Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Rheumatology for January 2010. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
Elevated Cytokines May Point to RA Before Disease Onset
FRIDAY, Jan. 29 (HealthDay News) -- Rheumatoid arthritis patients develop elevated levels of several cytokines, cytokine-related factors, and chemokines before onset of the disease, thus providing a potential opportunity for early identification, according to a study in the February issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism.
Relationship of Knee Abnormalities, Activity Studied
FRIDAY, Jan. 29 (HealthDay News) -- Middle-aged, asymptomatic individuals at risk of knee osteoarthritis commonly have cartilage and meniscus lesions, particularly if they are physically active, with patellar cartilage T2 values significantly correlated with the severity and grade of such lesions, according to a study in the February issue of Radiology.
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Clues Found to Pathogenesis of Lupus Kidney Complication
THURSDAY, Jan. 28 (HealthDay News) -- Infiltrating macrophages and interferons play a key role in the pathogenesis of glomerulonephritis, a complication of lupus characterized by abnormal growth of kidney cells leading to kidney damage, according to a study published online Jan. 26 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
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Pediatric Rheumatic Disease Mortality Rate Improving
THURSDAY, Jan. 28 (HealthDay News) -- The overall and disease-specific mortality rates for pediatric rheumatic disease patients have improved compared with the findings of earlier research, according to a report in the February issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism.
Increased Medicare Copayments Affect Care Usage
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 27 (HealthDay News) -- In elderly patients, increasing copayments for ambulatory care may result in adverse health consequences and increased health care spending, according to a study in the Jan. 28 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Hyaluronic Acid Found Helpful After Knee Arthroscopy
THURSDAY, Jan. 21 (HealthDay News) -- In patients with early osteoarthritis and a symptomatic meniscus tear, those who receive sodium hyaluronate injections after knee arthroscopy may experience more pain relief and functional recovery than those treated with arthroscopy alone, according to a study in the December issue of the American Journal of Orthopedics.
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Tylenol Recall in Effect Includes Several Other Drugs
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 20 (HealthDay News) -- McNeil Consumer Healthcare has recently expanded its voluntary recall of some over-the-counter drugs to include about 500 lots of products, according to officials from the Office of Compliance in the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Researchers Call for Reform of Opioid Prescription Practices
TUESDAY, Jan. 19 (HealthDay News) -- In patients receiving higher doses of prescribed opioids for chronic pain, overdoses are common, suggesting a need to reform prescribing practices, according to a study in the Jan. 19 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Rituximab May Adversely Affect Immune Function
THURSDAY, Jan. 14 (HealthDay News) -- In patients with rheumatoid arthritis, treatment with rituximab may adversely affect the response to vaccines, according to two studies in the January issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism.
Abstract - Bingham
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Abstract - van Assen
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Editorial
Ustekinumab Deemed Superior to Etanercept for Psoriasis
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 13 (HealthDay News) -- In patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis, treatment with ustekinumab at a dose of 45 or 90 mg is more effective than treatment with high-dose etanercept, according to a study in the Jan. 14 New England Journal of Medicine.
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Vitamin D Combined With Calcium May Cut Fracture Risk
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 13 (HealthDay News) -- A combination of vitamin D and calcium significantly reduces the risk of fractures, but supplementation with the vitamin alone does not, according to a study published online Jan. 12 in BMJ.
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Combination Approach Found to Aid Knee Osteoarthritis
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 13 (HealthDay News) -- Both strength training and self-management are helpful to treat middle-aged patients with early knee osteoarthritis, according to a study published in the Jan. 15 issue of Arthritis Care & Research.
Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections May Not Help Tendinopathy
TUESDAY, Jan. 12 (HealthDay News) -- Compared to placebo, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections do not significantly improve pain and activity level in patients with chronic tendinopathy of the Achilles tendon, according to a study in the Jan. 13 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Biomedical Research Funding Shows Decline in 2008
TUESDAY, Jan. 12 (HealthDay News) -- After increasing since 1994, annual funding for biomedical research topped out at $90.2 billion in 2007 and began to decline in 2008, according to a study in the Jan. 13 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Editorial
First Few Weeks Most Critical After Joint Replacement
MONDAY, Jan. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Patients undergoing hip or knee replacement have a small but increased risk of death that persists for about 26 days after surgery, according to a study in the Jan. 1 issue of the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
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Running Shoes May Increase Lower Joint Torques
FRIDAY, Jan. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Compared to running barefoot, running in running shoes substantially increases hip and knee torque, according to a study in the December issue of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation.
Childhood Mistreatment Linked to Issues With Migraine
THURSDAY, Jan. 7 (HealthDay News) -- A history of childhood mistreatment is common in individuals with migraine, and childhood abuse and neglect are associated with chronic headaches and likelihood of comorbid pain conditions, according to a series of studies in the January issue of Headache.
Abstract - Study 1
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Abstract - Study 3
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