of Health: The Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Jihad
Eternal hell to the non-believers.
Published on January 20, 2010
by [b] rheumatologist [/b] Dr. Mark Borigini
"Recently, there were all kinds of blogging and blustering over the internet regarding the XMRV (xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus), a retrovirus researchers have found may be associated with chronic fatigue syndrome. However, it is a novel finding, and far from being the proverbial sure thing for those who are searching for the sure thing in the quest for the etiology of chronic fatigue syndrome. But the Terrorists of Health, in full jihadist mode, are trumpeting XMRV as being "proof" that the mystery of chronic fatigue syndrome has been found. Eternal hell to the non-believers. Well, there is no proof. And what is more disappointing is the money that will invariably be wasted by desperate patients trying to figure out why they are fatigued; because, rest assured, there will be unscrupulous individuals waiting for the patient who wants to be tested. But a test result in a non-research setting means practically nothing at this time, whether
it be a positive test result or a negative test result. There is no reliable test available commercially at this time; researchers have several different tests they are using now in their ongoing research on XMRV. XMRV was originally discovered in the tissue of cancerous prostates. This begs the question: Where else is XMRV found, and what does it mean when it is found? The diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome has generally been referred to as a "diagnosis of exclusion". How comfortable should we be in accepting the presumption that the study subjects described in the XMRV literature published thus far truly have chronic fatigue syndrome? What if the XMRV test is telling us there is a problem, but not necessarily chronic fatigue syndrome? How will the chronic fatigue syndrome jihadists deal with, say, the discovery that XMRV causes an illness which leads to fatigue? But I can hear the internet IEDs exploding as I write this! It is for the scientist to
steer clear of the mine field of the politics of health. Studies have to be conducted with objectivity: Is XMRV just a bystander, and if so, why is it there? I am looking forward to more data. The Terrorists of Health should at least grant us a brief reprieve as we all await that data."
THIS ARTICLE IN PSYCHOLOGY TODAY IS WHAT BORIGINI REALLY THINKS OF HIS PATIENTS AND SICK PEOPLE - WE ARE TERRORISTS OF HEALTH AND JIHADISTS -
------------------------------------------------------------------
The Terrorists of Health: The Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Jihad -
Eternal hell to the non-believers. BY Dr. Mark Borigini http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/overcoming-pain/201001/the-terrorists-health-the-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-jihad
Published on January 20, 2010
Recently, there were all kinds of blogging and blustering over the internet regarding the XMRV (xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus), a retrovirus researchers have found may be associated with chronic fatigue syndrome. However, it is a novel finding, and far from being the proverbial sure thing for those who are searching for the sure thing in the quest for the etiology of chronic fatigue syndrome.
But the Terrorists of Health, in full jihadist mode, are trumpeting XMRV as being "proof" that the mystery of chronic fatigue syndrome has been found.
Eternal hell to the non-believers.
Well, there is no proof. And what is more disappointing is the money that will invariably be wasted by desperate patients trying to figure out why they are fatigued; because, rest assured, there will be unscrupulous individuals waiting for the patient who wants to be tested. But a test result in a non-research setting means practically nothing at this time, whether it be a positive test result or a negative test result. There is no reliable test available commercially at this time; researchers have several different tests they are using now in their ongoing research on XMRV.Top of Form 1
XMRV was originally discovered in the tissue of cancerous prostates. This begs the question: Where else is XMRV found, and what does it mean when it is found? The diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome has generally been referred to as a "diagnosis of exclusion". How comfortable should we be in accepting the presumption that the study subjects described in the XMRV literature published thus far truly have chronic fatigue syndrome? What if the XMRV test is telling us there is a problem, but not necessarily chronic fatigue syndrome?
How will the chronic fatigue syndrome jihadists deal with, say, the discovery that XMRV causes an illness which leads to fatigue? But I can hear the internet IEDs exploding as I write this!
It is for the scientist to steer clear of the mine field of the politics of health. Studies have to be conducted with objectivity: Is XMRV just a bystander, and if so, why is it there?
I am looking forward to more data.
The Terrorists of Health should at least grant us a brief reprieve as we all await that data.
Biotechnology company Phosphagenics has just trialled a skin patch for oxycodone. Without metal in the patch too. Metal in some patches can burn you if under a CT or MRI or even just in the hot sun outside.
This new patch uses Vitamin E which also leaves the skin where patch is in better considiton and less allery reactions to a patch.
Hopefully our RA drugs can go this way too.
Featuring Content From:
By using this service, you accept our Terms of Use. Please read them. The consumer health information on is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. You should promptly seek professional medical care if you have any concern about your health, and you should always consult your physician before starting a fitness regimen. Copyright © 2012 Remedy Health Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Thanks Dr. Mark for this update - you do give us some hope.
I can no longer have methotrexate nor arava (nor the biologics).
Will these new drugs be immuno suppressants.
Or immuno suppressants that target a specific rheumatoid factor and not supress the whole immune system ?
Or not immuno suppressants but something that turns off the rheumatoid process ?