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What is the one protein that causes arthritis?

This research shows that cadherin-11 affects the behavior of cells in the synovium and plays a role in inflammatory arthritis.

What foods can you eat unlimited amounts of while dieting?
What foods can you eat unlimited amounts of while dieting?

Here is a list of foods that you must include in your daily diet. Celery. 95 percent of celery is water, but it also has numerous health benefits....

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How do you know if you are doing keto right?
How do you know if you are doing keto right?

When a person is in nutritional ketosis, they will have blood ketone levels of 0.5–3 millimoles per liter . Alternatively, people can use a breath...

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Protein Implicated in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Researchers have identified a protein involved in the development of rheumatoid arthritis and were able to reduce arthritis in mice by targeting the protein. While far from human application, the finding provides a promising new target for developing therapies for rheumatoid arthritis, a disease that affects over two million people in the U.S. Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease of the synovium, the tissue lining the inside of joints. It brings pain, stiffness, swelling, joint damage and loss of function, most often affecting joints in the hands and feet. It comes about when the immune system, which normally protects the body from infection and disease, mistakenly attacks parts of the body's own joints. Therapies for rheumatoid arthritis traditionally targeted inflammation, with newer treatments focusing on controlling the overactive immune system. Unfortunately, the current treatments aren't completely effective for most people, and suppressing the immune system predisposes people to infections. Recent research has shown that cells called synoviocytes in the joints of people with rheumatoid arthritis are unusually invasive and aggressive. A research team at Brigham and Women's Hospital led by Dr. Michael B. Brenner hypothesized that the synovium itself might play a role in the development of rheumatoid arthritis. In previous work, they studied a family of proteins called cadherins that help cells to stick together and play an important role in tissue structure and organization. They found that cadherin-11 is involved in the organization of the synovium. To investigate whether cadherin-11 plays a role in rheumatoid arthritis, the research team next turned to mice that spontaneously develop a form of inflammatory arthritis. Their work was funded by NIH's National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) and other organizations. In the February 16, 2007, issue of Science, the researchers reported that the synovium in mice genetically engineered to lack cadherin-11 had a markedly different organization than in mice with the protein. Strikingly, the severity of arthritis in the mice without cadherin-11 was reduced by half. They also had an 80% reduction in damage to the cartilage in their joints. The researchers then administered a treatment in mice with arthritis to block the activity of cadherin-11 and saw a moderate improvement in their arthritis. This research shows that cadherin-11 affects the behavior of cells in the synovium and plays a role in inflammatory arthritis. The results from this mouse model, however, may not necessarily be applicable to humans. Whether therapies targeted to cadherin-11 will prove effective against human rheumatoid arthritis is a subject for future research.

— by Harrison Wein, Ph.D.

Is Sweet corn high in carbs?
Is Sweet corn high in carbs?

Highly Nutritious Corn is high in carbs and packed with fiber, vitamins and minerals. It's also relatively low in protein and fat. One cup (164...

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What is the fastest way to detox from sugar?
What is the fastest way to detox from sugar?

7 tips to detox from sugar Eat breakfast. Eating breakfast with proteins, complex carbohydrates, fiber-rich foods, and healthy fats can keep blood...

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How do I rid my body of inflammation?

Follow these six tips for reducing inflammation in your body: Load up on anti-inflammatory foods. ... Cut back or eliminate inflammatory foods. ... Control blood sugar. ... Make time to exercise. ... Lose weight. ... Manage stress.

You can’t see it or feel it, but inflammation may slowly be damaging your body. Inflammation (swelling), which is part of the body’s natural healing system, helps fight injury and infection. But it doesn’t just happen in response to injury and illness. An inflammatory response can also occur when the immune system goes into action without an injury or infection to fight. Since there’s nothing to heal, the immune system cells that normally protect us begin to destroy healthy arteries, organs and joints. “When you don’t eat healthy, don’t get enough exercise, or have too much stress, the body responds by triggering inflammation,” says Varinthrej Pitis, MD, an internal medicine physician at Scripps Clinic Carmel Valley. “Chronic inflammation can have damaging consequences over the long term. So the food you eat, the quality of sleep you get and how much you exercise, they all really matter when it comes to reducing inflammation.”

What should I eat the first few days on keto?
What should I eat the first few days on keto?

The keto diet deliberately reduces carbohydrate intake to encourage the body to burn fat instead. What do you eat during the first week of Keto?...

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Is Tuna good for a diabetic?
Is Tuna good for a diabetic?

A 5-ounce can of tuna provides around 20 grams of protein and no carbs, which makes it a great snack option if you have diabetes. Additionally,...

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How many carbs can I have in a day for keto?
How many carbs can I have in a day for keto?

The ketogenic diet typically reduces total carbohydrate intake to less than 50 grams a day—less than the amount found in a medium plain bagel—and...

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How do I stop keto and not gain weight?
How do I stop keto and not gain weight?

6 Tips for Transitioning Off Keto Without Gaining Back The Weight Take it slow. Make sure to maintain protein intake. Stay active. Keep an eye on...

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