Nationally, opioid use and addiction are drawing increased scrutiny. An increase in the number of overdoses and addiction to heroin and prescription pain relievers in the past decade has been attributed in part to increased prescribing of opioids for the treatment of pain by physicians. National trends suggest the rate of opioid prescribing plateaued in…
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Switching women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) from oral bisphosphonates to teriparatide increases bone mineral density (BMD) and trabecular bone score, according to a new report. Researchers in Japan conducted an 18-month observational study of more than 175 women with RA (mean age: 66) who remained on oral bisphosphonates, switched to denosumab (DMAb),…
(Reuters Health)—Workers exposed to airborne toxins may have an elevated risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an immune system disorder that causes debilitating swelling and pain in the joints, a Swedish study suggests. Among men, bricklayers, concrete workers and electricians had at least twice the risk of RA they would have in certain other occupations,…
A recent study has helped researchers gain insight into the genome-wide regulation of mRNA stability in RA fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS). Chronic exposure of FLS to tumor necrosis factor appears to increase mRNA stability, enhancing the expression of inflammatory genes and the perpetuation of synovitis…
A systematic review has found that anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha treatment may improve endothelial function in RA patients. Despite the heterogeneity of the included studies, a random-effects model showed a significant improvement in endothelial function in this patient population after receiving infliximab, adalimumab or etanercept…
Researchers may have established a relationship between a new RA autoantibody, anti-carbamylated protein (anti-CarP) antibodies, and increased mortality risk. The recent study showed that anti-CarP was the only autoantibody associated with mortality, specifically respiratory system cause of death…
New research shows that baricitinib is a safe and effective RA treatment. The medication has also been approved for use in Japan and is recommended for use in the U.K…
A recent study examined the differences in T helper cell subtypes and osteoclast precursors between patients with early RA and healthy controls. Researchers found that standard treatment combined with a single dose of cholecalcipherol may better improve the general health of patients…