ArthritisDigest2013
Meditation can change expression of pro-inflammatory genes, says new study
The first evidence of specific molecular changes in the body following a period of mindfulness meditation has been revealed in a paper published in Psychoneuroendocrinology.
Researchers looked at the effects of a day of intensive mindfulness practice in a group of experienced meditators, compared to a group of untrained people who engaged in quiet non-meditative activities.
After eight hours of mindfulness practice, the meditators showed a range of genetic and molecular differences, including altered levels of gene-regulating machinery and reduced levels of pro-inflammatory genes, which correlated with faster physical recovery from a stressful situation. Continue reading
Oxygen has a crucial role in effectiveness of anti-inflammatory drugs
Levels of oxygen play a vital part in determining the strength of the inflammatory response and how effective anti-inflammatory drugs are, says research published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology.
The discovery could help curb runaway inflammation, benefiting those with rheumatoid arthritis, and goes some way to explaining why some people respond better to anti-inflammatory drugs than others. Continue reading
Study compares osteoporosis drugs: denosumab and zoledronic acid
The benefits and risks of two commonly-used drugs for osteoporosis have been highlighted in a US study presented at the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research’s annual meeting.
Denosumab (Prolia) and zoledronic acid (zolendronate or Aclasta) were compared using data from 107 people; results showed that both had similar results in most areas. But denosumab was found to have a greater effect on increasing spine bone mineral density. And people taking zoledronic acid experienced more flu-like symptoms as a side effect of their treatment. Continue reading
Pleasure and pain brain signals disrupted in people with fibromyalgia
A disruption of brain signals for reward and punishment contributes to increased pain sensitivity (hyperalgesia) in people with fibromyalgia, says research published in Arthritis & Rheumatism. And this altered brain processing could contribute to widespread pain and lack of response to opioid therapy. Continue reading
New evidence that gout runs in the family
It’s historically known as “the king of diseases and the disease of kings” and was long thought to be caused by an overindulgent lifestyle, but now scientists at The University of Nottingham have confirmed that gout strongly runs in families.
Researchers in the Division of Rheumatology, Orthopaedics and Dermatology studied the whole population of Taiwan (23 million) where gout is most prevalent in the world, and published their findings in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. Continue reading
