Juvenile Arthritis
Growth benefits for children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis thanks to tocilizumab – results from clinical trials
The drug tocilizumab can have significant growth benefits for children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) according to a clinical trial published in Arthritis & Rheumatology.
JIA is the most common chronic rheumatic disease that affects children. About 12,000 children in the UK have JIA, and it persists into adulthood in up to one-third of cases. Continue reading
UK local authorities missing the health needs of people with arthritis and back pain
Many communities are being failed by local authorities in England, says a report from Arthritis Research UK, which highlights that 26% of local authorities did not mention arthritis in their Joint Strategic Needs Assessments. And 62% of local authorities missed back pain in their assessment of the health needs of the communities that they serve. Continue reading
Childhood arthritis: new website launched for children and families
A website for parents and families of children and young people with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) has been launched today, in reaction to a call for more support.
Detailed information about JIA is included along with getting to a diagnosis and understanding how to negotiate the NHS in order to get the right care for children/young people. Continue reading
Positive emotion – a new anti-inflammatory?
Positive emotions are linked to lower levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (the proteins that signal the immune system to work harder) in research published in the journal Emotion.
It has long been established that a healthy diet, exercise and sleep bolster the body’s defences against physical and mental illnesses. But the new findings suggest that positive emotions can be added to the list. Continue reading
Deadly nightshade foods and arthritis: urgent need for research based on strong anecdotal evidence
potatoes – tomatoes – aubergines – peppers – goji berries
• People with arthritis used to be told to eat less foods from the deadly nightshade family as a way of reducing symptoms.
• In recent years this thinking has been widely dispelled as a myth.
• There is no scientific evidence that suggests that foods from the deadly nightshade family exacerbate arthritis symptoms. But equally, there is no research concluding that they don’t.
• Bearing in mind the wealth of anecdotal evidence from people with arthritis that eliminating all (or particular) nightshade foods from their diet has made a fundamental difference to their symptoms, it is somewhat surprising that no studies have been done in the area.
• It could be that some people have individual reactions to particular foods and do see an improvement in their symptoms if they eliminate them. Perhaps some of us have genes that make us more susceptible to the effects of solanine, or another component of deadly nightshade plants. Why wouldn’t experts put deadly nightshade plants to the test in light of all the anecdotal evidence in the area? Continue reading
