Autoimmune Medical News for January 2007

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January 2007

The Modified Nail Psoriasis Severity Index: Validation of an Instrument to Assess Psoriatic Nail Involvement in Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis. The mNAPSI demonstrated excellent interrater reliability and construct validity, and may be a valuable tool. J Rheumatol 2007 January;34:123–9. (Also see: Psoriasis )

The Majority Of Ulcerative Colitis Patients Are Not Compliant With Medications, CCFA Survey Finds. These findings are significant because an earlier study found that patients less than fully compliant experience five times the number of disease flare-ups. Medical News Today. 12/31/06. (Also see: Bowel Dysfunction )

Sex Differences And Rheumatoid Arthritis. Sex hormone balance is a crucial factor in the regulation of immune and inflammatory responses. Modulation of this balance should represent part of advanced biologic treatments for RA. Medical News Today. 01/03/07. (Also see: Rheumatoid Arthritis and Causes of Scleroderma: Hormones and Chromosomes )

Anti-Thyroid Autoantibody-Associated Interface Dermatitis in Individuals with Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease (UCTD): An Unrecognized Subset of Autoimmune Disease? We have identified a new subset of individuals with UCTD, interface dermatitis, and increased anti-thyroid antibodies. Journal of Rheumatology. Vol 34: NO. 1 Jan 2007. (Also see: UCTD)

Rare condition provides information about common illnesses. By working on APS-1 (Antiphospholipid Syndrome), one of the rarest autoimmune diseases, scientists hope that new knowledge about this rare disease can provide new insight into the entire phenomenon of autoimmunity. Nettavis for Universitetet i Bergen - lørdag 6. januar 2007. (Also see: APS )

Bone and Intestinal Disease May Have Common Cause. In studies with mice, scientists have found evidence that osteoporosis-like bone disorders and inflammatory intestinal disorders are both caused by the abnormal regulation of a common protein. PakTribune. 12/28/06. (Also see: Bowel Dysfunction and Causes of Scleroderma: T cells )

The high frequency of manic symptoms in fibromyalgia does influence the choice of treatment? Subjects with FM showed an higher comorbidity with Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder than controls. Clinical Practice and Epidemiology in Mental Health 2006, 2:36 doi:10.1186/1745-0179-2-36. (Also see: Fibromyalgia )

The Risk Of Multiple Sclerosis May Be Decreased By High Levels Of Vitamin D In The Body. In the first large-scale, prospective study researchers have found an association between higher levels of vitamin D in the body and a lower risk of MS. Medical News Today. 12/31/06. (Also see: Multiple Sclerosis and Causes of Scleroderma: Vitamin D Deficiency )