Latest Articles - June 2016

Axial spondyloarthritis: Patients see sustained benefit with certolizumab pegol

By: Jill Stein

Researchers are reporting that early rapid improvements in the signs and symptoms of axial spondyloarthritis in patients treated with certolizumab pegol are maintained at 4 years.

Dr. Desiree van der Heijde, with Leiden University Medical Centre in the Netherlands, and colleagues elsewhere examined outcomes at week 204 in patients who were randomized to certolizumab pegol or placebo as part of the phase III RAPID-axSpA trial.

Axial spondyloarthritis is characterized by inflammation of the sacroiliac joins and spine, which results in chronic back pain.

Previous reports have shown that certolizumab pegol - a drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis - is effective and safe over 96 weeks of treatment.

Omega-3 fatty acids reduce risk of death from heart attack

By: Honor Whiteman

Eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids may lower the risk of death from heart attack. This is the finding of new research published in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Each year, around 735,000 people in the United States have a heart attack, which occurs when a section of the heart fails to receive enough oxygen-rich blood.

Adopting a healthy diet is considered a key factor in reducing the risk of heart attack, and many studies have suggested that including omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids as part of such a diet is particularly beneficial for heart health.

Other studies, however, have questioned the heart benefits of omega-3s, with some suggesting that fish oil supplements - a major source of the fatty acids - do not lower the risk of heart-related events.

Gut bacteria may have role in bile duct cancer

By: Catharine Paddock PhD

An international group of researchers has found a link between gut bacteria in the bile duct and a raised risk of developing bile duct cancer. The team hopes the finding will lead to new, more targeted therapies for the rare and aggressive disease.

The team, including researchers from Khon Kaen University in Thailand and the Genome Institute of Singapore, reports the discovery in the journal EBioMedicine.

It is a well-established fact that disease arises from interactions between our cells and our environment.

However, what is becoming increasingly clear is that a significant amount of this cell-environment interaction occurs inside the body, where cells interact with our microbiome - the trillions of bacteria that live inside us.

High-fiber diet alters gut bacteria to protect against food allergy

By: Honor Whiteman

A high-fiber diet rich in vitamin A may alter gut bacteria in a way that could prevent or reverse food allergies. This is the finding of a new study published in the journal Cell Reports.

Researchers say a high-fiber diet enriched with vitamin A shows promise for reducing the risk of food allergy.

It is estimated that around 15 million people in the United States have food allergies, and this number is increasing.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), between 1997-2007, the number of children and adolescents in the U.S. with food allergies rose by around 18 percent, though the reasons for this are unclear.