austin

Connecting Science to People









Janet S. Austin, Ph.D.

Director, Office of Communications and Public Liaison

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

National Institutes of Health

Connecting Science to

People

Communication Objectives



• Make medical

research personally

relevant

• Serve as trusted

source of health

information

• Explain NIH’s role in

medical research

NIH Resource:

NIH Web Site, www.nih.gov

NIH Resource:

Other NIH Web Sites







http://medlineplus.gov









http://clinicaltrials.gov

Connecting Science to People

NIAMS Mission

• The mission of the National Institute of

Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin

Diseases, a component of the U. S.

Department of Health and Human

Services’ National Institutes of Health, is to

support:

• research into the causes, treatment, and

prevention of arthritis and musculoskeletal

and skin diseases,

• the training of basic and clinical scientists

to carry out this research, and

• the dissemination of information on

research progress in these diseases.

Connecting Science to People





“Our research belongs ultimately to the



American people, for whom we serve as



stewards in improving the public's



health.”



Stephen I. Katz, M.D., Ph.D.

NIAMS Director

What OCPL Does

• Publications • Web management

• Communications

• Feature writing support

• Clearinghouse

• Media liaison contract

management

• Inquiry response • Multicultural health

communications

• Outreach

• Web content

management

• Public liaison

OCPL Staff

• Writer-editors

• Public affairs specialists

• Health educators

• Public liaison officer

• Web manager

• Information assistants

• Support staff

• Project officers

Points of Service

• NIAMS Office of Communication and

Public Liaison (OCPL)



• NIAMS Information Clearinghouse



• NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone

Diseases~National Resource Center

Publications: Production and

Dissemination

• Handouts on Health



• Questions and Answers series



• Fact Sheets



• Special publications (e.g., Progress and

Promise)



• Easy-to-read, bilingual, and Spanish

publications



• Information packets



• Newsletters: Shorttakes, IRPartners, E-Blast

Public Liaison

• Outreach to constituency

groups

• Contact for constituent

referral for Members of

Congress

• Liaison to NIAMS

Coalition

• Public contact for policy

matters

Web Content Management

• Web design



• Web policy



• Information

updates



• Technology

issues



• Inquiry

response



• Content

Information Development and

Dissemination

Guiding Principles:

• Provide culturally appropriate, audience-specific

educational materials written in plain language

• Routinely review and revise existing materials

• Facilitate rigorous review of NIAMS materials by the

scientific and lay communities

• Work collaboratively with other NIH/DHHS

organizations, voluntary and professional groups, and

universities and medical centers in developing materials

• Effectively use intermediaries for distribution, including

faith- and community-based organizations, NIAMS

partners, the Federal Consumer Information Center, and

health professionals

Arthritis Overview

What is Arthritis and Rheumatic

Disease?



 Rheumatic diseases involve the muscle, joints,

and bones. There are over 100 rheumatic

diseases.



 Arthritis literally means joint inflammation.



 Many rheumatic diseases cause inflammation

of joints and also muscle, bones, and other

supporting structures.

Diagnosing Arthritis

 Early diagnosis and

treatment is important.



 Diagnosis can be difficult

because some symptoms

and signs are common to

many different diseases.



 It may take more than one

office visit for the doctor to

make an accurate

diagnosis.

Treating Arthritis

Treatment Goals:



 Relieve pain

 Control inflammation

 Slow down or stop joint damage

 Improve well-being and ability to function

 Prevent disability

Ways to Treat Arthritis



 Lifestyle changes



 Medications



 Surgery



 Complementary and alternative

medicine and nutritional supplements

Lifestyle changes

 Healthful diet and weight control



 Exercise



 Rest and relief



 Non-drug pain relief

Healthful Diet and

Weight Control



 An overall nutritious diet is important



 Weight loss can reduce stress on weight-

bearing joints



 Limit or avoid consuming alcohol



 A dietitian can help

Exercise

 Reduces joint pain



 Helps maintain healthy

weight



 Increases flexibility,

muscle strength, cardiac

fitness, and endurance



 Ask a doctor or physical

therapist what exercises

are best for you

Rest and Relief

 Learn your body’s signals on when to stop or slow down



 Rest helps reduce joint inflammation and fights fatigue



 Short breaks better than prolonged time in bed



 Splints or braces can take pressure off joints



 Assistive devices helps reduce joint stress

Non-Drug Pain Relief



 Relaxation, distraction, visualization

exercises



 Heat and cold treatments



 Massage



 TENS

Medications





Analgesics Nonsteroidal Biological

(pain Anti- response

relievers) Inflammatory modifiers

Drugs

(NSAIDs)







Disease-

Hyaluronic Modifying

Corticosteroids acid Antirheumati

products c Drugs

(DMARDs)

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

or Pharmacist

 How often should I take this medicine?



 Should I take this medicine with food or between

meals?



 What side effects might occur?



 Should I take this medicine with the other

prescription medicines I take?



 Is this medication safe considering other medical

conditions I have?

Surgery

Surgery is used to:

 Reduce pain

 Improve the affected joint’s function

 Improve ability to perform daily activities



Things to consider

 Level of disability

 Intensity of pain

 Age

 Occupation

 Level of interference with the patient’s lifestyle

Complementary and

Alternative Therapies

Ongoing research on therapies for

people with osteoarthritis:

 Acupuncture

 Nutritional supplements

 Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate

 Vitamins D

 Green tea

NIAMS Arthritis Research





OAI CARRA





NARAC







NIAMS

IRP

Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI)



• A Public-Private Partnership

• Funded by 7 NIH Components, the FDA and

several pharmaceutical companies

• Includes 4,800 participants at risk for

developing knee OA

• GOALS:

• To create research resources to aid in the

identification and evaluation of biomarkers

for OA

• To further drug development and improve

public health

North American Rheumatoid Arthritis

Consortium (NARAC)



• A multicenter group that seeks to

identify RA susceptibility genes



• Recent discoveries include the

identification of susceptibility genes

common to people with RA and

lupus, and identifying a new RA

susceptibility gene region

Childhood Arthritis & Rheumatology

Research Alliance (CARRA)



NIAMS supports many CARRA studies,

including:



• Trial of Early Aggressive Therapy in

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

NIAMS Intramural Research

Program (IRP)

• NIAMS Community Health Center

(Cardozo area of Washington, D.C.)

• NIAMS Pediatric Rheumatology

Clinic

• NIAMS Cartilage Biology and

Orthopaedics Branch

• NIAMS Arthritis and Rheumatism

Branch

For more information



www.niams.nih.gov/health_info

2 AMS Circle

Bethesda, MD 20892 - 3676



Phone: 301-495-4484

NIAMS Toll Free: 877-226-4267

Information

Email: NIAMSInfo@mail.nih.gov

Clearinghouse

http://www.niams.nih.gov/health_info

Osteoporosis Overview

Why Are Healthy Bones

Important?



• Strong bones support us and allow us to

move



• Bones are a storehouse for vital minerals



• Strong bones protect our heart, lungs,

brain and other organs

Osteoporosis



• Osteoporosis is defined as a skeletal

disorder characterized by compromised

bone strength predisposing to an increased

risk of fracture.



Osteoporosis Prevention, Diagnosis, and Therapy. NIH

Consens Statement 2000 March 27-29; 17(1): 1-36.

Prevalence



• In the United States 8 million women and 2

million men have osteoporosis



• An additional 34 million Americans

currently have low bone mass



• One out of two women and one out of four

men aged 50 years and older will suffer an

osteoporosis-related fracture in their

lifetime

Osteoporosis risk factors that you

cannot change



• Gender – risk is greater for women



• Age - the older you are, the greater your risk



• Body size - Small, thin-boned women are at greater

risk.



• Ethnicity - Caucasian and Asian women are at highest

risk. African American and Hispanic women have a

lower but significant risk.



• Family history - Fracture risk may be due, in part, to

heredity.

Osteoporosis risk factors

that you can change



• Sex hormones - Abnormal absence of menstrual

periods (amenorrhea), low estrogen level

(menopause), and low testosterone level in men.



• Anorexia nervosa - increases risk



• Calcium and vitamin D intake - A lifetime diet low

in calcium and vitamin D.



• Medication use - Long-term use of glucocorticoids

and some anticonvulsants and others.

Osteoporosis risk factors

that you can change



• Physical Activity - An inactive lifestyle or extended

bed rest tends to weaken bones.



• Cigarette smoking - Cigarettes are bad for bones

as well as the heart and lungs.



• Alcohol intake - Excessive consumption increases

the risk of bone loss and fractures.

DXA: The Gold

Standard

Medications



•Bisphosphonates - Bisphosphonates slow the bone

breakdown process. Healthy bones are in a state of continuous breakdown and

rebuilding. As you get older, and especially after menopause when your estrogen

levels decrease, the bone breakdown process accelerates. When bone rebuilding

fails to keep pace, bones deteriorate and become weaker. Bisphosphonates

basically put a brake on that.





•Raloxifene - Raloxifene is in a class of medications called

selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs). Raloxifene prevents and treats

osteoporosis by mimicking the effects of estrogen (a female hormone produced

by the body) to increase the density (thickness) of bone.





•Calcitonin - Calcitonin is a medicine that slows the rate of bone

loss and relieves bone pain.





•Teriparatide - Teriparatide contains a synthetic form of natural

human hormone called parathyroid hormone (PTH). It works by causing the body

to build new bone and by increasing bone strength and density (thickness).





•Estrogen/Hormone Therapy

Universal Steps for Strong

Bones

• A diet rich in calcium and

vitamin D



•Regular weight-bearing activity



•Healthy lifestyle

Calcium



• Food sources are recommended

Dairy products

Fortified foods

Green vegetables



• Supplements are often necessary

How Much Calcium?

Age Amount

0-6 months 210 mg/day

7-12 months 270 mg/day

1-3 years 500 mg/day

4-8 years 800 mg/day

9-18 years 1300 mg/day

19-50 years 1000 mg/day

Over 50 years 1200 mg/day

Vitamin D



•Necessary for the absorption of

calcium



•Synthesized in skin on exposure to

sunlight or ingested in foods such

as

egg yolks, fish, liver, or

supplements



•Fortified milk, cereals and orange

calcium

Vitamin D: The Sunshine

Vitamin





•According to National Osteoporosis

Foundation, usually 10-15 minutes

exposure of hands, arms and face

two to three times a week (depending

on one's skin sensitivity) is enough to

satisfy the body's vitamin D

requirement.

Physical Activity



• Weight-bearing (walking, stair

climbing, dancing)

• Tai chi – enhances muscle function

and balance

• Avoid exercises that involve:

Forward flexion of the spine

Bending from the waist

Twisting or jerking the spine

Keep one foot on the ground

NIAMS-funded

Osteoporosis Research

Good Vibrations

Can vibrations build bone

and reduce fat?

NIH-NASA Partnership

Mr. OS

NIH Senior Health.gov

2 AMS Circle

Bethesda, MD 20892-3676

Phone: 202–223–0344

Toll Free: 800–624–BONE

NIH TTY: 202-466-4315

ORBD~NRC Fax: 202-293-2356

Email: NIAMSBoneInfo@mail.nih.gov

Website: http://www.niams.nih.gov//bone/