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An official publication of the ACR and the ARP serving rheumatologists and rheumatology professionals

U.S., Canada Issue Joint Alert on Ransomware after Hospital Attacks

Jim Finkle  |  

(Reuters)—The U.S. and Canada on Thursday issued a rare joint cyber alert, warning against a recent surge in extortion attacks that infect computers with viruses known as “ransomware,” which encrypt data and demand payments for it to be unlocked. The warning follows reports from several private security firms that they expect the crisis to worsen,…

U.S. to Raise Payments to Insurers for Medicare Advantage 2017 Plans

Caroline Humer  |  

NEW YORK (Reuters)—U.S. health insurers that provide Medicare Advantage plans to elderly and disabled Americans will receive government payments in 2017 that are 0.85 percent higher on average than in 2016, reflecting small anticipated growth in medical costs, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said on Monday. Health and Human Services’ final plan…

Remicade Antibodies Cross-React to Biosimilars

Lorraine L. Janeczko  |  

NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Patients with antibodies to infliximab in Remicade should not be switched to biosimilars, researchers warn. “(The) antibodies will cross-react with the new biosimilar drug, potentially reducing clinical response,” Dr. Daniel Nagore, director of research and development at Progenika Biopharma in Derio, Spain, told Reuters Health by email. “The study highlights the importance…

FDA Approves Biosimilar to J&J’s Remicade for Multiple Diseases

Reuters Staff  |  

(Reuters)—The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday approved Inflectra, a cheaper version of Johnson & Johnson’s drug Remicade (infliximab), to treat Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and arthritis of the spine. Inflectra, also known as infliximab-dyyb, is expected by some analysts to sell for a 25% discount to Remicade, which generated annual…

Self-Reported Knee Instability After Surgery Linked to Pain & Limited Mobility

Arthritis Care & Research  |  

Patients with osteoarthritis often consider total knee replacement surgery to resolve pain and increase mobility. However, a recent study found that self-reported knee instability and pain are prevalent in patients both before and after primary unilateral total knee replacement surgery. One-third of the study’s participants still had knee instability after surgery, experiencing knee buckling and shifting associated with pain and limited activity. Using physical performance measurements, researchers linked self-reported knee instability following surgery to pain and poor lower-extremity muscle strength…

Vitamin D May Improve Heart Health in Patients with Lupus

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A new study has found that treating patients who have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with vitamin D decreases cardiovascular risk in these patients—specifically by modifying the body’s endothelial repair mechanisms. Researchers found myeloid angiogenic cells in this patient population presented with a global impairment, including decreased migration and angiogenic capacity…

Under Patient Control: Is Diet a Risk Factor for RA?

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Two recent studies have linked diet to an increased risk for developing rheumatoid arthritis. According to one expert, this information could prove to be pivotal knowledge for individuals already at a greater risk of developing the disease…

Biosimilar Drugs Could Save Up to $110 Billion by 2020

Reuters Staff  |  

LONDON (Reuters)—Lower-cost copies of complex biotech drugs, known as biosimilars, could save the U.S. and Europe’s five top markets as much as 98 billion euros ($110 billion) by 2020, a new analysis showed on Tuesday. Realizing those savings, however, depends on effective doctor education and healthcare providers adopting smart market access strategies, the report by…

Medical Cannabis Helps Chronic Pain Patients Cut Opioid Use

Anne Harding  |  

NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Medical cannabis reduces chronic pain patients’ opioid use, while improving their quality of life, according to a new survey of Michigan cannabis dispensary patrons. “They report that when they make that switch they overall feel better,” Dr. Daniel J. Clauw of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, told Reuters Health in a…