Study shows laughter helps difficult-to-control RA

[Guest guest]

Study shows laughter helps difficult-to-control RA



Feb 7, 2006



Gandey





Tokyo, Japan - Researchers have found that a good laugh has a

positive effect on the immune response of patients with severe

rheumatoid arthritis (RA) [1]. The findings point to the importance

of addressing not only the physical but also the psychological

stresses of severe RA. " The effects of mirthful laughter might be

remarkable, especially in the difficult-to-control RA group, since it

is thought that such patients are under much more psychological and

physical stress in daily life compared with patients with easily

controlled RA, " comment the researchers, led by Dr T Matsuzaki

(Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan). Their study appears in the

February 2006 issue of Rheumatology.

The researchers studied the effect of laughter on serum pro- and anti-

inflammatory cytokines. They looked at 41 RA patients and 23 healthy

subjects. The RA patients were divided into two groups—difficult-to-

control and easily controlled. Patients with severe RA had a C-

reactive protein of >1.0 mg/dL.

Subjects listened to a traditional Japanese story called Rakugo that

is known to be very funny. The researchers measured pro- and anti-

inflammatory cytokines before and after the story was played. They

observed that the baseline levels of serum interleukin-6 and TNF-

in the RA patients were significantly higher than those in the

healthy group.

After laughing, the RA group's levels of serum interleukin-6

decreased significantly, but not those of the healthy subjects. A

similar effect was found for interleukin-4. RA patients had

significantly higher concentrations at baseline, but these levels

dropped after they laughed at the story.



These results suggest that not only the immunological process but

also psychological condition regulates the production of several

cytokines in RA.





In contrast, serum interleukin-1 receptor antagonist was

statistically higher in the RA group than in healthy subjects at the

start of the study but continued to increase after the funny story—

especially in the easily controlled RA group. Interestingly, the

level of serum TNF- decreased only in this same group—the milder-

RA patients.

The researchers write that consistent with previous reports, their

study demonstrates that abnormal levels of serum pro- and anti-

inflammatory cytokines were present in RA patients at baseline.

" After laughter, these molecules were differentially modulated

depending on the disease activity of RA, " they report. " These results

suggest that not only the immunological process but also

psychological condition regulates the production of several cytokines

in RA. "

Evidence emerging on the effect of stress on the immune system

Matsuzaki and colleagues note that the effect of stress on cytokine

production is generally not well understood. But they point to

mounting evidence suggesting that an interaction between stress and

the immune system plays a pivotal role in the etiology and

progression of autoimmune diseases such as RA.

" These findings suggest the possibility that the various

immunomodulatory responses to mental condition depend on the disease

activity of RA, " the researchers write. " Therefore, psychological

support should be considered indispensable for the treatment of RA. "

Another recent study examining the health effects of laughter came to

a similar conclusion [2]. Researchers led by Dr

(University of land, Baltimore) found that humor boosts

endothelial function. The group reports that regularly watching

comedies or doing other activities that encourage laughter has the

potential for being a safe, risk-modifying intervention for people

with impaired vasoreactivity.







Sources



Matsuzaki T, Nakajima A, Ishigami S, et al. Mirthful laughter

differentially affects serum pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine

levels depending on the level of disease activity in patients with

rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatology 2006; 45:182-186. 

M, Mangano C, Park Y, et al. Impact of cinematic viewing on

endothelial function. Heart 2006; 92:261-262. 

http://www.jointandbone.org/viewArticle.do?primaryKey=642217

[Guest guest]

It doesn't surprise me at all. Somehow I don't feel so bad when I am with people

whose company I enjoy, mainly people who can make me laugh or at least smile.

a <a54@...> wrote:

Study shows laughter helps difficult-to-control RA



Feb 7, 2006



Gandey





Tokyo, Japan - Researchers have found that a good laugh has a

positive effect on the immune response of patients with severe

rheumatoid arthritis (RA) [1]. The findings point to the importance

of addressing not only the physical but also the psychological

stresses of severe RA. " The effects of mirthful laughter might be

remarkable, especially in the difficult-to-control RA group, since it

is thought that such patients are under much more psychological and

physical stress in daily life compared with patients with easily

controlled RA, " comment the researchers, led by Dr T Matsuzaki

(Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan). Their study appears in the

February 2006 issue of Rheumatology.

The researchers studied the effect of laughter on serum pro- and anti-

inflammatory cytokines. They looked at 41 RA patients and 23 healthy

subjects. The RA patients were divided into two groups—difficult-to-

control and easily controlled. Patients with severe RA had a C-

reactive protein of >1.0 mg/dL.

Subjects listened to a traditional Japanese story called Rakugo that

is known to be very funny. The researchers measured pro- and anti-

inflammatory cytokines before and after the story was played. They

observed that the baseline levels of serum interleukin-6 and TNF-

in the RA patients were significantly higher than those in the

healthy group.

After laughing, the RA group's levels of serum interleukin-6

decreased significantly, but not those of the healthy subjects. A

similar effect was found for interleukin-4. RA patients had

significantly higher concentrations at baseline, but these levels

dropped after they laughed at the story.



These results suggest that not only the immunological process but

also psychological condition regulates the production of several

cytokines in RA.





In contrast, serum interleukin-1 receptor antagonist was

statistically higher in the RA group than in healthy subjects at the

start of the study but continued to increase after the funny story—

especially in the easily controlled RA group. Interestingly, the

level of serum TNF- decreased only in this same group—the milder-

RA patients.

The researchers write that consistent with previous reports, their

study demonstrates that abnormal levels of serum pro- and anti-

inflammatory cytokines were present in RA patients at baseline.

" After laughter, these molecules were differentially modulated

depending on the disease activity of RA, " they report. " These results

suggest that not only the immunological process but also

psychological condition regulates the production of several cytokines

in RA. "

Evidence emerging on the effect of stress on the immune system

Matsuzaki and colleagues note that the effect of stress on cytokine

production is generally not well understood. But they point to

mounting evidence suggesting that an interaction between stress and

the immune system plays a pivotal role in the etiology and

progression of autoimmune diseases such as RA.

" These findings suggest the possibility that the various

immunomodulatory responses to mental condition depend on the disease

activity of RA, " the researchers write. " Therefore, psychological

support should be considered indispensable for the treatment of RA. "

Another recent study examining the health effects of laughter came to

a similar conclusion [2]. Researchers led by Dr

(University of land, Baltimore) found that humor boosts

endothelial function. The group reports that regularly watching

comedies or doing other activities that encourage laughter has the

potential for being a safe, risk-modifying intervention for people

with impaired vasoreactivity.







Sources



Matsuzaki T, Nakajima A, Ishigami S, et al. Mirthful laughter

differentially affects serum pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine

levels depending on the level of disease activity in patients with

rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatology 2006; 45:182-186. 

M, Mangano C, Park Y, et al. Impact of cinematic viewing on

endothelial function. Heart 2006; 92:261-262. 

http://www.jointandbone.org/viewArticle.do?primaryKey=642217