Recent News
A meta-analysis of Janus kinase (JAKi) inhibitors clinical trials in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has shown higher BMI was associated with poorer responses and a reduced treatment benefit with JAK inhibitors in RA patients.Read Article
Music and Pain Relief
If laughter is the best medicine, then music has to be second best. A new scoping review in Pain Reports by Bradt et al., examines the effect of music-based interventions (MBIs) on pain management. While its efficacy is well established, how or why music relieves pain has never been fully explained.
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Korean retrospective study compared NIDDM pts Rx w/ SGLT2 inhibitor (n 552,065) vs sulfonylurea (1,480,092) showed SGLT2 inhibitors were assoc w/ a signif 11% lower risk of incident autoimmune rheumatic disease (HR 0.89). Diff of −6.50 per 100K PYs over median ~9 mos F/U. https://t.co/uTiCjejkjL
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Lupus Research Alliance has awarded >$2 million in 2026 awards to studying innovative lifestyle interventions for people living with lupus. This includes studies on ginger supplementation, physical activity, and a whole health online programs https://t.co/C45y9laeHN https://t.co/6ifbPMWNt9
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Novartis & BMS CAR-T Cell Trials on Hold
Reuters and the Wall Street Journal report that both Novartis and Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) have paused their autoimmune disease CAR-T cell trials due to safety concerns, including deaths.
https://t.co/ffcAHhtdBh https://t.co/pL3IQ6Dp9C
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Sleep and Obesity: A Bidirectional Relationship
In July 2026, JAMA published a concise review of the bidirectional relationship between sleep health and obesity. Obesity affects roughly 40% of US adults, and sleep problems affect nearly one-third. This review outlines the https://t.co/cA6P4aOHR0
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EBR Journal Club: Dapirolizumab Pegol in SLE (PHOENYCS GO)
The EBR Journal Club Companion applies my adapted version of the JAMA approach to critical appraisal to an important RCT in rheumatology. Each review covers four domains: Does this apply to my patients? What is the risk of bias? How great are the benefits and harms? And what didn’t they show me? This edition: PHOENYCS GO (dapirolizumab pegol in SLE).
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“ABCDE” Approach to Difficult-to-Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis
The proposed approach to difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis is based on the EULAR definition (having failed 2 or more b/tsDMARDs). The authors provide guidance in the form of an easy acronym, A B C D E, which covers both diagnostic and therapeutic considerations.
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MSK problems w/ Mobile gaming addiction (MGA)? Study of 364 Jordanian med students showed 9% had MGA- these has signif more UE MSK pain (71% vs 48%; p 0.012) vs nonaddicts. Elbow pain (41%) best predictor of MGA, but also neck (85%), upper back (65%), wrists (41%). https://t.co/51AWgHjrGC
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Chinese retrospective study of 140 Bx proven Kikuchi-Fujimoto pts shows very few evolve into #SLE. While 60% were ANA+ (11.3% other autoAbs) - none developed SLE (median F/U 39mos). KFD is benign, self limiting necrotizing lymphadenitis usually in young women. https://t.co/Ai7W9GCBVb
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VA (VARA) registry study of 2723 RA pts showed frailty was independently associated with increased cancer incidence. Age-adjusted CA incidence rates (per 1,000PYs) were 12.3 (robust), 15.5 (pre-frail), and 19.9 (frail). CA mortality rates were 7.8, 10.6, & 9.8/1,000PYs https://t.co/Ex52R56oT1
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EUSTAR Registry - Cancer in Systemic Sclerosis
Cancer is a major cause of mortality in systemic sclerosis (SSc). A nested case-control study within the EUSTAR registry shows distinct patterns of cancer temporally related to SSc, serologic profiles, and traditional cancer risk https://t.co/BORvxu5QG8
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FDA Approves Brepocitinib to Treat Dermatomyositis
The FDA and Priovant recently announced approval of brepocitinib (Lisraya), a JAK1/TYK2 inhibitor, for the indication of adults with dermatomyositis (DM). This is the first oral (once daily) agent approved for DM. https://t.co/JoE0p3UfSf
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Necrotizing arteritis is rare w/ IgA Vasculitis (IgAV). Review compared 30 IgAV-NA to 257 adult IgAV & 196 PAN pts. Overall IgAV-NA is a severe IgAV phenotype with life-threatening complications & should prompt vascular imaging and intensified immunosuppression. IgAV-NA had more https://t.co/XdPbGX770D
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Novartis & BMS CAR-T Cell Trials on Hold
Reuters and the Wall Street Journal report that both Novartis and Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) have paused their autoimmune disease CAR-T cell trials due to safety concerns, including deaths.
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The global inflammatory myopathies market size was valued at USD 1.81 billion in 2025 and is expected to reach USD 2.67 billion by 2033 (CAGR of 5.00%). This applies to: Polymyositis, Dermatomyositis, Inclusion Body Myositis, Juvenile Myositis, Corticosteroids, https://t.co/vb7zfM76pO
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Korean National Health Insurance claims study of 4,107 newly Dx gout on allopurinol x 24 mos (vs non-gout controls). Gout significantly higher risk of fractures (aHR 5.52_; 95% CI 4.19–7.26), highest in those with low-adherence to allopurinol (aHR 5.91). Consistent trends seen https://t.co/cTO4lGtYAy
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Rheum Survey> What effect does obesity have on #Lupus pts?
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Metanalysis looked at neutrophil to Lymph ration (NLR) in SLE - 31 studies, 4,006 SLE pts. NLR signif incr in SLE worldwide. NLR was higher in Active vs inactive SLE, and showed a significant but moderate correlation w/ SLEDAI (CC=0.354, p < 0.001). https://t.co/ROG5L4nfo2 https://t.co/9mqqId45lG
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Small series of 5 Idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) pts Rx w/ obinutuzumab for refractory myositis (2 antisynthetase syndr, 1 DM, 2 overlap myositis). 4/5 patients achieved complete response. Lung improved/stabilized in ILD patients. Two required second obinutuzumab cycle. https://t.co/0uW6xXQQ2S
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Video
From the Blog
At first, it seemed similar to many other such sessions – a circle of folding chairs, a group of colleagues whose visages exuded understanding and acceptance – but this was special. I started the meeting…. “Hi, my name is Artie.”
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Podcasts
A Day in the Life of a Rheumatology APP: A Focus on Interstitial Lung Disease” (hosted by Amanda Mixon, PA-C)
DERM on RheumNow PODCAST (August 2026)
NME: New Molecular Entities (8.28.2026)-
Label update: Structural damage progression in active PsA
Therapeutic Updates
Label update: Structural damage progression in active PsA
Sponsored by Johnson & Johnson Medical Affairs
Listen to Dr. Catherine Bakewell’s review of clinical data from a recent label update.
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Poster Hall
Sponsored by AbbVie Medical Affairs + Health Impact
Long-Term Safety of a JAKi in Clinical Trial and Real-World Settings Across >21,000 Patient-Years
Daily Gem
Visceral fat, not BMI alone, drives systemic inflammation.
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