Recent News
A German multicentre, retrospective study assessed the first-line efficacy of biologics and conventional synthetic DMARD therapy in patients with adult-onset Still's disease and found biologic agents were significantly better with sustained, event-free remissions and fewer complications.Read Article
Joint Implant Metals May Be Leaking
Patients with metal-containing joint replacements had significantly higher concentrations of cobalt in their cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) relative to patients without arthroplasties, researchers reported.
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Bimekizumab-Treated Patients with Active Psoriatic Arthritis Showed Sustained Improvements in Pain and Fatigue: Up to 2-Year Results from Two Phase 3 Studies
Sponsored by UCB
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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Cancer Survival with TNF Inhibitors
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on https://t.co/V10S4oVFsv
https://t.co/MKJKAi0BPV
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Review article shows that in psoriasis pts, adding #MTX to TNFi increases efficacy, but there is limited data on adding MTX to either IL-17 or IL-23. But in Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA), adding MTX provides no added efficacy compared to biologic monotherapy https://t.co/lNMFZW6XZt https://t.co/RTadfIGZUm
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
NIH Complimentary Medicine overview of Music Therapy - preliminary research suggests that music interventions may be helpful for anxiety, depression, pain control, dementia, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, etc https://t.co/RP8X8Kf2jV https://t.co/s0bOTEUCPT
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
EMA approved a record 28 biosimilars in 2024 for cancer, osteoporosis, macular degeneration, and immune-related diseases like plaque psoriasis, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease https://t.co/MJLvzjwYHX https://t.co/W5aoKwIPVQ
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Patient Education handout on Raynaud’s Phenomenon https://t.co/Ug2MmtexgU https://t.co/kk9Klxhl8x
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
A study in Alberta, Canada, examining the travel burdens for rheumatoid arthritis patients, found a median travel time of 13 minutes to reach general practitioners and 34 minutes to see rheumatologists. The research highlighted significant disparities between rural and urban https://t.co/2kYDrk16O8
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Consensus Against Interventional Injections for Chronic Spinal Pain
BMJ has published a clinical practice guideline resulting from the work of an international, multidisciplinary panel addressing chronic spine pain (≥3 months duration) not associated with cancer or inflammatory arthropathy. This is a chronic (not acute) spine pain guideline.
Consensus on Bone Turnover Biomarkers in Osteoporosis
EurekAlert!
A new consensus paper, published by the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases (ESCEO), the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), and the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC), provides an updated evaluation of reference bone turnover markers (BTMs) and newer markers in the diagnosis and management of osteoporosis.
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Obstacles to the current use of DMARDs from patients, discussed during regular appointments, were mainly associated with adverse effects and worries about effectiveness and long-term usage. Ongoing attention to these patients' concerns is crucial for improving treatment https://t.co/hWYGiPIsBb
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Diagnosing PMR is easy before Pred initiation; but after steroids NO SO. Before Pred, PMR Dx from non-PMR (median probabilities 7.8 vs 2.8) w/ 86% sensitivity/83% specificity. After Pred Dx probability of PMR dropped to 1.0 w/ sensitivity 3.5%; not much better w/ Pred D/C https://t.co/q4TceeFByc
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Fibromyalgia
A randomized, sham-controlled trial has shown that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) reduced pain in fibromyalgia for up to 8 weeks; while analgesic effects waned, functional improvements remained https://t.co/nJdSrUcizo
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Cardiac-MSK Patients at Highest Risk for Falls and Death
A study by Peking University and Chinese PLA General Hospital found that multimorbidity, having multiple chronic diseases, is linked to worsening falls and higher mortality in middle-aged and older adults in China. https://t.co/R47w77zSwP
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Patient Education handout on Carpal Tunnel Syndrome https://t.co/QwgZ8Jr7GQ https://t.co/wtg324nzlo
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Diagnosing PMR is easy before Pred initiation; but after steroids NO SO. Before Pred, PMR Dx from non-PMR (median probabilities 7.8 vs 2.8) w/ 86% sensitivity/83% specificity. After Pred Dx probability of PMR dropped to 1.0 w/ sensitivity 3.5%; not much better w/ Pred D/C https://t.co/RRIYY6xleN
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Barriers to current DMARD use from pts, discussed during routine visits were primarily related to side effects and concerns about the efficacy and long-term use. Continuous attention to these patients’ concerns are key to better treatment adherence https://t.co/J0kPR2CQyH https://t.co/D84t4dPdLO
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Alberta Canada RA pt travel burden study showed median of 13 min to visit GPs & 34 min to visit rheums. Signif Rural/Urban disparities w/ 4-fold diff in GP travel & 8.7-fold diff in Rheum travel. Despite diff, travel time had little impact on health care utilization https://t.co/VqaDFJzfRs
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Patient Education handout on Raynaud’s Phenomenon https://t.co/cm77mmmPSi https://t.co/GimQXHBdpp
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
“Medicine is a science of uncertainty and an art of probability.” - Sir William Osler https://t.co/SQH3JZcDfv
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
From the blog
The effects on rheumatologists and their patients living in Ukraine largely have been unseen by the world. At ACR Convergence 2024, I met Dr. Marta Dzhus who practices at St. Michael's Clinical Hospital in Kyiv; she shared her story with me about the humanitarian crisis in rheumatologic care in Ukraine because of the ongoing war. Here is an excerpt of our conversation.
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Podcasts
Biomarkers in RA
Cancer Survival with TNF Inhibitors (3.28.2025)-
ERA, APPs, & Alpha GAL (3.21.2025)
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World Changers (3.14.2025)
Therapeutic Updates
Biomarkers in RA
Sponsored by Augurex
Rheumatologist Dr. Walter Maksymowych discusses the role of biomarkers in RA care, with a focus on 14-3-3eta as a modifiable marker for diagnosis and monitoring disease progression.
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Poster Hall
Sponsored by AbbVie Medical Affairs + Health Impact
