Standardized Measures To Determine Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease Activity Endorsed By The ACR
A working group convened by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) has evaluated more than 60 disease activity measures for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The group narrowed the number of RA disease activity measures and the recommended six for use in U.S. clinical practice are detailed in Arthritis Care & Research, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the ACR. RA is a systemic inflammatory disease, affecting more than 1 million Americans according to ACR estimates. Medical evidence has shown significant improvement in RA treatment over the last two decades, making disease remission possible for many patients.
Metal-On-Metal Hip Replacement No Extra Cancer Risk At Seven Years
According to a study in bmj.com, the risk of developing cancer within the first seven years after receiving a metal-on-metal hip replacement is no higher than in the general population, although further long-term studies are required. BBC Newsnight and the BMJ recently investigated potentially high levels of toxic metals from failing hip implants that could affect thousands of people worldwide in the future. The authors also investigated as to why these hip replacements were permitted, regardless of the fact that the risks have been known and documented for decades.
Metastatic Breast Cancer And Arthritis Link
New research shows it may be no accident when doctors observe how patients suffering from both breast cancer and arthritis seem to have more aggressive cancer. However, the new-found interaction between the two diseases may also suggest a possible treatment. A potential relationship between metastatic breast cancer and autoimmune arthritis, as suggested by past epidemiological studies, has led researchers from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte to perform a series of mouse model experiments that appear to confirm the connection.