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Spondyloarthropathy Treatment Linked With Change in Body Composition
Spondyloarthropathy patients who receive anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy experience significant changes in body composition, according to a report in the May issue of The Journal of Rheumatology.
Reuters Health Information, June 2008
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CME
Cymbalta Approved for Fibromyalgia
The FDA has approved a new indication for duloxetine HCl delayed-release capsules (Cymbalta) for treatment of fibromyalgia.
Medscape Medical News, June 2008
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Fish Oil Improves Disease Activity, Endothelial Function in SLE
Supplementation with fish oil improves disease activity and endothelial function in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), according to a report in the June issue of the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
Reuters Health Information, June 2008
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CME
IL-6 Inhibitor Plus Methotrexate Induce Remission in Rheumatoid Arthritis Refractory to TNF Inhibitors
Tocilizumab plus methotrexate is significantly better than placebo at improving symptoms of moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis in patients resistant to tumor-necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors.
Medscape Medical News, June 2008
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New Test May Improve Detection of Latent TB in Rheumatoid Arthritis
A test that measures interferon-gamma release in response to bacterial antigens is more accurate than skin tests in detecting latent tuberculosis infection in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, new research shows. However, a second study found that this type of test yielded indeterminate results.
Reuters Health Information, June 2008
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Foot Problems in Arthritis Patients Often Neglected
Rheumatologists need to pay more attention to the foot complaints of their rheumatoid arthritis patients, researchers said here at the European Union League Against Rheumatology (EULAR) 2008 Congress.
Reuters Health Information, June 2008
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Fibromyalgia Diagnosis Often Delayed
Patients with symptoms suggestive of fibromyalgia generally wait from 5 months to 1.5 years (depending on the country) to make an appointment with their physician, according to the results of a survey released here to coincide with the European Union League Against Rheumatism Congress (EULAR) 2008.
Reuters Health Information, June 2008
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Knee Effusion on Ultrasound Predicts Joint Replacement in Osteoarthritis
Ultrasound effusion can be used as an independent predictor of the need for joint replacement.
Medscape Medical News, June 2008
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On Second Look, Belimumab Shows Activity Against SLE
A human monoclonal antibody has been shown to improve or stabilize disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus.
Medscape Medical News, June 2008
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CME
Early Sustained RA Remissions Possible Without the Big Guns
A significant number of patients with new-onset rheumatoid arthritis can achieve sustained clinical remissions following initial therapy with traditional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs.
Medscape Medical News, June 2008
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CME
Calcium Supplementation May Reduce Fracture Risk
A randomized controlled trial shows that calcium supplementation is associated with reduced risk for all fractures and minimal traumatic fractures in healthy adults younger than 80 years.
Medscape Medical News, June 2008
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Milnacipran Shows Promise for Fibromyalgia
In a phase 3 European study, the investigational agent milnacipran displayed activity against multiple symptoms of fibromyalgia.
Medscape Medical News, June 2008
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CME
FDA Approvals: Reclast and Recothrom
The FDA has approved an expanded indication for zoledronic acid injection (Reclast), and a new packaging size and format for thrombin [rDNA origin] topical solution (Recothrom).
Medscape Medical News, June 2008
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High Melanoma Incidence Seen in Methotrexate-Treated Rheumatoid Arthritis
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with methotrexate appear to be at elevated risk of melanoma compared with the general population, according to an Australian cohort study reported in the June 15 issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism.
Reuters Health Information, June 2008
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MRSA Infections Possibly Linked to TNF Inhibitors
Researchers are reporting for the first time a potential association between the occurrence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections and therapy with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors.
Reuters Health Information, June 2008
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Undiagnosed Low Vitamin D Levels Extremely Common in Rheumatology Patients
Nearly three-quarters of patients who present to a rheumatology clinic have a vitamin D deficiency, Irish researchers reported here at the European Union League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) 2008 meeting.
Reuters Health Information, June 2008
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CME
Methotrexate Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis Increases Risk for Certain Cancers
A study shows that patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with methotrexate are at an increased risk for melanoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and lung cancer.
Medscape Medical News, June 2008
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Anti-TNF Treatment Effective for Refractory Systemic Rheumatoid Vasculitis
Anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) treatment is effective for treating rheumatoid arthritis patients with refractory systemic rheumatoid vasculitis (SRV), according to a report in the June issue of the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
Reuters Health Information, June 2008
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CME
American College of Rheumatology Updates Rheumatoid Arthritis Guidelines
An update of the 2002 recommendations on the use of nonbiologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs for rheumatoid arthritis now includes data on use of biologic agents as well.
Medscape Medical News, June 2008
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Moderate Alcohol Use May Protect Against Rheumatoid Arthritis
Moderate alcohol consumption may lower the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, according to findings from two Scandinavian case-control studies posted online on June 5 by the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
Reuters Health Information, June 2008
