Rheumatoid Arthritis Pathophysiology

Gout is a painful form of arthritis that affects the joints. Flare-ups often target the joint of the big toe. Gout is caused by a buildup of too much uric acid in your body. The excess uric acid causes needle-like crystals to form in joints, causing intense pain, stiffness, and swelling. Joint and skin discomfort can continue anywhere from several days to several weeks. Gout treatment typically centers on medications to reduce inflammation and lower uric acid levels. Lifestyle changes can also help significantly. The use of aloe vera (Liliaceae) as an at-home treatment for gout may also be beneficial. Aloe vera is a succulent plant that contains a gel within its leaves. Aloe vera has been used for centuries to treat skin conditions like sunburn and gastrointestinal issues like heartburn. Aloe vera has not been studied extensively in humans for gout benefits. However, some people swear by its effectiveness. Aloe vera has not been definitively shown in studies to be beneficial for gout. ...

Follicular bronchiolitis (FB) is a rare lymphoproliferative pulmonary disease characterized by hyperplasia of the bronchial-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT) [1]. It is theorized that antigenic stimulation of the BALT results in polyclonal lymphoid hyperplasia and the development of lymphoid follicles with germinal centers in the walls of small airways [1]. FB is classified based on etiology, and common causes include primary (idiopathic), familial, connective tissue disease, immunodeficiency, infections, interstitial lung disease, and airway inflammatory disorders [2]. The most common immunodeficiencies related to FB are acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and common variable immune deficiency (CVID) [2]. Although patients with IgG2/IgG4 deficiency are at increased risk for sinopulmonary infections, rhinosinusitis, and bronchitis, an association with FB is not well established in peer-reviewed literature. A 40-year-old woman with type 1 diabetes mellitus and a 24 pack-year...

Ear infections, kennel cough and ringworm are among the common illnesses dogs may develop. Pups of all ages can suffer from a range of medical problems, so it's important owners learn the common conditions, how to spot them and tips on how they can be treated. Not sure what to look out for? Keep reading to find out everything you need to know... 1. Kennel cough The name given to infectious bronchitis in dogs, kennel cough is one of the most common contagious diseases that is caused by a combination of viruses and bacteria. One of the most obvious symptoms of kennel cough is a forceful, hacking cough that can often sound like your pup has something lodged in their throat. The team at Everypaw Pet Insurance explain: "Affected dogs should be kept in a warm environment, have restricted exercise, and kept away from other animals to prevent spreading. Treatment is not necessary as the cough gradually resolves after 2-3 weeks. But antibiotics can be given if the infection spreads to ...

A study published in Respirology found that the trivalent seasonal influenza vaccine (TIV) and the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) can reduce the risk of hospitalization for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD), pneumonia, and other related illnesses. In this self-controlled, before-and-after cohort study, all patients were all from Tangshan City of Hebei Province in China and recruited in September 2018. They needed to have been a COPD diagnosis and a postbronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 second-to-forced vital capacity ratio of less than 0.702 to be eligible for the study. Three groups of patients were formed based on the vaccines received: The TIV group received TIV only, the PPSV23 group received PPSV23 only, and the TIV and PPSV23 group received both vaccines. Vaccination started on October 31, 2019, and concluded on November 15, 2019. There were a total of 474 patients who received at least 1 vaccine for this stu...

People with asthma often have two inhalers: one for daily maintenance and another for rescue when symptoms arise. SMART involves using one inhaler for rescue and prevention instead of two. Asthma is a lifelong condition that affects around 1 in 13 Americans. While there is no cure for asthma, inhaled medications can control and manage symptoms. A person with asthma often has one inhaler for daily preventive use and another containing quick-acting medication to treat sudden asthma symptoms. Many experts now recommend using a single inhaler for everyday use and quick relief. They refer to this approach as single maintenance and reliever therapy, or "SMART." This article discusses SMART for asthma, what it contains , when doctors prescribe it, and how to use it. It also discusses possible side effects and other treatments for asthma. Asthma management typically involves taking at least two types of medication, including controller medication for "maintenance" and quick...

Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have found that high doses of vitamin D reduce the incidence of acute respiratory illness (ARI) in older, long-term care residents. The findings of the clinical trial, published today in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society , could help reduce one of the leading causes of serious illness, debilitation and death among patients in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. "After studying these patients for a year, we found a 40 percent reduction in acute respiratory illness among those who took higher doses of vitamin D," said the study's lead author, Adit Ginde, MD, MPH, professor of emergency medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. "Vitamin D can improve the immune system's ability to fight infections because it bolsters the first line of defense of the immune system." Ginde said in older people that first line of defense is often impaired. But vitam...

Ear infections, kennel cough and ringworm are among the common illnesses dogs may develop. Pups of all ages can suffer from a range of medical problems, so it's important owners learn the common conditions, how to spot them and tips on how they can be treated. Not sure what to look out for? Keep reading to find out everything you need to know... 1. Kennel cough The name given to infectious bronchitis in dogs, kennel cough is one of the most common contagious diseases that is caused by a combination of viruses and bacteria. One of the most obvious symptoms of kennel cough is a forceful, hacking cough that can often sound like your pup has something lodged in their throat. The team at Everypaw Pet Insurance explain: "Affected dogs should be kept in a warm environment, have restricted exercise, and kept away from other animals to prevent spreading. Treatment is not necessary as the cough gradually resolves after 2-3 weeks. But antibiotics can be given if the infection spreads to ...

Bronchospasms occur when your airways constrict, or narrow, causing you to have difficulty breathing.   When this occurs, your chest will feel tight and you will likely start coughing frequently. If your airways constrict too much, you will be unable to breathe in deep enough and will face a medical emergency from oxygen levels being too low. If you've ever been in a home with old water pipes, you can hear a high-pitched noise as water flows through them. This high-pitched noise is caused by narrow pipes. Like narrow water pipes, when your airways constrict during a bronchospasm, you will hear a whistling noise when you breathe, known as a wheeze. Your respiratory system is one of the most important functions of your body, yet you don't typically think about it because it's controlled by autonomic (involuntary) functions. How deep or shallow you breathe, as well as how fast you breathe, are much of the time not controlled by you unless you are practicing ...