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Expensive Ads Sell Few Prescription Drugs: Study
Expensive advertising of prescription drugs directly to consumers may do little to encourage sales, U.S. and Canadian researchers reported on Monday.
Reuters Health Information, September 2008
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Oncology Research Busy, With More Trials Than Other Therapeutic Areas
Over the 2-year study period, oncology, endocrinology, and rheumatology had more registered study protocols in the second year than the first, whereas studies in cardiology declined from 346 registered protocols in year 1 to 257 registered studies in the second year.
Medscape Medical News, August 2008
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CME
Safety of High vs Recommended Doses of Anti-TNF-Alpha Therapy Reviewed
Recommended doses of anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha for rheumatoid arthritis did not increase the risk for serious adverse events, but high-dose therapy increased the risk for serious infections.
Medscape Medical News, August 2008
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Hippocampal Dysfunction May Explain Fibromyalgia Syndrome Symptoms
A paper in the July issue of the Journal of Rheumatology suggests that hippocampus dysfunction may explain some symptoms of fibromyalgia syndrome.
Reuters Health Information, August 2008
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Uninsured Rate Declines in US
A total of 45.7 million people are now without health insurance, a decrease of 15.3% as safety nets kick in.
WebMD Health News, August 2008
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Elispot Assay: a Promising Substitute for Tuberculin Skin Test for Latent TB
Elispot, an enzyme-linked immunospot assay that detects Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens, is a useful screening test to rule out latent tuberculosis infection in rheumatic disease patients starting treatment with a tumor necrosis factor antagonist, according to physicians in Greece.
Reuters Health Information, August 2008
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CME
Adalimumab May Be Helpful for Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
A double-blind study shows that adalimumab may be effective for the treatment of children with polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, with responses sustained for 2 years.
Medscape Medical News, August 2008
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Immunosuppressive Therapy Contributes to Fetal Loss in Juvenile SLE
In unplanned pregnancies in young women with juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE), inadvertent exposure to cyclophosphamide is the main cause of fetal loss, according to findings from a Brazilian study published in the July issue of the Journal of Rheumatology.
Reuters Health Information, August 2008
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CME
Strontium Ranelate May Be Helpful for Postmenopausal Osteoporosis
A study shows that strontium ranelate effectively reduces the risk for vertebral fracture in younger postmenopausal women aged 50 to 65 years with severe osteoporosis.
Medscape Medical News, August 2008
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Premature Immunosenescence Linked to Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Recent findings published in the July issue of Arthritis and Rheumatism suggest that age-inappropriate T cell senescence and disturbed T cell homeostasis may contribute to the autoimmune manifestations of juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
Reuters Health Information, August 2008
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TNF-alpha Antagonist Associated With Psoriasiform Lesions
Three cases linking tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha antagonist therapy with the development of psoriasiform lesions are reported in the current online edition of the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
Reuters Health Information, August 2008
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Aggressive or Standard Juvenile Dermatomyositis Therapy Yield Similar Outcomes
Aggressive corticosteroid therapy does not differ from standard therapy in improving outcomes of patients with juvenile dermatomyositis, according to findings published in the July 15th issue of Arthritis and Rheumatism (Arthritis Care and Research).
Reuters Health Information, August 2008
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Predictors of Premature Gonadal Failure in Women With Lupus Identified
In addition to cyclophosphamide use, higher disease activity levels and Texan-Hispanic ethnicity predict a shorter time to premature gonadal failure in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), research shows.
Reuters Health Information, August 2008
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CME
Anastrozole Associated With Joint Symptoms in Patients With Breast Cancer
In women with breast cancer, the risk factors for joint symptoms include past hormone replacement therapy, hormone receptor positivity, past chemotherapy treatment, obesity, and anastrozole treatment.
Medscape Medical News, August 2008
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Chicken Collagen Reduces Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Oral administration of small amounts of type II collagen derived from chickens is nearly as effective as low-dose methotrexate in reducing pain and stiffness in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, Chinese investigators report in the July 15 issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism.
Reuters Health Information, August 2008
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Low Vitamin D Levels Linked to Chronic Pain in Women
A new study is questioning the possible influence of endocrine or immunological factors in the etiology of chronic pain.
Medscape Medical News, August 2008
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CME
Long-Term Adalimumab May Be Helpful in Ankylosing Spondylitis
A study shows that in patients with ankylosing spondylitis, treatment with adalimumab for up to 2 years reduced signs and symptoms.
Medscape Medical News, August 2008
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Tibolone Decreases Fracture, Breast Cancer, but Doubles Stroke Risk
Results of the randomized LIFT trial show that tibolone, approved for treatment of menopausal symptoms, has positive effects on fracture, breast cancer, and possibly colon cancer but increased stroke risk in women with osteoporosis and should not be used in those with stroke risk factors.
Medscape Medical News, August 2008
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Canadian Researchers Warn That the Incidence of Osteoarthritis Is Increasing
British Columbia has seen an increase in the incidence of physician-reported osteoarthritis (OA) in men and women due to population aging, with an additional increase beyond the effect of aging in women.
Reuters Health Information, August 2008
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New Genetic Locus Associated With Sarcoidosis
German researchers have identified a gene implicated in sarcoidosis that has been previously linked to other chronic inflammatory diseases, including Sjogren syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Medscape Medical News, August 2008
