StemCell Therapy

August 14, 2017

Nursing assistants and attendants may have a slightly higher risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis than women in other professions, a new study shows.

Swedish researchers studied more than 3,500 people with the disease, in which the body's immune system attacks the joints, and compared them to 5,600 people without it. The results, published Thursday in Arthritis Care & Research, found that people in some professions may have a higher risk of rheumatoid arthritis than others.

Among women, those who worked as assistant nurses and attendants were found to have a moderately increased risk of developing the disease, compared to women workers in other fields.

The study found that men who worked manufacturing jobs, such as bricklayers or electrical workers, had much higher risk of rheumatoid arthritis than men in administrative or professional fields.

The reason for the increased risk among some professions could be chalked up to work-related environmental factors, including noxious airborne agents such as solvents and asbestos, researchers said.

It is important that findings on preventable risk factors are spread to employees, employers, and decision-makers in order to prevent disease by reducing or eliminating known risk factors, said lead researcher Anna Ilar, MSc.

The study adds to previous research that has linked direct care worker positions with a higher risk of illness and injury. While injury rates for long-term care workers have been declining in recent years, the sector remains one of the top industries in terms of high amounts of occupational injuries.

Read more here:
Study finds nursing assistants have higher risk of rheumatoid arthritis than women in other jobs - McKnight's Long Term Care News

In fact, people reported more knee and hip pain when the weather was good, suggesting it is activity, not cold or rain that affects sufferers most.

Arthritis, causing achy joints affects ten million Britons and is said to be fuelled by the damp climate.

But people's activity levels, which rise with the temperature, are likelier than the weather to trigger online searches for knee and hip pain, say scientists.

Google hits for arthritis over a period of five years had no discernible link with the elements, said Professor Scott Telfer.

He said: "You hear people with arthritis say they can tell when the weather is changing.

"But with past studies there's only been vague associations, nothing very concrete, and our findings align with those."

In fact searches for knee-and-hip-pain increased in tandem with temperatures - until it got uncomfortably hot.

And rainy days tended to slightly reduce internet traffic for both conditions. This inferred "changes in physical activity levels" were primarily responsible.

Prof Telfer, a researcher in orthopaedics and sports medicine at Washington University in St Louis, said: "We haven't found any direct mechanism that links ambient temperature with pain."

His interest in using internet data stems from the fact web searches are increasingly people's first response to experiencing adverse health symptoms.

He said some people with achy joints and arthritis swear weather influences their pain.

So in the first study of its kind across 45 major US cities he found sunshine, rainfall and temperature are indeed associated with joint pain, but not in the way you'd expect.

Within the study's focus span of 23 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit searches rose steadily. Knee-pain peaked at 73 degrees and were less frequent at higher temperatures.

Hip-pain searches peaked at 83 degrees and then tailed off. Rain actually dampened search volumes for both.

The findings published in PLOS ONE show people's activity level is a bigger risk than the weather to cause pain that spurs online searches.

Prof Telfer said: "We were surprised by how consistent the results were throughout the range of temperatures in cities across the country."

His team used Google Trends for how the number of searchers for arthritis or hip and knee pain fluctuated with the weather. Searches related to stomach pain were also calculated as a control.

Daily summaries of local weather data from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2015 included temperature, rainfall, relative humidity and barometric pressure.

These are factors previously suggested as associated with increases in musculoskeletal pain.

Among all the variables only temperature and rainfall were found to have statistically significant associations for knee-and-hip-pain but not arthritis.

Prof Telfer said:

"What we think is a much more likely explanation is the fact people are more active on nice days - so more prone to have overuse and acute injuries from that and to search online for relevant information.

"That's our hypothesis for what we'll explore next."

The stomach-pain searches rose at low and high temperature extremes and ebbed in mild temperatures.

This was a very different pattern from the knee-and-hip-pain searches - backing the findings.

Excerpt from:
Does the rain affect arthritis pain? Bad weather linked to joint pain could be a MYTH - Express.co.uk

Atascadero resident Jenn Foss was scrolling through her Facebook feed when she first learned of the California Coast Classic, a 525-mile bike ride along Highway 1 that benefits the Arthritis Foundation.

Its a cause that carries extra weight with Foss, a nurse at Wilshire Hospice in San Luis Obispo who sees the debilitating effects of arthritis on a daily basis. The 30-year-old Foss even deals with her own arthritis, stemming from a dirt bike crash when she was a teenager.

My mom also had to have knee surgeries on both knees when she was fairly young, Foss said in an email to The Tribune. And now working in hospice, geriatric arthritis pain is something that is a very real discomfort that many of the patients struggle with.

The 17th annual California Coast Classic which begins Sept. 9 in San Francisco and ends Sept. 16 in Los Angeles offered Foss and hundreds of others the opportunity to help raise funds needed to find a cure for arthritis.

Each rider must pay a registration fee and raise a minimum of $3,500 to join the tour. Foss has her own donation page set up online (donations are tax deductible) and had raised more than $1,400 as of Aug. 5 42 days before the race begins.

Foss also has two local fundraisers planned this month.

On Aug. 12, Foss will host a hotdog BBQ fundraiser and silent auction in the Grocery Outlet parking lot in Atascadero.

And from 8 a.m. until noon on Aug. 27, the Foss family plans to host a yard sale at their farm, located at 3300 Traffic Way in Atascadero.

As far as training and preparation for the bike ride, Foss said she fits in as much as she can while keeping an extremely tight schedule.

All I can say is thank goodness this is not a race everyone can do this in their own pace, Foss said. So far my mileage and timing is good. Im just working on a good diet, staying strong, keeping up with my cardio and being kind to my body.

Read the original post:
SLO County woman to bike 525 miles to raise money for Arthritis Foundation - The San Luis Obispo Tribune

It affects more than 690,000 people in the UK, of which over 500,000 are women and around three-quarters are of working age.

People with rheumatoid arthritis experience a range of symptoms, including pain and swelling in the joints, tiredness and depression which can affect their daily lives.

The condition cannot be cured but can be treated.

Experts have revealed patients who smoke or are overweight however see fewer improvements in their symptoms.

A study by American and Canadian researchers found smoking and being overweight is more difficult for patients with rheumatoid arthritis to achieve optimal control of inflammation and symptoms.

Researchers from collected data on more than 1,100 patients.

"Early, aggressive treatment to achieve remission is the primary goal of therapy and can be best achieved early on when treating patients with newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis, as early disease control is associated with improved long-term outcomes," said Vivian Bykerk, senior investigator and director of the Inflammatory Arthritis Centre of Excellence at Hospital for Special Surgery.

"We have previously shown that individuals with excess weight are less likely to achieve sustained remission in the first three years after diagnosis.

Here we explore the impact of smoking and being overweight or obese on the ability to achieve good control of symptoms and inflammation in men and women with rheumatoid arthritis."

Researchers at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York analysed more than 1,109 patients who were being treated with methotrexate and other arthritis drugs.

The majority of patients were female, but among the women, 31 per cent were overweight, 32 per cent were obese and 15 per cent smoked. Among the males, 44 per cent were overweight and 35 per cent were obese and 22 per cent currently smoked.

Experts found less symptom improvement was also seen in patients who were overnight or obese compared with those of a healthy weight.

Current smokers also saw less symptom relief compared to nonsmoker over time.

The finding revealed the most dramatic differences in patients were seen in those who were overweight, or obese and smoked.

These patients had considerably worse outcomes over time compared to nonsmoking patients with a healthy weight.

"These results contribute to growing evidence of how lifestyle impacts how well patients may respond to treatment and the potential value of referring them to proven community-based smoking cessation and weight management programs," said Dr Bykerk.

DOES ARTHRITIS GET WORSE IN WINTER?

Read the rest here:
Rheumatoid arthritis - symptoms will not improve if patients do THIS - Express.co.uk

COLUMBUS, Ga. 1 in 5 people over age 18 has doctor-diagnosed arthritis or more than 50 million adults. Arthritis wears down the cartilage, giving the bones in certain joints nothing to cushion them so they rub together and cause a lot of pain. Doctors can replace these arthritic joints in the fingers as well as the knees and hips.

Dr. Sean Blake is the director of the Hand Center at St. Francis Orthopaedic Institute. He says arthritis can make common everyday tasks painful.

Folding laundry, doing dishes, opening jars, shaking hands, opening the car door, turning the key. All those things are things people think they just have to deal with. Its just aging. But actually, we can actually help them with some good relief of pain, said Dr. Blake.

Those painful joints can be replaced.

Most common spots that well put joints in are what we call the Metatarsal Phalangea ljoints, your knuckles , or the middle knuckle which is the Proximal Interphalangeal Joint, said Dr. Blake.

Only regional anesthesia is used for the surgery, paralyzing the arm for about 12 hours.

We go on the back of the hand and make an incision, a Curvilinear incision so its curved so it actually doesnt scar as much and we literally have to cut out the piece of bone.

And insert the implant. The patient goes home the same day, wearing a splint. Physical therapy is required. Healing takes about 10 TO 12 weeks.

Here is the original post:
Arthritic joints can be replaced in the hands - WRBL

DETROIT - Lauren Reed is a pretty typical 23 year old woman. She very active and she loves to travel and explore, but just a few years ago she had trouble even getting up and out of bed.

"I totally shut down at one point and I wasnt motivated at all to do anything," explains Reed.

The problems started when she was injured playing basketball when she was 11 years old.

"That just sparked everything up. All my joints inflamed and I knew there was a bigger problem," she says.

After years of pain and few answers, Dr. Bernard Rubin diagnosed her with juvenile arthritis.

"She had developed severe arthritis and we needed to treat her aggressively," explains Dr. Rubin.

They used pills and injections, and less than a year ago Reed had not one, but two hip replacements.

"About three weeks in between and I was back to work in 7 weeks," says Reed. Her case is a very rare one.

Dr. Rubin explains, Its unusual to have arthritis as a child. There are only a few hundred thousand cases in the United States."

Surgery is scary, but it also brought reed the relief shes been looking for almost half her life

"It was terrible. I'd say nine out of ten pains. I couldn't stand for long periods of time. I couldnt play sports. Now I'm doing whatever, waking up feeling fantastic, going to work being more active. The surgeries just changed my life totally."

Now she plays basketball and works out at the gym, all while balancing work and school.

Reed is scheduled for another surgery -- a knee replacement -- in the next six months or so.

More here:
23-year-old Lauren Reed not letting juvenile arthritis, two hip replacements slow her down - WXYZ

A dad-of-two has a spring in his step after being one of the first people in Yorkshire to have a space-age jelly bean fitted to his big toe to end his arthritis agony.

Mick Wood, 53, found himself at the cutting-edge of medical science when his toe was fitted with a Cartiva implant a spacer made of slippery, organic polymer.

It was fitted at Spire Elland by consultant orthopaedic surgeon Mr Kurt Haendlmayer who said: I call it a jelly bean for the big toe because that is what it looks and feels like.

It is just a squidgy bean-type thing that functions in a similar way to natural cartilage and allows much more movement in the toe than a traditional fusion operation would.

Mick had previously had a conventional fusion operation on his left big toe three years ago, so when he found himself in a similar situation with the right toe he thought the same procedure would be on the cards.

However, Mr Haendlmayer suggested that for someone fit and active, the new implant would produce better results.

I was a bit apprehensive at first it all seemed a bit Tomorrows World-ish for me, said Mick.

But Mr Haendlmayer gave me lots of information about the success of similar operations in America and it didnt take me long to decide I was happy with the whole thing.

It was obviously a new procedure because when I went in for the operation there were a load of other people in there simply to observe it taking place I felt like I was a bit of a celebrity!

In a conventional fusion procedure, the additional bone build-up around the joint (osteophytes) and the usually very ragged, degenerated joint surfaces, are scraped away before the toe joint is secured with screws and a plate, making it immobile. Up until recently that was the gold standard of toe surgery.

Mr Haendlmayer added: This does alleviate the pain caused by the arthritis but, on the down-side, it means the toe is now held rigid by the metalwork which, in turn, limits the amount of movement possible by the toe.

With the Cartiva implant the extra bone is also cleared, but instead of making the joint immobile, we fix metal rods in both the toe and the socket and introduce the implant which cushions the area where the toe and the foot meet, just as normal cartilage would.

Mick, from Pontefract, is delighted with the results, saying he was now virtually pain-free and able to run, kneel and even drive for long distances.

To be honest, I wasnt unhappy with the previous fusion operation it certainly relieved a lot of the pain but this one seems much, much better and the movement I have in the toe is unbelievable.

I might be one of the first in this area to have a jelly bean toe but I dont think I will be the last.

More here:
How a 'space-age jelly bean' cured my arthritis - Huddersfield Examiner

A middle-aged tiger has been put down by vets after the endangered predator suffered for years with ARTHRITIS.

Indah, the 12-year-old Sumatran tiger, was a favourite among visitors to Howletts Wild Animal Park with her tiger boyfriend Amir.

But sadly, she was being treated by vets and a leading orthopaedic surgeon but in recent weeks was suffering increasing pain which could not be controlled and had to be put down.

The average Sumatran tiger lives to the age of 24, meaning poor Indah died in the middle of her life, leaving her mate Amir all alone.

A park spokesman said: Following numerous evaluations and discussions, our animal director, vet team and keepers made the difficult decision to euthanise Indah.

This was the most necessary and humane course of action.

Indah was a very special animal, born in 2005 at Dudley Zoo.

Tigress Indah who has had to be put down at Howletts Wild Animal Park.

She arrived at Howletts Wild Animal Park as part of a breeding programme in 2006.

She had a lovely character and was a favourite with visitors and staff alike.

She had a very special bond with Amir our male Sumatran tiger.

The pair would always enjoy a good head rub in the morning and they enjoyed nothing more than sitting out on the high platform in their enclosure, soaking up the sunshine.

We are sure that our visitors and supporters will be as saddened by this news as we are.

Visitors to the park were quick to pay tribute to Indah.

Ellie Hadlington said: My heart goes out to her keepers, who are no doubt distraught.

I commend the keepers and the vet team for the amazing work they have done with her and the other animals.

Tracy Butler added: I met this beautiful tiger when i had time feeding the tigers and gave her meds in piece of meat, such a beautiful creature and a great loss, well done to Howletts for everything they done for her.

Jackie Smith said: Such sad news. So glad I got to see her a few weeks ago. Such a beautiful tiger. Thoughts are with her keepers.

The Sumatran tiger has been listed as critically endangered since 2008, as the population was estimated at 441 to 679.

More worrying is the staggering decline in independent, investigative journalism. It costs a lot to produce, so many publications facing an uncertain future can no longer fund it.

With nobody to hold the rich and powerful to account, or report on the issues that don't fit with the mainstream 'narrative', your help is needed.

You can help support free, independent journalism for as little as 50p. Every penny we collect from donations supports vital investigative journalism.

Go here to read the rest:
HeartbreakingSumatran tiger had to be put down because she had arthritis - The London Economic

Scientists from IIT Guwahati have synthesised mats made of silk-proteins and bioactive glass fibres that they believe can assist the growth of bone cells and repair worn-out joints in arthritis patients.

The disease most commonly affects joints in the knees, hips, hands, feet, and spine and is marked by the breakdown of joint cartilage and underlying bones. Left untreated, it can cause severe pain, swelling, and eventually limited range of movement.

Current clinical treatment methods are limited by lack of viable tissue substitutes to aid the repair process, Biman B. Mandal from institute said.

Joint disease

To develop a suitable tissue substitute, scientists, including those from the University College London in the U.K., looked into the natural bone-cartilage interface and tried to mimic it synthetically in lab conditions.

Knee osteoarthritis is the most common bone and joint disease in India. However, Mr. Mandal pointed out that the available clinical grafts were expensive.

Enhances healing

We used silk, a natural protein to fabricate electrospun mats to mimic the cartilage portion and bioactive glass to develop a composite material, similar to the natural tissue, said Mr. Mandal.

For the mat, scientists used a kind of silk easily available in northeast India.

Muga [Assam] silk is endowed with properties that enhance the healing process, Mr. Mandal said.

The researchers adopted a green fabrication approach for the developing the silk composite mats electrospinning. It is similar to knitting, except that it utilises electric high-voltage force to draw ultrafine fibres, Mr. Mandal said.

A layer by layer approach was followed, where the bone layer was first formed, on top of which the cartilage layer was developed. The resulting composite mat resembled the architecture of the bone-cartilage interface.

To assist the regenerative process, the mats would be grafted in the defected joint with cells harvested from the patient.

Go here to see the original:
Silk mats that could treat arthritis - The Hindu

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) isn't the same as grandma's stiff joints (aka osteoarthritis). It's an autoimmune disease that causes a persons immune system to attack their joints by mistake, causing pain and swellingand it most often shows up between the ages of 30 and 50, per the American College of Rheumatology.

RA isnt super common among all cases of arthritisabout 1.3 million people are affected by it, according to the American College of Rheumatology. But for those who do have it, it can be debilitating. Heres what you need to know.

We dont really know the cause, even to date, Orrin Troum, M.D., a rheumatologist at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California, tells SELF. What we do know is that it's an autoimmune disease and that there is evidence that it runs in families. According to Dr. Troum, there are some factors that have been linked to RA, including smoking cigarettes, poor dental hygiene, and genetics.

Your genes dont actually cause you to develop rheumatoid arthritis, but they can make you more susceptible to environmental factors, like bacterial or viral infections, that could potentially trigger the disease, according to the Mayo Clinic. In other words, having a genetic predisposition doesn't mean that you'll get RA; rather, it means you inherited genetic variations from your parents that could make it harder for your body to fend off infection (which can then contribute to the development of a disease).

People tend to associate the word arthritis with osteoarthritis, which causes joint inflammation that typically comes from the wear and tear of age. But rheumatoid arthritis is an immune condition that impacts the lining of a person's joints. In some patients, RA can impact the skin (via noduleslumps that form beneath the skinand rashes), cause inflammation in the lungs and whites of the eyes, lead to plaque buildup in the heart and an increased risk of heart attack and stroke, and damage the blood vessels, according to the Arthritis Foundation.

Rheumatoid arthritis starts in a persons joints, but it can be felt all over. Symptoms typically include joint pain, tenderness, swelling, or stiffness (especially in the morning), according to the Arthritis Foundation. People can also experience fatigue, loss of appetite, and a low-grade fever, the organization says.

While you have pain in your joints, your whole body [feels] sick, Marcy OKoon, senior director of consumer health at the Arthritis Foundation, tells SELF. People just feel ill. They have fatigue because they dont sleep well due to the pain. The first symptoms tend to happen in the joints of the hands and feet and then spread to other areas of the body, Reddog Sina, D.O., assistant professor in the department of family and community medicine at Michigan State University, tells SELF.

Depending on how severe their condition is, people with RA can feel fine one day and terrible the next. These flare-ups can be unpredictable and debilitating, the Arthritis Foundation says. Some flare-ups have known triggers, like overexerting yourself and having swollen joints the next day, but others have no known cause.

About 75 percent of patients in the U.S. with RA are women, according to the American College of Rheumatology, and 1 to 3 percent of women may get RA in their lifetime. This is true for several other autoimmune conditions like lupus and thyroid disease, Dr. Troum says, and experts arent sure why it happens. Women with RA tend to feel better during pregnancy, only to have a flare-up afterward, O'Koon says. It may have something to do with hormonal differences, but we just dont know, Dr. Troum says.

Since rheumatoid arthritis can get worse with time, early diagnosis is key, Dr. Troum says. But diagnosis can be difficult. Often, patients arent recognized as having rheumatoid arthritis at first and are treated with over-the-counter medications, he says. It's not uncommon for RA patients to originally be misdiagnosed with osteoarthritis, Dr. Troum says.

Once a person receives a diagnosis, verified through a blood test and sometimes an X-ray, theyre often put on disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDS) which can stop the progression of the disease and prevent disability, Dr. Troum says. Typically patients stay on the drugs for life, but they dont have a positive effect on everyone. Its very individually dependent. Some people function incredibly well with medication their entire lives, and others dont, Dr. Sina says. Getting good sleep, eating a healthy diet, and trying to decrease stress may also help people manage their RA, Dr. Troum says.

If youre diagnosed with RA, know this: You can still have a good, active life with proper care. Most of my patients lead normal, healthy, productive lives, Dr. Troum says.

Related:

You May Also Like: I Have a Pre-Existing Condition: Real People Share Their Health Conditions

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6 Things You Need to Know About Rheumatoid Arthritis - SELF

Joint pain and stiffness are common complaints doctors hear from patients. Personal health advocate Carrie Bloemers says, arthritis is a common problem that can lead to joint swelling and pain. Its really uncomfortable and its something that people experience and live with daily.

There are natural things patients can do to minimize the pain without taking medication. The foods we eat can increase the inflammation levels in our body so therefore, if we are able to follow an anti-inflammatory diet with antioxidants we can help control some of the symptoms of arthritis and inflammation, said Bloemers.

Antioxidants lower levels of inflammation throughout the body. The goal is to minimize the overall symptoms so the aches and the pains from arthritis so they may have a lower dependency on some of the medications they are taking, said Bloemers.

Foods high in antioxidants like blueberries, grapes, and greens, can help with joint inflammation. But processed foods and foods in high fat and sugar can keep your joints inflamed. Not only do we need our blues and our purples, we need red, yellow, orange, and green nutrients so plant based materials every day too, said Bloemers.

A regular healthy diet can help with day to day pain and swelling. Eating blueberries one time isnt going to make your knee feel better. Its your habits of including a healthy diet high in antioxidants, low in inflammatory foods, like high fatty processed meats or high sugar foods that over time are going to help lower the inflammation in your body, said Bloemers.

In addition to fruits and vegetables, health experts also recommend patients maintain an active lifestyle to prevent joint stiffness.

Read more:
Health Matters: Nutrition for Inflammation and Arthritis - NBC2 News

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --AVACEN Medical (AVACEN) announced partnering with Morulaa HealthTech of Chennai, India to introduce its FDA-cleared AVACEN 100, Class II medical device, in India for treating the joint pain associated with Arthritis which is currently being used in the USA.

According to the World Health Organization, Arthritis affects approximately 200 million people in India. This prevalence is higher than many well-known diseases such as diabetes and cancer. This has a devastating impact on those who suffer from the arthritis and their personal support systems. In addition, arthritis imposes a large economic burden on public and private healthcare providers.

AVACEN recently received CE (Conformit Europenne) Mark approval to market the AVACEN 100 to the European Union's 28 member countries for treating the joint pain associated with Arthritis. AVACEN believes this is the first time a medical device has been approved for treating whole-body arthritis pain.

Currently used in the USA the AVACEN 100 uses an entirely new concept to treat Arthritis pain. It noninvasively and safely infuses heat into the circulatory system forcing the body to dilate peripheral capillaries to radiate off this excess heat.

AVACEN Medical CEO Thomas Muehlbauer described the AVACEN 100 as "the only medical device on the market today able to provide non-invasive, whole-body treatment, using a single point of contact. It is the ideal drug-free and safe alternative for rapid relief of arthritis pain from the inside". Muehlbauer added, "With approximately 2 million safe treatments, we frequently hear reports dramatic results such as being able to return to playing piano, gardening, and chopping vegetables. Even gnarled hand joints have been reported to disappear."

About AVACEN 100 Patents

The US Patent Office has issued 4 Patents to AVACEN which include apparatus claims directed to features of the Heat Therapy apparatus manufactured by AVACEN and method claims directed to specific methods of use, referred to by the company as the AVACEN Treatment Method. The patents also cover innovations embodied in the AVACEN 100 system, which is expected to allow multiple therapeutic uses to alleviate symptoms associated with a circulatory, neurological, lymphatic, or endocrinal dysfunction, or any combination thereof.

Patents have also been issued for China, Australia, Japan, UK, France, Germany, Spain, Sweden and Canada. Patents are pending in India and Hong Kong.

AboutAVACEN Medical

AVACEN Medical is dedicated to the innovation and design of safe, easy to use, noninvasive drug-free alternatives for wound-healing and the management of pain associated with numerous chronic and acute conditions including the temporary relief of minor muscle and joint pain and stiffness associated with arthritis and potentially other conditions that can cause joint pain, such as CRPS, Reynaud's, and Lyme Disease. Founded in 2009, AVACEN Medical is headquartered in San Diego. Contact: Ryan Jeffcoat at (888) 428-2236 x 711 or info@AVACEN.com.

About Morulaa HealthTech

Established by a family with over 100 years of experience in business, Morulaa HealthTech provides turnkey solutions for manufacturers and distributors in the Medical Device sectors. The unique Morulaa model for Product Registration and Distribution, uses in-house regulatory and marketing teams working in-sync with clients to commercialize healthcare products across India and South East Asia. Morulaa HealthTech currently has clients from America, Europe, Asia and Oceania. For more information: http://www.morulaa.com

IMPORTANT NOTES: The AVACEN 100 is not for sale in the U.S. or E.U. for any non-cleared or non-approved indication mentioned in this document.

E.U. CE-Approval: A heat therapy system indicated for the temporary relief of minormuscle and joint pain and stiffness; the temporary relief of joint pain associated witharthritis, muscle spasms, minor strains and sprains;the temporary relief of widespreadpain associated with fibromyalgia; muscular relaxation; andthe temporary increase ofmicrocirculation.

U.S. FDA-Clearance: A heat therapy system indicated for the temporary relief of minor muscle and joint pain and stiffness; the temporary relief of joint pain associated with arthritis; muscle spasms; minor strains and sprains; muscular relaxation; and the temporary increase of local circulation where applied.

View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/avacen-medical-introduces-new-concept-for-treating-arthritis-pain-to-india-300501093.html

SOURCE AVACEN Medical

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AVACEN Medical Introduces New Concept for Treating Arthritis Pain to India - PR Newswire (press release)

The Gorilla NC Fusion Plating System is the latest addition to Paragon 28's robust foot and ankle specific portfolio. The system is made up offour plates, left and right specific, ranging from 28 35.5 mm in length to span the Naviculocuneiform joint. The plates providefive different screw options for compression across multiple joints. The patent-pending NC Plate with PRECISION Guide technology allows for a crossing screw that passes from the medial cuneiform to the lateral aspect of the navicular. A locking screw in the plate allows for fixation between the proximal medial navicular to the intermediate cuneiform. A second locking screw in the navicular helps guard against plantar gapping, while two distal screws in the medial cuneiform have the ability to be placed across one, two or three cuneiforms. All plates are anatomically contoured for optimal fixation and low profile to minimize prominence and avoid soft tissue irritation.

The system also includes templates to facilitate proper plate placement and screw alignment across each joint. The patent-pending NC Fusion PRECISION Guide provides three options for the crossing screw trajectory to account for variations among patient anatomy and can accommodate a 3.5 mm, 4.0 mm, 4.5 mm or 5.5 mm cannulated cross screw. Compression can be achieved by use of a partially threaded cross screw or with external compression using a fully threaded cross screw.

Key Features and Benefits of the System:

Guided Screw Targeting simplifies screw placement and helps to ensure fixation is achieved in highest quality boneAnatomic Plate Contouring cylindrical curvature minimizes the need for interoperative manipulation of plate to conform to anatomyTemplating and Trialing System ensures plates and screws are prepositioned to achieve best fit and intended compressionCompression through and Outside the Plate maximizes distribution of compression across fusion sites

Paragon 28 is grateful for the significant contributions Dr. Byron Hutchinson, DPM, made as the surgeon designer of this system.

Product Page:http://www.paragon28.com/products/ncfusionplatingsystem

CONTACT:Jim Edson, Director of Product Management and Marketing, jedson@paragon28.com

View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/paragon-28-launches-plating-and-guided-screw-system-to-address-naviculocuneiform-arthritis-and-flatfoot-gorilla-nc-fusion-plating-system-300501564.html

SOURCE Paragon 28

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Paragon 28 Launches Plating and Guided Screw System to Address Naviculocuneiform Arthritis and Flatfoot- Gorilla ... - PR Newswire (press release)

Scientists from IIT Guwahati have synthesised mats made of silk-proteins and bioactive glass fibres that they believe can assist the growth of bone cells and repair worn-out joints in arthritis patients.

The disease most commonly affects joints in the knees, hips, hands, feet, and spine and is marked by the breakdown of joint cartilage and underlying bones. Left untreated, it can cause severe pain, swelling, and eventually limited range of movement.

Current clinical treatment methods are limited by lack of viable tissue substitutes to aid the repair process, Biman B. Mandal from institute said.

Joint disease

To develop a suitable tissue substitute, scientists, including those from the University College London in the U.K., looked into the natural bone-cartilage interface and tried to mimic it synthetically in lab conditions.

Knee osteoarthritis is the most common bone and joint disease in India. However, Mr. Mandal pointed out that the available clinical grafts were expensive.

Enhances healing

We used silk, a natural protein to fabricate electrospun mats to mimic the cartilage portion and bioactive glass to develop a composite material, similar to the natural tissue, said Mr. Mandal.

For the mat, scientists used a kind of silk easily available in northeast India.

Muga [Assam] silk is endowed with properties that enhance the healing process, Mr. Mandal said.

The researchers adopted a green fabrication approach for the developing the silk composite mats electrospinning. It is similar to knitting, except that it utilises electric high-voltage force to draw ultrafine fibres, Mr. Mandal said.

A layer by layer approach was followed, where the bone layer was first formed, on top of which the cartilage layer was developed. The resulting composite mat resembled the architecture of the bone-cartilage interface.

To assist the regenerative process, the mats would be grafted in the defected joint with cells harvested from the patient.

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Silk mats can help treat arthritis - The Hindu

(Reuters) - The benefits of Johnson & Johnson's experimental rheumatoid arthritis drug sirukumab do not outweigh the risks, an advisory panel to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration concluded on Wednesday.

The panel voted 12-1 that the drug should not be approved, citing safety concerns, including an imbalance in the number of deaths in patients taking sirukumab compared with those taking a placebo. The most common causes of death were major heart problems, infection and malignancies.

"The safety is not there," said Dr. Beth Jonas, interim head of the division of rheumatology at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine.

The FDA is not obliged to act on the recommendation of its advisory panels but typically does so.

J&J originally developed the drug with GlaxoSmithKline Plc. GSK recently said it would return all rights to J&J. GSK held rights to the drug in North, Central and South America.

Sirukumab blocks a cytokine in the body known as interleukin 6 (IL-6) that can contribute to the inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disorder that affects more than 1.3 million.

Panelists said they were especially reluctant to recommend approval of sirukumab because there are two other drugs on the market in the same class. These are Roche Holding AG's Actemra and Sanofi SA and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s

"If this was a new agent I would probably be a little more enthusiastic," said Dr. Maria Suarez-Almazor, rheumatology section chief at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. "There is no reason to think that this new drug will act in a tremendously different way."

The FDA, in briefing documents released on Monday, noted that the trend toward increased overall mortality seemed unique to the sirukumab program.

Reporting by Toni Clarke in Washington; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Steve Orlofsky

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FDA panel votes against approval of J&J arthritis drug - Reuters

Gaining market share in rheumatoid arthritis has been looking ever more difficult because of new entries and looming biosimilar competition, and now a spotlight on safety has only added to the uncertainty.

The US FDA has cited specific cardiovascular safety issues with two of the current wave of rheumatoid arthritis agents, Lilly's (NYSE:LLY) Olumiant and Johnson & Johnson's (NYSE:JNJ) Plivensia, the former of which might need to conduct a new clinical trial to rule out risk. The eligible population for these agents numbers in the millions and has several existing choices, so regulators seem to be taking a more assertive approach on the safety profile of follow-on products.

Briefing documents released yesterday before an FDA advisory committee meeting on Plivensia, whose active ingredient is sirukumab, revealed that the staff wants its expert consultants to consider an imbalance in deaths, major cardiovascular events like heart attacks and strokes, and cancer in its clinical program. This comes a week after Lilly revealed that Olumiant had been knocked back because the FDA wants to analyse an imbalance in thromboembolic events in its trials more closely.

In Plivensia's trials investigators said 34 of 35 deaths were in patients receiving the injection, and 13 of the 34 were from major adverse cardiovascular events. Like other IL-6 inhibitors, the project raises low-density lipoproteins. Overall, there was an imbalance in overall cardiovascular events in the Plivensia 50mg group, for which J&J is seeking approval, versus placebo, the FDA concluded.

Last week, Lilly reported that the FDA had cited five cases of deep-vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism in its complete response letter denying approval of Olumiant.

In both cases, the regulator's caution might have been motivated by experiences with products in the same classes already on the market. The FDA's adverse events monitoring has identified 18 primary cases of pulmonary embolism with Olumiant's Jak inhibitor predecessor Xeljanz, according to FAERS data compiled by Advera Health. Actemra, which is an IL-6-inhibiting antibody like Plivensia, has reported 21 (Olumiant clot signal echoes Xeljanz experience, July 26. 2017).

As Lilly did last week with Olumiant, J&J says it is confident that the benefit of Plivensia outweighs the risk.

The end of unmet needs

The allure of the $25bn rheumatoid arthritis space is strong, but as biosimilars of established products prepare to enter it is becoming harder to argue that there is an unmet medical need in the disease and in associated autoimmune disorders.

The RA population numbers nearly 2 million in the US, and if all the indications for which the market leader, Humira, is prescribed excluding psoriasis are considered, the eligible population rises to more than 4 million. Thus the FDA might be growing more cautious about approving agents that could result in a significant number of complications and deaths.

Moreover, biosimilars are on their way - so far, the US FDA has approved copycats of Abbvie's (NYSE:ABBV) Humira and Roche's (OTCQX:RHHBY) Enbrel, and Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) has launched the Remicade biosimilar Inflectra. Their entry means that the US market for rheumatoid arthritis agents is not expected to expand measurably in sales terms from $14bn this year, and new entrants will not want to test a fiercely competitive market at a safety disadvantage.

Forecasts for Olumiant have shrunk to less than $1bn in 2022 since Lilly received the bad news from the FDA, and Plivensia US sales forecasts remain modest at $638m in 2022; Actemra will top out at about $1bn in 2021. Taken together the IL-6s are dwarfed in autoimmune disease by the anti-TNF class of Humira, Enbrel and Remicade.

In a saturated market it looks tough for Plivensia to meet these forecasts even with a clean label. A cardiovascular warning, should the FDA require one, will make it even more difficult.

Editor's Note: This article discusses one or more securities that do not trade on a major U.S. exchange. Please be aware of the risks associated with these stocks.

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Rheumatoid Arthritis Safety Spotlight Widens - Seeking Alpha

Arthritis Research UK says by 2018 there will be 2.9m people living with multimorbidity

The call is made in a report by Arthritis Research UK exploring why MSK conditions must be included in future plans to address multimorbidity.

Arthritis Research UK says that NHS England should ensure that metrics and tools used in multimorbidity programmes include monitoring and measuring of pain and its impact on functional abilities and capability to manage.

Research funders, such as the National Institute for Health Research, should work with partners to ensure there is a flourishing research agenda covering multimorbidity, which includes common conditions such as MSK conditions.

Good MSK health underpins living well and independently with multimorbidity, but MSK conditions are too often overlooked, the charity says.

Meanwhile MSK conditions affect around 10 million people across the UK, and are often found in people with other long-term conditions.

The report reveals that among people over 45 years with a major long-term condition, more than 30 per cent also have arthritis. By 65, almost half of people with a heart, lung or mental health problem also have arthritis.

Conversely, 80 per cent of people with osteoarthritis have at least one other long-term condition such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease or depression.

Arthritis Research says it is essential to recognise the interaction between MSK conditions and other health problems.

Any long-term condition is associated with a drop in quality of life, but when arthritis or back pain is part of multimorbidity, the drop is greater. The pain and functional limitations of arthritis make it harder to cope when living with other long-term conditions.

Professor Peter Kay, NHS Englands national clinical director of MSK Services said: We must work across systems to ensure we have the appropriate data collected and available to understand the numbers and requirements of people living with multiple long-term conditions.

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MSK conditions must be central to multimorbidity plans, says Arthritis Research UK - Chartered Society of Physiotherapy

According to Arthritis Research UK, over eight million people in the UK suffer from osteoarthritis - a condition perceived as only a disorder that affects the elderly.

A new walking programme for adults with arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions, made popular in the US, is to be trialled in the UK for the first time.

Walk With Ease was developed by the Arthritis Foundation in the US and has been shown to reduce arthritis-related symptoms such as pain, stiffness and fatigue, as well as improve strength, balance and walking pace.

The study is being funded as a joint working programme between ARUK and Pfizer Ltd, in partnership with the Chief Scientists Office of the Scottish Government and led by Dr Kathryn R Martin.

Dr Martin said: Walk With Ease has proven extremely successful in the US at reducing pain, stiffness and fatigue while improving physical functioning for those who have taken part.

We want to see if the ethos and logistics of the programme can be implemented in the UK.

This study will examine whether or not individuals with arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions living in the UK are willing to take part in such a programme and whether or not they feel it benefits them.

We are starting with Aberdeen and hope that if successful it can be rolled out across the UK.

This comes after Ruby James, 55, told Express.co.uk that exercise was the best way to reduce the symptoms of osteoarthritis.

Ruby said: I make sure I keep moving and exercising, as I always have, as I really feel that this makes my osteoarthritis more manageable.

Letters are currently being sent out from GP practices to potential participants for the six-week community-based programme.

Following an initial assessment of their mobility, participants will either receive the walking programme or a booklet outlining physical activity programmes in Aberdeen.

Those who receive the walking programme will be given a guidebook and the option to either walk with a group or on their own.

All participants will be re-assessed after six weeks and be posted a questionnaire three months later to see what effects the programme has had on them.

Some participants will also be asked to take part in an interview to discuss their experiences of being in the study.

Dr Natalie Carter, head of research liaison and evaluation at Arthritis Research UK, said: At Arthritis Research UK, we know that exercise, such as walking, can help to both prevent and improve the symptoms of arthritis.

Much more needs to be done to help support people with joint pain to stay active.

That is why our charity funds a number of studies focusing on exercise and movement, and we are pleased to be supporting the Walk With Ease study.

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Arthritis symptoms could be eased with THIS therapy: New hope for sufferers - Express.co.uk

Axial spondyloarthritis is a form of arthritis, and it is estimated around 700,000 people in the UK live daily with inflammatory back pain.

A study funded by Arthritis Research UK, aims to see how big a role patients medication plays in slowing down diagnosis of axial spondyloarthritis.

Most manage the pain with anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or other slightly stronger variants while they wait to have the condition formally diagnosed by a rheumatologist.

Axial spondyloarthritis is an inflammatory condition affecting the spine and joints in the pelvis and in extreme cases can lead to parts of the spine fusing together.

It is diagnosed using MRI scans after which it cannot be cured but can be managed with special anti-inflammatory medication.

Researchers from the University of Aberdeen suspect that some people who undergo an MRI scan receive a negative diagnosis for axial spondyloarthritis because the Ibuprofen-like drugs they are taking sufficiently reduce the inflammation and hide the symptoms.

Early diagnosis is key to preventing axial spondyloarthritis getting worse but typically it can take between eight to 11 years to be properly identified.

Dr Gareth Jones, a musculoskeletal pain and spondyloarthritis expert and lead author on the study said: The fact that it can take up to 11 years to get a formal diagnosis of axial spondyloarthritis is obviously a concern.

There are good drugs to help people manage the condition but they are only available to people who get a correct diagnosis.

We suspect some people who are getting scanned for the condition, who still have anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen in their system, are scanning negative for axial spondyloarthritis because the drugs are masking the true extent of the inflammation.

This study aims to show whether or not these drugs do mask the condition, and what proportion of sufferers could potentially be affected.

If we see that the painkillers are indeed leading to negative diagnoses then it will lend support to the argument that anyone receiving an MRI scan for back pain should halt their regular anti-inflammatory medication for a week or so prior to the scan.

This study will give an indication as to what proportion of axial spondyloarthritis are misdiagnosed as a result of the anti-inflammatory drugs.

Two hundred and fifty patients with the condition will be recruited to the study from around 20 different centres.

They will stop taking their regular anti-inflammatory drugs (Ibuprofen, etc) for a week and then given an MRI scan. They will then start taking the drugs again for six weeks before receiving a second MRI scan.

The researchers will then compare the proportion of people who scanned positive for axial spondyloarthritis with those who scanned negative for the condition once they are back on them.

Stephen Simpson, director of research and programmes at Arthritis Research UK, added: Axial spondyloarthritis is an incredibly painful condition, which can have a devastating impact on a persons everyday life.

For example, those with ankylosing spondylitis are three times more likely to stop work than the general population.

This new research will prompt conversations around whether patients should be asked to refrain from taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs immediately prior to an MRI scan and to rely, instead, on other pain relief during this specific period.

This research could lead to earlier diagnosis for people living with the condition, leading to earlier commencement of appropriate treatment and improved outcome.

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Arthritis symptoms: Painkillers could be hiding THIS serious condition from doctors - Express.co.uk

23 percent of all adults are affected by arthritis in the United States, and the symptoms associated with this chronic disease cost our country over 81 million dollars in annual medical bills.

Posted on July 31, 2017 by Kris Swartzendruber, Michigan State University Extension

Arthritis is a disease that affects over 54 million people in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, arthritis is the leading cause of disability, with related medical expenses reaching $81 billion. It is estimated that by the year 2040 nearly 26 percent of all adults (over 78 million people) will have arthritis.

The CDC also reports that arthritis significantly limits the workforce in this country. Because 60 percent of adults with this disease are of working age (18-64 years), arthritis can limit the type of work they do, and in many cases, keep them from working at all.

What is Arthritis?

Arthritis is chronic pain condition that is most commonly caused by inflammation of the tissue lining the joints (joints are located where two or more bones meet, such as elbows and knees). Symptoms vary, but the most common are pain, aching, swelling and stiffness.

There are over 100 diseases and conditions that are referred to as arthritis, but the most prevalent is osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis usually occurs in older adults, affecting their fingers, knees and hips and can be a result of a previous injury to a joint. Other well-known types of arthritis include gout, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis and lupus occur when the bodys defense system doesnt work properly, and overtime, can affect multiple organs and cause widespread symptoms.

Who is affected by arthritis?

Arthritis does not discriminateit affects people of every age, race and gender. However, statistics show that the risk of arthritis increases with age and is more common among women than men. The CDC reports that arthritis commonly occurs with other chronic diseases with half of adults with heart disease or diabetes, and one-third of people who are obese, having arthritis. When a person has to deal with arthritis, along with another chronic health condition, it can negatively affect their quality of life and make it more difficult for doctors to treat and manage their diseases.

What can I do if I have arthritis?

The good news is, there are several ways to treat and reduce the symptoms associated with arthritis. If you, or someone you care for, is affected by arthritis, Michigan State University Extension recommends that you first talk with a doctor. The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases says that only a doctor can diagnose and provide you with the best form of treatment associated with diabetes.

In addition to working with a healthcare provider, there are several things a person can do on their own to help control their pain and maintain their health. My next three news articles will focus on these arthritis self-management tools:

MSU Extension also provides high-quality and affordable education and resources related to the prevention and management of chronic disease.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit http://expert.msue.msu.edu, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

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Understanding arthritis - Michigan State University Extension