Helix Exams: Arthritis

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Arthritis

Definition of Arthritis

Arthritis is the inflammation of a joint, usually accompanied by pain, swelling, and stiffness, and resulting from infection, trauma, degenerative changes, metabolic disturbances, or other causes. It occurs in various forms, such as bacterial arthritis, osteoarthritis, or rheumatoid arthritis.

Better Lupus Treatments on the Horizon High-tech research into better, safer ways to treat the autoimmune disease lupus is building up steam, a group of scientists report. Striking an upbeat tone, researchers from across the United States spoke at a teleconference Tuesday -- hosted by the Lupus Research Institute (LRI) -- that focused on the improving outlook for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. "Today, we do have therapies that work," conference moderator Dr. Lee Simon, an associate clinical professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston, said. "So, while in the 1950s, 95 percent of people were dead within five years of diagnosis, today, 95 percent of patients survive five years out. But the treatments we have carry a heavy toxic burden. So, we need new drugs that work as well, if not better, with less harsh side effects." "Today, I'm incredibly excited," added Simon, who has also served as a division director for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. "We Read the Article
Clinical Trials Update: Oct. 3, 2007 Kidney Disease Osteoarthritis Type 2 Diabetes Read the Article
'69 New York Jets Continue Their Winning Ways The pluck and luck that helped the upstart New York Jets football team capture Super Bowl III in 1969 -- considered one of the biggest upsets in U.S. sports history -- seems to have followed the players well into their retirement. A new study finds the collective health of the ex-Jets is just fine. But the study authors were quick to add that these findings are probably not representative of retired pro football players in general. In fact, controversy continues to grow around calls for compensation to many aging -- and often sick -- retired players. "I don't think that you can generalize the entire population of pro football based on this small microcosm" of New York Jets, said the study's lead researcher, Dr. Stephen Nicholas. He's director of the Nicholas Institute of Sports Medicine and Athletic Trauma at Lenox Hill Hospital, in New York City. For more than 40 years, Nicholas and his father before him, the late Dr. James Nicholas, have Read the Article
Health Highlights: Oct. 5, 2007 Former U.S. Track Hero Admits Steroid Use Vaccine Caused Nigeria Polio Outbreak U.S. Meat Company Folds After Massive Recall Lead Danger Prompts Recall of Boy Scouts Badges 'Gay Bomb' Research Wins 'Ig Nobel' Prize Medicare, Medicaid to Gain $4 Billion From Part D Plans No Proof Common Knee Arthritis Treatments Work Canada Halts Prexige Sales Read the Article
New Kidney Disease Can Be Fatal Kidney disease patients with a newly identified disease called nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) are at increased risk of death, U.S. researchers report. The researchers also concluded that exposure to gadolinium, a contrast agent used in MRI scans, is a significant risk factor for developing NSF, a painful and debilitating condition characterized by a thickening and hardening of the skin. It usually affects the arms and legs but can also affect internal organs. The disease can progress so rapidly that some patients are immobilized and confined to a wheelchair within weeks. The study, led by Jonathan Kay of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, conducted skin examination of 186 kidney dialysis patients. They found that 25 had skin changes consistent with NSF. Within two years, 25 of the 186 patients (24 percent) had died. The death rate for those with NSF was 48 percent, compared to 20 percent for patients without the illness. The Read the Article
Heart-Healthy Workouts Help Knees, Too Exercise that boosts cardiovascular health may also help keep knee cartilage healthy and protect against knee osteoarthritis, Australian researchers say. Previous studies on the issue have produced conflicting findings, the team said. Some studies concluded that exercise may trigger knee osteoarthritis, while other studies found that exercise may protect the knees from osteoarthritis. In this new study, researchers analyzed the effect that varying levels of intensity, frequency and duration of exercise had on the knees of 257 healthy adults, ages 50 to 79, with no history of knee osteoarthritis. Reporting in the October issue of Arthritis Care & Research, the team found an association between physical activity and good knee health. For example, vigorous activity was linked with healthier cartilage and moderate exercise, including regular walking, was associated with lower incidence of bone marrow lesions. "This is the first study to demon Read the Article
Health Tip: The Benefits of Omega-3s Omega-3 fatty acids -- found in fish and certain plant oils -- are crucial for healthy brain growth and development. They can also help protect the body against certain diseases and conditions. Here are some of the health benefits they may offer, courtesy of the University of Maryland Medical Center: Reduce bad cholesterol and raise good cholesterol levels. Lower high blood pressure. Prevent heart disease, and reduce the risk of heart attack. Reduce the risk of stroke. Help control diabetes. Reduce arthritis pain. Aid in weight loss. Protect against osteoporosis. Reduce the risk of mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, depression and bipolar disorder. Read the Article
Clinical Trials Update: Oct. 9, 2007 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Heart Disease Healthy Patient Studies Read the Article
Tea Helps Toughen Older Women's Hips New Australian research suggests that having a cuppa (tea, that is) may help strengthen older women's hips. "This study suggests that drinking tea in moderation can actually benefit your bones," said lead researcher Amanda Devine, a senior lecturer in the nutrition program at the School of Exercise, Biomedical and Health Science, Edith Cowan University, and adjunct senior lecturer at the University of Western Australia's School of Medicine and Pharmacology, in Perth. "Those who drank tea in the study had a higher bone density over the four years that they were studied," she said. "These women lost less bone than those who did not drink tea. More than three-quarters of the women drank tea daily, and they consumed on average about three cups per day." Outside experts called the findings intriguing but still preliminary. "Some tea may be potentially helpful," said Paul Brandt, an associate professor of neuroscience and experimental therap Read the Article
Health Highlights: Oct. 11, 2007 Arthritis Limits Ability to Work Cochlear Implants Might Heighten Meningitis Risk: FDA Scientists Map Genome of Deadly Drug-Resistant TB FDA Panel Supports Approval of New Drug-Coated Stent California Bans Smoking in Vehicles Carrying Children Curious George Doll Has High Lead Levels Read the Article
Health Highlights: Oct. 12, 2007 U.S. and China Discuss Product Safety Sen. Kennedy Has Surgery for Artery Blockage Report Raises Concerns About Lead in Lipsticks 500,000 Women Die Each Year During Pregnancy, Childbirth: Report Nevada Jury Awards Women $134.5 Million in HRT Lawsuit Arthritis Limits Ability to Work: Survey Read the Article
Clinical Trials Update: Oct. 15, 2007 Rheumatoid Arthritis Depression High Cholesterol Read the Article
Global Gene Map Clears New Milestone The second phase of the HapMap Project -- created to identify and catalog genetic similarities and differences among populations around the world -- has been completed by scientists from six countries. Read the Article
Water Workouts Work for Arthritis Patients Doing stretching and aerobic workouts in warm water may help relieve pain and improve daily function in people with knee or hip osteoarthritis. That finding was offered by Danish researchers who reviewed six studies involving about 800 patients. In the studies, participants did aquatic exercise for different lengths of time and numbers of sessions per week. In most of the studies, patient progress was assessed after three months of therapy. Read the Article
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