While those who suffer from arthritis and leukemia will likely qualify for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration, the suffering is far from worth the money paid. This is why we love to see this new research from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, which claims the same fatty acids associated with obesity and diabetes may lead to the development of arthritis and leukemia. This brings us one step closer to the treatment and prevention of these diseases.
A high number of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell that helps keep away infections, can be a sign of acute inflammation and is associated with many diseases, researchers found. The study, published in Cell Metabolism, found that without certain lipids, they rapidly lost weight and their white blood cell count was very low.
Dr. Clay F. Semenkovich of the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Lipid Research, said they believe these findings could lead to innovative treatments of these diseases, as well as a look into how they can be prevented.
“This may be a pathway to limit inflammation,” he said. “If we could reduce the activity of these enzymes without eliminating them entirely, it could lower the levels of ether lipids and potentially help patients with leukemia and inflammatory diseases, such as arthritis.”
With 52.5 million Americans suffering from some form of arthritis and 24,090 deaths from leukemia, these is a very welcome sign from these University of Washington researchers.
The Law Offices of Harold W. Conick & Associates, Ltd, has successfully represented numerous clients suffering from arthritis and various forms of cancer before the SSA.
