Summer is over and its back to work. It has been a very busy summer, news-wise. We have chosen to present some of the more innovative news items. We are back to our monthly update schedule, so feel free to visit regularly.

Researchers at the Imperial College School of Medicine, London, have found that hemoglobin level predicts survival in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). The optimum hemoglobin level for CHF patients' survival is between 14 g/dL and 15 g/dL . Anemia can lessen the exercise capacity of CHF patients, and may also contribute to edema, possibly by lowering inhibition of nitric oxide activity, resulting in generalized vasodilatation. Polycythemia may increase mortality by boosting the risk of thrombotic events, and excess hemoglobin may promote vasoconstriction by trapping nitric oxide.
Source: June 2004 issue of the European Heart Journal.

Scientists at Vrije Universiteit Medical Centre, Amsterdam report that increased blood levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) are seen long before symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis appear. They found that patients destined to develop rheumatoid arthritis had higher CRP levels in the years before diagnosis than their healthy peers. In addition, CRP levels increased with time in patients who developed arthritis.
Source: August 2004 issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism