Nathan Wei

It's only recently that we've discovered that the same inflammatory processes that drive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) also are responsible for complications that affect other internal organs. For example, heart disease, which is a common complication in patients with rheumatoid arthritis is caused by inflammation. Couple that with the fact that many...

Cartilage is a tough, flexible connective tissue that is found throughout the body. This rubbery tissue which covers the ends of long bones functions mainly as a cushion for joints. It also, because it is covered by a thin layer of lubricating material called "synovial fluid" also acts to allow...

One of the mysteries in the understanding of a complicated disease like rheumatoid arthritis is... how does it attack so many joints? What causes it to spread? Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, systemic, autoimmune condition that usually starts in a single joint but then spreads to involve multiple joints. The hallmark...

There has been a lot written about platelet-rich plasma (PRP) recently. It's been in the news and has been on television. Hines Ward, a wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Dara Torres, the Olympic swimmer, both received PRP for chronic tendon injuries. This treatment allowed both of these superb...

Elderly onset rheumatoid arthritis (EORA) is a misnomer since it refers to rheumatoid arthritis affecting people 60 years of age or older. Since this author recently reached the age of 60 and certainly doesn't consider himself elderly, the definition should be changed. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects 2% of those 60 years...

The new gold standard for rheumatoid arthritis treatment is the use of biologic response modifiers (BRMs) with or without methotrexate. Since their introduction more than ten years ago, concerns have been raised by some about safety. As a result, multiple studies evaluating the potential side-effects of this group of medicines have...

The perpetual search for the Fountain of Youth has both fascinated as well as eluded human beings for centuries. What has been particularly interesting has been the observation that other species (eg, earthworms, salamanders, etc.) can regenerate severed body parts... but human beings cannot. The recent surge in interest in tissue engineering...

Multiple studies have demonstrated that early aggressive management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is beneficial. What many patients don't understand is why this is so important. Beyond the pain, stiffness, and inability to perform activities of daily living, moist patients aren't aware of the other insidious dangers that rheumatoid arthritis- if not...

Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain. It is due to inflammation of the plantar fascia, a thick piece of connective tissue that runs from the bottom of the heel to the base of the toes. This is how the condition develops... Repetitive trauma leads to micro...

A number of methods have been used to repair of cartilage damage. The first is osteochondral transplantation, which involves taking a plug of cartilage from a non-weight bearing area and placing it into a defect in a weight-bearing region. The second is microfracture. In this procedure, a surgeon will drill...