| One of the most life changing, debilitating and even | | | | These new agents can limit the symptoms and halt |
| embarrassing diseases is arthritis. It comes in 100's of | | | | the progression of inflammatory arthritis to a level that |
| variations and has effects which can range from | | | | has been previously possible. Although sometimes |
| "hardly noticeable" to "totally gross". Sure, there are | | | | risky for complications, the treatments may be |
| techniques, medicines and various tips to fight this | | | | worthwhile for some. |
| disease, but there is no known all inclusive cure. Almost | | | | In early January, scientists at the University of Leeds in |
| 20% of our population, or roughly over 40 million | | | | England have identified how atoms move across cell |
| American citizens report that they have been | | | | membranes in the human body. This research holds |
| diagnosed with an arthritic condition. This number is | | | | huge promise for new treatments for inflammatory |
| projected to increase nearly 25% by the year 2030 | | | | diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis with the |
| and beyond. It affects more than 22% of all adults 65 | | | | discovery of a previously unidentified natural |
| years of age or older. Despite all of this doom and | | | | mechanism that opens ion channels, proteins at the cell |
| gloom, we are progressing, slowly but surely towards | | | | surface that act as doorways into and out of cells, |
| this elusive goal of a complete cure. Here is the | | | | through the naturally occurring protein thioredoxin. |
| rundown of some of the more exciting, albeit | | | | These channels regulate the flow of ions, electrically |
| sometimes exotic advances in this fight. | | | | charged atoms, across the cell membrane to conduct |
| A drug called Ritual, put out by Biogenic Idec, has | | | | various functions such as timing of the heartbeat, pain |
| shown promise in a late-stage human clinical trial to | | | | transmission and regulation of blood glucose. The |
| treat rheumatoid arthritis. According to Biogenic, the | | | | research revealed that thioredoxin's - one of the main |
| drug performance showed significant response in | | | | causes or effects of arthritis, working is different, it |
| combination with existing treatments with | | | | activates an ion channel by donating electrons to it, |
| methotrexate. Tests were performed in patients with | | | | almost like a switch. Realizing this, new drugs are being |
| moderate to server rheumatoid arthritis who hadn't | | | | studied for mimicking these ion channels effects in |
| responded to methotrexate on their own. So far, the | | | | form of a therapy. Its almost like the body's own |
| news is positive for Biogen. It gained FDA approval in | | | | natural defenses are providing new understanding for |
| February 2006 to use the drug in combination with | | | | future treatments for arthritis. |
| methotrexate in patients with moderate to severe | | | | Certainly there is a lot more to be done and |
| rheumatoid arthritis who didn't achieve benefits from | | | | researched, but these latest advances are showing |
| previous therapies. The company is now trying to | | | | significant promise towards successful treatment of |
| broaden the market reach for Rituxan. | | | | this deadly condition. Science along with a renewed |
| Molecular biology advances have led to the generation | | | | perception of the general population towards health |
| of a new class of medications called biological | | | | preservation via exercise, diet, stress management |
| response modifiers, which are capable of targeting | | | | and attitude are all slowly contributing towards a more |
| inflammatory cells and mediators of inflammation. | | | | effective, albeit not all inclusive, cure. |