-
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