Distorted, nonfunctioning joints of the hand become so twisted that the afflicted person cannot grasp objects, write a grocery list, or prepare a meal by hand. The grotesque appearance of their hands is why some women don't want to be included in a family photo unless they can hide their hands from view of the camera. Thanks to a half-million dollar grant from the Trinity Foundation in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, the quest for an improved understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of the disease can now be extended along promising lines of new research. The grant established the Theresa Scheu Rheumatoid Arthritis Research Laboratory on campus and sponsored research projects pointing toward an understanding of the factors involved in irreversible damage of joint tissues. His international reputation is based on more than 120 research publications and scientific presentations as an invited speaker to medical forums in the United States and more than 20 foreign countries.
Cartilage is a sliding surface and lubricating layer of tissue at the joint-ends of bones.
When cartilage deteriorates, its protective function is diminished, joint mobility is lost, chronic pain increases, and quality of life is reduced. I intend to explore the proteins in cartilage and seek cartilage-protecting materials. Without early intervention, the disease will take a terrible toll on the patient. Although more than 102 factors may contribute to the disease, the role of each one and the interplay between them is not thoroughly understood. Then medical science may be able to map the route to a cure.