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.

New Painkiller Causes Fewer GI Problems A new cox-2 painkiller called etoricoxib causes fewer upper gastrointestinal problems than the traditional pain medicine diclofenac, researchers report. "In the trial, there was a difference in the overall events between the two drugs," said lead researcher Dr. Loren Laine, a professor of medicine at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine. "There was not a significant difference seen in the more serious and less common events, like major bleeding. The difference was largely seen in the uncomplicated ulcers, which are symptomatic but not generally life-threatening." The study is published in the Feb. 10 issue of The Lancet. Etoricoxib (brand name Arcoxia) is a cox-2 inhibitor that has not been approved for use in the United States yet, although it is being used in Europe. Cox-2 drugs, such as Celebrex, Vioxx and Bextra, were developed to be less damaging to the stomach and intestinal tract. But, several of the cox-2 drug Read the Article
Age Brings More Fat, Less Muscle Older Americans face a "double whammy" when it comes to body fat, a new study finds. Up until age 80, older adults gain fat but lose muscle as they age and, because of the obesity epidemic in the United States, many are already fatter when they enter their older years. That extra fat increases their risk for arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and disability, said study author Dr. Jingzhong Ding, an assistant professor of gerontology and geriatric medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, N.C. The findings are published in the current issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The researchers studied body composition changes -- specifically the proportion of fat to lean mass (muscle and organs) -- in 1,786 older adults from 1997 to 2003. The participants were aged 70 to 79 when they enrolled in the study. "The study provides a better pictures of age-related changes in body Read the Article
Health Tip: Understanding Autoimmune Disorders Autoimmune diseases occur when the body's immune system destroys its own healthy tissues instead of the foreign, harmful substances it was designed to fend off. The immune system typically defends the body from germs and toxins. The U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM) says autoimmune disorders can affect organs and tissues including red blood cells, blood vessels, the thyroid, pancreas, muscles, joints and skin. Common autoimmune diseases include type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, Grave's disease and Celiac disease. Most of these diseases are chronic, but depending on the condition, many can be controlled with treatment, the NLM says. Read the Article
Clinical Trials Update: Feb. 14, 2007 Alzheimer's Disease Rheumatoid Arthritis Cold Sores (Herpes Labialis Infections) Read the Article
Health Tip: Keep Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain at Bay Rheumatoid arthritis causes pain, stiffness and swelling in the joints. There is no cure, and most treatments focus on slowing joint damage and treating pain. In addition to pain medication, the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases has these suggestions to help reduce symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis: Get plenty of rest, especially when you have severe symptoms. Get regular exercise -- more when symptoms have eased, and less when symptoms are severe. Protect joints, such as wrists and ankles, with splints. Reduce stress using relaxation techniques, exercising and joining a support group. Maintain a healthy diet, including restricted alcohol consumption. Read the Article
Music Video Helps Knee Replacement Patients Music-exercise videos can help patients who've had total knee replacement surgery get more in tune with their rehabilitation program, a U.S. study finds. Researchers in Michigan created a video specifically designed for patients undergoing rehabilitation after having knee replacement. The video featured an instructor demonstrating exercises and offering reminders about how to do the movements correctly and avoid injury. In this study of 45 patients, about half used the video during their rehabilitation, while the remainder did the exercises on their own, the norm for most patients. Patients who used the video returned to their regular daily activities an average of 59 percent sooner than patients who exercised without the video. The patients who used the video also had significantly better knee status and overall function at six weeks and eight weeks after their surgery. The video significantly improved patients' understanding of the exe Read the Article
Children With Cancer at Risk for Fragile Bones Children battling cancer may also have weaker bones, new research shows. Normally, bones maintain their strength by balancing the processes of laying down materials that give bone its strength and breaking bone down. But certain factors, including menopause, drugs, diet and physical exercise, can influence bone strength. Studies have shown that children with cancers have multiple risk factors for osteoporosis and bone fractures. In their report, to be published in the April 1 issue of Cancer, researchers from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, reviewed the topic of pediatric cancer, bone loss and management. The researchers found that the sedentary behaviors caused by their illness, coupled with the side effects of treatment, leave children with cancer at risk for bone problems during their lifetime Read the Article
Rheumatoid Arthritis Boosts Cancer Death Risk: Study Rheumatoid arthritis doesn't increase the risk of developing cancer but does boost a person's risk of dying from a malignancy should it arise, a U.K. study finds. The study, published in the March issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism, included 2,105 patients with recent-onset inflammatory polyarthritis (IP) who were followed for 10 years. Over time, many cases of new-onset IP develop into rheumatoid arthritis. During the 10-year period, 123 people developed different kinds of cancer, including bone, lung, breast, prostate, urinary, colon, blood and brain cancers. The researchers compared the rates of cancer among the study participants to rates among the general population. Overall, patients with IP did not have higher rates of cancer than people in the general population, although they did have a higher risk of blood cell cancers. The study did find a 40 percent increased risk of death among people with both IP/rheumatoid arthritis and cancer. Read the Article
Humira Approved for Crohn's Disease The Abbott Laboratories drug Humira (adalimumab) has been approved for adults with moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease, a chronic inflammatory disease of the bowel, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday. Crohn's affects about 500,000 people in the United States. Its varied symptoms may include persistent diarrhea, abdominal cramps, pain, fever, and fatigue. It may also cause unusual connections between the intestines and skin called fistulas. Most people with the disease are diagnosed between ages 15 and 35. Humira works to reduce levels of human tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha, a chemical that plays a role in abnormal responses from the body's immune system, the FDA said. Humira was initially approved to treat psoriatic arthritis in October 2005. It's also been sanctioned for moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis, and an inflammatory disease of the spine called ankylosing spondylitis. The drug's labeling includes a so-ca Read the Article
Mouse Study Sheds Light on Lupus-Linked Depression An auto-antibody called "anti-ribosomal P" plays a role in central nervous dysfunction and depression in people with lupus, an autoimmune disease that also causes symptoms such as joint pain, skin rashes and extreme fatigue. Scientists at Tel Aviv University in Israel extracted anti-ribosomal P antibodies from the blood of a lupus patient and injected them into healthy mice. The scientists noted the onset of depression-like behavior changes in the mice as the rodents were put through a swimming test. The study also found that long-term treatment with fluoxetine (Prozac) resulted in a significant reduction in depression-like behavior in the mice. The findings, which appear in the March issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism, shed light on brain pathways of depression in general and on central nervous system dysfunction in lupus in particular, the researchers said. Further investigation needs to be conducted in large-scale clinical trials. Read the Article
Hip-Surgery Complications More Common in Obese Women: Study Obese people, especially women, are more likely to suffer complications following hip replacement surgery, Swiss researchers say. A Geneva University Hospital study included patients who had a total of 2,495 hip replacements (589 in obese patients) done at the hospital between March 1996 and July 2005. The study, published in the March issue of the journal Arthritis Care & Research, found that obesity was associated with: a substantially higher risk for infection in women; more dislocations (a greater number in women than in men); and more revisions (redoing the hip replacement) due to septic loosening caused by infection. The researchers also evaluated outcomes for 635 hip replacements in non-obese patients and in 183 hip replacements in obese patients five years after the surgery. Obese women, but not obese men, reported moderately lower functional outcomes and slightly less satisfaction, mostly due to a higher rate of complications, t Read the Article
Clinical Trials Update: Feb. 28, 2007 Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Hepatitis C; Chronic Rheumatoid Arthritis Read the Article
Image Concerns Tied to Depression in Arthritis, Lupus Patients Concerns about appearance are associated with depression in people with rheumatic arthritis or lupus, an Australian study finds. Rheumatoid arthritis can cause physical deformities, especially of the hands and feet, while lupus can cause skin rashes and lesions and hand deformity. The study, published in the March issue of the journal Arthritis Care & Research, examined 157 patients with lupus, newly-diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis, or chronic rheumatoid arthritis who filled out questionnaires designed to assess the patients' disability, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), psychological distress, and coping strategies. The results showed that all the patients had increased levels of psychological distress and that the lupus patients' HRQOL was negatively affected. The study also found that 53 percent of lupus patients said they felt unattractive because of their disease, compared with 30 percent of chronic rheumatoid arthritis patient Read the Article
Health Tip: Sleep Disturbances Among the Elderly Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, getting too much sleep, and lack of quality sleep are common problems for the elderly. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, here are some frequent causes: Lack of exercise. Depression. Chronic pain caused by arthritis and similar conditions. Certain chronic diseases, including congestive heart failure. Need to urinate frequently. Use of caffeine, prescription drugs, or alcohol. Neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's. Read the Article
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