Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients With Fat Limbs Suffer More Disability
Sunday October 5, 2008
People with
rheumatoid arthritis who have more fat on their arms and legs tend to suffer more disability associated with the disease. According to a report in the October issue of
Arthritis Care & Research, researchers assessed body composition and disability in 197 men and women with rheumatoid arthritis. Study participants were asked to respond to a standard Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) which rated their ability or inability to perform usual
daily living activities.
Patients who had more fat on their arms and legs had higher HAQ scores (worse physical function). Patients who had more lean mass (more muscle) on their arms and legs had lower HAQ scores (better physical function). While other factors also contribute to disability -- in an effort to improve physical function and reduce disability -- rheumatoid arthritis patients should focus on muscle strengthening and fat loss.
Related Resources:
Join the Discussion:
Photo by Mikhail Kokhanchikov (iStockphoto)
Three Genes Linked to Increased Risk of Gout
Friday October 3, 2008
Gout is a painful inflammation of the joints which can develop along with a build-up of
uric acid in the blood, known as
hyperuricemia. There are known
risk factors for gout, including a diet high in
purine-rich foods, obesity, alcohol consumption, taking certain medications, and a genetic predisposition for the disease.
Researchers from the United States and the Netherlands have identified mutations in 3 genes that are associated with high levels of uric acid in the blood. According to study results published in the October 4, 2008 issue of The Lancet, researchers evaluated 500,000 genetic variations in more than 20,000 people who were enrolled in three large studies looking at cardiovascular risk factors. They confirmed that two genes increased the risk of gout, and another was likely associated with increased gout risk. The genes are involved with urate transport in the kidney.
Based on what researchers called "genetic risk scores", the 3 genes combined were associated with up to a 40-fold increased risk of developing gout. It is believed that this could identify people at high risk of developing gout long before symptoms are observed. It may also help determine the best treatment for patients with hyperuricemia who have yet to show gout symptoms.
Related Resources:
Join the Discussion:
Photo © Image*After
Wednesday October 1, 2008
Just about everyone has an occasional bout of
aches and pains, so it seems normal. But what if those aches and pains start to affect your life and interfere with
daily activities? What if they don't go away? Should you see a doctor?
With most diseases and conditions, patients evaluate their symptoms and decide if a doctor should be consulted sooner rather than later. For rheumatoid arthritis patients, though, more enters into making that decision, according to study results that appear in the September 24, 2008 edition of the journal Rheumatology. Four main factors influence when rheumatoid arthritis patients seek medical advice. Can you guess what they are? Check out what influences the decision in Just Normal Aches and Pains?
Related Resources:
Join the Discussion:
Photo by Amanda Rohde (iStockphoto)
Arthritis Drug May Help Diabetes Too
Sunday September 28, 2008
Doctors have rediscovered that
salsalate, a drug used to treat arthritis, may be beneficial for type 2
diabetes as well. Rediscovered? Well, dial back to 1876 -- a medical journal reported on a patient who was successfully treated with
salicylate (a simple form of salsalate) for diabetes. Salicylates are a subset of
NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).
Now, researchers from the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston report that using salsalate for short time periods can lower blood sugar before people eat and after they eat -- and affect average blood sugar measurements over time. It may turn out to be that one drug benefits both conditions -- arthritis and diabetes.
Salsalate is reportedly safe and inexpensive. Results from a broad study carried out in 13 states, that evaluated salsalate as a treatment for type 2 diabetes, are expected to be released in a couple of months. A larger study will begin later in the year at 20 U.S. sites. More than 15 million people in the U.S. have type 2 diabetes and over 46 million have doctor-diagnosed arthritis. Some of those patients have both conditions. Salsalate may prove to be a good treatment option for that population of patients.
Related Resources:
Join the Discussion:
Photo © Gold Standard
