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Melissa Matheny

    Shortly after graduating from high school , Edjuana Ross was diagnosed with severe systemic lupus that attacked her brain, heart, and skin.  Thanks to a stem cell transplant from her own  bone marrow in 2003, she now has her life back at the age of thirty-three.  This is the first time Ross' lupus has been in remission since diagnosis.  She is one of 48 patients who received the treatment at Northwest Memorial Hospital.  Northwestern's Dr. Richard Burt said 33 of the patients have experienced no symptoms of lupus for 7 years or more.  Additionally, there was a 50% chance of a disease-free life for 5 years.  This is promising news for people who do not respond to conventional treatments for severe lupus.  This study expands on a shorter study with a smaller number of patients done by the same researchers in 2000. 
    Lupus affects 1.5 million people nationwide with 90% ofthe cases occurring in women.  About 5% of those with lupus suffer from a life-threatening form of the disease that attacks vital organs.  Before receiving her stem-cell transplant, Ross treated her disease with large doses fo the steroid prednisone.  Nonetheless, her fatigue, joint pain, scarring rashes, and migraines from lupus attacking her brain persisted.  Ross also continued to suffer from a lupus induced heart infection.  By taking prednisone, Ross acquired all the drugs' side effects which include include weight gain, thinning bones, tooth damage, and diabetes. 
    The stem cell transplant involves isolating stem cells from blood withdrawn from the neck and several days of high dose chemotherapy.   The cleansed stem cells are then put back in the body.  If the treatment is successful, the cleansed stem cells will regenerate a healthier immune system.  However, this treatment is not a cure and patients can experience relapses.

Marianna Campbell

    Dr. David Martin, MD, PhD., an anesthesiologist at the Mayo Clinic, did a study of fifty patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia.  Some were treated with acupuncture, and some were given simulated acupuncture treatments.  The main reason why this study was so successful was that the patients actually  believed they were being given acupuncture.
    The people were patients who had not responded to any previous treatment or who could not take medications because of side effects.  There were six sessions given over 2-3 weeks.  The treatment proved to be effective with minimal side effects.  Surprisingly, the biggest outcome was the reduction of pain and fatigue.  The treatment ususally lasts about three months and has to be followed up with a less intensive treatment plan.

Jamie Baker

    Two indepandent research teams, one from Brigham and Women's Hosptial in Boston, MA and Mayo Clinic in Rochester MN, conducted a study to find a reason why people with RA have a higher rate of cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular related deaths than those without RA.  The Boston team surveyed a group of about 114,000 women that had taken part in previous studies, and have been observed since 1976.  These women were given a survey that asked about the typical risk factors for cardiovascular disease such as alcohol consumption, obesity, smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and family history.  The women were also blood tested to look for any signs that could be linked to heart disease.   It was noted who had RA and who did not.
     The Mayo team used a county-wide medical records system to identify which residents of Rochester, MN were diagnosed with RA over the last thirty years.  They collected another group identical to the first, but the second group contained no RA patients.  They compared the two groups of people and examined the heart attacks and risk factors in both groups.
    The results of the study were close to what was believed.  The boston group discovered that the levels of cardiovascular risk factors were significantly elevated in women.  The Mayo group reported that the patients with RA were defenitely at a higher risk for heart disease, but they also were at higher risk for many of the unrecognizable risk factors.
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Mallory Sullivan

    Jan Slaney has suffered from excruciating pain from her ostearthritis for many years. She started out with mild painkillers but then resorted to stronger prescription painkillers.  Jan has had a successful hip replacement and tried acupuncture, physiotherapy, glucosamine supplements and "exercise on prescription."  However,  there is a new painkilling patch that may offer some help to Jan and others  who suffer  from osteoarthritis. BuTrans contains an opioid  drug which Jan has tried before in its tablet form but had to give up because it made her very drowsy. Other side effects are nausea, vomiting, sedation, constipation, and dry mouth. These side effects are reduced in the patch since it is a low-dose strong opioid.
    According to Dr. John Dickinson, a rheumatology specialist, "Many side effects diminish within weeks or may not even occur. Also, addiction, dependence, and tolerance to the drug rarely  appear in patients being treated for pain and its safety record is good."  The patch comes at a time when many medications for osteoarthritis are being pulled off the market because of increased risk of heart attack and stroke,  and skin reactions.  Some of the medications available that are effective in treating this disease are Paracetamol, Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs, Opioids such as BuTrans, pain-relief creams, artificial joints, exercise, physical aids, and using a walking stick.  Some medications that are likely to work are steroid drugs  injected into the knee joint fluid, osteotomy, cod liver oil, acupuncture, and transcutaneous electrical nerver stimulation. Methods and medications needing further study include a supplement containing glucosamine, chondroitin, pomegranate extract, and a shot of morphine.

www. saga.co.uk/health_news/article


Rachelle Butler

Symptoms of osteoporosis aren’t noticeable when affliction of the disease occurs. By the time a person recognizes symptoms of the disease it is irreversible. Because of this, Patricia Weber informs the reader of ways to possibly prevent osteoporosis from developing.
    First, Weber advises that everyone should be responsible for his or her own health. Talk to you doctor and request for bone density testing. The author then reveals that she discovered that she was in the beginning stages of osteopenia, a precursor to osteoporosis. Although she felt that more exercise, added soy products and increased calcium intake would help her, her doctor prescribed her with medication anyway.
    Also, the author notes that exercise is essential for bone health. Walking as well as weight lifting and weight bearing exercises increase bone strength. With every movement, the body brings in more calcium to the bones.
    Although calcium is extremely necessary in the diet, there are other vitamins and minerals needed to help the body absorb calcium, such as vitamin D, vitamin K, magnesium, and zinc. Weber recommends the chocolate chews Viactiv.
    Finally, Weber advises the reader to not dismiss prescription drugs. She shares that although exercise is important, effects weren’t enough to make a difference. Concluding, Weber advises that everyone should be knowledgeable of how they can prevent osteoporosis now.

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