SAN FRANCISCO—The discovery of a promising new target for the treatment of osteoporosis has a beginning to the story that, when it comes to scientific breakthroughs, rings familiar: It started with a disappointment. Researchers in the lab of Laurie H. Glimcher, MD, the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill Cornell Medical College—were in search…
Robert Thoburn, MD, finds discipline and the opportunity for continual learning in both rheumatology and karate, an activity he has pursued for decades. Karate Lessons “I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to learn karate and achieve a black belt,” Dr. Thoburn says. “I used my training journal and [did] extensive research to write a…
The boy who could not walk: S.L. is a previously healthy 10-year-old boy who has not walked for three months. Physical examination reveals swollen wrists, knees, ankles and several toes. There is reduced hip range of motion and flexion contractures of both knees. He can stand with assistance, but is unable to take a single…
On Nov. 19, 2015, the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) recommended granting marketing authorization for SB4, an etanercept biosimilar product that will be called Benepali.1 On Jan. 16, 2016, EMA granted marketing authorization in the European Union for Benepali to be used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic…
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Hidradenitis suppurativa can complicate biologic therapy of chronic inflammatory diseases, according to a retrospective study from France and Belgium. Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) often responds to treatment with biologic agents, but there have been scattered reports of patients developing HS while undergoing biologic therapy. Dr. Coline Faivre from Hôpital Edouard Herriot in Lyon,…
The FDA has received an application to expand the use of etanercept to treat plaque psoriasis in pediatric patients. Boehringer Ingelheim and AbbVie have announced a collaborative partnership to develop treatments for multiple autoimmune diseases. And gerilimzumab may prove safe and effective for treating inflammatory diseases at very low doses…
A recent research review compared the results of various studies on rehabilitation treatments, including immobilization, exercise and cold therapy, for patients with carpal tunnel syndrome after surgery. The authors concluded that little evidence supports the effectiveness of rehabilitation techniques, and many of the studies reviewed have similar limitations…
Preventing infection in immunocompromised patients is challenging, especially with the increased use of biologic treatments, which have been known to reactivate latent infections, such as the herpes zoster virus. Nicolas Issa, MD, discusses recent vaccination research and prevention techniques to help this patient group avoid infection…
(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,…
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…