Rheumatoid Arthritis Pathophysiology

December 30, 2022 3 min read Source/Disclosures Published by: Source: Healio Interview Disclosures: England reports consulting for, and receiving research funding from, Boehringer-Ingelheim. ADD TOPIC TO EMAIL ALERTS Receive an email when new articles are posted on Please provide your email address to receive an email when new articles are posted on . " data-action="subscribe"> Subscribe ADDED TO EMAIL ALERTS We were unable to process your request. Please try again later. If you continue to have this issue please contact customerservice@slackinc.com. Back to Healio A slew of recent clinical trials and the continued development of new treatments have ensured that the state of rheumatoid arthritis treatment is more advanced than ever before. But patients with RA are notoriously at a very high risk of developing comorbi...

Share on Pinterest Adding a variety of spices and nuts to one's diet may help improve gut health. Xvision/Getty Images Researchers recently investigated the effects of peanuts, herbs, and spices— including cinnamon, ginger, cumin, and turmeric—on the gut microbiome in two separate studies. They found that peanuts, as well as herbs and spices, increased levels of certain gut bacteria after just 4 to 6 weeks of adding them to a typical American diet. They noted that further research is needed to understand their findings' implications and the possible health benefits of having more gut bacteria. Diet influences the kinds of bacteria that live in the gut. These bacteria are linked to multiple health measures, including glycemic control, which is important for regulating blood sugar levels, immune response , and cardiovascular risk factors . Studies show that gut bacteria feed off foods that are high in fiber. Research also shows that herbs and spices high in polyphenols— chemical...

The following is a summary of "Electrocardiographic abnormalities in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia and raised interleukin-6" published in the December 2022 issue of Primary Care by Kaeley et al. In individuals with COVID-19 infection, cardiac damage was linked to increased mortality. The underlying cardiovascular problems can be identified by electrocardiographic alterations. Heart failure, arrhythmia, and coronary artery disease are all linked to increased inflammatory markers like interleukin-6 (IL-6). Previous research, however, did not specifically point out electrocardiographic anomalies in individuals with COVID-19 infection and elevated IL-6 levels. For a study, researchers sought to compare the electrocardiogram (ECG) alterations in COVID-19 individuals with high and low IL-6 levels. A retrospective ECG study of 306 COVID-19-infected individuals was performed; 250 of these patients had normal IL-6 levels, whereas 56 had elevated IL-6 levels. All of the patie...

BATH COUNTY, Va. – One man is living out his dream after he was diagnosed with a terminal lung disease. In August of 2021, Brett Anderson realized he was having excessive shortness of breath with simple exertions, like walking up a slight hill. Since he worked as a pilot for United Airlines for 26 years, Anderson originally thought a lot of the fatigue was because of jet lag, but as it turns out, it was much more. "Initially I just attributed it to jet lag but it became more than that. I ended up in the hospital for four days with a fairly rare form of pneumonia called eosinophilic pneumonia," Anderson said. After being released and started on a treatment regimen, he got better for a while, but after a few months, he stopped improving. Anderson visited one of the top pulmonology clinics in the world, the Mayo Clinic, in Rochester, Minnesota. He was diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis. The lung disease is terminal, and now, Anderson doesn't know if his life will be over in ...

Minor lower back pain is fairly common among adults. But severe, constant pain in the back can happen, especially as you get older. Facet arthrosis is a condition that may affect older adults and people who have suffered injury or trauma to their back. ‌ Facet arthrosis can be a painful condition and affect your quality of life. But there are ways to help manage and treat it. What Is Facet Arthrosis? The facets are joints in the back (posterior) portion of your spine. They help to balance your spine and make sure it's properly aligned. Facets run alongside the vertebrae of your spine and help you with certain motions, like twisting and turning. They're essential for the proper function of your back. ‌ Normally, there's cartilage and capsules containing fluid attached to the facets that provide padding and lubrication against other spinal joints. When this cartilage wears down over time or becomes damaged, the facet joints may rub against other spinal bones or joints. This c...

Osteoarthritis is a condition in which wear and tear on the joints causes a loss of cartilage. Cartilage is the strong but flexible tissue that cushions the ends of the bones in your joints. Osteoarthritis can lead to: pain swelling joint stiffness loss of flexibility and function Erosive osteoarthritis is a type of inflammatory osteoarthritis. It can develop in the hinge joints of the fingers and less frequently in the toes. Clinically, these are known as the interphalangeal joints. Research suggests that less than 3 percent of people develop erosive osteoarthritis. About 10 percent of people with symptomatic osteoarthritis have this inflammatory joint condition. Erosive osteoarthritis can cause: a hardening of the bone near the cartilage, known as subchondral sclerosis a narrowing of the space in between bones the destruction of some bone material (erosions) Erosive osteoarthritis can be challenging to diagnose with X-rays and other imaging tests. An analysis of dozens of studies fou...

Climate change is making this allergy season longer and more intense. Here's how to cope. Allergies don't only crop up in the spring. The persistent sniffles, clogged nose, itchy eyes and sneezing also happen in the fall — and, experts say, they're getting more common, and more intense. "Everyone knows spring is the big one, but fall can be just as bad," said Dr. Purvi Parikh, an allergist and immunologist at N.Y.U. Langone Health. Here's what to know about the seasonal surge in allergies, and how to handle it. What causes fall allergies? Ragweed, a tall, willowy plant that grows in cities and rural areas alike, is the most common culprit behind fall allergies, said Dr. Michele Pham, an allergist and immunologist at the University of California, San Francisco. Just one pesky plant can release one billion grains of pollen, she said, which can irritate and inflame our sinuses. Ragweed starts to bloom in August and typically peaks in mid-September, but it can con...

RUDN University doctors conducted the first large-scale study of occupational diseases of workers in the electrolysis production of nickel. The most common diseases were bronchitis and asthma, and the most vulnerable group were cleaners of finished products. The results are published in Scientific Reports .  Nickel is an important industrial metal found in stainless steel, batteries and chemicals, for example. However, nickel is toxic to humans, and its carcinogenic and allergic effects are known. In nickel plants, workers are exposed to this metal in the form of dust or soluble compounds. Although the health hazards in such plants are known, there is still little data on how many workers suffer from related illnesses. RUDN doctors conducted a large-scale study and provided the first information.  "Nickel electrolysis workers are exposed to water soluble nickel and its insoluble salts in the dust. The health effects of nickel are widely described in the medical l...

Overview Amyloidosis (am-uh-loi-DO-sis) is a rare disease that occurs when a protein called amyloid builds up in organs. This amyloid buildup can make the organs not work properly. Organs that may be affected include the heart, kidneys, liver, spleen, nervous system and digestive tract. Some types of amyloidosis occur with other diseases. These types may improve with treatment of the other diseases. Some types of amyloidosis may lead to life-threatening organ failure. Treatments may include chemotherapy with strong drugs used to treat cancer. Other types of medications can reduce amyloid production and control symptoms. Some people may benefit from organ or stem cell transplants. Products & Services Show more products from Mayo Clinic Symptoms Purpura around the eyes Open pop-up dialog box ...

Plastic bronchitis is a rare respiratory condition that causes the formation of bronchial casts. The casts consist of thick, fibrinous mucus, which fills the airways. Plastic bronchitis is an uncommon lung condition that causes rubbery mucus plugs, or casts, to form in the airways of the lungs. In some cases, the casts have the shape of tree branches. The casts consist of cellular material and mucus. Depending on the severity, casts may block a person's airway and interfere with their breathing. The condition can become life threatening. Plastic bronchitis occurs more often in children than adults. Healthcare professionals can help prevent respiratory failure by promptly identifying and treating the condition. This article discusses plastic bronchitis in more detail, including its symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatments, and outlook. The symptoms of plastic bronchitis can vary depending on the size of the cast formations and their location in the airway. For example, the casts may...

Abstract The study aimed to explore predictors of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) in adults and develop a nomogram predictive model in order to identify high-risk patients early. We retrospectively analysed the clinical data of a total of 337 adult patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and divided them into MPP and non-MPP groups according to whether they were infected with MP. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to screen independent predictors of MPP in adults and to developed a nomogram model. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curve, concordance index (C-index), and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used for the validation of the evaluation model. Finally, the nomogram was further evaluated by internal verification. Age, body temperature, dry cough, dizziness, CRP and tree-in-bud sign were independent predictors of MPP in adults (P  <  0.05 ). The nomogram showed high accuracy with C-index of 0.836 and...