Recent News
Read ArticleA VA study of shows that recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) vaccination in immunocompromised patients or those receiving immunosuppressive medications is insufficient, given these are high risk individuals.
ACR and Congress Address “Damaging” Cuts to Medicare MD Payments
ACR
The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) today commended the 233 bipartisan representatives who signed a letter urging House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) to support legislative action to address “damaging” payment cuts to physicians in the Calendar Year 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) Proposed Rule.
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Early bird registration for RheumNow Live is now open! Join us Feb 8-9 in Dallas, TX.
https://t.co/C2D8JDQNmz https://t.co/fiZamUcEyZ
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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Metanalysis of 40 papers, 486,465 RA pts & 3,928 incident ILD outcomes shows no signif risk of ILD w/ DMARD use; no ILD risk w/ TOFA or TNFi (Oral Surveillance n=2,911; OR 0.94). MTX use yielded a Lower ILD risk (OR 0.49; 0.32 to 0.76) vs no MTX use. https://t.co/JGf0U3RS9w https://t.co/STDPSXN7zw
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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Screening to Prevent Multimorbidity in Rheumatic Patients
A population based screening program of patients with chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRD) demonstrates that systematic screening IRD patients for multimorbidity increased preventive interventions and reduced… https://t.co/qh0mkN8HgD https://t.co/ggz5bafCMt
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Run-Walk Exercise May Help Lower Back Pain
MedPage Today
Adults younger than age 45 with chronic, nonspecific lower back pain saw significant pain relief with a structured run-walk program in a randomized trial.
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Efficacy of Acupuncture for Sciatica
MedPage Today
Real Chinese acupuncture was more effective than a sham version for treating sciatica stemming from herniated spinal disks in a randomized trial conducted in China.
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ANA+ consult? 2 Yr study of 207 asymptomatic ANA-pos, found only 11% progressed to systemic autoimmune rheum Dz (89% did not). Progressors developed SLE (48%), Sjögren (22%), scleroderma (13%), RA (4%); Arthritis (RR 1.74) more likly in progressors https://t.co/53bmkQ0qj0 https://t.co/8VUxqxnuGl
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
AI-powered chatbot (Bing) was asked 10 questions each on 50 common drugs. Of 500 AI generated answers overall had low readability and a high but still not sufficient quality, repeatedly lacking infor or w/ inaccuracies possibly threatening patient & medication safety.… https://t.co/r1wwKPAtrK https://t.co/1PWcuzh24r
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Comparison of 2 criteria for "difficult to Rx PsA" - 378 pts - 19.8% met Perrotta criteria, & 15.3% met Kumthekar D2T criteria. Sensitivity 30-38%, but specificity 82- 86%, w/ good agreement betw 2 sets. D2T-PsA research is needed! https://t.co/MUWPsargrU https://t.co/P40DAkb5qT
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
#SLE and biologics (approved & under study) - Full read review:
Anifrolumab
Belimumab
Ocrelizumab
Obinutuzumab
Ofatumumab
Veltuzumab
Epratuzumab
Tocilizumab
Secukinumab
Ustekinumab
Eculizumab https://t.co/RGS2DJgzyS https://t.co/PhqXt0hIzY
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Cytokines/biomarkers from IL-23/IL-17 pathways are Increased in psoriasis. Subanalysis of phase 2 254 pt PsO trial revealed that 12 wks of deucravacitinib assoc w/ reduction in IL-17A, IL-17C, beta-defensin, PI3 - decreases correlated w/ PASI changes https://t.co/Ii381B2mZx https://t.co/vXDyLUsKPi
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
FDA has approved a 4th biosimilar to Stelara - the new agent, ustekinumab-srl (Imuldosa), is indicated for Rx of plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Originator Stelara sales in 2023 were nearly $10.86 USD billion globally… https://t.co/MoNBj2UaVH https://t.co/3Tenkfq0KK
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
GI Abnormalities in Scleroderma
A prospective Scleroderma Cohort Study found that gastrointestinal tract (GIT) involvement was common and negatively impacted quality of life, physical function, and employment, but had no effect on mortality.
https://t.co/9z1ycWkCQt https://t.co/oE5RgjJ9tm
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Full read review of the interaction of innate immune and adaptive immune systems. https://t.co/00UUSat6yj https://t.co/HDMSfFJ7Ts
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Intracellular vs extracellular Calcium Pyrophosphate Crystals in 134 pts - 108 w/ intracellular & 26 w/ extracellular CPP crystals. Having Acute/chronic CPP crystal arthritis - 97% had intracellular and 62 extracellular crystals (p<0.001). Arthritis more likely to be asso w/… https://t.co/oRVNKptLfx https://t.co/06oGP4EyVJ
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Upadacitinib safety across in RA, PsA, AS, atopic dermatitis >15000 Pt-Yrs exposure. Rates (per 100PYs) of Hzoster (1.6–3.6), NMSC (0–0.8) & incr CPK (4.4–7.9) higher w/ UPA vs comparators (RA, PsA); Deaths (0–0.8), SIE (0–3.9), MACE (0–0.4), VTE (<0.1–0.4), CA, malignancies… https://t.co/OoJ5OX7JyL https://t.co/vaMVFmldEB
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Risk of Uveitis with Spondyloarthritis
A retrospective registry study shows that uveitis may be seen in 10% with the diagnosis of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) but becomes more common (47%) over the next 30 years of disease. The good news is that biologic therapy can… https://t.co/96rRu77Tyl https://t.co/bGHnZ7lCIm
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Long Term Antibiotics Increase Risk of RA
JAMA has published a population-based retrospective cohort study showing a possible association between the long-term use of antibiotics and the risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
https://t.co/U7lPvTSJWO https://t.co/MrUuP6crB7
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
GI Abnormalities in Scleroderma
A prospective Scleroderma Cohort Study found that gastrointestinal tract (GIT) involvement was common and negatively impacted quality of life, physical function, and employment, but had no effect on mortality.
https://t.co/6jQvKz7nmm https://t.co/1IGPe6obyS
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
ED Delays and Hip Fracture Mortality Risk
Waiting more than 4 hours in emergency care for treatment is linked to heightened risks of death and a longer hospital stay for hip fracture patients, reveals a single centre study, published online in Emergency Medicine Journal.… https://t.co/ZaIEkb7Lo5 https://t.co/P15DrXMbnj
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
From the blog
Podcasts
Dot The I, Cross The T (10.11.2024)-
Stop Counting Bugs (10.4.2024)
RA Risk Radar: Heart Disease, Infection, and Malignancy Sponsored by AbbVie Medical Affairs-
Which One Is The Loneliest Number (9.27.2024)
Therapeutic Updates
A review of two physician case reports. These cases are patients who presented with severe active manifestations of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) or microscopic polyangiitis (MPA).
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RA Risk Radar: Heart Disease, Infection, and Malignancy
Sponsored by AbbVie Medical Affairs
Listen as rheumatologists Dr. Jeffery Curtis and Dr. Jon Giles review comorbidities that can occur as a consequence of uncontrolled, or under-controlled, inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis. In this conversation they share their clinical expertise on a range of topics, including risk assessment, risk management, and the importance of disease control.
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Poster Hall
