UPfront News Sharpen up New treatment might gel People with rheumatoid arthritis may have a new treatment on the horizon in the form of a gel-based material, according to a Korean study. The gel can absorb large amounts of water, release drugs and detect nitric oxide in swollen and inflamed joints. Nitric oxide is produced by immune cells in inflamed joints. Although it has many uses, having too much in your joints is toxic and may cause osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, say the authors. The gel known as polymeric acrylamide hydrogel is non-toxic and can hold a large amount of water. It uses cross-linking agents to create a net between molecules, which can trap drug molecules inside. When nitric oxide is detected in the joints, the gel changes its structure, releasing the drug it contains. It can then be used to absorb excess fluid from swollen joints. This preliminary research demonstrated that the cross-linking agent can selectively and sensitively react with nitric oxide. The effectiveness of the hydrogel is currently being explored in a rheumatoid arthritis mouse model. AweigHty issue New research has shown that excess weight may affect the chances of remission for those with rheumatoid arthritis. Researchers looked at data from the Canadian Early Arthritis Cohort an observational trial of patients with early RA to see if those who were overweight or obese had worse outcomes than people of a healthy weight within three years of diagnosis. The study found that 36 per cent of patients experienced sustained remission (complete remission maintained for at least six months); of these, nearly half (45 per cent) were a healthy weight, 37 per cent were overweight, and 26 per cent were obese. Compared with patients with a BMI considered healthy, those who were overweight were 25 per cent less likely to experience sustained remission, and those who were obese were 47 per cent less likely to do so. Keeping your cooking knives razor sharp not only makes it easier on your hands and wrists, but also helps to prevent injuries from knife slippage. The AnySharp Pro fixes on any work surface using a suction pad, and sharpens most knifes hands-free. Its available from Amazon, 16.50. We have three to give away to enter, send your details to Inspire, CPL, 1 Cambridge Technopark, Newmarket Road, Cambridge CB5 8PB or email inspire@ arthitiscare.org.uk by 3 May. Good luck! DiD yOu KNOw? Vitamin D may suppress inflammation in autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis* FAst FACt Running does not appear to cause osteoarthritis of the knee** *E. Jeffery, et al., Decreased sensitivity to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in T cells from the rheumatoid joint, Journal of Autoimmunity (2017). **Orthopaedic surgeon Dr Howard Luks