Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis: Management Strategies To Prevent Bone Loss And Related Fractures In High-Risk Patients
Oral glucocorticoids are commonly prescribed for a wide variety of disorders, most commonly for rheumatoid arthritis, obstructive pulmonary disease and inflammatory bowel diseases. However, the use of these medications can result in rapid bone loss during the first three to six months of therapy, leading to increased risk of fragility fractures. Although awareness of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIO) has grown in recent years, it still remains vastly under-diagnosed and under-treated.
Researchers Control Drug Side Effects For Treatment Gains In Phase I Trial Of 2 Targeted Therapies Against Ewing's Sarcoma Tumors
A pair of targeted therapies shrank tumors in some patients with treatment-resistant Ewing's sarcoma or desmoplastic small-round-cell tumors, according to research led by investigators from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center reported at the AACR Annual Meeting 2012. Five of 17 Ewing's sarcoma patients responded to the combination, with two achieving complete responses, one for 27 weeks. The researchers noted that the ability to manage patients' treatment-related side effects is vital to maintaining the therapy and slowing disease progression.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients At Increased Mortality Risk If They Stop Their Statin Therapy
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who discontinue use of statin therapy are at increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease and other causes. According to the findings of a population-based study now available in Arthritis Care & Research, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), RA patients should be advised of the importance of compliance to their statin therapy to reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality risk. A report from the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that RA affects up to one percent of the population in developed countries.