{"id":4913,"date":"2017-02-16T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-02-16T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/medicine\/rheumatology-allergy-immunology-2017\/"},"modified":"2021-09-09T17:13:56","modified_gmt":"2021-09-09T21:13:56","slug":"rheumatology-allergy-immunology-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/medicine\/news\/rheumatology-allergy-immunology-2017\/","title":{"rendered":"Research Highlights: Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Alterations in the composition of gut bacteria can have a significant impact on a person\u2019s health.<\/figcaption><\/figure>
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Dr. Richard Loeser Conducting First Study To Examine How Diet Alters Gut Bacteria, Potentially Leading to Osteoarthritis<\/b><\/h3>\n

The old adage, \u201cyou are what you eat,\u201d is proving truer than we ever imagined. New research findings illustrate the negative impact Western diets can have upon the naturally occurring bacteria living in the \u201cgut,\u201d (known as the microbiota). Foods that are high in sugar and fat, commonly found in Western diets, can lead to alterations in these bacteria. These alterations lead to systemic inflammation as well as other changes that can increase the likelihood for the development and progression of a number of diseases.<\/p>\n

UNC scientists are now conducting the first study that evaluates the potential for this process to lead to the development of osteoarthritis. The findings may help scientists develop new and personalized medical interventions that alter the composition of the gut microbiome in order to reduce pain, improve function, and slow or stop the progression of osteoarthritis \u2013 the most common type of arthritis, and a significant cause of pain and disability.<\/p>\n

Richard Loeser, MD<\/a>, Director of Basic and Translational Research at the Thurston Arthritis Research Center (TARC)<\/a>, and his co-investigators at the UNC School of Medicine recently received a three-year grant from the Arthritis Foundation to conduct this innovative study. Biological samples for the study will be provided by the ongoing Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project<\/a>, which is directed by Dr. Joanne Jordan<\/a>, Director of the Thurston Arthritis Research Center (TARC), and offers a large population-based study of patients in NC that will serve as an extensive source for clinical data.<\/p>\n

\u201cA number of recent studies show that the specific composition of the 100 trillion microbes within the intestine (gut microbiota) plays a central role in influencing how the food we eat affects the function of the immune system, allergic and inflammatory responses, and aging,\u201d says Loeser. \u201cHowever, as of yet, no one has studied the role of the gut bacteria in osteoarthritis.\u201d<\/p>\n

It is hoped that the findings from this research can help the medical community develop safe and effective interventions for overweight and obese adults with osteoarthritis, and perhaps others who develop the disease as well.<\/p>\n

Dr. Amanda Nelson examines the effectiveness and feasibility of using ultrasound technology to study osteoarthritis in knee joints<\/b><\/h3>\n

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Dr. Nelson uses the ultrasound on a patient’s knee.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While X-rays have long been the first option that clinicians and researchers turn to when assessing osteoarthritis (OA), the technology has its limitations. Too often, the findings from X-ray images don\u2019t correspond well with patients\u2019 symptoms, and X-ray images are not especially helpful in tracking the small changes that take place within the joints over time.<\/p>\n

Thanks to a grant from the American College of Rheumatology, TARC scientist Amanda Nelson, MD, MSCR, RhMSUS<\/a> is researching the potential for using ultrasound technology to study knee OA. Ultrasound offers numerous benefits compared to X-rays or even MRI for studying OA, including the fact that it is very cost-effective, widely available, reliable, and can identify OA changes at an earlier stage, when doctors are more able to make early interventions for the patient.<\/p>\n

Her study, titled \u201cSonography of OA by Rheumatologists\u201d (SOAR), will be integrated into the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project (JoCoOA), which is evaluating the causes and societal implications of OA. The JoCoOA Project is managed by TARC and has been continuously funded for over 25 years.<\/p>\n

Dr. Saira Sheikh pursues unique, \u201cnext generation\u201d clinical trials focusing on direct molecular pathways to find new ways to treat lupus <\/b><\/h3>\n
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Dr. Saira Sheikh visits with a patient.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Historically, treatment options for lupus have been limited to medications borrowed from other disease states such as arthritis, cancer, and organ transplant \u2013 to name a few.<\/p>\n

To pursue a more direct treatment approach, clinical trials being conducted at TARC are exploring novel and innovative therapies that specifically target molecular pathways involved in the pathogenesis of lupus. In addition, they provide hope and options for patients who are refractory to currently available therapies. The goal is to develop highly targeted approaches tailored to treat the specific manifestations of this very heterogeneous disease with fewer side effects.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are exploring very direct, specific and innovative approaches that we hope will change the way lupus is treated, and ultimately transform the lives of our patients,\u201d said Saira Sheikh, MD<\/a>, Director of the TARC Clinical Trials Program<\/a>. In addition to lupus, examples of TARC\u2019s core areas of clinical and research expertise include: environmental, stinging insect, drug and food allergies; asthma; urticaria and angioedema; immunodeficiency; osteoarthritis, rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis; gout and other crystal arthropathies; vasculitis; spondyloarthropathies; scleroderma; Sjogren\u2019s syndrome; and many others.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Additional Recent Research Highlights<\/span><\/h3>\n