Recent News

05/07/2011: Abbate receives Manning Award

Lauren Abbate, PhD completed her medical degree in May at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and was awarded the Isaac Hall Manning Award. Each year the Medical School faculty nominate members of the graduating class for this award based on their scholarship, character, leadership, initiative and original investigative work. Dr. Abbate received her PhD in 2009, based on work with the Thurston Arthritis Research Center's Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project. Dr. Abbate will continue her training with a residency in Emergency Medicine at Yale University in New Haven, CT.

05/07/2011: Arthritis Foundation Walk 2011

The Triangle Arthritis Walk on May 7 in Durham was a wonderful success. Hundreds of people came out to support the Arthritis Foundation by raising money, walking, and enjoying the entertainment. The Thurston Arthritis Research Center team, the "TARC Heels" were awarded the trophy for Top Corporate Fundraising Team. This year 59 TARC Heels came out to walk and raised $3880. The Arthritis Foundation and the Thurston Arthritis Research Center also honored the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project, which is celebrating its 20th year, with a display of photos and information about this important study.

04/07/2011: Thurston participates in Aging Exchange

The Aging Exchange was held on April 7, 2011 at The Friday Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The annual event is organized and sponsored by the UNC Institute on Aging and celebrates aging research and promotes networking among researchers on the UNC Chapel Hill Campus. During the poster session, researchers at the Thurston Arthritis Research Center presented current work.

Comparing the Group Versus Independent Format of the Arthritis Foundation Walk With Ease Program: Do Both Formats Work? Mary Altpeter, PhD, MSW, MPA, UNC Institute on Aging; Jack H. Shreffler, Britta Schoster, Kathryn R. Martin, PhD, Laura O. Houenou, and Leigh Callahan, PhD, UNC Thurston Arthritis Research Center; Jennifer Hootman, CDC Arthritis Program.

Perceived Helplessness as a Mediator between Household Income and Health Status in People with Self-Report Arthritis Chivon A. Mingo, PhD, UNC Institute on Aging (CPHAR); Kathryn R Martin, PhD, MPH, National Institute on Aging; Britta Schoster, MPH, and Leigh F. Callahan, PhD, Thurston Arthritis Research Center.

Dr. Chivon Mingo, PostDoctoral Fellow

Dr. Mary Altpeter and Dr. Leigh Callahan

03/30/2011: Jerath Answers Student Questions about Spring Allergies

Spring brings tree pollen allergies and Maya Jerath, MD of the Thurston Arthritis Research Center answers some questions for students about spring allergies. See the article in the Daily Tar Heel.

03/29/2011: Thurston represented at the NC Rheumatology Meeting

A number of the Thurston faculty participated in the 2011 Annual Meeting of the North Carolina Rheumatology Association held March 26-27 in Cary NC. Joanne Jordan, MD, MPH presented a talk entitled "Osteoarthritis Update" on Saturday. Michael Smith, MD presented as part of the Fellows Presentations on Sunday.

03/28/2011: Recent paper on new risk factor for OA

Amanda Nelson, MD, of the Thurston Arthritis Research Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was the lead author on recent paper that explored blood lead levels and incidence of osteoarthritis. The paper published in Arthritis Research & Therapy was the result of analysis of nearly 1,700 rural North Carolinians with and without osteoarthritis. Even though all participants had lead levels within a normal range, analysis showed that for every one-unit increase of lead levels in the blood a person had 20 percent higher odds that knee osteoarthritis would be visible on X-rays - and 25 percent more likely that the osteoarthritis was more severe.

This finding for a potentially new risk factor for osteoarthritis has been picked up by several news sources. See the article in Arthritis Today .

03/23/2011: Tarrant Lab Presents at AAAAI Meeting

Teresa Tarrant, MD, of the Thurston Arthritis Research Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill attended the AAAAI (American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology) Annual Meeting held in San Francisco from March 18-22. Lisa Rothlein, a UNC medical student, and David Fitzhugh, MD, former postdoctoral fellow presented work from the lab. Dr. Tarrant's lab studies the underlying mechanisms of leukocyte trafficking in vitro and in vivo using molecular biology and inflammatory models of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and immunodeficiency syndromes (WHIM).

Dr. Tarrant discussing poster with Dr. Elizabeth Duncan, 2nd year Allergy Fellow

Poster Abstracts:

G protein coupled receptor kinase 3 (GRK3) Negatively Regulates CXCL12/CXCR4 Signaling and Tumor Migration in Breast Cancer

DJ Fitzhugh, MW McGinnis, R Timoshchenko, R Lininger, N Demore, J Serody, TK Tarrant; University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC

Rationale: CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling is important in tumor metastasis, but intracellular regulators of CXCR4 in cancer are poorly understood. G protein coupled receptor kinases (GRKs) desensitize and internalize chemokine receptors, and GRK subtype 3 can be a negative regulator of CXCR4 signaling in WHIM syndrome. Consequently, we investigated whether modulation of GRK3 affected breast cancer metastasis. Methods: GRK3 and CXCR4 were quantified by real-time PCR in a panel of human breast cancer cell lines. GRK3 levels were manipulated (shRNA knockdown or transient overexpression), and chemotaxis and chemoinvasion were quantified in the modified lines. CXCR4 internalization was determined by flow cytometry after CXCL12 stimulation in vitro. Control or GRK3-specific shRNA was transfected into a luciferase-tagged murine breast cancer line (66c14-luc), which was surgically implanted into susceptible BALB-c mice and serially imaged over time. Results: The CXCR4:GRK3 expression ratio corresponded to metastatic potential in human breast cancer lines (12.1 in MDA-MB-231 vs. 0.005 in MDA-MB-468, p<0.0001). GRK3-deficient MDA-MB-468 (a nonmetastatic line) had 2.8 fold chemotaxis (p=0.03) and 3.4 fold chemoinvasion (p=0.03) to CXCL12 compared to controls. Conversely, GRK3 overexpression in MDA-MB-231 (a highly metastatic line) decreased CXCL12-mediated chemotaxis 2.9 fold (p=0.005) and chemoinvasion 5.0 fold (p=0.007). GRK3 deficiency impaired CXCR4 internalization (p=0.03) in breast cancer cells. In mice, GRK3-deficient 66c14-luc cells showed metastasis to distant sites whereas control cells showed predominantly primary tumor growth. Conclusions: GRK3 serves as a negative regulator of CXCL12/CXCR4 in breast cancer, and the CXCR4:GRK3 gene ratio may have prognostic significance for the metastatic potential of breast cancer.

G protein coupled receptor kinase 3 (GRK3) - deficient T cells demonstrate enhanced migration to CXCL12 and CX3CL1.

LR Rothlein, RG Timoshchenko, DJ Fitzhugh, MW McGinnis, G Laroche, DP Siderovski, TK Tarrant, Thurston Arthritis Research Center, UNC, Chapel Hill, NC.

Rationale: Because G protein coupled receptor kinase 3 (GRK3)-mediated regulation of CXCR4 signaling has been implicated in WHIM syndrome, we wished to examine the role of GRK3 on CXCR4 and other chemokine receptor mediated migration to identify the putative chemokine receptors that this kinase targets. Methods: Using lentiviral shRNA transduction of Jurkat cells, GRK3-deficient and nonspecific control cell lines were established. Fluorescently labeled GRK3- deficient and control cells were measured for chemotaxis to a panel of T-cell chemokines using a 96 well fluorescence migration assay (BD HTS FluoroBlok Multiwell Insert System) and plate reader analysis. Chemokines that appeared to have a differential migration between GRK3-deficient and control Jurkat cells were confirmed using a standard Ea.hy 926 endothelial coated 24-well Transwell assay for cellular migration over 4 hours and subsequent FACS analysis. Results: Of the 8 chemokines screened (CXCL12, CX3CR1, CCL5, CCL2, CCL15, CCL17, CCL20, CCL22) using the 96 well assay, GRK3-deficient cells had reproducible selectively enhanced chemotaxis to CXCL12 (p<0.05) and enhanced chemotaxis to CX3CL1. Enhanced migration to both these chemokines was then confirmed in a 24 well transendothelial migration assay. Conclusion: GRK3 has a select role in regulating CXCR4 and CX3CR1, which could have important clinical implications in WHIM and other disorders involving aberrant leukocyte trafficking.

03/22/2011: Callahan Named to IOM Committee

Leigh F. Callahan, PhD, of the Thurston Arthritis Research Center has been named to the independent committee formed by the Institute of Medicine as part of their project "Living Well with Chronic Disease: Public Health Action to Reduce Disability and Improve Functioning and Quality of Life." The group will consider multiple issues facing people living with chronic disease. These issues will include determining what consequences of chronic disease are the most important to the nation's health and economic well-being; which populations need to be the focus of interventions to reduce the consequences of chronic disease and which population-based interventions can help maintain or improve quality of life, functioning and disability? A report will issued at the end of the project in approximately 15 months. The Arthritis Foundation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently announced their sponsorship of the project. For more information about the project, click here.

03/10/2011: Dooley discusses new lupus drug

Benlysta, the first new drug in over 50 years specifically for lupus was approved yesterday by the FDA. Mary Anne Dooley, MD, MPH of the Thurston Arthritis Research Center discusses the clinical trials and importance of this new drug for patients at UNCNews and at MedPageToday.

03/03/2011: Jonas and Hadler on Psoriatic Arthritis

Beth Jonas, MD and Nortin Hadler, MD of the Thurston Arthritis Research Center are quoted in a recent article on ABCNews.com about the pro golfer Phil Mickelson and his recent diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis. Early diagnosis and treatment are key in preventing long-term damage.

02/18/2011: Dr. Callahan in Arthritis Today

Leigh Callahan, PhD of the Thurston Arthritis Research Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is quoted in a recent article published in Arthritis Today. The article discusses the role that socioeconomic factors play in health outcomes and depression.

02/15/2011: Dr. Maya Jerath featured in News & Observer article

Maya Jerath, MD, PhD of the Thurston Arthritis Research Center at the University of Chapel Hill and the director of the UNC Allergy and Immunology Clinic answers questions about why we get so itchy in a recent article in the News &Observer.

02/15/2011: Dr. Beth Jonas discusses RA treatments

Beth Jonas, MD, of the Thurston Arthritis Research Center recently discussed why all patients are not receiving treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. Hear her comment at 1360 WCHL and read the full story here.

02/15/2011: Lisa Rothlein selected for Chrysalis Project

Congratulations to Lisa Rothlein, a second year medical student and research technician in Dr. Teresa Tarrant's Lab at the Thurston Arthritis Research Center. She was recently selected for the Chrysalis Project. The Chrysalis Project, initiated in 1999 by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, introduces medical students to training and careers in allergy/immunology. Forty students are selected each year to attend the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma &Immunology's internationally prominent Annual Meeting, with airfare and lodging provided. These selected students attend workshops, scientific sessions and social events. They also gain perspective about the field from new and continuing allergist/immunologists.

02/15/2011: Lauren Abbate, PhD receives Salber-Phillips Award

Lauren Abbate, a 3rd year medical student and former student at the Thurston Arthritis Research Center, who worked on the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project, has been awarded second place in the Salber-Phillips Award. The Salber-Phillips Award in the School of Medicine recognizes medical students who carry out the ideals of Dr. Eva J. Salber and Dr. Harry Phillips through community-oriented projects that improve the health or well-being of elderly people. Awards are granted up to $1,000

12/03/2010: Carpenter receives NIAMS grant

Delesha Carpenter, PhD, MSPH, of the Thurston Arthritis Research Center has received a grant from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS). The research will be funded for two years beginning in August 2011. The purpose of the research is to develop a valid and reliable measure of conflicting medication information for use in future studies. Conflicting health-related information, defined as contradictory information about health topics from different sources, can have deleterious effects, including negatively influencing patients' perceptions of care, increasing anxiety, altering risk perceptions, complicating ability to assess the reliability of information sources and negatively impacting patient medication adherence. Currently, a validated conflicting medication information measure has not been reported in the literature.

12/03/2010: UNC Allergy and Immunology Fellowship Training Program receives grant

The UNC Allergy and Immunology Training Program has received a $100,000 grant from the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. This grant will provide funding for a fellowship beginning in 2012.

Maya Jerath, MD, PhD of the Thurston Arthritis Research Center is the director of the Allergy and Immunology Training Program at UNC.

12/03/2010: Nelson receives Pilot Program Award

Amanda Nelson, MD of the Thurston Arthritis Research Center was recently awarded a $10,000 Pilot Program award from the North Carolina Translational and Clinical Sciences Institute (NC TraCS). Dr. Nelson's project on identifying pain vulnerability phenotypes in osteoarthritis was one of nine awards granted out of 35 applications received.

12/02/2010: Lane VanderHoek, former Chairman of Thurston Board of Advisors

Lane VanderHoek passed away on November 29, 2010. Lane was a tireless and passionate advocate for arthritis and autoimmune research and, specifically, the UNC Thurston Arthritis Research Center. He served on the Thurston Board of Advisors for over a decade and as its Board Chairman from 2003 to 2005. Lane served with integrity and admiration, guiding the board during a period of great change for the Center. Few were as passionate and dedicated a champion of Doc Thurston, Jr.'s original vision of a comprehensive arthritis, allergy and autoimmune center as Lane. He made numerous television appearances and conducted countless media interviews to introduce the public to our important work. He told our story well. Perhaps most importantly, he was a warm, devoted and humorous friend to us all. He will be greatly missed.

11/12/2010: Thurston at the 2010 Annual Scientific Meeting of the ACR/ARHP

The 2010 Annual Scientific Meeting of the ACR/ARHP took place November 7-11 in Atlanta. Thurston Arthritis Research Center faculty and staff presented more than 20 posters and presentations at the meeting.

• "CX3CR1 deficient mice have decreased Th17 and Antigen-specific humoral responses in the collagen induced Arthritis (CIA) model."
  Authors: Teresa Tarrant*, Peng Liu*, Rishi Rampersad*, Denise Esserman, Lisa Rothlein*, Marcus McGinnis* (presenting), David Fitzhugh, Dhavel Patel, Alan Fong*
  
• "Associations Between Composite Measure of Multi-joint Osteoarthritis, Gait Speed, and Health Assessment Questionnaire Scores: The Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project"
  Authors: Amanda Nelson* (presenting), Robert DeVellis*, Jordan Renner, Jama Purser, Todd Schwartz, Philip Conaghan, Virginia Kraus, Joanne Jordan*
  

• "Evaluation of Tai Chi Course Effectiveness for People with Arthritis"
  Authors: Leigh Callahan* (presenting), Jack Shreffler*, Betsy Hackney*, Kathryn Martin*, Brian Charnock*
• "Walk with Ease Program: One-Year Follow-Up"
  Authors: Leigh Callahan* (presenting), Jack Shreffler*, Mary Altpeter*, Laura Houenou*, Britta Schoster*, Kathryn Martin*, Jennifer Hootman, Todd Schwartz

• "The Effect of Social Support from Physicians and Partners on the Health-Related Quality of Life of Vasculitis Patients in Relapse and Remission"
  Authors: Delesha Carpenter* (presenting), Jessica Kadis, Robert DeVellis*, Susan Hogan, Joanne Jordan*
• "Racial Differences in Foot Disorders: The Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project"
  Authors: Yvonne Golightly* (presenting), Marian Hannan, Alyssa Dufour, Joanne M. Jordan*
• "Hallux valgus and pes cavus are highly heritable in older men and women: The Framingham Foot Study"
  Authors: Marian Hannan (presenting), Adrienne Cupples, Yi-Hsiang Hsu, Joanne Jordan*
• "Radiographic Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) Grade 1 is Gnetically Distinct from KL0: Implications for Genetic Studies of Knee Osteoarthritis"
  Authors: Kenneth Kornman (presenting), Xiaodong Wu, Joanne Jordan*, G. W. Duff, Venkateswarlu Kondragunta
• "Genetic Variants Associated with Susceptibility to Knee Osteoarthritis: The Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project"
  Authors: Xiaodong Wu (presenting), Joanne Jordan*, G. W. Duff, Venkateswarlu Kondragunta, Kenneth Kornman, Jordan Renner

• "Life Course Socioeconomic Position and Health Outcomes in people with self-reported Arthritis"
  Authors: Jack Shreffler* (presenting), Britta Schoster*, Kathryn Martin*, Leigh Callahan*
• "Perceived helplessness as a mediator Between Household Income and Health Status in People with Self-Reporting Arthritis"
  Authors: Kathryn Martin* (presenting), Britta Shoster*, Leigh Callahan*
• "An Examination of How Coping with Prescription Medication Costs and Medication Underuse Influences Physical and Mental Health of Individuals with Arthritis"
  Authors: Kathryn Martin* (presenting), Britta Schoster*, Jack Shreffler*, Leigh Callahan*
• "Disability and Knee Osteoarthritis: Associations with Individual and Community Socioeconomic Status"
  Authors: Leigh Callahan* (presenting), Joshua Knight*, Jack Shreffler*, Britta Schoster*, Jordan Renner, Joanne Jordan*

• "Change in Physical Activity on Sleep Quality in Persons with Arthritis"
  Authors: Jennifer Lias* (presenting), Leigh Callahan*, Jack Shreffler*
  

• "Association of Depressive Symptoms and Helplessness with Socioeconomic Status in People with Knee Osteoarthritis"
  Authors: Leigh Callahan* (presenting), Jack Shreffler*, Kathryn Martin*, Britta Shoster*, Jordan Renner, Joanne Jordan*
• "The Effect of a 6 Week Walking Program on Work AcitivityLimitations in Adults with Arthritis"
  Authors: Brian Charnock*, Kathryn Martin* (presenting), Jack Shreffler*, Mary Altpeter, Leigh Callahan*

11/01/2010: Dooley and Carpenter featured in Lupus Now

For people with chronic conditions like lupus, keeping track of their medications and taking them correctly is critical. Dr. Mary Anne Dooley of the UNC Thurston Arthritis Research Center was featured in an article in Lupus Now explaining how she teachers her patients about their medications. Dr. Dooley says that patients are often taking a variety of medicines and need to understand when to take them, how to take them and what other drugs might interfere with their medications. Dr. Delesha Carpenter, a fellow at the UNC Thurston Arthritis Center studies how friend or family support affects patient adherence to taking medications. Support from a friend or family member can help, provided it is the right kind and communication is the most important aspect of the support relationship.

11/01/2010: Jerath Appointed Director of A/I Fellowship Training Program

Maya Jerath, MD, PhD, of the UNC Thurston Arthritis Research Center was recently appointed to the position of Program Director for the Allergy and Immunology Fellowship Training Program.

The UNC Allergy and Immunology Fellowship Training Program is co-administered by the Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology in the Department of Medicine and the Division of Allergy, Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases in the Department of Pediatrics.The goal of the program is to provide comprehensive clinical care to patients with the full spectrum of allergic conditions and primary immunodeficiency, to advance the science of allergy and immunology through basic and clinical research, and to provide training to medical students, residents, and subspecialty fellows.

10/26/2010: Nelson featured in Rheumatology News

Amanda E. Nelson, MD, of the Thurston Arthritis Research Center was featured in a news item in the Rheumatology News. Dr. Nelson presented a talk entitled "Current Parameters and Future Paradigms for the Treatment of Osteoarthritis" at the Perspectives in Rheumatic Diseases 2010 meeting in Santa Monica, October 22-23.

10/22/2010: Taking Aim at Arthritis

The 1st Annual Competition Sporting Clays Shoot

"It is a legacy from my father, and one I find personally rewarding." That is the simple, honest answer Doc J. Thurston III gave when asked why he gives so much of his time and energy to supporting the cause of arthritis. Doc is the son of the namesake of The Thurston Arthritis Research Center and one of two original board members still serving. Doc's father saw first hand how the hard work and manual labor of his employees left them vulnerable to arthritis. He acted by advocating for arthritis research and awareness, and his son is no different. "I am very proud of my father," says Doc, "he worked in the transportation industry, and he worked for his employees and the people of this state." Work at the Thurston Arthritis Research Center has found that individuals were 30-60% more likely to have symptomatic knee osteoarthritis if they engaged in occupational walking, lifting, standing, crawling and doing heavy work while standing. "I want to make people aware of the loss of production due to arthritis, how it affects the economy, but most importantly we need to ease suffering, because arthritis affects more than just the person who has it, it affects everyone around them."

On Friday, October 22, the sound of support was heard over The Fork Farm and Stables in Norwood, NC as Taking Aim at Arthritis: First Annual Competition Sporting Clays Shoot to benefit the Thurston Arthritis Research Center was held.

Why a Sporting Clays Shoot? Doc J. Thurston III says the answer is simple, "As sportspeople, who hunt and fish, or like any athlete, we know about injuries to joints, about arthritis, but more importantly by having this event we are interested in making sure more people know about the center and how the center helps people, particularly the people of North Carolina."

More than 60 people showed up to participate in the event and enjoy the beautiful fall Carolina day. Don Garrett, Randol Tilghman and Rick German made up the first place team. The second place team of Bill Ward, John Caffey, Jerry Krause and Kyle Rifkin was sponsored by Doc J. Thurston III. The third place team, the Parkridge Sharpshooter was comprised of Jenna Stamey, Lea Eifird, Shannon Eifird and Sierra Lingerfelt. The Sharpshooters are the 2010 NRA Youth Hunter Education Challenge International Junior Team Champions and were sponsored by Safari Club International.

All sporting clay shoot participants competed on courses designed by John Higgins and Charles Cooper to simulate some of the most exciting game shots possible, while simultaneously surrounded by the pristine, natural fall beauty of The Fork Farm.

Arthritis and autoimmune diseases affect 46 million people in the US, and that number is only expected to increase. The pain and disability caused by these conditions affect the patient, their families, our communities and our economy. For 25 years, UNC Thurston Arthritis Research Center has been serving the people and communities of North Carolina. Using an integrated approach of teaching, research and clinical practice, UNC Thurston leads the way in training rheumatologists, advancing the science through clinical trials, laboratory research and community-based studies, and to translating this critical knowledge into improved patient care.

This event was made possible by the generous support of our signature sponsor, Golden Corral, and by additional sponsorship from Bojangle's Famous Chicken 'n Biscuits, Gaskin Asset Management, Kingfisher Capital, The Medical Foundation of North Carolina, Inc., Charlie and Diane Meyer, Mountain Khakis, Doc J. Thurston III and Tucker Administrators, Inc. All proceeds benefit UNC Thurston Arthritis Research Center.

GALLERY OF PHOTOS

10/08/2010: Callahan Elected Treasurer to USBJI

Leigh Callahan, PhD, of the UNC Thurston Arthritis Research Center was recently elected Treasurer for the United States Bone and Joint Initiative. The Initiative is an independent coalition of interdisciplinary musculoskeletal organizations. It connects thought leaders, health care and medical professionals, educators, researchers, and industry professionals in musculoskeletal science, technology and innovation. It creates forums and opportunities to collaborate, exchange information, build partnerships, and develop consensus on key issues of common concern to the broader musculoskeletal community. As a credible, interdisciplinary voice, the USBJI enhances the validity of bone and joint issues, raises the profile of musculoskeletal education, and supports the advancement and expansion of musculoskeletal care and research through advocacy, data dissemination, awareness-building programs, education initiatives, and advocacy.

10/04/2010: Hadler on People's Pharmacy

Dr. Nortin Hadler of the UNC Thurston Arthritis Research Center was featured on WUNC's The People's Pharmacy on October 2, 2010. Guests Dr. Hadler and Dr.Robert Califf discussed the current issues surrounding heart disease and medications used to lower cholesterol levels. The full episode can be accessed from the People's Pharmacy website.

Nortin Hadler, MD, MACP, MACR, FACOEM, is professor of medicine, microbiology and immunology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and attending rheumatologist at UNC Hospitals. His books include: The Last Well Person; Worried Sick: A Prescription for Health in an Overtreated America; and Stabbed in the Back.

Robert Califf, MD, is Vice Chancellor for Clinical Research at Duke University Medical Center and Director of the Duke Translational Medicine Institute.

09/27/2010: Thurston Researchers and Interleukin Genetics announce findings in osteoarthritis study

Findings could serve in drug development trials and medical management of osteoarthritis patients. See full story.

09/02/2010: Real Doctors, Real People - Dr. Robert Berger

Video from UNC News - Real people, real doctors - Dr. Robert Berger, of the Thurston Arthritis Research Center. Physician, Teacher, Musician and the grandfather of electronic medical records at UNC. Click here for video.

09/01/2010: Dr. Tarrant Receives UCRF Innovation Award

Congratulations to Teresa Tarrant, MD, of the Thurston Arthritis Research Center for receipt of the University Cancer Research Fund Innovation Award. The Innovation Award promotes ground-breaking cancer research across the broad spectrum of cancer from fundamental laboratory science to community intervention, from disease prevention to palliative care, and from childhood to adult. Dr. Tarrant's study entitled "GRK3 as an Essential Regulator of CXCL12/CXCR4 Chemokine Receptor Interactions in Breast Cancer Metastases" was one of six awards selected from 40 applications.

09/01/2010: Tai Chi for Fibromyalgia and Arthritis

In a recent article on WebMD, the benefits for fibromyalgia patients participating in Tai Chi trial were highlighted. The study led by Chenchen Wang, MD of Tufts University School of Medicine, divided the 66 participants into two groups. About 50%-60% of the participants assigned to the Tai Chi group reported feeling better after about 8 weeks.

Dr. Leigh Callahan, PhD of the Thurston Arthritis Research Center and colleagues have just completed a study of tai chi for patient with all kinds of arthritis, including fibromyalgia. Dr. Callahan says, "We found very similar results to the Wang study. We found improvement in pain, stiffness, and fatigue. We saw improvements in sleep measure, self-efficacy, and balance." Both researchers agree that tai chi is not a replacement for other treatments, but an additional therapy that can be added to the patients treatment. For the full WebMd article click here.

09/01/2010: Early Nutrition and Osteoarthritis

A recent New York Times article highlights the potential for a connection between osteoarthritis and early nutrition, and the study was done on moose. For fifty years, this long-running predator-prey research project has been studying the moose population in Isle Royale National Park. Isle Royale is a wilderness island in Lake Superior. In a recent article published in Ecology Letters, Rolf Peterson showed that poor nutritional conditions experienced by moose early in life are linked to greater prevalence of osteoarthritis later in life, as well as reduced life expectancy. Quoted in the New York Times article, Dr. Joanne Jordan, director of the Thurston Arthritis Research Center says, "It makes perfect sense. Osteoarthritis starts way before the person knows it, way before their knee hurts or their hand hurts. It's very clear that we're going to have to start looking back at things in the early life course." Studies of humans and other animals have increasingly linked many chronic adult diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease with nutritional deficiencies early in life. For the full New York Times article click here

08/30/2010: Dr. Martin awarded Post-Doctoral Fellowship

Congratulations to Kathryn Remmes Martin, PhD of the Thurston Arthritis Research Center, she has been awarded a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Life Course Epidemiology. The fellowship is sponsored jointly by The Medical Research Council Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing in the UK and The Laboratory of Epidemiology, Demography and Biometry, National Institute on Aging in the US. Dr. Martin will spend the first year of the fellowship in London and the second year in Washington, DC. Dr. Martin will begin her fellowship in January 2011

07/19/2010: Amanda Nelson Receives Young Investigators Award

Congratulations to Amanda Nelson, MD of the Thurston Arthritis Research Center, she has been selected to receive a Young Investigator Travel Award for the OARSI 2010 World Congress on Osteoarthritis, to be held September 23-26, 2010 at the Square-Brussels Meeting Centre.

This award recognizes the excellence of her abstract, entitled "A Composite Score of Multi-Joint Radiographic Osteoarthritis: The Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project."

Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) is the premier international organization for scientists and health care professionals focused on the prevention and treatment of osteoarthritis through the promotion and presentation of research, education and the worldwide dissemination of new knowledge. More than 1,000 of the world's leading scientists, clinicians, clinical investigators, rheumatologists, orthopaedists, radiologists and others interested in osteoarthritis research are expected to attend and take advantage of the unique broad based global forum at the 2010 World Congress on Osteoarthritis.

06/28/2010: Poison Ivy Home Remedies

Summer is here and so is poison ivy. The Wall Street Journal in a recent issue looked at what the experts think of home remedies for poison ivy. One of the experts was Maya Jerath, MD PhD of the Thurston Arthritis Research Center, who is also the Clinic Director for the UNC Allergy Clinic.

06/16/2010: Thurston Researches Participate in ACR REF Study

Susan J. Blalock, PhD, MPH of the Eshelman School of Pharmacy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has been awarded one of the Within our Reach: Finding a Cure for Rheumatoid Arthritis Research Grants from the American College of Rheumatology Research and Education Foundation. Beth Jonas, MD and Robert DeVellis, PhD of the Thurston Arthritis Research Center are co-investigators on the project. The study titled "Communicating Risks Associated with Prescription Medications" is designed to increase understanding of patient-rheumatologist communication concerning medication risks. The study will be guided by fuzzy-trace theory, which suggests that individuals typically make decisions that involve risk based on vague, qualitative mental representations of available information, or the gist of the message, rather than on a precise consideration of the probable outcomes associated with different choices. A major focus of the project will be understanding how patients extract the gist of the information about medication risks that the rheumatologists provides during the office visit. The study has the potential to lead to improved methods to train rheumatologists about how best to talk to patients about medication risks.

06/09/2010: Dr. Jerath discusses food allergies

Maya Jerath, MD, of the Thurston Arthritis Research Center and Director of the UNC Allergy Clinic was featured in a recent video on WRAL News about food allergies. Dr. Jerath discusses the challenge of accurately diagnosing food allergies.

06/07/2010: UNC-led team develops toolkit to address health literacy barriers

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has released the "Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit." AHRQ commissioned The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to develop and test this Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit. It provides step-by-step guidance and tools for assessing a primary care practice and making changes to the practice to connect with patients of all literacy levels. The co-principal investigators were Darren A. DeWalt, MD, MPH of The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research and Leigh F. Callahan, PhD of the Thurston Arthritis Research Center.

Health literacy is about understanding the complexities of following medical regimens, understanding advanced medical terminology, understanding how to navigate healthcare systems, how to read labels and prescriptions, and often making decisions that involve the use of numbers and basic math skills. Health literacy and basic literacy skills are correlated, that is to say individuals with low literacy skills are more likely to have poor health literacy, yet individuals with high literacy skills can still have low levels of health literacy.

To evaluate and develop the toolkit, the investigators worked with eight primary care practices in North Carolina. The practices were asked to assess their practice using the assessment tools and questionnaires in the toolkit. The assessment looks at how a practice communicates with their patients and helps to identify strengths, barriers, and opportunities for improvement. The practices were then asked to choose three to five tools based on their identified needs from the assessment and to implement those in their practice for about a three to four month period. After that, the investigators evaluated the impact of the use of the tools on the practice.

A number of tools stood out as easy wins for the practices to implement. Both Teach Back and Brown Bag were noted as having a big impact on improving communications with patients. Teach Back is a tool where the patient teaches back to the doctor or staff the instructions they have just received. If the patient is unable to teach back, then the staff knows that the instructions have not been understood and takes the opportunity to instruct the patient in a more effective manner. The Brown Bag tool asks the patient to bring all of their medications in to the practice in a brown paper bag. This allows the staff to assess if the patient is taking the correct medication, the correct dosages and whether or not they understand the purpose of their medication. "The Brown Bag tool was one of the popular tools for the practices to try and one where they would have a lot of ah ha moments," says Dr. Callahan. Dr. Callahan's research has been focused on socioeconomic status and health outcomes. "Many people who have low socioeconomic status (SES) also have low health literacy levels. This toolkit is another way that we can improve outcomes for disadvantaged populations, by addressing the way healthcare systems interact with individuals with low levels of health literacy."

So what is the next step? The AHRQ will be actively disseminating the Toolkit to practices and plans to evaluate the effectiveness at a later date. In the meantime, with her interest in rheumatology, Dr. Callahan has already received funding to adapt the toolkit for sub-specialty clinics, such as rheumatology.

06/07/2010: Lisa Rothlein awarded ACR REf Abbott Medical Student Research Preceptorship

Lisa Rothlein, a 2nd year medical student at the UNC-Chapel Hill has been awarded an ACR REF Abbott Medical Student Research Preceptorship to work at the Thurston Arthritis Research Center. Rothlein will conduct her research work in Dr. Teresa Tarrant's laboratory. This award introduces student to the specialty of rheumatology by supporting a full-time research experience for one year.

06/01/2010: Dr. Liu receives URC and James Moeser Awards

Peng Liu, MD, PhD, of the Thurston Arthritis Research Center was awarded a University Research Council Grant for the project titled "Dendritic cell regulation of vascular inflammation in atherosclerosi." Dr. Liu was also selected to receive the James Moeser Award for Distinguished Research. The James Moeser Award for Distinguished Research was established in 2008, in honor of former Chancellor James Moeser. This award supplements the University Research Council grant and is given to the applicant judged to have submitted the research application of greatest merit.

06/01/2010: Dr. Tarrant Receives URC Award

Teresa Tarrant, MD, of the Thurston Arthritis Research Center was awarded a University Research Council Grant for the project titled "GRK3 as an essential regulator of CXCL12-CXCR4 chemokine-receptor interactions in breast cancer metastases." The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development administers the research grant. These grants are designed to support the scientific, scholarly or artistic efforts of faculty. Grants may be used for costs such as collecting pilot data, research-related travel, research equipment or supplies, or the costs of smaller-scale projects. The Council encourages the use of URC grants as a stepping stone to extramural support.

04/21/2010: Tai Chi Study

The benefits of Tai Chi on arthritis are being studied at the Thurston Arthritis Research Center by Leigh Callahan, PhD. The UNC Medical News Center has produced a video about the study, it can found on the UNC Medicine's YouTube channel. Dr. Callahan and her colleagues have had more than 300 people participate in the eight-week study. This study has been designed to assess the effectiveness of Tai Chi on balance, strength and other physical measurements. The Arthritis Foundation and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funded the study.

04/21/2010: 2010 Triangle Walk to Fight Arthritis

The Thurston TARC HEELS team was out in impressive numbers on Saturday, April 17 for the Arthritis Foundation's 2010 Arthritis Walk in Durham. We had great weather for walking and were encouraged by a pre-walk program featuring Frank Stasio, host of "The State of Things" on WUNC as emcee, a demonstration of Tai Chi, and an impressive display of jump rope from the Bouncing Bulldogs, a six-time national championship jump rope team from Chapel Hill. Our team of 66 members was enhanced by a number of dogs that walkers brought to join in the fun. Fran Spivack brought "Bubbles" dressed in his own special TARC Heels T-shirt, Amanda Nelson's "Goober," Janice Woodard's dog sporting a Carolina Blue ribbon, Jack Sheffler's dachshund "Apollo", Bill Yount's "Samson" and Leigh Callahan's "Harley". The team exceeded its fund raising goals bringing in $3430 in donations from team members and friends. Kathryn Martin, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow was active on the Planning Committee for the event and Beth Jonas, MD was one of this year's medical co-chairs.

Although the TARC Heels were a large team, we were outnumbered by the Alpha Omicron Pi (AOII), an international women's fraternity, from Elon University who had a team of 72. Since 1967 when AOII adopted the Arthritis Foundation as their international philanthropy, over one million dollars has been raised by AOIIs around the country to help researchers find a cure for this disease.

04/13/2010: 2010 Triangle Walk to Fight Arthritis

The TARC Heels will once again participate in the Triangle Walk to Fight Arthritis, which will take place this Saturday, April 17 at the Imperial Center in Durham/RTP from 9-11:30 am sponsored by the Arthritis Foundation. Beth Jonas MD, of the Thurston Arthritis Research Center is this year's medical co-chair of the event. Our team is currently at 61, the largest team participating, and still growing. If you would like to participate and join our team or make a donation, the link to our group is here .

There will be a one-mile and a three-mile course, with activities for the entire family. There will also be a VIP tent for non-walkers. Entertainment will include a demonstration by local 6-time national champion jump rope team, the Bouncing Bulldogs, as well as a Tai Chi for Arthritis demonstration and a best dog trick contest.

04/13/2010: Postdoctoral Fellowship Award

Yvonne Golightly, MS, a physical therapist and a doctoral student in Epidemiology working at the Thurston Arthritis Research Center has been awarded an Arthritis Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship. Golightly will defend her dissertation in June and then begin her postdoctoral work entitled "Quality of a Foot Outcome Measure in a Community-Based Osteoarthritis Study."

The purpose of the Arthritis Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship is to encourage qualified physicians and scientists to embark on careers in research related to the understanding of arthritis and the rheumatic diseases. This $50,000 per year award provides a salary stipend for MDs, DOs, PhDs, or equivalent for up to three years.

04/13/2010: Faculty Elected to Academy of Educators

Beth Jonas, MD and Maya Jerath, MD has been elected as Associate Members of the Academy of Educators. Dr. Jonas is the Director of the Rheumatology Fellowship Program at the Thurston Arthritis Research Center. Dr. Maya Jerath is the Associate Program Director of the Allergy and Immunology Training Program at the Thurston Arthritis Research Center and Clinic Director of the UNC Allergy and Immunology Clinic.

The mission of the Academy is to promote and support excellence in teaching and the work and career paths of excellent teachers; to promote and fund curricular innovation, evidence-based curricular change and a scholarly approach to the education mission; and to provide a forum for education leadership and advice for the Dean, Vice Dean for Academic Affairs, Executive Associate Dean for Medical Education and the leadership of the curriculum.

04/13/2010: Faculty Participate in 34th Annual Internal Medicine Conference

Thurston faculty participated in the 34th Annual Internal Medicine Conference at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on April 7-9. The conference provides an update on recent developments in the diagnosis and management of specific medical disorders encountered by primary care physicians and practicing specialists.

The introduction to the Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology section was given by Joanne Jordan, MD, MPH, Director of the Thurston Arthritis Research Center. This was followed by presentations by Thurston faculty Amanda Nelson, MD and Beth Jonas, MD. Dr. Nelson's presentation was entitled "Advances in Osteoarthritis" and Dr. Jonas' presentation was entitled "Update on rheumatoid Arthritis and Other Inflammatory Arthritis". Drs Jordan, Nelson and Jonas also participated in an open panel discussion.

04/13/2010: Joanne Jordan Featured in Triangle Business Journal

Joanne Jordan, MD, MPH, Director of the Thurston Arthritis Research Center was featured in an article in the Triangle Business Journal . The article highlighted Dr. Jordan's work in the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project. Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, is a chronic degenerative disease characterized by the breakdown of the joint's cartilage. The breakdown of cartilage causes the bones to rub against each other, causing stiffness, pain and loss of movement in the joint. The work done in the long-term study in Johnston County has provided insight into the factors, including diet and obesity, that increase the risk of osteoarthritis, giving potential options to reduce the prevalence of the disease.

04/08/2010: Kathryn Martin receives GEAB Impact Award

Kathryn Remmes Martin, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow of the Thurston Arthritis Research Center and a recent PhD graduate in Health Behavior and Health Education has received a 2010 Impact Award from the UNC Graduate Education Advancement Board. These awards recognize graduate students whose research provides special benefits to the citizens of North Carolina.

In her doctoral research, Dr. Martin investigated the influence of community on health related quality of life. She analyzed secondary data from a sample of North Carolinians living in 32 NC communities. She found that the availability of public transportation, as well as the number of restaurants and hospital beds per 1,000 community residents predicted physical functioning, self-rated health, and the number of unhealthy days.

Better knowledge can help improve the health status reported by North Carolinians. Dr. Martin's study helps us better understand which community resources influence health. This knowledge may help policy makers to better allocate resources so that state, local and federal dollars make the biggest impact on communities.

03/10/2010: UNC Allergy Clinic

Maya Jerath, MD, PhD of the Thurston Arthritis Research Center is featured in a NBC17-TV Health feature about the prevalence of allergies. Dr. Jerath, who is the Director of the UNC Allergy Clinic, says that more and more people are dealing with allergies. The increase in allergies in the population may have several causes, but whatever the cause, there are effective treatments to cure some allergies and make living with them easier.

03/05/2010: Exercise Can Relieve Arthritis Pain

Exercise can relieve arthritis pain is the message featured in a WRAL-TV Health & Life segment featuring Dr. Leigh Callahan of the Thurston Arthritis Research Center. "Movement is the best medicine and people with arthritis should be physically active" says Dr. Callahan. Dr. Callahan led a study two years ago that showed the benefits of exercise on arthritis pain. Angela Carmon participated in that study and is still exercising today. "Actually has helped over time to decrease the amount of pain" Carmon said. "I'm able to move with a lot more ease." Read the article and watch at the video at the WRAL website.

03/02/2010: Recent Articles

Need relief from knee pain. Move more! That is the message in recent articles in AARP Magazine and Arthritis Today.

Knees are one of the most common joints to be afflicted with arthritis. About 11 million people visit their doctors each year because of knee pain. Leigh Callahan, PhD, at the Thurston Arthritis Research Center says, "It may be counterintuitive, especially if your knee is sore, but the most important thing for knee health is to be active." Read more about what you can do for your knee pain in the AARP article

Betty Isaacs of Boone, NC found relief through her participation in the Arthritis Foundation's Walk With Ease Program. The six week course was part of a study by researchers at the Thurston Arthritis Research Center that has been shown to reduce pain and improve health. Read Betty's story at the Arthritis Foundation website.

02/09/2010: National Public Health Agenda for Osteoarthritis

Leigh Callahan, PhD, of the UNC Thurston Arthritis Research Center has been working as part of a 12 member steering committee for the past two years to develop a National Public Health Agenda for Osteoarthritis. The outcome of their work was announced on February 4 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Arthritis Foundation. The ten recommendations in this initiative are designed to dramatically reduce the impact of osteoarthritis on Americans.

More than 27 million adults have osteoarthritis (OA) and this number is expected rise as the baby boomers reach retirement age. It is expected that half of all adults will develop symptomatic OA of the knee at some point in their lives. The socioeconomic impact from the pain and disability of OA results in 11 million physician and outpatient visits, hospitalizations and joint replacements cost $22.6 billion a year. Unemployment and work limitations cost another estimated $3.4-13.2 billion per year.

Ten years ago, Dr. Callahan was part of the working group that developed the National Arthritis Action Plan. "The impact of that plan was enormous," states Dr. Callahan, "It essentially became the CDC's blueprint for their arthritis program. The primary goal of the CDC's arthritis program is to improve quality of life for people with arthritis. They achieve this goal through building programs, reaching the public, improving the science base, measuring the burden of arthritis, and collaborating with partners to make policy and systems changes."

A similar impact is the hope for this initiative. Dr. Callahan says "The National Public Health Agenda for Osteoarthritis that was just launched recommends four intervention strategies to address OA. These strategies of expanding self-management education, increasing physical activity, injury prevention, and weight management hold great promise for improving the lives of individuals with OA and ultimately reducing the tremendous burden of this condition." Dr. Callahan has worked on intervention programs with the Arthritis Foundation, including Walk With Ease. Walk With Ease is a program designed to help participants develop a walking plan, stay motivated, and learn to exercise safely. Last year, Betty Isaacs of Boone, NC participated in the WWE program administered through the Thurston Arthritis Research Center. "This was a real meaningful program for me," says Betty, who suffered from knee osteoarthritis and was overweight. "They start you out little by little and increase you at your our pace and give you so much encouragement. I walked even on the days that I was not in the program." Betty continues to walk everyday at the Wellness Center in Boone, she says that she has only occasional pain in her knee now and she proudly states that she has lost 80 lbs.

The Thurston Arthritis Research Center has had a significant impact on osteoarthritis research through the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project, which has received continuous funding from the CDC for 20 years.

For more details about the National Public Health Agenda for Osteoarthritis visit the CDC Website or the Arthritis Foundation Website.

02/05/2010: New Arthritis Website

FightArthritisPain A new website launched by the Arthritis Foundation and the Ad Council takes a new approach to arthritis.

12/11/2009: Appearance on Good Morning America

Nortin Hadler, M.D., Professor of Medicine, and Microbiology and Immunology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, appeared on ABC News Good Morning America to discuss regional back pain. Dr. Hadler is the author of a new book, "Stabbed in the Back: Confronting Back Pain in an Overtreated Society".

You can view the video of the interview here

12/08/2009: Walk With Ease

Dr. Leigh Callahan, PhD, of the Thurston Arthritis Research Center is featured in a recent News & Observer article for her work with Walk With Ease. Walk with Ease is a program developed by the Arthritis Foundation that encourages people with arthritis to make a habit of exercise. The full article can be viewed here

11/25/2009: Faculty Recognized in Best Doctors In America

Once again, two Thurston Arthritis Research Center faculty were recognized in the Best Doctors in America Listing for 2009-2010. Dr. Nortin M. Hadler was recognized in the categories of Allergy, Immunology, Rheumatology and Geriatric Medicine. Dr. Mary Anne Dooley was recognized in Rheumatology.

Best Doctors in America Listing is the largest, continuous, peer-to-peer survey of the medical profession ever conducted to develop the proprietary Best Doctors database of 50,000 expert physicians. Doctors are asked questions like, "If you or a loved one needed a doctor in your specialty, to whom would you refer them?" That's the idea behind Best Doctors database. Doctors have unique, "inside" perspective about who's at the top of their profession, who's up on the latest advances in their field, and therefore, where they personally would turn for state-of-the-art care when faced with a serious medical problem.

11/12/2009: Medical Records Program at UNC

Dr. Robert Berger, Chief Medical Information Officer, was featured in the Daily Tarheel, UNC's daily student newspaper, on November 12, 2009. Dr. Berger was the chief architect of design for the internet-based health records program used by UNC Hospitals. See the full article: Medical Records Lead the Way

10/22/2009: Moderate weight loss helps reduce risk of osteoarthritis in the knee

Media contact: Clinton Colmenares, (919) 966-8757 or ccolmena@unch.unc.edu

Here's another good reason to lose even a moderate amount of weight: it could reduce your risk of developing osteoarthritis in your knees.

People who are overweight and lost just 5 percent of their weight have a 5 percent lower incidence of osteoarthritis in the knee, or knee OA, than people who either maintained or gained weight, according to data from a large ongoing study by the Thurston Arthritis Research Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine.

"We hear a lot of messages about how obesity effects cardiovascular disease and diabetes, but arthritis is often left off the list," says Lauren Abbate, a second-year medical student at UNC and lead investigator of the knee OA paper, presented Monday, Oct. 19, 2009, at the American College of Rheumatology scientific meeting in Philadelphia.

"Just like other chronic diseases, OA is painful, it's debilitating, we don't have good treatments and there's not a cure. But if we can get people to lose weight we can reduce their risk and reduce the pain and disability associated with the disease," Abbate says.

More than 27 million Americans have OA, the most common joint disease affecting middle-age and older people. OA causes progressive damage to the joint cartilage and changes in the structures around the joint, which can include fluid accumulation, bony overgrowth and loosening and weakness of muscles and tendons, all of which may limit movement and cause pain and swelling.

Abbate and her colleagues used data from the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project, one of the largest ongoing population-based studies of arthritis in the world. It began at Thurston in 1999 and is funded by the National Institutes of Health.

The researchers included 1,480 men and women 45 and older who were disease-free in at least one knee and followed them for five to seven years to see who developed radiographic OA - disease confirmed by X-rays; almost two-thirds were women, and more than 25 percent were African Americans. They then divided people into categories based on weight change; people who lost 5 percent or more of their total body weight, people who maintained within 3 percent above or below their weight and those who gained more than 3 percent. They also measured body mass index (BMI) and compared people who were of a healthy weight, overweight and obese.

The most significant difference was among people who were overweight and lost weight. The risk, compared to people who did not lose weight, dropped from 19 percent to 14 percent. There was no significant difference for people who were obese.

"It was our hope that people who maintained weight would have reduced risk, but obesity is such a risk factor for OA that maintaining weight showed no significant benefit," says, who recently finished her doctoral degree in epidemiology from the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. She also has a master's of public health from the school.

Weight loss can be difficult to achieve. But, Abbate says, people can aim for losing a certain percentage of their weight instead of shooting for an ideal number. "For someone who weighs 200 pounds, losing 5 percent just means losing 5 pounds," she says.

"People with OA can"t get in and out of showers, they can"t play with their grand children," Abbate says. "If losing 5 pounds lets them do that, it"s worth it."

Abbate"s paper was one of several research highlights at the ACR meeting for UNC"s Thurston Arthritis Research Center.

"We have placed a priority on working more with medical students and being open to collaborating," says Joanne Jordan, M.D., the center director and Herman and Louise Smith Distinguished Professor of Medicine at UNC"s School of Medicine. Jordan will receive the ACR"s Excellence in Investigative Mentoring Award.

Thurston is home to huge data sets from ongoing longitudinal studies, including the Johnston County Arthritis Project, that attracts top researchers, and faculty are looking at novel areas, including tai chi and the effects of selenium on arthritis. The center recently opened a new infusion clinic for rheumatology patients and joined a statewide family practice network to extend its reach and amplify its expertise.

Thurston Arthritis Research Center faculty will present in 25 sessions at ACR. "This is testament to the fact that UNC is a great place to train," Jordan says. "In the end, we're helping propel the field of arthritis research, which helps patients everywhere."

Others who received ACR awards are:

Joshua Knight, a first-year medical student at UNC, won the Research Education Foundation's Abbott Medical Student Research Preceptorship. This award will provide support for summer work under Leigh Callahan at the Thurston Arthritis Research Center to study how social determinants act as predictors of arthritis disability as part of the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project.

Amanda Nelson, M.D., won the Distinguished Fellow Award, given to clinical and research fellows in rheumatology in recognition of their meritorious performance throughout their training

Shelby Addison, a third-year medical student at UNC, won the REF/Abbott Medical/Graduate Student Achievement Award in recognition of significant work in the field of rheumatology.

05/28/2009: One Doctor's Quest to Cut Unneeded Treatments

Nortin Hadler, M.D., Professor of Medicine, and Microbiology and Immunology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, published an article on ABCNews.com about the financial costs and ethical issues of unnecessary medical treatments. Dr. Hadler was also quoted in a separate ABCNews.com article about new or untested treatments for rare diseases.

04/24/2009: 6th Annual Walk for Arthritis

On Saturday, April 18th, 53 members of the TARC Heels team, the University of North Carolina-Thurston Arthritis Research Center's official team, participated in the 6th Annual Walk for Arthritis sponsored by the Arthritis Foundation. The team raised more than $3000, easily surpassing its goal and the event generated over $40,000 for arthritis research. The faculty, staff, family, friends and patients of Thurston comprising the team, all wearing the official TARC Heels Carolina Blue t-shirt, made an impressive statement in the crowd of 350 participants. Delesha Carpenter and Yvonne Golightly worked tirelessly as members of the planning committee and Joanne Jordan, Director of Thurston Arthritis Research Center, was one of the medical co-chairs of the event. The two arthritis patients honored at the event were Nichole Beach and Joyce Peterson, both from the UNC practice. A large banner honoring researchers at Thurston, Lauren Abbate and Ron Graff, was on display and will travel throughout the Carolinas to Arthritis Foundation events this year. Each year this event grows, the TARC Heel team participation grows, and the need for critical funding in arthritis research grows' plan to join us next year for this fun event to support the Arthritis Foundation and its efforts to support arthritis research.

02/18/2009: Lifetime Risk of Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis

Results from the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project conducted by researchers at the Thurston Arthritis Research Center and funded by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) is one of the current lead features on the CDC website. The published study reports that the lifetime risk of knee osteoarthritis is nearly one in two people and that risk is greater for obese adults. http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Osteoarthritis/

02/16/2009: 33rd Annual Internal Medicine Conference

Maya R. Jerath, MD, PhD and Mary Anne Dooley, MD of the Thurston Arthritis Research Center will speak at the 33rd Annual Internal Medicine Conference sponsored by the Department of Medicine of the School of Medicine at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The conference will be held at the Friday Center, March 18 -20, 2009. Dr. Jerath's presentation is entitled "Food Allergies" and Dr. Dooley's presentation is entitled "Lupus: An Update for the Primary Care Clinician." Along with Dr. Jerath and Dr. Dooley, Joanne Jordan, MD, MPH, Director of the Thurston Arthritis Research Center, will participate in a panel discussion on rheumatology, allergy and immunology.

02/16/2009: Healthy People 2020

Leigh F. Callahan, PhD, of the Thurston Arthritis Research Center has agreed to serve on the Healthy People 2020 Arthritis Working Group. This group will address the next decade's national health objectives for arthritis. Dr. Callahan was a member of the Healthy People 2010 Arthritis Working Group.

02/13/2009: Carolinas Rheumatology Fellows Winter Meeting

Dr. Beth Jonas, UNC Division of Rheumatology, and The Thurston Arthritis Research Center were host to the 4th Annual Carolinas Rheumatology Fellows Winter Meeting held February 5-7, 2009. This meeting brings together all the fellows and program directors from the Rheumatology Fellowship Training Programs in North and South Carolina-UNC, Duke, Wake Forest, and MUSC. The program is a model collaborative teaching project in which fellows attend didactic seminars presented by local experts and participate in a ROSCE (Rheumatology Objective Structured Clinical Examination). Several Thurston faculty lectured including Joanne Jordan, MD, MPH; Ron Graff, PhD; Amanda Nelson, MD; Mary Anne Dooley, MD, MPH; Teresa Tarrant, MD and Robert Roubey, MD. This multi-institute collaboration is the only one of its kind in the country. The Winter Meeting focuses on a few topics covered in-depth by local experts. The Summer Meeting is held at Wake Forest to utilize the facilities for basic rheumatology training. Dr. Jonas and her colleagues from the participating institutions will be presenting a workshop on some of their innovative teaching tools at the American College of Rheumatology Program Director's Retreat next month.

02/05/2009: Health-Related Quality of Life for Patients with Vasculitis and Their Spouses

Chronic conditions have a negative impact on the quality of life for patients, but what impact does it have on their spouses? Delesha Carpenter, MSPH and Robert DeVellis, PhD of the Thurston Arthritis Research Center addressed this question for ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) in a recent article in Arthritis & Rheumatism (Arthritis Care & Research). Using norm-based scores the researchers found that although AAV negatively affects the health-related quality of life issues for the patient, their spouses do not appear to be negatively impacted. Details of this study can be found in Arthritis & Rheumatism (Arthritis Care & Research) Vol. 61, No. 2, February 15, 2009, pp 259-265.

02/02/2009: Article in the January/February Issue of Arthritis Today

The January/February issue of Arthritis Today highlights the work of Dr. Joanne M. Jordan and the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project in an article entitled "The Knees Have It." The project has been a comprehensive on-going study for over 18 years and has produced critical information about osteoarthritis. The study has revealed that the risk of knee osteoarthritis to be one out of every two people in their lifetime. Development of osteoarthritis does not appear to be related to race, sex or education, but body weight seems to have a dramatic effect on the lifetime risk for knee osteoarthritis. Studies have shown that weight loss and exercise have beneficial effects on the knee. Exercises, such as walking and biking, helps to strengthen and the support the knee joint, while weight loss can relieve knee pain and increase function.

01/23/2009: 2009 Triangle Arthritis Walk

Last year, our Thurston Arthritis Research Center Arthritis Walk team (The TARC Heels) was a visible presence at the Triangle Arthritis Walk. Our 55-person team received over $3000 in donations, which shattered our fundraising goal of $1000. This year we are hoping to have an even bigger team and raise more money for the Arthritis Foundation. The Arthritis Walk is the Arthritis Foundation's annual nationwide event that raises awareness and funds to fight arthritis. The event is fun, and includes entertainment, food, exercise, and a dog walk. Walkers have the choice of participating in a 1 or 3-mile walk around the Imperial Center in Durham. This year's walk will take place on Saturday, April 18. You can help us reach our goal by joining or donating to our team. You can access our team page by visiting www.trianglearthritiswalk.kintera.org and selecting TARC Heels from the list of teams on the right side of the page. You can also contact our team captain, Delesha Carpenter, by calling 919-966-7538 or emailing dlmiller@email.unc.edu. If you would like to start your own team or volunteer, visit the website listed above or contact Grace Danuck (919-303-8080, gdanuck@gmail.com). We hope to see you there!

01/14/2009: TARC Donations to IFC

The faculty and staff at the Thurston Arthritis Research Center decided to make the holidays a little better for members of our community who were suffering in the economic downturn. In just a few days, well over $100 of dry and canned goods was collected in a festively decorated box located in the TARC reception area. The items were donated to the Inter-Faith Council for Social Service's Community Kitchen in Chapel Hill. The Community Kitchen's philosophy is Food from the Community, For the Community. They serve three meals a day, everyday of the year. In FY 2007-2008, they served 87,588 meals from more than $376,000 in donated food by local business and individuals, served up by more than 500 volunteers.

01/14/2009: Rita Allen Award Nomination

Dr. Teresa Tarrant, MD, Assistant Professor of Rheumatology has been nominated by the University of North Carolina for the Rita Allen Award. Institutions are invited to select one nominee who has completed their training and shows persuasive evidence of distinguished achievement or extraordinary promise in research. The Rita Allen Foundation awards grants of $100,000 annually, for a period of up to five year to those research proposal demonstrating the greatest merit and potential for success. Universities choose candidates who are in the early stages of their career with an appointment at a faculty level. Announcement of the awards will be made in April. For the past two years, the University of North Carolina nominees have received the award. In 2008, Ian Davis, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of pediatrics in the UNC School of Medicine and a member of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, was selected as one of seven national 2008 Rita Allen Foundation Scholars, and in 2007, Dr.Mark Zylka, Assistant Professor of Cell & Molecular Physiology and Member, UNC Neuroscience Center was named a Milton E. Cassel Scholar by the Foundation.

01/14/2009: Jingle Bell Run for Arthritis

On Saturday, December 6, 2008, a team from the Thurston Arthritis Research Center gathered at St. Mary's School in Raleigh, NC for the Annual Arthritis Foundation Jingle Bell Run. The team lead by Dr. Leigh Callahan, and including Dr. Joanne Jordan, Dr. Ron Graff , Yvonne Golightly and others, enjoyed the day of running and fundraising. The event raised $53,807 for the Arthritis Foundation.

01/14/2009: Private Foundation Donation

A private foundation in Charlotte has donated a major gift of unrestricted support to the Thurston Arthritis Research Center at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. The L. Jack and Ella Shaw Spiers Foundation contributed $50,000 to the Research Fund at UNC Thurston Arthritis Research Center. The Research Fund provides a stable funding source for basic science research, population-based studies, faculty enhancements, fellowship support, professorships and other important initiatives. Grace Grasty, President of the L. Jack and Ella Shaw Spiers Foundation and Member of the Thurston Arthritis Research Center Board of Advisors, presented the donation. Ms. Grasty presented the check at the Board of Advisors meeting on December 16, 2008. Understanding the current nature of the economy and the limitation of available funding, the gift was unrestricted, allowing the Center to designate the donation to areas of greatest potential. The L. Jack and Ella Shaw Spiers Foundation was established in 1995 in honor of Jack and Ella Shaw Spiers of Charlotte. The Foundation's mission is to fulfill a wide range of socially useful proposes, including grants to colleges and universities, support for medical health organizations and special-project needs serving orphaned children.

01/14/2009: Arthritis Today Article

How did the Thurston Arthritis Research Center in Chapel Hill find itself doing a major study in Johnston County, NC, 60 miles away? The story of how the study began is told in the September issue of Arthritis Today. Dr. Joanne Jordan and a team of researchers from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta began the project in 1990. The team convinced 3200 people to sign up for the study and agree to be followed by doctors for years. The study has yielded important information about the prevalence, incidence, and risk factors associated with the occurrence and progression of hip and knee osteoarthritis. It has also studied the racial or ethnic differences in outcome and in the effect of risk factors upon osteoarthritis outcomes.

11/17/2008: Joanne Jordan, M.D.,participated in a NIAMS Musculoskeletal Biology and Diseases Roundtable

On November 17, Joanne Jordan, M.D.,participated in a National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) Musculoskeletal Biology and Diseases Roundtable to inform the development of NIAMS new Long-Range Plan for fiscal years 2010-2014. The new Long-Range Plan will promote exploration of ideas and encourage new research directions.

11/07/2008: Nortin M. Hadler, M.D., elected to Mastership in the American College of Physicians

Nortin M. Hadler, M.D., was recently elected to Mastership in the AmericanCollege of Physicians. Masters are selected from among ACP Fellows, and comprise a small group of highly distinguished physicians.

10/17/2008: New Rheumatology/Allergy Clinic Under Construction

The University of North Carolina School of Medicine Rheumatology/Allergy Clinic will be moving from its present location at the Ambulatory Care Center on Mason Farm Road in Chapel Hill, to Fearrington Road in Durham. The building is located just off Hwy 54 before the I40 turn off, next to the BP gas station. We are hoping to move some time in January, but all patients will be advised well in advance, of the date.
Click here to view pictures of the new clinic construction.

10/16/2008: Half of Adults Will Get Knee Arthritis

Joanne Jordan MD and her The Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project team have released an article on WebMD.
http://www.webmd.com/osteoarthritis/news/20080905/half-of-adults-will-get-knee-arthritis