Arthritis research studies for holistic treatments

Sandhigata Vata is one among the Vata Vyadhi affecting the locomotor system by deranging the major joints of the body presenting with Sandhi Shoola, Sandhi Shotha, Prasarana Akunchana Vedana and Sandhi Atopa. In modern parlance, it simulates Osteoarthritis, the prevalence of which is 80% at the age of 65 years. Bahya Snehana and Swedana are two important treatment modalities of choice in diseases pertaining to Vata. Upanaha is mentioned as the specific line of treatment in the context of Sandhigata Vata Chikitsa. Salvana Upanaha is a form of Sweda performed using Amla, Snigdha, Gandha pradhana Vatahara Dravyas which is mentioned to be beneficial in Vata vyadhi. So, the present study was planned to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of Salvana Upanaha Sweda with and without Abhyanga in Janu Sandhigata Vata w.s.r. to OA of Knee Joint. The present study is a single blind comparative clinical study with pre – test and post – test design where in 40 patients of either sex diagnosed as Janu Sandhigatavata w.s.r. to OA were randomly assigned into two groups comprising of 20 patients in each. The patients in Group A were subjected to Sthanika Abhyanga with Ksheera Bala Taila followed by Salvana Upanaha where as the patients in Group B were subjected to Salvana Upanaha alone without Abhyanga which was retained for 12 hrs over night and the same was done for 7 Consecutive days. The overall observation in the study revealed that the maximum patients were of VataKaphaja Prakruti, females in the age group of 51 – 60 years belonging to middle class presenting with Bilateral Osteoarthritis of the Knee Joint. The overall effect of treatment in Janu Sandhigata Vata w.s.r. to OA has shown statistically highly significant result with in both the groups. But, by taking into account the t value of both the groups which revealed that the patients in Group A treated with Sthanika Abhyanga and Salvana Upanaha showed comparatively better results than the patients in Group B treated with only Salvana Upanaha without Abhyanga. The present study revealed that the combined effect of Bahya Snehana in the form of Sthanika Abhyanga and Swedana in the form of Salvana Upanaha is found beneficial in treating Sandhigata Vata.

OBJECTIVE:
Stinging nettle leaf extracts are registered in Germany for adjuvant therapy of rheumatic s. In a whole blood culture system the nettle extract IDS 23 (Rheuma-Hek) inhibited lipopolysaccharide stimulated monocyte cytokine expression, indicating an immunomodulating effect. We investigated the immunomodulating effects of IDS 23 on phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in vitro.
METHODS:
Using commercial immunoassays the distinct cytokine patterns of Th1 and Th2 cells were determined. Interleukin 2 (IL-2) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) mRNA expression was evaluated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with PHA stimulated PBMC.
Results:
IDS 23 inhibited PHA stimulated production of Th1-specific IL-2 and IFN-gamma in PBMC culture (n = 10) in a dose dependent manner up to 50+/-32% and 77+/-14%, respectively. In contrast, IDS 23 stimulated the secretion of Th2-specific IL-4. The dose dependent inhibiting effect on IL-2 and IFN-gamma expression was also detected with RT-PCR, while the amount of actin-specific mRNA transcript was not modified by IDS 23.
Conclusion:
Our results suggest the effective ingredient of IDS 23 acts by mediating a switch in T helper cell derived cytokine patterns. IDS 23 may inhibit the inflammatory cascade in autoimmune s like rheumatoid arthritis.

Arthritis and other rheumatic conditions (AORC) are the leading cause of disability, are associated with poor quality of life and incur considerable direct and indirect costs. It is considered that the instance of AORC will continue to increase. To assess the effectiveness, safety and tolerability of Harpagophytum (Bioforce) in the treatment of AORC, a single group open study of 8 weeks duration (259 patients) was performed in the United Kingdom. Effectiveness was assessed by numeric rating scales, the Western Ontario and McMasters Universities Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) Index and the Algofunctional Hand Osteoarthritis Index. Tolerance was measured by a numeric rating scale and safety by self-reporting, blood analysis and liver function tests. Quality of life was measured by SF-12 questionnaire. There were statistically significant (p < 0.0001) improvements in patient assessment of global pain, stiffness and function. There were also statistically significant reductions in mean pain scores for hand, wrist, elbow, shoulder, hip, knee and back pain. Quality of life measurements (SF-12) were significantly increased from baseline and 60% patients either reduced or stopped concomitant pain medication. Harpagophytum is an effective and well-tolerated serious treatment option for mild to moderate degenerative rheumatic disorders providing improved quality of life measure. Copyright (c) 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Resveratrol is a polyphenolic phyto-estrogen that has been shown to exhibit potent anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-catabolic properties. Increased osteoclastic and decreased osteoblastic activity result in bone resorption and loss of bone mass. These changes have been implicated in pathological processes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoporosis. Receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL), a member of the TNF superfamily, is a major mediator of bone loss. In this study we investigated the effects of resveratrol on RANKL during bone morphogenesis in high-density bone cultures in vitro. Untreated bone-derived cell cultures produced well-organized bone-like structures with a bone specific matrix. Treatment with RANKL induced formation of TRAP positive multinucleated cells that exhibited morphological features of osteoclasts. RANKL induced NF-kappaB activation, whereas pre-treatment with resveratrol completely inhibited this activation, suppressed the activation of IkappaB? kinase, IkappaB? phosphorylation and degradation. RANKL up-regulated p300 (a histone acetyltransferase) expression, which, in turn, promoted acetylation of NF-kappaB. Resveratrol inhibited RANKL-induced acetylation and nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB in a time and concentration dependent manner. In addition, activation of Sirt-1 (a histone deacetylase) by resveratrol induced Sirt-1-p300 association in bone-derived and pre-osteoblastic cells, leading to deacetylation of RANKL-induced NF-kappaB, inhibition of NF-kappaB transcriptional activation and osteoclastogenesis. Co-treatment with resveratrol activated the bone transcription factor Cbfa-1, Sirt-1 and induced the formation of Sirt-1/Cbfa-1-complexes. Overall, these results demonstrate that resveratrol-activated Sirt-1 plays pivotal roles in regulating the balance between osteoclastic versus osteoblastic activity result in boneformation in vitro thereby highlighting its therapeutic potential for treating osteoporosis and RA-related bone loss.

OBJECTIVE:
Lactoferrin (Lf) is known to have anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory activities; however, its therapeutic mechanism has not been defined. In this study, to explain the therapeutic mechanism of Lf, we examined the effect of Lf on endothelial cell activation, leukocyte integration, and angiogenesis in vitro.
METHODS:
Endothelia-leukocyte adhesion assays were used to assess primary cultures of bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) activation following LPS treatment. The mRNA expression of ICAM-1 and proinflammatory cytokines was measured using RT-PCR. Each step of angiogenesis was evaluated in vitro, including endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and tube formation. Proliferation was examined using WST-1 and BrdU incorporation assays, while wound migration assays were used to evaluate cell migration; capillary-like tube formation assays on Matrigel were used to assess tube formation.
Results:
Lf reduced the adhesion of human monocyte-like THP-1 cells to BAECs by 45%. Lf also reduced mRNA expression of ICAM-1 and proinflammatory cytokines in BAECs. Lf significantly inhibited BAEC proliferation, migration, and tube formation. CONCLUSIONS: Lf exerted a potent effect on BAEC activation, suggesting that it might function via an endothelia-based mechanism in the treatment of various s, including rheumatoid arthritis and cancer.

Resveratrol, a phytoalexin, reduced the viability of MH7A cells, a human rheumatoid arthritis synovial cell line. In the apoptosis assay, resveratrol increased TUNEL-positive cells and stimulated H2A.X phosphorylation. Resveratrol disrupted mitochondrial membrane potentials in MH7A cells and stimulated cytochrome c release from the mitochondria to the cytosol. Resveratrol activated caspase-3 and caspase-9 but not caspase-8 in MH7A cells. Resveratrol upregulated the expression of the NAD-dependent deacetylase sirtuin 1 mRNA and downregulated the expression of the Bcl-X(L) mRNA, and resveratrol-induced MH7A cell death, mitochondrial damage, and caspase-3/-9 activation were prevented by sirtinol, an inhibitor of sirtuin 1. The results of the present study show that resveratrol induces MH7A cell apoptosis by activating caspase-9 and the effector caspase-3 along mitochondrial disruption as a result of reduced Bcl-X(L) expression, allowing cytochrome c release from the mitochondria into the cytosol, in a sirtuin 1-dependent manner. This suggests that resveratrol could suppress hyperplasia of synovial cells, a critical factor of rheumatoid arthritis.