header logo image


Page 13«..10..12131415..2030..»

Archive for the ‘Arthritis’ Category

Five pipeline agents vying for share in the rheumatoid arthritis market – pharmaceutical-technology.com

Wednesday, December 16th, 2020

GlobalData projects that between 2019 and 2029, seven major markets (7MM: US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, and Japan) will see the approval and launch of five new agents for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Agents include one GM-CSF-inhibiting biologic (GSKs otilimab), one IL-6-inhibiting biologic (R-Pharms olokizumab), one TNF-inhibiting biologic (Taishos ozoralizumab), one BTK inhibitor (Roche/Genentechs fenebrutinib), and one IRAK 4 inhibitor (Pfizers PF-06650833).

Ozoralizumab is an inhibitory anti-TNF- trivalent nanobody complex. Two nano-bodies target TNF- while one binds to human serum albumin, theoretically extending the drugs half-life and distribution in vivo. The drug is formulated for administration via subcutaneous (SC) injection every four weeks. Ozoralizumab was originally developed by Ablynx, which in early 2018, was acquired by Sanofi. Very limited efficacy and safety data are currently available for ozoralizumab, and thus, the drugs prospects as a sixth-to-market TNF inhibitor in Japan remain uncertain. Olokizumab is a humanised interleukin-6 (IL-6) monoclonal antibody (mAb) that acts by blocking the final assembly of IL-6 to its signalling complex.

Phase IIb clinical development targeted patients who had unsuccessful responses to anti-TNF therapy. In H2 2020, R-Pharm announced positive topline results from CREDO 2 and CREDO 3, stating that all primary and secondary endpoints were achieved and that both once per month and twice per month dosing regimens were superior to placebo and non-inferior to adalimumab. There are currently two other IL-6 inhibitors, Roche/Genentech/Chugais Actemra/RoActemra (tocilizumab) and Sanofi/Regeneron/Asahi Kaseis Kevzara (sarilumab). Otilimab is a fully human monoclonal antibody (IgG1) directed against granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) that is in Phase III development by GSK. GM-CSF is a cytokine that drives the activation and proliferation of multiple innate immune cell types and is implicated in a wide range of auto-immune diseases. KOLs were relatively enthusiastic about otilimab, particularly in the context of it being a novel MOA that could provide another option to patients who are TNF inhibitor refractory.

Finally, there are two kinase inhibitors, fenebrutinib, a small-molecule inhibitor of Brutons tyrosine kinase (BTK) in development by Roche/Genentech, and PF-06650833, a highly selective, reversible, small-molecule inhibitor of interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 4 (IRAK4) in development by Pfizer. Both of these agents would be small-molecule, oral therapies, which are in high need for rheumatoid arthritis due to the significant costs associated with biologics, currently dominate the market. KOLs were intrigued by these new mechanisms of action (MOAs) but believed the drugs would be most effective as part of combination therapy with TNF or JAK inhibitors.

Figure 1 outlines the key Phase III/Phase IIb trials for these promising late-stage pipeline agents.

Figure 1: Key Phase II/III Trials for the Promising Pipeline Agents that GlobalData Expects to Be Licensed for RA in the 8MM During the Forecast Period, 20192029

Latest report from Visit GlobalData Store

Authenticator Device Solution for Increased Security Across Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

Authenticator Device Solution for Increased Security Across Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

28 Aug 2020

Insulin Human for Cell Culture Media and cGMP-Manufactured Quaternary Ammonium Compounds

28 Aug 2020

Go here to read the rest:
Five pipeline agents vying for share in the rheumatoid arthritis market - pharmaceutical-technology.com

Read More...

Understanding the RA Pain Spectrum – HealthCentral.com

Wednesday, December 16th, 2020

No two patients with any condition are exactly alike. But when it comes to rheumatoid arthritis (RA), it may seem like friends or support group members are having a totally different experience with pain and symptoms than that of you or your loved one. And thats because, oftentimes, they are. Unlike other diseases where there are telltale signs that most patients feel, this autoimmune disease can really affect people differently. While some patients severely struggle, experiencing consistent pain in all their joints, others may only have minor aches in their hands and feet, says Nilanjana Bose, M.D., a rheumatologist at the Rheumatology Center of Houston in Houston.

Elena Myasoedova, M.D., Ph.D, an associate professor of medicine and a senior associate consultant in rheumatology for The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, says multiple studies have been conducted to better understand why symptoms vary so much by patient and there are still many unknowns. She explains that the level of RA disease activity, the number and location of involved joints and the presence of involvement of internal organs, as well as personal perception of pain and presence of other comorbidities may all affect how person feels about his RA and what symptoms they have.

Dr. Bose explains that some patients have pain in all joints, while others have pain in a few. The most typical joints that are affected are in the wrists and fingers, but even in more severe cases those areas might be spared or only an issue during a flare. Each patient is very different in the way they present, adds Veena K. Ranganath, M.D., associate clinical professor of medicine in the division of rheumatology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA in Los Angeles. Take, for example, Mary Sophia Hawks, age 58 of Knoxville, TN, whose RA was diagnosed in 2013 after a debilitating flare up where she experienced severe swollen joints all over her body, fatigue, and balance issues.

When I have a flare, everything hurts. All my joints, my muscles, everything. I can barely get to the bathroom and back to bed on those days, she says. Since then, shes had her knee replaced (doctors found that RA had eaten away at the bone, she says) and her toes are bent and dont straighten all the way. But so far, the disease hasnt adversely affected her hands, which is a more common symptom of RA, so shes able to work as a parish nurse at a local church. A positive attitude has been key in helping her live with the disease. I still go to church and sing in the choir. That brings me incredible joy.

Dr. Ranganath also says that a patients perception of their condition and pain acuity play a critical piece in how symptomatic they are. But being more sensitive to pain isnt all bad news: It can actually mean that you get diagnosed earlier, which may lead to a better outcome long term. Those who experience pain tend to seek help more quickly, she explains, which is good since its important to get on medication that can manage inflammation and prevent joint damage as well as the cardiovascular problems that are common among RA patients. Once we get the RA under control, overall outcomes are so much better, she says. (For those not experiencing pain, its key to see your doctor and have them refer you to a rheumatologist if they see physical signs of the disease.)

Dr. Bose adds that patients with concurrent mood and/or sleep disorderslike depression, anxiety, stress and insomniatend to have a lower pain threshold and will complain of pain and fatigue more. And much of the pain an RA patient feels can be affected by confounding factors like osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia, which can cause pain.

Just as pain and symptoms may differ, how well any certain medication works to quell them can also vary. And it can take some serious trial and error to find the best fit for you. Since RA is an autoimmune disease, Dr. Ranganath says that the majority of medications address the mechanism of action by suppressing the immune system from attacking itself. But what works for one patient may not work for another, Dr. Ranganath explains, due to each individuals different genetic composition and their unique environment. You have to be patient and flexible, says Hawks, who is a moderator and contributor to rheumatoidarthritis.net. You have to realize it will take a while to determine if your medication is working and not every medication works for everybody.

Dr. Bose also makes sure to take a holistic view when deciding how to proceed, treating the person as a whole, not just their RA. For example, if someone has ongoing depression or anxiety along with RA, she says its important to discuss managing mood problems, sleep issues, stress, lack of a good diet and lack of exercise, since all these conditions potentially can lead to inflammation and cause more pain.

Despite all that doctors dont know about RA and pain, Dr. Myasoedova says theres reason to be optimistic. Over the past three decades, the number of medications available for treatment of RA has increased dramatically, she said, with over 15 different medications that have been shown to prevent and/or delay progression of joint damage in RA. And this number is increasing each year. Hawks agrees. There is a lot of room for hope, she said.

See the article here:
Understanding the RA Pain Spectrum - HealthCentral.com

Read More...

Chi Arthritis & Rheumatology able to see more patients and support new E/M coding using mobile AI voice assistant from Saykara – Business Wire

Wednesday, December 16th, 2020

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Having used a multitude of traditional modalities for clinical charting, including transcription services and in-person scribes, Dr. Jasen Chi was determined to find the holy grail he envisioned. Chi wanted to enter the exam room, confer with a patient in-depth, and exit knowing the SOAP note would be quickly and accurately generated based on what was said, with structured and narrative data populated directly to the electronic health record (EHR). He recently discovered that very solution with Saykara and is now seeing more patients and enjoying better, more robust documentation as a result.

Saykara is a Seattle-based health tech startup using artificial intelligence (AI) to free physicians from administrative burdens. The companys proprietary platform applies deep machine learning and long-form natural language understanding to write notes, orders, referrals and more by ambiently listening to conversations between physicians and patients.

One of the most important things the healthcare community can do to improve access to care and drive costs down is make sure physicians are consistently performing at the top of their license, says Shawn Studdard, CEO and practice director of Chi Arthritis & Rheumatology. Saddling physicians with tasks like documentation creates barriers and time constraints that our nations healthcare system needs to overcome. Adopting technology like the Saykara mobile AI voice assistant is a big step forward toward resolving this problem.

Chi Arthritis & Rheumatology is known for diagnosing difficult autoimmune conditions, protecting joints from long-term erosions and deformities, and offering aggressive treatments and plans for improved quality of life. Founder, Dr. Jasen Chi, considers the exam room a sacred space for patients and family members, and refuses to allow computer data entry during visits. I want patients to feel like they are receiving our undivided attention with no distractions, says Chi. We dont want anything standing in the way of our ability to connect with patients and earn their trust.

By using the Saykara mobile AI voice assistant, Chi is now able to see approximately 15% more new patients a week. He has completely eliminated after-hours charting and dramatically reduced the overall amount of time spent charting. SOAP notes are populated directly to the EHR, requiring only his review and signoff.

Like all physician practices, Chi Arthritis & Rheumatology is faced with conforming to the 2021 evaluation and management (E/M) coding changes. Studdard feels that by using the Saykara mobile AI voice assistant, they are aptly positioned to support the updated medical decision making (MDM) criteria. Using the Saykara mobile AI voice assistant has increased the quality and comprehensiveness of our SOAP notes, which I believe will allow us to more than adequately satisfy the level of documentation needed for new E/M coding, says Studdard. I also believe that having audio files of everything said during physician-patient visits is ideal for addressing claims-related matters that may arise, such as audits, denials or downcoding.

Access to audio files captured by Saykara also aids the orientation and education of Chi Arthritis & Rheumatologys advanced practice nurses. Having our advanced practice nurses listen to visits with complex patients is a very useful teaching tool, says Studdard. The Saykara mobile AI voice assistant is definitely helping us maximize productivity and efficiency, and with our fifth location opening soon, this is more important than ever.

About SaykaraSaykara has developed a platform that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to interpret conversations between physicians and patients, transform salient content into clinical notes, orders, referrals and more, then populate both structured and narrative data directly to electronic health record systems. This is accomplished through a voice-enabled assistant named Kara that physicians access via a mobile app. The platform is specialty agnostic, scalable across any size enterprise and available with a software-as-a-service (SaaS) subscription. It has been proven to completely eliminate after-hours charting, reduce overall time spent charting by up to 70%, and enhance documentation quality and completeness by an average of 20%. Plus, with no need for computer data entry during visits, it gives physicians more face time with their patients and fosters more personalized interactions. For additional information, visit http://www.saykara.com.

See original here:
Chi Arthritis & Rheumatology able to see more patients and support new E/M coding using mobile AI voice assistant from Saykara - Business Wire

Read More...

The global autoinjectors market is projected to reach USD 104.9 billion by 2025 from USD 46.0 billion in 2020, at a CAGR of 17.9% from 2020 to 2025 -…

Wednesday, December 16th, 2020

New York, Dec. 15, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Autoinjectors Market by Therapy, Type, Route of administration, End User - Global Forecast to 2025" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05482959/?utm_source=GNW The patent expiry of biologics is also expected to provide growth opportunities for players in the market.On the other hand, the preference for alternative routes of drug delivery such as oral diabetic agents and nasal epinephrine sprays is expected to limit the adoption of autoinjector devices.

The rheumatoid arthritis segment accounted for the largest share of the autoinjectors market in 2020Based on therapy, the autoinjectors market is segmented into rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, anaphylaxis, diabetes, and other therapies (cardiovascular diseases, migraine treatment, anemia, and progesterone therapy).In 2019, rheumatoid arthritis accounted for the largest market share of autoinjectors market.

The large share of this segment is mainly due to the high prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis.

The subcutaneous segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast periodBased on route of administration, the autoinjectors market is segmented into intramuscular and subcutaneous.Patients use autoinjectors for intramuscular and subcutaneous administration of various drugs for the treatment of diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, anaphylaxis, diabetes, migraine, anemia, and cancer.

The subcutaneous segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The highest CAGR of this segment can primarily be attributed to the growing number of product approvals by regulatory bodies for the treatment of chronic diseases.

North America accounted for the largest share of the autoinjectors market in 2020.The autoinjectors market is segmented into five major regions, namely, Europe, North America, the Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa.North America was the largest regional market for autoinjectors.

Growth in the North American market is majorly driven by factors such as the rising incidence of anaphylaxis and the presence of favorable reimbursements.Moreover, the US and Canada are developed economies with high awareness and adoption rates for advanced devices such as autoinjectors, which is beneficial for market growth.

Furthermore, other microeconomic indicators such as rising healthcare expenditures, high affordability rate, and the improving regulatory scenario are also major factors contributing to market growth. By Company: Tier 1: 40%, Tier 2: 35%, and Tier 3: 25% By Designation: C-level Executives: 25%, Directors: 55%, and Others: 20% By Region: North America: 40%, Europe: 25%, APAC: 20%, LATAM: 10% and MEA: 5%

Some of the key players in the autoinjectors market are AbbVie Inc. (US), Mylan (US), Eli Lilly and Company (US), Ypsomed (Switzerland), Amgen (US), Becton, Dickinson and Company (US), GlaxoSmithKline plc (UK), Johnson & Johnson (US), Teva Pharmaceutical (Israel), Antares Pharma (US), Merck KGaA (Germany), Meridian Medical Technologies, Inc. (US), Roche Diagnostics (Switzerland), Bespak (UK), Bayer (Germany), SHL Medical (Switzerland), Haselmeier (Switzerland), Owen Mumford (UK), Ravimed (Poland), Medeca Pharma AB (Sweden), Cambridge Consultants Ltd. (UK), Flex (US), SMC Ltd. (US), and Promius Pharma (US). The study includes an in-depth competitive analysis of these key players in the autoinjectors market, along with their company profiles, recent developments, and key market strategies.

Research Coverage:The market study covers the autoinjectors market across various segments.It aims at estimating the market size and the growth potential of this market across different segments by therapy, type, route of administration, end users and region.

The study also includes an in-depth competitive analysis of the key players in the market, along with their company profiles, key observations related to their product and business offerings, recent developments, and key market strategies.

Key Benefits of Buying the Report:The report will help market leaders/new entrants in this market and provide information regarding the closest approximations of the autoinjectors market and its subsegments.This report will help stakeholders understand the competitive landscape, gain insights to position their businesses better, and plan suitable go-to-market strategies.

The report will also help stakeholders understand the pulse of the market and provide information on key market drivers, restraints, opportunities and challenges.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05482959/?utm_source=GNW

About ReportlinkerReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.

__________________________

Read more from the original source:
The global autoinjectors market is projected to reach USD 104.9 billion by 2025 from USD 46.0 billion in 2020, at a CAGR of 17.9% from 2020 to 2025 -...

Read More...

Intraarticular Injection of Infliximab-Loaded Thermosensitive Hydrogel Alleviates Pain and Protects Cartilage in Rheumatoid Arthritis – DocWire News

Wednesday, December 16th, 2020

Purpose:Pain and cartilage destruction caused by rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are major challenges during clinical treatment. Traditional systemic administration not only has obvious side effects but also provides limited relief for local symptoms in major joints. Local delivery of therapeutics for RA treatment is a potential strategy but is limited by rapid intraarticular release.

Materials and methods:In this study, we prepared a thermoresponsive injectable hydrogel by mixing pluronic F127 (F127) and hyaluronic acid (HA) with poly (-glutamic acid) (PGA) incorporating infliximab (IFX), a new generation monoclonal antibody drug. We investigated the biocompatibility of the hydrogel and its IFX release profile. In vivo, we studied the clinical manifestations (articular skin temperature and joint diameter), detected cytokines in the synovial fluid and cartilage, performed behavioral studies on pain relief, and evaluated the cartilage protection effect.

Results:A thermoresponsive hydrogel was successfully prepared by mixing F127, HA, and PGA with injectable properties. The F127-HA-PGA hydrogel had a porous structure with interconnected pores. The infliximab-loaded thermosensitive hydrogel exhibited good biocompatibility and biodegradability and sustained release properties. Intraarticular injection of the IFX-loaded F127-HA-PGA hydrogel could alleviate the expression of inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-), interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-17 (IL-17), in the synovial fluid and cartilage as well as relieve pain and inhibit cartilage destruction in RA.

Conclusion:The double effect on pain relief and cartilage protection indicated the significant potential of the IFX-loaded injectable hydrogel for RA treatment in major joint lesions.

Keywords:control release; hydrogel; infliximab; intraarticular injection; rheumatoid arthritis.

See the original post here:
Intraarticular Injection of Infliximab-Loaded Thermosensitive Hydrogel Alleviates Pain and Protects Cartilage in Rheumatoid Arthritis - DocWire News

Read More...

Cyxone has filed an IND in the US with Rabeximod following positive feed-back from pre-IND meeting with the FDA – BioSpace

Wednesday, December 16th, 2020

STOCKHOLM, Dec. 15, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cyxone (publ.), a clinical stage biotech company developing first-in-class drugs for diseases of the immune system, announced today that the company has filed an Investigational New Drug (IND) application with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) pertaining to its drug candidate Rabeximod. The application follows on a productive pre-IND meeting with the authority, where valuable advice was received on inter alia the protocol for its imminent European Phase 2 clinical study in moderate Covid-19. The IND covers the development of Rabeximod in Covid-19 and other indications, such as rheumatoid arthritis, and is a prerequisite for a future validation of the company's five recent patent applications in the US market.

Cyxone recently held a constructive pre-IND meeting (type B meeting) with the FDA, and the authority's advice has been incorporated in the study protocol for the clinical study of Rabeximod in Covid-19, which is expected to be initiated shortly in Europe. The filing of an IND will enable participation of US medical centers in future clinical studies of Rabeximod in Covid-19, rheumatoid arthritis and potential other indications. The IND package is based upon the favorable safety profile of Rabeximod shown in previous Phase 1 and Phase 2a studies. In Covid-19, Rabeximod is positioned as an oral treatment of moderately diseased patients - a group that is not addressed by current standard of care therapeutics.

"Filing an IND with the FDA is an important step in the clinical development of Rabeximod. It is a quality stamp on our drug candidate and Covid-19 trial and would enable us to expand the clinical development to the United States. Even as vaccines are becoming available, safe and convenient treatments for Covid-19 will be required to lower the death toll of the current global health emergency and to be better prepared for future pandemics", said Cyxone's CEO, Tara Heitner.

Cyxone recently announced that the company had received regulatory approval to initiate a randomized, placebo controlled, double blind, Phase 2 clinical trial of Rabeximod in Poland. In parallel, the company has submitted a Clinical Trial Application in Slovakia and is preparing for submissions in additional countries. Rabeximod will be evaluated in patients suffering from moderate Covid-19 in need of oxygen treatment but not ventilation support. In the study, 300 patients will receive Rabeximod orally at one of two dose levels or placebo for 14 days after which Cyxone will evaluate the study outcome. Cyxone aims to announce top-line results from the study in the third quarter of 2021.

"We look forward to initiating the Phase 2 study in Covid-19 patients as soon as possible, to provide important information about the safety and efficacy of Rabeximod in an acute setting", said Cyxone's Chief Operating Officer, Malin Berthold.

Contact

Tara Heitner, CEOTel: +46 70 781 88 08Email: tara.heitner@cyxone.comAdelgatan 21211 22 Malm, Sweden

This contains such information that Cyxone AB is required to make public under the EU's Market Abuse Regulation. The information was provided under the auspices of the above contact person for publication on 15 December 2020 at 09.25 CET.

About Cyxone

Cyxone AB (publ) (Nasdaq First North Growth Market: CYXO) develops disease modifying therapies for diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis as well as treatments for virally induced acute respiratory disorders. Rabeximod is a Phase 2 candidate drug being evaluated for the management of rheumatoid arthritis and moderate Covid-19 infections. T20K is a Phase 1 candidate drug for treatment of multiple sclerosis. Certified Adviser is Mangold Fondkommission AB, +46 (0)8 503 015 50, ca@mangold.se. For more information, please visit http://www.cyxone.com

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/cyxone/r/cyxone-has-filed-an-ind-in-the-us-with-rabeximod-following-positive-feed-back-from-pre-ind-meeting-w,c3254848

The following files are available for download:

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cyxone-has-filed-an-ind-in-the-us-with-rabeximod-following-positive-feed-back-from-pre-ind-meeting-with-the-fda-301192673.html

SOURCE Cyxone

Company Codes: ISIN:SE0007815428, Stockholm:CYXO

View post:
Cyxone has filed an IND in the US with Rabeximod following positive feed-back from pre-IND meeting with the FDA - BioSpace

Read More...

Incidence, risk factors and validation of the RABBIT score for serious infections in a cohort of 1557 patients with rheumatoid arthritis – DocWire…

Wednesday, December 16th, 2020

Objectives:Predicting serious infections (SI) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is crucial for the implementation of appropriate preventive measures. Here we aimed to identify risk factors for SI and to validate the RA Observation of Biologic Therapy (RABBIT) risk score in real-life settings.

Methods:A multi-centre, prospective, RA cohort study in Greece. Demographics, disease characteristics, treatments and comorbidities were documented at first evaluation and one year later. The incidence of SI was recorded and compared with the expected SI rate using the RABBIT risk score.

Results:A total of 1557 RA patients were included. During follow-up, 38 SI were recorded [incidence rate ratio (IRR): 2.3/100 patient-years]. Patients who developed SI had longer disease duration, higher HAQ at first evaluation and were more likely to have a history of previous SI, chronic lung disease, cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease. By multivariate analysis, longer disease duration (IRR: 1.05; 95% CI: 1.005, 1.1), history of previous SI (IRR: 4.15; 95% CI: 1.7, 10.1), diabetes (IRR: 2.55; 95% CI: 1.06, 6.14), chronic lung disease (IRR: 3.14; 95% CI: 1.35, 7.27) and daily prednisolone dose 10 mg (IRR: 4.77; 95% CI: 1.47, 15.5) were independent risk factors for SI. Using the RABBIT risk score in 1359 patients, the expected SI incidence rate was 1.71/100 patient-years, not different from the observed (1.91/100 patient-years; P = 0.97).

Conclusion:In this large real-life, prospective study of RA patients, the incidence of SI was 2.3/100 patient-years. Longer disease duration, history of previous SI, comorbidities and high glucocorticoid dose were independently associated with SI. The RABBIT score accurately predicted SI in our cohort.

Keywords:comorbidities; glucocorticoids; infections; rheumatoid arthritis; risk score.

Read this article:
Incidence, risk factors and validation of the RABBIT score for serious infections in a cohort of 1557 patients with rheumatoid arthritis - DocWire...

Read More...

Winter can exacerbate arthritis pain: Heres how to deal with it – TheHealthSite

Tuesday, December 8th, 2020

Cold weather can have a significant impact on your health, particularly for those who are suffering from arthritis. As the temperature drops, bones usually become stiff, inflexible and creaking, which can heighten discomfort in the joints, making life of people with arthritis troublesome. In fact, anyone who suffers from arthritis pain can sense and predict the change in weather. Also Read - Arthritis: Smoking and other bad habits that can be deadly for your joints

Not only the cold weather increase stiffness and joint pain, it can also lead to increased anxiety, depression and isolation for patients with arthritis. Also Read - Dont delay your arthritis pain, seek timely intervention

So, here are some tips to ease joint pain, maintain your bone health and stay happy during the winters. Also Read - 5 home remedies and tips to combat winter-induced pain and joint stiffness

Keep your aching hands, knees and legs warm with gloves, tights or leggings, and boots. Add extra layers of clothing, if needed and especially when you go out in winter. But make sure it doesnt restrict your movement. More layers of clothes work better at trapping the body heat than wearing thicker clothes.

Dehydration can make you more sensitive to pain, as revealed by a 2015 study published in Experimental Physiology. Water flushes toxins out of your body, which can help fight inflammation. Also, water helps keep your joints well lubricated. Whats more, drinking water before a meal can promote weight loss. Studies have found significant improvement in people with knee arthritis when they lost weight loss.

Many people tend to hibernate and laze around during the winters. But staying active is crucial for people living with arthritis. It can help ease pain, increase strength and flexibility, and boost energy. Doctors recommend adults with arthritis to do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity a week and two weekly sessions of strength training. Note: This advice is for those who have normal physical function and no other severe health conditions. If you want to avoid the winter chill, workout indoors.

A warm shower or soak in a tub, swimming in a heated pool, using heating pads, hot water bag, electric blankets these are some ways to reap the benefits of heat therapy. Heat can improve blood flow and help flush out pain-producing chemicals. It can also stimulate receptors in your skin that improve your pain tolerance. In addition, heat relaxes muscles, which in turn helps decrease spasms and reduce stiffness.

Less exposure to the sun makes it difficult to get enough vitamin D or sunshine vitamin in the winter. Studies have linked lower vitamin D levels with more severe clinical manifestations of rheumatic arthritis. Low vitamin D levels may also increase sensitivity to pain. Therefore, Vitamin D supplement is often recommended for arthritis patients. Talk to your doctor about your need for supplements. Meanwhile, you can add foods that contains vitamin D such as fatty fish like swordfish, mackerel, salmon, and tuna, and fortified products like orange juice, milk, and breakfast cereals to your diet.

Omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties, which can be beneficial for people who have an inflammatory type of arthritis.

A study published in the Annals of Rheumatic Disease in 2013 found that people with rheumatoid arthritis who took omega-3s supplements had a reduction in joint pain. Other studies suggest that omega-3s may help rheumatoid arthritis patients lower their dose of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). People with rheumatoid arthritis are at higher risk of heart disease, and omega-3s are known for their role in promoting heart health.

Fish oil is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids. Plant-based sources of omega-3 fatty acids include avocado, flaxseeds, and walnuts.

Published : December 8, 2020 7:50 pm | Updated:December 8, 2020 8:04 pm

See original here:
Winter can exacerbate arthritis pain: Heres how to deal with it - TheHealthSite

Read More...

6 Things That Can Make Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms Worse – Yahoo Canada Shine On

Tuesday, December 8th, 2020

Eat This, Not That!

One year ago, the holiday movie season was about to kick off, shopping centers were filled to the brink with people, and little kids were sitting on Santa's lap telling him what they wanted for Christmas. However, since COVID-19 became a threat to the health of Americans in early 2020, life as we know it has changed drastically. With a seemingly safe and effective vaccine just days to weeks away, many people are hoping there will be a return to normalcy within the next few months. On Tuesday, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's leading infectious disease expert, spoke with The Wall Street Journal's Jonathan D. Rockoff, revealing when he expects life to be "normal" again. In short, it depends on the actions of you: the American people.. Read on, and to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You've Already Had Coronavirus.We Could "Start Approaching Normality" by Q2/Q3, Says Dr. FauciWhile a vaccine will help us return to normalcy, it will only be effective if people actually get it. "I think that if we implement the vaccine program that I've just been describing with you, John, that we can do it in the back half of 2021," Fauci revealed."I believe if we get people vaccinated at a good rate, as we get into the open component where anybody can get vaccinated in April, May, June, July, I believe as we get to the end of the second quarter into the third quarter of the 2021, we can have a degree of protection community that we could start approaching normality in many of that over activities."So what will normal look like? It will involve "getting the CEOs"he mentioned CEOs because many were tuning into the Wall Street Journal livestream"to feel comfortable in getting people back in their establishments, having restaurants get in full capacity indoor, having some indoor functions that we can feel safe," such as theaters and places of entertainment and sports events.RELATED: 7 Tips You Must Follow to Avoid COVID, Say DoctorsNormality Depends on Enough People Taking the VaccineHowever, he reiterated that in order to get back to normal "towards the second half of 2021," we would need to "implement the vaccine program properly and aggressively." He sounds confident about the distribution. But there are hurdles, like convincing those who are anti-vaccine to take it. He's been promoting the safety of the vaccine to help spread the good word. "The data to prove it's safe and effective is seen first and only, and exclusively, by an independent data and safety monitoring board, not by the company, not by the federal government, but by an independent group of clinicians, vaccinologist immunologists, virologists, statisticians. They look at the data when the data shows, which it has, that the vaccine is safe and efficaciousIf you can get people to understand that, with an open mind, you will have essentially dissolved any reason that they might have for not getting vaccinated," he said. "And if they still don't want to get vaccinated, then I think there's something that we really can't overcomethat just inherently anti-vax."RELATED: Simple Ways to Avoid a Heart Attack, According to DoctorsHow to Stay Healthy During the PandemicUnfortunately, it is unlikely that COVID-19 will ever fully go away, and will forever linger. "I don't think we're going to eradicate it the way we did with smallpox, but I think we can do what we've done with polio and what we've done with measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases," he admitted.Until the vaccine takes into effect and there is herd immunity, public health measures will be crucial. Do everything you can to prevent gettingand spreadingCOVID-19 in the first place: Wear a face mask, get tested if you think you have coronavirus, avoid crowds (and bars, and house parties), practice social distancing, only run essential errands, wash your hands regularly, disinfect frequently touched surfaces, and to get through this pandemic at your healthiest, don't miss these 35 Places You're Most Likely to Catch COVID.

See the original post here:
6 Things That Can Make Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms Worse - Yahoo Canada Shine On

Read More...

When Admitted to the ICU, These Factors in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis May Increase Mortality Risk – DocWire News

Tuesday, December 8th, 2020

A study examined factors that may be associated with poorer intensive care unit (ICU) outcomes among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Immunosuppressive treatment for RA using glucocorticoids, conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs), biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs), and targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (tsDMARDs; e.g., JAK inhibitors) significantly improves disease activity and joint destruction; however, numerous comorbidities and complications, including infection, malignancy, and organ failure (cardiovascular disease [CVD], respiratory distress, and renal failure) remain associated with the increased mortality of RA patients compared with the general population, the researchers noted.

The retrospective study, published in BMC Rheumatology, consisted of 67 patients (47 were female) with RA admitted to the ICU for at least 48 hours between January 2008 and December 2017, who were assessed for 30-day mortality. Six patients were admitted to the ICU more than once during the study period, in which case only the first ICU admission was analyzed.

The median age at the time of admission was 70 years, and RA duration was 10 years. The five-year survival rate after ICU admission was 47%. The 30-day mortality rate was 22%, 90-day rate was 27%, and one-year rate was 37%. Most patients were admitted to the ICU due to infection (40%) and cardiovascular complications (24%). When in the ICU, the most common treatments were vasopressor (78%), mechanical ventilation (69%), and renal replacement (25%).

Two-thirds of the 30-day mortality patients died as a result of infection; factors associated with mortality were a significantly higher glucocorticoid dose, updated Charlsons comorbidity index (CCI), and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II score.

According to laboratory data collected at admission, factors predictive of a significantly poorer prognosis were lower platelet number and total protein and higher creatinine and prothrombin time international normalized ratio (PT-INR). Upon multivariate analysis, factors that increased mortality risk following ICU admission were nonuse of csDMARDs, high updated CCI, increased APACHE II score, and prolonged PT-INR.

Read more:
When Admitted to the ICU, These Factors in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis May Increase Mortality Risk - DocWire News

Read More...

New Study Demonstrates Clinical Utility of PrismRA Test in Guiding Therapy Selection for Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients – GlobeNewswire

Tuesday, December 8th, 2020

New findings from a clinical utility study in Rheumatology International

A new study published in Rheumatology International demonstrates clinical utility of PrismRA test in guiding therapy selection for rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Dr. James Mossell

Dr. James Mossell, DO is a Rheumatology Specialist in Tifton, GA and has over 31 years of experience in the medical field. He graduated from New York Osteopathic Medicine - New York medical school in 1989 and completed his fellowship in rheumatology at the University of Florida. He is affiliated with medical facilities such as the Tift Regional Medical Center, Coffee Regional Medical Center, and Crisp Regional Hospital. He is also a fellow with the American College of Rheumatology.

WALTHAM, Mass., Dec. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Scipher Medicine, a precision immunology company matching patients with the most effective therapy, today announced findings from a clinical utility study published in Rheumatology International that the PrismRA test can lead to major changes in prescribing behaviors. When test results indicated a likelihood of non-response, up to 89% of providers shifted their proposed therapy from tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) to an alternative drug class based on the PrismRA score.

The majority of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients prescribed the worlds largest selling drug class, TNFi, do not adequately respond to treatment. PrismRA is a first-of-its-kind blood test that accurately predicts patients who will not have an adequate response to TNFi therapy so alternative effective therapy can be prescribed from day one, without first cycling through multiple TNFi drugs.

The results of this study clearly show that rheumatologists would change their medical management of RA patients if they had access to a predictive biomarker test like PrismRA, said James Mossell, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Fellow of the American College of Rheumatology and an author of the study. Rheumatologists are eager to use precision medicine in complex autoimmune diseases such as RA and find high value in eliminating therapies that will likely fail in certain patients before selecting a more optimal targeted therapy.

The study surveyed 248 rheumatologists as to the clinical utility of a TNFi non-responder biomarker. A vast majority found the test easy to interpret and clinically useful, selection of TNFi therapy declined by 81% (from 79.8% to 15.3%) and 86% (from 79.8% to 11.3%) respectively when presented with a test result indicating a high or very high signal of non-response.

The clinical breakthrough enabled by PrismRA means more patients will be prescribed effective therapy sooner resulting in significantly improved health outcomes, said Alif Saleh, CEO of Scipher Medicine. We are pleased this study demonstrates the support of PrismRA by the rheumatology community.

About Scipher Medicine

Scipher Medicine, a precision immunology company, holds the fundamental belief that patients deserve simple answers to treatment options based on scientifically backed data. Leveraging our proprietary Network Medicine platform and artificial intelligence, we commercialize blood tests revealing a persons unique molecular disease signature and match such signature to the most effective therapy, ensuring optimal treatment from day one. The unprecedented amount of patient molecular data generated from our tests further drives the discovery and development of novel and more effective therapeutics. We partner with payers, providers, and pharma along the health care value chain to bring precision medicine to autoimmune diseases. Visit http://www.sciphermedicine.com and follow Scipher on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

About PrismRA

PrismRA, a molecular signature test, is a revolutionary advancement bringing precision medicine to the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, which affects 20 million patients globally. From a routine blood draw, the PrismRA test analyzes an individual's molecular signature, helping identify who is unlikely to adequately respond to TNFi therapy, the worlds largest selling drug class, so non-responders can be prescribed alternative effective therapy. Providers now have objective data to guide therapeutic decision-making and give patients the best chance of achieving treatment targets and improving clinical outcomes. For more information, please visit http://www.PrismRA.com

Media Contact:Alexander PettiAlexander@TakeOnCommunications.com201-978-4882

Scipher Medicine company contact:Andrea Mooreandrea.moore@scipher.com801.209.1175

Photos accompanying this release are available athttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/63fce27f-c5e3-421b-a9c6-e57d9e2ffa99https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3a651586-0fb6-433c-af6a-bb41baeb2b0c

See the rest here:
New Study Demonstrates Clinical Utility of PrismRA Test in Guiding Therapy Selection for Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients - GlobeNewswire

Read More...

New Screening Tool for Osteoporosis in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis – Rheumatology Advisor

Tuesday, December 8th, 2020

Among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), there is a correlation between the cortical thickness relative to the transverse diameter of third metacarpal bone and bone mineral density (BMD), suggesting this can be a promising screening tool for osteoporosis in this population, according to study results published in Bone.

Patients with RA are at increased risk for osteoporosis and fragility fractures. While dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is the gold standard for the diagnosis of osteoporosis, it is not widely available in many countries worldwide. Here the researchers sought to determine whether a screening index for BMD loss can be used as a substitute to the DXA method.

The Sharp/van der Heijde Scores were calculated using X-ray pictures of both sides of the hand. All patients with RA treated at Yoshii Hospital, Kochi, Japan, between April 2014 and September 2019, were subjected to the routine administration of X-ray pictures of the bilateral hands and feet at the first consultation and thereafter in order to calculate Sharp/van der Heijde Scores. Cortical thickness and the transverse diameter of the mid-portion of the metacarpal bone of the right middle finger were calculated and researchers determined the Cortical Thickness Ratio (CTR) as the cortical diameter relative to the transverse diameter. At the same time, BMD of the lumbar spine and femoral neck was measured.

Using the receiver operation characteristics (ROC) technique, the cut-off index of the CTR to the BMD was calculated. In addition, sensitivity, specificity, area under the curve, and the odds ratio for T-score < -2.5 were evaluated.

The cross-sectional study included 300 patients with RA (87.4% women, mean age 73.9 years). The mean transverse width of the third metacarpal bone was 7.3 mm and the thickness of the cortex was 2.0 mm, thus the average SD CTR was 0.2790.124.

There was a significant correlation between CTR and BMD in both the lumbar spine and femoral neck according to DXA testing.

In ROC analysis, the cut-off index of the CTR was 0.25 for the lumbar spine and femoral neck. For the lumbar spine, the sensitivity was 67.9% and the specificity was 83.0%, with an area under the curve of 0.78, and an odds ratio of 4.17 (95% CI, 2.51-6.92). For the femoral neck, sensitivity was 76.1%, specificity was 81.6%, the area under the curve was 0.81 with an odds ratio of 4.90 (95% CI, 2.75-8.73).

The index was examined in treatment nave patients in order to eliminate confounding of drug interventions, and the data suggested the CTR is a potential useful tool for the initial screening of osteoporosis for patients who are nave for osteoporosis and RA treatment.

[T]he CTR may be a strong candidate marker for screening for osteoporosis in patients with RA with the index less than 0.25. These findings may provide physicians with the diagnosis of osteoporosis in patients with RA, concluded the researchers.

Yoshii I, Akita K. Cortical thickness relative to the transverse diameter of third metacarpal bone reflects bone mineral density in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Bone. 2020;137:115405. doi:10.1016/j.bone.2020.115405

Read more:
New Screening Tool for Osteoporosis in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis - Rheumatology Advisor

Read More...

Baricitinib: Doctors Are Skeptical of This Covid-19 Drug From Eli Lilly – The New York Times

Tuesday, December 8th, 2020

In mid-November, an arthritis drug with a tricky name hit a pandemic milestone then slipped back into relative obscurity.

The drug, baricitinib, was granted an emergency authorization by the Food and Drug Administration to treat a subset of hospitalized Covid-19 patients in combination with another medication, the antiviral remdesivir. It is one of only a handful of treatments to have earned the agencys green light.

But baricitinibs reception by the medical community has been lukewarm. It doesnt work all that well, for one thing, and comes with side effects, such as blood clots. And at a cost of roughly $1,500 per patient, many doctors dont know when it would make sense to use the drug, which might have overlapping roles with cheap and widely available steroids like dexamethasone.

In a clinical trial sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, hospitalized Covid-19 patients treated with baricitinib and remdesivir recovered one day faster than patients who had received remdesivir alone.

I think its really a nothing burger, said Dr. Ilan Schwartz, an infectious disease physician at the University of Alberta. Were talking about adding a drug that reduces the time to clinical improvement by one day, in a disease that takes weeks to recover.

These results, which were announced through a series of news releases by drugmaker Eli Lilly, have yet to be published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. Kristen Porter Basu, a spokeswoman for the company, wrote in an email that a more detailed analysis would be published very soon.

When an emergency authorization has been released but the data have not, doctors are caught in a difficult place, said Dr. Manuela Cernadas, a critical care physician at Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston. Its not entirely clear where this drug fits in our armamentarium of drugs were comfortable using.

Baricitinib is a repurposed arthritis treatment that, like a steroid, dampens inflammation, which, in severe cases of Covid-19, can spiral out of control and destroy healthy tissues. The drug acts like a molecular muffler, preventing the cells from responding to alarm signals that could make the bodys immune response spiral out of control.

The N.I.H. trial was designed to test whether baricitinib could boost the benefits of remdesivir, now the standard of care for Covid-19 patients. Remdesivir by itself speeds recovery by several days. The researchers found that the addition of baricitinib clipped an additional day off a patients recovery time and kept a few extra people off ventilators. But these and other results largely failed to impress experts, many of whom said the drug would need to have far bigger benefits to outweigh its price tag and potential harms.

It seems more incremental than blockbuster, said Dr. Taison Bell, a critical care physician at the University of Virginia, who was involved in the clinical trial. Although Dr. Bell described baricitinib as a reasonable addition to the Covid treatment toolbox, and even deserving of an emergency approval, I dont think its a game changer, he said.

Still, the findings were enough to convince the F.D.A., which issued an emergency authorization on Nov. 19. The drug is now allowed to be paired with remdesivir, but only to hospitalized patients who need supplemental oxygen, mechanical ventilation or other breathing support.

The agencys limited clearance aligns with the subset of patients in the N.I.H. trial who benefited the most from the dual drug combo, said Dr. Andre Kalil, an infectious disease physician at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and one of the lead researchers on the trial.

But this same population of patients people sick enough to need some form of breathing support would also be great candidates for steroids like dexamethasone, said Dr. Phyllis Tien, an infectious disease physician at the University of California, San Francisco.

Dexamethasone, unlike baricitinib, has been shown in studies to curb mortality in severely sick Covid-19 patients. A generic drug, its also cheap, costing cents or dollars per day of treatment, and has for months been a part of the coronavirus treatment playbook.

Im asking myself, Who would I think about using baricitinib in, over dexamethasone? Dr. Tien said.

But Dr. Boghuma Kabisen Titanji, an infectious disease physician at Emory University who pioneered early studies of baricitinib against the coronavirus, offered a more sobering perspective on dexamethasone. Steroids are blunt knives, she said, quashing inflammation on a broader scale than drugs like baricitinib do. Thats why steroids come with a host of unwanted side effects, including exacerbating conditions like diabetes or osteoporosis, she said.

The family of drugs that includes baricitinib, on the other hand, may offer more therapeutic precision, Dr. Titanji said. Theres also been some evidence that baricitinib might be able to block the coronavirus from entering cells.

Confused by the terms used about how to treat Covid-19?Let us help:

Still, baricitinib comes with its own problems, such as raising the risk of blood clots already an issue in many cases of Covid-19. That does give you pause, Dr. Cernadas said.

Both baricitinib and dexamethasone also blunt immune function, increasing the likelihood that other viruses or bacteria might infiltrate the bodies of the people theyre used in. But of the two, dexamethasone is the devil you know, said Dr. Lauren Henderson, a pediatric rheumatologist at Boston Childrens Hospital. I would probably not turn to baricitinib as a first line.

Dr. Tien and other experts echoed this sentiment, saying they would be likely to choose dexamethasone over baricitinib when treating someone with a serious case of Covid-19, unless there was an obvious reason their patient might respond poorly to steroids.

A head-to-head comparison between baricitinib and dexamethasone might clarify which patients would be better off taking one drug over another. At the end of November, the N.I.H. announced a trial that will compare outcomes between hospitalized Covid-19 patients who receive either a combination of remdesivir and dexamethasone, or a combination of remdesivir and baricitinib. But Dr. Schwartz and others raised ethical concerns about this trial, which he said would by definition deprive some patients of a lifesaving steroid therapy.

Eli Lilly is also running a trial to study the effects of baricitinib on its own in hospitalized patients. In this study, which isnt likely to finish until next summer, all participants will receive dexamethasone.

Link:
Baricitinib: Doctors Are Skeptical of This Covid-19 Drug From Eli Lilly - The New York Times

Read More...

Merete Lund Hetland: A cross country collaboration to assess the benefits and harms biological therapies for early rheumatoid arthritis – The BMJ -…

Tuesday, December 8th, 2020

The Scandinavian countries may look rather similar when watching from a distance. However, if you zoom in on details, the differences become manifest.

This has been a returning truth in the more than ten years that the NORD-STAR collaboration has been running.

Initially, we saw the similarities: All countries (including the Netherlands, which joined the collaboration half-way through) had a history of high quality research in the field of rheumatoid arthritis and an idea of how to treat this debilitating and destructive inflammatory disease best. Investigator-initiated trials such as Fin-RACo and Neo-RACo (Finland), Swe-fot (Sweden), ARCTIC (Norway), CIMESTRA and OPERA (Denmark) and BeSt (The Netherlands) have contributed important knowledge to the field. Despite the modest sizes of our countries, our national quality registries (ARTIS, DANBIO, ICEBIO, NORDMARD, ROB-FIN) have informed clinicians around the world about treatment outcomes for real world patients with inflammatory arthritis. Moreover, in all countries biological drugs with different modes of action were widely available due to a tax-paid system for reimbursement.

Despite our previous research at the national level, we were stuck with an important, unanswered clinical question: What are the benefits and harms of the different biological therapies compared with active conventional treatment in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis?

The question had multiple aspects: The shorter term ability of the different therapies to induce remission was key. However, longer term results regarding the prevention of joint damage and safety profile were also important. Would there be differences in the flare rates between the drugs if treatment was de-escalated? Would spin-off projects based on the study biobank pave the way for more tailored treatments?

A cross-national collaboration was needed to answer these questions with sufficient statistical power. For our investigator-initiated trial, we needed more than 800 treatment-naive patients randomized to four different treatments, turning our study into one of the largest ever in rheumatoid arthritis.

This was when the differences between our countries became evident. Defining the active conventional therapy was a hard nut to crack in the planning of the design. Despite very similar EU-based legislation across the countries, bureaucratic obstacles challenged the approval from ethics, medical and data authorities. Securing public funding for the study infrastructure was an important milestone in the early phases, as was the willingness of two of three companies to provide us with free study drug.

We are proud to present the first results in The BMJ. Our 24-week results highlight the efficacy and safety of active conventional treatment based on methotrexate combined with corticosteroids, with nominally better results for the biologic abatacept.

The NORD-STAR research network has solved challenges, coped with frustrations, shared the joy and excitement during the various phase of the project. Ten years so far, and probably ten more years before we have the last results.

We believe the currentand futureresults from the NORD-STAR trial and spin-off projects will provide the medical community with important insights on how to best care for patients with early rheumatoid arthritis.

Merete Lund Hetland, Professor in Rheumatology, Consultant, and Head of the DANBIO steering committee, Copenhagen Center for Arthritis Research (COPECARE) and DANBIO, Center for Rheumatology and Spine Diseases, Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark.

Competing interests: Please see research paper for more details.

Read the original here:
Merete Lund Hetland: A cross country collaboration to assess the benefits and harms biological therapies for early rheumatoid arthritis - The BMJ -...

Read More...

CreakyJoints Launches eRheum.org to Educate Patients on Getting the Most From Their Telehealth Appointment – Business Wire

Tuesday, December 8th, 2020

UPPER NYACK, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CreakyJoints, the digital arthritis community for patients and caregivers worldwide and part of the Global Healthy Living Foundation (GHLF), today announced the launch of eRheum.org, a new digital destination to help patients get the most from their telehealth appointment. Data presented at the 2020 ACR Convergence by CreakyJoints from our ArthritisPower supported Autoimmune COVID-19 Project showed that as the pandemic ramped up (post-March 15, 2020) return patient appointments dropped and telehealth visits increased, but not enough to overcome the frequency of missed/cancelled in-person appointments. This is a problem because disruptions in rheumatology care slow the rate at which patients can be diagnosed and treated, adversely affecting health outcomes and chronic disease management. Optimizing the availability and effectiveness of telehealth appointments will help with continuity of care.

After consulting with rheumatologists and speaking with our patient members, we recognized the urgent need to help patients understand how to access telehealth and make the most of their virtual appointment, said Louis Tharp, executive director and co-founder of CreakyJoints and the Global Healthy Living Foundation. Written in patient-friendly language, eRheum defines telehealth and how rheumatologists utilize it, provides patients with access to difference video conferencing portals to try with their physician, and explains how to make the most of your limited face-to-face time with your physician during the appointment itself.

Taking Advantage of Telehealth

In May of 2020, GHLF asked its chronic disease patient community to rate their experience with telehealth over the previous two months on a scale of 1-10 (where 10 = excellent experience). Seventy-three percent of respondents said they have used telehealth in the past two months and of those who have used it, they rated with experience as eight. Given the positive response, CreakyJoints built eRheum.org with arthritis patient input and then shared it with provider groups to encourage them to share it with patients in their care. In addition to the main portal, eRheum has been adopted and co-branded by the Association of Women in Rheumatology (AWIR) and the Rheumatology Nurses Society (RNS).

"Weve taught our patients who are on immunosuppressants for so long to avoid communicable diseases, particularly during flu season. This pandemic has really affected their willingness to venture out of their homes, even to medical appointments. Understandably, those with chronic diseases like inflammatory arthritis, who also already belong to a group with some of the highest risks for COVID-19 serious complications, such as blacks, Hispanics, the elderly, or those who are overweight, are most reluctant to venture out, said RNS President Cathy Patty-Resk, MSN, RN-BC, CPNP-PC. We introduced eRheum to our nurses and advanced practice providers in our organization because we want to continue to be the resource they need for their patients. The tools available on eRheum promote confidence in patients to ask their questions to get the care they need to continue effectively managing their condition.

AWIR is dedicated to improving the health of all patients with rheumatic diseases and bridging the gaps experienced by patients from diverse backgrounds. Virtual care allows us to bring our caring to our patients wherever they are, and wherever we are. We embrace this initiative to optimize care for our patients, said Grace C Wright M.D. PhD., President of AWIR.

Understanding Telehealth Best Practices

Recently, the University of Alabama at Birmingham announced that the university and collaborators such as Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and CreakyJoints and its ArthritisPower Research Registry received a two-year, $400,000 grant from the American College of Rheumatologys Rheumatology Research Foundation to support telehealth-delivered healthcare. The Telehealth-delivered Healthcare to Improve Care (THRIVE) projects primary investigator, Swamy Venuturupalli, M.D., is the recipient of this years ACRs Norman B. Gaylis, M.D., Clinical Research Award, and the study is slated to begin in January of 2021.

THRIVE seeks to evaluate the quality of telehealth services when provided to a rheumatology patient in their home and deliver recommendations for physicians about best practices regarding what telehealth-related care delivery should include, how to deliver it, and how to standardize high quality care. It will produce a peer-reviewed white paper that describes those best practices. Overall, the goal is to expand the impact of rheumatology by increasing patient access to care, especially among those marginalized or most at risk by the COVID-19 pandemic. CreakyJoints will produce a patient-facing training video that will show rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients how to perform joint self-assessment and compare its accuracy with an in-person clinician joint exam (the gold standard).

Telehealth offers patients the flexibility they need to stay in contact with their doctors, but this works only when both parties understand how to get the most out of the appointment, said W. Benjamin Nowell, PhD., Director, Patient-Centered Research at CreakyJoints, principal investigator of the ArthritisPower Research Registry, and a co-investigator of the THRIVE study. Telehealth in rheumatology has some unique features and this study is an important complement to eRheum as it enables us to further enhance the telehealth tools and education we offer to rheumatologists and people living with arthritis. Ultimately, we want to do all we can to ensure productive and satisfying telehealth appointments for arthritis patients and their doctors.

About CreakyJoints

CreakyJoints is a digital community for millions of arthritis patients and caregivers worldwide who seek education, support, advocacy, and patient-centered research. We represent patients in English and Spanish through our popular social media channels, our websites http://www.CreakyJoints.org, http://www.creakyjoints.org.es/, http://www.creakyjoints.org.au, and the 50-State Network, which includes more than 1,500 trained volunteer patient, caregiver and healthcare activists.

As part of the Global Healthy Living Foundation, CreakyJoints also has a patient-reported outcomes registry called ArthritisPower (ArthritisPower.org) with more than 29,000 consented arthritis patients who track their disease while volunteering to participate in longitudinal and observational research. CreakyJoints also publishes the popular Raising the Voice of Patients series, which are downloadable patient-centered educational and navigational tools for managing chronic illness. It also hosts PainSpot (PainSpot.org), a digital risk assessment tool for musculoskeletal conditions and injuries. For more information and to become a member (for free), visit http://www.CreakyJoints.org.

Find us on social media:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/creakyjoints and https://www.facebook.com/GlobalHealthyLivingFoundation/ Twitter: @GHLForg, @CreakyJoints, #CreakyChatsInstagram: @creaky_joints, @creakyjoints_aus, @creakyjoints_espTikTok: globalhealthylivingfndLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ghlf/

Continued here:
CreakyJoints Launches eRheum.org to Educate Patients on Getting the Most From Their Telehealth Appointment - Business Wire

Read More...

Help to alleviate the nagging, debilitating pain of arthritis – OrilliaMatters

Thursday, December 3rd, 2020

Thursday evening's Our Health event gives local residents a chance to get answers to their questions regarding the disease

Getting answers about a debilitating medical condition can sometimes be a challenge.

Thats why Thursday's Our Health session will explore the toll arthritis exerts on area residents, who might be having trouble these days getting out of a chair or walking up the stairs at home.

It's serious, said Dr. Olivia Cheng, an orthopaedic surgeon at Georgian Bay General Hospital and Collingwood General and Marine Hospital.

One in five Canadians live every day with arthritis and there is no cure. Arthritis is a collection of conditions affecting joints and other tissues. It causes pain, restricts mobility and diminishes quality of life.

Entitled Living your Best Life with Arthritis, the live, virtual event goes Thursday at 7:30 p.m.Moderated by retired physician Keith Rose, Cheng and other panelists will discuss how residents can manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life through therapeutic exercise, physical activity and joint-replacement surgery.

According to the Canadian Arthritis Society, arthritis affects about 6 million Canadians. There are many types of arthritis, including non-inflammatory osteoarthritis or inflammatory such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis affects one in six Canadians. It is a chronic disease which causes pain, stiffness, swelling and decreased movement in the hips, knees, fingers, toes or spine resulting from the bodys failed attempt to repair damaged joint tissue.

When we look at the impact of arthritis, we need to take into consideration other musculoskeletal disorders affecting the joints, ligaments, tendons, bones, etc., Cheng said. All of these can cause pain and functional limitations.

Arthritis is often written off as just arthritis, and a natural part of aging, however, the mortality, morbidity burden of arthritis and the economic cost of arthritis has been underestimated. As a result, people often live with arthritis for years before receiving appropriate help.

Cheng said its important to learn about the symptoms of arthritis and to seek appropriate help.

Early diagnosis and treatment of the illness can prevent or delay progression of the disease, she said. Also, managing the symptoms of arthritis can help you live a better life. The natural history of arthritis is that this disease will flare up intermittently with an overall progression over time.

According to Cheng, risk factors for arthritis that you can control include being overweight, previous injury to the joint and smoking with factors beyond ones control ranging from age, gender since its more common in women and genetics since inflammatory arthritis often runs in the family.

Once you are diagnosed with arthritis, then you can address the factors that are within your control, she said. These include strengthening exercises to help protect and unload your joint.

Keeping your weight healthy will help decrease the mechanical load on your joint and decrease the inflammatory factors in your body. Environmental factors such as eating food that minimizes inflammationand stopsmoking are also important.

For inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis, there are many advances in medications that can help control the disease progression.

Cheng said shes often asked about the wait list for total joint-replacement surgeries.

There is an increase in the prevalence of arthritis in Canada, the static trend in rates of joint-replacement procedures suggests that the system may be operating at capacity, she said. In our region, patients with arthritis are referred by their family doctors to a central intake clinic where they are assessed by an advanced-practice physiotherapist.

Patients who are candidates for surgery are then referred to either their preferred or next available surgeon. The limiting factors on the ability for us to perform joint-replacement surgery include the number of joints we are allocated by the health ministry, operating room availabilityand hospital capacity.

Thursdays event will be broadcast on Rogers TV channel 53 (Midland, Tay and Penetanguishene only). For those with smart phones, tablets or computers with a Wi-Fi connection, you can view online. Questions can be submitted to mccjared@mcc.com.

Originally posted here:
Help to alleviate the nagging, debilitating pain of arthritis - OrilliaMatters

Read More...

Rheumatoid arthritis and cycling: how to keep the inflammation at bay – road.cc

Thursday, December 3rd, 2020

In early November 2020, at the age of only 33, former British national champion and Omloop Het Nieuwslad winner Ian Stannard announced he would retire from professional cycling, having developed rheumatoid arthritis...but it doesn't have to mean the end of your time in the saddle.

> Health Q&A: Ischial bursitis more than just a saddle sore

So, what is rheumatoid arthritis, and how can it affect cyclists?In this Q+A, consultant rheumatologist at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust and honorary senior lecturer at Manchester University Dr Marwan Bukhari explains why a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis doesnt have to stop you riding, and why cycling might actually help to preventdeveloping it in the first place...

road.cc: First of all, what is rheumatoid arthritis?

Marwan Bukhari: Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune condition where your immune system decides to activate itself and starts attacking different parts of your body. It usually starts in the joints but it can affect most of the organs in your body, including the eyes, the lungs and the skin. So while it often begins in the joints, it can become far more widespread.

What causes it?

We dont actually know what causes it but its believed that there is a genetic component to it. We think that if you are exposed to an unspecified infection and you have the corresponding genetics, your immune system will activate itself and start by attacking the joints.

Ian Stannard'srheumatoid arthritisinitially presentedin his wrists, but can it present itself elsewhere?

Rheumatoid arthritis most commonly starts off in the hands and feet, then it can affect the knees, elbows and shoulders. Those are the normal joints where it starts, although it can present at any joint in your body - and there are quite a lot of joints in your body!

How would cyclists first spot that they might have an issue?

One of the things that will happen first is that you will start to feel very stiff first thing in the morning, and that will last for more than half an hour after getting up. You will then start to get specific pain and stiffness. For example, a cyclist might have problems grabbing the handlebar, or problems pedalling, with the area underneath the pad of their feet feeling particularly tender. The knees can also get a lot of fluid in them and feel quite tight.

Cyclists are always suffering from a bit of pain or stiffness is there a specific sign that it might be more than just normal activity strain or general fatigue?

Yes, if the pain is very specifically in the joints and if you discover that your motion is significantly restricted. For example, if it is in the hand, just grabbing the brake lever will be painful. You will get fatigue as well and you can get flu-like symptoms - because your immune system is active, its almost as if youre fighting an infection.

What should somebody do if they do think they have a potential problem with rheumatoid arthritis?

The most important thing is to understand that the time between symptom onset and starting treatment is crucial for the prognosis. In the old days, people used to think that anybody with rheumatoid arthritis would end up in a wheelchair or have deformities but that is not the case. If you can have treatment within four months of symptom onset that requires recognising whats happening, seeing your GP, having tests and being referred to a specialist then you can get the disease into remission. But that can only be done if we get the disease under control early enough. Then, to get rheumatoid arthritis into remission requires taking fairly high doses of immune-suppressing treatments. If youre on a fair amount of them, that could make you more susceptible to other problems such as infections, which is obviously a particular consideration in the current climate with so much focus on Covid-19.

How is a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis made?

There is a combination of things that are needed to provide a diagnosis. The first is clinical symptoms. Then we use two blood tests: one measures levels of rheumatoid factors, which are proteins that the immune system produces when it attacks healthy tissue; the other is known as anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP), which are antibodies also produced by the immune system. Then that might be combined with some imaging - either x-rays or ultrasound imaging of the joints.

We tend to think of arthritis as an old persons condition, but Ian Stannard is only 33 so at what age can it develop?

Even children can develop inflammatory arthritis that looks exactly like rheumatoid, so it can happen from birth really. The most common ages are people in their 30s or 40s. It affects women more than men, but were now also seeing a form that appears in peoples 70s and that equally affects men and women. So all ages can be affected, and it affects around 1% of the population in the UK - there are more than 600,000 patients with rheumatoid arthritis in the UK.

Is there anything that makes cyclists more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis? Or is there anything about cycling that aggravates it?

No, actually the evidence is that if you build the muscles around your joints and you use then a lot more, you can actually get better circulation and that helps to take away some of the accumulated toxins that your joints are producing. Your body is producing proteins that are telling your joints to get inflamed. But when you exercise youre actually taking the toxins away. So exercise is always very good.

What other steps can be taken to treat it?

There are lots of trials looking at diet modification using herbal remedies including turmeric and things such as that. There is some weak evidence that they will help your system because some foodstuffs do have naturally occurring anti-inflammatory properties. But usually the treatment is fairly heavy immune suppression with a possible amount of steroids as well. For professional athletes, these arent anabolic steroids but they might cross-react, so it could be quite tricky for high-level athletes to use them.

Finally then, although its not a diagnosis anybody would want, the outlook for people with rheumatoid arthritis doesnt have to be bleak?

Absolutely. As long as we catch it early enough and begin treatment, it is possible to get it under control.

For more information about rheumatoid arthritis, visit Versus Arthritis,or the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society website,or call the NRAS helpline onHelpline number 0800 298 7650

See the original post here:
Rheumatoid arthritis and cycling: how to keep the inflammation at bay - road.cc

Read More...

Woman’s Doctor: Knowing the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis – WBAL TV Baltimore

Thursday, December 3rd, 2020

Woman's Doctor: Knowing the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis

Updated: 9:21 AM EST Nov 28, 2020

Hide TranscriptShow Transcript

LACEE: IN THIS MORNING'S WOMAN'S DOCTOR, KNOWING THE SYMPTOMS OF PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS, IT'S A DOUBLE WHAMMY OF AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS. NOT ONLY DO PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS SYMPTOMS MIMIC THOSE OF PSORIASIS, LIKE PATCHES OF RED, SCALY SKIN, BUT THEY CAN ALSO CAUSE THE PAINFUL, SWOLLEN JOINTS THAT ARE COMMON WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS. THE SYMPTOMS CAN CHANGE FROM DAY TO DAY AND PERSON TO PERSON, MAKING PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS A PARTICULARLY TRICKY DISEASE TO DIAGNOSE AND MANAGE. MERCY MEDICAL CENTER DR. SADE YA KHAN SAYS THAT SYMPTOMS LEFT UNTREATED CAN LEAD TO PERMANENT JOINT DAMAGE. >> SYMPTOMS OF IT CAN BE INVOLVEMENT OF DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE SKELETON. IT COULD BE IN JOINT INVOLVEMENT, INCLUDING FINGERS AND FEET, WHICH WILL BE CONSIDERED SMALL JOINTS. IT COULD INVOLVE LARGER JOINTS, INCLUDING HIPS AND SHOULDERS. AND SOMETIMES, IT CAN ALSO AFFECT SPINE. LACEE: JOINING US THIS MORNING FROM MERCY MEDICAL CENTER, DR. JOSEPH CIO TOLA. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. >> GOOD MORNING. LACEE: THIS SEEMS LIKE A PAINFUL CONDITION. TELL ME ABOUT THE BEGINNING SYMPTOMS OF PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS. >> IT'S SIMILAR TO REGULAR ARTHRITIS. JUST INFLAMED AND SWOLLEN, VERY SORE JOINTS. THEY GET A LOT OF FLUID BUILT UP ON THEM SOMETIMES. WE MANAGE THEM WITH CORTISONE INJECTIONS AND RELIEVING THE INFLAMMATION. LACEE: IS THIS SOMETHING THAT AFFECTS A CERTAIN GROUP MORE THAN OTHER? YOUNG OR OLD, MEN OR WOMEN? >> NO. NOT PARTICULARLY. IT CAN BE YOUNGER BECAUSE PSORIASIS CAN AFFECT YOUNGER PEOPLE. IT CAN AFFECT JOINTS AS WELL. LACEE: AT WHAT POINT IS IT TIME TO TALK TO A DOCTOR. IT CAN BE CONFUSED WITH PSORIASIS AT FIRST OR ARTHRITIS. >> WHEN SOMEBODY HAS PSORIASIS AND THEIR JOINTS BEGIN TO HURT, I THINK THAT'S THE TIME WHERE THEY NEED TO REALLY GET AGGRESSIVE WITH TREATING IT. LACEE: IN TERMS OF TREATMENT, WHERE DOES TREATMENT START FOR IT? >> IT STARTS WITH MANAGING THE INFLAMMATION. SO THEY WOULD SEE EITHER THEIR DERMATOLOGIST OR THEIR REGULAR PHYSICIAN TO GET ON ANTIINFLAMMATORY REGIMEN. AND THEN WHEN IT COMES TO THE POINT WHERE THEY'RE READY FOR AN ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON, WE BEGIN MANAGING IT BY CONTROLLING THE INFLAMMATION AT THE JOINT LEVEL WITH INJECTIONS. LACEE: WHAT KIND OF POSSIBLE SURGERY COULD THIS LEAD TO? >> IT LEADS TO JOINT REPLACEMENT. IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS. WHEN THE CARTILAGE IS ERODED ENOUGH AND THE JOINT CAN'T RECOVER, WE REPLACE IT. LACEE: IS IT SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN CURE? >> NO, IT'S JUST MANAGEMENT. IT'S MANAGEMENT OF THE INFLAMMATION. LACEE: WHAT CAN YOU DO TO PREVENT IT IN THE FIRST PLACE? >> I MEAN, I THINK YOU WANT TO BE AS HEALTHY AS POSSIBLE. ANTIINFLAMMATORY DIET AND DOING THE BEST YOU CAN TO CONTROL SUGAR AND INFLAMMATORY PRODUCTS IN YOUR LIFE STYLE. BUT THAT'S REALLY ABOUT IT. LACEE: GOT TO STAY HEALTHY. >> IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE CAN CURE. LACEE: THIS TIME OF YEAR IS HARD BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF SUGAR AND THAT STUFF IN FRONT OF US. THANKS FOR TAKING TIME OUT OF YOUR MORNING TO JOIN US. APPRECIATE

Woman's Doctor: Knowing the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis

Updated: 9:21 AM EST Nov 28, 2020

Psoriatic arthritis is a double-whammy of autoimmune disorders. Not only do psoriatic arthritis symptoms mimic those of psoriasis -- like patches of red, scaly skin -- but they can also cause the painful, swollen joints that are common with rheumatoid arthritis. Mercy Medical Center's Dr. Joseph Ciotola explains.

Psoriatic arthritis is a double-whammy of autoimmune disorders. Not only do psoriatic arthritis symptoms mimic those of psoriasis -- like patches of red, scaly skin -- but they can also cause the painful, swollen joints that are common with rheumatoid arthritis. Mercy Medical Center's Dr. Joseph Ciotola explains.

See the rest here:
Woman's Doctor: Knowing the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis - WBAL TV Baltimore

Read More...

Sufferers Living With Severe Arthritis Could be Given Lasting Pain Relief Thanks to a New Technique – Good News Network

Thursday, December 3rd, 2020

A novel outpatient procedure offers lasting pain relief for patients suffering from moderate to severe arthritis in their hip and shoulder joints.

According to a study presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America, researchers said the procedure could help reduce reliance on addictive opiates.

People with moderate to severe pain related to osteoarthritis face limited treatment options. Common approaches like injections of anesthetic and corticosteroids into the affected joints grow less effective as the arthritis progresses and worsens.

Usually, over time patients become less responsive to these injections, said Felix M. Gonzalez, M.D., from the Radiology Department at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. The first anesthetic-corticosteroid injection may provide six months of pain relief, the second may last three months, and the third may last only a month. Gradually, the degree of pain relief becomes nonsignificant.

Without pain relief, patients face the possibility of joint replacement surgery. Many patients are ineligible for surgery because of health reasons, whereas many others choose not to go through such a major operation.

CHECK OUT: First Ever Study Shows Chair Yoga is Effective Arthritic Treatment

For those patients, the only other viable option may be opiate painkillers, which carry the risk of addiction.

Dr. Gonzalez and colleagues have been studying the application of a novel interventional radiology treatment known as cooled radiofrequency ablation (c-RFA) to achieve pain relief in the setting of advanced degenerative arthritis. The procedure involves the placement of needles where the main sensory nerves exist around the shoulder and hip joints. The nerves are then treated with a low-grade current known as radiofrequency that stuns them, slowing the transmission of pain to the brain.

For the new study, 23 people with osteoarthritis underwent treatment, including 12 with shoulder pain and 11 with hip pain that had become unresponsive to anti-inflammatory pain control and intra-articular lidocaine-steroid injections.

Treatment was performed two to three weeks after the patients received diagnostic anesthetic nerve blocks. The patients then completed surveys to measure their function, range of motion and degree of pain before and at three months after the ablation procedures.

There were no procedure-related complications, and both the hip and shoulder pain groups reported statistically significant decrease in the degree of pain with corresponding increase in dynamic function after the treatment.

In our study, the results were very impressive and promising, Dr. Gonzalez said. The patients with shoulder pain had a decrease in pain of 85%, and an increase in function of approximately 74%. In patients with hip pain, there was a 70% reduction in pain, and a gain in function of approximately 66%.

RELATED:Molecule Combo Actually Reverses Arthritis in Human Cartilage and Rats, Says Exciting New Study

The procedure offers a new alternative for patients who are facing the prospect of surgery. In addition, it can decrease the risk of opiate addiction.

This procedure is a last resort for patients who are unable to be physically active and may develop a narcotic addiction, Dr. Gonzalez said. Until recently, there was no other alternative for the treatment of patients at the end of the arthritis pathway who do not qualify for surgery or are unwilling to undergo a surgical procedure.

At last years RSNA annual meeting, Dr. Gonzalez presented similarly encouraging results from a study of a similar procedure for the treatment of knee arthritis. Together, the knee, shoulder and hip articulations account for approximately 95% of all arthritis cases.

The procedure could have numerous applications outside of treating arthritic pain, Dr. Gonzalez explained. Potential uses include treating pain related to diseases like cancer and sickle cell anemia-related pain syndrome, for example.

MORE:Hydrolyzed Collagen Supplements Are Good for Health: Benefitting Hair, Skin, Joints, and Muscles

Were just scratching the surface here, Dr. Gonzalez said. We would like to explore efficacy of the treatment on patients in other settings like trauma, amputations, and especially in cancer patients with metastatic disease.

Source:Radiological Society of North America

Share The Good News With Your Friends By Sharing It To Social Media

The rest is here:
Sufferers Living With Severe Arthritis Could be Given Lasting Pain Relief Thanks to a New Technique - Good News Network

Read More...

Active conventional treatment and three different biological treatments in early rheumatoid arthritis: phase IV investigator initiated, randomised,…

Thursday, December 3rd, 2020

Contributors: MLH, EAH, DN, BG, KHP, TU, GG, M, RvV designed the study and wrote the protocol. RvV, DN, MSH, EAH, Niels Steen Krogh, DG, SK, MLH developed the CRFs. MLH, EAH, AR, DN, MN, BG, JL, KHP, TU, GG, M, MSH, SK, JL, AKHE, KLG, MK, FF, RT, TL, GC, EBa, OH, DV, TSI, TH, MKAL, EBr, TE, AS, MR, RO, PL, LU, SAJ, DJS, TBL, GB, RvV contributed to the data collection and data cleaning. SK and Niels Steen Krogh did data management. JT and ICO conducted the statistical analyses. ICO and SK made the figures. MLH wrote the manuscript with input from all authors. All authors had access to the raw dataset and vouch for the veracity of the results. All authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript including the decision to submit the paper. MLH and RvV are guarantors of the overall content, accept full responsibility for the work and the conduct of the study, had access to the data, and controlled the decision to publish. The corresponding author attests that all listed authors meet authorship criteria and that no others meeting the criteria have been omitted.

Funding: Funding was obtained through public sources: Academy of Finland (grant No 258536), Finska Lkaresllskapet, grant from the South-Eastern Health Region, Norway, HUCH Institutional grant, Finland (grant No 1159005), Icelandic Society for Rheumatology, interregional grant from all health regions in Norway, NordForsk (grant No 70945), Regionernes Medicinpulje, Denmark (grant No 14/217), Stockholm County Council, Sweden (grant No 20100490), Swedish Medical Research Council (grant No C0634901, D0342301, 2015-00891_5), Swedish Rheumatism Association, The Research Fund of University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland (A2015017). UCB supported the work in the context of an investigator initiated study where UCB provided certolizumab pegol at no cost. UCB had no role in study design, collection, analysis, and interpretation of data, in the writing of the report, or in the decision to submit for publication. Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) provided abatacept at no cost. In addition, the Karolinska Institute received several unrestricted grants from BMS; these were subsequently transferred to the principal investigators of Denmark, Finland, and the Netherlands to help defray various trial related costs at the local level. BMS had no role in study design, collection, analysis, and interpretation of data, in the writing of the report, or in the decision to submit for publication. The final manuscript was provided for courtesy review to UCB and BMS in line with Good Publication Practice (GPP3). We confirm the independence of researchers from funders and that all authors, external and internal, had full access to all of the data (including statistical reports and tables) in the study and can take responsibility of the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.

Competing interests: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form at http://www.icmje.org/coi_disclosure.pdf and declare: support from Academy of Finland, Finska Lkaresllskapet, South-Eastern Health Region (Norway), HUCH (Finland), Icelandic Society for Rheumatology, all health regions in Norway, NordForsk, Regionernes Medicinpulje (Denmark), Stockholm County Council (Sweden), Swedish Medical Research Council, Swedish Rheumatism Association, The Research Fund of University Hospital (Reykjavik, Iceland) for the submitted work; MLH reports grants from Nordforsk, from Danske Regioner during the conduct of the study; grants from Bristol-Myers Squibb, grants from AbbVie, grants from Roche, grants from Novartis, grants and personal fees from Merck, grants and personal fees from Biogen, grants and personal fees from Pfizer, personal fees from Eli Lilly, personal fees from Orion Pharma, personal fees from CellTrion, personal fees from Samsung Bioepsi, personal fees from Janssen Biologics BV, personal fees from MSD, outside the submitted work; she chairs the steering committee of the Danish Rheumatology Quality Registry (DANBIO), which receives public funding from the hospital owners and funding from pharamaceutical companies; EAH reports grants from NORDFORSK, grants from the Norwegian Regional Health Authorities, grants from the South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority, during the conduct of the study; personal fees from Pfizer, personal fees from AbbVie, personal fees from Celgene, personal fees from Novartis, personal fees from Janssen, personal fees from Gilead, personal fees from Eli-Lilly, personal fees from UCB, outside the submitted work; AR reports grants from the Swedish Research Council, financial support from AstraZeneca, outside the submitted work; DN reports grants from UCB, grants from BMS, during the conduct of the study; grants from AbbVie, grants from Celgene, grants from MSD, grants from Novartis, grants from Pfizer outside the submitted work; MN reports grants from BMS, during the conduct of the study; grants from Abbvie, grants from BMS, personal fees from Celltrion, grants from MSD, grants from Pfizer, personal fees from Eli Lilly, grants from Amgen, outside the submitted work; BG reports personal fees from Novartis, outside the submitted work; TU reports a grant from NORDFORSK during the conduct of the study; personal fees from Grnenthal, personal fees from Lilly, personal fees from Novartis, personal fees from Pfizer, outside the submitted work; M reports grants, personal fees and non-financial support from AbbVie, grants, personal fees and non-financial support from BMS, personal fees from Boehringer-Ingelheim, personal fees from Eli Lilly, personal fees and non-financial support from Janssen, grants, personal fees and non-financial support from Merck, personal fees and non-financial support from Pfizer, personal fees and non-financial support from Roche, grants, personal fees and non-financial support from UCB, grants and personal fees from Celgene, personal fees from Sanofi, personal fees from Regeneron, grants, personal fees and non-financial support from Novartis, personal fees from Orion, personal fees from Hospira, outside the submitted work; MSH reports grants from the South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority, during the conduct of the study; personal fees from Lilly, outside the submitted work; SK reports receiving grants from AbbVie, MSD and Novartis outside the submitted work; AKHE reports receiving personal fees from AbbVie, personal fees from Pfizer, outside the submitted work; KLG reports grants from BMS, outside the submitted work; RT reports grants from Finnish Rheumatology Research Fund, during the conduct of the study; OH reports non-financial support from Pfizer, personal fees from Abbvie, personal fees from Novartis, during the conduct of the study; TSI reports non-financial support from DiaGraphIT, personal fees from Abbvie, personal fees from BMS, personal fees from Celgene, personal fees from Medac, personal fees from Merck, personal fees from Novartis, personal fees from Orion Pharma, personal fees from Pfizer, personal fees from Roche, personal fees from Sandoz, personal fees from UCB, personal fees from Bohringer Ingelheim, outside the submitted work; LU reports personal fees from Abbvie, Eli Lilly and Novartis (speaker fees), outside the submitted work; DJS reports grants from KLINBEFORSK, during the conduct of the study; TBL reports personal fees from UCB, outside the submitted work; GB reports personal fees from BMS, outside the submitted work; ABA reports personal fees from Abbvie, personal fees from Eli Lilly, personal fees from Novartis, personal fees from Pfizer, outside the submitted work; AB reports grants from BMS, during the conduct of the study; CT reports grants and personal fees from Bristol Myers-Squibb, personal fees from Roche, personal fees from Abbvie, personal fees from Pfizer, outside the submitted work; HR reports personal fees from MSD, personal fees from Roche, personal fees from Abbvie, personal fees from Celgene, outside the submitted work; JR reports grants from BMS, during the conduct of the study; JW reports fees from Celgene, fees from Eli Lilly, fees from Novartis, outside the submitted work; KM reports personal fees from Abbvie, personal fees from Celgene, personal fees from Medac, personal fees from BMS, outside the submitted work; OKS reports grants from the Research Committee of the Kuopio University Hospital Catchment Area for the State Research Funding, during the conduct of the study; non-financial support from Pfizer, non-financial support from Novartis, non-financial support from MSD, personal fees from Boeringer Ingelheim, outside the submitted work; PP reports personal fees from Novartis Finland Oy, outside the submitted work; R reports personal fees from Bristol-Meyer Squibb, personal fees and non-financial support from AbbVie, personal fees from Gilead, personal fees from Janssen, personal fees from Eli-Lilly, personal fees from Novartis, outside the submitted work; SNC reports personal fees from Bristol Myers Squibb, personal fees from General Electric, outside the submitted work; SE reports personal fees from Novartis, outside the submitted work; TO reports personal fees from Eli Lilly, consultancy fee from Merck Sharp and Dohme, outside the submitted work; reports grants from BMS, during the conduct of the study; grants from Roche, grants from Mylan, other from Abbvie, outside the submitted work; VR reports grants from BMS, during the conduct of the study; grants from Roche, grants from Mylan, other from Abbvie, outside the submitted work; RvV reports grants from BMS, during the conduct of the study; grants from BMS, GSK, Lilly, UCB, grants from Pfizer, Roche, personal fees from AbbVie, AstraZeneca, Biogen, Biotest, Celgene, Galapagos, Gilead, Janssen, Pfizer, Servier, UCB, outside the submitted work; no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

See the rest here:
Active conventional treatment and three different biological treatments in early rheumatoid arthritis: phase IV investigator initiated, randomised,...

Read More...

Page 13«..10..12131415..2030..»


2024 © StemCell Therapy is proudly powered by WordPress
Entries (RSS) Comments (RSS) | Violinesth by Patrick