Exclusive: ACR Convergence 2024| Focus Rheums

An official publication of the ACR and the ARP serving rheumatologists and rheumatology professionals

Does Insomnia in Patients with Knee OA Affect Pain?

Arthritis Care & Research  |  

New research explores the correlation between insomnia and pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). After conducting a multimodal sleep study, researchers from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore uncovered a combined effect between catastrophizing and disturbed sleep, resulting in increased pain sensitivity, specifically central sensitization, for knee OA…

Weight-Bearing Exercise Eases Knee Osteoarthritis, Temporarily

Kathryn Doyle  |  

(Reuters Health)—A program of weight-bearing exercise reduces pain and improves joint function, at least for two to six months, for people with osteoarthritis, according to a review of previous trials. “We had a systematic review for Cochrane from 2008 and 2009, but there were much less articles,” said Dr. Martin Van der Esch, who coauthored…

USBJI’s Project 1000 to Foster a Community of Musculoskeletal Educators

David S. Pisetsky, MD, PhD & Joseph Bernstein, MD  |  

Since its inception, the U.S. Bone and Joint Initiative (USBJI) has promoted excellence in medical education on the musculoskeletal system and diseases of the bones and joints. To meet this goal, the USBJI has embarked on a new effort called Project 1000. Project 1000 will identify 1,000 local champions of musculoskeletal education throughout the country,…

Patients with Psoriasis, Psoriatic Arthritis at Increased Risk of Migraine

Shannon Aymes  |  

NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are associated with an increased risk of migraine, according to new research from Denmark. “The main finding of our study was a psoriasis severity-dependent increased risk of new-onset migraine, and patients with severe skin psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis appeared to have the highest risk,” Dr. Alexander Egeberg from…

Doctors Often Uncomfortable Soliciting Donations for Patients

Kathryn Doyle  |  

NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Many doctors are asked to seek donations from grateful patients after successful cancer treatment, but most physicians are uncomfortable with this idea and feel a conflict of interest, according to a new study. “There are ethical ways of seeking donations from patients who have the means and want to give back,” Dr….

Novartis Biosimilar Takes Aim at Amgen’s Enbrel

Michael Shields & Ben Hirschler  |  

ZURICH (Reuters)—The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has accepted Novartis unit Sandoz’s regulatory submission for approval of a biosimilar copy of Amgen’s blockbuster anti-TNF drug Enbrel, the Swiss drugmaker said on Friday. Enbrel, or etanercept as the drug is known generically, is a big prize since it was the world’s fifth-biggest selling medicine in 2014…

Drug Industry Must Address Image Problem over Prices

Bill Berkrot  |  

NEW YORK (Reuters)—Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd’s research chief said on Tuesday the drug industry must act responsibly when it comes to pricing medications, given the mounting anger over the high cost of therapies in the U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton brought new attention to the issue last week, proposing to cap patients’ treatment costs,…