Home Community Newsletter Vol 3 Issue 72

Arthritis Insight Newsletter * Vol. 3 Issue 72 August 29, 2001

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Welcome to the 72nd issue of the Arthritis Insight Newsletter. All back issues will be posted at /community/newsletter/
Feel free to pass this newsletter around to others who may be interested.

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The information in this newsletter should not take the place of advice and guidance from your own health-care providers. Material in this newsletter is provided for educational and informational purposes only. Be sure to check with your doctor before making any changes in your treatment plan. Information presented here is the opinion of the authors and has not necessarily been approved or endorsed by the medical advisors.

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Notes From Tina
(tina@arthritisinsight.com)
Tina Underwood aka KrissyJo

Shhhh! Do you hear it? Listen very closely! That?s the sound of silence!! The sound of my kids being in school. My favorite time of year! *grin* School means I have more time to devote to Arthritis Insight and time to get back to eBaying. I rummage through thrift stores to find quality plus size clothes and household items and sell them on eBay. Helps keep me out of trouble and the bills paid. My eBay user ID is krissyjo@aol.com if you want to check out my auctions. I should have some up next week. Right now I am just enjoying the silence.

I received a couple emails last week asking about my biopsy results. I don?t know what they are! I cancelled my appointment, I decided my sister giving birth was more important! I didn?t get another appointment until mid-September, so I am assuming there is nothing to worry about. Thanks for being concerned!

Have to run! Off to the dentist-oh what fun!

Anyone who sends me five new (never published on AI) tips and includes their mailing address with get an Arthritis Insight easy grip pen!

More from Susan:

I was having a difficult time handling small bottons on my clothing ect... a friend of mine suggested that I replace them with velcro, so I had a friend of mine do all the hard work, we simply sewed the bottons on the outside (showing part) of the item and applied the velcro to the inside areas, .By sewing the bottons on the outside area where the botton holes are .it looks as though the item is actually bottoned..... the Velcro is so easy to handle... It has been my little miracle in many ways.....

We all Hate to iron ,correct???
Ok! thought so <G> and we all have seen those New products that you just
spray and smooth out the wrinkles,? well they really work and save me tons of time and is much easier on my hands, You can also use, Fabric freshers such as Fabreeze or store name brands, They all work the same, just mist over clothing and give it a tug here and there,and smooth it out...Hint... it is easier to apply while the item is hanging....   

Check out more tips at /living/tips.html and send in yours today to Tina@arthritisinsight.com

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What's New?

Question of the Week:
Rosie posted this on alt.support.arthritis and got some interesting answers, so I thought I'd try it here:
If you had to do without one of these two things, which would you give up? Spouse or computer? Why?
/community/question  

Advice for Better Living
I am a 22 year old woman, newly diagnosed with RA, I am on Azulfidine, Celebrex, & a synthetic steriod...my questions is about hair loss. I am experiencing great hair loss, creating a large bald spot, which is getting harder to hide. The drugs seem to be controlling my pain, but I wonder about the hair loss. Is this something else I must learn to live with? Will it grow back? All the info I look into never seems to address this topic. I look forward to hearing from you all. Thanks.
/living/advice 

Photo Album
Linda Peck toasts AI, Panda and Pup and Becky with Lillian.
/community/photo/index.html 

Speak Out!
Dr. Thomas Lee Speaks Out about stem cell research.
/community/speak/index.html 

Arthritis Warrior
Just a couple more days until we pick the August Warrior. Send your nomination in today!
/warrior/ 

Expert Advice
I am currently using Enbrel, in conjunction with Prednisone, Vioxx, and Neurotin, as well as many other medications to counter the effects of systemic involvement of RA. I am still experiencing incredible pain and am confined to a wheelchair as a result of joint damage. Would Enbrel be enhanced by the addition of Methotrexate? Would Remicade be better? Is there anything else out there that might help?
/medical/advice/ 

Member Stories
Amanda's Great Adventure Part II
/community/stories/ 

Arthritis News
Popular Anti-Inflammatory Drugs May Increase Risk of Cardiovascular Events /news/arthritis.html 

Chat Schedule
We have a great Monday night chat line up for September! Check it out!
/community/chat/schedule.html 

Get Involved
Get ready for Gimpfest 2002!
/community/involved/ 

AI Help Desk
The Help Desk is updated with Linda's latest columns.
/living/help/index.html 

Book Nook
Granny Jan reviews her favorite book on pain.
/resources/books/ 

What do you want to see on Arthritis Insight or in the Newsletter? Let us know and we'll do our best to accommodate!

Coming Soon:
Featured Discussion Survey: Arthritis and Hobbies! Look for it Monday.

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From the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Progress and Promise:
The Skeletal System

Our bones, joints, and cartilage give us a living framework upon which all the other systems of our body depend. They are marvelously constructed to give us strength, protection, stability, and mobility. We sometimes forget that this skeletal system is composed of active cells, and is subject to metabolic and genetic processes, trauma, and the gradual wear and tear of life. NIAMS-supported research has helped millions address the problems that can result, often improving quality of life.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a common condition, primarily of women and people in their later years, in which the bones lose mass, making them vulnerable to fracture under the slightest trauma. Today, an explosion in knowledge about how bone-forming and bone-resorbing cells work and how they are regulated by hormones, growth factors, and drugs has laid the groundwork for new treatments. Scientists have made great strides in the following areas:

Bone Cells. Scientists have learned much about how bone-forming cells (osteoblasts) and bone-resorbing cells (osteoclasts) work and how they are regulated by hormones, growth factors, and drugs. Certain agents can interfere with osteoclast function and prevent bone loss. The hormone estrogen affects bone by inducing programmed cell death in osteoclasts. Improper levels of parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) are linked to serious bone mass problems, pointing to the potential of using targeted therapies against PTHrP to preserve bone. Finally, a protein called Cbfa1 has been discovered to be a "master switch" for bone formation, and several genes with links to osteoporosis have been found.

Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis. An important risk factor for osteoporosis is using glucocorticoid drugs to prevent organ transplant rejection or to treat inflammatory diseases. NIAMS-supported investigators used a mouse model and cell culture techniques to shed new light on glucocorticoids' destructive mechanism and to point the way to preventive measures. They found that mice treated with the glucocorticoid prednisolone have bone loss similar to that seen in people and had reduced numbers of bone-forming osteoblasts. Glucocorticoids also reduced the rate of osteoblast formation in cultures of mouse bone marrow cells.

Osteoporosis Risk Factors. Increased understanding of the causes of and risk factors for osteoporosis is enabling doctors to identify patients at high risk for developing the disease and to take steps to reduce that risk. Scientists have found that increasing age and low body weight are two of the most important risk factors, and that drugs that act on the mind and failing visual ability contribute to osteoporotic fractures by increasing falls. They have also discovered that the risk of certain osteoporotic fractures may be partially rooted in a gene on chromosome 19. The Study of Osteoporotic Fractures has helped define osteoporosis--and identify individuals at risk for fracture--using bone mineral density measurements at the hip.

Osteoporosis in Men. Although osteoporosis is often considered a disease of women, it is becoming an increasingly significant problem among men as life expectancy increases. The Institute is supporting a seven-center, seven-year study following some 5,700 men 65 years and older to determine the extent to which the risk of fracture in men is related to bone mass and structure, biochemistry, lifestyle, tendency to fall, and other factors. Researchers have found that low body weight, difficulty walking, use of certain medications, and smoking are risk factors for hip fracture in men. They have also discovered the importance of estrogen to bone mass in men.

Treatment and Prevention.
Research findings are already leading to clinical applications for many people. Institute-supported investigators have found that supplemental calcium prevents spinal fractures in elderly women, but that replacing the male hormone testosterone does little to increase bone growth in most older men with bone loss. Exercise and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) work together to prevent bone loss in postmenopausal women, and giving lower doses of estrogen and progesterone during HRT, in combination with calcium and vitamin D, spares older women significant bone loss while limiting HRT's serious side effects. Other important clinical research has led to technologies to assess bone density and bone quality, including dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and quantitative ultrasound measurement. New biochemical markers of bone metabolism have been discovered, and tests for these markers are becoming quick, simple, and highly cost-effec!
tive ways to identify bone loss and monitor therapy.

Paget's Disease of Bone

Paget's disease is a serious, chronic skeletal disorder that may result in large, malformed, and fragile bones. Although the exact cause is not known, particles from certain viruses have been found in bone-resorbing cells in people with the disease. This finding has led to a model in which infection with slow-acting viruses affects disease development. Several other lines of study indicate that Paget's disease has a genetic component, suggesting that a genetic predisposition interacts with environmental triggers like viral infection to produce the disorder.

Scientists have also found that interleukin-6, a hormone-like chemical messenger, helps promote the overactivity of osteoclasts in people with the disease. Further understanding of the causes of the disease will allow more targeted treatment and perhaps prevention.

Bone and Cartilage Biology and Repair

Research advances in the basic biology of bone and cartilage are the lifeblood of the clinical trials from which treatments emerge. The discovery of bone morphogenic proteins, which regulate bone growth and repair, and other insights into the molecular mechanisms of bone and cartilage are leading to:

Ways to improve the rate of fracture healing, as well as the strength of the healed bone.

Advances in bone grafting and implantation methods to replace large segments of bone lost as a result of trauma or tumor surgery.

Experimental methods to generate new cartilage or use biologic agents to drive repair of cartilage in the joints. Such techniques can be used in cases where cartilage is damaged in arthritis or by injury.Furthermore, cartilage biology investigators have discovered:

That nitric oxide may promote cartilage damage in osteoarthritis and that controlling nitric oxide may prevent this damage.

A mechanism by which cartilage cells die.

A growth factor called human osteogenic protein 1 that is produced by cartilage cells in people of all ages. This protein may be useful in helping to form cartilage in people with osteoarthritis.

Total Joint Replacement

When arthritis becomes so severe that drugs will not relieve the pain or when joint problems make daily activities painful, difficult, or even impossible, doctors can sometimes replace the damaged joint with an artificial one. Improvements in materials and techniques have increased the quality of life for many people, making it possible for the elderly and young people alike to live independently. NIAMS-supported research has also found that total hip replacement becomes increasingly cost-effective as people age.

While most studies confirm the benefits of total joint replacement both to the patient and society, there are still concerns about the effects of the implant on the body and how long the implant will last. The following advances will likely have an impact on future implant quality and longevity:

Better understanding of how artificial joint materials interact with the body. This will result in new materials that can reduce the chance that artificial joints will trigger wearing of nearby bone and loosening of the implant.

In-vitro models to study the effects of different wear particles, including titanium and polystyrene, on bone collagen.


The discovery that tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is an essential ingredient in wear particle-induced osteolysis, the virtual disappearance of bone around an implant.

Physical Rehabilitation

Contrary to traditional belief, research shows that prolonged rest after ligament or tendon injury only leads to further degeneration of the injured tissue. Carefully designed exercise and use of the injured tissue, on the other hand, actually help its repair. These and other findings of NIAMS-supported research have improved the clinical view of rehabilitation in recent years, leading to better, faster, and more cost-effective care.

Low Back Pain

At some point in their lives, most Americans will develop back pain. For some, the cause will be simple muscle strain that eases in a matter of days. But for others, the cause will be more complex and the problem lingering, affecting the ability to work or handle daily activities.

NIAMS-supported researchers have had success in understanding the biomechanics of the spine and of low back pain and back injury. They have:

Developed ways to study the effects of various tasks on loading of the spine. One study showed that certain twisting motions can cause or aggravate back injury. Knowing this makes it possible to train people in the best ways to do their work while avoiding back injury or aggravation of chronic back problems.


Looked at how a chemical called phospholipase A2 (PLA2) helps cause and perpetuate low back pain. Researchers saw that PLA2 release by injured disks (the spongy cushions between the vertebrae) may irritate the nerve roots. The resulting loss of nerve function may explain the loss of peripheral sensation in those with a history of pain radiating down the leg or into the buttocks. PLA2 could be a new target for the pharmacologic or biologic treatment of acute and chronic low back pain caused by a ruptured disk. As an example of the Institute's commitment to back pain research, the NIAMS is supporting the study of surgical versus nonsurgical treatment of three back disorders in 1,450 patients at 11 medical centers. Scientists at these centers will compare these treatments in patients who have a herniated (bulging) lumbar disc, spinal stenosis (narrowing of the canal through which the spinal cord passes), or degenerative spondylolisthesis (in which a vertebra in the spine slips forward out of place). This project is expected to have a major impact on clinical practice and on the cost of medical services for low back pain.

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Notes and Insights:

Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday to:
Patty Olcott, Rosie Shiver, Shaina, Gail P., Rosemarie and Donna!! Check out all the birthdays at /community/birthday and make sure to send them an arthritis-friendly e-card: /cgi-bin/postcards/postcard.pl 

Wanna help?
Having surgery? Starting a new drug or treatment? Filing for disability? Keep an Arthritis Insight journal so all of our members can share and learn from your experience. If you want to keep a journal just let us know. Write an article! We always need articles on all subjects relating to arthritis.
C'mon folks, we can't do this without you.

Donate! Arthritis Insight will always be free for anyone to use, we will never charge any fees. We try very hard to keep our operating costs as low as possible, but running a website as large as Arthritis Insight can be expensive. To date we've relied on our few sponsors for support and have paid for many of the expenses out of our own pockets. No one on our staff currently receives a paycheck for their hard work and dedication. Although you are not obligated in any way, if you are financially able to help support Arthritis Insight, it would be greatly appreciated. In exchange for your donation you'll receive some thank you gifts, a tax deduction and the satisfaction of knowing you are partly responsible for the entire Arthritis Insight Community.
/about/donate.html 

Ken Akers Cheer Fund
Donations to the Ken Akers Cheer Fund will be used to send flowers and gifts to those community members who are hospitalized, flaring or just in need of some good cheer.
/community/kenscheerfund

Arthritis Insight Wish List
We realize that many of you are unable to contribute financially to Arthritis Insight. But we need more than money. Please check out our wish list and see if you can help. http://arthritisinsight.com/wishlist.html

Thank You!
A great big thank you to our "Diamond Level" Corporate Benefactor, allaboutarthritis.com. Please stop by their site and say hello! http://allaboutarthritis.com

And a huge thank you to Waynette Porter for her generous donation!!

And another big thank you to NeedaBasket.com (http://needabasket.com). NeedaBasket is now Arthritis Insight's official gift basket company. They are giving us a great discount and donating baskets for our Arthritis Warriors. Stop by and tell them thanks for the support!

Glucosamine Clinical Trial:
Boston University Medical Center is currently testing Glucosamine for knee osteoarthritis in an internet-based clinical research trial.Normally, joining a clinical trial would mean going to a study center for repeated appointments, but this trial is carried out entirely over the internet. If you qualify, you will participate for three months by simply filling out online forms on your experiences and taking a daily nutritional supplement (either Glucosamine or a placebo), which will be mailed to you by the center. If you are interested, please visit the website:
http://etrials.bumc.bu.edu to see if you qualify.

Special Offers for Arthritis Insight Members
Whenever possible we will try get to our sponsors to agree to discounts and the like for our members. Here are our current special offers: Sore No More gel (http://sorenomore.com)will send a free sample of the pain relieving gel to any Arthritis Insight Community Member who emails them at dma@glogerm.com

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The AI Help Desk
Linda Peck

=== COMPUTERS 101 ===

Q:  Where do I select or set up a screen saver?

A:  If you would like to adorn your computer with a new screen saver (or set one up), just right-click the desktop and select "Properties" from the little menu that pops up. A screen will appear with a bunch of tabs on it. Select the "screen saver" one.  From there, you can select and set up your screen saver.

Q:  What's the difference between Cut & Copy?

A:  When you copy something, you place a copy of it on the Windows clipboard. Once it's on the clipboard, you can "paste" the item to another area or application. You still retain the original in its original location.  When you cut something, you remove it from wherever it was and it gets placed on the Windows clipboard. You can then paste it into another area or application, but it's no longer where it was originally.

For example...Head to a word processor and type in a sentence. Now, highlight an area of text, right-click it, and select copy.  Now move down a line or two, right-click and select Paste. You'll have a copy of the original highlighted text.  Now let's try the same thing with the Cut command. Highlight an area of text, right-click it, select Cut. The text disappears like an assistant at a David Copperfield show. However, it's still on your computer, hiding on the Windows clipboard. Scroll down a line or two, right-click, and select Paste. Ta-Da!  It's back.

PS - If you don't know what the Windows clipboard is, head to: http://www.worldstart.com/tips/termclipboard.htm

=== TIPS OF THE WEEK ===

Document Defaults

By default, both MS Word and WordPerfect save your files to the My Documents folder.  But what if you don't want your stuff saved there by default?  Well, that's easy to fix. Here's how:

In MS Word:  Hit the Tools menu, Options. Click the File locations tab. Double click the Documents entry and set your new location.

In WordPerfect:  Hit the Tools menu, Settings. Click the Files button and a tabbed screen will pop up. Make sure you're on the Document tab and click the Default document folder button (next to the current location). Set in your new location and you're done.

Clean Your Desk(top)

Have too many icons on your desktop? You probably only have a few that you really use on a regular basis, so why not keep the other ones handy, but hidden.  Well, you can do just that by putting a little folder on your desktop and dragging any infrequently used shortcut icons to it. Here's how:

1. Right-click the desktop and select, New, Folder.

2. Name the new folder "Desk Drawer" (no quotes)

3. Now, drag any icons that aren't being used on a regular basis to the folder. Some of the icons can't live anywhere but the desktop, so you'll find you can't move them. Most of them will make the transition with no complaints though.
That's it. You now have a desktop even Mr. Clean would be proud to call his own. If you need one of those little shortcuts, open the Desk Drawer folder and there they are.

Source: Computer Tips & Techniques
http://www.worldstart.com 
Copyright 2001, Worldstart - Reprinted with permission.

=== P.C. SMILES ===

http://www.aikenslaughs.com/forfun/funny605.html 

http://www.aikenslaughs.com/forfun/funny725.html 

=== MEMBER WEBSITES ===

http://www.geocities.com/callyanne21/ - All about Colleen, who was recently diagnosed with RA.

http://brendapoemcorner.homestead.com/titlepage.html - An incredible collection of poetry written by Brenda Hall.

http://home.earthlink.net/~ravent1  - A whole lotta fun! Fun things to look at, examples of my artwork, my skunk page and some fun links.

=== THIS WEEK'S LINKS ===

http://www.mapquest.com  -   Are you planning a Labor Day trip?  This is a great site for mapping directions, both visual maps and narrative provided.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginformation.html - A guide to more than 9,000 prescription and over-the-counter medications provided by the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) in the USP DI? Advice for the Patient?.

http://www.thefrugalshopper.com/printables.html - Free printables of all types.

=== UNTIL NEXT WEEK ===

http://greetings.yahoo.com/greet/view?F5RR83PETQBI4 

linda@arthritisinsight.com 
Help Desk Archives: /living/help/index.html 

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Weekly News Summary
Karen Sears
kaekae@arthritisinsight.com

SYNOVIAL TISSUE PROTEASE GENE EXPRESSION INDICATES EARLY RHEUMATOID JOINT DESTRUCTION
Detection of tissue protease gene expression in the synovial membrane,
shortly after symptom onset in rheumatoid arthritis indicates the potential
for early joint destruction. Patients with more rapid progressive erosion are
identified by high levels of matrix metalloproteinase I, messenger RNA in the
lining layer of the membrane.
Doctor's Guide, Aug 28 (free registration required)
http://www.docguide.com/news/content.nsf/news/
8525697700573E1885256AB100520C15?OpenDocument&id=
48DDE4A73E09A969852568880078C249&c=Rheumatoid%20Arthritis&count=10 

HIP REPLACEMENT FOR ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS YIELDS GOOD LONG-TERM RESULTS
Long-term outcomes of total hip arthroplasty (THA) in patients with
ankylosing spondylitis are excellent, according to a report in the August
issue of the Journal of Rheumatology.
Medscape, Aug 27 (free registration required)
http://rheumatology.medscape.com/reuters/
prof/2001/08/08.28/20010827clin005.html 

PROGNOSTIC FACTORS OF RADIOLOGIC DAMAGE AND PROGRESSION IDENTIFIED IN
RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
French investigators have identified prognostic factors allowing prediction
of radiologic damage and progression in rheumatoid arthritis.
Doctor's Guide, Aug 27 (free registration required)
http://www.docguide.com/news/c
ontent.nsf/news/8525697700573E1885256AB100519BD5?
OpenDocument&id=48DDE4A73E09A969852568880078C249&c=
Rheumatoid%20Arthritis&count=10 

SEVERITY OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS IS ESTABLISHED WITHIN FIRST 2 YEARS
The inflammatory course of rheumatoid arthritis is set early in the disease
process, according to an analysis of prospectively collected data spanning 16
years.
Medscape, Aug 24 (free registration required)
http://rheumatology.medscape.com/reuters/
prof/2001/08/08.27/20010824clin012.html 

COCHIN RHEUMATOID HAND DISABILITY SCALES EFFECTIVELY ASSESSES SURGICAL
RESPONSE
The effects of surgical treatment on hand disability due to rheumatoid
arthritis can be adequately and appropriately assessed through the Cochin
scale, say French researchers.
Doctor's Guide, Aug 24 (free registration required)
http://www.docguide.com/news/content.nsf/news/
8525697700573E1885256AAF005A8A17?OpenDocument
&id=961CDD58B2967A7C852569E40007966F&c=
Rheumatoid%20Arthritis&count=10 

OLECRANON SEPTIC BURSITIS EFFECTIVELY TREATED IN AMBULATORY SETTING
Patients with olecranon septic bursitis (OSB) may be successfully managed in
an ambulatory setting. Treatment includes initial intravenous antibiotic
therapy, followed by oral therapy and drainage of the affected site when
necessary.
Doctor's Guide, Aug 24 (free registration required)
http://www.docguide.com/news/content.nsf/news/
8525697700573E1885256AAE0070C74B?OpenDocument
&id=961CDD58B2967A7C852569E40007966F&c=
Rheumatology%20Other&count=10 

PHARMACIA/PFIZER: CELEBREX SAFETY PROFILE WELL-ESTABLISHED
Pharmacia and Pfizer yesterday strongly reiterated their confidence in the
efficacy and safety of Celebrex? (celecoxib capsules) for patients with
osteoarthritis and adult rheumatoid arthritis.
Doctor's Guide, Aug 23 (free registration required)
http://www.docguide.com/news/content.nsf/news/
EF8457A42CF88E9285256AB100578DC5?OpenDocument
&id=961CDD58B2967A7C852569E40007966F&c=Arthritis%20Other&count=10 

BEEPING BOTTLE REMINDS PATIENTS TO TAKE MEDICINES
Coming soon to a medicine cabinet near you: a beeping and flashing pill
bottle that reminds you to take your medication.
Reuters Health, Yahoo, Aug 22
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010822/hl/bottle_1.html 

LONG-TERM VALPROIC ACID USE LINKED TO DECREASED BONE MINERAL DENSITY
Long-term valproic acid (VPA) use can increase bone resorption in adult
epileptic patients and lead to a decreased bone mineral density.
Medscape, Aug 22 (free registration required)
http://rheumatology.medscape.com/reuters/
prof/2001/08/08.23/20010822clin018.html 

TRANSDERMAL FENTANYL PREFERRED OVER OTHER OPIOIDS FOR CHRONIC PAIN
In the first long-term prospective trial of opioid analgesia for the
management of chronic noncancer pain, most patients preferred transdermal
fentanyl over previously used opioid medications, according to a
multinational research team.
Medscape, Aug 22 (free registration required)
http://rheumatology.medscape.com/reuters/
prof/2001/08/08.23/20010822clin015.html 

POPULAR ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUGS MAY INCREASE RISK OF CARDIOVASCULAR EVENTS
An analysis of clinical trials suggests a potential increase in the rate of
heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular events among patients treated
with the popular anti-inflammatory drugs known as COX-2 inhibitors, according
to an article in the August 22/29 issue of The Journal of the American
Medical Association (JAMA).
Doctor's Guide, Aug 22 (free registration required)
http://www.docguide.com/news/content.nsf/news/
B45E9EBE38D6CABE85256AB00068781A?OpenDocument
&id=961CDD58B2967A7C852569E40007966F&c=Arthritis%20Other&count=10 

NIMESULIDE MORE COST-EFFECTIVE THAN DICLOFENAC FOR OSTEOARTHRITIS
The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug nimesulide is more cost-effective
than diclofenac for the treatment of osteoarthritis, according to an analysis
of epidemiologic data from France, Italy and Spain.
Medscape, Aug 21 (free registration required)
http://rheumatology.medscape.com/reuters/
prof/2001/08/08.22/20010821econ002.html    

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Contribute

Have you written something you think our subscribers would like to read? Send it to Tina@arthritisinsight.com and maybe we'll use it in our newsletter.

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A Closing Thought
25 Phrases of Wisdom

1. If you're too open minded, your brains will fall out.
2. Age is a very high price to pay for maturity.
3. Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than going to a garage makes you a mechanic.
4. Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.
5. If you must choose between two evils, pick the one you've never tried before.
6. My idea of housework is to sweep the room with a glance.
7. Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious.
8. It's easier to get forgiveness than permission.
9. For every action, there is an equal and opposite government program.
10. If you look like your passport picture, you probably need the trip.
11. Bills travel through the mail at twice the speed of checks.
12. A conscience is what hurts when all your other parts feel so good.
13. Eat well, stay fit, die anyway.
14. Men are from earth. Women are from earth. Deal with it.
15. No husband has ever been shot while doing the dishes.
16. A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand.
17. Middle age is when broadness of the mind and narrowness of the waist change places.
18. Opportunities always look bigger going than coming.
19. Junk is something you've kept for years and throw away three weeks before you need it.
20. There is always one more imbecile than you counted on.
21. Experience is a wonderful thing. It enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.
22. By the time you can make ends meet, they move the ends.
23. Thou shalt not weigh more than thy refrigerator.
24. Someone who thinks logically provides a nice contrast to the real world.
25. Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves for they shall never cease to be amused.



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Arthritis Insight Newsletter Copyright 2001