Preventing Hepatitis B Reactivation Due to Immunosuppressive Drug Treatments

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Reactivation of hepatitis B virus infection can have devastating consequences, especially amongst those patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy.

A different point of view on RA

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Professor Fergus Shanahan, a consultant gastroenterologist and professor of medicine at University College Cork, has an issue with the label “auto-immune” disease being applied to conditions such as RA, lupus, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, asthma and type 1 diabetes.

FDA Enforces New Drug Safety Labeling for Pregnant Women

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The traditional FDA pregnancy risk categories (A, B, C, D, X) have been scrapped in favor of a new labeling mandate called the pregnancy and lactation labeling rule (PLLR). This change has been under consideration at the FDA for nearly 2 years and was brought about by the belief that the old

The Science and Faith of Herpes Zoster Management

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RA Associated With Higher 90-Day Hospital Readmission Rates Compared to OA After Hip or Knee Arthroplasty

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Using administrative claims data, Doctor Jas Singh and colleagues examined readmission rates after hip or knee replacement surgery. RA patients had a higher rate of readmission (8.5% vs 6.7%) compared to OA.

CKD is a gout risk factor

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Impaired renal function is a known primary contributor to hyperuricemia and risk of gout.

New CPT Chronic Disease Management Code 99490

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The new Medicare Physician Fee Schedule will allow for reimbursement for chronic care management services (CCM).

Osteoporosis predisposes to higher risk of sudden deafness

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Patients with osteoporosis had a significantly higher risk of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) than those without osteoporosis, according to the first and largest Asian population-based study to demonstrate a relationship between the two conditions.

Patient's fat cells transplanted to treat OA may be effective

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Those who suffer from OA may one day have a new and effective cell therapy, thanks to a team of Czech researchers who studied the effectiveness of using an OA patient’s own adipose (fat) cells in a unique transplant therapy aimed at reducing the symptoms of this prevalent and difficult to treat c

Poisoning deaths involving opioid analgesics - NY State

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Between 1999 and 2013 opiate-related deaths nearly quadrupled, with the death rate rising from 1.4 to 5.1 deaths per 100,000. These alarming statistics have lead to greater regulation and oversight to opiate use.

Finally! How a cracking knuckle makes noise.

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Is it the making of a bubble, or the popping of it? Now we know. 

Chikungunya rises in the US and Worldwide

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The chikungunya epidemic has grown significantly in the Western hemisphere with an additional 3,000 cases worldwide during the past week.

Psoriatic Arthritis Has a New FDA Approved DMARD - Apremilast

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In March 2014 the FDA approved apremilast (Otezla) for use in psoriatic arthritis based on three large"Palace" trials involving 1493 psoriatic arthritis patients. This ACR Hotline reviews the drugs use, efficacy, and toxicity.

Hemophagocytic Syndrome in Adults

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Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis(HLH) is a rare complication of many disorders. In children, systemic JIA is by far the most common cause of HLH.

Celebrex Goes Generic

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The generic drug manufactuer Actavis joins Teva and Mylan with their lauch of celecoxib (Celebrex)in 50 mg, 100 mg, 200 mg and 400 mg capsules. In 2013 celecoxib was the 21st leading prescribed drug in the U.S. with $2.4 billion in sales as of mid 2014.

Night-time Gout Onset is Not Related to Alcohol or Purine Intake

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Gout's often told tale of a nocturnal rapid onset and dramatic pain provoked by a bed sheet, is studied in detail by Choi and the Boston online gout study. This report shows that more than half the attacks occur late night and are unrelated to alcohol or purine intake.