StemCell Therapy

The word arthritis literally means inflammation of the joints. Joints in the body occur where bones meet. Bone ends are covered by cartilage and are encased in a fluid-filled synovial membrane used to lubricate the joint. Common symptoms are generally pain, swelling, stiffness and reduced function/mobility. However, the root causes are not always the same. There are distinctive differences between Osteo Arthritis (OA: wear & tear/degenerative joint disease) and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA: auto-immune/inflammatory disease). Lets explore.

Who

OA: Affects both men and women. Process can begin after the age of 40 and symptoms are often present by age of 65.

RA: More common in women and can affect anyone, at any age.

When & How

OA: Gradual onset & increase in severity. Characterized by deterioration of and decreased ability to turn over (replace) cartilage tissue. This can be due to altered enzyme activity, building block deficiency and repetitive use/damage. This results in painful friction of exposed joints rubbing together, leading to inflammation of joint lining. After much cartilage is worn away, bone spurs may develop in joint spaces.

RA: Rapid onset. Characterized by an auto-immune response that leads to a self-attack on synovial membrane, which in turn leads to its inflammation, thickening, cartilage destruction and scar tissue formation.

Number & Types of Joins Affected

OA: 1-2 joints, Asymmetrical (Not even on both sides usually one side acts up first). Affects the weight-bearing joints (i.e. knees & hips).

RA: Multiple joints, Symmetrical (Affects both sides of the body the same way). Affects the synovial joints (i.e. hands & feet) but can progress to larger joints.

Non-Joint Involvement

OA: Absent.

RA: Commonly affects other tissues throughout the body. Other symptoms include fever, depression, fatigue, etc.

Types & Causes

OA: 2 Types Primary & Secondary.

Primary Potential causes include age, obesity, high impact sports, excessive use/exercise, free radical damage, poor nutrition, dehydration.

Secondary Results from a pre-disposing factor/condition such as joint or ligament damage/abnormality, infection, previous inflammation, loss of blood supply.

RA: Single Type.

Auto-immune response (when your body breaks itself down/attacks its own tissues). Potential underlying causes include poor digestion/diet (nutrition deficiencies, imbalance of gut bacteria, leaky gut, and food sensitivities), stress, chronic inflammation, heredity/genetics, imbalanced immune system, smoking/toxins and infections or overgrowth (i.e. candida).

Did you know 56% of patients with inflammatory arthritis have an imbalance of gut bacteria?

Suggestions?

1. Symptom Relief:

2. Tissue Protection: Look for Antioxidants (Quercetin, Zinc, Pycnogenol, Selenium, Vitamin E, Grape Seed Extract)

3. Repair Nutrients:

4. Topical Ingredients: Capsaicin, MSM, Arnica, Celadrin, Menthol, Peppermint, Eucalyptus.

5. Diet Tips: Avoid nightshades (i.e. tomatoes, white potatoes, eggplant, peppers and paprika), citrus, red meat, dairy, sugar, tobacco and any potential food sensitivities as they may aggravate pain & inflammation. Drink plenty of water. Eat mineral-rich and green foods to detox & alkalize. Eat more sulfur-containing foods such as garlic, onions, asparagus, etc.

6. Lifestyle Suggestions: Attain a healthy weight, manage stress and blood sugars, do light, non-weight bearing exercises (i.e. swimming). Consider wearing Cirulating Clothing!

7. Improve Gut Health: Ensure daily Probiotics and consider supplemental L-Glutamine, Enzymes/HCL, Fibre & VITAMIN D3.

8. Modulate Immunity: Consider ingredients such as Plant Sterols, Medicinal Mushrooms or Saccharomyces Cerevisiae

9. Fight Infection (if necessary): Oregano, Silver, Garlic, Grapefruit Seed Extract

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All About Arthritis - mySteinbach.ca (blog)

Express.co.uk

Helping juvenile idiopathic arthritis sufferers -- ScienceDaily Science Daily A drug combination that could help thousands of children with arthritis has been discovered by a team of researchers. Children and adolescents with Juvenile ... Arthritis news: Condition can cause BLINDNESS in sufferers | Health ...Express.co.uk all 5 news articles »

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Helping juvenile idiopathic arthritis sufferers -- ScienceDaily - Science Daily

We have anti-arthritis drugs. What we lack is the ability to deploy them when and where they are needed in the body. The drugs would be far more effective, and occasion fewer side effects, if they were to appear only in response to inflammation, and only in the joints. If the drugs could be delivered so painstakinglyso smartlythey wouldnt have to be administered systemically.

Although conventional drug delivery systems may be unable to respond to arthritic flares with such adroitness, cells may have better luckif they are suitably modified. Stem cells, for example, have been rewired by means of gene-editing technology to fight arthritis. These stem cells, known as SMART cells (Stem cells Modified for Autonomous Regenerative Therapy), develop into cartilage cells that produce a biologic anti-inflammatory drug. Ideally, the new cartilage cells will replace arthritic cartilage, and the biologic will protect against chronic inflammation, preserving joints and other tissues.

SMART cells of this sort were prepared by scientists based at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The scientists initially worked with skin cells taken from the tails of mice and converted those cells into stem cells. Then, using the gene-editing tool CRISPR in cells grown in culture, they removed a key gene in the inflammatory process and replaced it with a gene that releases a biologic drug that combats inflammation.

Details of this work appeared April 27 in the journal Stem Cell Reports, in an article entitled Genome Engineering of Stem Cells for Autonomously Regulated, Closed-Loop Delivery of Biologic Drugs. The article describes how modified stem cells grew into cartilage and produced cartilage tissue. The engineered cartilage, the scientists reported, was protected from inflammation.

Using the CRISPR/Cas9 genome-engineering system, we created stem cells that antagonize IL-1- [interleukin-1] or TNF-- [tumor necrosis factor-] mediated inflammation in an autoregulated, feedback-controlled manner, wrote the authors of the Stem Cell Reports article. Our results show that genome engineering can be used successfully to rewire endogenous cell circuits to allow for prescribed input/output relationships between inflammatory mediators and their antagonists, providing a foundation for cell-based drug delivery or cell-based vaccines via a rapidly responsive, autoregulated system.

Many current drugs used to treat arthritisincluding Enbrel (etanercept), Humira (adalimumab), and Remicade (infliximab)attack TNF-, an inflammation-promoting molecule. But the problem with these drugs is that they are given systemically rather than targeted to joints. As a result, they interfere with the immune system throughout the body and can make patients susceptible to side effects such as infections.

"We want to use our gene-editing technology as a way to deliver targeted therapy in response to localized inflammation in a joint, as opposed to current drug therapies that can interfere with the inflammatory response through the entire body," said Farshid Guilak, Ph.D., the paper's senior author and a professor of orthopedic surgery at Washington University School of Medicine. "If this strategy proves to be successful, the engineered cells only would block inflammation when inflammatory signals are released, such as during an arthritic flare in that joint."

Dr. Guilak's team encoded the stem/cartilage cells with genes that made the cells light up when responding to inflammation, so the scientists easily could determine when the cells were responding. Recently, the team began testing the engineered stem cells in mouse models of rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory diseases.

If the work can be replicated in animals and then developed into a clinical therapy, the engineered cells or cartilage grown from stem cells would respond to inflammation by releasing a biologic drugthe TNF- inhibitorthat would protect the synthetic cartilage cells that Dr. Guilak's team created and the natural cartilage cells in specific joints.

"When these cells see TNF-, they rapidly activate a therapy that reduces inflammation," Dr. Guilak explained. "We believe this strategy also may work for other systems that depend on a feedback loop. In diabetes, for example, it's possible we could make stem cells that would sense glucose and turn on insulin in response. We are using pluripotent stem cells, so we can make them into any cell type, and with CRISPR, we can remove or insert genes that have the potential to treat many types of disorders."

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CRISPR-SMART Cells Regenerate Cartilage, Secrete Anti-Arthritis Drug - Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News

Stem cells edited to fight arthritis: Goal is vaccine that targets ... Science Daily Using CRISPR technology, a team of researchers rewired stem cells' genetic circuits to produce an anti-inflammatory arthritis drug when the cells encounter ... and more »

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Stem cells edited to fight arthritis: Goal is vaccine that targets ... - Science Daily

Landslide, Bridge Closure in Big Sur Result in Modified Route

LOS ANGELES Following lengthy review, organizers of the Arthritis Foundation California Coast Classic (CCC) Bike Tour presented by Amgen have announced a route change. This years 8-day flagship fundraising ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles takes place Sept. 9-16 and registration is currently open.

The new routing is for days 3 and 4, and is a bypass around the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge on Highway 1 in Big Sur, which became structurally unstable after heavy storms caused a landslide last winter. The California Transportation Department (CalTrans) tore down the bridge in March and is building a replacement slated for completion in Sept. 2017.

While wed prefer to keep our traditional route, said Shannon Marang Cox, ride director for the CCC Bike Tour, our main priorities are rider safety and preserving the essence of the CCC riding experience. Chances are very slim that the bridge will be ready by early September, so weve decided to plan on our alternate course through Carmel Valley. The route is incredible, offering views of rivers, pastures, vineyards and mountains. Next year, well return to our original course, so this is a once-in-a-lifetime year to ride CCC.

In true Arthritis Foundation spirit, we explored many options and are forging ahead with a plan, Marang Cox continued. Weve consulted with our route team, taken several scouting trips, and kept in regular contact with CalTrans to find out whether or not the bridge will be done in time. In order to plan properly, we have to make the call now.

Days 1 and 2 of the 2017 California Coast Classic remain unchanged, as riders depart from Pier 39 in San Francisco and travel along the Pacific coast to Santa Cruz, then Monterey. On Day 3, cyclists will ride the famed 17-Mile Drive, and

then head southeast to new territory, pedaling through the bucolic Carmel Valley, alongside the Salinas River and trees draped in Spanish moss. The ride will stop for an overnight in King City.

The Day 4 route traverses the rolling Santa Lucia Mountain foothills and takes riders on a spin between Lake San Antonio and Lake Nacimiento on the way to their overnight stop in Paso Robles, which is known for hot springs and world-class wineries. On Day 5, the riders rejoin the original CCC route into Oceano, continuing to Buellton, and Ventura, and arriving in Los Angeles on Saturday, Sept. 16.

In developing our alternate route, we selected roads that provide the exceptional rider experience that CCC is known for, said Eli Campbell, CEO of Sentio Cycling, which provides logistics assistance to CCC. The bypass adds about 45 miles and an additional 2,700 of elevation gain, pending final permitting. Our 2017 route will rival previous years and offer a top-notch and rewarding experience for all.

Registration for the California Coast Classic, named one of The 30 Best Road Biking Trips by Outside Magazine, is capped at 250 riders and expected to sell out again in 2017. The eight-day, full-service, fully supported ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles raises funds to support the research, advocacy, and programs of the Arthritis Foundation. It is open to beginner and experienced riders who commit to a fundraising goal. More information is available at arthritis.org/CaliforniaCoastClassic.

The Arthritis Foundation is the Champion of Yes. Leading the fight for the arthritis community, the Foundation helps conquer everyday battles through life-changing information and resources, access to optimal care, advancements in science, and community connections. The Arthritis Foundations goal is to chart a winning course, guiding families in developing personalized plans for living a full life and making each day another stride towards a cure.

The Arthritis Foundations California Coast Classic Bike Tour, The Ride of a Lifetime, is one of four Arthritis Bike Classic events staged on the West Coast. It began in 2001 and is the flagship fundraising bike tour of the Arthritis Foundation, raising over one million dollars annually. Beginner and experienced cyclists are welcome on the 8-day, fully supported 525-mile journey down the coast of California from San Francisco to Los Angeles. For more information, please visit arthritis.org/CaliforniaCoastClassic.

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Arthritis Foundation's Coast Classic Bike Tour Changes Course - Aptos Times

More than 200 walkers are expected to lace up their shoes for the Arthritis Foundations Walk to Cure Arthritis, beginning at 8 a.m. May 20 at Woodlawn High School.

Arthritis is the nations leading cause of disability and affects 1.2 million residents of Louisiana, including 6,000 children, a news release said.

Special guests will include youth honoree Charlotte Collins; adult honoree Danielle Thibodaux; corporate chairman Dr. Joseph E. Broyles, of the Bone and Joint Clinic of Baton Rouge; and medical honoree Dr. Stephen Pollet, of The Baton Rouge Clinic.

Walk to Cure Arthritis provides people the opportunity to experience the power of standing together and giving back to the community. Together, Baton Rouge can Walk to Cure Arthritis and help us reach our goal of raising $45,000 to help find a cure for this disease, Broyles said.

Visit walktocurearthritis.org/batonrouge or call Sara Morthland at (337) 540-0615 to register.

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Walk to Cure Arthritis slated for May 20 at Woodlawn High School - The Advocate

GETTY

Uveitis - a condition causing inflammation in the middle layer of the eye - is most common in those aged 20 to 59, and affects two to five people in every 10,000 in the UK each year.

If left untreated, the inflammation can cause blindness, and according to Prevent Blindness its one of the leading causes of loss of sight in the world in those of working age.

Many cases are linked to problems with the immune system, including arthritis.

One type, juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), was the subject of a breakthrough study which discovered a new way to prevent children with arthritis and eye disease losing their sight.

GETTY

The results of the trial revealed how the drug could reduce eye inflammation and stop serious complications, including blindness.

The results of the trial - the first of its kind in the world, and funded by Arthritis Research UK and the National Institute for Health Research - revealed how a drug called Adalimumab, in combination with Methotrexate, could reduce eye inflammation and stop serious complications, including blindness.

In fact, the findings, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, were so ground-breaking the trial was stopped early due to convincing evidence.

It has already led to changes in guidelines, and the drug has since been approved by NHS England for use, set to help thousands of people.

Professor Ramanan from University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust and University of Bristol said: Uveitis in children is an important cause of loss of vision. This study demonstrates the benefit of Adalimumab in children with uveitis. This is the first randomised trial of its kind worldwide and the results will have a major impact in children with uveitis all around the world."

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The study authors found 75 per cent of children with JIA-associated uveitis who were treated with Adalimumab experienced a significant reduction in eye inflammation.

Stephen Simpson, director of research and programmes at Arthritis Research UK said: We are thrilled of the outcome of this trial and the huge promise it heralds for transforming the quality of life for the large numbers of children with JIA-associated uveitis. This trial is an impressive example of how investing in exceptional science can ultimately help change how treatment is delivered with direct and immediate benefit for patients.

In those of any age with arthritis, the condition can affect one or both eyes and may develop suddenly, or gradually over a few days.

According to the NHS, symptoms include eye pain, eye redness, sensitivity to light, blurred or cloudy vision and loss of peripheral vision.

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Uveitis may not also affect the whole eye - just part.

It can be at the front of the eye, middle of the eye and back of the eye, and the symptoms may vary for each.

Currently the main way to treat uveitis is using steroid medication. Eye drops are used if the front of the eye is affected, while injections, tablets and capsules are used to treat it at the middle and back.

While uveitis can affect anyone, a study this month published in JAMA Ophthalmology found those with psoriasis are at an increased risk of developing it.

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Arthritis news: Condition can cause BLINDNESS in sufferers - Express.co.uk

By Staff

New research out of The Universities of Manchester and East Anglia shows that people living with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) experience significant improvement in their daily lives due to early and more aggressive treatment of the disease.

The Arthritis Research UK study examined 20 years of data between 1990 and 2010. A total of 602 patients participated in the study led by James Gwinnutt, from The University of Manchester and Dr. Suzan Verstappen University of Manchester.

Participants were recruited to the Norfolk Arthritis Register and assessed at regular intervals over the course of 20 years.

They found that patients who were prescribed disease modifying drug therapies such as sulfasalazine, methotrexate and steroids within 6 months of symptom onset experienced significantly better ability to walk, grip and dress themselves over the course of 20 years compared, to patients who were treated later.

This research shows that patients who received treatment early after symptom onset had similar levels of disability over the subsequent 20 years compared to patients who were judged by clinicians not to require treatment, after accounting for the differences in disease severity between the groups, Gwinnutt said.

Though there is a broad range in terms of how people are affected by the disease, the number of patients whose lives have improved has increased thanks in part to early treatment. The good news is that early intervention has become more and more common in the NHS over these past 20 years. In the early 1990s early intervention would happen in about 30% of cases. Nowadays, that figure is probably more like 60-70%. Theres no reason why this improvement could not extend further, he added.

Dr Natalie Carter, head of research liaison and evaluation at Arthritis Research UK, said:

Rheumatoid arthritis is an incredibly painful condition that can be diagnosed at any age and can have an impact on a persons everyday life. This study confirms how important early diagnosis and the commencement of treatment is. It is also encouraging to hear about the progress that has been made over the last 20 years. Now the scientific community must continue to build on this so that together we can continue to harness the power of exceptional science and make everyday life better for all people with arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes joint inflammation and pain.

More:
Study Reveals Important Advance for Newly Diagnosed Rheumatoid Arthritis Sufferers - National Pain Report

Rheumatoid arthritis: Obesity skews markers of inflammation - Nature Nature.com BMI is positively associated with an elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) level and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ... and more »

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Rheumatoid arthritis: Obesity skews markers of inflammation - Nature - Nature.com

26 April 2017 Early treatment gets better results for rheumatoid arthritis Researchers found that patients who were treated within six months of developing the first signs of rheumatoid arthritis did better in the long run.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune condition distinguished by inflammation of the peripheral joints of the hands, wrists, elbows, shoulders, hips, knees and feet, usually on both sides of the body.

Treating rheumatoid arthritis early may make for better outcomes, a new study suggests.

Early death less likely

Patients who were treated within six months of developing the first signs of the autoimmune disease did better in the long run and were less likely to suffer early death, British researchers found.

The findings stem from an analysis of more than 600 patients who were initially diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) between 1990 and 1994. They were tracked for over 20 years.

Over the study time frame, investigators assessed key symptoms of RA, such as swollen and/or tender joints, and indications of disability. All deaths were also noted.

The research team found that patients who started treatment for RA within the first half-year after the first symptoms surfaced tended to have no greater levels of disability over a 20-year period than patients who required no treatment.

A better future

And while roughly 44% of the patients died during the study period, the team observed that early treatment translated into a notably lower mortality risk.

The findings were published online in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatology.

"This research emphasises the importance of early treatment and the long-term benefits of early treatment," study author Dr Suzanne Verstappen, from the University of Manchester, said in a journal news release.

"In the early 1990s," she added, "when this study started, only 30% of patients received early treatment, but this number has increased significantly in the last decade.

"It's expected that in the next 10 years, newly diagnosed patients will have a better future with respect to functional ability, less severe disease activity and improved quality of life," Verstappen said.

Read more:

Risks of rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis vs. osteoarthritis

Symptoms of osteoarthritis

Professor Asgar Ali Kalla completed his MBChB (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) degree in 1975 at the University of Cape Town and his FRCP in 2003 in London. Professor Ali Kalla is the Isaac Albow Chair of Rheumatology at the University of Cape Town and also the Head of Division of Rheumatology at Groote Schuur Hospital. He has participated in a number of clinical trials for rheumatology and is active in community outreach. Prof Ali Kalla is an expert in Arthritis for Health24.

The information provided does not constitute a diagnosis of your condition. You should consult a medical practitioner or other appropriate health care professional for a physical exmanication, diagnosis and formal advice. Health24 and the expert accept no responsibility or liability for any damage or personal harm you may suffer resulting from making use of this content.

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Early treatment gets better results for rheumatoid arthritis | Health24 - Health24

GETTY

Pepe Casaas, a 71-year-old Cuban peasant, gets rid of the discomfort of his arthritis by allowing himself to be stung by a scorpion.

The venom has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties which reduce his pain.

He keeps up to four scorpions near his house so he can guarantee being able to sting himself when he feels the arthritis returning, which is usually once a month.

Casaas told EFE: "The sting doesn't hurt me a bit. And if they're using it as a treatment for cancer in Cuba, it has to be good.

"About eight years ago, I started with this scorpion stuff. My bones were beginning to hurt me, arthritis, and it helped me to feel comfortable.

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I couldn't brush my teeth, or comb my hair. I got a scorpion, squeezed it, and it stung me twice, and look: my arm's doing fine.

Pepe Casaas

Casaas arthritis had got so bad it was impacting on his daily life, and so he decided to find his own solution.

He explained: I couldn't brush my teeth, or comb my hair. I got a scorpion, squeezed it, and it stung me twice, and look: my arm's doing fine.

Before that, he had used bee stings as a remedy, having come from a family of beekeepers - but he soon graduated onto the larger animal.

While it might seem an unconventional way to treat the condition, scorpion venom is used as an ingredient in Cuban medication.

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It is the main component in Vidatox, a homeopathic medicine prescribed for easing pain and other cancer symptoms.

Around 17,000 bottles are sold over the counter in Cuba and in 15 other countries around the world, and 65,000 people have used it for alleviating cancer pain.

Dr. Fabio Linares told EFE: A very important use of Vidatox, which we want to promote, is that of an analgesic and anti-inflammatory, for use against cancer, given that any osteoarthritic process such as rheumatism can be treated with this medication.

Linares says Casaas feels better after the scorpions sting because of its analgesic effect, and due to the venom stimulating the body's natural curative mechanisms and immune system.

GETTY

In fact, such is Cubas belief in the healing powers of scorpion venom, it started clinical trials in 2006 to test whether it could treat cancer.

So far they have found patients quality of life has significantly improved.

Ways of treating arthritis in the UK, according to Arthritis Research UK, include pain-relief drugs, physical therapies such as physiotherapy, and surgery.

Currently 10 million people in the UK are suffering with arthritis, and despite its associations with the elderly, it affects people of all ages.

Excerpt from:
Arthritis cure: Would you use THIS extreme treatment to ease the pain? - Express.co.uk

Nathan Pensini wants to generate awareness about a little-known condition his daughter has.

Support network: Rachelle and Jim Sanderson, Paul Martin and Alyssa, Nathan, Adrian and Cassie Pensini.

NATHAN Pensini knows better than most the pain which Ironman competitors face when they climb Matthew Flinders Drive.

But he also knows its nothing compared to the pain 17-year-old daughter Alyssa has to deal withevery day.

She was diagnosed with juvenile arthritis at the age of 11 and its whythis yearsIronman Australia will have added meaning for him.

Every time I go out I realise the painthat lasts for 10-12 hours or a few days after Ironmanfor every competitoris the type of pain Alyssa goes through every day, he said.

Thats the main driver for us.

Pensini has a great team of people racing alongside him this year in training partner Paul Martin along with Jim and Rachele Sanderson and brother and sister in law Adrian and Cassie.

One in 1000 Australians has juvenile arthritis who have attendedcamps in the last two years.

One is Camp Footloose, an Arthritis and Osteoporosis NSW initiative, which gives children with juvenile arthritis the chance to have fun and achieve personal success in sport and other outdooractivities at their own pace.

Juvenile arthritisis a serious, persistent medical conditionof childhood.

Its surprising how many people have this condition, he said.

Every time I go out I realise the pain that lasts for 10-12 hours or a few days after Ironman for every competitor is the type of pain Alyssa goes through every day. - Nathan Pensini

We dont know if its genetically linked or whether it is caused by eating a certain type of food.

Pensini and his brother first generated awareness about the condition when they competed in the 2015 Ironman.

He said it gatheredamazing support two years ago and now they want to build on that.

Kids are starting to be diagnosed with it from as early as 18 months old now, he said.

Weve got to get awareness out there soI want to make this as recognised as the Jane McGrath Foundation.

Tohelp the Pensinis raise awareness about the condition, for every $50 donated, people will go into the draw to win a mountain bike.

To donate, visit https://racingforjuvenilearthritis.gofundraise.com.au/ or visit the GoFundraise website.

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Ironman pain nothing compared to juvenile arthritis: Pensini - Camden Haven Courier

Shares of Eli Lilly (LLY) were lower by 2.89% to $81.01 on heavy trading volume Tuesday afternoon, after the drug manufacturing company offered no new details as to when the FDA might approve its rheumatoid arthritis drug baricitinib.

The drug won European approval but U.S. regulators rejected it earlier this month. "The FDA specifically stated that additional clinical data are needed to determine the most appropriate doses and to further characterize safety concerns across treatment arms," the company said in a statement.

Eli Lilly was asked on a conference call if it believed it was likely the drug would be approved this year or next, Reuters reported.

"We can't give an estimate on this year or next until we meet with the FDA," the company responded.

Additionally, the company posted better than expected 2017 first quarter adjusted earnings of 98 cents per share on revenue of $5.23 billion. Revenue was roughly in-line with expectations, while EPS beat by 2 cents per share.

What will move markets this quarter and how should investors position themselves ahead of time? Jim Cramer sat down with four of TheStreet's top columnists recently to get their views. Click here to listen to his latest Trading Strategies roundtable with them and read their advice for stocks, bonds, forex and gold.)

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Eli Lilly Stock Falls on Continued Arthritis Drug Approval Delay - TheStreet.com

By Bill Berkrot

(Reuters) - Eli Lilly and Co on Tuesday provided no new information on how long U.S. regulators might delay approval of its closely watched rheumatoid arthritis drug after its surprise rejection by the Food and Drug Administration this month.

Lilly shares, which have outperformed its rivals this year, fell 3 percent to $80.83 even though the U.S. drugmaker reported a slightly higher-than-expected quarterly profit.

"Maybe people are trying to understand where the near-term upside is going to come from," said Credit Suisse analyst Vamil Divan, adding that investors may be taking profit while waiting for clarity on baricitinib.

Lilly reiterated that it was disappointed and disagreed with the FDA assessment on baricitinib, particularly since the medicine won European approval. It said it hoped in the next 60 days to meet with the agency, which had requested more data.

On a conference call with analysts, Lilly was asked whether it was likely in 2017 or 2018 to satisfy FDA concerns outlined in the letter denying approval.

"We can't give an estimate on this year or next until we meet with the FDA," said Christi Shaw, head of Lilly Bio-Medicines.

The FDA asked for more data on proper dosing and safety information on the medicine developed with Incyte Corp.

Lilly expressed confidence it could attain its minimum goal of 5 percent annual revenue growth even without baricitinib approval this year.

Excluding special items, Lilly said it earned 98 cents per share in the first quarter, topping the analysts' average estimate by 2 cents, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Guggenheim Securities analyst Tony Butler said the results benefited from an animal health acquisition, which "makes the beat look less glamorous."

He did call sales of newer diabetes drug Trulicity "tremendous." If baricitinib was approved, he added, "I don't think the stock would be down."

Trulicity, which competes with Novo Nordisk blockbuster Victoza, brought in $372.9 million in the quarter, well ahead of Wall Street estimates of about $328 million.

Lilly maintained its full-year forecast for earnings of $4.05 to $4.15 per share, excluding items.

Revenue rose 7.5 percent to $5.23 billion, roughly in line with expectations.

Other new products with strong sales included Taltz for psoriasis and cancer drug Cyramza. The company called Cyramza sales for gastric cancer in Japan "phenomenal" but acknowledged competitive challenges from immuno-oncology drugs for lung cancer in the United States.

(Reporting by Bill Berkrot in New York and Ankur Banerjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn)

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Lilly gives no time frame on arthritis drug delay; shares fall - Yahoo Finance

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a subject near and dear to my heart. Twenty years ago, my daughter who had essentially been sick since she weaned herself from the breast at 10 months old, was chronically ill from that time on. One month wed be in the pediatricians office for an ear infection and the next a sore throat. The overuse of antibiotics by her doctors without any type of sensitivity test to determine what antibiotic would be most effective bordered on malpractice. Eventually nothing worked. At 13, she not only had one of her recurring strept throat infections, this time it turned into an auto-immune disease known as Erythema nodosum (EN). The disease presented with small lumps along her shins about the size of a pea that were bright red and hot. Within a few days these lumps began to grow in diameter and were extremely painful. Medical books described he pain as exquisite. Finally the lumps would take on the appearance of bruises. We were living out of state at the time, and I felt moving home to doctors I knew was warranted. I took her to her regular pediatrician who examined her, left the room to do some research and them came back to give me a diagnosis. Susanna, I think this is Erythema nodosum. It could resolve in a few weeks, a few months, or years. As luck would have it, my daughters case was lengthy, lasting 7 years and leaving her with other health issues including arrhythmias, depression, and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA).

Many of the allopathic treatments my daughter underwent were worse than the disease itself. Pain killers were addicting, epidural steroid shots caused fainting and back pain which she suffers from to this day, some of the anti-depressants caused the very issue we were trying to cure (Erythema nodosum) as well as suicidal ideation, and overuse of antibiotics completely knocked out her immune system.

Out of desperation I did my own research and discovered Thalidomide, the 1950s and 60s drug used to treat morning sickness in pregnant women was being used in the treatment of Hansens disease also known as leprosy (Erythema nodosum leprosum). I made the intuitive leap that Thalidomide might also work in EN. However, Thalidomide caused severe birth defects. While in the process of securing permission to use the drug, she went into remission.

Finally I met a doctor in Hawaii who told me she used potassium iodide to treat Erythema nodosum and that is was effective 99% of the time. Yet out of the 8-10 specialists we had seen, not one suggested this simple treatment. About that time, my daughter was thought to have breast cancer and had just had a baby so in the confusion, that simple treatment was forgotten.

Although the primary symptoms of the EN stopped once she was in remission, the secondary symptoms of RA, severe pain and inflammation with decreased mobility persisted. When she was 29 I discovered a product called LIMU which contained fucoidan, organic iodine, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and fatty acids that was a complete nutritional and immune system boost. Within a matter of days she felt better and had improved mobility. Within 6 weeks she was pain free for the first time in almost 17 years. I began to do extensive research on brown seaweed and everything began to make perfect sense. In September my daughter will be 34 and she remains symptom free.

Arthritis is a debilitating auto-immune disease process that strikes about 1% of the population. Causes may include viral, bacterial, or mycoplasma infections so the underlying cause must be alleviated. While there are pharmaceuticals for the treatment of RA, they are not without serious side effects, especially biologics which lower immune function.

I have compiled an extensive list of natural options for Rheumatoid Arthritis. Those marked with an asterisk are what I personally consider most effective.

1. *Water Water is one of the most overlooked nutrients when it comes to health. Some people dont drink enough and some people dont drink water at all. Our bodies are about 60% water so its essential for life, organ function, removal of toxins and joint health. Here also see these home remedies to naturally reduce gout and arthritis pain.

More here:
34 Natural Remedies for Rheumatoid Arthritis, Some of Which Are Based on a Personal Experience - eMaxHealth

A jaguar is recovering from an unique arthritis procedure after a podiatricsurgeon saw the big cat in an Alberta zoo.

Mia a 14-year-old male at the Discovery Wildlife Park near Innisfail is likely the first jaguar to have the procedure, which is usually reserved for humans.

Dr. Karim Ravji, who runs a private orthobiologics clinic in Edmonton, noticed the jaguar's poor health during a visit to the zoo last summer.

"The groundhogs would actually come and taunt it and steal its food and stuff. This beautiful, majestic animal could not leap or pounce and actually was lying there in pain," he told The Calgary Eyeopener.

Ravji talked to zoo owner Doug Bosabout Mia, who has arthritis in his two front knees.

"We were relieving the pain from that with medication, but the medication is just really hard on the animal. It shortens their life span up dramatically. It affects the kidneys and the liver and all that sort of stuff," said Bos.

Ravji consulted with animal experts and found two veterinarians who could help with drawing plasma, spinning off the platelets, and then re-injecting them into Mia's front kneesin hopes of reducing inflammation and promoting tissue regeneration.

Mia the jaguar is sedated and watched over by (from left) STeM MD nurse Heather Pym and Dr. Karim Ravji and Discovery Wildlife Park animal health technicians Tony Stevens and Holli Duffy. (Heather Pym)

"We supplied them with equipment," he said.

Mia was sedated with a blow dart and then given general anesthesia.

"It's not everyday that we have a patient who could wake up and pounce and kill you," said Ravji.

The jaguar was walking again right after the procedure and seems to be doing better, but it takes eight to 12 weeks to see an improvement, Ravji said.

"It's kind of exciting because if it is really effective then it's kind of breaking ground for other zoos and other animals," added Bos.

Zoo staff, thevets and Ravji's medical group all donated their time, and may try and help other animals at the zoo.

"We would do it again," he said. "There's some grizzly bears that have arthritis and Mia's twin, another jaguar, that's got some tendinitis and arthritis issues. This type of injection can be used for tendon, ligament or joint. You just have to have the proper equipment and a good cell collection."

With files from theCalgaryEyeopener

Link:
Arthritic Alberta jaguar treated with cutting-edge human procedure - CBC.ca

REXINE HAWES

Last updated16:36, April 24 2017

Rexine Hawes

Matamata student Ollie Morton-Farrelly hasn't let a rare health condition stop him from winning track and field medals and smashing records.

A young athlete is breaking records, despite a rare childhood form of arthritis.

Oliver (Ollie) Morton-Farrelly, a Year Nine Matamata College student was diagnosed with enthesitis arthritis.

But Ollie is a fiercely competitive and determined young man.

Supplied

Ollie Morton-Farrelly is breaking records in both discuss and shot put, despite battling childhood arthritis.

In the 2016-2017 athletic season, which was his first Ollie broke five records and won five medals, including two golds, two silver and bronze.

But it's been a rough road.

A downward spiral in his health threeyears ago brought the sporty young man to a standstill and literally to his knees.

Supplied

Ollie Morton-Farrelly competing in shot put.

Mum Helene Mortonsays Ollie's condition started as a tummy ache, which steadily grew into severe joint pains.

"He started hobbling, like an old man.

"The colder it got, the worse he got."

After weeks of missing school due to lethargy and sickness, his mum took him to the GP.

Over the course of a year, he was referred to WaiKids Paediatrics in Hamilton, and then on to Starship.

"We were frustrated," said Helene. "He was missing school and was tired all the time."

After numerous blood tests, x-rays and MRIs, a genetic test finally provided an answer.

Ollie has enthesitis arthritis, where the tendon hits the joint.

"It was a relief, when we knew what we were dealing with," she said.

Dad Derek has ankylosing spondylitis, spinal arthritis.

Ollie manages the condition with medicine, but it has hadan adverse effect on his gut.

He takes daily medication for the arthritis, pain relief and medicinesto protect his gut.

He has three monthly tests to check his liver and kidney function.

When the weather is warm, Ollie is on form, but life can go downhill fast once winter and sickness sets in.

"I can sleep most of the day," he said.

"It's not cool. I wish I was normal."

A meeting with coach Roy Williams at the Te Aroha Athletics Club, where his sister Emma trains, changed everything.

Williams is a former Commonwealth Games gold medallist in track and field decathlon.

He approached Ollie to ask why he wasn't participating in the athletics events.

After a detailed explanation, Williams took the young boy on.

"He thought it was really sad," said Ollie.

"He helped me with my technique in shot put.

"It was really cool someone cared and went out of their way to help me."

Over a year with Williams, shot putstarted putting pressure on Ollie's joints during winter training.

So, Ollie took on discusstoo.

The switch helped equalise the joint pressure.

Williams has helped Ollie's technique in shot put.

Rather than gliding, Ollie shuffles in the circle, which is less pressure on kneejoints.

Ollie works with Williams two days a week, however Helene says training is all dependant on Ollie's health.

Since the new year, Helene says Ollie has been achieving well with athletics.

He competed in the 100-metre relay the Waikato/BoP Relay champs in December.

He was fast and the coach wanted him in the final leg.

But afterwards, he was sore.

He hobbled to the tent, sat down and literally couldn't get back up.

With shot put to go, Helene strapped his knees, to help take the pressure off them while standing.

He placedfirst.

Since January, Ollie has broken record after record in the discuss.

He broke the Matamata College record held since 1970, with his throw of 37.26mand the Matamata Athletics record of 24m, with his throw of 37.43.

In the North Island Colgate Games, Ollie placed 2nd, making him 3rdin New Zealand for shot put, for 12-year-olds.

Ollies last event at Easter, in the interprovincials in Masterton with the Waikato/BoP team was his best effort this year.

Ollie placed 1st in shot put and 3rd in discuss, from 90 participants in his age group.

He also came 11th in the 100m, with the fastest time for the Waikato/BoP.

Helene says it's all attributed to Williams' training and her son's determination.

Ollie plans to continue training through winter, as he can, and come summer, will hopefully smash more records.

"It's limited what I can do but I take every opportunity to be active," he said.

-Stuff

See the article here:
Athletics and strong will help Matamata teen battle rare arthritis - Stuff.co.nz

TheHorse.com

PAAG Showing Promise as Arthritis Pain Reliever for Horses ... TheHorse.com Researchers believe polyacrylamide hydrogel (PAAG) could have a long-lasting cushioning effect on arthritic joints. and more »

Go here to read the rest:
PAAG Showing Promise as Arthritis Pain Reliever for Horses ... - TheHorse.com

KrisAnn Krause dangled from a pair of silken ribbons, spun around and struck a pose to uproarious applause.

Its like you are flying, Krause said.

Le Sueurs Your Time Fitness hosted Night at the Circus Saturday, a fundraiser for the Arthritis Foundation.

The fundraiser featured games, a silent auction, raffles and a series of showcases for circus arts performed by students and instructors.

Circus arts is a blanket term for a wide range of activities. At this fundraiser, visitors were treated to shows of aerial silk dancing, pole dance and lyra hoop performances.

Krause, who runs the fitness studio, was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis when she was 27.

It changed my life, she said.

However, she was able to get in contact with the Arthritis Foundation, whichconnected her with resources to support her and help reduce her symptoms. Through the foundation, Krause was able to connect with doctors and get treatment to help her carry on with life.

The Arthritis Foundation is an advocacy organization that supports arthritis research and acts as a support system and community to those suffering from the condition. Arthritis causes painful inflammation and stiffness in joints. In some cases the condition can make it difficult to move, write or perform other basic tasks.

Now 38, Krause has become a big supporter for the Arthritis Foundation, and used this event as a way to help support itscause.

Betty Harsma, a fitness instructor who works with the studio, helped organize the event, and announced prizes for the raffle and the silent auction at the end of the night, as well as introduced all of the performers.

Christal Lustig has been training with aerial silks for about a year, and she used her performance to show off what she can do on the dual ribbons.

Its really an adrenaline rush, Lustig said, adding that she liked the full body work out.

For some of the performers, it was the first time they had shown off their moves in front of a crowd. Kim Dvorak has worked with Your Time Fitness for 12 weeks, and said that her husband and son had never seen her perform before the fundraiser.

Dvoraks aerial silk routine took her high off the floor, slowly rotating upside down before she threw out an arm as a counter balance. After she disengaged from the silken ribbons, she said she was happy with her show.

It went so much better than practice, so thats all you can really ask for, she said.

Her husband, Rett Dvorak,was impressed and happy to see his wife finally perform after only seeing pictures for months.

At the end of the night, instructor Teresa Tebbe and Krause both got on the rings, treating the crowd to faster-paced aerial performance that saw the two spinning and flipping in sync with each other.

The event also featured a raffle that gave out a variety of prizes including discounts on workout sessions at the gym and gift certificates to local businesses. The silent auction featured prizes donated by local businesses, with some of the prizes going for over $70 by the time the auction closed.

Reporter Ben Farniok can be reached at 507-931-8576 or follow him on Twitter @LNHben.

Link:
High-flying acts: acrobatic workout raises funds for arthritis - Southernminn.com

Being overweight can aggravate rheumatoid arthritis (RA) symptoms and make it harder to achieve remission.

But did you know that it can also make RA harder to diagnose in some cases?

A new study shows that being obese can skew RA tests due to inflammation caused by excess weight, particularly in women.

The inflammation caused by obesity can occasionally make RA disease activity appear worse than it is, leading to a misdiagnosis or an improper categorization of disease severity.

This study, out of the University of Pennsylvania, suggests that obesity can alter the results of common RA lab results like SED-rate and CRP. These blood tests are frequently used in the diagnosis and monitoring of RA.

Read more: Rheumatoid arthritis linked to mood disorders

The study, published by Dr. Michael George, MSCE, of the University of Pennsylvania Health System, and his colleagues, found that there was a link between body mass index (BMI) and SED rate and CRP elevation.

In some cases, the inflammation from weight gain was what was throwing off the tests, not elevated disease activity or symptoms.

In order to deduce these results, the team of researchers looked at 2,103 people with arthritis. The researchers said the more severe the case of obesity, the bigger correlation there was between BMI and elevated RA markers.

This correlation did not always carry over to male patients.

In a statement to the press, George said, Our results suggest that obesity may lead to increased levels of CRP and ESR in women with rheumatoid arthritis. The increase in these levels of inflammation was not because rheumatoid arthritis was worse in these women. In fact, we found that obesity leads to very similar increases in these lab tests even in women without rheumatoid arthritis.

In the press statement, he continued, Physicians might assume that high levels of inflammation mean that a patient has rheumatoid arthritis or that their rheumatoid arthritis requires more treatment when in fact a mild increase in levels of inflammation could be due to obesity instead.

Read more: Rigorous exercise could reduce rheumatoid arthritis symptoms

These findings were published in the medical journal Arthritis Care and Research, and some people with arthritis were not surprised.

Diana Bryan of Maryland thought she had RA. It turned out that she might not.

I went to my primary care physician you know, my general doctor. He ran labs and told me I had an elevated rheumatoid factor and SED rate. He said those indicate RA. I was so scared, she told Healthline. I went to a rheumatologist who did more tests and a physical exam. He asked my whole medical history and does not think I actually have rheumatoid. He said my inflammation could be from other factors. Im overweight so now Im wondering if thats why. I do have osteoarthritis but months later after eating an anti-inflammatory diet and taking NSAIDs, plus losing some weight, my blood tests were normal, so who knows.

To me, it makes sense, said Janet McKay of Pennsylvania.

McKay has RA and is also a certified nutrition coach.

A poor diet and a high BMI can lead to inflammation. That inflammation isnt always from an inflammatory condition like rheumatoid arthritis, though sometimes it is, she told Healthline. It is hard to say just how much the two are connected, but I do believe that lowering BMI is healthy for patients with RA and other chronic pain problems.

Go here to read the rest:
Obesity Poses a Challenge in Diagnosing Rheumatoid Arthritis - Healthline