Until very recently, it was fairly unthinkable that our own bodies pose a greater threat to health than any outside disease. Most people have never heard of one of the greatest plagues of the 21st century, because it is caused by one of the most subtle, complex reactions in the body. This plague is inflammation, which in medical terms is the ultimate two-edged sword.
Scientists have succeeded in producing cartilage formed from embryonic stem cells that could in future be used to treat the painful joint condition osteoarthritis.
In research funded by Arthritis Research UK, Professor Sue Kimber and her team in the Faculty of Life Sciences at The University of Manchester has developed a protocol under strict laboratory conditions to grow and transform embryonic stem cells into cartilage cells (also known as chondrocytes).
Read more: Osteoarthritis Relief from Cartilage Created by Stem Cells
SetPoint Medical is dedicated to treating patients with debilitating inflammatory diseases, such as Crohn's Disease and rheumatoid arthritis, using proprietary implantable neuromodulation devices.
The scientific platform is based on the Inflammatory Reflex—the natural mechanism by which the central nervous system regulates the immune system. This mechanism was discovered by SetPoint co-founder Kevin Tracey and published in Nature in May 2000. Since then, the Inflammatory Reflex has been characterized in more than 100 peer reviewed papers in leading scientific journals. Anti-inflammatory potency comparable to leading drugs has been demonstrated in multiple animal models. The company is currently conducting human trials in rheumatoid arthritis at four European centers.
Fibromyalgia, a common chronic pain condition, affects more than 5 million people in the United States. A poorly understood disorder, Fibromyalgia has been under diagnosed and under treated, but is thought to be the result of overactive nerves. Recent research also suggests that changes in the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord, and nerves) may be responsible. Fibromyalgia is characterized by widespread pain and tenderness, and is frequently associated with nervousness, irritability, anxiety, fatigue, depression, and insomnia. In addition symptoms may appear as chemical sensitivities, allergies, Restless Leg Syndrome, cold or burning hands and feet, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
Years of research have demonstrated the strong relationship between physical and emotional health, which runs in both directions: Just as the worsening of physical symptoms can diminish your emotional well-being, improving your emotional state can minimize physical symptoms. The experience of having a painful or physically limiting health condition is no exception to this phenomenon. People with chronic, painful conditions report declines in social, recreational, and household activities, and they are at a greater risk for depression. Sometimes the emotional toll of a painful or disabling condition is a greater threat to a person’s well-being than the condition itself.
Read more: Caring For Yourself Emotionally When You Have a Chronic Condition
Learn about mental health issues that may accompany rheumatoid arthritis.
People who live with chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis may experience more than physical pain and disability.
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