One in five worried about being fit enough to work next year
Results of a new survey released today have revealed that Great Britain is a nation of 'put up and shut up' when it comes to workplace health.Over 2,000 people were questioned about their attitudes and experience regarding health and the workplace. Results showed that:1 in 5 (20%) of people are worried they won't be fit enough to continue working in the next year.39% don't feel confident discussing their workplace health with their employer.A third of people (33%) with a long-term condition felt their colleagues don't understand the impact of their condition.Over 1 in 7 (15%) wouldn't disclose a long-term health ...
Source: Arthritis Research UK - December 8, 2016 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: news
Immune cells 'play a role in increasing heart disease risk for people with lupus'
This study shows that it may be possible to predict the progression and severity of atherosclerosis in lupus, which could play a vital role in the prevention and treatment of the condition. This new insight will help us in planning the right services for people with lupus who are at a greater risk of heart disease, so that they can be closely monitored and supported by their healthcare professionals, ensuring prompt and effective treatment." (Source: Arthritis Research UK)
Source: Arthritis Research UK - December 7, 2016 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: news
Dietary fibre intake 'can help prevent development of knee pain'
People's dietary intake of fibre could have an effect on their chances of developing chronic knee pain, according to a new study. Research carried out by Boston University School of Medicine has offered evidence that an increase in dietary fibre may be an effective means of reducing knee pain, in part by lowering body weight and inflammation. The study Published in the medical journalArthritis Care& Research, the study examined a group of 4,796 men and women aged 45 to 79 years with or at risk of kneeosteoarthritis, whose dietary fibre levels were estimated using a validated food frequency questionnaire at the star...
Source: Arthritis Research UK - December 7, 2016 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: news
Disease, Treatment, Health – our three new subcommittees
As we informed you in a previous news for researchers post, we have developed a new approach to funding to ensure we fund exceptional, sustainable research that impacts positively on the quality of life of people with arthritis. This has meant substantial changes to our committee processes and membership as well as launching ambitious, thematic research challenges.New subcommittees
As part of this new approach to funding, the charity has formed three reformulated strategic research subcommittees:Disease – discovery research and pre-clinical experimental researchTreatment – clinical and experiment...
Source: Arthritis Research UK - December 6, 2016 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: news
Bone scanning for osteoporosis 'could be used to predict hip fractures'
A new study has shed light on the way in which people with a specific type ofosteoporosis are likely to experience weakness in their bones that increases their chances of suffering a fracture. The research from the University of Cambridge, which was funded byArthritis Research UK, has shown how further examination of bone quality might in future help to identify which patients may be at greatest risk of a hip fracture. Bone mapping to identify weak spots Focal osteoporosis is a form of the disease that affects specific parts of the bone. It is recognised that focal osteoporosis present in certain areas of the hips can grea...
Source: Arthritis Research UK - November 29, 2016 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: news
Can an app improve mental and physical health support for people with arthritis?
In partnership withMQ: Transforming Mental Health, we are proud to announce that Dr Sam Norton from King’s College London has won the 2016 Arthritis Research UK MQ Fellows award, to develop a new app aiming to explore mental and physical health support for people with arthritis.In the UK over 290,000 people live with rheumatoid arthritis, a condition that causes joint inflammation, pain, stiffness and fatigue. Around a third of these people also experience a mental health condition.Current drug treatments for rheumatoid arthritis can be helpful, but around 40% of people still experience ongoing pain, fatigue and ment...
Source: Arthritis Research UK - November 29, 2016 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: news
Big ideas and little changes – our CEO shares renewed ambition to change lives today and tomorrow
A future free from arthritis and the impact of arthritis has been the driving force behind Arthritis Research UK since we first began 80 years ago.In 2016 we remain focussed on the future, continuing our multi-million-pound investment in exceptional science, but we’re also evolving to ensure we meet the needs of people with arthritis right now and transform lives today.We asked our Chief Executive Officer Dr Liam O’Toole to share with you how we’re broadening our scope and ambitions and, most importantly, how these little changes to our approach will help everybody live fuller lives with arthritis today a...
Source: Arthritis Research UK - November 25, 2016 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: news
Investing in research to understand more about chronic pain
This study could have huge benefits for people who might be successfully controlling the inflammation in their joints with medication, but are still experiencing sensations of pain across their body. There are so few options available for alleviating chronic pain that an effective new treatment would be life-changing."Our study is ground-breaking in the field of arthritis research. However, the compounds we’re using to stop leaky activity of the blood vessels are already used to treat some forms of cancer and, most successfully, to improve vision and reverse damage to the eye in people with the disease age-related ma...
Source: Arthritis Research UK - November 25, 2016 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: news
Get behind our campaign to close the "arthritis work gap"
Arthritis Research UK is urging people to get behind a campaign calling for the Government to provide better support for people with arthritis to find and stay in work.We know, both from our research and what you’ve told us, that work matters to people with arthritis. Work means independence, it gives control and it can help people live their lives to the full. Yet the employment rate among people with arthritis is 20% lower than among people with no long-term health condition or disability.Working with arthritis can pose big challenges but, with the right kind of support and job, working has real benefits for our ph...
Source: Arthritis Research UK - November 25, 2016 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: news
Design awards spark bright ideas to help people with arthritis
When arthritis stops you doing the little things in life it can have a huge impact on your independence and confidence. That’s why we’ve teamed up with the Design Council to uncover and fund aspiring inventors who want to turn their bright ideas into products that make everyday life better for people with all kinds of arthritis.The partnership, which began earlier this year, led to the creation of a unique awards category at the annual Design Council Spark Awards recognising innovative product design offering practical solutions to the challenges faced by people living with arthritis.A handy solution The ...
Source: Arthritis Research UK - November 25, 2016 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: news
"Cloudy" research suggests rainfall and sunshine may affect chronic pain
Earlier this year we told you about an innovative national study asking people with arthritis to use smartphone technology to track their daily symptoms to help scientists investigate the link between chronic pain and the weather.More than 12,000 people are now using theCloudy with a Chance of Pain app to share their everyday experiences of pain with researchers at The University of Manchester. Three and a half million pieces of data have been generated for the research team to analyse, alongside extensive weather data.The results gathered during the first six months of the study make interesting reading for anyone who has...
Source: Arthritis Research UK - November 25, 2016 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: news
Could the answer to tackling the pain of osteoarthritis be hiding in caterpillar fungus?
This study is the first step in the long-term development of a new class of drugs for osteoarthritis. To the best of our knowledge, cordycepin has never been tested as a lead compound for osteoarthritis pain. If we can prove its safety and effectiveness, clinical trials could begin within six to 10 years."Read more aboutosteoarthritis. (Source: Arthritis Research UK)
Source: Arthritis Research UK - November 25, 2016 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: news
New fibroblast study offers insights in rheumatoid arthritis treatment
This study focused on synovial fibroblasts, which make up part of the connective tissue around human joints. It is known that inrheumatoid arthritis, these cells cause damage by invading and attacking the cartilage and bone around the joint; however, this research offered evidence that there may be two distinct types of synovial fibroblast, which was not previously known. These two types were categorised by specific cell surface markers, PDPN and CD248, and it was shown that the part closest to the cartilage tended to contain the invasive PDPN-type fibroblasts that cause cartilage damage, while the part that was further aw...
Source: Arthritis Research UK - November 25, 2016 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: news
Our response to the Autumn Statement
Early 2016: Catherine, who lives with arthritis, meeting her local MP to talk about the cuts to ESAToday (Wednesday 23 November) the Chancellor Philip Hammond delivered his Autumn Statement on the UK's financial outlook.Here's our response on two keys issues for people with arthritis.The failure to reverse the£30 per week cut to Employment and Support Allowance (Work-Related Activity Group)Olivia Belle, our Director of External Affairs, said: "We're disappointed by the Government’s decision to not reverse the Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) welfare cuts in today’s Autumn Statement.For the...
Source: Arthritis Research UK - November 23, 2016 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: news
Future pain therapies 'could be tailored to different kinds of pain'
This study is important because it helps further our understanding of how pain is detected and processed by nerves. This is essential for the development of effective pain-relieving treatments for specific conditions such as arthritis. We welcome further research into this area." (Source: Arthritis Research UK)
Source: Arthritis Research UK - November 21, 2016 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: news
