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Dr. John Cush
@RheumNow
Triple Hormone Receptor Agonist for Treatment of Obesity and Knee Osteoarthritis The NEJM reports that retatrutide, an investigational incretin agent, was shown to yield up to 25% weight reduction, with subanalyses also showing reduced pain with knee osteoarthritis, and less https://t.co/18DM2UL6vB
Dr. John Cush
@RheumNow
UK longitudinal study 46 adult PsA pts w/ BMI ≥25 showed use of digital wt. & Dz app (vs no app) improved weight loss (− 1.55 vs − 0.18 kg), dz activity by CPDAI (p < 0.001), esp w/ arthritis (p 0.017) & enthesitis (p  0.034) domains. Weight loss correlated w/ dz activity https://t.co/Y9zVyPmsNl

EBR Journal Club: Brepocitinib in Dermatomyositis (VALOR)

Michael Putman, MD, MSCI

The EBR Journal Club Companion applies my adapted version of the JAMA approach to critical appraisal. 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? Feel free to use this in your own journal clubs! This edition: VALOR (brepocitinib in dermatomyositis).

Exercise Can Improve Pain

Jack Cush, MD

This pooled meta-analyses (n=197,392) shows that exercise reduced pain versus control immediately after the intervention (SMD −0.59; 95% CI −0.65 to −0.53; P0.001). The benefit held across musculoskeletal, inflammatory, neurologic and cancer pain, and for every modality tested.

Dr. John Cush
@RheumNow
T-cell engager blinatumomab (CD3xCD19 TCE) was used for Deep B-cell depletion in 15 resistant RA pts (MDR-RA). @wk 12 9/15 CDAI LDA, 3/15 CDAI remission. Synovial B cells were depleted (4 of 5 biopsies) but not in lymph nodes. Later, 14/15 flared. No ICANs, 3/15 w/ CRS (gr 1) https://t.co/ddLb7lIHka
Dr. John Cush
@RheumNow
Using national survey data of adults (62-85 yrs) saw no change in Rx Med (84% vs 85%) or dietary supplement (66% vs 67%) use betw 2015-2016 & 2021-2013. But OTC declined (60% vs 55%; P = .04). Polypharmacy signif incr. Drug-drug interactions declined (26% vs 22%; P .02) w/ https://t.co/16xPyKS2aU
Dr. John Cush
@RheumNow
Ambient AI in Rheumatology Practice: Less Typing or Less Human? Rheumatology has become a sedentary, computer-based job. We sit at our computers to pre-chart, type during patient visits, and bring notes home to finish on laptops while sitting on the couch. Do you spend more https://t.co/zr56f7iCrJ
Dr. John Cush
@RheumNow
Danish national study (2003-2024) of 51,401 #PMR pts (24K PCPs, 27K secondary MDs): PMR incidence = 112/100K. PMR decr 53% in primary care & incr 30% in secondary care (overall 12% decline). Among PMR, GCA rate was 5.4/1,000 PYs, w/ median 68 days from PMR Dx. 28% & 22% were https://t.co/1VlI5r1r0L
Dr. John Cush
@RheumNow
Multicenter retrosp study 2865 #RA pts (dz duration 2 yrs) starting b/tsDMARDs (TNFi, IL-6i, RTX, ABA, JAKi) - 50% were on steroids (GC). At 3 & 6 mos, only 26% & 37% D/C GC. GC D/C more w/ JAKi (24 v 17%). Predictors on NON-D/C: Chronic GC, HTN, TNFi, RTX, ABA (vs JAKi) https://t.co/JSve6M9hwm
Dr. John Cush
@RheumNow
Petri SLE Pearls: An Update At the CCR West 2026 conference in Huntington Beach, California, Dr. Michelle Petri updated her Petri Pearls. Some are derived from new data, while others are from her extensive experience caring for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). https://t.co/SftiqcqbLa
Dr. John Cush
@RheumNow
Italian retrospective study of 36 difficult #GCA pts (89% relapsed; 72% prev TCZ) showed Clinical remission 85%, 81%, & 83% at 3, 6, & 12 mos. GC-free remission increased to 15%, 28%, & 40% at 3, 6, & 12 mos. GCs d/c in 43%. Results at odds w/ ph III GCAptAIN RCT where SEC https://t.co/ufCeaJnVXk
Dr. John Cush
@RheumNow
"No person has the right to rain on your dreams." - Martin Luther King, Jr.
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