ArthritisDigest2013
Sirukumab – new drug shows promise for rheumatoid arthritis
A new therapy option for people with rheumatoid arthritis has had good results in a trial, says research published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
The study assessed the safety and efficacy of sirukumab in people who hadn’t responded well to methotrexate.
A total of 36 people were given sirukumab or a sham treatment every two weeks for 10 weeks. In weeks 12 to 22 there was crossover treatment. Continue reading
Magnetic brain stimulation could improve quality of life in fibromyalgia
Transcranial magnetic stimulation improves quality of life in people with fibromyalgia, but does not have any effect on pain, according to a small study published in Neurology.
A total of 38 people who had from fibromyalgia pain for more than six months were split into two groups. Half received high-frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation (14 sessions over 10 weeks) and the other half had sham stimulation. Quality of life, pain, mood and anxiety were recorded at the start of the treatment and then at week 2 and week 11. The participants also had PET scans to assess any changes in their brains. Continue reading
Is laughter the best medicine? Cartoons could help people cope with chronic conditions
Cartoons could be a beneficial way of educating patients and empowering them to cope better with long term conditions, says research published in Health Services Research.
“Humour is frequently and naturally used by people with chronic illnesses to help them adjust and understand what is happening to them,” explains Associate Professor Dr Anne Kennedy, who led the study. “Our study has shown that cartoons could provide clarity to patients and be a way to engage with them. It is an untapped resource and could be a potential approach to support self-management.” Continue reading
Parental addictions are associated with arthritis of their adult children
Arthritis in adulthood is linked to parental addictions during childhood, claims a new study published in the International Journal of Population Research.
Scientists from the University of Toronto examined a group of 13,036 adults and found that 20.4% had been diagnosed with arthritis. Investigators found that 14.5% of all respondents reported having at least one parent whose drug or alcohol use caused problems while they were under the age of 18 years and still living at home. Continue reading
Genetics may explain why infections can trigger rheumatoid arthritis
Genetics could explain why different environmental exposures can trigger the onset of different forms of rheumatoid arthritis, says an international study published in the American Journal of Human Genetics.
The findings could have important implications for the way that rheumatoid arthritis is diagnosed and treated.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory form of arthritis, affecting almost 400,000 people in the UK, which causes painful, swollen joints, and in severe cases, considerable disability. It is known to have strong genetic and environmental components. Continue reading
