July 15, 2007, 9:24 PM CT

Throwing motion in young baseball players

Adaptive changes occur in the arm bone and soft tissue of the shoulders of young athletes participating in youth baseball and help protect them against injury, as per new research released recently at the 2007 Annual Meeting of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine at the Telus Convention Center (July 12-15).

Young baseball players who throw a lot maintain external shoulder rotation as they mature, says principal investigator Scott D. Mair, M.D., associate professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of Kentucky in Lexington. Good external rotation of the shoulder helps athletes throw faster while reducing their chance of injury.

Some shoulder motion is naturally lost through aging. Dr. Mair says that the throwing shoulder does not lose as much external rotation. An adult will never have as much shoulder motion as a nine year-old, he explains.

To evaluate the adaptive changes in the shoulder joint of overhead throwing athletes, Dr. Mair and his colleagues followed 32 male baseball players between 13 and 21 years of age for six years to study changes in range of motion, strength, and X-ray images.

The scientists observed that the act of throwing causes changes in the upper arm bone and soft tissue in the shoulders of young baseball players. This is not necessarily a bad thing, explains Dr. Mair. It can help protect players from injury. However, pitch counts that are too high and playing year-round can push those adaptive changes to the point of injury......... Posted by: Mark      Read more         Source

June 25, 2007, 8:08 PM CT

Scientists identify first gene linked to scoliosis

Physicians have recognized scoliosis, the abnormal curvature of the spine, since the time of Hippocrates, but its causes have remained a mystery -- until now. For the first time, scientists have discovered a gene that underlies the condition, which affects about 3 percent of all children.

The new finding lays the groundwork for determining how a defect in the gene -- known as CHD7 -- leads to the C- and S-shaped curves that characterize scoliosis. The gene's link to scoliosis was identified by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, working in collaboration with researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, both in Dallas, Rutgers State University of New Jersey and the University of Iowa. The group published its results in May in the American Journal of Human Genetics.

"Hopefully, we can now begin to understand the steps by which the gene affects spinal development," says Anne Bowcock, Ph.D., professor of genetics, of medicine and of pediatrics. "If we understand the genetic basis of the condition, we can theoretically predict who is going to develop scoliosis and develop therapys to intervene before the deformity sets in. It may take a number of years to accomplish these goals, but I think it will eventually happen"......... Posted by: Mark      Read more         Source

June 15, 2007, 11:24 AM CT

Breast Feeding Protects From Rheumatoid Arthritis

Breast feeding for a period of thirteen months or more has been shown to reduce the mothers the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA), as per new data presented today at EULAR 2007, the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology in Barcelona, Spain. In the study, the longer the breast feeding period, the lower the mothers risk of developing RA in later life. Comparable use of oral contraceptives (OCs) or hormone replacement treatment (HRT) did not show a significant effect on the risk of developing RA.

Lead researcher Dr Mitra Keshavarz, of Malm Hospital University, Sweden, said of the study, Whilst other studies suggest that hormonal factors play a part in the development of RA, and we know that pregnancy can result in an improvement in RA symptoms, we wanted to investigate the long term effect of breast-feeding. This study specifically highlights the potential of naturally-induced hormones in protecting individuals from developing RA in the future. Furthermore, it adds to the growing body of evidence in favour of breast feeding and its positive health implications this time demonstrating its protective benefits for the mother.

The study observed that breast feeding for 13 or more months was linked to a reduced risk of developing RA (odds ratio 0.46; confidence interval 95% 0.24-0.91). For women with between 1 and 12 months history of breast feeding, the odds ratio was 0.74, with a 95% confidence interval (0.45-1.20) compared directly to those who had never breast fed......... Posted by: Emily      Read more         Source

June 15, 2007, 11:12 AM CT

Ris Factors For Rheumatoid Arthritis

Barcelona, Spain, Friday 15 June 2007: New data presented today at EULAR 2007, the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology in Barcelona, Spain, sheds light on the role of environmental and genetic risk factors in the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Two new studies by a team in Sweden have identified smoking, a low formal level of education and certain metabolic indicators as important risk factors in the development of RA. These findings represent a significant step towards better understanding of the risk factors for RA and may contribute to improved future prevention and therapy of this debilitating disease.

The first study showed that smoking (odds ratio 1.77; 95% confidence interval 1.13 to 2.78) and a low level of formal education, such as elementary school education only versus university degree status (odds ratio 2.46 confidence interval 1.20 to 5.02), may independently increase the risk of developing RA.

The second study similarly highlights the link between of smoking and RA but, contrary to previously noted relationships between RA with active inflammation and impaired glucose tolerance, observes better glucose tolerance as a predictor of RA. In the multivariate model, a lower glucose level at 120 minutes after an oral glucose tolerance test (odds ratio 1.19 per mmol/L; confidence interval 1.04 to 1.35) and smoking (odds ratio 1.64; confidence interval 1.08 to 2.48) were both found to be independent predictors of RA. Thus the authors suggest that factors such as diet and genetics influencing metabolism may play an important part in RA development......... Posted by: Mark      Read more         Source

June 13, 2007, 8:25 AM CT

Disability from long-term rheumatoid arthritis reduced

New data demonstrating the safety and efficacy of Enbrel (etanercept) in the therapy of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients over the long-term were presented today at the EULAR (European League Against Rheumatism) congress (1). Over 2,000 patients receiving this biologic therapy for up to nine years, saw improvements in disability whilst safety was also sustained over the long-term.

Biologics, such as etanercept, work by blocking the action of a naturally occurring protein in the body called tumor necrosis factor that is involved in causing inflammation (2). When combined with methotrexate, etanercept, also known as an anti-TNF treatment, has been shown to halt radiographic damage in patients with moderate RA activity over multiple years which means the disease is halted at that stage (3).

Professor Lars Klareskog of Karolinska Institute Karolinska University Sweden, said, These strong data should give doctors the confidence to consider a biologic earlier in patients with aggressive and progressive rheumatoid arthritis, and patients should now have the prospect of less disability with a therapy which has also proven to have a good long-term safety.

The analysis includes over nine thousand patient years of data from a total of 2,054 patients who were monitored for serious adverse events (SAEs), serious and opportunistic infections, sepsis, malignancies and lymphomas. Overall rates of SAEs were similar to control groups (0.11 pt-yr and 0.17 pt/yr vs 0.11-0.20/pt yr), as were serious infections, and reports of opportunistic infection were rare (1)......... Posted by: Mark      Read more         Source

May 25, 2007, 7:13 PM CT

Aggressive treatment for whiplash no benefit

Whiplash, the most common traffic injury, leads to neck pain, headache and other symptoms, resulting in a significant burden of disability and health care utilization. Eventhough there are few effective therapys for whiplash, a growing body of evidence suggests that the type and intensity of therapy received shortly after the injury have a long-lasting influence on the prognosis. A new study reported in the June 2007 issue of Arthritis Care & Research (http://www.interscience.wiley.com/journal/arthritiscare) examined whether the association between early types of care and recovery time shown in an earlier study was reproducible with whiplash compensated under tort insurance.

A prior study led by Pierre Ct, of the University of Toronto in Toronto, Canada, observed that patients compensated under no-fault insurance had a longer recovery if they visited general practitioners numerous times and/or consulted chiropractors or specialists than if they just visited general practitioners once or twice. In the current study, the authors examined patterns of care for 1,693 patients with whiplash injuries who were compensated under tort insurance.

The results showed that increasing the intensity of care to more than 2 visits to a general practitioner, 6 visits to a chiropractor, or adding chiropractic care to general practitioner care was linked to slower recovery. "The results agree with our prior analysis in a cohort of patients compensated under a no-fault insurance scheme and support the hypothesis that the prognosis of whiplash injuries is influenced by the type and intensity of care received within the first month after injury," the authors state......... Posted by: Mark      Read more         Source

May 25, 2007, 7:09 PM CT

Coffee may lower blood uric acid levels

High uric acid levels in the blood are a precursor of gout, the most common inflammatory arthritis in adult men. It is believed that coffee and tea consumption may affect uric acid levels but only one study has been conducted to date. A new large-scale study reported in the June 2007 issue of Arthritis Care & Research (http://www.interscience.wiley.com/journal/arthritiscare) examined the relationship between coffee, tea, caffeine intake, and uric acid levels and observed that coffee consumption is linked to lower uric acid levels but that this appears to be due to components other than caffeine.

Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world; more than 50 percent of Americans drink it at the average rate of 2 cups per day. Because of this widespread consumption, its potential effects have important implications for public and individual health. Led by Hyon K. Choi, of the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, the current study was based on the U.S. Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, conducted between 1988 and 1994. It included over 14,000 men and women at least 20 years old who consented to a medical exam in which blood and urine specimens were obtained. Coffee and tea consumption were determined based on responses to a food questionnaire that assessed intake over the prior month. Scientists estimated the amount of caffeine per cup of coffee or tea using data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture......... Posted by: Mark      Read more         Source

May 25, 2007, 3:38 PM CT

Experimental gene therapy 'abolishes' arthritis pain

Early-stage research has observed that a new gene treatment can nearly eliminate arthritis pain, and significantly reduce long-term damage to the affected joints, as per a research studypublished recently in the journal Arthritis and Rheumatism. While the study was done in mice, they are the first genetically engineered to develop osteoarthritis like humans, with the same genetic predisposition that makes some more likely to develop the disease, the authors said. If all goes well with a follow-up study currently underway, scientists will apply to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for permission to begin human trials next year.

Nearly everyone aged 65 or older suffers from the pain, swelling and permanent joint damage of osteoarthritis. The most common form of arthritis, it develops over time following initial joint injuries or just as a result of aging. In the current study, scientists observed that one injection of a newly designed gene treatment relieved 100 percent of osteoarthritic pain in the study model. In addition, scientists were surprised to find that the treatment also brought about a nearly 35 percent reduction in permanent structural to joints caused by round and after round of osteoarthritic inflammation.

To date, therapy of arthritis is dominated by drug therapys like non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs, COX-2 inhibitors and acetominophen. Morphine and its derivatives are still in common use as well, but can depress breathing and lead to addiction. Taken together, current therapys deliver inconsistent results and new approaches are needed, researcher said. Gene treatment has been attempted in the past, but older, invasive techniques mandatory that therapeutic genes be injected directly into nerve cells. Strong pain relief resulted, but in some cases the injections caused nerve damage......... Posted by: Mark      Read more         Source

May 6, 2007, 5:46 PM CT

Diagnosis Of Lower Back Pain Cause

Functional anesthetic discography (FAD), a new diagnostic procedure involving injecting anesthetic directly into a spinal disc, can be used to confirm the presence of injured discs as the source of a patients lower back pain symptoms, as per a new study by scientists from Winthrop-University Hospital in Mineola, NY.

For the study, the scientists performed FAD in 19 consecutive patients who underwent lumbar discography for suspected disc-caused lower back pain. A total of 29 discs were injected with anesthetic and then studied afterward using MDCT and patient response. The scientists observed that 19 out of the 29 discs showed a favorable response to the injection in the form of pain relief of the patient.

We hoped that by using FAD in our practice we could isolate patients that would likely benefit from disc surgery. FAD is a functional examination; it relies on the patients induction of pain during active patient movement, which is far different than the typical discogram. When the patient performs the movement or position that causes pain, we then inject anesthetic into the disc in hopes of relieving the pain. If the pain is or is not alleviated, then this either confirms the discogram results or proves a false negative or positive discogram, respectfully, said Jonathan Luchs, MD, lead author of the study......... Posted by: Mark      Read more         Source

May 6, 2007, 5:12 PM CT

New technology for soft-tissue imaging

Soft-tissue cross-sectional imaging acquired on a flat panel C-arm fluoroscopic unit located in the interventional radiology area is feasible and useful for interventional radiology procedures, avoiding the necessity of sending patients out to a Computerized axial tomography scanner, as per a new study by scientists from the Baptist Cardiac & Vascular Institute in Miami, FL.

For the study, 35 patient examinations were conducted, covering a diverse range of both vascular and non-vascular clinical application scenarios. The on-location imaging technique was used to evaluate arterial vessel characteristics such as thrombus, calcification, and size. Additionally, the technique was utilized in the evaluation of collections before and after drainage procedures. The scientists observed that in 80% of the patients, additional clinical information was obtained that directly affected interventional treatment.

"This new imaging option allows for CT-like imaging from the acquisition of a rotational X-ray data set," said Constantino Pena, MD, lead author of the study. As per the researchers, the new technology has the possibility of making patient visits more efficient for both the doctor and the patient.

"Our report demonstrates that in selected cases the technique may be helpful in the care of patients. It gives the interventional radiologist the ability to acquire CT-like volumetric soft tissue images in the interventional suite without having to transport the patient to a Computerized axial tomography scanner," said Dr. Pena......... Posted by: Mark      Read more         Source