Rheumatoid Arthritis Expert Mark Borigini, M.D. shares Rheumatoid Arthritis management news and commentary at MyRACentral.com. The HealthCentral Network, Inc. (www.HealthCentral.com) is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/53 http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/53/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/53 http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/53/33535/surgery Wed, 16 Jul 2008 13:11:00 -0400 Mark Borigini, M.D. With all the advances and forthcoming advances in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis which have been landing at the feet of patients and rheumatologists over the past decade, we tend to forget that joint destruction still occurs despite the use of these expensive biologic agents. And so, the biopharmaceutical firms continue to pour billions of dollars into rheumatoid arthritis research.   And so, we will continue to need the skill and... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/53/33535/surgery http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/53/31977/relief Thu, 26 Jun 2008 13:00:00 -0400 Mark Borigini, M.D. It appears that whenever the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is under fire, patients become a little scared and begin asking me about "natural" therapies for rheumatoid arthritis.   Well, the FDA is on the hot seat again. You know: the tomato problem.   And I am being asked about something safe and effective -- and "non-medical" -- for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.   Green Tea: An Alternative... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/53/31977/relief http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/53/31004/warning Mon, 16 Jun 2008 11:12:00 -0400 Mark Borigini, M.D. No, this is not the title of a Nancy Drew novel that begs solving.   But I have had many patients asking me about the significance of the black box warning on Enbrel. And why was there no black box warning before this?   Well, to review the facts of this case, up until recently, Enbrel was alone among the anti-tumor necrosis factor drugs (TNF inhibitors) in not having a black box warning regarding risks of tuberculosis (and... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/53/31004/warning http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/53/29143/diabetes Wed, 28 May 2008 11:29:00 -0400 Mark Borigini, M.D. The United States is becoming unhealthier:  The rates of obesity, diabetes and metabolic syndrome are on a continued upward trendl.  Unfortunately, these illnesses of an inactive and overeating society are having a negative impact on those who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. Metabolic syndrome is a combination of conditions that can increase the risk of heart disease and diabetes, among other problems. Metabolic syndrome is... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/53/29143/diabetes http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/53/27834/protect Mon, 26 May 2008 11:36:00 -0400 Mark Borigini, M.D. Recently, the pharmaceutical company Amgen (the makers of Enbrel) announced that the results of a Phase 3 trial had been published which studied the drug denosumab in postmenopausal osteoporosis.   Denosumab treatment significantly increased bone density in the lumbar spine compared to placebo, in addition to the hip, the wrist and the total body. In another study, the drug also seemed to protect bone from erosion in rheumatoid... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/53/27834/protect http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/53/27853/drugs Mon, 19 May 2008 10:58:00 -0400 Mark Borigini, M.D. ANSWER TO QUESTION REGARDING "OVERLAPPING ARTHRITIS"   From a reader: "I have an overlapping arthritis, based on my last x-rays, I have deterioration in all of the fingers on my left hand, as well as my knuckles and wrists on both hands. I also have deterioration in 3 fingers on my right hand. ...   I would like to know if you could advise me of any arthritis drugs that could maybe slow down... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/53/27853/drugs http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/53/25658/promise Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:53:34 -0400 Mark Borigini, M.D. I've discussed Actemra often in this blog, and once again it has been in the news: the British medical journal The Lancet earlier this month published two studies that showed its effectiveness in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Actemra, for those of you who may not yet know, is a drug that is currently being considered by the FDA for use in Rheumatoid Arthritis.   The results from the... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/53/25658/promise http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/53/24356/rheumato Sun, 06 Apr 2008 17:54:00 -0400 Mark Borigini, M.D. I am often asked what treatment or combination of treatments should be used in rheumatoid arthritis. The honest answer is that there is, for now, no best treatment.   The best treatment is the treatment that allows the rheumatoid arthritis patient to feel back to normal once again-or at least as close to back to normal as the treatment allows.   The trouble is that we are not likely anytime soon to see head to head studies of the... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/53/24356/rheumato http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/53/21152/drug Wed, 05 Mar 2008 10:05:00 -0500 Mark Borigini, M.D. Many years ago, the tobacco industry was told to cease and desist: No more advertising on television for cigarettes. It endangered consumers.   And so we all lost that ride-along on the plains with that steady, strong cowhand, cigarette dangling from his lower lip as he swaggered across our television screens.   A generation later, the Marlboro man has been replaced by the Baby Boomer who cannot achieve an erection without... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/53/21152/drug http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/53/21048/ive-ive Mon, 03 Mar 2008 11:02:00 -0500 Mark Borigini, M.D. With apologies to George Gershwin, I thought it might be nice to review with you the importance of the circadian rhythm in rheumatoid arthritis.   I am often asked by my patients why they have more pain and stiffness in the morning. After all, I never ask about "evening stiffness." It's always morning stiffness on my mind when I ask a patient how he or she is doing.   It appears that this is related to the circadian... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/53/21048/ive-ive