Misleading Food Labels

Sticking to the perimeter of the store, where healthier whole foods are displayed, is your best bet when shopping for an anti-inflammatory diet. But it’s hard to avoid packaged foods altogether ­– especially when many labels promise everything from a slimmer figure to better health. Here are some common health claims you’ll see on labels, and the truth behind them. The claim: High fiber The truth: Products carrying the “high fiber” claim contain at least 5 grams of fiber per serving. But manufacturers sometimes process dietary fiber out of a product and then add processed fiber, so it’s not as healthful as it seems. ...more

Indianapolis Closes Out the 33rd Annual National Juvenile Arthritis Conference

Over the weekend, Indianapolis, Indiana played host to the second location of the two 2017 National Juvenile Arthritis Conferences. The Arthritis Foundation welcomed almost 1,000 kids, teens, young adults and their families to an exciting and spirited weekend of education, networking and fun. For the second year in a row, the Arthritis Foundation hosted two JA Conference locations to serve more kids, families and young adults affected by JA and related childhood rheumatic diseases across the country, while also welcoming back returning veteran families. More than 60 percent of Indianapolis attendees were able to experience the JA Conference for the first ...more

Researchers on the Path to a Cure - Spotlight on Dr. Hongsik Cho

Big things come in small packages, and Dr. Hongsik Cho is very familiar with this phenomenon. When we first introduced Dr. Cho in August 2016, he was beginning work on his 2-year Arthritis Foundation-funded project, “A Novel Method of Detecting and Treating Early PTOA Using Smart Nanosome”.  He and his team are studying two things: a new drug and a new drug delivery system.  The drug, called TPCA-1, works to prevent inflammation caused by post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA).  The drug delivery system uses small packets called nanosomes that contain TPCA-1 and a fluorescent dye that illuminates the nanosomes’ path once injected ...more

Aggressive RA Treatment May Prevent Joint Deformities

Thanks to earlier diagnosis and more effective treatments, joint deformities in people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are becoming less frequent and severe. What Causes Joint Deformities in RA? In a joint affected by RA, inflammatory cells of the immune system gather in the lining of the joint (called synovium), forming a fibrous layer of abnormal tissue (called pannus). The pannus releases substances that quicken bone erosion, cartilage destruction and damage to the surrounding ligaments. The involved joints lose their shape and alignment, resulting in deformities. Severe deformities lead to loss of joint function and the need for joint replacement surgery. Risk factors for the development ...more

Heart Diet Good for Gout

A diet that’s best known for promoting heart health may also help gout management. The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, which emphasizes fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products, may lower serum uric acid (SUA) levels. In a study published in Clinical Rheumatology in March 2017,  research findings showed that the diet reduced SUA within 30 days, with a sustained effect at 90 days. In an earlier study reported in Arthritis & Rheumatology in August 2016, researchers reported similar finding in some cases. Gout occurs when excess uric acid builds up in the blood and ...more

Can Adjusting Your Attitude Ease Joint Pain?

Happy thoughts aren’t what come to mind when pain and stiffness are dragging you down, but forcing them into focus may help ease your pain. Optimism counteracts sadness and fear – feelings that can heighten pain perception, says Burel Goodin, PhD, a psychologist and anesthesiologist at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, who researches the link between pain and optimism. Because optimists believe their situations can improve, they are more likely to eat healthfully, exercise regularly and take other actions that lead to better health and less pain, he says. Not feeling very upbeat? Take these steps to act your way to optimism. Rewrite ...more

The 2017 National Juvenile Arthritis Conference Indianapolis Gets the Green Light Today!

Today, almost 1,000 kids, teens, young adults and their families from across the country are joining together in the Hoosier state for the second of two national Juvenile Arthritis (JA) Conferences the Arthritis Foundation is hosting this year. The JA Conference is a unique opportunity to connect families, kids, teens and young adults affected by JA and related childhood rheumatic diseases who spend the weekend networking, learning, sharing tips and forming bonds that can last a lifetime. Held at the charming Hyatt Regency in the heart of downtown Indianapolis, a bustling area filled with restaurants and public parks and minutes away from Indianapolis Motor ...more

Researchers on the Path to a Cure – Spotlight on Dr. James Jarvis

“Why did my child get arthritis?” This parent-driven question is at the heart of Dr. Jim Jarvis’s juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) Arthritis Foundation-funded project, “Interplay between genetics and epigenetics in polyarticular JIA”. “This is less about an illness driven by inherited genes and more about how the environment affects gene expression,” explained Dr. Jarvis. “It’s been shown that only about 30 percent of the risk for developing JIA can be attributed to gene variations.” Epigenetics looks at the ways that genes and the environment interact and effect DNA and DNA expression.  This project is based on the idea that JIA develops because ...more

Voices: What Have You Learned About Asking for Help?

Everyone needs to ask for help occasionally, but when you have a chronic condition, asking for and accepting help can be especially fraught. Here’s what three bloggers have learned. Kelly O’Neill Young http://rawarrior.com "Asking Is Giving" Until rheumatoid arthritis (RA) hit me hard in 2006, I was always the one giving help – not asking for it. It was one of the most distressing changes brought by disability. At times, I dreaded asking for help so much that I would decide to go without – which is fine if it’s a cup of tea, but not if it’s a medicine bottle you really need opened. ...more

FDA OKs Biologic for Psoriatic Arthritis

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the biologic drug abatacept (Orencia) to treat psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in adults. It’s already approved for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and for one subtype of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Abatacept is a biologic medication that works by targeting T-lymphocytes (T cells), immune cells that are overproduced in people with inflammatory arthritis. The drug, technically called a “selective costimulation modulator,” attaches to the surface of the cells, preventing them from communicating with other cells and producing chemicals that can lead to joint damage and symptoms like pain and swelling. It’s given as a monthly infusion ...more