Rheumatologists News and Research

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Cold weather can trigger Raynaud's disease

Cold weather triggers a painful and sometimes debilitating disorder for millions of Americans who suffer from Raynaud's disease (also known as Raynaud's syndrome or phenomenon). Raynaud's is an autoimmune disorder in which spasms in the blood vessels can interrupt blood flow to the fingers, toes, nose and ears. Exposure to cold triggers the spasms, typically causing the affected area to turn white, then blue, then bright red. Emotional stress can also cause an attack.

17 Nov 2009

SonoSite offers SonoAccess iPhone application for musculoskeletal physicians

SonoSite, Inc., the world leader and specialist in hand-carried ultrasound for point-of-care medicine, today announced the expansion of the SonoAccess™ iPhone® application to include musculoskeletal specialties. SonoAccess is the first iPhone application to provide physicians with a comprehensive multimedia database of ultrasound resource materials.

9 Nov 2009

Report provides critical strategic insight for companies with a stake in the market for rheumatology therapies

MedPredict Market Research, a global provider of pharmaceutical competitive intelligence and market research, has published a new report providing critical strategic insight for companies with a stake in the market for rheumatology therapies, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and lupus.

7 Nov 2009

TNF-alpha inhibitors ranked top for reducing biologics spend

Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, forecasts that biosimilars of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha inhibitors stand to erode $9.6 billion in brand sales (Amgen's Enbrel, Abbott's Humira and Centocor Ortho Biotech/Schering-Plough's Remicade) in the U.S. and Europe (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and U.K.) by 2018. This use of TNF-alpha biosimilars will save healthcare systems in the U.S. and Europe $4 billion.

4 Nov 2009

Survey shows majority of rheumatologists would prescribe Actemra drug for rheumatoid arthritis

Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that 98 percent of surveyed rheumatologists indicate they will prescribe Roche's Actemra, an interleukin-6 inhibitor, for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis following the agent's expected launch in 2010.

4 Nov 2009

Decision Resources predicts TNF-alpha inhibitors to dominate rheumatoid arthritis treatment

Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms focusing on pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha inhibitors will continue to dominate first- and second-line biologic therapy for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in the United States through 2011, but the more established branded drugs such as, Centocor Ortho Biotech's Remicade, Abbott's Humira and Amgen/Wyeth's Enbrel, in this class will face competition from newer entrants.

23 Oct 2009

NicOx reports financial results for the first nine months of 2009

NicOx S.A. today reported financial results for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.

22 Oct 2009

Collection of rheumatology research articles published

A comprehensive account of the most important advances in rheumatology research from the past decade has been published in BioMed Central's open access journal Arthritis Research and Therapy (AR&T). This freely available collection of 38 articles written by an internationally recognized group of experts spanning more than 400 pages is an essential educational tool which provides clinicians and researchers with a detailed overview of the current status of basic, translational and clinical research in rheumatology.

22 Oct 2009

Bristol-Myers Squibb presents study data on ORENCIA for treating rheumatoid arthritis

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company today announced two-year results of a study that supports use of ORENCIA® (abatacept) for methotrexate-naive patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis of less than or equal to two years duration.

20 Oct 2009

Comprehensive and practical overview of psoriasis

Treatments for psoriasis often present a therapeutic challenge to physicians because, besides affecting the skin, psoriasis may be associated with various comorbidities (for instance, depression, psoriatic arthritis, Crohn's disease and, in severe psoriasis, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases).

22 Sep 2009

Educational initiative proves successful in identifying and diagnosing fibromyalgia

According to The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, the Fibromyalgia Circle of Care Initiative has achieved dramatic success in heightening awareness, diagnosis and best practice treatment of fibromyalgia – a complex and chronic pain disorder that plagues an estimated 10 million Americans.

17 Sep 2009

Clinical data added to ORENCIA labeling help treat patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company announced today that clinical data added to the labeling for ORENCIA (abatacept) support use of ORENCIA for patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis of less than or equal to two years duration.

27 Aug 2009

Gene expression differences could bring better classification and treatment of juvenile arthritis

Scientists have discovered gene expression differences that could lead to better ways to classify, predict outcome, and treat juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Eventually such findings could enable doctors to target more aggressive treatment to children at risk of more severe arthritis, while those likely to have milder disease could be spared the stronger treatments that carry a greater risk of side effects. The researchers were supported by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), a part of the National Institutes of Health.

29 Jun 2009

Surgery in patients with rheumatoid arthritis is often 'too little, too late'

A new study published by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reveals that one of the most common conditions caused by Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is best treated surgically, sooner rather than later.

2 Jun 2009

New U.S. patent issued for Limbrel in osteoarthritis

Primus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has announced the issuance of a new composition of matter patent for Limbrel, the first prescription medical food product to safely meet the distinctive nutritional requirements of patients with osteoarthritis (OA). U.S. Patent #7,514,469 was recently issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

27 May 2009

Scientific publishing giant guilty of some shonky behaviour

It has been revealed that the academic publisher Elsevier has admitted its Australian office produced six fake medical journals between 2000 and 2005.

11 May 2009

URMC expert informs lupus patients on nutrition myths, realities

With May being Lupus Awareness Month, next week University of Rochester Medical Center rheumatologist Jennifer Anolik, M.D., Ph.D., will offer a free public talk that sheds light on how sensible eating and fitness habits can help patients better manage the disease.

30 Apr 2009

Ultrasound changes care of some patients with rheumatic conditions

Ultrasound can be used to make an appropriate decision regarding care for patients with rheumatic conditions involving the hands and feet, according to a study performed at St. Joseph's Healthcare/McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada.

23 Apr 2009

Many clinicians unaware of federally funded research on alternative therapies

Approximately one in four practicing clinicians appear to be aware of two major federally funded clinical trials of alternative therapies, and many do not express confidence in their ability to interpret research results, according to a report in the April 13 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.

13 Apr 2009

Health Canada approves Simponi (golimumab) for rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis

Centocor Ortho Biotech Inc. and Schering-Plough Corporation has announced that Health Canada has granted approval of Simponi (golimumab) as a once-monthly, subcutaneous therapy for the treatment of moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA), active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and active ankylosing spondylitis (AS).