StemCell Therapy

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease that can cause pain, stiffness, and limited range of motion. OA can affect any joint, including the wrist.

The symptoms of wrist OA include pain, swelling, and a reduced range of motion in the wrist and hand. Wrist OA can lead to structural changes in the hand and limit a persons ability to perform daily tasks.

This article looks at wrist OA in more detail, including its symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.

OA happens when cartilage wears away. Cartilage is a smooth, flexible tissue that cushions and protects the ends of bones, allowing them to glide smoothly over each other.

When the cartilage at the ends of wrist bones wears away, the bones may rub together, creating friction and swelling. A person may also experience pain because the exposed bone has nerve endings. Eventually, the wrist joint may change shape, causing more pain and reducing the range of motion in the wrist and hand.

The wrist connects the hand to the forearm and comprises several bones. The radius and ulna are the forearm bones. There are eight small carpal bones at the base of the hand, arranged in two rows of four. In a healthy wrist, slippery cartilage covers the joint surface of each bone.

In wrist OA, the cartilage wears away, causing the bones to rub against each other. Injuries such as a broken wrist can accelerate cartilage loss and OA symptoms.

The symptoms of wrist OA can include:

Wrist OA can cause various complications, including:

To diagnose wrist OA, a doctor will first perform a physical exam and take a persons medical history.

They may also order X-rays to help identify structural changes in the wrist and hand and to rule out other causes.

Although OA does not lead to blood abnormalities, a doctor may order a blood test to help rule out other causes, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

If a doctor suspects an infection in the wrist, they may order an arthrocentesis, also known as synovial fluid analysis. This procedure involves taking a small sample of fluid from the synovium the lining of the joint for analysis.

Although there is no cure for OA, a person can try the following management techniques to alleviate the symptoms and prevent OA from progressing:

Physical therapy can help a person maintain range of motion and keep their wrist as flexible as possible. A physical therapist can teach specific exercises that may help relieve the symptoms of OA.

These exercises may include:

Heat and cold therapy provide different benefits to people with wrist OA. Some people find that applying heat to painful joints helps relieve pain. Heat therapy, such as a paraffin wax bath, increases blood flow by dilating the blood vessels, helping ease stiffness in the wrist.

Cold therapy constricts blood vessels and can help reduce swelling and inflammation. A person can wrap an ice pack in a cloth or towel and apply it to the affected area.

Different types of wrist supports can help in different ways. Resting splints keep the hand and wrist still when a person is resting. Working splints help keep the hand and wrist in the right position when a person is using them.

It is best to ask the advice of a healthcare professional before buying wrist braces or straps to make sure that they are suitable.

Learn about more home remedies for arthritis.

Doctors may recommend the following treatments alongside the above home remedies:

Doctors may recommend various medications to relieve the symptoms of wrist OA. The options include:

If nonsurgical options are ineffective, doctors may recommend surgery. According to a 2022 article, the most common types are:

Wrist OA is a chronic condition that causes pain and stiffness in the wrist. It can also affect mobility and make daily tasks more difficult.

People can alleviate their symptoms and slow the progression of the disease by following the advice of healthcare professionals and taking their medication consistently. If a person with wrist OA does not receive treatment for it, the pain could become debilitating.

Wrist OA is a degenerative condition resulting from aging and overuse. It can lead to pain, stiffness, and a limited range of movement.

Possible complications include CTS and structural changes in the hand. Doctors can diagnose wrist OA through a physical exam and X-rays.

There is no cure for OA, but treatments are available to help ease the symptoms. Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent further joint damage.

Originally posted here:
Osteoarthritis in the wrist: Symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment - Medical News Today

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J&J's Stelara (ustekinumab) Approved By FDA To Treat Pediatric Patients With Active Psoriatic Arthritis - Benzinga

GUELPH, ON eQcell Inc., a Canadian clinical-stage company, and Tillsonburg, Ontario-based private equity fund Ag Capital Canada (ACC) are pleased to announce the completion of a C$1.1 million capital investment.

eQcell is the first company in Canada to receive Health Canada authorization for the clinical

testing of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) for the treatment of equine and canine arthritis. Trials of this treatment are ongoing in Canada and the US. Osteoarthritis is the most common cause of chronic lameness in horses and dogs and the fastest-growing cause of disability in humans worldwide. It has no cure.

Ag Capital Canadas investment provides eQcell with additional funding to advance its clinical stromal cell development programs and expand its therapeutic pipeline. Horses and dogs with naturally occurring osteoarthritis tend to yield data that is more clinically relevant to human osteoarthritis than do traditional laboratory animal pre-clinical models.

eQcell is following this now-established science in pursuing a One-Health approach. Success in these trials could lead to the application of the platform for human development.

Commercially, the path to market for veterinary trials is significantly shorter than for human

trials, which can result in early revenues from successful development. Importantly, safety and efficacy data from veterinary trials may significantly reduce the high rate of failure reported in late-stage human clinical trials.

This investment by ACC, an industry-specific investment fund, is a significant milestone for

eQcell, said Dr. Thomas Koch, Founder and CEO of eQcell. Furthermore, eQcell shares ACCs ambition for creating high-value companies and jobs in Canada. We look forward to working with the outstanding team at ACC and benefitting from its broad and varied local, national and international relationships in financing and business development.

John Lansink, Managing Partner at Ag Capital Canada, responded: We at Ag Capital Canada have been following Dr. Koch and his research for several years now. The pioneering work he and his team are doing has the potential to change the availability and application of osteoarthritis treatments for the animal health industry.

About eQcell

eQcell is Canadas premier clinical-stage regenerative medicine company. The mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) produced by eQcell are the result of 15 years of research, development and treatment of horses and dogs at the University of Guelphs Ontario Veterinary College. This institution is recognized as one of the top-five veterinary universities in the world. eQcell, together with Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital and Colorado State Universitys Translational

Medicine Centre & Veterinary Hospital, is also conducting a clinical trial in septic arthritis in horses using MSCs to treat chronic, drug-resistant infections. For more information on eQcell, visit http://www.eqcell.com

About Ag Capital Canada

Ag Capital Canada (ACC) is a private equity fund which invests in Canadian ag and food

innovation and small business growth. ACC aims to discover, develop and nurture Canadian agricultural businesses through capital investment, business-management mentorship and entrepreneurial expertise. For more information on ACC, visit http://www.agcapitalcanada.com.

Media Contacts:

eQcell Ag Capital Canada

Dr. Thomas Koch John Lansink

tkoch@eqcell.com johnl@agcapitalcanada.com

519.760.0068 519.520.5515

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eQcell and Ag Capital Canada Announce Completion of Capital Raise - BioSpace

Overview of the STAR Awards

The NIAMS STAR program provides supplemental funding for early-career stage investigators who have renewed their first NIAMS-funded R01 grant. The supplement enables these scientists to pursue innovative and high-risk research within the broader scope of a current NIAMS-funded, peer-reviewed research project. It also helps investigators to expand a single, structured research project into a broader multi-faceted research program. In FY 2021, two investigators received NIAMS STAR supplements.

ErikaGeisbrecht, Ph.D., is a professor of biochemistry and molecular biophysics at Kansas State University. She leads an NIAMS-supported researchproject using theDrosophilamodel to determine mechanisms that prevent protein aggregation, and ultimately cellular degeneration, in muscle. The findings will provide insight into how protein aggregates can be cleared effectively to reduce disease states and offer an opportunity to eventually develop successful therapeutic strategies to maintain healthy cells. TheSTARaward funding will support her teams effort to expand the knowledge about how protein complexes that mediate protein clearance are also possible regulators of sarcomere (the functional unit of a muscle fiber) remodeling.

Corey Neu, Ph.D., is the Donnelly Family Endowed Professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Colorado at Boulder. He leads an NIAMS-funded researchproject to establish a noninvasive imaging method of measuring cartilage strain to predict osteoarthritis development. Previous findings suggested that the novel imaging method specifically quantified cartilage tissue-level strain and structure. The STAR award will enable Dr. Neus team to explore high-risk studies developing new imaging biomarkers of cellular and nuclear structure. This knowledge may provide tissue- to cellular-scale prognostic factors for osteoarthritis, ultimately leading to diagnosis at the earliest stages when disease-rectifying therapies may be most effective.

For more information about the NIAMS STAR program, including the funding opportunity announcement and profiles of past award recipients, visit the Supplements to Advance Research (STAR) page on the NIAMS website. Additional background information is provided in theDecember 2014 letter from the NIAMS Director announcing the program.

To view profiles for the 2015 STAR awardees, visit the 2015 announcement for the STAR program.

To view profiles for the 2016 STAR awardees, visit the 2016 announcement for the STAR program.

To view profiles for the 2017 STAR awardees, visit the 2017 announcement for the STAR program.

To view profiles for the 2018 STAR awardees, visit the 2018 announcement for the STAR program.

To view profiles for the 2019 STAR awardees, visit the 2019 announcement for the STAR program.

To view profiles for the 2020 STAR awardees, visit the 2020 announcement for the STAR program.

For more information, please see the STAR funding opportunity announcement and the December 2014 letter from the NIAMS Director announcing the program.

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NIAMS Awards Two Fiscal Year 2021 Supplements to Advance Research (STAR) From Projects to Programs Enhancing NIH Support for Early-Career Stage...

HAMILTON, BERMUDA , July 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

Altamira Therapeutics ("Altamira" or the "Company")(NASDAQ:CYTO), a company dedicated to developing therapeutics that address important unmet medical needs, today announced the publication of a peer-reviewed article in the scientific journalInternational Journal of Oral Sciencetitled, "Histone demethylase JMJD3 downregulation protects against aberrant force-induced osteoarthritis through epigenetic control of NR4A1" that covers an independently funded study evaluating novel treatment approaches for osteoarthritis (OA) conducted by a Shanghai-based research group.

Study highlights

The study used different approaches to downregulate the Jumonji domain-containing protein D3 (JMJD3) gene to assess whether this strategy would be beneficial for the treatment of OA. Nanoparticles comprising a siRNA targeting the JMJD3 gene, and Altamiras peptide-based OligoPhore delivery platform (also known as p5RHH), were used to locally downregulate the expression of JMJD3 in a mouse model of OA. The study authors observed that, the severity of joint degeneration was remarkably mitigated thanks to administration of the nanoparticles and highlighted their advantage of specifically targeting inflammation in the joint without off-target toxicities. They propose JMJD3 inhibition based on the OligoPhore platform as an innovative epigenetic therapy approach for joint diseases.

In their study, the authors pursued an epigenetic-based therapeutic approach (i.e. targeting gene regulation) to mitigate cartilage inflammation and damage in a murine model of osteoarthritis. OligoPhore was used to formulate siRNA polyplexes that inhibited chondrocyte production of a histone demethylase, JMJD3, in response to joint damage. JMJD3 is upregulated in joint injury and drives other inflammatory pathways to elicit further damage and chondrocyte programmed cell death. Injection of 2 weekly doses of OligoPhore-siRNA into the affected joint over 8 weeks significantly attenuated inflammation and preserved cartilage viability and integrity.

CSO comments

"The study's results confirm prior findings reporting the benefit of RNA therapeutics based on our nanoparticle delivery platform in models in rheumatoid arthritis and, now, osteoarthritis," commented Samuel Wickline, MD, Altamira Therapeutics Chief Scientific Officer." One of the key features of OligoPhore is the targeted delivery to inflamed tissues, making it particularly well suited for the treatment of arthritis with oligonucleotides, both in terms of efficacy and safety.

"Osteoarthritis can have a significantly detrimental impact on the well-being and quality of life of patients, often over many years or even decades, yet there is still no disease-modifying treatment available, Dr. Wickline added. While our AM-411 program is targeting rheumatoid arthritis, we envision extending its potential use to osteoarthritis as well."

Earlier this week, the Company announced the initiation of AM-411, a development program based on its proprietary OligoPhore delivery platform and siRNA targeting NF-B, for a novel generation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) therapeutics.

Osteoarthritis to become one of the most prevalent diseases in the coming decades

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that can affect the many tissues of the joint.1 It can degrade cartilage, change bone shape and cause inflammation, resulting in pain, stiffness and loss of mobility. OA can affect any joint, but typically affects hands, knees, hips, lower back and neck. Its signs and symptoms typically show up more often in individuals over age 50, but OA can affect much younger people, too, especially those who have had a prior joint injury. There is no cure for OA, but there are ways to manage OA to minimize pain, continue physical activities, maintain a good quality of life and remain mobile.

OA is by far the most common form of arthritis, affecting more than 32.5 million adults in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The global prevalence of OA is increasing and the burden of the disease will rise.2 The medical cost of osteoarthritis in various high-income countries has been estimated to account for between 1% and 2.5% of the gross domestic product of these countries, with hip and knee joint replacements representing the major proportion of these health-care costs.

About International Journal of Oral Science

The International Journal of Oral Science seeks to publish all aspects of oral science and interdisciplinary fields, including basic, applied and clinical research. The Journal publishes peer-reviewed articles that describe new research results and review articles that provide succinct summaries of an area in oral science. The International Journal of Oral Science is published by Springer Nature. For more information, visit:https://www.nature.com/ijos/aims

About OligoPhore

OligoPhore is a versatile platform for safe and effective delivery of oligonucleotides such as siRNA (small interfering ribonucleic acid) into target cells. It is based on a proprietary 21-amino acid peptide that can engage any type of RNA in rapid self-assembly into a polyplex. The polyplex has a size, charge, and other physical features that allow it to escape hepatic clearance and thus to reach other target tissues than the liver. OligoPhore protects the RNA payload from degradation in the circulation and allows for rapid cellular uptake, while enabling pH-dependent nucleotide endosomal escape and cytoplasmic delivery. Effective delivery and positive treatment outcomes have been demonstrated in more than 10 murine models of disease for targets in the NF-B family, various members of the ETS transcription factor family, and targets in the JNK and TAM pathways.

About Altamira Therapeutics

Altamira Therapeutics (NASDAQ:CYTO) is dedicated to developing therapeutics that address important unmet medical needs. The Company is currently active in three areas: the development of RNA therapeutics for extrahepatic therapeutic targets (OligoPhore / SemaPhore platforms; preclinical), nasal sprays for protection against airborne allergens and, where approved, viruses (Bentrio; commercial) or for the treatment of vertigo (AM-125; Phase 2), and the development of therapeutics for intratympanic treatment of tinnitus or hearing loss (Keyzilen and Sonsuvi; Phase 3). Founded in 2003, it is headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda, with its main operations in Basel, Switzerland. For more information, visit:https://altamiratherapeutics.com/

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain statements that constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements are statements other than historical facts and may include statements that address future operating, financial or business performance or Altamira Therapeutics' strategies or expectations. In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as "may", "might", "will", "should", "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "estimates", "predicts", "projects", "potential", "outlook" or "continue", or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs and involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, developments and business decisions to differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the approval and timing of commercialization of AM-301, Altamira Therapeutics' need for and ability to raise substantial additional funding to continue the development of its product candidates, the timing and conduct of clinical trials of Altamira Therapeutics' product candidates, the clinical utility of Altamira Therapeutics' product candidates, the timing or likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals, Altamira Therapeutics' intellectual property position and Altamira Therapeutics' financial position, including the impact of any future acquisitions, dispositions, partnerships, license transactions or changes to Altamira Therapeutics' capital structure, including future securities offerings. These risks and uncertainties also include, but are not limited to, those described under the caption "Risk Factors" in Altamira Therapeutics' Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2021, and in Altamira Therapeutics' other filings with the SEC, which are available free of charge on the Securities Exchange Commission's website at:www.sec.gov. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated. All forward-looking statements and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to Altamira Therapeutics or to persons acting on behalf of Altamira Therapeutics are expressly qualified in their entirety by reference to these risks and uncertainties. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and Altamira Therapeutics does not undertake any obligation to update them in light of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable law.

CONTACTInvestors@altamiratherapeutics.com 800-460-0183

1https://www.arthritis.org/diseases/osteoarthritis

2 Hunter DJ & Bierma-Zeinstra S (2019), Osteoarthritis, Lancet 393:1745-59.

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Altamira Therapeutics Delivery Platform with siRNA Shown to be Effective Treatment for Osteoarthritis as Published in Peer-Reviewed Journal - BioSpace

Tamara Watkins was in her late twenties when she started to get severe back pain and headaches.

The young mother-of-three went to her GP, who ordered an x-ray, but the image showed nothing unusual.

Unsure what was wrong, her GP referred her to an osteopath in the hope that regular massage sessions would help her get on top of the chronic pain.

But Watkins' symptoms just kept getting worse.

"I remember going to the osteo and being on her table and just vomiting uncontrollably," Watkins told 9news.com.au.

"I was getting extreme headaches and tingling down my arm and into my leg."

Just turning her neck could induce sudden feelings of nausea, Watkins said.

Concerned, Watkins' osteopath pushed her to get more tests done.

An MRI revealed the cause of her debilitating pain - a bone spur on her spine brought on by osteoarthritis.

"It looked like a bird's beak and it was growing into my spine," she said.

"If it hadn't been picked up it could have resulted in more permanent damage."

Watkins needed high-risk surgery to remove the spur and replace a crushed disc.

"It took three years to find a surgeon that would operate," she said.

Doctors also gave Watkins some confronting news.

"The saddest part was when the doctors advised me against having any more children because of my condition," she said.

Watkins said she was also shocked to be diagnosed with arthritis at the age of 28.

"I didn't actually think of it as arthritis, because when you think of arthritis you think of 80 year-old-men who are crippled with it.

"I didn't really put myself into that category."

Watkins, who is now 46, went on to have a successful surgery.

She also defied the odds by having another healthy child, who is now six years old.

While she still experiences some pain due to her osteoarthritis, Watkins said the symptoms had become manageable with the help of regular treatments with her osteopath.

Data from the 2021 Census shows that about 2.2 million Australians are now living with arthritis.

This makes arthritis the second-most common long-term health condition, after issues relating to mental health.

Almost one in five Aussies said their pain would have to be so bad that they were unable to move before seeking the help of a health professional.

Osteopathy Australia president Dr Michelle Funder said it was a misconception that having arthritis meant you had to suffer through severe pain.

"Although there is no cure for arthritis, osteopathy may help to reduce pain, ease swelling and improve mobility and range of joint movement," Funder said.

"Early diagnosis and improving a person's lifestyle are key to preventing further degeneration, and to help them perform daily activities more easily."

Contact reporter Emily McPherson at empcherson@nine.com.au.

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Tamara was just 28 when she was diagnosed with a condition affecting 2.2 million Australians - 9News

Arthritis causes pain, swelling and inflammation of one or multiple joints. Its not a single disease but an umbrella term used to refer to a wide array of conditions. Its one of the most widespread health conditions in the nation.

There are more than 100 types of arthritis, of which osteoarthritis is the most common. Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease, occurs over time due to wear and tear of cartilage that protects the ends of the bones. Although osteoarthritis can damage any joint, the disorder most commonly affects joints in the hands, knees, hips and spine.

There are also inflammatory forms, such as rheumatoid arthritis; psoriatic arthritis; and the arthritis associated with ankylosing spondylitis, lupus and gout. In those cases, inflammation is caused by an overactive immune system that attacks connective tissues. (Learn more about autoinflammatory arthritis.)

In the United States, an estimated58.5 million individuals are gripped with arthritis the leading cause of disability. More than 50% of this population fall in the working age group (18 to 64 years).

Despite how common this condition is, there are several myths that persist, making it confusing for patients seeking to relieve their symptoms and to improve their quality of life. This article aims at debunking these long-held myths and getting your facts straight!

Fact:Arthritis is more common in older adults, but there are several types that can affect both children and young adults.

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (also known as childhood arthritis or juvenile rheumatoid arthritis) is the most common type of arthritis among children and can cause permanent physical damage to joints. According to Cleveland Clinic, one in 1,000 children (or about 300,000 children in the U.S.) are affected.

Fact: There are many conditions such as tendonitis,bursitis and other soft-tissue injuries that cause joint pain and have a pain profile similar to that of arthritis. Hence, it is of utmost importance to get an accurate medical diagnosis, preferably by a rheumatologist, before treating any kind of joint pain.

Fact: False! Diagnosing and treating arthritis at its early stage not only can save your joints but also save you from damage to vital organs. Certain forms, such as rheumatoid arthritis, can damage skin, eyes, lungs, blood vessels, the brain and the heart. It is important to determine which type of arthritis you have right away, because treatment varies and starting the correct treatment can be the key to preventing permanent damage.

Fact: There currently isnt a cure for arthritis. However, treatment focuses on relieving symptoms and improving joint function. Working with an arthritis expert can help.

Depending upon the type of arthritis, certain medications can reduce pain and inflammation. Osteoarthritis often is treated with pain-reducing medications, physical activity, weight loss (if the person is overweight) and self-management education.(Learn more about treatment.) Inflammatory disorders are treated with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs that suppress the immune system.

Heat and cold treatment and assistive devices, such as walkers, braces and gloves, also can help.

Fact: Exercise can help increase strength, motion and flexibility and reduce pain and swelling. Inactivity can cause the symptoms to worsen, thus increasing both pain and swelling. Before you enroll in any exercise program, it is also important to know what your limits are and what level of exercise you can benefit from.

Read more:
Debunking common myths about arthritis - ASBMB Today

New findings from the ongoing Drug Repurposing for Effective Alzheimers Medicines (DREAM) study suggest that certain rheumatoid arthritis drugs may lower incidences of Alzheimers disease and related dementias in people with cardiovascular disease. While the findings do not support the broad use of these drugs for treating Alzheimers and related dementias, the results may point to a promising precision-medicine approach in specific groups of people at risk for developing these diseases.

The research was published in JAMA Network Open and led by NIA scientists in collaboration with researchers at Harvard Medical School, Boston; Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey; and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore.

Discovering new drug targets in Alzheimers and related dementias is crucial for meeting the enormous public health challenge of these diseases. Prior studies on whether approved rheumatoid arthritis drugs lower the risk of developing dementia have produced mixed results. The ongoing NIA DREAM study previously identified several FDA-approved drugs that are being tested as candidate treatments for Alzheimers and related dementias.

In this study, researchers analyzed data in Medicare claims from more than 22,000 people aged 65 years and older from 2007 to 2017, looking at whether those with rheumatoid arthritis who took one of three different classes of arthritis drugs were protected from dementia.

Researchers found that there were no statistically significant associations with lowered dementia risk except among those with cardiovascular disease who were treated with one class of arthritis drugs called TNF inhibitors. These inhibitors suppress the immune system by blocking the activity of TNF, which is a substance in the body that can cause inflammation and lead to immune-system diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis. Moreover, a recent large Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) discovered genetic risk variants related to TNF signaling to be associated with the risk of Alzheimers, suggesting that abnormalities in this pathway may be causally related to the disease. Together, these findings demonstrate the importance of generating valid, actionable evidence on drug repurposing using routine health care data.

An important limitation is that the development of Alzheimers and related dementias may begin many years before a clinical diagnosis. Given this, longer periods of treatment and/or observation may be needed to draw firmer conclusions about the null findings. Additionally, although the researchers strived to address limitations related to identifying Alzheimers and related dementias in health care claims through their careful study design, there remains a possibility of bias from outcome misclassification.

This research was supported by NIA Intramural Research Program project 1ZIAAG000436-01.

These activities relate to NIAs AD+ADRD Milestone 7.B, Initiate research programs for translational bioinformatics and network pharmacology to support rational drug repositioning and combination therapy from discovery through clinical development.

References: Desai R, et al. Comparative Risk of Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementia Among Medicare Beneficiaries With Rheumatoid Arthritis Treated With Targeted Diseases-Modifying Antirheumatic Agents. JAMA Network Open. 2022;5(4):e226567. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.6567.

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Some arthritis drugs may reduce Alzheimer's and related dementias risk in those with heart disease - National Institute on Aging

HAUPPAGE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--United Rheumatology, the pre-eminent rheumatology care management organization known for empowering rheumatologists to advance the standard of care across the country, today announces a new project with its longstanding partner, CreakyJoints, the international digital community for millions of arthritis patients and caregivers who seek education, support, advocacy, and patient-centered research. CreakyJoints is part of the non-profit Global Healthy Living Foundation. Together, the two organizations launched the Rheumatoid Arthritis Wellness Center to provide rheumatologists with a trusted place to refer patients for educational information and tools to incorporate into their rheumatoid arthritis (RA) management strategy post-appointment.

The Rheumatoid Arthritis Wellness Center digital resources were developed in consultation with health care professionals and the CreakyJoints patient community and overseen by the medical leadership of United Rheumatology. Key topics included in the wellness center include managing fatigue, sleep, exercise, and nutrition as well as recommendations for managing the overall mental and emotional aspects of living with a chronic disease. United Rheumatology and CreakyJoints will expand the center later this year to include related rheumatic conditions.

Our United Rheumatology rheumatologists understand that living with RA can be hard and coping with RA symptoms like pain and fatigue often requires more than just medication. Thats why we were inspired to collaborate with CreakyJoints to create a centralized, reliable resource for our patients that will start them on the path of understanding their disease and committing to lifelong management, said Dr. Andrew Concoff, Chief Medical Officer, United Rheumatology.

Too often after their rheumatology appointment, patients go home and then consult Dr. Google, to answer their questions, but that can be problematic. The Rheumatoid Arthritis Wellness Center allows our patient community to easily access trusted, patient-friendly information and resources and to connect with the arthritis community, added Dr. Concoff.

Finding Community and Support

The Rheumatoid Arthritis Wellness Center also directs people living with RA to places where they can find peer support, both online and in-person. CreakyJoints offers online support via multiple social media platforms and free access to the ArthritisPower Research Registry, which already includes more than 35,000 consented members who use the phone or desktop application to track their experience of symptoms, treatments, and complementary therapies with the added option of participating in voluntary research studies.

By working together, as a leading patient organization and a leading specialty care network, we are helping patients thrive before, during, and after their rheumatologist visits. Just as its unthinkable to travel somewhere new without GPS navigation, everyone living with RA needs a well-mapped wellness plan that can be personalized and centered around them. Thats exactly what this program was designed to do, said Seth Ginsberg, Co-founder and President of the Global Healthy Living Foundation and CreakyJoints.

Visit the Rheumatoid Arthritis Wellness Center today.

About CreakyJoints

CreakyJoints is an international digital community for millions of arthritis patients and caregivers who seek education, support, advocacy, and patient-centered research. We represent patients in English, Spanish, and French through our popular social media channels, our websites, and the 50-State Network, which includes more than 1,700 trained volunteer patient, caregiver, and provider health care activists.

Part of the Global Healthy Living Foundation, CreakyJoints also has a patient-reported outcomes registry called ArthritisPower (ArthritisPower.org), which includes tens of thousands of consented arthritis patients who track their disease while volunteering to participate in longitudinal and observational peer-reviewed research. In addition to online and downloadable educational resources, CreakyJoints publishes many arthritis and chronic disease podcast series, available on all major streaming platforms, that provide both patient and provider perspectives. It also hosts PainSpot (PainSpot.org), a digital risk-assessment tool for musculoskeletal conditions and injuries, and eRheum (eRheum.org), for telehealth and virtual-care support. All programming is free, always. For more information, visit CreakyJoints.org.

About United Rheumatology: United Rheumatology represents and supports over 650 community-based rheumatologists in 39 states. It does not own or operate rheumatology practices; the practices are all independent. The Company has established a comprehensive portfolio of physician, patient, and health plan payor offerings. Driven by the largest rheumatology electronic medical records clinical database in the U.S., United Rheumatology supports an unparalleled platform for jointly developed coordinated care solutions.

For more information visit https://unitedrheumatology.com/.Or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook.

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United Rheumatology and CreakyJoints Launch the Rheumatoid Arthritis Wellness Center - Business Wire

Peng Thim Fan, MD, FACP, is a clinical professor of rheumatologyat David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. He also serves as a staff rheumatologist for VA Greater Los Angeles Health Care System.

During the first day of Pri-Med West 2022in Anaheim, Fan's presentation featured 3 case studies in rheumatic disease with the first focusing on osteoarthritis and the second on rheumatoid arthritis. The third case study falls on a different spectrum by examining a patient with a single swollen joint.

In an interview, he explained that infection is always a concern when a patient presents with monoarthritis. And with the COVID-19 pandemic, a new discussion on rheumatic diease and infection has surfacedone that is constantly evolving.

"There are some emerging studies showing that having an autoimmune background not only may make your illness worse, but that the risks of long COVID, the so-called long-haul syndrome, may actually be higher when you have autoimmune background and auto antibodies, and so on," Fan said.

While there are many uncertainties surrounding the novel coronavirus, the vaccine has offered substantial protection for patients with rheumatic disease, he said. Initially, there was concern regarding the effectiveness of the vaccine in this population because of the use of immunosuppressant treatments.

"People on immunosuppressive still able to mount a pretty good response to the vaccine and get protected," Fan said. "Interestingly, some of the drugs that we don't really think are important, happen to be important."

The example he gave was methotrexate, which isn't an immunosuppressant. However, people who take it should talk with their doctor about pausing use of the medication prior to receiving the vaccine because it can reduce the efficacy, Fan explained.

"We're starting to see some cases of reactive arthritis after COVID-19 infection and also after vaccination," he said. "So, that's something to watch out for. So, there is an evolving story."

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Peng Thim Fan, MD: Reactive Arthritis and Long Covid-19 - MD Magazine

An ad hoc committee has been appointed to undertake a routine review of the UNC Thurston Arthritis Research Center and the leadership of Director Richard F. Loeser, Jr., MD, and Joseph P. Archie, Jr., Eminent Professor of Medicine. The review is a standard procedure of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and will take place on June 21, 2022.

An ad hoc committee has been appointed to undertake a routine review of the UNC Thurston Arthritis Research Center and the leadership of Director Richard F. Loeser, Jr., MD, and Joseph P. Archie, Jr., Eminent Professor of Medicine.

The review is a standard procedure of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and will take place on June 21, 2022.

The review committee invites your participation and input:

The deadline to request time on the review committee agenda, or to share written comments, is June 10, 2022.

Note that North Carolina law requires that any written materials developed or received by the committee during the review may be made available to the person reviewed upon request. All requests from the person reviewed will be handled by the Legal Department and any identifying information will be redacted prior to release of the material.

Members of the Review Committee

Mark Zylka, PhD Review Committee Chair, Distinguished Professor, Cell Biology and Physiology

Deborah Givens, PT, DPT, PhD, FAPTA Distinguished Professor, Department of Allied Sciences, Division of Physical Therapy

Corrine Keet, MD, PhD Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology

Yisong Wan, PhD Professor, Department of Microbiology & Immunology

Roland Tisch, PhD Professor, Department of Microbiology & Immunology

Shannelle Campbell, MD, MPH, FACS Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery

Adesola Akinkuotu, MD Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Pediatric Surgery

James Sanders, MD Distinguished Professor, Chair, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

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Five-Year Review of UNC Thurston Arthritis Research Center, Loeser and Archie | Newsroom - UNC Health and UNC School of Medicine

ReportLinker

Global Rheumatoid Arthritis Drugs Market 2022-2026 The analyst has been monitoring the rheumatoid arthritis drugs market and it is poised to grow by $ 14. 90 bn during 2022-2026, accelerating at a CAGR of 7.

New York, May 03, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Global Rheumatoid Arthritis Drugs Market 2022-2026" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05638948/?utm_source=GNW 73% during the forecast period. Our report on the rheumatoid arthritis drugs market provides a holistic analysis, market size and forecast, trends, growth drivers, and challenges, as well as vendor analysis covering around 25 vendors.The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current global market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. The market is driven by unmet needs for safer biologics for RA, the availability of improved diagnostic modalities, and the need for affordable biologics for RA.The rheumatoid arthritis drugs market analysis includes the type segment and geographic landscape.

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By Geography Europe North America Asia Rest of World (ROW)

This study identifies the high cost of RA drugs as one of the prime reasons driving the rheumatoid arthritis drugs market growth during the next few years. Also, the use of biologics/biosimilars for the treatment of RA and the use of gene therapy for RA treatment will lead to sizable demand in the market.

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This robust vendor analysis is designed to help clients improve their market position, and in line with this, this report provides a detailed analysis of several leading rheumatoid arthritis drugs market vendors that include AbbVie Inc., Amgen Inc., Astellas Pharma Inc., Bristol Myers Squibb Co., Cyxone AB, Eli Lilly and Co., F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd., Galmed Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Genor BioPharma Holding Ltd., Gilead Sciences Inc., GlaxoSmithKline Plc, Johnson and Johnson, Kangstem Biotech Co. Ltd., Novartis AG, Oryn Therapeutics, Pfizer Inc., Sanofi, Sorrento Therapeutics Inc., Taisho Pharmaceutical Holdings Co. Ltd., and UCB SA. Also, the rheumatoid arthritis drugs market analysis report includes information on upcoming trends and challenges that will influence market growth. This is to help companies strategize and leverage all forthcoming growth opportunities.The study was conducted using an objective combination of primary and secondary information including inputs from key participants in the industry. The report contains a comprehensive market and vendor landscape in addition to an analysis of the key vendors.

The analyst presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources by an analysis of key parameters such as profit, pricing, competition, and promotions. It presents various market facets by identifying the key industry influencers. The data presented is comprehensive, reliable, and a result of extensive research - both primary and secondary. Technavios market research reports provide a complete competitive landscape and an in-depth vendor selection methodology and analysis using qualitative and quantitative research to forecast the accurate market growth.Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05638948/?utm_source=GNW

About ReportlinkerReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.

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The Global Rheumatoid Arthritis Drugs Market is expected to grow by $ 14.90 bn during 2022-2026, accelerating at a CAGR of 7.73% during the forecast...

Pain in the big toe may be more common than you think. The big toe is the area of the foot most commonly affected by arthritis, which is a common source of pain and stiffness in a joint.

We end up seeing it frequently, said Dr. Alejandro Miranda, an orthopedic surgeon in Steamboat Springs and a member of the medical staff at UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center. Arthritis technically means joint inflammation or pain, but we often think of it as wear and tear of the joint surface. In the big toe, it is medically diagnosed as hallux rigidus.

Since that wear and tear happens naturally over time, arthritis of the big toe usually impacts older patients. But younger patients arent immune, as the issue can be brought on by trauma or stress to the joint, and genetics.

Not too uncommonly we will see people in their 30s present with arthritis of the big toe, Miranda said. It may be that they were more susceptible or that they somehow traumatized that joint.

Symptoms include pain, stiffness and swelling.

In the early stages, people may feel their footwear applies more pressure than it used to. As the joint stiffens, mobility lessens and it becomes harder to put on boots or shoes, Miranda said. Another early sign is pain with physical activity.

Initial treatment options include wearing spacious shoes to accommodate the enlarged joint and using stiffer shoes or insoles. Taping techniques can also be used so the affected joint doesnt have as much range of motion.

Youre more or less splinting the injured joint, and because of that, a lot of people will feel some relief, Miranda said.

Oral and topical anti-inflammatories, as well as physical therapy, may also help with pain.

Exercises that heavily load the toe, such as weighted lunges and burpees, may exacerbate the issue, so Miranda encourages patients to tailor their workouts accordingly.

If those initial efforts dont help, a steroid injection in the toe, done under X-ray guidance to ensure the steroid gets into the joint, can help quiet down the joint space and alleviate pain. But eventually, surgery may be considered if nonoperative treatments fail.

Once conservative treatments stop taking effect and as the pain becomes more limiting, we start thinking about surgical options, Miranda said. The goal is always to find whats right for each individual to get them back to doing what they like to do.

In general, three types of surgery may be considered: bone spurs that impinge the joint and cause pain can be shaved away; synthetic implants or tissue can be interposed in the joint to restore joint spacing; and finally, the joint can be fused.

Fusing the joint converts a diseased and painful stiff joint into a painless stiff joint, Miranda said. For the person who has debilitating pain and symptoms in which their joint is stiffened already, youre helping them by making it painless.

Patients may worry that fusing the joint will make it harder to return to activities, but in fact, people are still able to hike, run, ski and do labor-intensive jobs.

Certainly, some modifications need to be made some people end up selecting different footwear or different types of boots but most people do get back to most of their activities without pain, Miranda said.

Miranda encourages people who are having pain and stiffness in the big toe to seek an evaluation.

Arthritis is only one of the diagnoses that causes pain in the toe. Seeking an evaluation can shed light on the source of pain, and help determine next steps are for pain relief, Miranda said.

Susan Cunningham writes for UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center. She can be reached at cunninghamsbc@gmail.com.

Link:
Monday Medical: Addressing arthritis of the big toe - Steamboat Pilot & Today

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See the article here:
Machine learning-based prediction of relapse in rheumatoid arthritis patients using data on ultrasound examination and blood test | Scientific Reports...

Along with pain and aching in one or more joints, chronic arthritis can cause the following specific symptoms:

In addition to these, individuals can suffer from more general symptoms. These can include fatigue, a high temperature, sweating, loss of appetite and weight loss. Dry eyes and chest pain can also be caused by rheumatoid arthritis due to inflammation spreading around the body.

It is advised that when suffering from any of the above symptoms for a prolonged period of time, individuals should seek medical advice. When seeing a GP, individuals will have multiple tests, physical examinations or scans to achieve a correct diagnosis.

The NHS also explains that genetics also may play a part in who is affected by the condition. There is some evidence to suggest that rheumatoid arthritis can run in families, although the risk of inheriting it is thought to be low, as genes are only thought to play a small role in the condition.

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Pope Francis restricted to wheelchair due to suspected chronic arthritis - symptoms - Express

This article was originally published here

Telemed J E Health. 2022 May 3. doi: 10.1089/tmj.2022.0078. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The objectives of this study were to compare the quality-of-care and compliance with medical record regulations between in-person consultations (QIP and CIP) and telephone consultations (QTP and CTP), from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) outpatients, during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to explore the impact of the consultation modality on the treatment. Methods: Data from 324 medical notes corresponding to rheumatic consultations between July and December 2020 were abstracted. Notes were selected considering a stratified (in-person and telephone consultations) random sampling strategy. QIP, CIP, QTP, and CTP were scored based on prespecified criteria as percentages, where higher numbers translated into better standards. Logistic regression analysis investigated the association between the consultation modality and the treatment recommendation (dependent variable). Results: There were 208 (64.2%) medical notes related to in-person consultations and 114 (35.2%) to telephone consultations. Overall, medical notes corresponded to middle-aged women with long-standing disease. QIP was superior to QTP (median, interquartile range): 60% (60-75%) versus 50% (25-60%), p 0.001, and differences were related to disease activity and prognosis documentation (81.3% vs. 34.5% and 55.8% vs. 33.6%, respectively, p 0.001) and the prolonged prescription of glucocorticoids with a documented management plan (58.5% vs. 30.4%, p = 0.045). Meanwhile, CIP and CTP were similar. Telephone consultation was a significant risk factor for no changes in the treatment recommendation (odds ratio: 2.113, 95% confidence interval: 1.284-3.479, p = 0.003), and results were consistent in the 142 medical notes with documented absence of disease activity. Conclusions: In the clinical context of RA, the quality-of-care provided by telephone consultations is below the standard of care and impacts the treatment.

PMID:35506921 | DOI:10.1089/tmj.2022.0078

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Comparison of Teleconsultations and In-Person Consultations from Outpatients with Rheumatoid Arthritis, During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Internal...

This article was originally published here

RMD Open. 2022 May;8(1):e002031. doi: 10.1136/rmdopen-2021-002031.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Patient care can vary substantially by country. The objective was to explore differences in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) across countries for disease activity, impact and treatments.

METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis of 13 countries from the Remission/Flare in PsA study (NCT03119805) of consecutive adult patients with definite PsA was performed. Countries were classified into tertiles by gross domestic product (GDP)/capita. Disease activity (Disease Activity in PsA, DAPSA and Minimal Disease Activity, MDA) and their components, disease impact (patient-reported outcomes) and biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) were analysed per country and compared between the three tertiles of GDP/capita by parametric and non-parametric tests. We also explored the percentage of patients with significant disease activity (DAPSA >14) and no ongoing bDMARD prescription.

RESULTS: In 439 patients (50.6% male, mean age 52.3 years, mean disease duration 10.1 years), disease activity and disease impact were higher in the lowest GDP/capita countries. DAPSA remission and MDA were attained in the lowest tertile in 7.0% and 18.4% patients, vs 29.1% and 49.5% in the middle tertile and 16.8% and 41.3% in the high tertile, respectively (all p<0.001). bDMARDs use was similar in the tertiles (overall mean 61%). The overall rate of patients with DAPSA >14 and no bDMARDs was 18.5%, and was higher in lower GDP/capita countries (p=0.004).

CONCLUSION: PsA patients from countries with the lowest GDP/capita, despite similar use of bDMARDs, were more likely to have high disease activity and worse disease impact. There is a need for more equity in healthcare.

PMID:35523519 | DOI:10.1136/rmdopen-2021-002031

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Disparities in healthcare in psoriatic arthritis: an analysis of 439 patients from 13 countries - DocWire News

TUESDAY, Dec. 21, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Cortisone injections have gotten a bad rap in recent years as a treatment for arthritis pain, because steroids are known to damage cartilage and could potentially cause the joint to further deteriorate.

But a new study suggests that if used wisely, cortisone shots are as safe as another type of injection used to treat knee arthritis.

Occasional cortisone shots don't appear to cause knees to deteriorate any faster than injections of hyaluronic acid, a substance injected to lubricate joints stiffened by arthritis, the researchers said.

"Knee replacement rates were, if anything, a little bit less in the group that got the cortisone injections," said senior researcher Dr. David Felson, a professor of medicine and epidemiology at Boston University School of Medicine.

However, Felson added that the study only looked at people who'd gotten infrequent cortisone shots to their knee, and shouldn't be interpreted as giving the green light to regular injections for years to come.

"What we know from the study that we can trust is that a few cortisone injections won't really cause much trouble," Felson said. "It's conceivable that repeated injections every three months for years won't cause any trouble, but you can't say that."

Steroids are known to be toxic to cartilage, the connective tissue that keeps your bones from rubbing against each other, explained Dr. Melissa Leber, director of the Emergency Department's Division of Sports Medicine in the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City.

"If you use it enough, it will damage the cartilage," said Leber, who had no role in the study.

A 2019 study reported a threefold increased risk of knee arthritis progression in people who'd received repeated cortisone injections, compared with people who'd never gotten the shot, Felson and his colleagues said in background notes.

Comparing two types of shots

However, no clinical trials had ever compared the two most common types of knee arthritis injections, cortisone jabs and hyaluronic acid shots, Felson said.

The two types of shots do different things in the joint, and are sometimes used in combination, Leber said.

Cortisone shots are anti-inflammatory and help reduce pain, while hyaluronic acid injections are like a gel that provides lubrication in the ailing joint.

"You're injecting WD40 almost into the knee. That acts to allow smoother gliding in the joint," Leber explained.

Unlike cortisone, hyaluronic acid gel isn't harmful to cartilage.

The latest study looked at nearly 800 people with knee arthritis, of whom 4 out of 5 reported getting cortisone shots for their knee pain. The rest had reported receiving hyaluronic acid injections.

After seven years of follow-up, researchers found that those who got steroid injections had no greater cartilage loss than those treated with hyaluronic acid.

In fact, people who got cortisone shots were about 25% less likely to need a total knee replacement than those who got hyaluronic acid.

The message to knee arthritis patients regarding cortisone shots is simple, Felson said: "Don't be scared."

"There's nothing bad that's going to happen with one shot or even a few shots," Felson said. "People should be reassured. They shouldnt avoid getting an effective treatment."

Wise use is crucial

The findings bolster the approach orthopedic specialists already take in handing out cortisone shots to treat knee arthritis, Leber said.

"If someone already has a ton of damage to the cartilage in their knee, a lot of arthritis, then we don't worry as much about using a steroid to help with pain control because they already have a lot of arthritis in the knee," Leber said. "Damaging it a touch more just to give them good pain control is a very minor thing. It's not as risky.

"In someone who's young, in their 20s to 40s, who has very little cartilage damage but has pain, we try to use it sparingly," she continued. "Would you use them on occasion in a young person? Yes. That's only as a one-time thing. You don't want to use it repetitively.

"Steroid is bad for cartilage, but that doesn't mean it's bad for every patient," Leber concluded. "It's a case-by-case situation."

Regardless, you wouldn't expect any patient to receive frequent cortisone injections, whatever their condition, added Dr. Jeffrey Schildhorn, an orthopedic surgeon with Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.

"If you give someone a shot in January and they come back in April saying they want another one, and they come back in August and want another one, how well are they working?" said Schildhorn, who was not part of the study. "They're not working, if you're only getting two or three months of relief."

The new study was published recently in the journal Arthritis and Rheumatology.

More information

The Cleveland Clinic has more about knee arthritis.

SOURCES: David Felson, MD, professor, medicine and epidemiology, Boston University; Melissa Leber, MD, director, Emergency Department's Division of Sports Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City; Jeffrey Schildhorn, MD, orthopedic surgeon, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York City; Arthritis and Rheumatology, Dec. 1, 2021

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Are Cortisone Injections Good or Bad for Arthritic Knees? - HealthDay News

Arthritis is not a single disease, but instead a way of referring to joint pain or joint disease. There are more than 100 types of arthritis and related conditions. The main symptoms of arthritis are joint pain and stiffness, which typically worsen with age. Nonetheless, people of all ages can suffer from the health issue, including children. There are some modifiable risk factors that may help stave off the condition.

The Arthritis Foundation of Asia says that certain foods have been shown to fight inflammation, strengthen bones and boost the immune system.

The organisation says that watermelon is a fruit with anti-inflammatory action.

It notes that it is high in the carotenoid beta-cryptoxanthin, which can reduce the risk of rheumatoid arthritis.

The Arthritis Foundation notes that blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, cranberries and raspberries may all also help with arthritis symptoms.

The NHS encourages those living with arthritis to eat a healthy and balanced diet and maintain a healthy weight. Diets should consist of a variety of foods from all five food groups.

It's very important to eat a healthy, balanced diet if you have arthritis. Eating healthily will give you all the nutrients you need and help you maintain a healthy weight, says the NHS.

These are fruit and vegetables, starchy foods, and meat, fish, eggs and beans.The health body adds that you should include milk and dairy foods, and foods containing fat and sugar.

There are also a number of factors which might make inflammation and pain worse.

DON'T MISS:

University Health says that incorporating foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, protein and fibre into your diet, may help reduce joint pain and inflammation.

Some foods can actually trigger inflammation, so if you have an arthritis diagnosis it may be worth cutting these down in your diet.

It adds: On the other hand, there are certain foods you may want to avoid. Processed foods, food with added sugars and red meats may cause inflammation.

It suggests avoiding ice cream, fast food, cakes, bread and biscuits, as well as beef and pork.

Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the two most common types of arthritis.

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis in the UK, affecting around eight million people, while rheumatoid arthritis affects more than 400,000 people.

Rheumatoid arthritis often starts when a person is between 40 and 50 years old, and women are three times more likely to be affected than men.

The main goals of arthritis treatments are to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life.

The NHS explains that living with arthritis can sometimes mean carrying out everyday tasks that can often be painful and difficult.

Nonetheless, there are a number of factors that can ease pain. Treatment for rheumatoid arthritis aims to slow the condition's progress and minimise joint inflammation.

If you notice symptoms or are concerned about arthritis it is important to speak to your GP.

If the doctor suspects arthritis they will perform a range of tests to check the range of motion in your joints.

Originally posted here:
Arthritis: The fruit 'with anti-inflammatory action' - other foods to include in your diet - Daily Express

Psoriasis is found in about 2.2% of people in the United States, or about 7.5 million individuals. Research shows that psoriatic arthritis (PsA) appears in at least 30% of those with psoriasis. A study published within the last eight years in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology even estimated that 36% of Americans with psoriasis have been diagnosed with PsA.

A chronic auto immune disease, psoriasis is caused by an accumulation of skin cells. This occurs because skin cells are created more rapidly than normal. This is caused by an overactive immune system. Usually, skin cells develop and are discarded by the body over a period of about one month. With psoriasis, the process takes only three to four days and the skin cells do not shed but cluster on the skins surface. Psoriasis may develop on any area of the body. Although it is usually diagnosed in adults, it can occur in all age groups. It is not contagious.

Although psoriatic arthritis affects some with psoriasis, it is possible that it may appear years after the psoriasis diagnosis. As with rheumatoid arthritis, it causes joint pain but PsA tends to affect a smaller number of joints. In some cases, the joint pain may begin around the time the skin shows signs of psoriasis. PsA is usually diagnosed with among adults between ages thirty and fifty-five but it can develop in any age group.

Symptoms

Several common areas have been identified for PsA. The include fingers and toes, hands and feet and the lower back and spine. In some cases, arthritis mutilans may develop. This severe condition may destroy the small bones in the hands. Deformed hands may result, leading to disability.

Symptoms of PsA may appear for a time and then subside. They include a feeling in the joints of pain and warmth and a noticeable swelling. The swelling can appear in fingers and toes. Additionally, pain may arise in the feet or lower back. With foot pain, PsA may occur at the point of attachment of tendons and ligaments to the bone. When pain occurs in the back, inflammation begins at the joints between vertebrae and the spine and pelvis. This is called spondylitis.

Changes in the appearance of fingernails and toenails are symptoms of psoriatic arthritis. The nail may deteriorate or leave the nail bed and pits or dents may appear.

An inflammation in the middle layer of the eye may also occur. Blurred vision, redness or pain may result from this condition, called uveitis. Vision loss may result if it is left untreated.

The importance of early detection

Early diagnosis has been identified as an effective way to slow or reduce potential irreversible joint damage. While there is no cure for PsA, early detection can help doctors and patients plan an effective treatment regimen. If someone begins to experience symptoms, it is advisable that they consult their primary care physician, a dermatologist or rheumatologist. The earlier the diagnosis is established, the better chances are of slowing progression. Managing the symptoms can also begin sooner.

A diagnosis may involve a physical examination and questions about family and personal medical history. When consulting a physician or specialist, patients should notify them of joint pain especially if it lasts six to eight weeks. Any joint stiffness or swelling should also be reported. If signs of psoriasis are not visible, it may be necessary to test blood or uric acid levels or to employ imaging techniques such as X-Rays, MRI or ultrasound.

Management and treatment

Treatment to manage PsA and limit joint pain may include physical and occupational therapy. Additionally, medications designed to reduce inflammation and pain may be prescribed. Certain areas of the immune system can also be targeted by biologic response modifiers. Other medications can decrease the activity of inflammation-causing enzymes.

The relationship between PsA and other chronic or medical conditions considered comorbidities has also been established, connecting cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and other conditions to PsA. Additionally, inflammatory bowel disease, liver disease, depression, anxiety and fibromyalgia may have and impact or be affected by PsA. Diligent management of these conditions will also coincide with the independent management of PsA.

To learn more about a variety of health conditions, management and treatment, log on to vascularhealthclinics.org.

Omar P. Haqqani is the Chief of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery at Vascular Health Clinics in Midland. If you have questions about your cardiovascular health, including heart, blood pressure, stroke lifestyle and other issues, we want to answer them. Submit your questions to Dr. Haqqani by e-mail at questions@vascularhealthclinics.org.

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