Virtual Rheumatology Centre Medical News

New use for old drug in heart disease prevention

Paracetamol may provide more than just pain relief to those at risk of developing heart disease, according to a new study led by Professor Michael Davies from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Free Rad

New system to accurately measure hip replacements

A pioneering invention by the University of Warwick and University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) that can accurately measure patients for hip replacements for the first time could save th

Contrast-enhanced MRI helps differentiate between common arthritis types

Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may help physicians differentiate between rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis in the hand and wrist enabling more targeted therapies uniq

Walking linked to eased osteoarthritis

"Progressive walking" combined with glucosamine sulphate supplementation has been shown to improve the symptoms of osteoarthritis. Researchers writing in BioMed Central's open-access journal

Treatment reduces pain, speeds recovery for knee or hip replacement

Patients undergoing knee or hip replacements recover more quickly when treated with targeted pain-blocking medications that may eliminate the need for general anaesthesia during surgery and intrave

Cracking the code on common wrist injury

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) recently approved and released an evidence-based clinical practice guideline on the Treatment of Distal Radius Fractures. A distal radius f

Computers do better than humans at measuring some radiology images

Scientists have automated the measurement of a vital part of the knee in images with a computer program that performs much faster and just as reliably as humans who interpret the same images.

Yoga reduces cytokine levels known to promote inflammation

Regularly practicing yoga exercises may lower a number of compounds in the blood and reduce the level of inflammation that normally rises because of both normal ageing and stress, a new study has show

How arthritis thrives

The links between autoimmune diseases, infections, genetics and the environment are complex and mysterious. Why are people who live near airports more susceptible to autoimmune diseases like rheumatoi

Reducing postoperative delirium in the elderly

A recent study, published in the January issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, demonstrates that in elderly patients undergoing hip fracture repair under spinal anaesthesia with propofol sedation

Cervical collars can cause secondary injuries in trauma patients

The application of a cervical collar on a trauma victim can cause more harm to the patient, leading to secondary injuries or even death, according to experts at Baylor College of Medicine in a study t

For gunshot and stab victims, on-scene spine immobilisation may do more harm than good

Immobilising the spines of shooting and stabbing victims before they are taken to the hospital – standard procedure in Maryland and some other parts of the US – appears to double the risk

Preventing knee injuries in young female soccer players

A soccer-specific exercise program that includes individual instruction of athletes appears to reduce the risk of knee injuries in young female players, according to a report in the 11 January issue o

Running shoes may cause damage to knees, hips and ankles

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) accounts for more disability in the elderly than any other disease. Running, although it has proven cardiovascular and other health benefits, can increase stresses on the join

Ultrasound-guided cortisone injections may help treat severe hip pain

Ultrasound-guided cortisone injections may be an effective treatment method for gluteus medius tendinopathy, a common, painful condition caused by an injury to the tendons in the buttocks that typical