Tag Archives: Arthritis

Role of Tyrosine Kinases in Rheumatoid Arthritis


“Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory, polyarticular joint disease. A number of cellular responses are involved in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis, including activation of inflammatory cells and cytokine expression.” http://7thspace.com/headlines/392245/tyrosine_kinases_in_rheumatoid_arthritis.html

Cellular response that was implicated in the process depends on the signalling pathways specifically that are activated which include protein tyrosine pathway, janus kinases /signal transducers and activators transcription conduit, spleen tyrosine kinase signaling, and the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells pathway.

A lot of drugs are in advance to mark tyrosine kinases for the treatment of RA. According to the number of newly published studies, the manuscript reviews the position of tyrosine kinases in the pathogenesis of RA and the potential role of kinase inhibitors as novel therapeutic strategies of RA.

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Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms May Lessen with Tai Chi


On regular basis, by practicing tai chi it may significantly improve the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. There were some studies that show the good effect of tai chi for the symptoms of osteoarthritis that includes joint pain, stiffness and weakness. On the new medical study, it shows that the benefits of tai chi extend beyond simply reducing the symptoms.

“Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease characterized by significant joint pain, fatigue and weakness. Over time the destruction of the joints can becom severe as to cause significant deformity. Although most patients with rheumatoid arthritis experience primarily joint pain, other organs in the body can be affected. Rheumatoid arthritis is most common in people between the ages of 40 and 50 years old and affects about 1 percent of the population.” http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20110822/entlife/708229987/

Women are usually affected more often than men and the most common destruction is on the joints and tendons. There are figures of medical therapies that can measure the development of rheumatoid arthritis. These comprise anti-inflammatory medications, steroids, powerful disease modifying medications like methotrexate and biologic agents specially marking the immune system.

On the other hand, the side effects may limit their use. Luckily, physical therapies are helpful for rheumatoid arthritis and decrease the need for medication. There is healthy data to point to that maintaining physical activity can get better the long-term results of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Long-term observance with exercise programs is a dilemma, but with tai chi exercises compliance is better.

“A recent medical study published in the medical journal BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders re-examined the use of tai chi exercises in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The study was different because not only did they look at the physical benefits of tai chi, but also they explored why with rheumatoid arthritis people practiced Tai chi. This is important because compliance with any physical therapy program, over time, is essential with rheumatoid arthritis patients.” http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20110822/entlife/708229987/

They found out that there was the usual development in physical function, but that patients furthermore felt better, mentally, following practicing tai chi. Stress levels were lesser, energy levels were higher and overall mental outlook was brighter. Patients sustained to practice tai chi because they purely felt better.

According to Patrick B. Massey, M.D., Ph.D, medical director for complementary and alternative medicine for the Alexian Brothers Hospital Network, he strongly agree with the result of the study. In his experience, martial art based exercises not only advance the physical condition, but in his cases have constructive impact on the mental and emotional state that merely feels good.

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Rheumatoid Arthritis can be Cause by Defective Gene


In the study, researchers found out that a defective gene can contribute to the start of rheumatoid arthritis that affects 1 percent of the world’s population. Up to now, the mechanism of the disease is still unclear. The researchers from VIB (Flanders Institute for Biotechnology) and Ghent University in a study in print in the journal Nature Genetics, verified that a cell-specific defect in the face of the A20 gene (TNFAIP3) can add to the A20 gene as a probable target for the subsequently generation of new drugs.

Protein A20 is an intracellular negative regulator of the NF-kB transcription factor that is a key role in the creation of the inflammatory response. Extreme look of NF-kB can direct to greatly inflammatory disease.

“Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a form of arthritis that causes pain, swelling, stiffness and loss of function in joints. The disease can last for a short time, or symptoms might come and go. The severe form can last a lifetime. An estimated 1.293 million adults aged 18 and older (0.6%) has RA in the US.” http://www.medicaldaily.com/news/20110820/7051/rheumatoid-arthritis-arthritis-gene-a20-defect-cell.htm

The one who investigated the molecular mechanism that works to control NF-kB activation is Rudi Beyaert and found out that A20 plays a key role. Other studies recommended that A20 could contribute to some autoimmune disease that includes rheumatoid arthritis.

Researchers heritably developed mice with myeloid cells unable of producing A20. They set up that these mice had eminent levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in their blood and joints, and impulsively developed RA with cruel inflammation and osteoporosis.

Study verifies the vital role of A20 in domineering inflammatory reaction and illustrate that fault in a20 in myeloid cells can give rise to RA.

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Rheumatoid Arthritis Inflammation Increases the Risk for Heart Disease Related Death

Rheumatoid Arthritis Inflammation Increases the Risk for Heart Disease Related Death


According to the new study of rheumatoid arthritis patients, they have found out that those individuals have increase risk of dying from heart disease and also other cardiovascular events and that the risk can be decrease if there is right precaution.

On the study, they included about 400 patients that were monitored for five years from their time of diagnosis. The researchers have monitored their disease progressions, treatment programs and also the traditional risk factors linked with heart disease like weight, level of cholestero0l, blood pressure, diabetes and smoking.

USNews says that in treating RA inflammation together with disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and the risk factors for the heart disease reduce the risk.

“Researchers found that after five years 97 percent of patients had been treated with DMARDs which are used to reduce inflammation, while they made lifestyle changes to avoid cardiovascular disease risk. DMARDs users were shown to have a decreased risk of death, while patients given cox 2 inhibitors seems to see an increase in risk.” http://www.inquisitr.com/135160/rheumatoid-arthritis-inflammation-increases-chance-of-heart-disease-related-death-study/

Dr. Wallberg-Jonsson from University Hospital, Umea, in Sweden said that the inflammation that was associated with RA increases the risk of heart diseases and also other cardiovascular events. But, it is possible to decrease the risk in two-prolonged attack by treating the inflammation as well as the traditional risk factors of heart disease. People with any type of inflammation are recommended to have their heart monitored regularly and should take steps to stop relieve that inflammation.

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FAI Patients Without Arthritis may have Potential Cost Effective Treatment

FAI Patients Without Arthritis may have Potential Cost Effective Treatment


According to the researcher in California, there is a favourable incremental cost-effectiveness ratio that can be attained through the arthroscopic treatment of the patients who have femoracetabular impingement without arthritis. The author wrote that the ICER of the incremental-effectiveness ratio that was found in the hip arthroscopy in such patients was favourable in comparison with other interventions that were considered cost effective.

“The authors of the study put together a Markov model that included possible health states for 36-year-old patients with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). They used this model to compare the strategies of observation and hip arthroscopy, with the hip arthroscopy being followed with total hip arthroplasty (THA) as the disease progressed.” http://www.orthosupersite.com/view.aspx?rid=86810

Health-related quality of life was used into order assist in the approximation of the ratio of incremental costs to profit for each plan, with health state penchants and chances being resolute through studies that had beforehand reported Harris hip scores and problems subsequent arthroscopy. The authors also examined 30 input variables to help determine the influence of uncertainty on the ICER.

The patients who have FAI with no arthritis shows approximately hip arthroscopy ICER of $21,700 per quality adjusted life year (QALY). On the other hand, those patients who have preoperative arthritis shows an ICER of $79,500 per QALY and according to the author the result in cost savings if THA was not performed until at least 16 years following arthroscopy. More studies will be done of hip arthroscopy are needed in order to know the impact on quality of life, duration of symptomatic relief and also the effect on the need for subsequent THA.

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