Rheumatoid arthritis sufferers still too inactive
Regular exercise can be beneficial to people with rheumatoid arthritis, but a study finds that two out of five people with the disease may not be active at all.
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Rheumatoid arthritis sufferers still too inactive
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Natural juice as arthritis treatment
The best advice I can give for arthritis-related pain is to get up and get moving.
09-07-2011 18:03 Dr. John McDougall discusses the painful disorder – Arthritis. Go to www.drmcdougall.com and read under “Hot Topics” to learn more about this disorder and how changes in your diet will make a dramatic difference. www.drmcdougall.com
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Arthritis – Video
People living in poor neighbourhoods have a higher rate and risk of arthritis – one of the most common causes of disability in the developed world.
Results revealed that people who live in socially disadvantaged areas were 42 per cent more at risk of getting arthritis than people in more affluent areas.
The Australian study revealed more than 30 per cent of people living in socially disadvantaged areas reported having arthritis, as opposed to 18.5 per cent in the more affluent areas.
Led by the University of Melbourne, Deakin University and Queensland University of Technology, the study was published in the international journal Arthritis Care & Research.
Lead author, Dr Sharon Brennan from the University of Melbourne and Deakin University said of all the findings, it was location of residence that influenced arthritis prevalence the most and that it was a concerning and important finding.
“People with the condition suffer a lower quality of life. The symptoms of arthritis such as pain and immobility are debilitating,” she said.
“Our results indicate that intervention efforts to reduce arthritis may need to focus on both people and places.
“It is widely known that obesity, age and social disadvantage are linked and are also risk factors for arthritis.
“This is the first time a study has shown specific associations with people's neighbourhoods which may explain that link.”
The study is the first to examine the relationship between individual and neighbourhood-level disadvantage on arthritis.
Original post:
Link between poor neighbourhoods and risk of arthritis
To: HEALTH, MEDICAL AND NATIONAL EDITORS
IOM Recommendations Call for Paradigm Shift
ATLANTA, Jan. 31, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ –The Arthritis Foundation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are proud supporters of an Institute of Medicine (IOM) report released today outlining a new vision and plan of action to reduce the crisis proportions of chronic illness that threaten the nation's health and economic welfare.
According to the report, Living Well with Chronic Illness: A Call for Public Health Action, chronic illnesses have a profound impact on the overall health of our nation. It is estimated that 133 million people in this country live with a chronic disease. One in four Americans has multiple (two or more) chronic illnesses, and chronic diseases account for 70 percent of all deaths. Moreover, chronic illnesses are a major contributor to health care costs, representing 75 percent of the $2 trillion in U.S. annual health care spending. Chronic illness diminishes the nation's productivity and well-being.
This groundbreaking report outlines a comprehensive framework of cross-cutting, coordinated strategies that can reduce the individual and societal burdens.
The Arthritis Foundation applauds the IOM for calling attention to the staggering toll of chronic diseases, like arthritis, and for developing a visionary blueprint that calls for a paradigm shift in the way our health system deals with this growing problem.
“Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. and results in people losing their independence and their ability to care for themselves and their other chronic diseases,” says Arthritis Foundation President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. John H. Klippel. “More than 50 percent of people with heart disease and diabetes have arthritis. We're excited to embrace this new vision and welcome new partners to reduce the impact of all chronic illness in this country.”
The IOM study was commissioned by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Arthritis Foundation in 2010 to help identify public health actions to reduce disability and improve the function and quality of life among people who are at high risk of developing a chronic illness and those with one or more chronic illnesses.
The IOM-appointed study committee looked at a variety of diseases, health conditions and physical impairments that significantly affect a person's health and quality of life, as well as the nation's economy. Nine “exemplar” conditions were identified: arthritis, cancer survivorship, chronic pain, dementia, depression, type 2 diabetes, posttraumatic disabling conditions, schizophrenia, and vision and hearing loss.
Among the actions presented in Living Well with Chronic Illness: A Call for Public Health Action:
— Strengthen public health actions to manage chronic disease by looking holistically at the multiple diseases, health conditions and physical impairments that significantly affect a person's health and quality of life, as well as the nation's economy. — Enhance collaboration between public health, health care and local communities to produce better prevention and treatment outcomes for people living with chronic illness. — Develop a comprehensive surveillance system to better document the improvements attained with this new approach to holistic care of people with chronic illness. — Develop new public policies to further promote living well with chronic illness. — Develop new and expand promising evidenced-based public health interventions aimed at preventing chronic illness.
The Arthritis Foundation joins the IOM in calling on all sectors of the health and health care systems to collaborate and focus more attention on helping people live well with chronic illnesses and be a productive part of our society.
Visit www.arthritis.org to find evidence-based programs and services that help people with arthritis and other chronic illnesses lead healthier and more independent lives.
About the Arthritis Foundation
Striking one in every five adults and 300,000 children, arthritis is the nation's leading cause of disability. The Arthritis Foundation (www.arthritis.org) is committed to raising awareness and reducing the unacceptable impact of this serious and painful disease, which can severely damage joints and rob people of living life to its fullest. The Foundation funds life-changing research that has restored mobility in patients for more than six decades; fights for health care policies that improve the lives of the millions who live with arthritis; and partners with families to provide empowering programs and information.
SOURCE Arthritis Foundation
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Arthritis Foundation Champions "Visionary Blueprint" on Lessening Toll of Chronic Illness
Public release date: 31-Jan-2012
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Contact: Rebecca Scott
rebeccas@unimelb.edu.au
61-383-440-181
University of Melbourne
People living in poor neighbourhoods have a higher rate and risk of arthritis – one of the most common causes of disability in the developed world.
Results revealed that people who live in socially disadvantaged areas were 42 per cent more at risk of getting arthritis than people in more affluent areas.
The Australian study revealed more than 30 per cent of people living in socially disadvantaged areas reported having arthritis, as opposed to 18.5 per cent in the more affluent areas.
Led by the University of Melbourne, Deakin University and Queensland University of Technology, the study was published in the international journal Arthritis Care & Research.
Lead author, Dr Sharon Brennan from the University of Melbourne and Deakin University said of all the findings, it was location of residence that influenced arthritis prevalence the most and that it was a concerning and important finding.
“People with the condition suffer a lower quality of life. The symptoms of arthritis such as pain and immobility are debilitating,” she said.
“Our results indicate that intervention efforts to reduce arthritis may need to focus on both people and places.
“It is widely known that obesity, age and social disadvantage are linked and are also risk factors for arthritis.
“This is the first time a study has shown specific associations with people's neighbourhoods which may explain that link.”
The study is the first to examine the relationship between individual and neighbourhood-level disadvantage on arthritis.
Using data from the HABITAT (How Areas in Brisbane Influence Health and Activity) cohort led by Professor Gavin Turrell of the Queensland University of Technology, researchers surveyed 10,757 males and females aged 40-65 years, selected from 200 neighborhoods of varying socio economic status in Brisbane.
Neighbourhoods, areas within suburbs, are based on Australian Bureau of Statistics Census data, which groups 200 private dwellings by proximity.
Dr Brennan said the study has important implications for policy, health promotion, and other intervention strategies designed to reduce the rates of arthritis.
“Our next steps will be to find out why there is a link to arthritis and place,” she said.
“One of the factors may be that if the environment is not conducive to physical activity, then people are less likely to be active,” she said.
In Australia, arthritis and other musculoskeletal disorders accounted for the largest proportion of direct health expenditure (31 per cent), amounting to $1.2 billion. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the most common forms of arthritis.
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Poor neighborhoods suffer higher incidence of arthritis
ScienceDaily (Jan. 30, 2012) — Mouse skin cells can be converted directly into cells that become the three main parts of the nervous system, according to researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine. The finding is an extension of a previous study by the same group showing that mouse and human skin cells can be directly converted into functional neurons.
The multiple successes of the direct conversion method could refute the idea that pluripotency (a term that describes the ability of stem cells to become nearly any cell in the body) is necessary for a cell to transform from one cell type to another. Together, the results raise the possibility that embryonic stem cell research and another technique called “induced pluripotency” could be supplanted by a more direct way of generating specific types of cells for therapy or research.
This new study, published online Jan. 30 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is a substantial advance over the previous paper in that it transforms the skin cells into neural precursor cells, as opposed to neurons. While neural precursor cells can differentiate into neurons, they can also become the two other main cell types in the nervous system: astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. In addition to their greater versatility, the newly derived neural precursor cells offer another advantage over neurons because they can be cultivated to large numbers in the laboratory — a feature critical for their long-term usefulness in transplantation or drug screening.
In the study, the switch from skin to neural precursor cells occurred with high efficiency over a period of about three weeks after the addition of just three transcription factors. (In the previous study, a different combination of three transcription factors was used to generate mature neurons.) The finding implies that it may one day be possible to generate a variety of neural-system cells for transplantation that would perfectly match a human patient.
“We are thrilled about the prospects for potential medical use of these cells,” said Marius Wernig, MD, assistant professor of pathology and a member of Stanford's Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine. “We've shown the cells can integrate into a mouse brain and produce a missing protein important for the conduction of electrical signal by the neurons. This is important because the mouse model we used mimics that of a human genetic brain disease. However, more work needs to be done to generate similar cells from human skin cells and assess their safety and efficacy.”
Wernig is the senior author of the research. Graduate student Ernesto Lujan is the first author.
While much research has been devoted to harnessing the pluripotency of embryonic stem cells, taking those cells from an embryo and then implanting them in a patient could prove difficult because they would not match genetically. An alternative technique involves a concept called induced pluripotency, first described in 2006. In this approach, transcription factors are added to specialized cells like those found in skin to first drive them back along the developmental timeline to an undifferentiated stem-cell-like state. These “iPS cells” are then grown under a variety of conditions to induce them to re-specialize into many different cell types.
Scientists had thought that it was necessary for a cell to first enter an induced pluripotent state or for researchers to start with an embryonic stem cell, which is pluripotent by nature, before it could go on to become a new cell type. However, research from Wernig's laboratory in early 2010 showed that it was possible to directly convert one “adult” cell type to another with the application of specialized transcription factors, a process known as transdifferentiation.
Wernig and his colleagues first converted skin cells from an adult mouse to functional neurons (which they termed induced neuronal, or iN, cells), and then replicated the feat with human cells. In 2011 they showed that they could also directly convert liver cells into iN cells.
“Dr. Wernig's demonstration that fibroblasts can be converted into functional nerve cells opens the door to consider new ways to regenerate damaged neurons using cells surrounding the area of injury,” said pediatric cardiologist Deepak Srivastava, MD, who was not involved in these studies. “It also suggests that we may be able to transdifferentiate cells into other cell types.” Srivastava is the director of cardiovascular research at the Gladstone Institutes at the University of California-San Francisco. In 2010, Srivastava transdifferentiated mouse heart fibroblasts into beating heart muscle cells.
“Direct conversion has a number of advantages,” said Lujan. “It occurs with relatively high efficiency and it generates a fairly homogenous population of cells. In contrast, cells derived from iPS cells must be carefully screened to eliminate any remaining pluripotent cells or cells that can differentiate into different lineages.” Pluripotent cells can cause cancers when transplanted into animals or humans.
The lab's previous success converting skin cells into neurons spurred Wernig and Lujan to see if they could also generate the more-versatile neural precursor cells, or NPCs. To do so, they infected embryonic mouse skin cells — a commonly used laboratory cell line — with a virus encoding 11 transcription factors known to be expressed at high levels in NPCs. A little more than three weeks later, they saw that about 10 percent of the cells had begun to look and act like NPCs.
Repeated experiments allowed them to winnow the original panel of 11 transcription factors to just three: Brn2, Sox2 and FoxG1. (In contrast, the conversion of skin cells directly to functional neurons requires the transcription factors Brn2, Ascl1 and Myt1l.) Skin cells expressing these three transcription factors became neural precursor cells that were able to differentiate into not just neurons and astrocytes, but also oligodendrocytes, which make the myelin that insulates nerve fibers and allows them to transmit signals. The scientists dubbed the newly converted population “induced neural precursor cells,” or iNPCs.
In addition to confirming that the astrocytes, neurons and oligodendrocytes were expressing the appropriate genes and that they resembled their naturally derived peers in both shape and function when grown in the laboratory, the researchers wanted to know how the iNPCs would react when transplanted into an animal. They injected them into the brains of newborn laboratory mice bred to lack the ability to myelinate neurons. After 10 weeks, Lujan found that the cells had differentiated into oligodendroytes and had begun to coat the animals' neurons with myelin.
“Not only do these cells appear functional in the laboratory, they also seem to be able to integrate appropriately in an in vivo animal model,” said Lujan.
The scientists are now working to replicate the work with skin cells from adult mice and humans, but Lujan emphasized that much more research is needed before any human transplantation experiments could be conducted. In the meantime, however, the ability to quickly and efficiently generate neural precursor cells that can be grown in the laboratory to mass quantities and maintained over time will be valuable in disease and drug-targeting studies.
“In addition to direct therapeutic application, these cells may be very useful to study human diseases in a laboratory dish or even following transplantation into a developing rodent brain,” said Wernig.
In addition to Wernig and Lujan, other Stanford researchers involved in the study include postdoctoral scholars Soham Chanda, PhD, and Henrik Ahlenius, PhD; and professor of molecular and cellular physiology Thomas Sudhof, MD.
The research was supported by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, the New York Stem Cell Foundation, the Ellison Medical Foundation, the Stinehart-Reed Foundation and the National Institutes of Health.
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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Stanford University Medical Center. The original article was written by Krista Conger.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Journal Reference:
E. Lujan, S. Chanda, H. Ahlenius, T. C. Sudhof, M. Wernig. Direct conversion of mouse fibroblasts to self-renewing, tripotent neural precursor cells. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2012; DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1121003109
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
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Skin cells turned into neural precusors, bypassing stem-cell stage
There are many good reasons to pick up a pomegranate: The bright red fruits are festive, seasonal, pack tons of antioxidants and, a new study suggests, may help relieve symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease.
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Pomegranates may ease arthritis symptoms
The Arthritis National Research Foundation has received a record 70 grant applications this year from research scientists across the United States. These scientists are looking to better understand the causes of these diseases so they can find new treatments and cures.
Long Beach, CA (PRWEB) January 31, 2012
The Arthritis National Research Foundation (ANRF) received a record 70 applications from hopeful arthritis research scientists across the United States. These PhD and MD researchers applied for a $75,000 one-year grant from ANRF. Their studies cover mostly prevalent forms of arthritis: osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and juvenile arthritis.
“Arthritis research is the key to finding a cure,” said ANRF president, Kevin Donohue. The Arthritis National Research Foundation commits all of its efforts to funding research to help the estimated 50 million Americans suffering with arthritis. “The projects we fund are the new, cutting-edge ideas from the best young researchers around the country to advance our understanding of these diseases,” says ANRF Executive Director, Helene Belisle. These researchers represent the future of arthritis research as they move forward with new approaches in the search for a cure.
ANRF’s Scientific Advisory Board of world-renowned physician-scientists conducts the highly competitive review of applicant proposals. Their rigorous review process ensures that only the best and brightest applicants with the most promising projects will be funded by the Arthritis National Research Foundation. “ANRF funds these scientists at the pivotal time in their research careers, just as they are transitioning from postdoctoral fellow to independence and a lab of their own,” says Belisle. “Our grant should enable them to establish a body of research supporting their ideas so they are able to secure funding from larger national agencies, like the National Institutes of Health.”
Since 1970, the ANRF has supported nearly 200 young researchers at universities and research hospitals across the country. Their studies have led to a better understanding of arthritic diseases and some important discoveries that have led to the current, most effective treatments for these diseases. Moreover, research studies of the human immune system in arthritic diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus may have positive implications for other types of non-arthritis autoimmune disorders such as MS and diabetes.
The scientific studies of these brilliant researchers continue thanks to the support of individual donors. The ANRF receives no government funding; generous people like you have helped others live with less pain and are an important part of the team.
“Because our donors are so committed to us, we remain committed to them,” says Donohue, “therefore, every year 91 cents of every dollar we receive goes into research programs.” This year, the funds committed to the ANRF by donors around the country will sponsor 12-15 cutting-edge research projects. The review process will be complete in late April and ANRF will announce the recipients of their research grants for 2012-13 at that time. “Donors trust ANRF to wisely fund the next generation of arthritis researchers working towards a cure,” Donohue concluded.
The Arthritis National Research Foundation, a tax deductible charity based in Long Beach, CA, has supported outstanding young scientists who have become innovators and leaders in the field of rheumatic disease research, autoimmunity and inflammation. From the discovery of TNF to genes involved in lupus, their research accomplishments have made an impact. ANRF’s approach is to fund the next generation of researchers to encourage their continued commitment to research in arthritis and related diseases. To help support this critical Arthritis Research you can make online donations at http://www.curearthritis.org
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Derek Belisle
Arthritis National Research Foundation
800-588-2873
Email Information
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The Arthritis National Research Foundation Receives a Record 70 Grant Applications
BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder that typically affects the small joints in your hands and feet. It can also affect other organs. Unlike the wear-and-tear damage of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis affects the lining of your joints, causing a painful swelling that can eventually result in bone erosion and joint deformity. It generally occurs between the …
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Detecting Rheumatoid Arthritis
BANGKOK–(BUSINESSWIRE)– Vejthani Hospital Bangkok offers finest Total Shoulder Replacement Surgery at Hand and Shoulder Center. Shoulder Replacement Surgery is an option for treatment of severe arthritis …
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Total Shoulder Replacement Surgery by Vejthani Hospital
ATLANTA — The Arthritis Foundation appointed five new members to its national board of directors: D…
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Arthritis Foundation Appoints Five New Members to National Board of Directors
When you have psoriatic arthritis, you have to cope with painful joints and frustrating skin flares. Here are treatment and self-care tips for both.
Excerpt from:
Skin and Joint Care for Psoriatic Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease where the body begins to attack the joints and organs of the body.
Link:
Steroids prevent protein changes seen in the joints of people with rheumatoid arthritis
THURSDAY, Jan. 26 (HealthDay News) — More than 40 percent of rheumatoid arthritis patients live a sedentary life, a new study finds. It used to be thought that medication and rest was the best treatment, but now experts believe physical activity is important to keep joints flexible, improve balance and strength and reduce pain, the researchers noted
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Too Many Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Inactive, Study Finds
More than 40% of the 1.3 million U.S.
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2 in 5 Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Sedentary
Regular exercise can be beneficial to people with rheumatoid arthritis, but a study finds that two out of five people with the disease may not be active at all.
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Many with rheumatoid arthritis are inactive, despite benefits of exercise
More than 40 percent of adults with rheumatoid arthritis are physically inactive, according to a new study. Lead researcher Jungwha Lee, an assistant professor in the department of preventive medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, and colleagues measured the physical activity of 176 people with RA for a week. The clinical study also looked into the …
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Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Often Physically Inactive
When the cold makes you ache, there are ways to handle the symptoms
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Dealing with arthritis in cold weather