Autoimmune Medical News for April 2007

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April 2007

Glucocorticoids and cardiovascular events in rheumatoid arthritis: A population-based cohort study. RF-positive but not RF-negative patients were at increased risk of cardiovascular events following exposure to glucocorticoids. (Wiley InterScience) Arthritis and Rheumatism Vol 56, Issue 3, Pages 820 - 830. (Also see: Rheumatoid Arthritis and Medications )

Mindfulness meditation alleviates depressive symptoms in women with fibromyalgia: Results of a randomized clinical trial. Depressive symptoms improved significantly in treatment versus control participants over the 3 assessments. This meditation-based intervention alleviated depressive symptoms among patients with fibromyalgia. Wlley InterScience: Arthritis Care & Research Volume 57, Issue 1, Pages 77 - 85. (Also see: Fibromyalgia and Alternative Remedies )

Green tea may help prevent autoimmune diseases. Green tea may help protect against autoimmune disease. Researchers studied an animal model for type I diabetes and primary Sjogren's Syndrome. Further study could help determine green tea's protective role in other autoimmune diseases, including lupus, psoriasis, scleroderma and rheumatoid arthritis. EurekAlert! 04/19/07. (Also see: Diabetes, Sjogren's and Alternative Therapies )

Stem cell transplantation beneficial treatment for type 1 diabetes. This is the first report of high-dose immunosuppression followed by autologous nonmyeloablative hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for human type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. In a small number of patients with early-onset disease ninety-three percent of patients achieved different periods of insulin independence and treatment-related toxicity was low, with no mortality. News-Medical.Net. 04/11/07. (Also see: Diabetes )

Chronic hives: What causes them? Occasionally, chronic hives can be associated with a serious, underlying medical condition, such as lupus, connective tissue disease, thyroid disorder and cancer. So it's important to have chronic hives evaluated by a doctor. MayoClinic. 04/12/07. (Also see: Skin and Hair )

Relationship between physical activity and stiff or painful joints in mid-aged women and older women: a 3-year prospective study. These results are the first to show a dose-response relationship between physical activity and arthritis symptoms in older women. They suggest that advice for older women not currently experiencing stiff and painful joints should routinely include counseling on the importance of physical activity for preventing the onset of these symptoms. Arthritis Research & Therapy 2007, 9:R34 doi:10.1186/ar2154 March 29 2007. (Also see: Skeletal Involvement and Arthritis )

Vitiligo gene linked to other autoimmune diseases. Scientists have discovered a connection between a specific gene and the inflammatory skin condition vitiligo, as well as a possible host of autoimmune diseases. About 20 percent of people with vitiligo also get autoimmune thyroid disease, and this gene may be involved in mediating both of those. News-Medical.Net. 04/11/07. (Also see: Vitiligo and Thyroid Disease )

Corticosteroid Use in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): Prevalence, Predictors, Correlates, and Outcomes. Corticosteroid use is associated with adverse longterm outcomes, but the ability to discern causal associations is severely limited by confounding by indication. The idea of "once on corticosteroids, always on corticosteroids" is incorrect and applies to only a minority of patients. J Rheumatol 2007;34:696-705 4 April 2007. (Also see: Rheumatoid Arthritis and Medications )

Studying the Benefit/Risk Ratio of Glucocorticoids (GC) in Rheumatoid Arthritis GC treatment is a dynamic process, with lots of patients stopping or starting these drugs each year. This shows that physicians constantly scrutinize the need for ongoing treatment, although the study also demonstrated that the indication-setting to start or stop GC was highly variable between individual practices. Editorial Journal of Rheumatology Vol 34: No. 4 April 2007. (Also see: Rheumatoid Arthritis and Medications )

Researchers discover connection between allergic diseases and autoimmune diseases. Our study implies that allergic and inflammatory diseases may actually trigger autoimmune diseases by relaxing the controls that normally eliminate newly produced, self-reactive B cells. PhysOrg.com (Nature Immunology) April 3 2007. (Also see: Causes of Scleroderma: B and T cells, and Autoimmune Diseases )

Dermatomyositis signature pattern in the blood is found. The researchers said the finding might lead to an alternative diagnostic tool, rather than a more invasive muscle biopsy now needed to identify the condition in which the immune system overreacts in some way to attack some part of the body. Earthtimes.org 04/03/07. (Also see: Dermatomyositis )

Research Could Result in New Treatments for Autoimmune Disorders and Common Infections. University of Missouri-Kansas City researcher has discovered how the pathogen Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) disables an essential component of the human immune system. S. aureus (also called "Staph infection) is a leading cause of community acquired and hospital-related infections. Kansas City InfoZine. 03/19/07. (Also see: Causes of Scleroderma: Infections )