Modifying gene called Foxp3 may develop cells capable of suppressing immune response. New understanding about how to control autoimmune responses offers promise in efforts to develop treatments for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), British researchers say.

How activity can help you feel better Arthritis is a rheumatic disease that affects the body's joints and connective tissues. Exercise is a relatively easy way to help control its symptoms.

Cox-2 drugs, like Celebrex, less safe than Cox-1 drugs, like naproxen, study says.  The increased risk of heart attack that comes with the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to treat arthritis pain is directly related to the specific pain-causing molecule they act against, a new study finds.

Review finds no connection between drugs that block tumor necrosis factor and malignancies. TNF-antagonists, drugs widely used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA), don't appear to cause cancer, say Spanish researchers who analyzed data on more than 4,000 RA patients treated with the biologics.

Periodontal disease rises as the joint ailment worsens, research shows. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may increase the risk of gum disease, a U.S. study finds.

Early puberty also a factor in increased chance of knee, hip surgeries, study finds. Early puberty, having lots of children, and hormone replacement therapy all increase a woman's likelihood of having knee or hip replacement surgery, according to a study that looked at 1.3 million British women whose health was tracked for an average of six years after they turned 50.

People newly diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis face twice the risk of a heart attack, and those who do suffer a heart attack tend to have more heart-related complications, new research says. It seems that a condition called diastolic dysfunction, which causes the lower chambers of the heart to become stiff, is the culprit. Diastolic dysfunction impairs the ability of the ventricles to fill with blood and can lead to heart failure, the researchers said.

Study says pegloticase viable treatment for those who've run out of options. The drug pegloticase (Puricase) may help gout patients who've had no luck with other treatments, according to researchers who studied 212 patients who'd run out of treatment options.

International analysis finds 11% issued 'black box' warnings by FDA New research shows that almost one-quarter of biologic therapies approved in the United States and Europe since 1995 have been the subject of at least one safety-related regulatory action in the decade since they were approved.

But high doses may protect against fractures, cancer, study suggests.  High doses of vitamin K1 may not prevent a decline in age-related bone mineral density, but it may protect against fracture and cancer in postmenopausal women with osteopenia, a new report shows.

Some danger may come with other NSAID pain relievers, experts say. When the pain killer Vioxx was pulled from the market in 2004 over concerns that it increased the risk of heart attack, stroke and death, many assumed that stopping the drug would end the risk.

More fat on arms, legs tied to more inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis, study says How fat and muscle are distributed throughout the body is one of the factors that contribute to limited mobility of people rheumatoid arthritis, a new study finds.

Using free weights, isometric exercise tied to overall increase in physical activity levels. Resistance training improves muscle strength and physical functioning while decreasing pain in many people with knee osteoarthritis, a new report says.

Finding could lead to new treatments, experts say. The finding could help identify people at risk for the arthritic illness, long before symptoms start. One of the genes studied had already been associated with gout, but identifying all three genes could help develop new treatments.

But lead researcher says it's too soon to give up on glucosamine. The popular supplements glucosamine and chondroitin are no better than a placebo at preventing cartilage loss in knees of people with the form of arthritis caused by wear and tear, a new study found.

Taking more active role in their health helps patients stave off decline, study finds. Adding occupational therapy to a structured exercise program increases physical activity for most people who have hip and knee osteoarthritis, say researchers.

Nerve cells may help spur inflammation, study shows.  The pain caused by osteoarthritis may be as damaging as the disease itself, according to a new study.

Which type is best for you?  A knee brace can help protect an injured knee from further injury, or help prevent injury in a weakened or arthritic knee. The American Academy of Family Physicians offers this list of different types of knee braces

Help strained joints and muscles Medication can help ease arthritis pain, but a gentle massage can also provide relief. The Arthritis Foundation has this advice

Study found results for both were same 2 years later. Arthroscopic surgery to relieve osteoarthritis of the knee, a widely practiced procedure, proves no better than medicine and physical therapy alone, new research shows.

Study finds risk is greatest for those overweight or obese at age 45. Almost half of all American adults will develop osteoarthritis of the knee by age 85, and their odds increase if they are obese in middle age, a new study says.

Officials want stronger labeling about fungal infection risk. Federal health authorities have asked the manufacturers of four widely used immunosuppressive drugs to bolster safety warnings on the risk of developing opportunistic fungal infections.

For sufferers of joint disease, finding could lead to preventive treatments, study says. The first direct proof of how osteoarthritis destroys cartilage has been discovered by University of Rochester Medical Center researchers.

Pegloticase normalized uric acid levels within 6 hours for participants in phase II trial. An experimental gout drug called pegloticase lowered levels of uric acid in the blood to target levels within a few hours in most patients.

Enzyme called Smurf1 acts as signaling partner that turns off building-block proteins. New details about how rheumatoid arthritis destroys bone have been uncovered by University of Rochester Medical Center researchers, who said their findings are already helping efforts to create new drugs to reverse the process.

Known biomarker easier to identify, so permanent joint damage may be avoided, study says. A modified form of MRI may help diagnosis osteoarthritis at an early stage when it may be possible to prevent or reduce permanent joint damage, say U.S. researchers.

Obesity, previous HRT, chemo also raised chances for those on endocrine treatment, study says. Postmenopausal women with breast cancer who are receiving endocrine treatment may be at increased risk of joint issues, including arthritis, a new study finds.

Finding points to new interventions to control body's attack on its own healthy tissue. B cells may be more responsible for causing autoimmune diseases like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis than initially thought, according to a new study.

Hormonal effects may be to blame, researchers say. The risk of rheumatoid arthritis is twice as high in women who had a heavy birth weight (more than 10 pounds) than those with an average birth weight (7 to 8.5 lbs), a new study finds.

Number tripled, and they find a link to other conditions such as asthma, diabetes. Researchers have identified 21 new genetic regions implicated in Crohn's disease, bringing to 32 the total number of genes and loci -- regions of the genome typically including one or more genes that are known to increase susceptibility to the disease.

Study finds patients twice as likely to care for themselves, saves money in long run. Total hip replacements are beneficial and economical for seniors with osteoarthritis, regardless of their age, say researchers at Duke University Medical Center.

Enriched extract of Indian herbal remedy showed improved mobility in 7 days, study says. Frankincense may help reduce the symptoms of osteoarthritis, according to a study of 70 patients.

Those on methotrexate-etanercept therapy 3 times less likely to have to stop working. Patients with moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis benefited from combining the drugs methotrexate and Enbrel (etanercept), new research found.

Flare-ups reduced, Italian study finds, but the trial methods are challenged. More than one-third of elderly patients on Medicare take a companion with them for routine medical visits.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the joints. Remedies may include lifestyle changes, medication and surgery designed to help control pain and minimize joint damage. The U.S. National Library of Medicine offers this list of possible treatments for rheumatoid arthritis.