Researchers says that they have conclusive evidence that the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V suffered from a terrible case of gout, and it was that ailment that most likely caused his abdication.

The news comes after an examination of a well preserved finger, kept since the Emperor's death in 1558

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Roxane Laboratories, Inc., are issuing a nationwide voluntary recall of a single manufacturing lot of Azathioprine tablets, USP 50 mg.

The drug, Azathioprine is used to help prevent rejection in kidney transplant patients, and can also be used to manage severe rheumatoid arthritis

Swiss drug maker, Roche, said on Tuesday that the European Commission had approved its drug MabThera, a cancer-drug, to treat lymphoma patients with arthritis. Analysts believe the push into arthritis will bring in billions of dollars worth of additional revenue since the illness affects 21 million people worldwide.

According to Roche, MabThera when used in combination with methotrexate has been approved for adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis. It also said most of these patients were intolerant to other modes of treatment

Scientists at HS Frederiksberg Hospital in Copenhagen, Germany, reviewed various studies relating excess weight with physical disability in osteoarthritis patients. They found that overweight adults with osteoarthritis who lose just five percent of their body weight can reduce the amount of physical disability associated with the most common form of inflammatory joint disease.

"It is more or less proven now that the most effective thing, if you have osteoarthritis of the knee, is weight loss," study co-author Henning Bliddal told Reuters Health

A study presented at the European league against rheumatism congress on Saturday says that Rheumatoid arthritis may cause sexual problems for people suffering from the disease.

According to HealthCentral, Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease characterized by inflammation of the lining of the joints. It can produce long-term joint damage, resulting in chronic pain and disability