Ankylosing Spondylitis Exercise club in Dubai

Dubai Bone and Joint center will launch a special exercise Prprgram for those suffering from Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS, a chronic, debilitating back conditon usually affecting young people. Please address enquiries to Rashid at info@dbaj.ae.

New hope for Osteoporosis

95% of the body’s serotonin is produced in the gut, yet this form of serotonin is barred by a membrane from entering the brain, where the chemical plays an important role in the central nervous system as a neurotransmitter. Serotonin’s role outside the brain has long been a mystery to scientists, but researchers recently discovered that serotonin may play a critical role in the formation of new bone. Researchers discovered the serotonin-bone density link from two genetic diseases, caused by a mutation of the gene LRP5. In one mutation, patients have such weak bones that they cannot walk on their own, while patients with the opposite mutation have such dense bones that it s difficult to extract teeth from their jawbones. After further investigation, researchers discovered that LRP5 acts on serotonin-producing cells in the gut, blocking an enzyme that converts the amino acid tryptophan to serotonin. Higher levels of gut-produced serotonin released in the blood stream inhibit bone formation, while lower levels allow greater formation of new bone. Researchers are now working to apply these findings to find a new treatment for osteoporosis. Patients with osteoporosis have accelerated bone loss, now a lack of bone formation, so they generally have normal serotonin levels. Experts believe the key to a new osteoporosis treatment lies in developing a drug that will suppress serotonin production in the gut, allowing more bone formation to occur.

New Gout Treatment in Dubai soon?

A US Food and Drug Administration Advisory panel voted 12-0 this week to recommend approval of the first new gout drug in 40 years: Takeda Pharmaceutical's febuxostat (Uloric®). One panel member abstained.

The Arthritis Advisory Panel had been concerned because early trials found a higher risk of death and heart problems associated with febuxostat, but a much larger clinical study commissioned by the company found that cardiac risk with febuxostat was not any higher than those with allopurinol.

According to Nancy Joseph-Ridge, head of research and development for Takeda, one advantage of the new drug is that it is safer and more effective than allopurinol for patients with kidney problems. “A lot of gout patients suffer from kidney disease,” said Dr. Joseph-Ridge. “This is something of real need. Patients who could not take the other drug will now have treatment.”

The vote followed presentations by Takeda Global Research & Development Center, Inc., the FDA, and invited guest speakers.

Febuxostat was approved earlier this year by the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) and is marketed there by Ipsen, an international specialty pharmaceutical group, as Adenuric®.