P. Gingivalis Antibodies Antedate Rheumatoid Arthritis Onset

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Periodontal disease, gingivitis and Porphyromonas gingivalis have been linked to the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the production of anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA).

Is Biologic Safety Different in the Elderly?

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The factors that influence the safety of biologic therapy are numerous. Amongst them, increasing age is a potential risk factor, moreso if you also consider the polypharmacy, comorbidities and longer disease duration inherent in an elderly group of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Flares Portend Damage in Rheumatoid Arthritis - Time for a New Strategy?

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Disease flares are common in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), often causing patients to seek additional care, if not medication.

The frequency of flares varies amongst studies in different populations.  But the consequence of flares has only recently been studied.

Cost of Osteoporosis Care in the USA

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The 2010 NHANES study suggests that the overall prevalence of osteoporosis (OP) in the USA is ~10% or 10.2 million older adults (> 50 yrs) had osteoporosis.

Another Biosimilar Approval - Etanercep-szzs by Novartis

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Yesterday the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a new biosimilar, Erelzi, (etanercept-szzs), for the same multipile indications as the originator Enbrel, including rheumatoid arthritis, plaque psoriasis, Erelzi, will be generically labelled as etanercept-szzs.

RheumNow Week in Review – 26 August 2016

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Dr. Jack Cush reviews news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com.

Prior Cancer Patients May Safely Receive TNF Inhibitors or Rituximab

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Current guidelines regarding the use of biologics in patients who have previously had a malignancy are based more on opinion than evidence.

Drug Use Compounds Risk - Before and After Fragility Fractures

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Is the occurrence of a fragility fracture a missed opportunity to reduce exposure to prescription drugs associated with fracture risk?

Risk of Sepsis or Death Lower with Biologics in Rheumatoid Arthritis

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Researchers from Germany have analyzed their large prospective rheumatoid arthritis (RA) registry to address whether being on biologic therapies leads to poorer outcomes - namely sepsis or death, following a serious infection (SIE).

ARCTIC Study Shows No Benefit to Ultrasound Remission in RA

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The goal in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment is remission. But what level or method of remission is best?

Remicade Patent Infringements Denied: Opens Door for New Biosimilars

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A U.S. court has affirmed its decision that the patent for Johnson & Johnson's drug Remicade is invalid. This new ruling favors the intent of Celltrion and Pfizer, who are seeking to bring their biosimilar versions of infliximab to market in the near future.

Smoking Worsens Rheumatoid Inflammation

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Tobacco and chronic smoking is a major risk factor for the onset of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and chronic smoking has been linked to severity of disease and lower DMARD response rates.

Rheumatologists May be Unaware of New Hydroxychloroquine Retinopathy Monitoring Guidelines

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Rheumatologists are well-acquainted with the rules for hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) retinopathy screening: A) annual visits to the ophthalmologist and B) maintain HCQ doses at less than 6.5 mg/kg to avoid retinopathy.

No Added Lymphoma Risk with TNF Inhibitor Use

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Warnings of cancer, especially lymphoma, have accompanied the development and promotion of tumor necrosis factor inhbitors (TNFi) in the treatment of RA and other inflammatory disorders.

Cryptochromes Regulate Circadian Inflammation

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Circadian rhythms may be disrupted or become exaggerated in a variety of inflammatory conditions. For instance, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-1 have a known circadian cycle to their production, but the same can not be said for TNF.

Serious Infections are Not Increased in HIV Patients Treated with TNF Inhibitors

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Infections are a concern for many when using tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitor (TNFi) therapy to treat inflammatory disorders. Even moreso in those at higher risk.

MRI Findings Match Patients' Experience With RA

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Patient-reported outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) correlate independently with measures of inflammation and structural damage on MRI scans, according to data from a longitudinal study.

Nerve Growth Factor Inhibitor Compounds Cartilage Loss in Osteoarthritis

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Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a key modulator of pain perception,  Inhibitors of NGF are being studied in several chronic pain conditions, including osteoarthritis (OA).

Biosimilars are Bioequivalent to Original TNF Inhibitors

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Chingcuanco and coinvestigators have reported on their comparative analysis of biosimilars and their originator TNF inhibitors in the current issue of Annals of Internal Medicine.  (Citation source: http://buff.ly/2arTd1q)

Canakinumab Yields Genetic and Disease Modifying Effects in TRAPS Patients

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Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor-associated periodic syndrome (TRAPS) is an autosomal-dominant autoinflammatory disease resulting from mutations of the TNF super family receptor 1A (TNFRSF1A) gene.