Millennium Rheumatology, Dr Anil Warrier

10/20/2021

World Osteoporosis Day
Osteoporosis and the broken bones it can cause are not part of normal aging. There is a lot you can do to protect your bones throughout your life. You’re never too young or too old to improve the health of your bones.
https://www.bonetalk.org/articles/world-osteoporosis-day-events

03/27/2021

What Is Osteoarthritis?

Often called "wear and tear" arthritis, osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of the disease. In OA, joint cartilage breaks down over time, causing symptoms like joint pain and stiffness.
https://www.arthritis.com/about-arthritis/what-is-osteoarthritis
An OA disease management plan might include some of following:
Physical activity/Weight management
Analgesics
Hyaluronic acid injections
Surgery

Often called "wear and tear" arthritis, osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of the disease. In OA, joint cartilageCLOSE Joint cartilage: tissue that covers the ends of the bones, providing cushion for a joint. breaks down over time, causing symptoms like joint pain and stiffness.

03/07/2021

All the three vaccines that have been approved for use in the United States are very likely effective in preventing serious illness caused by all the variants that have been identified so far. Indeed, these vaccines produce more effective immunity than COVID-19 illness itself.

A leading infectious disease expert called the finding “disquieting,” but warned...

03/06/2021

Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine: Here's what to know:
The CDC has recommended the Johnson & Johnson one-shot COVID-19 vaccine for use in people 18 years of age and older.

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is a viral vector vaccine. It is made from an inactivated adenovirus, the virus that causes the common cold, and contains a piece of DNA that instructs the body to make the COVID-19 spike protein.

This in turn triggers an immune system response, giving you protection should you ever be exposed to the real virus in the future.

You cannot get COVID-19 or a cold from any of the authorized vaccines, because they do not contain live virus. So it is a safe option for patients on immunosuppressive medications.

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is safe and highly efficacious, similar to the other COVID-19 vaccines that have already been authorized. Members of the public might not have a choice of which vaccine they get, because it depends on the distribution site. The most important thing, experts stress, is that people get any of the COVID-19 vaccines when it becomes available to them.

02/19/2021

Statement on Hydroxychloroquine Use with Respect to Retinal Toxicity

Four major medical societies involved with hydroxychloroquine therapy have issued a statement clarifying risk of retinal toxicity, and monitoring guidelines.
Key points, the risk of retinal toxicity is less than 2% in patients on dosage less than 5mg/kg/day, and normal kidney function.
HCQ is a valuable drug and quite safe at proper rheumatic disease doses and with appropriate eye screening. It should not be avoided for fear of retinopathy and should not be stopped casually for borderline findings.

02/16/2021

There are important considerations and caveats on how to approach vaccination are included for patients with high disease activity and/or those taking immunosuppressant treatments. These include recommendations to modify certain treatments such as methotrexate, JAK inhibitors (e.g., baricitinib, tofacitinib, upadacitinib) and some biologics (e.g., abatacept and rituximab) that alter the immune system’s response in ways that might affect vaccine response.
Please contact our clinic to discuss the optimal way to get vaccinated if you are on immunosuppressive treatment.

02/16/2021

The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) has released its COVID-19 Vaccine Clinical Guidance Summary that provides an official recommendation to vaccinate rheumatology patients with musculoskeletal, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

“Although there is limited data from large population-based studies, it appears that patients with autoimmune and inflammatory conditions are at a higher risk for developing hospitalized COVID-19 compared to the general population and have worse outcomes associated with infection,” said Dr. Jeffrey Curtis, chair of the ACR COVID-19 Vaccine Clinical Guidance Task Force. “Based on this concern, the benefit of COVID-19 vaccination outweighs any small, possible risks for new autoimmune reactions or disease flare after vaccination.”

09/11/2020

German artist Paul Klee was a pioneer of modern art, despite being progressively handicapped by systemic sclerosis (scleroderma).

Paul Klee lived in the XIX – XX cent., a remarkable figure of German-Swiss Expressionism and Abstract Art. Find more works of this artist at Wikiart.org – best visual art database.

09/09/2020

The late great Kobe Bryant almost had his career cut short by knee arthritis. Using some innovative techniques, he was able to recover and went on to win more titles.

Last season Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers were embarrassed in the NBA playoffs after getting swept by the eventual NBA champion Dallas Mavericks in the second round. This domination of the Lakers in this series with the Mavs was a real wakeup call for Kobe as he realized that his career ...

09/08/2020

Maya Harris, the television analyst, policy advocate, lawyer, and sister of Vice-Presidential candidate Kamala Harris, has not let her Lupus slow her down.

Kamala Harris's sister opens up about life with a chronic illness.

09/07/2020

Ben Franklin, our founding father suffered from debilitating attacks of gout. He wrote an essay about it!
Gout can be one of the most painful types of arthritis. Good news is, it can be cured.

3. Dialogue Between Franklin and the Gout by Benjamin Franklin. Matthews, Brander, ed. 1914. The Oxford Book of American Essays

09/05/2020

Pierre-Auguste Renoir, who lived from 1841 to 1919, suffered from severe rheumatoid arthritis for the last 25 years of his life.
Pierre-Auguste Renoir started out as an apprentice to a porcelain painter and studied drawing in his free time. After years as a struggling painter, Renoir helped launch an artistic movement called Impressionism in 1870s. He eventually became one of the most highly regarded artists of his time.
Fortunately, early and effective treatment can prevent the deformities arising from RA, and keep people mobile without needing a wheelchair.