News & Info
Antibody Tests Rheumatoid factor (RF)
Antibody Tests Rheumatoid factor (RF) One of the most common antibodies tested for. This is present in ~ 70-80% Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) but is also present in other diseases such as hepatitis, chronic liver disease, thyroid disease, certain infections, and other autoimmune diseases like lupus, Sjogren’s etc. Therefore the diagnosis of RA should not…
Mysterious Pain
Mysterious Pain This is the common story of many of my patients, which I have summarized as a cartoon album. It has a sad Beginning but a Happy Ending! It is important to note the passing of time and the misery of pain – its physical, emotional and social impact. It is possible to…
Rheumatoid Arthritis – Inflammation on MSKUS
Rheumatoid Arthritis – Inflammation on MSKUS Aggressive inflammation visualized on ultrasound in the wrist of a patient. Due to prolonged inflammation tiny vessels (capillaries) grow in the areas of severe inflammation. These are picked up as red flickering ‘flames’ on power Doppler ultrasound. If this persists the joint is damaged and the bones erode…
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia Fibromyalgia – a common cause of generalized pain. But be careful of underlying more sinister diagnoses. These are my slides from my recent presentation in the “Pain Symposium” at Marriot, Karachi.
Gout and Soft drinks
Gout and Soft drinks Though this and several other well-conducted studies were published several years ago, patients here are still unaware of the huge negative effects of soft drinks on health. I’ve seen gout crystals floating in joints of young men on MSKUS. I don’t even recommend diet soft drinks (await further data). http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/art.23245/full
Secukinumab
Secukinumab Secukinumab: a major advance for Spondyloarthropathy including Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) and Psoriatic Arthritis. Blog Link
Chronic disease is chronic stress
Chronic disease is chronic stress Chronic disease is chronic stress. Three strategies to counter stress: 1. Family and friends support system (see the heritable role of mothers’ love and support in particular) 2. Meditation (time to heal inside out) 3. Exercise (just long walks in a scenic locality would do, or combined with meditation…
Types of Diseases
Types of Diseases In my view there are five types of diseases – Inflammatory, Metabolic, Degenerative, Infectious and Oncogenic (cancers). The role of Inflammatory mechanisms in nearly all diseases cannot be overstated. Now there is substantial evidence for the involvement of inflammation even in neurodegeneration. The Immune system is a powerful therapeutic tool. Perhaps…
What do Rheumatologists do?
What do Rheumatologists do? Correct one-word Answer: They are doctors of ‘Inflammation’. Here’s a primer on Inflammation: The Immune System and the Brain https://www.sciencedaily.com/releas…/2015/…/150601122445.htm
Dr. Saeed’s paper cited as one of Top 10 Developments in Lupus Nephritis
Top 10 Developments in Lupus Nephritis Dr. Mohammad Saeed’s paper describing the discovery of APOL1 as a major gene for lupus, leading to collapsing lupus glomerulopathy was cited as one of “Top 10 Developments in Lupus Nephritis”. Curr Rheumatol Rep (2013) 15:358 (Ref) and referenced by other scientists in over 60 papers so far.
New Method of Genetic Analysis and New Genes for Lupus and Diabetic Nephropathy identified
New Method of Genetic Analysis and New Genes for Lupus and Diabetic Nephropathy identified My new method of Genetic Analysis, “OASIS”, led me to identify several new genes for Lupus [1] and Diabetic Nephropathy (DN) [2]. The study for the first time identified Netrin, a known marker of kidney injury to be potentially involved in…
This is why I advise autoimmune disease patients NOT to eat RED MEAT or drink MILK
This is why I advise autoimmune disease patients NOT to eat RED MEAT or drink MILK A normal protein in serum of higher animals such as sheep and cows functions like the dsDNA Antibody in Lupus. Henry Kunkel, a premier Clinical Immunologist of the 20th century, discovered this protein and published his research in…