Dupuytren Roundtable Discussions
On: Feb 20, 2011
By: Charles Eaton
Here are links to two recently published roundtable discussions by experts in the field of Dupuytren’s. Although these were discussions by surgeons for surgeons, they are really just conversations and quite readable. They highlight the current challenges both surgeons and their patients face with Dupuytren’s disease and provide insight into future efforts to develop a […]
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Stony Brook Dupuytren Symposium
On: Apr 18, 2010
By: Charles Eaton
I had the opportunity to attend the Stony Brook Dupuytren Symposium April 17. This was a real treat, featuring a faculty of well known authorities on Dupuytren’s. The volcanic ash European flight difficulties prevented attendance of only one speaker. The symposium covered a range of topics and in addition provided an in depth tour of […]
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Personal experiences with Xiaflex and Needle Aponeurotomy
On: Mar 17, 2010
By: Charles Eaton
Xiaflex is now available, and is generating reports by both traditional writers and self published social media authors. There are now two minimally invasive treatments for contractures due to Dupuytren’s disease – Xiaflex injection and needle aponeurotomy – with relative advantages and disadvantages of each. The following video was made by a Dupuytren’s patient, documenting […]
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Metalloproteinases and Dupuytren’s
On: Feb 28, 2010
By: Charles Eaton
A better understanding of the biology of metalloproteinases may lead to new treatment options for Dupuytren’s. Metalloproteinases (MMPS) are a group of enzymes in our bodies which break down certain proteins, including collagen. MMPS are blocked by tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPS). MMPS and TIMPS balance each other: imbalances have been implicated in conditions of […]
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Stony Brook Dupuytren Symposium
On: Feb 27, 2010
By: Charles Eaton
What a year for Dupuytren’s! Xiaflex is FDA approved, the 2010 International Symposium on Dupuytren’s Disease http://www.DupuytrenSymposium.com is coming up May 22,23 in Miami, and now Stony Brook University Medical Center Department Of Orthopaedics has announced its Dupuytren’s Disease Symposium Saturday, April 17th, 2010 in Stony Brook, New York. The program flier is http://Dupuytrens.org/DupPDFs/2010_StonyBrookSyllabus.pdf. The […]
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Xiaflex Pricing
On: Feb 17, 2010
By: Charles Eaton
Auxilium has moved closer to product availability of Xiaflex collagenase injection for the treatment of Dupuytren’s contracture by announcing the wholesale drug price: $3250.00 for a single treatment dose. For those who think that this seems high, consider this in perspective. There are many categories of pharmaceutical products. Most commonly available pharmaceuticals are classified as […]
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Needle Aponeurotomy and Xiaflex compared
On: Feb 14, 2010
By: Charles Eaton
Xiaflex (Collagenase) has finally been approved by the FDA for the treatment of Dupuytren’s contracture. When work began on the development of collagenase to treat Dupuytren’s contracture, the bar was pretty low: anything better than fasciectomy in terms of either safety or efficacy would be a great advance. No other treatment options were available in […]
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Genes, enzymes and Dupuytren’s: the alphabet name game.
On: Feb 6, 2010
By: Charles Eaton
A proteinase is an enzyme which breaks down proteins. Metalloproteinases (MPs) are proteinases with a molecular structure and function involves a metal atom, usually zinc. Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) are MPs which act outside of cells, in the tissue matrix. Human collagenases are MMPs which break down different types of collagen. Membrane-type MMPs (MT-MMPs) are MMPs […]
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LSD as a treatment for Dupuytren’s?
On: Feb 4, 2010
By: Charles Eaton
There is one published report of Dupuytren’s being cured, fingers suddenly straightened, under the influence of the psychedelic drug LSD (full text: http://www.dupuytrenfoundation.org/DupPDFs/1966_Solursh_1417.pdf). Is this true? Probably not. LSD is a serotonin antagonist, and other serotonin antagonist drugs, such as methysergide, have been shown to cause retroperitoneal and cardiac valve fibrosis. Based on this information, […]
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