In The NEWS

Chronic Joint Pain
Arthritis, 101
Arthritis is an umbrella term for numerous separate conditions that affect the joints of our musculoskeletal system. As damage accrues within the joints, arthritis typically results in progressive symptoms that include decreased motion, inflammation, and pain.

About one in five adults worldwide has been diagnosed with some form of arthritis. The associated pain and dysfunction from arthritis are a leading cause of disability across the globe. (Watch an explainer.)

Currently, there is no cure for arthritis. Once the smooth cartilage surface is lost, it cannot be restored. This is an area of intense research, including hope for the use of stem cells, targeted antibodies, and even synthetic cartilage transplants. In general, if the cause is mechanical—such as in degenerative arthritis or post-traumatic arthritis—medications, physical therapy, braces, and injections are used to manage the pain. If the origin is inflammatory, various medications are available to allow for decreased pain and increased motion.

... Read our full explainer on arthritis here.

Also, check out ...
> Why isn't there a cure for arthritis? (Watch)
> Women are more likely than men to have arthritis. (Read)
> Visualizing how rheumatoid arthritis works. (Watch)
> Examine the anatomy of a healthy knee. (More)



Hedging Bets
How hedge funds work
Hedge funds are private investment firms that trade a wide swath of financial assets (such as the stock and debt of publicly traded companies), aiming to make money when markets are both up and down.

Like mutual funds, hedge funds pool money from investors and invest that sum on their behalf, but the similarities mostly end there. Hedge funds—with portfolios ranging from millions to tens of billions of dollars—buy and sell a wide range of assets, from bankrupt companies' debt to commodities like cattle. Mutual funds tend to buy and sell less complex assets, like stocks.

Hedge funds are now a multitrillion-dollar industry that impacts just about every corner of the economy. Yet, the SEC allows only “accredited investors,” such as family offices, university endowments, and high-net-worth individuals to invest in hedge funds due to their risky and complex strategies.

... Read our full write-up on hedge funds here.

Also, check out ...
> See the world's top 10 hedge funds. (Read)
> Understanding short selling, a risky investment strategy. (Read)
> "Vulture" hedge funds target distressed assets. (Read)
> The world's first hedge fund was launched in the 1940s. (Read)

SOURCE:  1440 NEWS