Related Articles Results

Thursday Nov 05, 2009
Feds Set to Cut 21.5% from Medicare Fees—Before Healthcare Reform
The new Medicare Physician Fee Schedule will, overall, cut physician's fees by 21.5% in 2010...

Thursday Sep 24, 2009
Rituximab Improves SSc Lung Function
A small pilot study has established proof-of-principle that rituximab improves lung function in scleroderma...

Wednesday Aug 19, 2009
Echo Urged to Rule Out PAH in High-Risk Lupus
Echocardiogram screening may be useful in identifying pulmonary arterial hypertension in high risk lupus patients...

Thursday Jul 23, 2009
New Anti-TNF Adverse Effect: Sarcoid-like Granuloma
Sarcoid-like granulomas are a newly identified adverse effect associated with all types of TNF-blockade...

Thursday Jul 02, 2009
Lung Study Questions Leflunomide Safety in RA
Rheumatologists who routinely use leflunomide in rheumatoid arthritis patients should be on the look-out for early signs of lung disease...

Wednesday Feb 04, 2009
Anakinra Shows Modest Benefit, Some Risk in RA: Cochrane Review
The IL-1 receptor antagonist Anakinra (Kineret, Amgen) significantly improves rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients but may be less effective than other biologicals...

Monday Nov 24, 2008
Scleroderma Stem Cell Transplants Advance, Phase III Studies Recruiting Patients
Pilot data on systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients treated with autologous stem cell transplants suggest durable improvements in skin thickening and lung function. Phase III randomized trials are still open to enrollment...

Monday Nov 17, 2008
Vitamin D Levels Linked to OA Cartilage Loss, OA Pain, and SSc Disease Activity by ACR Researchers
Low vitamin D levels are associated with faster progression of joint damage, bone loss, and pain in OA and with higher levels of inflammatory markers and vascular complications in systemic sclerosis, suggesting that more attention to vitamin D supplements might be in order...

Monday Oct 20, 2008
Gleevec/CYC Combo Emerging as Novel Approach for Scleroderma Lung Disease
Adding the oncology drug imatinib (Gleevec^®) to cyclophosphamide offers a 2-pronged strategy that might be effective in scleroderma-associated pulmonary complications...

Monday Sep 08, 2008
FDA Warns of Histoplasmosis, Invasive Fungal Infections in Patients Taking TNF Inhibitors
The US Food and Drug Administration has issued a “MedWatch” warning about the risk of histoplasmosis and other invasive fungal infections in patients taking TNF blockers...

Thursday Aug 07, 2008
Heart Risks Rise With Revision or Bilateral Joint Arthroplasty
Patients who undergo revision or bilateral joint arthroplasty are at significantly higher increased risk for heart attack or heart failure than patients who undergo their first replacement of a single knee or hip…

Thursday Jul 24, 2008
Lupus No Longer Seen As Complete Contraindication to Oral Contraceptive Use
Oral contraceptives, long considered a risk for women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), are now often considered for women with inactive or stable SLE…

Tuesday Jul 15, 2008
Wyeth Reports European Commission Announces Marketing Authorization for 50 mg Once-Weekly Enbrel^® (etanercept) for Patients With Moderate-to-Severe Psoriasis
The European Commission announced a new 50 mg Enbrel^® (etanercept) once-weekly dosage regimen as an alternative to the currently approved 25 mg Enbrel twice-weekly regimen for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis...

Monday Jul 07, 2008
Three Studies Support Rivaroxaban Over Heparin-Based Treatment to Prevent VTE After Joint Replacement
Three studies show that selective factor Xa inhibition with rivaroxaban trumps heparin-based thromboprophylaxis for reducing venous thromboembolism after total hip and total knee arthroplasty…

Wednesday Apr 30, 2008
Grim Picture Painted for Lupus 5-Year Mortality Risk
Despite some advances in treatment, recently diagnosed lupus patients still face elevated risks of death within 5 years of their diagnosis when compared with lupus-free controls…

Monday Apr 21, 2008
Loop Diuretics Pose Osteoporosis Risk for Older Men
Loop diuretics greatly increase hip bone loss in men over age 65...

Thursday Apr 17, 2008
PAH Differs in Connective Tissue Diseases
Patients with PAH due to connective tissue disease have more dysfunctional pulmonary capillary endothelium than those with PAH from other causes... 

Wednesday Apr 16, 2008
Lilly’s Forsteo^® Receives Approval From European Commission for the Treatment of Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis
Eli Lilly and Co announced that the European Commission has approved a new indication for Forsteo^® (teriparatide [rDNA origin] injection) for the treatment of sustained, systemic glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) in adults at increased risk for fracture...

Thursday Apr 10, 2008
The Days of Using Potent Anticoagulants to Prevent Pulmonary Embolism After Joint Arthroplasty May Be Numbered
Experts say that the routine use of potent anticoagulants to stave off pulmonary embolism after joint arthroplasty should be stopped because these blood thinners may actually increase mortality…

Thursday Mar 20, 2008
Two-Pronged Strategy for Treating PAH in Lupus or Mixed Connective Tissue Disease
Lupus or MCTD patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) should be treated with cyclophosphamide and glucocorticoids, with added pulmonary vasodilators in more severe cases...

Tuesday Mar 11, 2008
Lilly’s Forsteo^® Receives Positive Opinion From European Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use to Treat Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis
Eli Lilly and Co announced that they have received a positive opinion recommending approval of Forsteo^® (teriparatide [rDNA origin] injection) for the treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) in adults at increased risk for fracture...

Wednesday Nov 28, 2007
Update on Joint Replacement
Total joint replacement has reduced pain and disability in elderly patients with arthritis. The procedure is cost-effective even for high-risk patients, but it is associated with higher risk for cardiac complications if both joints are replaced during the same procedure, and it might be chosen by more African-American patients if finances were less of an issue...

Friday Nov 09, 2007
RA Increases Stroke Risk Nearly as Much as Does Hypertension
RA is an independent risk factor for stroke and increases stroke risk nearly as much as having hypertension...

Tuesday Oct 09, 2007
Sitaxsentan May Offer Alternative to Bosentan for PAH in Connective Tissue Disease Patients

Sitaxsentan improved 6-minute walk distance and quality of life in connective tissue disease patients who also have PAH...

Monday Sep 24, 2007
Risk of Infection in TNF-Inhibitor Treatment May Be Higher Than Thought

A new analysis of data from the British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register suggests that the risk of serious infection is increased during certain phases of TNF-inhibitor treatment...

Tuesday Sep 18, 2007
Inhaler Might Replace PTH Self-Injection to Prevent Postmenopausal Osteoporosis
Parathyroid hormone effectively increases postmenopausal BMD but has the downside of requiring self injection, which decreases compliance. Delivery of a PTH analogue via a dry-powder inhaler might be just as good...Morley P, et al. ASBMR 2007.

Thursday Sep 06, 2007
Knee Monoarthritis May Be a Harbinger of Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Mild-to-moderate knee monoarthritis may be an early warning sign of non-small-cell lung cancer in heavy smokers...

Friday Jun 08, 2007
CCL18 Might Help Monitor Pulmonary Fibrosis in Systemic Sclerosis
Changes in BAL fluid levels of the chemokine CCL18 reflect changes in pulmonary fibrotic activity and might be useful for monitoring disease activity in systemic sclerosis and idiopathic interstitial pneumonias...

Thursday Jun 07, 2007
Leflunomide Trumps MTX for Preventing Relapse in Wegener's Granulomatosis; Side Effects Still a Worry
A head-to-head comparison of leflunomide and MTX for Wegener's granulomatosis was stopped early due to higher relapse rates with MTX...

Thursday Mar 08, 2007
Stroke Specialists Urge More Attention to Hyperlipidemia, Hypertension, Baseline Lupus Activity as Predictors for Stroke
An 8-year longitudinal study of 238 lupus patients targets baseline SLE activity, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension as predictors of severe ischemic strokes and recommends aggressive intervention...

Tuesday Feb 27, 2007
Common Analgesics Raise Hypertension Risk in Men
Men who routinely use acetaminophen, NSAIDs, or aspirin have a roughly 30% increased risk of developing hypertension...

Tuesday Feb 20, 2007
Suspect CVID if Lupus Patients Have Recurrent Sinus Infections
Rheumatologists should suspect CVID in lupus patients with recurrent sinopulmonary infections in the absence of lupus activity and/or immunosuppressive treatment. Treatment with gammaglobulins may be highly effective for this rare but potentially deadly disease...

Thursday Feb 15, 2007
Experts at the 74th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Predict Clinically Useful Gene Therapy, Tissue Engineering Will Be Available "in 5 to 10 Years"
Presentations at the AAOS meeting include advances in both gene therapy and tissue-engineered products for cartilage, bone, and tendon repair...

Monday Jan 29, 2007
Renovis Reduces Workforce by 40%; Will Focus on Inflammatory Diseases and Pain
Renovis, Inc (SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, California), a biopharmaceutical company that seeks to discover, develop, and commercialize therapeutics for inflammatory and neurological diseases, announced it has reduced its workforce by approximately 40% to approximately 70 employees.

Tuesday Jan 16, 2007
Preclinical Data Support Trial of Gleevec in SSc
The anticancer drug imatinib (Gleevec) can reduce production of extracellular matrix in SSc dermal fibroblasts, has prevented experimental dermal fibrosis in an animal model, and is seen as a "highly promising candidate" for treatment of SSc...

Thursday Jan 04, 2007
FivePrime Signs Collaborative Research and License Deal With Centocor to Discover Therapeutics to Treat OA and Other Diseases
FivePrime Therapeutics, Inc, a privately held protein therapeutics discovery and development company, announced the signing of a worldwide collaborative research and license agreement with Centocor, Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, to discover therapeutic products to treat osteoarthritis (OA) and pulmonary fibrosis.

Tuesday Nov 14, 2006
Non-Myeloablative Stem Cell Transplants Safe, Effective in Scleroderma
A pilot study of a non-myeloablative hematopoietic stem cell transplantation regimen for patients with severe scleroderma reports 90% overall survival and 70% progression-free survival at 2 years…Barr WG, et al. Presented at: ACR 2006 Meeting.

Monday Oct 02, 2006
Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis Seen in Leflunomide-Treated RA Patient
A case of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis associated with leflunomide treatment for rheumatoid arthritis has been reported... Wardwell NR, et al. Respirology. 2006;11:663-665.

Thursday Sep 14, 2006
Anthera Licenses Portfolio of Anti-Inflammatory Products from Lilly and Shionogi; Raises $36 Million in Venture Financing
Anthera Pharmaceuticals, a privately-held biopharmaceutical company developing drugs for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, announced that it has entered into a license agreement with Eli Lilly and Company and Shionogi & Co., Ltd., under which Anthera has obtained worldwide (except for Japan) development and commercialization rights to an entire platform of clinical and preclinical inhibitors of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) developed by Lilly and Shionogi as part of their collaboration.

Monday Aug 28, 2006
GlaxoSmithKline and ChemoCentryx Establish Worldwide Strategic Alliance to Develop Therapies for Inflammatory and Autoimmune Diseases; ChemoCentryx May Pocket More Than $1.5 Billion, Raises $17.7 Million in Series C Financing
GlaxoSmithKline and ChemoCentryx, Inc., a company focused on orally-administered, small-molecule therapeutics that target the chemokine and chemoattractant receptor systems, announced a worldwide multitarget strategic alliance to discover, develop, and market novel medicines targeting four chemokine and chemoattractant receptors for the treatment of a variety of inflammatory disorders, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), multiple sclerosis (MS), acute macular degeneration, and asthma...

Thursday Aug 17, 2006
Superagonist Trial Hit By Cytokine Storm
The six patients who nearly died in a phase I trial of an experimental anti-CD28 monoclonal antibody being developed as a rheumatoid arthritis treatment were injured by "cytokine storms" triggered by the new drug, and the head of the intensive care unit where their lives were saved thinks this demonstrates that a new approach to testing biologic agents is needed....Suntharalingam G, et al. N Engl J Med. 2006; August 14; [Epub ahead of print].

Tuesday Jul 18, 2006
Orthopaedic Surgeons Must Learn to Manage Obese Patients
As the epidemic of obesity collides with the skyrocketing rates of joint replacement surgery, orthopaedic surgeons will need to brush up on skills to better manage obese patients…Guss D, et al. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2006;14:425-432.

Tuesday Jun 27, 2006
Bosentan Prevents Digital Ulcers, Improves Heart Function in Systemic Sclerosis
Bosentan reduces digital ulcer risk and improves heart function in systemic sclerosis patients... Allanore Y, et al. Presented at: EULAR 2006 Meeting; June 21–34, 2006; Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Abstract OP0120.

Wednesday May 17, 2006
Avidia Raises $43.8 Million in Series C Financing to Advance Its Lead Avimerâ„¢ Drugs for Inflammation and Autoimmune Diseases
Avidia, Inc, announced that it has raised $43.8 million in a Series C financing round...

Wednesday Apr 26, 2006
Infliximab Suspected of Worsening Rare MTX Lung Problem
Interstitial pneumonitis occurs in less than 1% of patients treated with methotrexate (MTX), but a recent case report suggests that adding infliximab might increase lung toxicity risk in certain vulnerable patients...  Villeneuve E, et al. J Rheumatol. 2006 Apr 15; [Epub ahead of print]

Tuesday Apr 18, 2006
Reata Obtains Exclusive Worldwide Rights to Tricyclic-Bis-Enones, a New Class of Anti-Inflammatory Compounds
Reata Pharmaceuticals, Inc, of Dallas, Texas, has been granted exclusive worldwide rights to a novel class of anti-inflammatory compounds, tricyclic-bis-enones (TBEs)...

Thursday Feb 23, 2006
G2 Inflammation Pty Ltd Signs Deal With Novo Nordisk for Anti-C5a Receptor Antibody for the Treatment of RA and Other Inflammation-Mediated Diseases
G2 Inflammation Pty Ltd (G2I) announced a research, development, and licensing agreement with the Danish healthcare company Novo Nordisk to advance G2's Neutrazumab...

Thursday Feb 09, 2006
Low-Dose Prednisone Increases Risk of Pneumonia in RA Patients
New research showing a dose-related relationship between prednisone use and pneumonia risk in rheumatoid arthritis calls into question the commonly held belief that low-dose prednisone is safe... Wolfe F, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;54:628-634.

Thursday Jan 12, 2006
Three Months of Bosentan Therapy Improves Function in SSc-PAH Patients
Three Months of Bosentan Therapy Improves Function in SSc-PAH Patients

Tuesday Jan 10, 2006
Federal Court Rules Lilly Breached Agreement with Emisphere Regarding Oral Formulation of Forteo® for Osteoporosis; Lilly turns to Alkermes for Development of Inhaled Version
Emisphere Technologies, Inc, of Tarrytown, NY, announced that a Federal District Court judge ruled that Eli Lilly and Company had violated an agreement with Emisphere regarding the use of Emisphere's Eligen technology for the development of an oral formulation of Forteo® ...

Tuesday Dec 13, 2005
Domantis Raises $29 Million in Series B Financing to Advance Its Human Domain Antibody (dAb) Therapeutics
Domantis Ltd has announced the acquisition of $29 million in series B financing from existing investors as well as new investors Novo Nordisk and MC Life Science Ventures...

Friday Oct 07, 2005
Marked Decrease in Pregnancy Loss Seen in Women with Lupus

Largely due to improvements in perinatal monitoring and disease management, there has been a significant decrease in pregnancy loss among women with systemic lupus erythematosus over the past 40 years . . . Clark CA, et al. J Rheumatol. 2005;32:1709-1712.

Thursday Sep 08, 2005
Cyclophosphamide/Stem Cell Transplantation Protocol Shows Promise for Refractory Autoimmune Diseases
Japanese researchers report promising phase I-II trial results showing that high-dose cyclophosphamide supported by autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation is feasible and may be effective in the treatment of severe and refractory autoimmune diseases such as systemic sclerosis and SLE...Tsukamoto H, et al. Ann Rheum Dis online August 26, 2005

Thursday Jul 21, 2005
Swedish Study Clarifies Connection Between TB, RA, and Use of TNF-α Inhibitors
Irrespective of whether TNF-α inhibitors were administered, Swedish patients with RA were at an increased risk of TB, and TB risk is further heightened by use of biologic agents... Askling J, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2005;52:1986-1992

Thursday Jun 30, 2005
Debiopharm and Neovacs to Develop Anti-TNF-Alpha Therapeutic Vaccine
Debiopharm SA, a Swiss drug development company, and Neovacs SA, a French biotechnology company specializing in anticytokine immunogens, announced the execution of a license and equity agreement for the development of Neovacs' tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) kinoidR, a nontoxic immunogenic cytokine derivative that, in the presence of a T-helper carrier protein, triggers an active human polyclonal antibody immune response against TNF-α, while avoiding the generation of anti-idiotypic antibodies (antibody resistance).

Friday Jun 10, 2005
Treatment of RA Reduces Cardiovascular Mortality
Analysis of a large RA database reveals that treatment with MTX or anti-TNF-α drugs causes a significant decrease in mortality, specifically in death due to cardiovascular and pulmonary disease... Presented at: Annual European Congress of Rheumatology of EULAR; June 8-11, 2005; Vienna, Austria.

Friday Jun 10, 2005
EULAR Report: TNF-α Inhibition and Mycobacterium TB Infection
Several epidemiological studies highlight the importance of prescreening for latent TB before initiation of TNF-α inhibitors... Presented at: Annual European Congress of Rheumatology of EULAR; June 8-11, 2005; Vienna, Austria.

Wednesday May 04, 2005
CoTherix's Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Reaches Market
CoTherix, Inc, has recently announced the commercial availability of VentavisR (iloprost) Inhalation Solution, for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in patients with NYHA Class III or IV symptoms. Approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in December 2004, Ventavis, an inhaled formulation of iloprost that is structurally similar to prostacyclins, provides PAH patients with a noninvasive treatment option that avoids the complications associated with intravenous or subcutaneous prostacyclin delivery. A recognized complication of lupus, PAH can be life-threatening and require heart-lung transplantation. Ventavis, licensed from Schering AG, is currently marketed by Schering AG in several European countries and Australia.  - Nicholas K. Zittell

Sunday Mar 13, 2005
Markers of Systemic Inflammation May Be Independent Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Death in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis
A new study indicates that ESR may be predictive of CV mortality and suggests that tighter control of inflammation may help improve long-term outcomes for RA patients...Maradit-Kremers H, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2005;52:722-732.

Thursday Feb 17, 2005
Pfizer, Merck & Co Grapple Over Cardiovascular Risk Associated With Coxibs
With the fate of a drug class on the line, all eyes are on an FDA advisory panel as they assess the data on coxibs and make recommendations that could lead to a labeling change or their withdrawal from the market... FDA joint meeting of the Arthritis Advisory Committee and the Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee; February 16, 2005.

Thursday Dec 16, 2004
Pfizer's COX-2 Agent to Include Updated Risk Warnings on Label
The FDA announces important new information on risks of CV adverse events in some postsurgical cardiac patients and potentially life-threatening skin reactions associated with use of valdecoxib...US Food and Drug Administration. December 9, 2004.

Monday Nov 15, 2004
New Approaches Show Promise in Refining Treatment and Assessment of SLE

Autologous stem cell transplant and rituximab show promise in refractory disease, and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate test may be more useful than CRP in showing disease activity... Alexander T et al. Presented at: Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology; October 19, 2004; San Antonio, Tex.

Monday Oct 25, 2004
Leflunomide-Methotrexate Combination Equivalent in Safety to Leflunomide Alone for RA
A five-year study involving over 5000 RA patients showed no increase in mortality or long-term serious adverse events... Ta KT, et al. Presented at: Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology; October 20, 2004; San Antonio, Tex.

Monday Oct 25, 2004
Leflunomide-Methotrexate Combination Equivalent in Safety to Leflunomide Alone for RA

A five-year study involving over 5000 RA patients showed no increase in mortality or long-term serious adverse events... Ta KT, et al. Presented at: Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology; October 20, 2004; San Antonio, Tex.

Thursday Oct 21, 2004
Leflunomide-Methotrexate Combination Equivalent in Safety to Leflunomide Alone for RA
A five-year study involving over 5000 RA patients showed no increase in mortality or long-term serious adverse events... Ta KT, et al. Presented at: Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology; October 20, 2004; San Antonio, Tex.

Wednesday Aug 25, 2004
Eighth International Scleroderma Meeting Reflects Increased Interest

Research on etiology and potential therapeutic targets were highlights of the Eighth International Workshop on Scleroderma Research.