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• April 26, 2008

  Chinese Ants Show Promise in Fighting Arthritis, Other Diseases
  Extract may prove beneficial against hepatitis, bacterial infections, study suggests

• April 19, 2008

  New immune drug safely treats psoriasis: study
  An experimental new drug that suppresses certain parts of the immune system worked safely to relieve some of the symptoms of psoriasis, researchers in Canada reported on Thursday.

• April 16, 2008

  Some athletes may abuse allowed drugs
  Organizations responsible for monitoring doping among athletes should consider tighter restrictions on the use of certain drugs now permitted for therapeutic purposes or to control pain, the authors of a new analysis of doping data from Belgium and the Netherlands conclude.

• April 12, 2008

  Researchers Identify New Genetic Links to Psoriasis
  Discovery of biological pathways could lead to treatments for other autoimmune diseases

• March 21, 2008

  New Rheumatoid Arthritis Drug Works for Adults, Children
  But the real test for tocilizumab lies in head-to-head drug trials, expert says

• March 7, 2008

  Health Tip: Understanding Autoimmune Diseases
  When the body begins to attack itself

• March 6, 2008

  Rheumatoid Arthritis Drugs May Lower Heart Attack, Stroke Risk
  Reducing inflammation helps blunt cardiovascular threats, study suggests

• February 29, 2008

  Common Rheumatoid Arthritis Drug Won't Raise Blood Cancer Risk
  Methotrexate appears safe, but a lesser-used medication could boost odds for lymphoma, study finds

• February 28, 2008

  Exercise after arthritis hospital stay cuts costs
  Arthritis sufferers who participate in three weeks of intensive exercise therapy after being hospitalized for their disease enjoy a better quality of life a full year after the treatment than those who don't, Dutch researchers report.

• February 27, 2008

  Red algae extract may help arthritic knees
  A natural dietary supplement derived from seaweed could help improve pain and stiffness in people who suffer from osteoarthritis of the knee, according to a preliminary study.

• February 22, 2008

  Swimming eases pain of fibromyalgia: study
  Swimming can significantly ease the debilitating pain of fibromyalgia, an ailment with no known cure, European researchers said on Friday.

• February 21, 2008

  Depression often a burden for arthritis patients
  While people with rheumatoid arthritis often feel depressed, few discuss this with their doctors, according to a new report.
• Taking Multiple Pain Relievers May Cause Complications
  Dual use of prescription, over-the-counter drugs raises risk of adverse side effects

• February 18, 2008

  Glucosamine no better than placebo for hip arthritis
  Many people take glucosamine for arthritis-like symptoms but results of a new study suggest that glucosamine has no clinically meaningful effect on pain, function, or disease progression in patients with arthritis of the hip.

• February 15, 2008

  Salsalate cuts blood sugar levels in obese adults
  A drug approved for the treatment of arthritis may have a role in reducing the risk of diabetes and heart trouble developing in young obese individuals, Harvard researchers report.

• February 12, 2008

  Regular aspirin may lower colon cancer risk in men
  Men who routinely take aspirin seem to be less likely to develop colorectal cancer, according to new research findings. However, the benefit requires the dose of aspirin to be higher than usually recommended for heart health, and to be taken over at least 6 years.
• Depression Rarely Discussed With RA Patients
  Rheumatoid arthritis poses heightened risk, but it's talked about by only 20% of patients

• February 11, 2008

  Taking more than one painkiller risky: study
  People who use two or more non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to help control pain have a worse health-related quality of life than their peers who use only one, results of a study suggest.

• February 8, 2008

  Psoriatic arthritis does not raise risk of cancer
  Overall, people who suffer from psoriatic arthritis do not appear to have a higher risk of cancer compared to the general population, according to a new study.
• Gene Linked to Inflammatory Arthritis Also Raises Heart Risks
  British study found HLA-DRB1 increased chances of dying from cardiovascular causes

• February 7, 2008

  Intimate partner violence takes a toll on health
  New research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that the prevalence of chronic health conditions is increased among victims of intimate partner violence.

• February 6, 2008

  Supplement shows promise for mild knee arthritis
  A dietary supplement derived from chickens may bring some pain relief to people with mild knee arthritis, preliminary research suggests.

• February 5, 2008

  Lung disease common in rheumatoid arthritis
  Interstitial lung disease -- a large group of disorders that involve inflammation of the lower respiratory tract and breakdown of the structures that transfer oxygen to the bloodstream -- is prevalent and progressive in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to a study utilizing high-resolution computed tomography lung scans.

• February 1, 2008

  Anticoagulant bleeding higher with antidepressants
  - increases the risk of serious bleeding, according to findings from a Dutch study.
• Celebrex disrupts heart rhythm in fruit flies
  Celebrex, an arthritis drug in the same class as the recalled painkiller Vioxx, caused irregular heartbeats in fruit flies and in heart cells taken from laboratory rats, U.S. researchers said on Friday.
• Aspirin reduces death rate in heart patients
  In people with stable heart disease, low-dose aspirin reduces the occurrence of heart attacks, strokes, and deaths from all causes, according to a new analysis.
• Newer Rheumatoid Arthritis Drugs Lower Production of B Cells
  Though millions take Enbrel, Humira, Remicade, mechanism behind medications was unclear

• January 25, 2008

  Painkillers safe for kids after tonsil surgery
  Children recovering from having their tonsils and adenoids removed can be given painkillers like ibuprofen without increasing the risk of postop bleeding, according to a new study.
• Hylan injections discouraged for knee arthritis
  European researchers are recommending that injections of a product called hylan into the knee joint should not be used to osteoarthritis, based on the results of a systematic review of clinical studies.

• January 21, 2008

  Rheumatoid arthritis raises risk for shingles
  People with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are at increased risk of herpes zoster, or shingles, a painful skin condition caused by a reactivation of the chickenpox virus, according to research on more than 160,000 individuals with RA.
• Gene studies home in on lupus cause
  Four separate studies published on Sunday identify a series of genes linked with lupus, a debilitating illness that can affect various parts of the body at once.
• Delayed-release prednisone curbs morning stiffness in RA
  A delayed-release prednisone tablet taken at night is more effective than immediate-release prednisone taken in the morning in reducing morning joint stiffness in people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to a study published this week.

• January 18, 2008

  Aspirin 'resistance' raises risk of heart trouble
  People who are resistant to the blood-thinning effects of aspirin are at increased risk of having a heart attack, stroke, and of dying from a pre-existing heart condition, according to a report in this week's British Medical Journal.

• January 17, 2008

  Modified-Release Prednisone May Ease Rheumatoid Arthritis
  Pill timed to body's rhythms, helps with morning joint stiffness, researchers say

• January 16, 2008

  Blood cancer risk increased with lupus drugs
  The results of a new study provide more evidence that the immune-suppressing drugs used to treat lupus may increase the risk of leukemia and other blood, or "hematologic," cancers.

• January 15, 2008

  More evidence exercise helps arthritis sufferers
  Moderate exercise can help older adults with arthritis ease their pain and fatigue, a new study suggests.

• January 14, 2008

  Osteoarthritis gene variations linked to height
  Variations in the gene locus -- the area the gene is located on the chromosome -- associated with osteoarthritis, appear to modestly contribute to differences in body height, according to a report in the journal Nature Genetics.

• January 11, 2008

  Arthritis drug may ease dementia: case-report
  In a new report, US researchers describe the improvement in brain function that occurred in a patient with Alzheimer's disease just minutes after receiving an injection in the spine of the arthritis drug Enbrel (also known as etanercept).

• January 10, 2008

  Gene mutation plus stroke increase dementia risk
  Patients who have experienced a stroke and who are also carriers of APOE4, the gene mutation associated with an increase risk of Alzheimer's disease, have a greater risk of dementia compared with individuals with just one - or none -- of these factors, according to a report in the medical journal Neurology.

• January 7, 2008

  Kneeling, standing on the job boost arthritis risk
  Men who spend significant amounts of time kneeling on the job are at great risk of developing osteoarthritis of the knee, a new study published in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine confirms.

• January 4, 2008

  Heart risk factors vary in affect in arthritis
  In rheumatoid arthritic patients, some traditional risk factors impart a greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease, while others confer a lower risk, compared with those without rheumatoid arthritis, according to a report in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
• 46 Million Americans Suffer From Arthritis
  By 2030, 40% of U.S. adults will have the condition, experts say

• December 26, 2007

  Painkiller blocks unwanted effects of morphine
  In a mouse model of breast cancer, the COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib (Celebrex) prevents chronic morphine-induced effects on tumor growth without compromising pain relief, scientists report.

• December 25, 2007

  NSAIDs won't protect ultra-marathoners' muscles
  Taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen during endurance events does not help prevent muscle damage or next-day muscle soreness, a study in ultra-marathoners indicates.

• December 18, 2007

  Growth hormone may relieve fibromyalgia pain
  Daily injections of growth hormone may help reduce pain and improve the quality of life in some patients with fibromyalgia, new findings of a small study suggest.

• December 15, 2007

  Anemia tied to disability in rheumatoid arthritis
  The results of a study suggest that anemia is associated with physical disability in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
• Growth hormone may curb fibromyalgia pain
  Some people who suffer from a common and often debilitating chronic pain condition called fibromyalgia may find relief with shots of growth hormone, a study hints.

• December 12, 2007

  Risk factors identify progressive hip arthritis
  Age, morning stiffness, and certain kinds of pain can identify patients who are at risk for progression of hip osteoarthritis and who will need a total hip replacement, according to a report in the medical journal Arthritis & Rheumatism.

• December 6, 2007

  Hylan not recommended for knee osteoarthritis
  For osteoarthritis of the knee, hylan or hyaluronic acid injections are equally effective, but hylan can potentially cause more adverse events, a new study shows. Based on this plus the higher cost of hylan, the researchers "see no rationale for the continued use of hylan in patients with knee osteoarthritis."

• December 1, 2007

  Kids with CF benefit from ibuprofen therapy
  Treatment with ibuprofen can slow the drop in lung function that occurs in children with cystic fibrosis (CF), according to group of researchers from Ohio.

• November 30, 2007

  Sustained improvement seen with replacement hips
  The substantial benefits of hip replacement for osteoarthritis are sustained in the long-term, British investigators report.

• November 28, 2007

  Supplements may slow bone loss in arthritis
  Two dietary supplements widely used by arthritis sufferers may indeed help slow the bone loss associated with the joint disease, a "basic science" study indicates.
• Obesity may protect joints in rheumatoid arthritis
  Among people with rheumatoid arthritis, joint damage appears to be more severe for those with a normal body mass index (BMI) than for those who are obese, a German research team reports.

• November 27, 2007

  Drug Combos Effective Against Rheumatoid Arthritis
  Older and newer medicine together often bring relief, study finds

• November 21, 2007

  Little difference among rheumatoid arthritis drugs
  It seems to make little difference which drug a patient uses to treat rheumatoid arthritis, although mixing different types of drugs in a cocktail approach works better than using a single treatment, U.S. researchers said on Monday.

• November 12, 2007

  New Test Criteria Spots Rheumatoid Arthritis Sooner
  Identifying patients earlier means intervention may be more effective, researchers say

• November 10, 2007

  Spinal manipulation ineffective for low back pain
  Going to a chiropractor for spinal manipulation or taking the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac probably won't speed recovery from acute low back pain, a study shows.

• November 10, 2007

  Antibody Test Could Spot Rheumatoid Arthritis Early
  Having primary care docs use the screen could boost patient outcomes, study finds
• Rheumatoid Arthritis Boosts Heart Disease Threat
  But checking typical risk factors can help head off problems, research says
• Drugs Can Ease Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
  3 trials show some success in helping children

• November 9, 2007

  Arthritis drug effective in late-stage trial
  Swiss drugmaker Roche Holding AG said on Wednesday that its experimental rheumatoid arthritis drug, Actemra, was effective in the second of five late-stage clinical trials.
• Drug cuts joint damage in arthritis study
  The experimental drug Cimzia significantly reduces structural damage to joints in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, according to new data presented on Wednesday.
• Vioxx Ban Tied to Rise in Serious GI Trouble
  Without such stomach-shielding drugs, patient health has suffered, researchers say

• November 7, 2007

  Over-the-counter analgesics lower Parkinson's risk
  Over-the-counter painkillers, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, can reduce the risk of Parkinson's disease, U.S. researchers reported this week.

• November 1, 2007

  Little Evidence Silicone Breast Implants Harm Health
  Review of data finds no link to most common illnesses

• October 30, 2007

  Risk of GI bleeding increased by drug combo
  A drug from the class of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as Prozac, Zoloft or Paxil, added to a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), such as Motrin, Aspirin or Celebrex, can interact to increase the risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, according to a report in current issue of Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics.

• October 30, 2007

  Rheumatoid arthritis patients' mortality unchanged
  The decline in mortality seen in the U.S. population over the past four decades has not extended to patients with rheumatoid arthritis, despite innovations in rheumatoid arthritis treatment, according to a report in the current issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism.

• October 30, 2007

  Rheumatoid Arthritis Death Rate Unchanged
  Underlying inflammation may affect heart despite symptom relief, experts say

• October 28, 2007

  Why painkillers may not work in fibromyalgia
  People who suffer from a common chronic pain condition called fibromyalgia often report that they don't respond to the types of medications that relieve other people's pain. Results of a new study suggest why that may be.

• October 28, 2007

  Respiratory infections common in people with RA
  Research shows that acute lower respiratory tract infections are common in people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and they carry a high mortality rate in this population.

• October 24, 2007

  UK body approves new rheumatoid arthritis drugs
  Abbott Laboratories Humira, Amgen Inc's Enbrel and Johnson & Johnson unit Centocor's Remicade rheumatoid arthritis drugs were recommended on Wednesday for use in Britain's state health service.
• Normal weight lower in rheumatoid arthritis patients
  The relationship of body mass index (BMI) with the body composition in patients with rheumatoid arthritis differs from that in patients with osteoarthritis and healthy controls, according to UK researchers.

• October 17, 2007

  Winning Super Bowl players healthy decades later
  The select group of professional football players that comprised the 1969 Super Bowl winning team appears to be as healthy as other men in their age group.

• October 16, 2007

  Painkillers may lower breast cancer risk
  - such as ibuprofen or aspirin -- is associated with a reduced risk of developing breast cancer, the results of a recent study suggest.

• October 15, 2007

  Knee "buckling" is common, arthritis or not
  Many middle-aged and older adults have problems with their knee "go outing" or "giving way" while walking or climbing stairs, even when they don't have knee arthritis, according to a study published Monday.

• October 12, 2007

  Arthritis may predispose patients to gout
  Arthritis may trigger the deposit of uric acid crystals in joints, the main cause of gout, according to a report in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
• Arthritis causes job limitations for many
  Nearly 12 percent of Americans ages 45 to 64 face work limitations because of arthritis, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a report on Thursday.

• October 11, 2007

  Colchicine deaths blamed on pharmacy error
  Two recent deaths, and possibly a third, from intravenous colchicine therapy at an alternative medicine clinic were the result of a compounding pharmacy error, health authorities reported Thursday in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

• October 4, 2007

  Canada pulls Novartis's drug on hepatitis fears
  Canada said on Thursday it has stopped the sale of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc's anti-inflammatory drug Prexige (lumiracoxib) and will cancel its market authorization due to the risk of serious liver-related effects, mainly hepatitis.

• October 3, 2007

  Psoriasis drug shown highly effective in trial
  Johnson & Johnson's experimental treatment for psoriasis proved safe and highly effective in a late-stage trial, positioning it as a potential strong rival to current medicines, the company said on Wednesday.

• September 28, 2007

  Meditation May Help Rheumatoid Arthritis Sufferers
  It eases the depression that often accompanies the condition, study finds.

• September 27, 2007

  Some arthritis drugs may protect the heart
  "Early use of biologicals to control rheumatoid arthritis and induce remission might be linked to a diminished cardiovascular risk, but this is still hypothetical", they told Reuters Health.
• Painkiller Prexige rejected in U.S.
  U.S. regulators have rejected Novartis AG's Prexige painkiller, a move that had been expected after Australia withdrew the drug on concerns over liver side-effects.

• September 25, 2007

  Physical fitness low in kids with arthritis
  Aerobic and anaerobic exercise capacity is decreased in children and adolescents with so-called juvenile idiopathic arthritis or JIA, according to the results of two studies by Dutch investigators.

• September 24, 2007

  Physiotherapy may help with "frozen shoulder"
  After treatment to free up a "frozen shoulder," physiotherapy for 6 weeks results in sustained improvements in range of motion for at least 6 months, an Australian trial suggests.

• September 21, 2007

  Pain meds may worsen symptoms of enlarged prostate
  Common painkillers like ibuprofen and naproxen may act as a double-edged sword when it comes to men's prostate function, according to a report in the Harvard Men's Health Watch.

• September 18, 2007

  Genome Area Linked to Rheumatoid Arthritis
  DNA is involved in inflammation, immune response, scientists say

• September 17, 2007

  Statins don't curb colon cancer risk: study
  Statin heart drugs do not appear to lower the risk of colorectal cancer, new research shows.

• September 14, 2007

  Knee arthritis may be sign of early lung cancer
  Having isolated arthritis in one knee could be an early warning sign for lung cancer, Italian researchers suggest.

• September 7, 2007

  Growth hormone boosts height in kids with arthritis
  A long-term study shows that growth hormone (GH) therapy has a beneficial effect on growth and, importantly, final height in children with severe juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and stunted growth.
• Many arthritis patients not happy with prednisone
  When it comes to initial drug treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, many sufferers would prefer not to have to take the steroid prednisone, a survey shows.
• Mediterranean diet may benefit arthritis sufferers
  Learning how to eat Mediterranean-style may help people with rheumatoid arthritis improve their symptoms, a study suggests.

• September 6, 2007

  Low-impact exercise improves rheumatoid arthritis
  Middle-aged and older adults with rheumatoid arthritis may be able to improve their physical and mental well-being with regular exercise, a new study suggests.

• September 5, 2007

  Gene therapy promising against arthritis
  Some of the most successful treatments for rheumatoid arthritis work by blocking an inflammatory factor called tumor necrosis factor or TNF, and now Dutch researchers have shown in animal experiments that the treatment can be delivered by gene transfer.
• Genes Boost Risk for Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus
  Discoveries could lead to new treatments for autoimmune diseases, scientists say.

• September 3, 2007

  Old drug boosts survival in lupus patients
  - a chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system can confuse healthy and foreign tissues and sometimes attacks both, researchers have found.

• August 31, 2007

  Drug switch may benefit arthritis patients
  Patients with rheumatoid arthritis who fail to respond to one of the biological drugs will often have a better response to a second drug within the same class, Danish researchers report in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.

• August 29, 2007

  RA Drugs Linked to Slight Skin Cancer Risk
  But the medications' benefits outweigh the downside, experts say.
• Novartis tells European MDs of Prexige measures
  Swiss drugmaker Novartis AG has informed doctors in Europe of new restrictions on prescribing lumiracoxib, its COX-2 inhibitor sold under the trade name Prexige, including regular liver monitoring, Britain's drug regulator said.
• NSAIDs may protect against bladder cancer
  Regular use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), especially aspirin, may decrease the risk of bladder cancer, particularly more advanced, high-grade tumors containing alterations in the tumor suppressor protein TP53, results of a study suggest.

• August 24, 2007

  Study: 43 million Americans take aspirin daily
  An estimated 43 million U.S. adults take an aspirin every day or almost every day, according to a U.S. government survey, a figure that accounts for a fifth of the adult population.
• Ibuprofen may improve liver-related brain deficits
  Treatment with the commonly used over-the-counter drug ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), may reduce the impairments in thinking ability that often accompany severe liver disease, findings from an animal study suggest.

• August 15, 2007

  Acupuncture doesn't reduce arthritis pain
  New research suggests that the reduction in arthritis pain as a result of exercise-based physical therapy is not enhanced by the addition of acupuncture.

• August 10, 2007

  Minorities at higher risk of arthritis disability
  Black and Hispanic adults with arthritis are more likely than whites to become disabled from the joint disease, new research findings suggest.

• August 3, 2007

  Pain patient's behavior tips off opioid abuse
  Among chronic pain patients who have been prescribed opioid drugs such as OxyContin or Percocet by primary care physicians, nearly 4 percent abuse these drugs, according to the results of a large study conducted in Wisconsin.

• August 2, 2007

  UK's watchdog says arthritis drug too costly
  Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.'s rheumatoid arthritis drug Orencia should not be prescribed to people using Britain's state health service because it is too expensive, watchdog NICE said in a draft decision on Thursday.

• August 1, 2007

  No race disparities found in rheumatoid arthritis
  Though some research has suggested there are racial differences in the severity of rheumatoid arthritis, a new study finds that the disease seems to affect men similarly regardless of race.

• July 31, 2007

  Nicotine may slow progression of rheumatoid arthritis
  In people with rheumatoid arthritis, heavy cigarette smoking appears to slow the rate of joint destruction, new research suggests.

• July 30, 2007

  Etoricoxib and naproxen effective for arthritis
  The COX-2 inhibitor etoricoxib and the older agent naproxen are both safe and effective for the treatment of arthritis, according to a report in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
• Acetaminophen eases post-wisdom tooth removal pain
  Paracetamol (Panadol) , the pain killer known as acetaminophen in the U.S. and sold under the trade names Tylenol in the US and Panadol in the UK, is an effective treatment for the pain following wisdom tooth extraction, according to a review of 21 studies that used the drug to placebo, or an inactive substance.

• July 20, 2007

  Antioxidants may protect against knee arthritis
  People who have diets with plenty of foods containing antioxidants may be protecting themselves from bone changes associated with knee arthritis, according to a new study.

• July 19, 2007

  Malaria drugs cut cancer risk in lupus patients
  Drugs used to treat malaria appear to reduce the risk of malignancy in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, Spanish researchers report in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.

• July 16, 2007

  Pain drugs have different heart risks
  The various anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and naproxen, which are used to treat arthritis and other painful conditions, differ in the risks of heart attacks and stroke, according to a report in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. Much of the difference seems to depend on how the drug interacts with aspirin, which is commonly given to prevent heart attacks.
• Arthritis drug may treat stubborn psoriasis
  Patients with severe psoriasis previously treated with Enbrel (also known as etanercept) may respond to Remicade (also known as infliximab), a study published this month suggests.

• July 10, 2007

  Lasers, electrical stimulation curb knee pain
  People with knee pain caused by osteoarthritis may find relief with electroacupuncture, electrical nerve stimulation, or low-level laser therapy, research shows.

• July 9, 2007

  China stops sale of drug to treat leukemia, arthritis
  China's drug safety watchdog has suspended sales of a drug used to treat acute leukemia and rheumatoid arthritis, Xinhua news agency said on Saturday, the latest in a string of food and drug security scandals.

• July 5, 2007

  Heart function impaired in young lupus patients
  Heart function is impaired in young women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), investigators report, and this may be related to the strikingly high rates of cardiovascular disease seen in this population.

• June 27, 2007

  Acetaminophen safe in abstinent alcoholics
  Alcoholics undergoing rehabilitation can safely use the maximum recommended daily dose of acetaminophen (Tylenol) without damaging their livers, study results suggest.
• Placebo effect seen in acupuncture studies
  Acupuncture can bring some relief to people with knee arthritis, but the benefits may be at least partly from a placebo effect, a new research review suggests.

• June 22, 2007

  Pfizer drug gets U.S. approval to treat fibromyalgia
  Pfizer Inc. won U.S. approval on Thursday to promote its prescription drug Lyrica for treating fibromyalgia, a chronic disease which can cause debilitating pain, sleep problems, stiffness and fatigue.

• June 20, 2007

  More walking could benefit people with arthritis
  People suffering from rheumatoid arthritis tend to walk less than other people, but their heart health would improve if they'd spent more time walking, according to a new report.

• June 18, 2007

  Enbrel works well for psoriasis over long term
  The symptoms of moderate-to-severe psoriasis are improved by treatment with Enbrel, known generically as etanercept, and the therapy remains safe and effective for up to 96 weeks, according to a new study

• June 15, 2007

  Alcohol may prevent rheumatoid arthritis: study
  More good news for drinkers -- imbibing regularly may halve your risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, according to scientists.
• New COX-2 inhibitor may also lower blood pressure
  Lumiracoxib, developed by Novartis AG under the trade name Prexige, is a COX-2 inhibitor analgesic drug that has significantly better effects on blood pressure than the older generic drug ibuprofen, researchers said on Friday.

• June 14, 2007

  Lyme disease cases double in US: CDC
  The number of cases of Lyme disease has doubled in the United States since 1991 and these numbers are probably underestimated, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Thursday.
• Europe lagging in access to arthritis drugs
  European patients are lagging those in the United States in getting access to modern rheumatoid arthritis drugs, while inequalities within Europe aggravate the problem further, doctors said on Thursday.
• Lupus drug yield good results in mid-stage trial
  Human Genome Sciences Inc. said data from a mid-stage trial showed that its lupus drug candidate, LymphoStat-B, significantly reduced disease activity across multiple clinical measures.
• Vitamin A Compound Could Fight Rheumatoid Arthritis
  Mouse study shows retinoic acid can ease inflamation.

• June 13, 2007

  No need to delay switch to alternate arthritis drug
  Rheumatoid arthritis patients who do not respond to anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) therapy can safely switch to Orencia (abatacept) without delay, researchers said on Wednesday.
• Study Rates New Rheumatoid Arthritis Drugs
  Abatacept, rituximab and tocilizumab may offer patients new options, experts say

• June 7, 2007

  Less money or new trial offered in Vioxx case - WSJ
  A U.S. federal judge gave a plaintiff in a Vioxx product liability case a choice of a retrial or a significantly reduced award after ruling that compensatory damages awarded by a jury in his original trial were "grossly excessive," the Wall Street Journal reported.

• June 6, 2007

  Actemra effective for rheumatoid arthritis
  New data from the second multinational late-stage trial of tocilizumab (Actemra; Roche), a new monoclonal antibody, confirmed the drug significantly improves disease signs and symptoms in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, Swiss drugmaker Roche said on Wednesday

• May 29, 2007

  Vitamin D may prevent age-related macular disease
  The results of a study published in the Archives of Ophthalmology suggest that vitamin D may protect individuals from developing age-related macular degeneration.
• Long-term therapy for post-Lyme syndrome rejected
  After considering the clinical evidence, members of the American Academy of Neurology conclude that "there is no compelling evidence that prolonged treatment with antibiotics has any beneficial effect in post-Lyme syndrome."
• Rheumatoid Illness, Smoking Can Harm Heart's Aorta
  And that can increase risks for aneurysm and heart attack, experts warn

• May 25, 2007

  Arthritis pain may change with the weather
  People who swear they can predict the weather by the pain in their arthritic knees may be right after all, a new study suggests.
• Gene therapy helps arthritis pain, damage in mice
  A gene therapy treatment that helped make cells more sensitive to the body's own painkillers not only helped ease arthritis pain in mice but also reduced other symptoms, researchers said on Friday.
• Large Jolts of Java Can Keep Gout at Bay
  Coffee lovers who drank more than four cups a day had a 40% lower risk of the inflammatory condition.

• May 24, 2007

  Normal antibiotics treatment seen OK for Lyme
  A two- to four-week course of antibiotics is plenty for treating Lyme disease, an infection transmitted by tick bites, U.S. experts said on Wednesday.

• May 21, 2007

  Counseling can improve arthritis pain, disability
  Giving people with arthritis the tools to cope with pain can help them feel, and function, better, the authors of a new analysis of research on counseling for arthritis patients conclude.
• Women may benefit less from aspirin for the heart
  Women with heart disease appear to be more likely than men to be resistant the blood-thinning effect of aspirin, according to new study results. However, whether so-called "aspirin resistance" affects patients clinically has not yet been determined, Dr. Susan S. Smyth and colleagues report.

• May 11, 2007

  Aspirin vs. colon cancer: study weighs benefits
  Long-term use of aspirin may be a cheap, effective way of warding off colorectal cancer for people who are at high risk, but bleeding risks make it a bad idea for the average patient, researchers said on Thursday.
• Low aspirin dose best for heart disease prevention
  Contrary to what many doctors prescribe, long-term aspirin therapy at doses greater than 75 to 81 mg per day does not enhance the prevention of heart disease but does increase the risk of stomach bleeding, new findings indicate.

• May 8, 2007

  Daily aspirin risk higher than many appreciate
  Taking an aspirin every day may help prevent heart disease and stroke but, for a middle-aged man, it is nearly as risky as driving a car or working as a firefighter, researchers said on Tuesday.

• May 2, 2007

  Hydrotherapy, Tai Chi can ease osteoarthritis
  Both water-based exercise and the Chinese exercise system Tai Chi can help older people with severe arthritis move and feel better, researchers from Australia report.
• Pfizer's Lyrica cuts fibromyalgia pain in study
  Patients taking Pfizer Inc's Lyrica experienced a significant reduction in pain from the chronic condition fibromyalgia, compared with those taking a placebo in a clinical trial, the drugmaker said on Tuesday.

• April 30, 2007

  Painkillers don't prevent Alzheimer's: study
  Study results suggest that the use of naproxen or celecoxib (Celebrex) does not stave off Alzheimer's disease, although the authors acknowledge that longer follow-up is needed to completely rule out a benefit.
• Green Tea May Ease Rheumatoid Arthritis
  Laboratory study is called preliminary, but promising.

• April 27, 2007

  Non-aspirin NSAIDs may reduce lung cancer risk
  The long-term use of non-aspirin anti-inflammatory painkillers, or NSAIDs, appears to slightly reduce the risk of a person developing lung cancer, according to research published in the International Journal of Cancer.
• Aspirin doesn't preserve older women's memory
  Among healthy older women, low-dose aspirin does little to prevent or delay mental decline over the following decade, according to analysis of data from the Women's Health Study.
• Genes Could Boost Arthritis Patients' Death Risk
  DNA may pose hazard for people with rheumatoid form of the disease

• April 25, 2007

  Knee alignment doesn't affect osteoarthritis risk
  Malalignment of the knee does not predict the development of osteoarthritis, but it may be an indication of disease severity or progression in individuals who already have the disease, according to a study conducted by Massachusetts-based researchers.

• April 18, 2007

  Long-term aspirin use may cut cancer risk
  Long-term daily use of adult-strength aspirin may modestly reduce the risk of certain cancers, including colorectal, prostate and breast cancer, new research suggests.

• April 17, 2007

  Aspirin reduces overall cancer and mortality rates
  The regular use of aspirin, but not other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), is associated with a reduced incidence of cancer and cancer-related death, particularly among former smokers and those who never smoked.

• April 16, 2007

  Chondroitin provides little benefit for arthritis
  Findings from an analysis of previously published data suggest that use of the popular supplement chondroitin provides little or no relief of symptoms of arthritis in the knee or hip.

• April 13, 2007

  US FDA chief: Agency open to new pain drugs
  The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is still open to new Cox-2 pain drugs, the head of the agency said on Friday, one day after an advisory panel rejected Merck & Co. Inc.'s follow-up drug to Vioxx.

• April 12, 2007

  Merck urges U.S. panel to back Vioxx successor
  GAITHERSBURG, Md.(Reuters) - A pain reliever in the same family as the recalled drug Vioxx should be approved to provide an alternative for patients who do not respond well to current options, maker Merck & Co Inc. argued to a U.S. advisory panel on Thursday.
• FDA Advisory Panel Rejects Vioxx Successor
  Merck's new painkiller Arcoxia shows cardiac risk, committee says in 20-1 vote.

• April 11, 2007

  Rheumatoid Arthritis Drug May Help Treat Type 2 Diabetes
  Study finds long-term glucose levels dropped significantly after 13 weeks of treatment.

• April 10, 2007

  Aspirin underutilized for heart attack prevention
  Although it's well known that taking aspirin regularly can lower a person's risk of heart disease, few Americans, it seems, use the common pain reliever for heart health.
• Consumer group says Celebrex ad downplays risks
  A consumer group accused Pfizer Inc. on Monday of downplaying safety differences between its Celebrex medicine and other painkillers in a new advertisement and said U.S. regulators should ask that the ad be pulled.
• Heart experts say Merck arthritis drug too risky
  Two prominent U.S. heart experts said studies of Merck & Co. Inc. arthritis drug Arcoxia revealed risks that should prevent its approval in the United States and that the drug posed unacceptable dangers in the 63 countries where it is already sold.

• April 6, 2007

  Arthritis makes work tough going for millions
  For almost 7 million American workers, arthritis keeps them from doing their job at peak performance, researchers estimate based on data from the 2002 National Health Interview Survey.

• April 5, 2007

  Ibuprofen may affect heart in high-risk patients
  Compared to treatment with the COX-2 inhibitor lumiracoxib (Prexige), ibuprofen appears to increase the risk of congestive heart failure and blood clots in high-risk patients with osteoarthritis who take aspirin for cardiovascular protection, new research shows.

• April 4, 2007

  Combo therapy beats monotherapy for migraine
  An experimental drug, Trexima, which combines sumatriptan and naproxen, two commonly used migraine treatments, controlled symptoms of the headache better than either one alone, a new U.S. study released on Tuesday suggests.
• Fertility watchdog seeks to reduce twin births
  British fertility clinics may be forced to limit the number of multiple births to 1 in 10 women because of the dangers posed to mothers and babies, the nation's fertility watchdog said on Wednesday.

• April 2, 2007

  Celebrex ads back, stress rivals carry same risk
  Ads for Pfizer Inc.'s Celebrex arthritis drug are set to splash across U.S. television screens on Monday after more than a two-year hiatus, with an unusual upfront focus on its risks rather than its benefits.

• March 29, 2007

  Protein May Be Key to Rheumatoid Arthritis
  Finding could lead to new therapies for the disease, study suggests.

• March 28, 2007

  Arthritis Pain Processed in Emotion-Linked Brain Area
  Findings may offer a new target for treatment, study suggests

• March 26, 2007

  Duct tape doesn't cure warts in adults: study
  Covering up a wart with transparent duct tape or moleskin, commonly referred to as occlusion therapy, hardly ever cures warts in adults, according to the results of a new study. Even when a treated wart resolves, it usually recurs within months, the investigators report.
• Japan experts link osteoarthritis to gene variant
  Researchers in Japan have identified a gene variant that may be responsible for osteoarthritis, a painful condition in the joints that affects more than 200 million people worldwide.

• March 15, 2007

  Stem Cell Finding Could Help Fight Autoimmune Disease
  Build-up of dead cells may trigger these illnesses, researchers say

• February 27, 2007

  Rheumatoid Arthritis Boosts Cancer Death Risk: Study
  Researchers urge further investigation into targeted therapies to improve survival rate

• January 30, 2007

  New Score Helps Spot Rheumatoid Arthritis Sufferers
  Early detection is important to safe, effective treatment, experts say.

• January 22, 2007

  Scientists Spot Key Autoimmune Disease Genes
  Discovery could unlock secrets to lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, even cancer, experts say

• December 29, 2006

  Gene-Altered Mouse a Boon to Rheumatoid Arthritis Research
  Animal model closely mirrors disease progression in humans, experts say.

• December 18, 2006

  Alcohol May Slow Rheumatoid Arthritis
  But results in mice might not apply to humans, scientists say.

• December 7, 2006

  Rheumatoid Arthritis More Stubborn in Women
  Remission is much less likely than in male patients, study finds

• November 30, 2006

  Don't Expect Big Push for Celebrex for Juvenile Arthritis
  FDA panel recommends its use, but other treatment options exist, experts say.

• November 12, 2006

  Rheumatoid Arthritis Meds Won't Up Most Cancer Risk
  Major review finds increase in skin cancer for new biologic drugs, but not for other malignancies

• November 7, 2006

  Researchers Apologize for Disclosure Failure on Drug Study
  But the science behind review of rheumatoid arthritis treatments is sound.

• October 30, 2006

  Acupuncture, Turmeric May Help Ease Arthritis
  They could be effective adjuncts to conventional treatment, studies suggest.

• June 27, 2006

  Arthritis and Your Sex Life
  A new study finds that rheumatoid arthrirtis can have a serious effect on the sex lives of those diagnosed with the condition.

• March 6, 2006

  Rheumatoid Arthritis Doesn't Boost Risk for Hearing Loss
  Study finds no difference when compared to those without immune disorder

• News Archive