Reefer Madness (12.12.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal and regulatory reports from this past week on RheumNow.com. B cell drugs in SLE and ITP, biomarkers in GCA & PSS and great videos by APPs.
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French ESTIVAL study - DB, sham trial of auricular vagal N stimulation in 148 Erosive hand OA (eHOA) pts w/ erosion + synovitis by US. @12wks, no signif difference in VAS pain (–16·0 vs –6 sham; p=0·22) w/ no safety issues. Was this a failed study or encouraging outcome? https://t.co/KI86H9izYS
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Dr, Tuhina Neogi writes its time for a new understanding of OA; its not just wear n tear. Based on preclinical and clinical evidence, OA is a systemic, whole-body disease and that this should change future research and treatment of #OA. https://t.co/gn9xt6CafP https://t.co/2iSKiyiCX4
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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Medical Cannabis for Pain Management
Recent research and publications have underscored the use, efficacy, safety and limitations to the use of cannabis for arthritis and pain patients.
Chronic pain affects more than one in five American adults, yet practitioners are limited in treatment alternatives. Even if we exclude the
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Phase 1 trial of IL-6 targeting immunotherapy (PPV-06) in 24 pts w/ inflammatory knee osteoarthritis (KOA) demonstrates safety, Abs that neutralize IL-6, decreasing CRP values and improved clinical outcomes, determined by changes in KOOS scores https://t.co/urZupN62Kw https://t.co/sru1SnsOig
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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Dr, Tuhina Neogi writes its time for a new understanding of OA; its not just wear n tear. Based on preclinical and clinical evidence, OA is a systemic, whole-body disease and that this should change future research and treatment of #OA. https://t.co/HQWI14WSXg https://t.co/5bIWgqaETU
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Coccyx and Sacrococcygeal Joint Disorders
Pain from coccygeal or sacrococcygeal disorders is rare, often presenting as a diagnostic challenge. Coccygeal pain is often mistaken for lumbosacral, pelvic, or gastrointestinal disorders. This review presents the epidemiology, https://t.co/zrGDwULms5
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Coccyx and Sacrococcygeal Joint Disorders
Pain from coccygeal or sacrococcygeal disorders is rare, often presenting as a diagnostic challenge. Coccygeal pain is often mistaken for lumbosacral, pelvic, or gastrointestinal disorders. This review presents the epidemiology, https://t.co/u4w3b915my
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
High Cost of Cancelling Knee Replacement Surgery
Thousands of NHS knee replacement operations are cancelled at short notice every year, many for avoidable reasons, according to a new study published December 1st. This costs the NHS millions of pounds and increases waiting times for patients, many of whom are in severe pain.
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Coccyx and Sacrococcygeal Joint Disorders
Pain from coccygeal or sacrococcygeal disorders is rare, often presenting as a diagnostic challenge. Coccygeal pain is often mistaken for lumbosacral, pelvic, or gastrointestinal disorders. This review presents the epidemiology, anatomy, biomechanics, presentations, diagnostic evaluation,
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Partial vs Total Knee Replacement: Is One Superior?
Patients with osteoarthritis (OA) primarily affecting only one knee joint compartment did just as well with partial knee replacement (PKR) as with total arthroplasty after 10 years in a randomized trial -- and maybe a little bit better. Final results of the landmark TOPKAT study indicated that
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Colchicine prevents total joint arthroplasty (TJA). Study of 31,478 colchicine initiators, followed 4.5 yrs. W/ an overall 12% lower risk of TJA (HR 0.88 95% CI 0.81 to 0.96), and a 23% lower risk of TJA in those with knee/hip OA (HR 0.77) https://t.co/1JsZd8K0sI
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Vitamin D and Lupus Outcomes (11.21.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com.
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Target emulation trial of 12,145 Pts (87% female; age 80 yrs), shows that compared to teriparatide, Rx w/ romosozumab was assoc w/ significantly lower risk of osteoarthritis (RR 0.79); especially for knee OA (0.79). https://t.co/nEdENoNae7 https://t.co/JiyRd6ThXu
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Treating During Pregnancy (11.14.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the journal articles, news and guidelines from this past week on RheumNow.com
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Can EMR Treatment Suggestions Improve Decision Making?
EurekAlert!
In a new study involving 402 U.S.-based primary care physicians, researchers from Northwestern University and the University of Sydney identified a “sweet spot” in clinical decision-making. By presenting just the right number of treatment alternatives in the electronic health record (EHR) system
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There is a growing burden of #OA among middle-aged adults, rising by 123.7%, from 11.8 million in 1990 to 26.4 million in 2021. 56.5% of incident cases & 38% of prevalent cases occur in middle-aged group (70% higher than the elderly (>60 years) population). Highest in hi-income. https://t.co/JVpZ96qe0E
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
RETREAT study was a 12 wk RCT of Tai Chi in 178 knee OA pts Rx w/ online OA info vs same plus free web based tai chi video program. Tai Chi group had signif improved knee pain (−2.7 v -1.2); (−12 v −6.9) & achieved a minimal pain & function (73% v 47%); and Its free! https://t.co/WLzQ9YHrcu
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
In the epidemiology session on the final day of #ACR25, a large cohort study (>430k pts) showed that GLP-1 receptor agonists were linked to lower incidence of RA, gout & OA vs DPP-4 inhibitors. Adds to the growing case for GLP-1 benefits beyond glucose control. @RheumNow #2657
Mrinalini Dey @DrMiniDey( View Tweet )
Disease activity associated with symtomatic knee OA and increased with increased KL grades
Abst#2625 #ACR25 @RheumNow https://t.co/uCrdnVXk0J
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Bella Mehta @bella_mehta( View Tweet )
A new IA drug in OA 🚨
Cell therapy of apoptotic PBMCs ENX-CL-05-001
RCT Ph2A moderate to severe OA
134 pts 3 injections vs. PBO
Pain improvement 24%
Better response in people > 60 and more so 65yo
Potential improvement for > 6mo
Safety mainly local reactions to compound https://t.co/m2MZN3i22b
Aurelie Najm @AurelieRheumo( View Tweet )
GLP-1 in Knee Osteoarthritis https://t.co/SxyVEAK1CZ
@bella_mehta Discusses role of GLP1 in OA and possible mechanisms of effectiveness ? weight reduction ? or doses it have anti-inflammatory -anti-fibrotic role ?
@RheumNow
#ACR25
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Nouf Al hemmadi @NoufAhmedAlham2( View Tweet )
GLP1 receptors are present on cartilage, synovial and specific cells such as macrophages.
Also endogenous GLP1 seemed to protect the cartilage in animal models
#ACR25 @RheumNow https://t.co/ekNWbtPO4b
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Bella Mehta @bella_mehta( View Tweet )
Many GLP-1 drugs in the pipeline for management in #OA
#ACR25 @rheumnow https://t.co/y3UCp0CcUb
Bella Mehta @bella_mehta( View Tweet )
Semaglitide did help in weight loss and decrease in pain in knee OA
https://t.co/240sR5An3m
#acr25 @rheumnow
Question is that is the pain decrease is secondary to weight loss or an independent effect? https://t.co/R2v5YDP3A5
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Bella Mehta @bella_mehta( View Tweet )
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