New WHO action plan 'will help tackle painful musculoskeletal conditions'
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a new action plan designed to tackle the growing number of people affected by musculoskeletal conditions across Europe. The plan, which is being presented to WHO Europe's regional committee this week, has been welcomed as a potential turning point in the fight against these painful conditions by leading health charities, includingArthritis Research UK. A bold plan of action The'action plan for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases in the WHO European Region' calls for all European countries to develop musculoskeletal health systems that facilitate...
Source: Arthritis Research UK - September 14, 2016 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: news
Government £40 million investment for arthritis research
The Department of Health has announced that over the next five years, over£40 million will be rewarded toarthritis-related research projects. This amount falls within a larger investment of£816 million. The£816 million of funding has been awarded to 20 biomedical research centres through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). Each of the funded centres is a collaboration between an NHS organisation and a university partner, and will apply their research expertise to a variety of different research themes and health conditions. Jeremy Hunt, health secretary, said:"The UK has so often...
Source: Arthritis Research UK - September 14, 2016 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: news
Risk-benefit profile of statin therapy 'may be more positive than expected'
This study showed that providing an effective low-cost statin therapy to 10,000 patients for five years would prevent major cardiovascular events such as heart attacks, strokes and coronary artery bypasses in 1,000 people with preexisting vascular disease, as well as 500 people who are at increased risk but have not yet had a vascular event. By contrast, only 50 to 100 cases of symptomatic adverse events would be expected over the same period, as well as 50 to 100 new cases of diabetes, five cases of myopathy and between five and ten haemorrhagic strokes. Should statins be more widely used? Currently, about six million peo...
Source: Arthritis Research UK - September 8, 2016 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: news
Smartphone research project shows link between weather and chronic pain
Early findings from an Arthritis Research UK-funded study have offered evidence of a link between weather conditions and changes in people's level of chronic pain.The University of Manchester has revealed preliminary findings from the Cloudy with a Chance of Pain study, which is now halfway through its 18-month duration, revealing a correlation between the number of sunny days and rainfall levels and changes in pain levels.The early findingsMore than 9,000 people are taking part in the research, which gives members of the public with long-term pain access to a special smartphone app to record their daily pain symptoms.The ...
Source: Arthritis Research UK - September 7, 2016 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: news
Older rheumatoid arthritis patients 'must take special care over safety of biologics'
Elderly patients with rheumatoidarthritis may require special care when treated with biologics to manage potential safety issues arising from the use of thesedrugs. This is according to a new study led by Keio University School of Medicine in Japan, which has provided evidence that those over the age of 65 may be at greater risk of negative reactions when prescribed biologic therapies. More adverse events leading to treatment withdrawal In order to clarify the safety of biologic therapies in elderly patients withrheumatoid arthritis, the researchers analysed the performance of biologics in relation to age among a cohort of...
Source: Arthritis Research UK - September 6, 2016 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: news
Rivaroxaban 'could be a safe treatment option for antiphospholipid syndrome'
The drug rivaroxaban could be an effective means of treating some patients with thromboticantiphospholipid syndrome, according to a new study. Led by University College London and funded byArthritis Research UK, the research has suggested that the drug - which works by inhibiting the formation of blood clots - could be a useful tool in the treatment of those with this serious condition, which affects approximately 15 per cent of patients withlupus and may also occur on its own. The danger of antiphospholipid syndrome Thrombotic antiphospholipid syndrome is classified as a rare condition, but is probably underdiagnosed. It ...
Source: Arthritis Research UK - August 29, 2016 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: news
Steroid treatments for arthritis 'may be possible with fewer side effects'
This study was mostly focused on application in the treatment of Addison's disease and congenital adrenal hyperplasia, but the researchers stated that with further development, it could lead to improved therapies for other conditions that respond to steroid treatment, includingrheumatoid arthritis and asthma. Dr Mark Nixon of the British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science at the University of Edinburgh said:"The discovery of this selective corticosterone pump in fat cells could lead to a completely new approach in our search for safer steroid medications." The Arthritis Research UK view Dr Nat...
Source: Arthritis Research UK - August 22, 2016 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: news
Arthritis Research UK Musculoskeletal Health Questionnaire shows benefits in new study
Arthritis Research UK-backed scientists have developed a potentially groundbreaking new tool that could make it easier for medical professionals to assess patients with musculoskeletal health problems. The Arthritis Research UK Musculoskeletal Health Questionnaire (MSK-HQ) was recently evaluated by a team from the Arthritis Research UK Primary Care Centre at Keele University, demonstrating the significant benefits it can offer. How the questionnaire works Currently, the tools used to measure musculoskeletal outcomes tend to vary between different healthcare settings and conditions; as such, there is a pressing need for a u...
Source: Arthritis Research UK - August 21, 2016 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: news
Research programme manager job opportunity
We’re looking for a highly skilled research programme manager to join our clinical studies and experimental medicine team based within the research directorate. Our team of research programme managers are responsible for the effective delivery of our varied research funding schemes and management of the current£100m research investment, which includes reporting research outputs and achievements that are vital to our continued success and growth.
As research programme manager, you’ll:keep abreast of developments in clinical research and other assigned areas to help shape our future research funding ac...
Source: Arthritis Research UK - August 21, 2016 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: news
New government strategy on childhood obesity announced
The government has unveiled its new plans for tackling the burden of childhood obesity over the next decade. Entitled Childhood Obesity: A Plan for Action, the document outlines a number of measures that will be implemented over the next few years to reduce the healthcare burden that excess weight in youngsters can cause, as well as the economic costs. However, the plans have come under fire from medical professionals for not going far enough. Key points of the strategy The strategy revolves around a number of key points:A new levy on the soft drinks industry is to be introduced, with proceeds generated by the levy to be i...
Source: Arthritis Research UK - August 17, 2016 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: news
Safer bone marrow transplants 'could revolutionise arthritis treatment'
Scientists have found a way of making bone marrow transplants much safer - a development that could have far-reaching consequences for the treatment ofarthritis and many other diseases. The research from the Stanford University School of Medicine in the US remains in its early stages, but could potentially accelerate progress towards curing a wide range of chronic conditions. A new frontier for blood stem cell transplantation Bone marrow transplantation is also known as blood stem cell transplantation and can be a powerful tool in providing a longer-term solution for various conditions. However, to successfully transplant ...
Source: Arthritis Research UK - August 14, 2016 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: news
New AHP interns start their research careers
In early 2015 we awarded funding to a cohort of five international research institutions to run a nurse and allied health professional (AHP) internship scheme. Over the course of three years, the internship scheme will support 18 newly qualified AHPs at the start of their professional career and bring them into rheumatology research teams.Programme governanceThe governance of the£120,000 programme is being overseen by Dr Catherine Bowen at the University of Southampton, who is joined by colleagues from a network of universities including:LeedsSalfordOxfordWest of England, Bristol. The internship provides new gra...
Source: Arthritis Research UK - August 10, 2016 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: news
Promising rheumatoid arthritis therapy sarilumab accepted for EU review
A potentially promising new treatment for rheumatoidarthritis has just passed an important milestone on its path to regulatory approval. Sarilumab, a human monoclonal antibody intended for the treatment of adults with moderate to severely activerheumatoid arthritis, has had its marketing authorisation application accepted by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), bringing it one step closer to widespread availability. The benefits of the new therapy Developed by Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, sarilumab works by targeting the IL-6 receptor, which is known to play a key role in the joint damage and painful symptoms that...
Source: Arthritis Research UK - August 8, 2016 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: news
New study shows how the body suppresses inflammation in the night
UK scientists have made a discovery that helps to explain how the body is able to suppress inflammation during the night. The findings, published in the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal, could not only help explain why manyarthritis patients wake up stiff in the morning, but could also lead to the development of innovative new therapies. How a protein suppresses inflammation at night Researchers from the University of Manchester made this breakthrough after examining cells from the joint tissue of healthy mice and humans called fibroblast-like synoviocytes, which play a key role in causing ...
Source: Arthritis Research UK - August 8, 2016 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: news
Dietary antioxidants 'could help to reduce hip osteoarthritis risk'
A new study has indicated that eating foods rich in antioxidants could be an effective means of reducing a person's risk of developing hiposteoarthritis. Conducted by researchers at Monash University and the University of Melbourne in Australia, the study offers insights into a potential new method for people to improve their hip joint health through simple lifestyle alterations. The study findings In order to examine the relationship between dietary antioxidants and early hip structural abnormalities, the team enrolled 214 participants without diagnosed hip osteoarthritis.They underwent magnetic resonance imaging scan...
Source: Arthritis Research UK - August 3, 2016 Category: Rheumatology Source Type: news
