Tofacitinib: A novel oral treatment for rheumatoid arthritis

Inflammation has been linked to a slew of diseases – from allergies to cancer, heart trouble, bowel problems and diabetes. What is it and how can we protect ourselves. - By paediatrician and family practitioner Dr Gita Mathai. What is inflammation? The word is derived from the Latin “inflammo” meaning ignite or set alight. It conjures up visions of fire, and it is the body’s response to an injury, like a broken bone, a scrape in the skin or an infection by an organism (…

Exercise has been shown to transiently suppress inflammation in an animal model of rheumatic disease, bolstering evidence to support the theory that regular physical activity is beneficial for patients with the disease. “Exercise can be a very potent therapeutic intervention to control inflammatory diseases, but unfortunately today it is underutilized in clinical practice,” said study author Dr. Nicholas Young from The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, US. “[In our…

Women with arthritis can get pregnant. It is better for them to discuss with both their treating rheumatologist or endocrinologist and their OB-GYN and plan their pregnancy. Find out how pregnancy affects your arthritic symptoms and how you can deal with them. Women with arthritis who are pregnant are affected in different ways. In arthritis, joints are inflammed and painful. For some pregnant women, the added weight of pregnancy may increase pain and discomfort. But 70-80% of women…

Researchers find 6,000 steps per day is the “magic” number for preventing activity limitations in people with knee osteoarthritis (OA), according to a new study published recently online in Arthritis Care & Research. If you have not been doing much walking, start with 3000 steps and then move up to 6000 steps per day http://www.arthritistoday.org/news/walking-protects-against-limitations-348.php

Tofacitinib (Xeljanz®) is the first of a unique class of oral kinase inhibitors to be FDA approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Tofacitinib is a selective inhibitor of Janus kinase (JAK) enzymes. these enzymes mediate signaling for several important cytokines that cause the inflammation in Rheumatoid Arthritic patients.  http://www.hopkinsarthritis.org/arthritis-news/tofacitinib-fda-approved-oral-biologic-for-rheumatoid-arthritis/

A great article on why exercising is important to prevent complications from inactivity in Arthritic patients and what exercises are suitable. https://www.rheumatology.org/Practice/Clinical/Patients/Diseases_And_Conditions/Exercise_and_Arthritis/

Living with RA is living with pain but “Don’t let the disease define you”. RA causes pain in his hands, but he plays the piano every day to keep his fingers moving and his brain active. http://www.everydayhealth.com/news/men-get-arthritis-too/?xid=tw_everydayhealth_sf

"Patients with psoriatic arthritis who smoke have worse patient-reported disease features at baseline and don't respond as well as nonsmokers to anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) treatment, a Danish study found." Patients who had stopped smoking more than 4 years before beginning treatment showed very similar rates of adherence to treatment as did those who had never smoked. So its never too late to quit smoking. http://www.medpagetoday.com/Dermatology/Psoriasis/46969

Meaning Greeva is neck and Sanchalana means movement Benefits of Greeva Sanchalana 1. Strengthens the muscles of the neck and the shoulders 2. Releases tension, heaviness and stiffness in the head, neck and shoulder region especially after lengthy desk-work 3. Stimulates and provides relief to nerves of different organs (especially all sensory organs) that pass through the neck. 4. When the movement is performed slowly and rhythmically with slow and deep breathing, it calms the mind and is…

Meaning Marjari means Cat and Asana means Pose. Benefits of Marjari Asana 1. Improves flexibility of the spinal cord 2. Strengthens the whole spine, upper back, shoulders and neck 3. Releases tension from the lumbar region (lower back), cervical region (upper back and neck) 4. Tones the female reproductive system 5. Releases tension and pain Contraindications People with severe knee pain, vertigo and spondylosis should avoid this asana. The Posture 1. Get on your knees, keeping hip-wide…