Lupus
Could lupus be controlled with probiotic yoghurt? New research suggests it can…
People with lupus could try adding foods that influence gut bacteria to their diets to better control their disease, claims a study in Applied and Environmental Microbiology.
Work on mice found that gut bacteria such as the lactobacillus species – often present in yoghurt cultures – can ease lupus symptoms. And high levels of a bacterial species called lachnospiraceae tends to make the condition worse. Continue reading
US promises to fast track drugs for rheumatoid arthritis and lupus
Grants have been awarded to 11 research groups in the US that are collaborating to improve the diagnosis – and treatment options – of rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
Accelerating Medicines Partnership in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus Network is a programme that aims to speed up the identification and validation of the most promising biological targets for the development of new drugs, as well as the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
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Three years of prednisone can trigger cataracts in people with lupus
It has been known for some time that long-term use of prednisone can cause cataracts, but new findings now give an idea of how long it takes (and how much drug is needed) for problems to surface. Research published in Rheumatology International found that the risk of cataracts more than doubles if people with systemic lupus erythematosus have been on 10mg/day of prednisone (or its equivalent) for three or more years. Continue reading
Family history increases risk of rheumatoid arthritis
The role of genes and environment in the development of rheumatoid arthritis have come under scrutiny again in a large study from the US. And the picture is becoming a little clearer.
The study looked if having family members with rheumatoid arthritis or lupus increased the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, and what role environmental factors played.
A total 65,457 women involved in the Nurses’ Health Study provided information on whether family members had rheumatoid arthritis/lupus. Of these, 493 cases of rheumatoid arthritis/lupus were validated. Continue reading
Fear of pain could increase risk of multisite pain
Pain catastrophising and fear of pain might increase the risk of developing multisite pain following injury, says research due to be published in The Journal of Pain.
Experts looked at the value of pain catastrophising, fear of pain and depression in the prediction of multisite pain after delayed onset muscle soreness (ie pain induced in the laboratory). A total of 119 (63 women, 56 men) healthy university students took part in the study. Continue reading
