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New research links a genetic anomaly and some forms of SIDS, or sudden infant death syndrome, which claims the lives of more than 3,000 infants a year.

The research, published in Nature Communications, focuses on mitochondrial tri-functional protein deficiency, a potentially fatal cardiac metabolic disorder caused by a genetic mutation in the gene HADHA.

Newborns with this genetic anomaly cant metabolize the lipids found in milk, and die suddenly of cardiac arrest when they are a couple months old. Lipids are a category of molecules that include fats, cholesterol, and fatty acids.

There are multiple causes for sudden infant death syndrome, says Hannele Ruohola-Baker, professor of biochemistry at the University of Washington School of Medicine, who is also associate director of the Medicine Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine.

There are some causes which are environmental. But what were studying here is really a genetic cause of SIDS. In this particular case, it involves defect in the enzyme that breaks down fat.

Lead author Jason Miklas, who earned his PhD at the University of Washington and is now a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University, says he first came up with the idea while researching heart disease and noticed a small research study that had examined children who couldnt process fats and who had cardiac disease that was not readily explained.

So he and Ruohola-Baker started looking into why heart cells, grown to mimic infant cells, died in the petri dish where they were growing.

If a child has a mutation, depending on the mutation the first few months of life can be very scary as the child may die suddenly, Miklas says. An autopsy wouldnt necessarily pick up why the child passed but we think it might be due to the infants heart stopping to beat.

Were no longer just trying to treat the symptoms of the disease, Miklas says. Were trying to find ways to treat the root problem. Its very gratifying to see that we can make real progress in the lab toward interventions that could one day make their way to the clinic.

In MTP deficiency, the heart cells of affected infants dont convert fats into nutrients properly, resulting in a build-up of unprocessed fatty material that can disrupt heart functions. More technically, the breakdown occurs when enzymes fail to complete a process known as fatty acid oxidation. It is possible to screen for the genetic markers of MTP deficiency; but effective treatments remain a ways off.

Ruohola-Baker says the latest laboratory discovery is a big step towards finding ways to overcome SIDS.

There is no cure for this, she says. But there is now hope, because weve found a new aspect of this disease that will innovate generations of novel small molecules and designed proteins, which might help these patients in the future.

One drug the group is focusing on is Elamipretide, used to stimulate hearts and organs that have oxygen deficiency, but barely considered for helping infant hearts, until now. In addition, prospective parents can undergo screening to see if there is a chance that they could have a child who might carry the mutation.

Ruohola-Baker has a personal interest in the research: one of her friends in Finland, her home country, had a baby who died of SIDS.

It was absolutely devastating for that couple, she says. Since then, Ive been very interested in the causes for sudden infant death syndrome. Its very exciting to think that our work may contribute to future treatments, and help for the heartbreak for the parents who find their children have these mutations.

The National Institutes of Health, the Academy of Finland, Finnish Foundation for Cardiovascular Research. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research of Canada, an Alexander Graham Bell Graduate Scholarship, and the National Science Foundation funded the work.

Source: University of Washington

Original Study DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12482-1

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Some cases of SIDS may have this genetic cause - Futurity: Research News

WILMINGTON, Del.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Incyte Corporation (Nasdaq:INCY) today announced positive results from the Novartis-sponsored pivotal Phase 3 REACH2 study evaluating ruxolitinib (Jakafi) in patients with steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). The study met its primary endpoint of improving overall response rate (ORR) at Day 28 with ruxolitinib treatment compared to best available therapy. No new safety signals were observed, and the ruxolitinib safety profile in REACH2 was consistent with that seen in previously reported studies in steroid-refractory acute GVHD.

Further analysis of the safety and efficacy data is ongoing. Novartis expects to initiate discussions with ex-U.S. regulatory authorities in 2020, and to submit REACH2 results for presentation at an upcoming scientific meeting.

GVHD is a challenging and serious disease, and physicians around the world need access to therapies that can improve outcomes for patients, said Peter Langmuir, M.D., Group Vice President, Targeted Therapies, Incyte. This positive result of the REACH2 study is excellent news for patients as it further reinforces the potential of ruxolitinib as a treatment option that can provide meaningful results for patients with steroid-refractory acute GVHD.

GVHD is a condition that can occur after an allogeneic transplant (the transfer of stem cells from a donor) where the donated cells initiate an immune response and attack the transplant recipients organs, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. There are two major forms of GVHD, acute and chronic, that can affect multiple organ systems including the skin, gastrointestinal (digestive) tract and liver.

Earlier this year, Jakafi was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of steroid-refractory acute GVHD in adult and pediatric patients 12 years and older based on results of the REACH1 trial. Jakafi is marketed by Incyte in the U.S.; ruxolitinib (Jakavi) is licensed to Novartis ex-U.S.

In addition, the pivotal REACH3 trial evaluating ruxolitinib in patients with steroid-refractory chronic GVHD is ongoing. A recent interim efficacy and safety analysis conducted by an Independent Data Monitoring Committee has recommended that REACH3, which is co-sponsored by Incyte and Novartis, should continue without modification. The results of the REACH3 trial are expected to be available in 2020.

About REACH2

REACH2 (NCT02913261) is a randomized, open-label, multicenter Phase 3 study sponsored by Novartis, evaluating safety and efficacy of ruxolitinib compared with best available therapy in patients with steroid-refractory acute GVHD.

The primary endpoint was overall response rate (ORR) at Day 28, defined as the proportion of patients demonstrating a best overall response (complete response or partial response). Secondary endpoints include durable ORR at Day 56, ORR at Day 14, duration of response, overall survival and event-free survival, among others. For more information about the study, please visit https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02913261.

About REACH

The REACH clinical trial program is evaluating Jakafi in patients with steroid-refractory GVHD and includes the collaborative Novartis-sponsored randomized pivotal Phase 3 trials: REACH2 and REACH3. The ongoing REACH3 trial is evaluating patients with steroid-refractory chronic GVHD with results expected next year. For more information about the REACH3 study, please visit https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03112603.

The REACH program was initiated with the Incyte-sponsored REACH1 trial, a prospective, open-label, single-cohort, multicenter, pivotal Phase 2 trial (NCT02953678) evaluating Jakafi in combination with corticosteroids in patients with steroid-refractory grade II-IV acute GVHD. For more information about the study, including trial results, please visit https://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT02953678.

About Jakafi (ruxolitinib)

Jakafi is a first-in-class JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor approved by the U.S. FDA for treatment of steroid-refractory acute GVHD in adult and pediatric patients 12 years and older.

Jakafi is also indicated for treatment of polycythemia vera (PV) in adults who have had an inadequate response to or are intolerant of hydroxyurea as well as adults with intermediate or high-risk myelofibrosis (MF), including primary MF, post-polycythemia vera MF and post-essential thrombocythemia MF.

Jakafi is marketed by Incyte in the United States and by Novartis as Jakavi (ruxolitinib) outside the United States. Jakafi is a registered trademark of Incyte Corporation. Jakavi is a registered trademark of Novartis AG in countries outside the United States.

Important Safety Information

Jakafi can cause serious side effects, including:

Low blood counts: Jakafi (ruxolitinib) may cause your platelet, red blood cell, or white blood cell counts to be lowered. If you develop bleeding, stop taking Jakafi and call your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider will perform blood tests to check your blood counts before you start Jakafi and regularly during your treatment. Your healthcare provider may change your dose of Jakafi or stop your treatment based on the results of your blood tests. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop or have worsening symptoms such as unusual bleeding, bruising, tiredness, shortness of breath, or a fever.

Infection: You may be at risk for developing a serious infection during treatment with Jakafi. Tell your healthcare provider if you develop any of the following symptoms of infection: chills, nausea, vomiting, aches, weakness, fever, painful skin rash or blisters.

Skin cancers: Some people who take Jakafi have developed certain types of non-melanoma skin cancers. Tell your healthcare provider if you develop any new or changing skin lesions.

Increases in cholesterol: You may have changes in your blood cholesterol levels. Your healthcare provider will do blood tests to check your cholesterol levels during your treatment with Jakafi.

The most common side effects of Jakafi include: for certain types of MF and PV - low platelet count, low red blood cell count, bruising, dizziness, and headache; and for acute GVHD low red blood cell counts, low platelet counts, low white blood cell counts, infections and fluid retention.

These are not all the possible side effects of Jakafi. Ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider for more information. Tell your healthcare provider about any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Before taking Jakafi, tell your healthcare provider about: all the medications, vitamins, and herbal supplements you are taking and all your medical conditions, including if you have an infection, have or had tuberculosis (TB), or have been in close contact with someone who has TB, have or had hepatitis B, have or had liver or kidney problems, are on dialysis, have a high level of fat in your blood (high blood cholesterol or triglycerides), had skin cancer or have any other medical condition. Take Jakafi exactly as your healthcare provider tells you. Do not change or stop taking Jakafi without first talking to your healthcare provider.

Women should not take Jakafi while pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Do not breast-feed during treatment with Jakafi and for 2 weeks after the final dose.

Full Prescribing Information, which includes a more complete discussion of the risks associated with Jakafi, is available at http://www.jakafi.com.

About Incyte

Incyte Corporation is a Wilmington, Delaware-based biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of proprietary therapeutics. For additional information on Incyte, please visit the Companys website at http://www.incyte.com.

Follow @Incyte on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Incyte.

Forward Looking Statements

Except for the historical information set forth herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including statements regarding whether and when the REACH2 data will be presented, when results from the REACH3 study will be available, and the effect of the REACH2 results on patients with GVHD, contain predictions, estimates and other forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements are based on the Companys current expectations and subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including unanticipated developments in and risks related to: unanticipated delays; further research and development and the results of clinical trials possibly being unsuccessful or insufficient to meet applicable regulatory standards or warrant continued development; the ability to enroll sufficient numbers of subjects in clinical trials; determinations made by the FDA; the Companys dependence on its relationships with its collaboration partners; the efficacy or safety of the Companys products and the products of the Companys collaboration partners; the acceptance of the Companys products and the products of the Companys collaboration partners in the marketplace; market competition; sales, marketing, manufacturing and distribution requirements; greater than expected expenses; expenses relating to litigation or strategic activities; and other risks detailed from time to time in the Companys reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2019. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

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Incyte Announces that the REACH2 Pivotal Trial of Ruxolitinib (Jakafi) Meets Primary Endpoint in Patients with Steroid-Refractory Acute...

ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AgeX Therapeutics, Inc. (AgeX; NYSE American: AGE), a biotechnology company focused on developing therapeutics for human aging and regeneration, announced today that founder and CEO Michael D. West, PhD will deliver a presentation titled The Age-Related Metabolic Program as part of a session at Metabesity 2019, October 15-16 in Washington, DC.

Details of the session follow.

Wednesday, October 16Carnegie Institution for Science 1530 P Street NWWashington, DC 20005

9:40-10:45am Panel Session: Clinical Development Issues Challenges and Opportunities

Dr. West will be joined on the panel by:

The full event program is available here.

A copy of the presentation will be available on the Investors section of the companys website at http://www.agexinc.com.

About AgeX Therapeutics

AgeX Therapeutics, Inc. (NYSE American: AGE) is focused on developing and commercializing innovative therapeutics for human aging. Its PureStem and UniverCyte manufacturing and immunotolerance technologies are designed to work together to generate highly defined, universal, allogeneic, off-the-shelf pluripotent stem cell-derived young cells of any type for application in a whole host of diseases with a high unmet medical need. AgeX has two preclinical cell therapy programs: AGEX-VASC1 (vascular progenitor cells) for tissue ischemia and AGEX-BAT1 (brown fat cells) for Type II diabetes. AgeXs revolutionary longevity platform named induced Tissue Regeneration (iTR) aims to unlock cellular immortality and regenerative capacity to reverse age-related changes within tissues. AGEX-iTR1547 is an iTR-based formulation in preclinical development. HyStem is AgeXs delivery technology to stably engraft PureStem cell therapies and slowly release iTR molecules in the body. AgeX is developing its core product pipeline for use in the clinic to extend human healthspan, and is seeking opportunities to form licensing and partnership agreements around its broad IP estate and proprietary technology platforms for non-core clinical applications.

For more information, please visit http://www.agexinc.com or connect with the company on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements that are not historical fact including, but not limited to statements that contain words such as will, believes, plans, anticipates, expects, estimates should also be considered forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements and as such should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect the business of AgeX Therapeutics, Inc. and its subsidiaries, particularly those mentioned in the cautionary statements found in more detail in AgeXs reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commissions (copies of which may be obtained at http://www.sec.gov). Subsequent events and developments may cause these forward-looking statements to change. AgeX specifically disclaims any obligation or intention to update or revise these forward-looking statements as a result of changed events or circumstances that occur after the date of this release, except as required by applicable law.

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AgeX Therapeutics to Present at Metabesity 2019 - Business Wire

The wellness field can be confusing to navigate. A seemingly endless number of companies offer a wide range of products, and it can be difficult to know where to turn with specific ailments. To shed some light on this area, we wanted to look at a leader in the field, LifeWave, and offer a review of the company and its products. Read on to learn more about how LifeWave uses innovative methods to help its customers meet a range of wellness goals.

Company Origins

One thing that sets the company apart from others in the wellness field is its origins and leadership. Founded in 2004 by CEO David Schmidt, the companys technology was born out of his research onthe use of phototherapy to improve several processes in the body. At present, the CEO holds over 100 patents and patents pending related to his technology and has made extensive headway in the field of regenerative science and technology. He has also used his background in business and product development to promote his findings and bring his technology to the companys wide customer base.

In his experiences prior to the creation of LifeWave, he worked with numerous organizations to develop innovative solutions to difficult problems. He helped createnew methods of producing hydrogen and oxygen, prototyped new turbine power generation systems, and helped design alternative rocket engines. During this period, he first conceived of the ideas that would become the basis for his wellness company, including the concept of using the bodys fat-burning pathways as an alternative means of raising energy levels without stimulants.

Phototherapy

Before looking at the companys offerings, lets first examine the field of phototherapy, which is intricately connected to much of LifeWaves work. Phototherapy, at its most fundamental level, is the process of using light to promote wellness in the body. This is a well-established scientific field with a wide range of applications in modern wellness. For instance, sunlight exposure is commonly used to raise levels of vitamin D in those who are deficient. Laser light is also used in several procedures. Infrared saunas are another frequently utilized wellness tool.

While many other phototherapies rely on a device or other external means of generating light, LifeWaves wellness products reflect light back onto the body to achieve results. This is done using topical patches of different designs and placements tailored to the desired outcomes. As infrared light generated by the body hits the patches, specific frequencies of light are reflected back into the bodys tissue to elicit wellness-promoting effects at the cellular level.

Examples of LifeWaves Offerings

To help illustrate how the company applied its phototherapy technology, we first looked at some of its original products that have been popular with customers from the start. One such product is its Energy Enhancer Patch. This patch has been shown to increase energy and endurance and has been used by many customers to support a physical fitness routine. Like the companys other offerings, the patches provide energy boosts without the use of drugs to provide wellness benefits that arent encumbered by the side effects that many pharmaceuticals can cause.

The companys energy patches came to national prominence when LifeWave began working with Richard Quick, the iconic coach of the Stanford University womens swim team. Schmidt saw an opportunity to show Quick the benefits of the patches by helping the team improve its athletic performance. The team began using the patches, and a mere three weeks later, 75 percent of the team had broken personal lifetime records. The team believed so deeply in the beneficial effects of the patches that they even brought them to their Olympic swimming trials. When the patches were featured in the spotlight of the national media, they gained attention quickly. Soon, the patches had a large and growing base of satisfied customers.

New Developments

The success of LifeWaves energy patches and other products has helped pave the way for a new product line that has been creating excitement in an entirely new area the field of longevity science. This product, the companys X39 patch, offers customers the potential to promote stem cell activation through phototherapy, a claim that we found interesting due to the many beneficial effects that increased stem cell activity can have on the body. The companys research shows that the patches can have a variety of positive wellness effects, including wound healing, pain relief, improved skin appearance, and improved inflammatory markers.

While these effects are beneficial for people of a wide range of ages, theyre potentially most important for those of advanced age. Thats because our stem cell activity tends to decrease as we get older, and since these cells are the precursors for every cell in our body, when stem cells become less active, we lose one of our key pathways of regeneration. The idea behind the X39 product is to reflect specific frequencies of light into the body, there by resetting stem cells back to where they were during more youthful times in our lives. Though the product is new, it has the potential to become a popular offering based on the effects that it can deliver.

Since wellness companies come in so many different shapes and sizes, it helps to take an overall look at a single company to see the true effectiveness of what it can provide to customers. Looking at the companys origins, product offerings, overarching philosophy, and leadership can all help you evaluate a companys impact on the market. LifeWaves product line stems from a thoughtfully conducted development process by a leadership team that hasa firm background in regenerative technology. These insights, coupled with positive responses to existing products, make the company a solid resource for those looking to improve well-being.

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LifeWave Review: A Look at the Company and What It Offers - Gazette Day

Published: November, 2019

To manage the painful joint disease known as osteoarthritis, people often take ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox). But these and related drugs known as NSAIDs may account for the higher rates of heart disease seen in people with osteoarthritis, a new study suggests.

Researchers matched 7,743 people with osteoarthritis with 23,229 healthy people who rarely or never took NSAIDs. People with osteoarthritis had a 42% higher risk of heart failure and a 17% higher risk of coronary artery disease compared with healthy people. After controlling for a range of factors that contribute to heart disease (including high body mass index, high blood pressure, and diabetes), they concluded that 41% of the increased risk of heart disease related to osteoarthritis was due to the use of NSAIDs.

Although this observational study doesn't prove cause and effect, it's already known that routine NSAID use can increase blood pressure, raise the risk of kidney problems, and cause stomach bleeding. For people with osteoarthritis, the findings underscore the importance of taking the lowest possible dose of an NSAID for the shortest possible time. The study appeared in the August 6 issue of Arthritis and Rheumatology.

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Pain relievers: A cause of higher heart risk among people with arthritis? - Harvard Health

Used in conjunction with registry data, machine-learning may be a useful tool to predict the occurrence and intensity of persistent pain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, according to a recent study published in Pain.

Researchers used data gathered from patient questionnaires (n=789) filled from the time of diagnosis for up to 5 years after diagnosis. A total of 21 parameters were assessed, including sociodemographic variables and factors deemed likely to influence persistent pain.

Unsupervised machine learning was used to identify subgroups within the distribution of patient pain levels. Gaussian mixture models were used to identify subgroups, and overfitting was assessed in all models. Supervised machine learning using Random Forest regression was used to identify the parameters that best predicted the subgroup of patients. The investigators also examined whether the evaluation of parameters at 3 months was optimal for predicting the occurrence and intensity of persistent pain.

After filtering the data to include only those patients with 4 assessments of pain level from 0 to 5 years after diagnosis, the data of 209 women and 79 men were analyzed (average age, 52.2 years). The use of unsupervised machine learning allowed to separate the patients into 3 subgroups according to their level of pain (ie, low, moderate, and high persistent pain). Patient global assessment and health assessment questionnaires administered at 3 months were found to allow to determine to which pain subgroups an individual would belong, using a supervised method. When the analysis was conducted again, excluding these parameters, tender joint count and swollen joint count assessed 3 months after diagnosis were found to be the most important nonpatient-related parameters for the prediction of pain level. For both patient- and nonpatient-related parameters, assessment at the time of diagnosis was not found to be an accurate predictor of persistent pain, as was the case when evaluations were conducted at 3 months.

Study limitations include the fact that this was a registry study, with no starting hypothesis.

The results indicate that early functional parameters of rheumatoid arthritis are informative for the development and degree of persistent pain, however, not earlier than 3 months after rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis, concluded the investigators.

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Reference

Ltsch, J, Alfredsson L, Lampa J. Machine-learning based knowledge discovery in rheumatoid arthritis related registry data to identify predictors of persistent pain [published online August 30, 2019]. Pain. doi: 10.1097/j-pain.0000000000001693

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Machine-Learning to Identify Predictors of Persistent Pain in Rheumatoid Arthritis - Clinical Pain Advisor

There is an increase in global age-standardized prevalence and incidence rates of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to results of a systematic analysis published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. The analysis also indicated that rising rates of prevalence and incidence could contribute to the increased global burden of RA.

Using data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors (GBD) 2017 study, researchers examined the trends in global, regional, and national prevalence, incidence, and associated disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in patients with RA. No such global study has been published since 2010.

The GBD 2017 study included 195 countries, 7 super regions, and 21 regions across the globe, from 1990 to 2017; data on 354 diseases and injuries, 282 causes of death, and 84 risk factors were systematically analyzed.

Results of the analysis indicated that there were 19,965,115 globally prevalent cases of RA in 2017 (95% uncertainty interval [UI], 17,990,489-21,995,673 cases), with an age-standardized prevalence rate of 246.6 cases/100,000 population (95% UI, 222.4-270.8 cases), which increased by 7.4% between 1990 and 2017.

The trend for global age-standardized DALY rate decreased from 1990 to 2012, but increased and reached higher levels in the subsequent 5 years (2012-2017). At the global level, RA accounted for 3.4 million DALYs (95% UI, 2.6-4.4 million DALYs) with an age-standardized rate of 43.3 DALYs/100,000 population (95% UI, 33.0-54.5 DALYs). The age-standardized DALY rate decreased by 3.6% (95% UI, -9.7% to 0.3%) from 1990 to 2017.

At the regional level, age-standardized RA prevalence was highest in high-income North America, Western Europe, and the Caribbean (377.6, 346.8, and 338.9, respectively), whereas Southeast Asia, Oceania, and Western Sub-Saharan Africa had the lowest age-standardized rates (100.9, 135.3, and 135.7, respectively).

Age-standardized incidence rates were also highest in high-income North America (22.5), South Asia (20.7), and Western Europe (20.4); Southeast Asia (6.2), Oceania (7.9), and Western Sub-Saharan Africa (8.5) had the lowest rates.

Data from the analysis indicated that the percentage change in age-standardized prevalence rates between 1990 and 2017 was not similar across all GBD 2017 regions: East Asia, high-income North America, and Western Sub-Saharan Africa showed the most increasing significant trends (25%, 19%, and 14%, respectively) compared with Southern Sub-Saharan Africa, high-income Asia-Pacific, and Eastern Sub-Saharan Africa (-12%, -7%, and -5%), that showed decreasing significant trends.

Although the number of prevalent cases doubled from 1990 to 2017 (10,226,042 to 19,965,115), the contribution of the GBD 2017 regions was different.

At the national level, the age-standardized prevalence rate of RA ranged from 91 to 471 cases/100,000 population, with the highest age-standardized prevalence rates in the United Kingdom, Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados (471.8, 404.4, and 402.6, respectively). Indonesia, Timor-Leste, and Sri Lanka had the lowest rates (91.1, 91.4, and 97.2, respectively). Age-standardized incidence rates ranged from 5.6 to 27.5 cases/100,000 population, with the highest incidence rates in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Sweden.

Overall, the global age-standardized prevalence rate was higher in women, increasing with age and peaking between 70 to 74 years in men and 75 to 79 years in women in 2017.

Researchers noted a nonlinear association at the regional level between age-standardized DALY rate and sociodemographic index. Overall, they identified the lowest age-standardized DALY rate at a sociodemographic index level of 0.43, which they observed increased and decreased intermittently with [sociodemographic index] improvement.

Only high-income North America demonstrated an increase between 1990 and 2017. National-level analyses also identified a nonlinear association; study findings indicated that this association between age-standardized DALY rate, sociodemographic index, and high RA burden was not limited to the most- or less-developed countries.

Increasing population awareness regarding RA, its risk factors, and the importance of early diagnosis and treatment with disease modifying agents is warranted to reduce the future burden of this condition, the researchers concluded. Improving health data for better monitoring of disease burden and health outcomes are strongly suggested.

Reference

Safiri S, Kolahi AA, Hoy D, et al. Global, regional and national burden of rheumatoid arthritis 1990-2017: a systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease study 2017. Ann Rheum Dis. 2019;78:1463-1471.

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Global Increase in Rheumatoid Arthritis Prevalence Rates and Disease Burden - Rheumatology Advisor

Living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can be challenging. When those challenges such as walking or standing limitations, or experiencing brain fog or fatigue make it impossible to work, its possible to apply for replacement disability income. There are two options for this: short-term or long-term disability programs through a current employer, or the federal Social Security Disability Income program.

RELATED: People With Rheumatoid Arthritis Develop Resilience by Dealing With Disease Challenges

Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritiscan affect a persons ability to work: Joint issues can make it hard to perform the tasks of a job, such as using repetitive motions or being unable to grip or grasp items appropriately. Fatigue may require a person to stay home and miss work for extended periods of time.

Applying for disability can be a detailed process. Its common for people applying for the federal program to be denied after their first application. But its possible to appeal and to ultimately get approved for disability benefits. The most important takeaway is that you have to be a self-advocate with patience and persistence, saysJessica Boles, a licensed social worker and a patient advocate and community outreach manager for CreakyJointsand the Global Healthy Living Foundation, two resources for people living with arthritis and other chronic illnesses, respectively.

RELATED: 5 Warning Signs That Rheumatoid Arthritis Is Getting Worse

For an employee seeking short- or long-term disability benefits from an employer, the process is typically to fill out paperwork, including relevant medical paperwork, that clearly shows why benefits are needed, says Boles. With a group plan, usually the patient will receive a percentage of what their individual paycheck is. There could be a waiting period before a person could access benefits, and it can get tricky with preexisting treatments, she says.

RELATED:Rheumatoid Arthritis Changes You

For those without a group plan through an employer, there is Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), a program offered by the Social Security Administration. Per the agency's website, people can apply for SSDI if they are 18 or older, arent already receiving Social Security benefits, cant work because of a medical condition that is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death, and havent already been denied. (Those who have been denied can appeal the decision; see the section How to Appeal a Disability Benefit Denial, below.)

According to Boles, in terms of approval forSSDI, they've learned that it is more about proving that individuals can't do any job, not simply their own current job. She says, Its more, I cant do any work whatsoever.

The program depends on a persons earning history and whether they paid Social Security benefits through taxes, Boles adds. For people who are self-employed, clarify with the Social Security Administration if that work history qualifies.

RELATED: Smart Tactics to Follow When Applying for Disability Due to Crohn's

If you are applying to an employers disability program, make sure you provide all the paperwork requested and do what is asked of you. For disability programs offered through employers, I dont typically see a lot of denials, says Boles. But in my experience, what I see with SSDI, a lot of folks tend to be denied often. I suggest always consider appealing.

Crucial for applying for any disability program is filling out all the paperwork completely. Talk to your diagnosing physician early before you begin the application process as well as any other physicians who can support the application, said Mirean Coleman, a licensed independent clinical social worker andclinical manager for the National Association of Social Workers based in Washington, DC.

The patient needs to initiate an application first with the Social Security office, and on the application, they would include a list of physicians who are involved in the patients care, Coleman says. The Social Security office would forward papers directly to the physician. Its important for the patient not only to keep things timely but to inform the physician that they intend to apply for disability. That way, the physician can look out for the incoming information and complete the application by the return-by date.

RELATED: Disability Activism: 11 Ways to Make a Difference Today

Since denials can be common, We always encourage the patient not to be discouraged by the denial, says Coleman. The most important thing is to appeal it and to let another decision-making process take place.

Why are applications for benefit denials so common? Applications may lack information, either from a patient or a medical professional. Papers have to be filled out in a concise and detailed way that explains what the disability is, what its impact is on the lifestyle of the patient, and why the patient may need disability at this time, says Coleman.

Working with other professionals can be helpful during the appeals process. When you apply through Social Security, you are typically assigned a social worker, or can request one, to work with, says Boles. Folks may also want to hire an advocate or an attorney who specifically deals with disability rights. The Social Security Administration often has a list of resources online. These include information about how to find someone to work with, as well as tips for those who are representing the applicant.

One resource to use to track RA symptoms and how they affect day-to-day function is the Arthritis Power app, which can maintain a digital record of symptoms. Patients have a hard time remembering what happens between appointments, says Boles. With this app, you can track your symptoms in an app, and you can tell your doctor. It can be easier to extract information and send to a doctor in an app.

Consider getting others to help. Stick with it and appeal the situation, says Coleman. Sometimes people have to appeal several times before they are approved. An attorney can help with the appeal process. A social worker can offer resources to strengthen an application.

For help finding a qualified social worker, the National Association of Social Workers offers itsHelp Starts Here website, where you can find a social worker to help with various concerns, says Coleman. For more details about applying for disability benefits, download theDisability BenefitsPDF brochure from the Social Security Administration, which details the procedure.

Dont let the prospect of a difficult process scare you away from filing an initial application or appealing a denied one.

There is so much stigma in the world for individuals living with chronic illness, says Boles. Patients are paying into these benefits and have a right to access them. If patients cant work, they shouldnt be risking worsening their health and causing more damage to themselves physically and mentally if they continue to work. Its important for people to know they have a right to these benefits.

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Disability Benefits for People With Rheumatoid Arthritis: Get the Facts - Everyday Health

NEW YORK Social isolation is, unfortunately, a common occurrence among the elderly. While this phenomenon can be traced back to a number of contributing factors, the simple fact that its harder for many older people to move around plays a significant role in this relationship. With this in mind, researchers from the American Geriatrics Society say there may be a link between osteoarthritis, a condition that causes joint pain, and social isolation.

Many people who suffer from arthritis also deal with additional issues that may put them at a greater risk of becoming socially isolated. Examples of such issues include anxiety and depression, fear of moving around due to arthritis pain, physical inactivity, and a lack of ability to properly care for themselves.

Furthermore, arthritis is incredibly common; 30% of adults over the age of 65 deal with some form of arthritis, with leg joints being a commonly affected body part. However, there hasnt been all that much research performed on the connection between arthritis and isolation.

So, in an effort to learn more about this possible connection, as well as arthritis overall contribution to global social isolation, data was collected from a European research project that consisted of 2,942 seniors living in six different European countries (United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, Italy, Sweden, and the Netherlands).From that group, this study looked specifically at 1,967 people all around the age of 73.

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The research team wanted to determine if each adult was socially isolated both at the beginning of the study as well as 12-18 months later on. To achieve this, each adult filled out questionnaires asking about how often they saw and connected with family and friends. Each participant was also asked about any volunteer activity or social groups they may be involved in.

Half of the surveyed participants were women, and nearly 30% had arthritis. Judging off of the initial questionnaire results, 20% of the participants were isolated at the beginning of the study.

Participants that werent socially isolated were generally younger, had higher incomes and more education. Also, those who were staying social were generally in better health, more attractive, experienced less daily pain, and had faster walking times.

Among the 1,585 participants who were not classified as socially isolated at the beginning of the study, 13% ended up becoming isolated by the time of the second survey some 12-18 months later. That group reported that their arthritis had worsened in between survey periods; they were in more pain, couldnt walk as easily, had developed depression, and some were experiencing problems thinking and formulating decisions.

The studys authors believe their findings indicate that osteoarthritis increases ones risk of social isolation. Besides arthritis, problems with thinking and decisions, and slower walking times, were also listed as possible developments likely to result in social isolation.

Researchers recommend that older adults suffering from arthritis should do the best they can to stay moving and get involved in social activities. Specifically, they suggest looking into local senior centers that usually feature activities specially designed for people dealing with mobility issues.

The study is published in theJournal of the American Geriatrics Society.

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Pain & Loneliness: Osteoarthritis Linked To Social Isolation Among Seniors - Study Finds

2019 World Arthritis Day: Read here to know the link between rheumatoid arthritis and depression

A person with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may not seem to fit the usual profile of an "arthritis" patient since this word is usually associated with older people. RA, however, is a type of arthritis that affects people in the prime of their life, and women are more likely to be affected than men. It is an autoimmune disease which occurs when a person's immune system attacks his or her own body, for reasons that are not well understood. Research indicates that a person with RA is 2 to 4 times more likely to be depressed*, which can further worsen RA and compromise its treatment. Patients with RA produce excessive amounts of certain chemicals in the body called "proinflammatory cytokines". These chemicals can also contribute to depression. Many of the physical symptoms of RA can be seen or measured, and so they receive prompt treatment. But the mental impact of RA is unseen and can often be missed during diagnosis. This makes it critical for a doctor to recognize if a patient with RA is also depressed, and then address both conditions.

A patient with RA has pain, stiffness and swelling in the joints, especially those in the fingers and wrists, which can over time lead to loss of function and disability. Understandably, many patients find it difficult to come to terms with a diagnosis of RA. Simple routine activities that involve movement of the hands and fingers, such as typing and cooking, or even holding or grasping of lightweight objects can become difficult tasks. All of this can cause a person to become depressed.

Rheumatoid arthritis cause pain and stiffness in jointsPhoto Credit: iStock

Also read:Depression can worsen the pain and other symptoms seen in RA

Depression can worsen the pain and other symptoms seen in RA. Moreover, a person with RA is often at a higher risk of co-morbid conditions such as cardiovascular disease and heart attacks, and being depressed can further increase this risk.

If left untreated, depression may cause a person to feel less productive at the workplace and even lose his/her job. It can strain family and social relationships and drive a wedge in a marriage because of its impact on sexual intimacy. Undoubtedly, this can negatively affect a patient's mental health, further increasing depression.

Also read:See How These Top 5 Foods Can Ease Your Arthritis Pain Quickly And Effectively

Together, rheumatoid arthritis and depression form a vicious cycle. RA can lead to depression, and depression in turn can increase the severity of RA and reduce treatment effectiveness.

Addressing depression in RA patients can help in treating RA effectivelyPhoto Credit: iStock

However, a patient's rheumatologist and a psychiatrist can together suggest the best course of treatment to address both these conditions. In addition to medication, a patient can also benefit from regular exercise, learning techniques to manage stress better and help from support groups to cope with the emotional and physical burden of both conditions. When both depression and RA are addressed, patients often respond better to treatment and go on to enjoy a better quality of life.

Also read:These Are The Foods You Should Include In Your Diet If You Have Arthritis

*Margaretten M, Julian L, Katz P, Yelin E. Depression in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: description, causes and mechanisms. Int J Clin Rheumtol. 2011;6(6):617-623. doi:10.2217/IJR.11.6

(Dr Rohini Samant - HOD Rheumatology at Hinduja Hospital - Mumbai)

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. NDTV is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this article. All information is provided on an as-is basis. The information, facts or opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of NDTV and NDTV does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.

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World Arthritis Day 2019: Know The Link Between Rheumatoid Arthritis And Depression - NDTV News

Isabelle Amigues,1 Deepa Ramadurai,2 Jeffrey J Swigris3

1Division of Rheumatology, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, USA; 2Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; 3Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Interstitial Lung Disease Program, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, USA

Correspondence: Jeffrey J SwigrisNational Jewish Health, 1400 Jackson Street, Denver, CO 80206, USAEmail swigrisj@njc.org

Abstract: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common systemic autoimmune disease whose fibro-inflammatory manifestations may affect a number of tissues and organs, including the lungs. In fact, interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a leading cause of mortality among patients with RA. RA-related interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD) most often presents in an injury pattern called usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP), which portends a relatively worse prognosis than other less commonly occurring patterns of RA-ILD, like non-specific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP). Biomarkers from serum or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid could aid in the identification of patients at risk for RA-ILD, the detection of patients most likely to develop the UIP pattern of RA-ILD, and the prediction of disease behaviour over time. Notably, the use of highly sensitive serologic biomarkers, including rheumatoid factor (RF) and antibodies targeting cyclic citrullinated peptides, while somewhat specific for RA joint disease, have only limited utility as biomarkers for RA-ILD. Candidate biomarkers for RA-ILD include these and other autoantibodies as well as certain genes and molecules that hold promise as biomarkers in other forms of ILD. In this manuscript, we summarize the state of knowledge on biomarkers for the development and progression of RA-ILD.

Keywords: rheumatoid arthritis, interstitial lung disease, pulmonary fibrosis, usual interstitial pneumonia, biomarker, antibody

This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution - Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License.By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms.

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Current Perspectives On Emerging Biomarkers For Rheumatoid Arthritis-A | OARRR - Dove Medical Press

MANHATTAN, Kan. (WIBW) - To shake things up, the Arthritis Foundation Kansas Chapter, hosted a Halloween Hustle 5K run and 1 mile walk in Manhattan Saturday morning.

Participants were encouraged to come dressed up in costumes, and participate in the costume contest for chances to win prizes.

To continue the Halloween theme, there was also a Trick or Trot for the youth participants to receive candy on their trot around the pavilion.

After the Trick or Trot and costume contest participants headed outside for the 5K and 1 mile runs around Manhattans City Park.

Participants in the Halloween Hustle raised nearly thirty thousand dollars for Saturdays event to go towards the Arthritis Foundation.

We pride ourselves on being a research based organization, our goal is to find a cure, but we also provide programs and resources for people to help live their best life for people who are suffering now. Arthritis Foundation (KS Chapter), Development Manager, Lauren Hambleton says.

While this was the first Halloween themed event in Manhattan for the Arthritis Foundation, they plan to host the Halloween Hustle again in October 2020.

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'Halloween Hustle' for the Arthritis Foundation held in Manhattan - WIBW

For patients withrheumatoid arthritis (RA), rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-citrullinatedprotein antibodies (ACPA) demonstrate different isotype patterns during diseasedevelopment, according to results published in Arthritis & Rheumatology.

The study included participants with RA (n=214) and matched control participants (n=210) from the Department of Defense Serum Repository. The researchers tested a mean of 3 pre-RA and 1 post-RA serum samples for RF and ACPA immunoglobulin (Ig) A, IgG, and IgM. They then evaluated the timing and trajectories of autoantibody elevations.

Compared withcontrol individuals, participants with RA had significant differences in RF-IgAlevels at a median of 14.2 years before diagnosis (P <.01).Differences in RF-IgG occurred at 5.0 years, and differences in RF-IgM levelsoccurred at 7.2 years (both P <.01).

Participants with RAhad significantly different levels of ACPA IgG at 17.9 years before RAdiagnosis compared with control individuals (P <.01). For ACPA-IgA,the difference occurred at 6.2 years, and for ACPA-IgM, it differed at 5.0years (both P <.01).

After RA diagnosis,the only autoantibody that had a significant positivity increase was ACPA-IgA(19% 0-2 years pre-RA vs. 39% >2 years post-RA, P =.04).

The resultsindicated that among participants with RA, all autoantibodies followed asimilar trajectory, with an early initial elevation, a period of stability, andan immediate increase pre-RA diagnosis.

The study includedseveral limitations. The researchers noted that the military cohort used in thestudy may have a more severe form of RA than other populations. In addition,delays in seeking treatment may mean that the actual time of synovitis onset isearlier than the date of diagnosis.

These findingshave implications for understanding the pathophysiology of disease development,the researchers wrote.

Disclosure: Severalstudy authors declared affiliations with the pharmaceutical industry. Pleasesee the original reference for a full list of authors disclosures.

Reference

Kelmenson LB, Wagner BD, McNair BK, et al. Timing of elevations of autoantibody isotypes in rheumatoid arthritis prior to disease diagnosis [published online August 29, 2019]. Arthritis Rheumatol. doi:10.1002/art.41091

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Variance in Isotype Patterns Before Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosis - Rheumatology Advisor

PETACH TIKVA, Israel--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (NYSE MKT: CANF) (TASE:CFBI), a biotechnology company with a pipeline of proprietary small molecule drugs that address cancer, liver and inflammatory diseases and Gebro Pharma, a European mid-size Pharmaceutical company announced today it is holding an International Advisory Board conference with a panel of eleven Key Opinion Leaders in rheumatoid arthritis from Austria, Switzerland, and Spain focused on Piclidenoson.

Gebro Pharma has licensed the distribution rights to Piclidenoson for the indications of rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis in Austria, Switzerland, and Spain. The purpose of the meeting, which is taking place in Fieberbrunn, Austria, Gebro Headquarters, on October 17-18, 2019, is to conduct a scientific review of Piclidenoson, the role of the Adenosidne receptor A3 and mechanism of action of the molecule and aspects related to patient populations. Can-Fites CEO Dr. Pnina Fishman, Medical Director Dr. Michael Silverman, and VP Business Development Dr. Sari Fishman are delivering presentations at the conference together with the participation of European Key Opinion Leaders in rheumatoid arthritis, Dr. Burkhard Leeb and Dr. Sander W. Tas.

Can-Fite is currently enrolling 500 patients in Europe, Canada, and Israel in a Phase III study of Piclidenoson as a first-line treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. The study will evaluate Piclidenoson as compared to placebo, and compared to methotrexate, the current standard of care for first-line treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

This highly productive forum with our distribution partner Gebro is an opportunity for us to engage directly with their network of doctors in Europe regarding how Piclidenoson may meet an unmet need for patients who seek a safe and effective treatment for newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis, stated Can-Fite CEO Dr. Pnina Fishman.

Gebro considers Piclidenoson as an important milestone to strengthen its competence in the treatment of RA and psoriasis and to provide patients with an innovative concept of treatment for such diseases, stated Gebro Pharma CEO Dr. Christian Kollenz.

About Piclidenoson

Piclidenoson is a novel, first-in-class, A3 adenosine receptor agonist (A3AR) small molecule, orally bioavailable drug with a favorable therapeutic index demonstrated in Phase II clinical studies. Piclidenoson is currently under development for the treatment of autoimmune inflammatory diseases. It is being evaluated in a Phase III study as a first line treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and a Phase III study in the treatment of moderate-to-severe psoriasis.

About Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd.

Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (NYSE American: CANF) (TASE:CFBI) is an advanced clinical stage drug development Company with a platform technology that is designed to address multi-billion dollar markets in the treatment of cancer, inflammatory disease and sexual dysfunction. The Company's lead drug candidate, Piclidenoson, is currently in Phase III trials for rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. Can-Fite's liver cancer drug, Namodenoson, recently completed a Phase II trial for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of liver cancer, and is in a Phase II trial for the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Namodenoson has been granted Orphan Drug Designation in the U.S. and Europe and Fast Track Designation as a second line treatment for HCC by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Namodenoson has also shown proof of concept to potentially treat other cancers including colon, prostate, and melanoma. CF602, the Company's third drug candidate, has shown efficacy in the treatment of erectile dysfunction in preclinical studies and the Company is investigating additional compounds, targeting A3AR, for the treatment of sexual dysfunction. These drugs have an excellent safety profile with experience in over 1,000 patients in clinical studies to date. For more information please visit: http://www.can-fite.com.

About Gebro Pharma

Gebro Pharma is a privately-owned leading pharma group founded in Austria in the late 1940s, with over 500 employees and more than 70 years of experience in research, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceutical specialties. Its headquarters are located in Fieberbrunn (Austria), where Gebro is one of the main local players, with commercial operations also in Spain and Switzerland. With a total turnover of 185M in 2018, Gebro is positioned as a leader in pain and rheumatology with a strong portfolio.

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Additionally, Gebro Pharma has also built a portfolio around urology, respiratory, dermatology, GI and CV depending on the territory.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements, about Can-Fites expectations, beliefs or intentions regarding, among other things, market risks and uncertainties, its product development efforts, business, financial condition, results of operations, strategies or prospects. In addition, from time to time, Can-Fite or its representatives have made or may make forward-looking statements, orally or in writing. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as believe, expect, intend, plan, may, should or anticipate or their negatives or other variations of these words or other comparable words or by the fact that these statements do not relate strictly to historical or current matters. These forward-looking statements may be included in, but are not limited to, various filings made by Can-Fite with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, press releases or oral statements made by or with the approval of one of Can-Fites authorized executive officers. Forward-looking statements relate to anticipated or expected events, activities, trends or results as of the date they are made. Because forward-looking statements relate to matters that have not yet occurred, these statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause Can-Fites actual results to differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Many factors could cause Can-Fites actual activities or results to differ materially from the activities and results anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: our history of losses and needs for additional capital to fund our operations and our inability to obtain additional capital on acceptable terms, or at all; uncertainties of cash flows and inability to meet working capital needs; the initiation, timing, progress and results of our preclinical studies, clinical trials and other product candidate development efforts; our ability to advance our product candidates into clinical trials or to successfully complete our preclinical studies or clinical trials; our receipt of regulatory approvals for our product candidates, and the timing of other regulatory filings and approvals; the clinical development, commercialization and market acceptance of our product candidates; our ability to establish and maintain strategic partnerships and other corporate collaborations; the implementation of our business model and strategic plans for our business and product candidates; the scope of protection we are able to establish and maintain for intellectual property rights covering our product candidates and our ability to operate our business without infringing the intellectual property rights of others; competitive companies, technologies and our industry; statements as to the impact of the political and security situation in Israel on our business; and risks and other risk factors detailed in Can-Fites filings with the SEC and in its periodic filings with the TASE. In addition, Can-Fite operates in an industry sector where securities values are highly volatile and may be influenced by economic and other factors beyond its control. Can-Fite does not undertake any obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For more information please visit:

http://www.gebro.es

DISCLAIMER

In compliance with article 101.c) 16 of Law 29/2006, this press release can only be circulated to specialized media addressed to authorized personnel for the prescription or dispensation of drugs.

LABORATORIOS GEBRO PHARMA S.A. will hold responsible anyone who acts contrary to our indications in terms of dissemination of information for all the consequences and/or claims from third parties that may arise from the breach.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20191017005438/en/

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Can-Fite and Gebro Pharma holding European Conference on Development & Commercialization of Phase III Drug Candidate Piclidenoson in the Treatment...

October 12 is World Arthritis Day.

An incredibly common condition, it currently affects one in five people living in Ireland today. Despite this, our understanding of arthritis - and osteoarthritis - can sometimes be lacking.

Senior lecturer in physiotherapy at RCSI and musculoskeletal clinical specialistDr Helen French says that the most common myth about osteoarthritis is that it only affects older people.

And the second most common myth is that all older people are bound to get it.

We think about osteoarthritis as only affecting older people, but wed like to get the message across that thats not just the case," she says.

"People have a fear of osteoarthritis, or they think its normal if youre old and that its just part of regular ageing - but its not.

"Joint replacement is for the minority, not everybody will have to have a joint replaced."

In Ireland, one in five people will be diagnosed with some form of arthritis in their lifetime.

Women are two to three times more likely to be diagnosed withosteoarthritis too, with 18 percent ofarthritis patients in Ireland being less than 55 years old.

The most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis, causes damage to joints by wearing down the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones.

It tends to relate to joints in the knees, hips, and spine more severely, but any joint in the body can be affected by the condition.

Theres a few different risk factors," says Dr French. "Sometimes its genetics, other times its obesity because weight is a critical factor."

"It could also be caused by a hormonal influence though there isnt substantive evidence to prove that."

Dr French says that despite misconceptions about the condition, more and more people under the age of 45 are being diagnosed with osteoarthritis.

A lot of them are young women and - in particular - young sporting women.

"Not a lot of women think about this," she says. "Sportswomen would be high risk because if youre a high level athlete and youre doing a twisting-turning sport like soccer or rugby, then you can easily injure the ligaments in your knee or your ankle.

"Men can often get similar injuries playing the likes of GAA, but it is more common in women because of our biomechanics and because of the way we move.

"Research has shown that young sportswomen are more at risk of developing osteoarthritis 10 years after they start playing (...)but the key message were trying to get across is that preventative measures are possible."

Osteoarthritis affects a person's day-to-day life. Everything from getting up in the morning to getting out of a chair to driving a car can be affected by the condition.

The stiffness caused by joint movement can also have a knock on effect on how a person partakes in hobbies or sport - and even on how they do their job.

"It does affect every day activities that we take for granted," says Dr French. "You can have a really high quality of life with osteoarthritis, but to ensure this we need to have a better understanding of the condition, as well as how to manage it."

There are three core recommendations for dealing with osteoarthritis as a young person.

The first is weight management as obesity has been proven to increase a person's risk of developing the condition.

The second is exercise and the third is self-management, with medication to ease the symptoms of the condition being on the second line of control.

Dr French says that another one of the most common myths abut osteoarthritis is that you shouldn't exercise when you have it when, in fact, you should.

"You should exercise more than normal," she says. "You may need to go to a physiotherapist and get an individual approach to suit your needs and make sure youre doing the right type of exercise, like a specific strengthening exercise.

"The needs should suit the person, but you should definitely be doing it.

You can find out more about osteoarthritis via Arthritis Ireland here.

If you are concerned about your health, you should always contact your GP.

Read more:
Osteoarthritis and arthritis: it's not only older people who are at risk - Her.ie

Arthritis is very prevalence among the old age persons. This is more prevalent than diabetes like AIDS and cancer etc. Lets read about the Arthritis on the occasion of World Arthritis Day.

What is Arthritis?

Arthritis literally means the swelling and tenderness of one or more joints which leads to pain and stiffness in the joints. There are various types of arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition that can affect people at any age while osteoarthritis is the most common reason for age-related joint pain.

The main symptoms of arthritis are pain and stiffness in joints which usually worsen with age. But don't think that arthritis is inevitable in the old age persons.

History of World Arthritis Day:

October 12 is celebrated as World Arthritis Day since 1996. It was started by the Arthritis and Rheumatism International (ARI) to increase global awareness about the rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMD).

What is Ebola Virus?

World Arthritis Day 2019 Theme:

Each World Arthritis Day has a theme since 2017. The theme of year 2017 was Dont Delay, Connect Today which continue till 2018. The theme for World Arthritis Day 2019 is "Time2Work". This theme would be followed in the financial year 2020 also.

Worth to mention that before 2017, World Arthritis Day; didnt have any theme.

The European League Against Rheumatism, (EULAR's) campaign

The "Dont Delay, Connect Today" campaign targets to highlight that early diagnosis of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMD) and access to treatment can prevent further damage.

Patients of the World Arthritis Day

Arthritis affects around 15% people i.e. over 180 million people in India. World Health Organization (WHO) data show that 0.3-1% of the worlds population has rheumatoid arthritis and, 18% women while around 10% men above the 60 years have symptomatic osteoarthritis.

There are around 120 million people are currently living with a rheumatic disease (RMD) in the European Union alone.

The World Arthritis Day is dedicated to raise awareness about Arthritis; affecting people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. An organisation European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) tries its best efforts to promote the awareness about the World Arthritis Day and its importance. EULAR also sets the theme for this day.

Treatment of the Arthritis

Osteoarthritis is a age related problem which can also be mitigate by drinking more than 2 litres of water a day, avoidance of fatty & oily food and sweetened beverages while inclusion of good vegetarian protein diet and Physiotherapy treatment.

So this was the complete detailed information on the World Arthritis Day 2019. The theme of World Arthritis Day 2019 "Time2Work"is very important for various exams hence be attentive about it.

World Hepatitis Day 2019: Current Theme, History and Significance

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World Arthritis Day 2019: History and Theme - Jagran Josh

AUSTIN (Nexstar) For about three decades,parts of Isha Dhars skin have lostcolor.

Ive had vitiligo since I was five, she said.It happens, stops, happens, stops.

Vitiligo is a medical condition where patches in the skin lose pigment.A person who has vitiligo can either have one patch or multiple patches of lighter skin on theirface, arms, legs or other parts of their body.It can also affect hair.

Its not completely understood what causes vitiligo, but its thought that the immune system does play a role in potentially getting some of these skin cells that cause pigment or what gives your skincolor to stop working,said Dr.Lia Gracey, MD, PhD, a dermatologist with Baylor Scott & White Health.Vitiligo doesnt currently have a cure and it can be difficult to treat because vitiligo can be progressive with more and morecolorloss.

There are currently several treatment options to help with vitiligo,includingcreams, phototherapy, surgery and oral medication.But there is no cure.

Its not like it stops you from doing your regular work, Dhar said. Its not a debilitating condition in any way. It doesnt stop you from living your regular life.

But Dhar and dermatology experts say a lack of awareness can cause people to lose self-esteem and be self-conscious about their bodies. Thats whereitcan get tough.

Youre sort of, in some ways, different from every other person, Dhar said. It stands out and people stare. It is a very large lack of awareness and I feel like if more people knew about it, it might help to lessen the stares or questions.

In 2018,Winnie Harlow,a Canadian fashion model,was the first model with vitiligo to walk in the Victorias Secret Fashion Show.

Any step toward a truly equal and diversemodelingindustry is great, but for a huge brand like Victorias Secret to include models with skin conditions like vitiligo is a huge step to normalizing it in the entire industry, she said in a Teen Vogue interview. I hope that theres many more in the future. We need to work toward diversity, not for the sake of it, but to make it the norm. And I hope that this is a big step toward that.

TeVidoBioDevices,an Austin-based biotechnologystartup, is working on a treatment calledTruPigmentto help patients with vitiligo.During a patients first visit, the doctor will take a small sample of the persons healthy skin through a process called cellular grafting and will send this sample toTeVidoBioDevices. The company then takes the living skincells and places it in a liquid, which is theTruPigment, and then sendsit backto the doctors office.CEO Laura Bosworth says doctors can use it treat an area almost five times the skin samples size and its expected thatcolorwill come back in about two months.

[The doctor] just takes off that little thin sheet of skin in the area that youre planning to treat and then theres a little syringe of your cells in a liquid, she explained. You squirt it on, spread it around and bandage it up.

Dr.Ammar Ahmed, associate professor in the Division of Dermatology at Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin, is working with the four patients who are seekingTruPigmentas a treatment for their vitiligo. Dhar is one of his patients. Ahmed is hopeful results can lead to somecolorcoming back in her and others skin.Dr.Ahmed says there are some layers of challenges patients face in accessing any treatments for vitiligo, because insurance companies view it as a cosmetic condition, rather than medical.

Right now, these types of grafting procedures are generally not covered by insurance companies in the United States, he explained. For the first several patients weve done, weve done it at a discount because theyre the first patients to be using this. It is a significant investment to get it done.

Dhar says shes tried othertreatments, butdidnt see much improvement. She is hopeful this treatment will add another option for treatment and raise public awareness about the skin condition.

I felt like giving it a little bit of a nudge with theTeVidotreatment would be a helpful thing, she said. I dont know the results yet.

Lets see, she added. Im keeping my fingers crossed.

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Austin biotechnology company hopes to help patients with vitiligo - WWLP.com

A new test based on tumour organoids can predict how patients with advanced colorectal cancer respond to chemotherapy treatment.

The organoid-based test, developed by the group of Emile Voest at Netherlands Cancer Institute in Amsterdam, in a prospective clinical trial correctly predicted responses in 80% of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients treated with irinotecan chemotherapy without misclassifying patients who benefited from the chemotherapy. Patient-derived organoids, however, failed to predict outcome for treatment with 5-fluorouracil plus oxaliplatin. Thus, its medical utility is limited to stratification of patients for irinotecan chemotherapy, in a stage of tumour development that cannot be cured.

Specifically, the researchers collected samples from 61 patients with mCRC and used the tissue to generate three-dimensional tissue cultures, which they treated with irinotecan either alone or in combination with the chemotherapy 5-Fluorouracil. The organoids, which could be generated and screened within 21 days generally reflected how the patients responded to the treatments.

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Patient's organoids predict response to chemotherapy - European Biotechnology

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "Global Longevity and Anti-Senescence Therapy Market" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Global longevity and anti-senescence market will witness rapid growth over the forecast period (2018-2023) owing to an increasing emphasis on Stem Cell Research and increasing demand for cell-based assays in research and development.

An increasing geriatric population across the globe and rising awareness of antiaging products among generation Y and later generations are the major factors expected to promote the growth of global longevity and anti-senescence market. Factors such as a surging level of disposable income and increasing advancements in anti-senescence technologies are also providing traction to the global longevity and anti-senescence market growth over the forecast period (2018-2023).

Senolytics, placenta stem cells and blood transfusions are some of the hot technologies picking up pace in the longevity and anti-anti-senescence market. Companies and start-ups across the globe such as Unity Biotechnology, Human Longevity Inc., Calico Life Sciences, Acorda Therapeutics, etc. are working extensively in this field for the extension of human longevity by focusing on the study of genomics, microbiome, bioinformatics, and stem cell therapies, etc. These factors are poised to drive market growth over the forecast period.

The report provides analysis based on each market segment including therapies and application. The therapies segment is further sub-segmented into Senolytic drug therapy, Gene therapy, Immunotherapy, and Others. Senolytic drug therapy held the largest market revenue share in 2017. The fastest growth of the gene therapy segment is due to the Large investments in genomics.

Report Scope

The scope of this report is broad and covers various therapies currently under trials in the global longevity and anti-senescence therapy market. The market estimation has been performed with consideration for revenue generation in the forecast years 2018-2023 after the expected availability of products in the market by 2023.

The global longevity and anti-senescence therapy market has been segmented by the following therapies: Senolytic drug therapy, Gene therapy, Immunotherapy and Other therapies which includes stem cell-based therapies, etc.

Revenue forecasts from 2028 to 2023 are given for each therapy and application, with estimated values derived from the expected revenue generation in the first year of launch.

The report also includes a discussion of the major players performing research or the potential players across each regional longevity and anti-senescence therapy market. Further, it explains the major drivers and regional dynamics of the global longevity and anti-senescence therapy market and current trends within the industry.

The report concludes with a special focus on the vendor landscape and includes detailed profiles of the major vendors and potential entrants in the global longevity and anti-senescence therapy market.

The report includes:

Key Topics Covered

Chapter 1 Introduction

Chapter 2 Summary and Highlights

Chapter 3 Market Overview

Chapter 4 Global Longevity and Anti-senescence Market by Therapy

Chapter 5 Global Longevity and Anti-senescence Market by Application

Chapter 6 Global Longevity and Anti-senescence Market by Region

Chapter 7 Industry Structure in Longevity and Anti-senescence Market

Chapter 8 Company Profiles

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/zy7jt

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Global Longevity & Anti-Senescence Therapy Market Review 2017-2018 and Forecast to 2023 - ResearchAndMarkets.com - Business Wire

We will be comparing the differences between Cellect Biotechnology Ltd. (NASDAQ:APOP) and Vaxart Inc. (NASDAQ:VXRT) as far as dividends, analyst recommendations, profitability, risk, institutional ownership, earnings and valuation are concerned. The two businesses are rivals in the Biotechnology industry.

Earnings & Valuation

Demonstrates Cellect Biotechnology Ltd. and Vaxart Inc. earnings per share (EPS), gross revenue and valuation.

Profitability

Table 2 represents Cellect Biotechnology Ltd. (NASDAQ:APOP) and Vaxart Inc. (NASDAQ:VXRT)s return on assets, return on equity and net margins.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

Roughly 0% of Cellect Biotechnology Ltd. shares are held by institutional investors while 34.2% of Vaxart Inc. are owned by institutional investors. About 54.73% of Cellect Biotechnology Ltd.s share are held by insiders. Competitively, Vaxart Inc. has 3.2% of its share held by insiders.

Performance

In this table we show the Weekly, Monthly, Quarterly, Half Yearly, Yearly and YTD Performance of both pretenders.

For the past year Cellect Biotechnology Ltd.s stock price has bigger decline than Vaxart Inc.

Summary

Cellect Biotechnology Ltd. beats Vaxart Inc. on 6 of the 9 factors.

Cellect Biotechnology Ltd., a biotechnology company, focuses on developing technologies for the functional selection of stem cells in the field of regenerative medicine and stem cell therapies in Israel. It is developing the Apotainer selection kit, a shelf stem cell selection kit, based on its Powered by Cellect technology platform for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation procedures for patients suffering from hematological malignancies. The company was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Kfar Saba, Israel.

Vaxart, Inc., a clinical-stage company, focuses on developing oral recombinant vaccines based on its proprietary oral vaccine delivery platform. The company's platform delivers various recombinant protein antigens, such as those used in influenza, hepatitis B, and human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccines, as well as other recombinant vaccines. Its development programs include oral tablet vaccines that are designed to protect against norovirus, seasonal influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus, as well as a therapeutic vaccine for HPV. The company is headquartered in South San Francisco, California.

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Link:
Contrasting of Cellect Biotechnology Ltd. (APOP) and Vaxart Inc. (NASDAQ:VXRT) - MS Wkly