NIH Director Francis Collins, MD, PhD, is working to improve funding for research into new treatments for lupus and RA through the Accelerating Medicines Partnership, a coalition of private and public partners identifying and validating promising biological targets for therapeutics…
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Providing more care than necessary may work to lower a doctor’s risk of being accused of malpractice, suggests a new U.S. study. Although the results can’t prove extra expenditures are due to defensive medicine, the researchers found that doctors in Florida who provided the most costly care between 2000 and 2009 were…
The German Psoriasis Registry, PsoBest, found conventional systemic and biologic drugs for psoriasis demonstrated relative safety from serious adverse events in patients between January 2008–December 2012…
Preventing infection in patients with RA should be a consideration for rheumatologists prescribing disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs after a Swedish study found patients on these therapies have a 6.1% risk of developing serious infection.
The FDA is asking for more safety analysis before approving tofacitinib to treat psoriasis. Also, adalimumab and etanercept received the greatest number of adverse and serious adverse events reported to the FDA in 2014…
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Even doctors and nurses don’t always follow the healthy lifestyle choices they recommend for patients to reduce the risk of medical problems, such as obesity, heart disease and diabetes, a U.S. study suggests. Although rates of these conditions appeared lower among healthcare workers than other people, the diseases were still common. They…
New studies show ABT-494 is an effective alternative to anti-TNF alpha agents, as well as methotrexate, for RA. Also, the FDA issued a warning against using tramadol for young patients due to their increased risk of respiratory side effects…
A retrospective study shows that some patients presenting for pediatric rheumatology evaluation test positive for celiac disease—some without showing any gastrointestinal manifestations. Treatment includes a gluten-free diet…
Musculoskeletal (MSK) ultrasound is a valuable imaging modality for the practicing rheumatologist and provides an efficient tool with high diagnostic value in the evaluation of patients with musculoskeletal complaints. The use of MSK ultrasound has evolved in the U.S. due to the emergence of less-expensive, portable ultrasound units, which provide high-quality gray-scale and power Doppler…
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—The human IgG1 anti-TNF antibody adalimumab is safe and effective for short- and long-term treatment, and the calcineurin inhibitor tacrolimus given short-term brings remission, in patients with refractory ulcerative colitis, according to two new studies in the Journal of Crohn’s and Colitis. In the first study, online Sept. 21, Dr. Tamas Molnar…