Psoriatic arthritis
Herbal cannabis to treat arthritis? Not recommended.
The suitability of using herbal cannabis to treat arthritis and related conditions is under scrutiny due to the results of a Canadian report.
A group of researchers looked at the dosing, administration, efficacy and risks of herbal cannabis in pain management in people with arthritis in the 20 US states where it is legal. Continue reading
Vitamin D has important role in promoting healthy immune system
Older people who are deficient in vitamin D tend to have compromised immune function, says research published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
While the association between vitamin D and bone health is well known, until now little research has looked at its impact on the immune system.
So scientists looked at 957 Irish adults who were older than 60 years and measured their vitamin D levels and inflammation markers (linked to rheumatoid arthritis and cardiovascular disease). Continue reading
Acupuncture Awareness Week: 3rd – 7th March 2014
Today heralds the first day of Acupuncture Awareness Week and the chance to get better informed about the ancient practice of traditional acupuncture. With 2.3 million acupuncture treatments carried out each year, acupuncture is one of the most popular complementary therapies practised in the UK today. But many people only discover acupuncture as a last resort despite its widely recognised health benefits. Continue reading
Stem cell generation breakthrough for older people
A new technique has been developed for harvesting stem cells from older people with arthritis undergoing hip replacement surgery, says research published in Stem Cells Translational Medicine.
The team from the University of New South Wales in Australia has found that that certain tissue usually discarded during routine hip replacements (periosteum-derived stem cells) may be a rich source of adult stem cells, which could then be used in various regenerative medicine applications. “Remarkable similarities” were found between them and commercial bone marrow stem cells. Continue reading
Zebrafish research sheds light on possible bone regeneration
Research into bone regeneration in zebrafish could one day form the basis of treatments for bone diseases, says research published in Cell Reports.
Two molecular pathways have been found that allow adult zebrafish to replace bones lost after fin amputation. One turns existing bone cells into a developmental stem cell-like state, helping them to grow and replace lost cells; the other encourages the newly-formed cells to turn back into functional, organised bone. Continue reading
