Scientists have made a discovery which could have a major effect on treating arthritis in the future.

The Scripps Institute in California and the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation in San Diego have discovered a molecule which seemingly can re-grow cartilage.

The molecule, called Kartogenin has shown that it spurs cartilage regeneration in mice and so could be the basis of a new drug based therapy to help cure the disease.

More research is needed obviously, but there is real hope that it will be successful and could then be administered directly into the damaged areas.

Given the number of people who suffer with this crippling disease is set to double over the next 20 years, this is potentially brilliant news.

http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/339669/title/Stem_cell_treatment_spurs_cartilage_growth

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More and more people in Britain are suffering with Arthritis, approximately 8.5 million in fact, and this figure is set to almost double in the next 20 years, according to experts. They say the reason for this is increasing lifespan and poor lifestyles.

So, fresh hope for sufferers came recently, when doctors said that simple lifestyle changes could reduce the crippling pain of the condition and make it more manageable.  Regular exercise, better diet and losing weight if necessary, will significantly help to prevent or control the disease.

People who suffer with arthritis often feel that they have to put up with constant pain and discomfort, but there are many ways to help control it. Strengthening the muscles with yoga or pilates, and taking aerobic exercise such as walking or swimming can be very effective at reducing pain and preventing the condition from worsening. Losing weight if appropriate will also help as it will ease the pressure on joints.

Although making lifestyle changes aren’t always easy, these are relatively simple ways to significantly improve or avoid a condition which can be very debilitating, so it is definitely worth making the effort in the long term.

For further information please visit:

http://www.arthritis.org/

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Deaths from heart and circulation problems have halved in the UK over the past 8 years. One reason for this is the improvements in people’s diet, which have contributed to a widespread reduction in blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Also, medical treatments have improved and are more effective than they were 10 years ago.

The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF), came from Oxford University and found that deaths from heart attacks between 2002 and 2010 reduced by 50% in men and 53% in women. Their analysis demonstrated that the improvements were equally due to changes in lifestyle and to improvements in treatment.

During the period of study smokers in the population have fallen from 27% to 21% and the smoking ban had been introduced in the UK, reducing the effect of passive smoking. This is definitely one factor which has had a major effect.

The study authors expected these benefits to continue for a few more years, and then reverse as detrimental effects become more pronounced. They point out that those in the age group of 30 to 40 years old – who are about to enter the risk area for heart attacks – had much less exercise when they were young which may increase the risk of heart disease.

Adding this factor to those of obesity and diabetes – both of which increase the chances of heart attack – the future, sadly, doesn’t look as rosy.

Report on BHF web site:
http://www.bhf.org.uk/THINKFIT/default.aspx?page=1228

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It has been found that an existing drug can significantly reverse the presence of the plaques in the brain which are associated with Alzheimer’s disease. The results were obtained from mouse studies but are so significant that it is thought they would apply to humans.

The plaques in the brain which cause the effects of Alzheimer’s consist of fibres which clumped together and kill of nerves in the brain. This leads to mood swings, confusion and memory loss.

The benefits from the drug, baxarotene (trade name Targretin), was seen in the mice after just a few hours. The drug has previously been used to treat a rare type of skin cancer.

Barbara Stephens from the charity dementia UK says: “These results are potentially ground-breaking.”

During the study use of the drug reversed the incidence of the plaques by a stunning 75 per cent. It was carried out at the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine, in Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

There are risks and side effects in the use of this cancer drug. But, firstly, the benefits for Alzheimer’s will need to be weighed up against the risks of side effects. And secondly, following such a stunning result, scientists will now look for the mechanism which has caused this reversal and search for safer ways to make it happen.

As usual in these situations, more research is required. But this looks like a very promising direction.

Commentary from Alzheimer’s Reading Room:

http://www.alzheimersreadingroom.com/2012/02/bexarotene-and-alzheimers.html

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Those who carry out “brain exercises” are much less likely to suffer from dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease. Keeping the brain active helps to maintain the synaptic pathways through it – the very pathways which allow thinking to occur. Any sort of exercise will help in maintaining these essential pathways, and a program of such exercise will have cumulative effects.

Past studies have shown that activities such as gardening, singing, and even DIY tasks – to the extent that they can be performed – all help to maintain brain health. And regularly doing sudoku exercises or crossword puzzles is a big help too.

A study in Bavaria quite recently, enrolled 50 people in a program of brain activity. This consisted of a variety of physical activities and movement, and mental exercises. These included puzzles, playing games such as bowling, and carrying out balancing activities.

After a year, the participants carrying out the program were found to have a very similar brain function to that which they had at the beginning of the program – very little deterioration was noted. In fact, those on the program attained benefits at least equivalent to those taking drugs. Additionally, those on the program were better able to perform various daily tasks than those just taking drugs – not surprisingly, as exercises which emphasise balance, for example, are going to help you with any daily tasks you have to perform.

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A recent study shows that the £60million a year ($85million) that Britons spend on fish oil capsules is money well spent – in helping avoid Alzheimer’s disease.

Anybody in the natural healthcare profession is able to tell you that supplementing your diet with fish oil capsules, plus eating oily fish up to 3 times a week along with ample vegetables and fruit, is a good way to stay healthy. The recent study shows that such a diet stops your brain from shrinking as you age. A reduction in volume of the brain is an inevitable part of ageing, but the more we can reduce this, the more we can ward off dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease.

A large proportion of the brain is omega-3 fatty acids, the type found in fish oil, so it should be no surprise that supplementing omega-3 fats helps maintain bulk of the brain.

About 750,000 people in the UK suffer from dementia. And this figure is set to double by 2050.

As well as helping dementia, omega-3 fats reduce the chances of developing blood clots and have a beneficial effect on cancer cells.

In time, treatments for Alzheimer’s will be developed. Until then, keep taking the fish oil!

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/292370

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Though it has long been known for sure that smoking is associated with cancer of the lung, oesophagus, throat and larynx (and probably some others…) its role in breast cancer has been questioned. This is because it has something of a protective effect as well, because it tends to block oestrogen, which can reduce breast cancer risk.

Well, now the opposing risks have been better evaluated and the news is: (not surprisingly) it’s better to avoid smoking.

The latest research shows that there is a small window during which smoking may have this protective effect: but for most of a woman’s life the downside to smoking is overall more damaging to breast cancer risk.

So, yet another reason to kick the habit.

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An early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease is more possible due to a recently developed test. The disease will be able to be identified years before symptoms are seen.

Early detection is important because early treatment delays the onset significantly.

The study was of 300 people in their 70s and 80s who showed no memory loss at the time. It was found that Alzheimer’s could be predicted by the detection of a certain protein in the brain.

Such tests are particularly important bearing in mind that the incidence of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia is set to soar as the population ages. Currently, approximately half a million people in the UK have Alzheimer’s out of a population of around 60 million. In ten years this will rise, on current trend, by 30%: and the total affected by dementia of all types in ten years is expected to be a million.

If it was diagnosed earlier, many millions of pounds would be saved every year in unnecessary treatment.

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According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one out of every 20 hospital patients will contract an infection related to their treatment. In intensive care units the figure is nearly one in three.

This makes Hospital Acquired Infections (HAIs) the fourth most common cause of death in the US, as 5% of these infections will kill their victim.

Ouch!

One new way to reduce the infections has been discovered: to use antimicrobial copper in place of stainless steel wherever possible – meal tray stands, intravenous stands, metal tables, bed pans, and so on.

When this was done in South Carolina, bacteria reduction by 97% (!) and HAIs were down by 40%.

This has to be good news: so don’t be surprised if copper is rolled out to replace stainless steel in a hospital near you.

It might be expensive to implement: but not as expensive – in both human and economic cost – as continuing with the current level of HAIs.

• Copper’s New Role: Germ Killer (singularityhub.com)

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Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an auto-immune disease where the body has trouble distinguishing between the body’s own healthy tissues and invading pathogens. It thus tends to destroy its own healthy body cells.

However, not only does the RA cause damage itself, it can make a sufferer more prone to other, related ailments: partly because of the condition itself and partly because of the effects of the treatments used.

It is worthwhile being informed about these other conditions so that a sufferer can do what they can to reduce the possibility of this happening.

Some of the related conditions include:

- Rheumatoid lung disease: a factor in this may be the high blood inflammation levels often present with RA.

- Carpal tunnel syndrome: there is a correlation between RA and this syndrome, where a nerve in the hand swells, causing numbness and restricted movement.

- Osteoporosis: A prolonged use of drugs used for treating rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, asthma and seizures can make a person susceptible to osteoporosis. It may be worth keeping an eye on this as best you can, and taking a good quality calcium and magnesium supplement as a preventive aid.

In RA, inflammation is always involved. The inflammation present in the blood can be monitored by measuring a protein called c-reactive protein – CRP – in the blood. A private test is, unfortunately not cheap (in the UK around £100: US less). But in the UK your doctor may be persuaded to do it – at least once. The best natural remedy for maintaining a low level of inflammation in the blood is fish oil.

(Personally, I take nearly 3 grams of fish oil a day – 8 capsules – to help maintain general health.)

For a full list of ailments which a person may be prone to if they have RA, check this page:

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/diseases-that-are-related-to-rheumatoid-arthritis.html

It does not make happy reading: but I think it’s worth being prepared if you or a loved one (or client) has got RA.

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