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Arthritis is the leading chronic health condition and a major cause of disability in the United States. One out of every five Americans has arthritis. Are you a statistic in waiting? If your joints are healthy, you can make changes in your everyday life that reduce some of the risk factors associated with arthritis, which can help prevent serious problems with arthritis in the future. And if you already have arthritis, there are things you can do to keep your joints as healthy as possible, reduce your symptoms, and maintain your independence.

If you have been diagnosed with arthritis, your treatment plan will likely include a combination of strategies with the aim of reducing pain and swelling, maintaining joint function, and preventing further damage and disability. Although there is little that can be done to repair damage that has already started, anti-inflammatory drugs and pain medications, as well as physical and occupational therapies can help you move and get about your day.

Of the 100 different types of arthritis and related diseases, osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are the most common. Although both conditions have similar characteristics, they are different diseases. Is it possible to have both types of arthritis?

If you are living with the pain and disability of arthritis you have probably wondered if alternative, complementary, and natural remedies can help. Scientists have studied some alternative medicine treatments, such as acupuncture, glucosamine, and even magnets in an effort to tease out the truth. While solid studies that show strong results are few and far between, that doesnt stop people from trying and hoping that alternative remedies will give them relief.

Arthritis is no small problem. One in three adults has it, and an inactive, overweight, aging population isn't helping that number decline. As the number one reported disability, it also causes a huge financial pain, costing the economy $86.2 billion annually. Fortunately, it's also a condition you can do much to manage. All it takes is some planning ahead and altering of lifestyle habits.

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Arthritis - Chronic Arthritis - Arthritis Treatment ...

Arthritis: Introduction

Arthritis is a general term for more than 100 diseases that cause inflammation, pain, stiffness, and swelling of joints.

Common types of arthritis include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and septic arthritis.

Osteoarthritis is an ongoing, progressive disease that affects the joints as the cartilage of joints breaks down over time. Osteoarthritis is also called degenerative joint disease.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that affects the joints of the body with episodes of painful inflammation. Rheumatoid arthritis also affects other organs of the body and can result in the destruction of joints, disability, and in severe cases, life threatening complications.

Septic arthritis is caused by the infection of a joint by microorganisms, such as bacteria or fungi. Septic arthritis can occur when microorganisms enter a joint through a wound in the skin. Septic arthritis can also be caused by microorganisms that spread to a joint from another infection in the body, such as tuberculosis, cellulitis, or a boil.

Symptoms of arthritis vary greatly depending on the type of arthritis, a person's age, medical history and other factors. Typical symptoms of all forms of arthritis include the inflammation, pain, stiffness, and swelling of joints. Complications of all forms of arthritis can include disability. For details about additional important complications and symptoms, refer to symptoms of arthritis.

Making a diagnosis of arthritis begins with taking a thorough medical history, including symptoms, and completing a physical examination. X-rays or MRI may be done to determine if there is joint or nerve damage.

Testing for rheumatoid arthritis includes a blood rheumatoid factor test. Other tests may complete blood test (CBC), C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate.

Testing for septic arthritis includes blood tests and an analysis of the "lubricating" fluid in the joints (synovial fluid) that checks for the presence of infectious microorganisms in the joint.

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Arthritis Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatments and Causes ...

What Is It?

Arthritis is a joint disorder that causes mild to severe inflammation, stiffness, and pain. The condition is common among older adults but can also affect younger adults and even children. The condition can limit your flexibility and range of motion and can cause pain that ranges from mild to extreme. The symptoms tend to be more common and pronounced among older adults as a result of the natural aging process.

There are over one hundred types of arthritis that occur for a variety of reasons. Some result from underlying conditions like autoimmune attacks, infections, or viruses, and others result from injury or old age. For some people, arthritis is a lifelong condition that is incurable and untreatable. For others, arthritis is treatable or can resolve itself.

Arthritis can be difficult to live with. For most people, the condition becomes worse and difficult to treat. It is unhealthy to keep taking over-the-counter medications, and prescription drugs are not feasible options for everyone.

Emotionally, living with arthritis can be tough. Slowly and steadily, you may notice that you have more trouble with your occupation and other daily activities. You may not be able to control flare-ups that limit your range of motion by causing stiffness and pain.

There are more than one hundred types of arthritis, making arthritis one of the most common chronic conditions in the world. Arthritis can occur for a variety of reasons that include autoimmune diseases, viruses, bacterial infections, old age, and injury. The most common types of arthritis include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and juvenile arthritis.

Some forms of arthritis occur naturally as a result of age because of wear and tear on the bones, while other forms of arthritis occur because of an underlying condition that is a virus, bacterial infection, or inheritable disease.

Arthritis types run in the family, so there is a likelihood that you will develop the types of arthritis that your parents or immediate family members experienced.

Some autoimmune conditions can cause arthritis in addition to a low-grade fever.

Swelling, joint pain, limited joint movement, stiffness, redness, extreme tenderness, and warmth over the joint are some of the common symptoms of arthritis. In rheumatic forms of arthritis, swollen glands, fatigue, weight loss, and other general symptoms are present. Kidney problems can also be a symptom if systemic forms of arthritis. If you start to experience chronic pain and swelling in the same joint areas, you may have arthritis. Over time, mild symptoms can worsen.

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Arthritis, Causes, Tests, Diagnosis & Treatment

chronicpain. Photo by Frances Twitty (iStockphoto) Recognizing Early Symptoms

Early arthritis symptoms can be vague and confusing, but they are important to recognize. Newly diagnosed patients quickly realize that early symptoms are just the first layer to be uncovered before a definitive diagnosis and treatment plan for arthritis can be established.

Arthritis can affect any joint. Certain types of arthritis are associated with a specific pattern of joint disease. For example, rheumatoid arthritis is usually symmetric -- affecting the same joint on both sides of the body. Other types of arthritis typically affect a single joint. It's important to tell the doctor about all of your symptoms and every joint that hurts.

An accurate diagnosis precedes appropriate treatment of arthritis. With over 100 types of arthritis, early symptoms can overlap and diagnosis can be difficult. Your doctor will look for very specific signs, symptoms, and disease characteristics. Your doctor will also consider your medical history, physical examination, blood tests, and imaging studies.

Doctors play an essential role in the diagnosis and treatment of arthritis. Good communication between a doctor and patient is essential. It's important to know what to expect from your doctor and what your doctor expects from you. It's your doctor's job to assess your symptoms, gain more information from your medical history and a current physical examination, order diagnostic tests, and put together a treatment plan. It's your job to provide your doctor with as much pertinent information as possible. The goal is mutual - to improve your health.

Arthritis literally means joint inflammation. Arthritis is not a single disease. Arthritis refers to a group of more than 100 rheumatic diseases and other conditions that can cause pain, stiffness and swelling in the joints. Some types of arthritis affect more than the joints. There can be systemic effects associated with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and other types of arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune inflammatory type of arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis affects 2.1 million Americans and three times as many women as men. There are important facts you should know about rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis is considered the most common type of arthritis. About 21 million Americans have osteoarthritis. The disease causes limited range of motion, joint pain, and stiffness which affect daily living activities. Osteoarthritis is caused by progressive deterioration of joint cartilage. Typically, osteoarthritis develops gradually.

Psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory type of arthritis associated with the chronic skin condition psoriasis. Psoriatic arthritis usually develops when people are between 30 and 50 years old, but it can begin in childhood. Men and women seem to be equally affected by psoriatic arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis symptoms occur in variable patterns and with variable intensity.

Gout symptoms can develop when there is excess uric acid in the body. Monosodium urate crystals that form in the joints due to excess uric acid cause gout symptoms. Uric acid is a waste product normally present in the blood as a result of the breakdown of purines. Pseudogout is a condition that develops when calcium pyrophosphate crystals accumulate in a joint and the surrounding tissues.

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Arthritis Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

You may have heard about arthritis (say: ar-thry-tis), which is a disease that causes swelling and pain in a person's joints.

But isn't it something that only old people get?

Actually, kids can get a kind of arthritis called juvenile idiopathic arthritis or JIA (it's also called juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, or JRA). Juvenile means young, so this means that JIA is different from the arthritis that adults get. Kids can have many different types of arthritis, but this is the most common.

Joints are the places where bones meet. Arthritis can prevent people from moving their joints properly. JIA affects kids under age 16, who have arthritis in one or more joints.

Many problems can cause pain and swelling of the joints, so a doctor will want to know how long these problems have been going on. To be considered JIA, a kid must have swelling and pain for at least 6 weeks.

Seven types of juvenile idiopathic arthritis can affect kids:

No one really knows what causes JIA. Something in the environment such as a virus may trigger the disease in kids that already have certain genes that make it more likely for them to get it. JIA is not contagious, so you can't catch it from someone else.

Arthritis is an autoimmune (say: aw-toe-i-myoon) disease. Normally, a kid's immune system sends out white blood cells to protect the body and fight outside invaders like bacteria and viruses that can make a kid sick. With JIA, the immune system makes a mistake and targets healthy cells as if they were harmful.

Instead of recognizing the healthy cells and saying, "Hi, nice to see you," the immune system thinks the healthy cells need to be destroyed and releases chemicals to fight the healthy cells. The chemicals the immune system releases cause the pain and swelling that a kid with arthritis experiences.

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Arthritis - KidsHealth

The UW Medicine Bone and Joint Surgery Center and the UW Medicine Eastside Specialty Center offer subspecialized surgical care for arthritis patients. UW surgeons provide the most current approaches for patients with arthritis affecting:

The UW Medicine Bone and Joint Surgery Center at UWMC-Roosevelt offers a specialty program for rheumatoid arthritis. The Rheumatoid Arthritis Service provides health care, support, and information to optimize the health, comfort, and productivity for individuals with:

Physicians in the Department of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine and on the Rheumatoid Arthritis Service work closely with the Arthritis Foundation's Washington/Alaska Chapter and with other UW specialists to provide information on the latest medical and surgical treatment methods.

You may make your own appointment with an arthritis surgeon in the Department of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine or with a physician on the Rheumatoid Arthritis Service or you may be referred by your physician or other specialist.

To make an appointment, please call: 206-520-5000 or Toll Free 877-520-5000.

The Bone and Joint Surgery Center is located at UWMC-Roosevelt, an outpatient facility at 4245 Roosevelt Way N.E. in Seattle's University District. There is an underground parking garage in the building. A number of bus lines stop right outside or nearby, and there also is a free shuttle bus service from UW Medical Center.

The Eastside Specialty Center is located in Bellevue at 3100 Northup Way. Free parking is available on site.

Please be aware that many insurance programs will not pay for you to see a specialist without prior authorization, so check with your health insurance plan first.

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Arthritis | UW Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, Seattle

Arthritis, or inflammation of the joints, is the most common extraintestinal complication of IBD. It may affect as many as 25% of people with Crohns disease or ulcerative colitis. Although arthritis is typically associated with advancing age, in IBD it often strikes the youngest patients. In addition to joint pain, arthritis also causes swelling of the joints and a reduction in flexibility.

In IBD, arthritis may appear in three different forms. These are:

Peripheral arthritis usually affects the large joints of the arms and legs, including the elbows, wrists, knees, and ankles. The discomfort may be migratory, moving from one joint to another. If left untreated, the pain may last from a few days to several weeks. Peripheral arthritis tends to be more common among people who have ulcerative colitis or Crohns disease of the colon. The level of inflammation in the joints generally mirrors the extent of inflammation in the colon. Although no specific test can make a definitive diagnosis, various diagnostic methodsincluding analysis of joint fluid, blood tests, and X-raysare used to rule out other causes of joint pain. Fortunately, IBD-related peripheral arthritis usually does not cause any lasting damage.

Also known as spondylitis or spondyloarthropathy, axial arthritis produces pain and stiffness in the lower spine and sacroiliac joints (at the bottom of the back). Interestingly, and especially in young people, these symptoms may come on months or even years before the symptoms of IBD appear. Unlike peripheral arthritis, axial arthritis may cause permanent damage if the bones of the vertebral column fuse togetherthereby creating decreased range of motion in the back. In some cases, a restriction in rib motion may make it difficult for people to take deep breaths. Active spondylitis generally subsides by age 40. Therapy for people with axial arthritis is geared toward improving range of motion in the back. Stretching exercises are recommended, as is the application of moist heat to the back.

A more severe form of spinal arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a rare complication, affecting between 2% and 3% of people with IBD. It is seen more often in Crohns disease than in ulcerative colitis. In addition to causing arthritis of the spine and sacroiliac joints, ankylosing spondylitis can cause inflammation of the eyes, lungs, and heart valves. The cause of AS is not known, but most affected individuals share a common genetic marker. In some cases, the disease occurs in genetically predisposed people after exposure to bowel or urinary tract infections. Occasionally, AS foretells the development of IBD. AS typically strikes people under the age of 30, mainly adolescents and young adult males, appearing first as a dramatic loss of flexibility in the lower spine. Rehabilitation therapy is essential to help maintain joint flexibility. But even with optimal therapy, some people will develop a stiff or ankylosed spine. Symptoms of AS may continue to worsen even after surgical removal of the colon.

It is not always easy to determine whether the arthritis is linked to the intestinal condition. In general, the arthritis that complicates IBD is not as severe as rheumatoid arthritis. The joints do not ordinarily undergo destructive changes, and joint involvement is not symmetric (affecting the same joints on both sides of the body). Except for ankylosing spondylitis, arthritis associated with IBD usually improves as intestinal symptoms improve.

In the general population, people with peripheral arthritis may use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to reduce pain and swelling of the joints. However, as a rule, these medicationswhich include aspirin and ibuprofen are not an option for everyone with IBD because they can prompt a disease flare by irritating the intestinal lining and intensifying the inflammation. (It should be noted, though, that some people with IBD can tolerate NSAIDs and find these medications helpful in relieving symptoms of arthritis.) Corticosteroids also may be used to treat the arthritis symptoms as well as IBD.

In most cases, doctors manage the symptoms of peripheral arthritis by controlling the inflammation within the colon. Once that has subsided after a course of a medication such as prednisone or sulfasalazine, joint pain generally disappears. Similarly, the newer biologic agents such as infliximab (Remicade) have also been shown to be effective in reducing joint inflammation and swelling. Infliximab has even shown good results as a treatment for ankylosing spondylitis. Only axial arthritis seems not to improve as the intestinal inflammation resolves. Unlike peripheral arthritis, there is no correlation between treatment of the underlying IBD and improvement in axial arthritis symptoms.

In addition to medication, doctors may recommend resting the affected joint as well as the occasional use of moist heat. Range of motion exercises, as demonstrated by a physical therapist, may also be helpful.

The Crohns & Colitis Foundation of America provides information for educational purposes only. We encourage you to review this educational material with your health care professional. The Foundation does not provide medical or other health care opinions or services. The inclusion of another organizations resources or referral to another organization does not represent an endorsement of a particular individual, group, company or product.

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CCFA: Arthritis

Arthritis is a condition associated with swelling and inflammation of the joints, which often results in pain and restriction of movement. The most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis, which is a breakdown of the cartilage in the joints, and rheumatoid arthritis, which is an inflammation of the tissue lining the joints and in severe cases inflammation of other body tissues. In the joints, sustained inflammation leads to hypertrophy of the synovium and the formation of a "pannus", which spreads over the joint causing erosive destruction of the bone and cartilage. Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the body's immune system starts attacking it's own organs (joints, bones, internal organs).

Arthritis is a result of a breakdown in cartilage or inflammation.

Cartilage protects joints and enables smooth movement by absorbing shock when pressure is placed on a joint. Without the usual amount of cartilage, the bones rub together and this causes pain, swelling (inflammation), and stiffness.

Joint inflammation can occur for a variety of reasons, including:

Often, the inflammation goes away once the injury has healed, the disease is treated, or once the infection has been cleared. However, with some injuries and diseases, the inflammation does not go away or the cartilage is destroyed and long-term pain and deformity results. When this happens, the disease is called chronic arthritis.

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis and is more likely to occur with increasing age. It can occur in any of the joints but is most common in the hips, knees or fingers.

Risk factors for osteoarthritis include:

Arthritis can occur in both men and women and in individuals of all ages. Some forms of arthritis also affect children.

As mentioned earlier, the most common forms of arthritis are Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis. However, there are numerous forms of arthritis, including:

A person suffering from arthritis may experience any of the following:

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Arthritis Information from Drugs.com

Last Modified on Jul 04, 2015

Arthritis is defined as inflammation of one or more joints. The primary symptoms of the condition include joint stiffness and pain. The condition is typically considered progressive and worsens with age; however, the specific type of arthritis determines the rate and direction of progression.

The two main forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis is caused by wear and tear while rheumatoid arthritis is considered an autoimmune disorder.

Pain and stiffness are the most characteristic symptoms of the condition; however, additional symptoms are common. Swelling, redness, and decreased range of motion are other indicative symptoms.

While the exact type of medical treatment for arthritis depends on the type of arthritis, several medications are common. Analgesics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs, counterirritants, and biologics are among the most common treatment options. However, many of these treatments are limited at best and harmful at worst.

Treatments such as analgesics only treat pain and do nothing to reduce inflammation. Likewise, NSAIDs can cause stomach irritation and increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. Biologics put you at risk for more serious immune diseases and debilitate the immune system altogether.

As limited as traditional medical treatments are, we suggest treating arthritis from a natural perspective. This approach relies on natural remedies, such as apple cider vinegar, baking soda, and blackstrap molasses, as well as noninvasive practices, like weight loss, exercise, and acupuncture.

Apple cider vinegar is an effective treatment option for a variety of reasons. The treatment contains beta-carotene, which serves as an antioxidant, as well as acetic acid. The combination of these two helps relieve arthritis pain and reduce inflammation.

As an imbalance in the bodys natural pH level is one of the primary causes of arthritis, baking soda is an effective treatment option. Baking soda helps neutralize the bodys acidic state and return the body to alkalinity. As it does so, baking soda helps relieve arthritis pain and inflammation.

Blackstrap molasses is a nutrient-rich syrup with powerful healing qualities. The syrup contains a variety of nutrients including magnesium and calcium that regulate the nerve impulses in the body and relieve pain.

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Natural Cures for Arthritis - Earth Clinic

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

Free Pain Prevention Email Newsletter

Updates, news, special offers, and expert tips to stop aches and pains from interrupting your life.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Journey

By Maureen SalamonHealthDay Reporter THURSDAY, June 20 (HealthDay News) The common belief that rheumatoid arthritis patients dont benefit from knee replacement surgery as much as those with the more common osteoarthritis has been challenged by the findings from a pair of studies by New York City scientists. Researchers from the Hospital for Special Surgery also found, [...]

Eating lots of foods loaded with salt may do more than raise your blood pressure: Researchers report that it could also contribute to the development of autoimmune diseases, where the bodys immune system mistakenly mounts an attack upon some part of the body. Three new studies suggest salt may be a prime suspect in a wide range of autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS), psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis (arthritis of the spine).

TUESDAY, Feb. 5 (HealthDay News) Older women whove had regular exposure to sunlight may be less likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis, new findings indicate. This beneficial effect which is believed to be due to ultraviolet B (UV-B) in sunlight was only evident in older women. This may be because younger women are [...]

Genes specific to the X chromosome are among newly identified genes linked to rheumatoid arthritis and could help explain why women are more likely than men to develop the disease, researchers say. Women have two X chromosomes while men have an X and a Y chromosome.

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 28 (HealthDay News) Patients with rheumatoid arthritis are more likely to suffer hip dislocation after hip replacement surgery than those with osteoarthritis, a new study says. In addition, rheumatoid arthritis patients have a higher infection risk after total knee replacement than osteoarthritis patients, the study authors found. Rheumatoid arthritis, which is felt throughout the [...]

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Rheumatoid Arthritis Condition Center - Health.com

bagley79 Post 6

I broke my arm many years ago when I was skiing. I know I have arthritis in that arm because that area is often stiff and I don't have as much range of motion.

This arm really hurts on days that are cold and damp and I know it is from some type of degenerative arthritis in my joints where I had the break.

On another ski trip, I injured my knee and that knee is also the one that gives me troubles. All of my old injuries are coming back to haunt me with arthritis. I don't know why that seems to happen as you age, but those are the areas where I have the most pain and stiffness.

I don't have any type of rheumatoid arthritis, but have noticed a significant difference in my joints as I have gotten older.

Now I think twice about getting down on the floor for something because it will take me longer to get up. I have also noticed a difference when I am gardening.

It is not as easy to get up and down and do all the bending that is required when you garden. At the end of a long day, my joints are stiff and sore. I have found that soaking in a tub of hot water gives me some relief.

I have joined that group of people who are over 50, and know what it feels like to have joints that are stiff, sore and don't work the way they used to.

I find it interesting that even dinosaurs had problems with arthritis. This is something that is also very common in dogs. Every dog I have ever owned that has made it to old age, has had some form of arthritis.

The larger dogs seems to be affected with this more than the smaller dogs. I had a golden retriever who started having problems with arthritis when she was about 8 years old. It was harder for her to get up and move around.

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What is Arthritis? (with pictures) - wiseGEEK

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which your body starts destroying itself. It can be a devastating disease that can certainly destroy your health.

Of course, the U.S. "health" care system has evolved to one that focuses on using drugs and surgery as its primary treatment tool. This works exceptionally well for some diseases -- like acute trauma -- but for other diseases, especially autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, it is an abysmal failure.

I have personally treated over 3,000 patients with rheumatoid arthritis in my practice, which is well more than 10 times the amount a typical family physician would treat in their entire career. So I have a fair amount of experience here.

The treatment protocol I used is available for all to review. It involves the following

Lifestyle Changes

Eliminating sugar and most grains

Having unprocessed, high-quality foods, organic and locally grown if possible

Eating your food as close to raw as possible

Getting plenty high-quality animal-based omega-3 fats, such as krill oil

Address Emotional Trauma

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Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

Arthritis is a common cause of knee pain. J. M. Horrillo / Getty Images

Updated December 20, 2014.

Written or reviewed by a board-certified physician. See About.com's Medical Review Board.

Arthritis of the knee joint is one of the most common causes of knee pain. There are different types of arthritis that can affect the knee joint, and the treatments may vary depending on the condition that is causing the symptoms.

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of knee arthritis. Also called wear-and-tear arthritis or degenerative joint disease, osteoarthritis is characterized by progressive wearing away of the cartilage in the joint. As the protective cartilage is worn away, bone is exposed, the knee becomes swollen and painful, and activities become increasingly painful.

Knee arthritis typically affects patients as they get older. Symptoms are more common in patients who are overweight, and weight loss tends to reduce the severity of pain associated with knee arthritis.

There is also a genetic component, meaning knee arthritis can be passed down within a family. Other factors that can contribute to developing knee arthritis include injuries to the knee, torn cartilage, and fractures to the bone around the joint.

Knee arthritis symptoms tend to gradually progress as the condition worsens, however, symptoms may suddenly worsen with minor injury or overuse. Some patients report long episodes of mild symptoms, with sudden changes that increase the severity of their symptoms. Often patients report good months and bad months, or symptoms that fluctuate with the weather. This is important to understand because comparing the symptoms of arthritis on one particular day may not accurately represent the overall progression of the condition. Since there is not a cure for arthritis, learning ways to slow the progression of arthritis is also important.

The most common symptoms of knee arthritis include:

BJ Cole and CD Harner "Degenerative arthritis of the knee in active patients: evaluation and management" J. Am. Acad. Ortho. Surg., Nov 1999; 7: 389 - 402.

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Knee Arthritis - Diagnosis and Treatment of Wear and Tear

Topic Contents:

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Arthritis is a progressive inflammatory condition caused when the soft muscles in the joints become inflamed, severely restricting the movement of the joint and causing a lot of pain and discomfort. In older people, who are most susceptible to this condition, arthritis is the leading cause of restriction of movement or immobility. Arthritis is a condition that we are all quite familiar with and even if you havent been afflicted with the condition it is most likely that you are acquainted with someone who is. Arthritis is a degenerative condition that affects the joints causing severe pain and greatly reducing mobility. In severe cases and if neglected the effects can be debilitating. Arthritis is typically associated with old age and although most prevalent among the aged it can affect almost anyone, but this it is uncommon among young adults and children. Arthritis may not be a life threatening condition but it is a dreaded condition because of the extent to which it affects your life. Simple tasks and routines that we normally take for granted can become quite a challenge. For example, arthritis in the hands, wrists or fingers can make working at the computer near impossible. While it can be quite debilitating it is not unmanageable. Arthritis can be managed and controlled to minimize its impact on your life. But to effectively control and treat the condition you need to be well informed and understand the condition.

The word 'arthritis' means 'inflammation of the joints'. It is derived from two Greek words: athron, meaning joints; and itis, meaning inflammation. It is, generally, a chronic disease process. Arthritis occurs in various forms, the most frequent being osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease which usually occurs in the older age-group. Rheumatoid arthritis is a serious disease which affects not only the joints of the fingers, wrists, hips, knees, and feet, but also the muscles, tendons and other tissues of the body.

There are a lot of different kinds of arthritis, categorized according to the extent of wear and tear in the joints and the cartilaginous tissues. Sometimes, the inflammation could be caused due to excessive wear and tear of the joints. However, the inflammation could also be caused due to autoimmune disorders. Such disorders, in which the immune system attacks the joints, are one of the leading causes of arthritis and rheumatism.

There are various types of arthritis but most forms of the condition do cause some amount of swelling and pain the joints, so if you do experience pain and stiffness in any of the joints in your body on a regular basis then it is possible that you may be suffering from arthritis. All of our bodily movements and our mobility or flexibility is dependent on the proper functioning of the joints. Swelling or inflammation of the joints, which is typical of most types of arthritis, can however cause the joints to get severely damaged over time. Some forms of arthritis can even cause problems in organs like the eyes or skin.

Osteoarthritis is one of the most common manifestations of arthritis and this usually develops as a result of aging or due to some injury. Some types of arthritis may also develop as a result of your immune system turning on your own body. The immune system which normally protects against infections may begin attacking your own bodys tissue in this type of arthritis, with rheumatoid arthritis being the most common. Although arthritis is by and large associated with old age or aging, the condition can also affect children. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is fortunately a very rare condition. At times arthritis may develop as a result of an infections spreading from one part of the body to the joint, and this is termed as infectious arthritis.

Arthritis may be a degenerative condition to which there is no permanent cure, but treatment can help to manage and control arthritis, reducing its effect on your everyday life. The main focus of arthritis treatment, whether with conventional treatment or with natural arthritis remedies is towards preventing further deterioration of the joints and to increase and preserve mobility, while restricting arthritis pain. Arthritis pain relief and management is best achieved through a combination of medical treatments and natural remedies or self care that could include specialized arthritis diet plans, lifestyle routines, and physiotherapy that may include specific exercises like yoga or pilates.

Arthritis in the hands and feet or hips can be particularly problematic during pregnancy. Women suffering from arthritis should give serious thought to a decision to get pregnant because of the risk of complications.

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Home Remedies for Arthritis Pain: Symptoms, Treatment ...

We can say that Stem Cell Therapy is the most efficient treatment for people with kidney disease. Its application makes dialysis or kidney transplant is no longer the only choice. No matter which type of kidney disease you are suffering from, you are still expected to live a normal life as the damaged kidneys can be saved. Now follow us to learn more about Stem Cell Therapy.

Stem Cells are pluripotent cells with strong power of self-replicating and directional differentiation. They are original and immature cells and have the potential ability to regenerate various tissues and organs.

There are different classifications of stem cells according to different criteria. They can be divided into totipotent stem cells, pluripotent stem cells and unipotent stem cells according to their developmental potentiality; according to the developmental stage, they can be divided into embryonic stem cells and somatic stem cells.

Certain stem cells and immune cells will be injected into body to activate human body's self-healing capability, regulate and control the diseased cells, activate cell function, increase the number of normal cells, enhance cell activity, improve the quality of cells and recover cell normal physiological functions.

Stem cells can differentiate into renal intrinsic cells, renal parenchymal cells which can replace the dead and necrotic renal cells and tissues and activate regeneration of body's own cells. These new functional cells can help repair kidney damages and rebuild kidney functions.

Stem Cell Therapy has not been commonly used in every country. Some argue that it is immoral to collect embryonic stem cells from the embryos because embryos is one form of life. Some people worry that companies will provide funds for in vitro fertilization and artificial abortion to obtain more cell lines and they suggest more researches on adult stem cells and give up embryonic stem cell research.

Nowadays, in China, mesenchymal stem cells or umbilical cord blood stem cells are used to replace embryonic stem cells.

-Stem cells have very strong power of proliferation and differentiation and they can produce large number of new functional cells.

-No rejection reaction. Because stem cells are the original cells of the body, the surface antigen is not obvious enough to be recognized by antibody. So there is no rejection reaction after a Stem Cell Therapy.

-It has the convenience of easy separation, culture, amplification and purification and still has the characteristics of stem cells after several times proliferations.

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Stem Cell Transplant For Kidney Disease-Kidney Failure

Abstract Introduction

Administration of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has been shown to improve renal function in rodent models of chronic kidney disease (CKD), in part by reducing intrarenal inflammation and suppressing fibrosis. CKD in cats is characterized by tubulointerstitial inflammation and fibrosis, and thus treatment with MSCs might improve renal function and urinary markers of inflammation in this disease. Therefore, a series of pilot studies was conducted to assess the safety and efficacy of intravenous administration of allogeneic adipose-derived MSCs (aMSCs) in cats with naturally occurring CKD.

Cats enrolled in these studies received an intravenous infusion of allogeneic aMSCs every 2 weeks collected from healthy, young, specific pathogen-free cats. Cats in pilot study 1 (six cats) received 2 106 cryopreserved aMSCs per infusion, cats in pilot study 2 (five cats) received 4 106 cryopreserved aMSCs per infusion, and cats in pilot study 3 (five cats) received 4 106 aMSCs cultured from cryopreserved adipose. Serum biochemistry, complete blood count, urinalysis, urine protein, glomerular filtration rate, and urinary cytokine concentrations were monitored during the treatment period. Changes in clinical parameters were compared statistically by means of repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Bonferronis correction.

Cats in pilot study 1 had few adverse effects from the aMSC infusions and there was a statistically significant decrease in serum creatinine concentrations during the study period, however the degree of decrease seems unlikely to be clinically relevant. Adverse effects of the aMSC infusion in cats in pilot study 2 included vomiting (2/5 cats) during infusion and increased respiratory rate and effort (4/5 cats). Cats in pilot study 3 did not experience any adverse side effects. Serum creatinine concentrations and glomerular filtration rates did not change significantly in cats in pilot studies 2 and 3.

Administration of cryopreserved aMSCs was associated with significant adverse effects and no discernible clinically relevant improvement in renal functional parameters. Administration of aMSCs cultured from cryopreserved adipose was not associated with adverse effects, but was also not associated with improvement in renal functional parameters.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common condition in elderly cats and is characterized by tubulointerstitial inflammation, tubular atrophy and interstitial fibrosis with subsequent progressive loss of renal function [1,2]. Currently there is no definitive therapy short of renal transplant to improve kidney function in cats with CKD. Therefore, novel and effective therapeutic options are highly desired for treating this disease in cats.

Recently, a number of studies have suggested the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as a novel treatment option for management of CKD, based on encouraging data from rodent studies [3-7]. There have been several rationales advanced for the use of MSCs for treatment of CKD. Rodent studies have suggested that MSCs may incorporate into the renal parenchyma and give rise to new renal tubular cells, though the process appears to be relatively inefficient [8-17]. MSCs also exert potent anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic effects and may therefore indirectly improve renal function by reducing disease-associated inflammation and fibrosis through paracrine effects [3-7]. For example, MSCs have been shown to inhibit lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine production, suppress dendritic cell function, and suppress interferon (IFN) production by natural killer (NK) cells [18].

Since inflammation appears to be present at all stages of CKD in cats, the immunomodulatory actions of MSCs are appealing as an alternative means of suppressing intrarenal inflammation long term and with fewer side effects than with conventional anti-inflammatory drugs. In the majority of experimentally-induced CKD models investigated, MSC administration resulted in improved renal function, decreased intrarenal inflammation, and reduction of renal fibrosis [3-7]. Thus, MSC therapy may be an effective new approach to slow the progression of CKD and improve renal function.

Previous studies have demonstrated that cultured MSCs can be administered intravenously to rodents as well as to humans. However, in rodent models there is a significant risk of pulmonary thrombosis when high numbers of MSCs are rapidly administered intravenously [19]. Alternative routes of delivery have included injection via the renal artery, injection directly into the renal parenchyma, and injection into the renal subcapsular space [3-7]. One potential advantage of intravenous delivery compared to other routes may be the induction of renotropic paracrine effects following intravenous administration of MSCs [20].

Based on compelling results from rodent studies, we conducted a series of pilot studies to investigate the safety and potential efficacy of adipose-derived MSC (aMSC) therapy as a treatment for cats with naturally occurring CKD. These studies were designed to test the hypothesis that allogeneic cryopreserved aMSCs could be safely administered to cats with CKD and would result in improvement in kidney function. For this study, aMSCs were derived from allogeneic, healthy, specific pathogen-free (SPF) donor cats and cryopreserved, either as cells or adipose tissue, prior to intravenous administration to study cats. One primary study endpoint was to determine safety and potential adverse effects of repeated intravenous administration of cryopreserved aMSCs. The second major endpoint was to determine whether repeated MSC administrations were associated with improvement in renal function or urinary markers of intrarenal inflammation. These studies produced evidence of modest, but unlikely to be clinically significant, improvement in renal function but also showed evidence of significant adverse effects associated with intravenous administration of higher doses of cryopreserved aMSCs.

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Stem Cell Research & Therapy | Full text | Safety and ...

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Responsible in the past for unprecedented violence, eugenics is a major worry of Pope Benedict XVI, who yesterday spoke about how these deplorable practices present themselves today differently with the selection of embryos and the discrimination of the sick and disabled, resulting in a rejection of life in the name of an abstract ideal of health.

Receiving the participants of the conference called The new frontiers of genetics, which is taking place in the upcoming days at the Vatican, Ratzinger immediately clarified that all discrimination based on differences that are ascribed to real or assumed genetic factors is Read More

Gianvito Martino, the head of the Neurosciences division at the Institute of San Raffaele in Milan in a speech at Multiple Sclerosis Week, which took place from May 23-31, warned against trips of hope to clinics that promise effective treatments using stem cells.

According to Martino, who coordinated a Consensus Conference on last Tuesday in London on the neurodegenerative disease, where the guidelines for pre-clinical studies and clinical treatments with stem cells were defined, hundreds of Italian patients each year go on these trips due to cures that are promised. In the best-case scenario, these patients return in the Read More

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A Swiss company present in Italy that collects and stores umbilical cord stem cells, about 10,000 Italian mothers by the end of the year will have deposited their childrens umbilical cord stem cells in foreign banks, double compared to 2007. They said, Just two years ago about 1,500 families decided to deposit their childrens umbilical cord stem cells in banks. In 2007, requests for this service tripled, reaching 5,000 and in 2008. There will be about 10,000 new cryostorages in order to make stem cells available in the future (illegal in Italy). Read More

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Dozens of people who were blinded or otherwise suffered severe eye damage when they were splashed with caustic chemicals had their sight restored with transplants of their own stem cells a stunning success for the burgeoning cell-therapy field, Italian researchers reported Wednesday.

The treatment worked completely in 82 of 107 eyes and partially in 14 others, with benefits lasting up to a decade so far. One man whose eyes were severely damaged more than 60 years ago now has near-normal vision.

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"Latest Stem Cells News" - news from the world about stem ...

Journal of Regenerative Medicine Journal of Regenerative Medicine (JRGM) is a peer-reviewed scholarly journal and aims to publish the most complete and reliable source of information on the discoveries and current developments in the mode of original articles, review articles, case reports, short communications, etc. in all areas of stem cells and regenerative medicine and making them available online freelywithout any restrictions or any other subscriptions to researchers worldwide. Journal of Regenerative Medicine focuses on the topics include regenerative medicine therapies, stem cell applications, tissue engineering, gene and cell therapies, translational medicine and tissue regeneration. The Journal is using Editorial Manager System for quality in review process. Editorial Manager is an online manuscript submission, review and tracking system. Review processing is performed by the editorial board members ofJournal Regenerative Medicine or outside experts; at least two independent reviewers approval followed by editor approval is required for acceptance of any citable manuscript. Authors may submit manuscripts and track their progress through the system, hopefully to publication. Reviewers can download manuscripts and submit their opinions to the editor. Editors can manage the whole submission/review/revise/publish process. Interested authors can submit manuscript through Online Submission System or Editorial Manager or send as an e-mail attachment to the Editorial Office ateditor.jrgm@scitechnol.com oreditor.jrgm@scitechnol.org Journal of Regenerative Medicine is organizing & supporting3rd International Conference on Tissue Science & Regenerative Medicine during September 24-26, 2014 Valencia, Spain with the theme ofBreakthrough Strategies for Tissue Engineering, Repair & Regeneration.

*Unofficial 2014 Impact Factor was established by dividing the number of articles published in 2012 and 2013 with the number of times they are cited in 2014 based on Google search and the Scholar Citation Index database. If X is the total number of articles published in 2012 and 2013, and Y is the number of times these articles were cited in indexed journals during 2014 than, impact factor = Y/X.

Heterogeneity of Stem Cells in Human Amniotic Fluid

Amniotic fluid contains a mixture of cells with capacity to differentiate into all germ layers. These cells are present in large numbers in midtrimester samples obtained for cytogenetic diagnosis, and have been identified by stem cell surface markers and transcription factors. We studied cultured samples from patients who had both direct cultures and matched cultures obtained 2 weeks later from the cytogenetics laboratory as well as patients with cytogenetics material only. Samples were cryogenically frozen, thawed, expanded in culture with excellent viability. There was considerable individual variation unrelated to gestational age or telomere length. Phenotype for embryonic markers was assessed by flow cytometry and by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The most consistently present stem cell markers in substantial amounts were CD90, SSEA-4, & TRA-1-60. Cells with CD90, SSEA-4 & TRA-1-60 double and triple labeled also could be identified and subcultured, confirming the heterogeneity of the amniotic fluid stem cell population.

Patent Knowledge and Stem Cell Scientists

The knowledge economy is progressing at a rapid pace and increasingly relying on intangible assets as a form of recoupling its investments. Intangible assets include intellectual capital and intellectual property, with an emphasis on patents here. Due to the unawareness about intellectual property rights, researchers, very often, are flying blind unaware of opportunities and threats posed by patents to their research projects. Although, the business acumen of many (private and public) scientists has markedly increased in recent years, large numbers are still left outside the patent loop of opportunities and knowledge of obstacles to their research. Knowledge about patents carries important implications for all researchers and those responsible for science and technology policy making.

Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapies:In the Right Pathway to Find their Regulatory Niche

The Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS) has recently regulated the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP), that is,patients own plasma enriched in platelets and therefore in proteins and growth factors, as a human use drug. It is the first time that one regulatory agency worldwide categorizes these types of therapeutic therapies. According to AEMPS, PRP approaches cannot be considered as an advanced-therapy medicinal product. PRPs are classified as non-industrial biological medicines, being subjected to a strict regulation in terms of production, validation, efficacy and safety.

Understanding Somatic (Adult)Stem Cells: Potential vs. Reality

In the adult mammal, reserve stem cells, both active and quiescent, serve as primary precursors for differentiated cells. They often provide replacement cells as needed during normal cell homeostasis or serve as residual stem cell sources during periods of stress, trauma or disease. Adult stem cells have a defined level of maturity, accompanied by stability of differentiation, are less likely to invoke an immune response and are often readily derived from reservoirs in bone marrow, blood, adipose tissue and a variety of placental related tissues. While certain adult stem cells are well established as normal cell precursors and used in the treatment of diseases, an expanding array of specific adult stem cells from muscle, heart, nervous tissue, etc. are being discovered and posited as cell progenitors for regenerative therapy. Current preclinical and clinical tests are designed to test the identity, safety, efficacy, and methodology of harvested stem cells or derived cell lines for therapy of specific disorders. Contemporary therapeutic venues, bio-cell, drug and treatment centers have proposed the use of specific adult stem cells for human therapy in regenerative medicine.

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Regenerative Medicine Journals | Stem Cell Articles List

Bonilla-Silva, E. (2006). Color-blind Racism and the Persistence of Racial Inequality in the United States (2nd Ed.). (Ch. 3: The style of color blindness: How to talk nasty about minorities without sounding racist, pp. 53-74)

Abstract Liberalism: involves using ideas associated with political liberalism and economic liberalism in an abstract manner to explain racial matters.

Naturalization: allows whites to explain away racial phenomena by suggesting they are natural occurrences.

Naturalization is a frame that allows whites to explain away racial phenomena by suggesting they are natural occurrences for example whites can claim segregation is natural because people from all backgrounds gravitate toward likeness. Although, the above statements can be interpreted as racist and as contradicting the colorblind logic they are used to reinforce the myth of nonracialism. How? by suggesting these preferences are almost biologically driven and typical of all groups in society, preferences for primary associations with members of ones race are rationalized as nonracial because they (racial minorities) do it too (p. 28).

Cultural Racism: relies on culturally based arguments to explain the standing of minorities in society.

Cultural racism is a frame that relies on culturally based arguments (p. 28)

Minimization of Racism: suggests discrimination is no longer a central factor affecting minorities life choices.

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The Four Frames of Color-Blindness Laura Bestler

"I can't believe he didn't suspect a trap. See what happens when you don't watch enough television?" A condition afflicting many fictional characters, seen when one demonstrates by their behavior that they have never in their life ever seen the kind of story they're in, and thus have none of the reactions a typical audience member would have in the same situation. Worse, they are unable to learn from any experiences related to their genre. Genre Blindness is what keeps the cast of Threes Company leaping to outrageous conclusions even after the hundredth stupid misunderstanding, instead of sitting down and talking things out. It makes young girls go for walks alone in the woods after midnight without a flashlight or a weapon when there's an axe murderer or a vampire around. It makes the supergenius supervillains in James Bond movies stuff the hero into an elaborate melodramatic Death Trap from which he inevitably escapes instead of just shooting him. Although genre blindness can be a legitimate flaw, it should be noted that it can be difficult for writers to create characters who are not genre blind without hanging a lampshade on it by saying something like "This is just like in the movies!", especially in genres which require suspense that can easily be undone by such comedic relief (such as horrors, thrillers, etc). Furthermore, some stories in some genres really couldn't function at all if the characters displayed an innate and complete understanding of what genre they were in and exactly how they should act at all times within a story in said genre if they want to avoid trouble. A certain amount of Genre Blindness can be required to provide the story with tension and drama, since if the character knows exactly what to do to avoid trouble and conflict in their particular story, they'll do it, and consequently have an easy, trouble-free life, and... why are we watching again? Finally, not all of a genre's classic tropes are in fact Truth in Television, but as far as the characters are concerned, This Is Reality, so their "blindness" may be the same as common sense. For example, in real life, a single cough usually does not herald a fatal disease, so It's Probably Nothing is probably rational despite being Genre Blind. Ultimately, while it can be a problem if used too egregiously, sometimes you just have to shrug your shoulders and chalk it up to Willing Suspension of Disbelief. Related:

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"You best start believing in ghost stories, Miss Turner. You're in one!"

"First, your return to shore was not part of our negotiations nor our agreement so I "must" do nothing. And secondly, you must be a pirate for the pirate's code to apply and you're not. And thirdly, the code is more what you'd call 'guidelines' than actual rules. Welcome aboard the Black Pearl, Miss Turner."

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Genre Blindness - TV Tropes