Recent News
POETYK PsA-1 trial tested the disease modifying efficacy of deucravacitinib, a tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) inhibitor, in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients and was shown to be superior vs to placebo for clinical responses, patient-reported outcomes, and structural damage inhibition in PsA.Read Article
Wealth and Where you Live Influences Outcomes
EurekAlert!
Patients from wealthier European countries tend to start treatment with biologics earlier but also stop or switch treatment earlier. They also experience lower disease activity at treatment start than patients in middle- and low-income countries.
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NP Salaries: in 7 specialties, NPs now avg >$150,000/yr, with the avg annual salary surpassing $137,000 in 2026 according toBureau of Labor Statistics. https://t.co/LlGFxkvEj5 https://t.co/h5bKsrnm4k
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Multimodal & multidisciplinary Tx (MMT) are underutilized in adults w/ chronic pain. Study of 347 Chr pain pts - 60% used non-opioid meds; 29% used opioids & only 11% MMT. Older age & high intensity pain assoc w/ Opioids. MMT had more complex pain w/ greater pain interference, https://t.co/iF0UQeut9b
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Systemic Burden of Gout
https://t.co/OUgXMtH1bn https://t.co/1AtaFwZ2SR
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Mentshlichkeit* (8.7.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and recent journal reports on RheumNow. Ready to test your knowledge? Take this week's RheumIQ quiz!
https://t.co/NdJqCMai2V https://t.co/8iMBavheMx
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
JAMA has updated its guidance for the acceptable use of AI in authoring a Medical Publication. Despite growing AI use, very low rates of disclosure of AI use have been reported. This is about what is permitted & not permitted & what needs to be disclosed. https://t.co/zti0OnvBV0 https://t.co/Y1C3MfJ27c
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
What's New in Lyme Disease
JAMA has published an overview of new considerations on Lyme disease, focusing on Diagnostics, Vaccines, and Prevention.
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JAMA Patient Education Page on:
Therapeutic Use of Cannabis and Cannabinoids https://t.co/s6F7B9qLfr https://t.co/lpLGozJgvi
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Study of 154 anti-Ku Ab+ pts (51 IMMM, 46 SLE, 30 Sjögrens, 27 Sc) = 60 (39%) had ILD - 75% progressed; more rapidly in males. BUT Ku+ is rare <4%, not specific, without clear clinical implications. Ku is a myositis-assoc Ab (like Ro52/Ro60, U1-RNP, PM/Scl) https://t.co/MHz8mdqDqi
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
UK Clinical Practice Research Database study RA pts 3134 on glucocorticoids (vs not 4142 matched controls). were identified. GC use assoc w/ signif risk of SSRI initiation risk - recent GC (adj OR 1.53) & past GC (aOR 1.40). GC effect or confounding dz activity? Think depression! https://t.co/WZLkQWlURC
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
NSAIDs reduces age-related macular degeneration. TriNetX study (2015-2024) looked at non-AMD pts & showed NSAID use (n 634794) had signif less AMD at 6 mos (HR 0.31), 1 yr (0.36), 3 yrs (0.42) & 5 yrs (0.48); w/ signif protective effect (HR 0.58), Same for ASA (0.72) & https://t.co/Cgxrz92Omt
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Air Pollution Increases RA Activity and Flares
Koreans with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) showed increased disease activity and higher flare rates when exposed to relatively high levels of small atmospheric particulate matter, researchers reported.
https://t.co/9dZkTzivRz https://t.co/Reic3P5U6r
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Rethinking Treatment of EGPA
Like MPA & GPA, the goals of EGPA are controlling initial organ damage and preventing relapse. But EGPA has the added challenge of chronic upper and lower respiratory tract involvement, allergic type 2 inflammations and risk of glucocorticoid https://t.co/KIVpyhsghg
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Korean study of 1070 #RA pts. assessed for Dz activity & monthly pollution exposure (SO2, NO2, ozone, CO, PM10, PM2.5). Among 6 pollutants, PM2.5 signif incr risk of flare (adj OR 1.11) & DAS28-CRP, CDAI, TJC, SJC; more so w/ in women & nonsmokers & w/ prolonged PM2.5 exposure https://t.co/HgtWMz9LMs
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
“We may have all come on different ships; but we’re in the same boat now.”
-Martin Luther King, Jr.
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Arrhythmias in Autoimmune Rheumatic Disease
A new review in the Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease (Tamirisa et al) synthesizes how SLE, RA, and SSc have an increased risk of arrhythmias and SCD attributable to shared immune pathways. These facts substantiate the https://t.co/j9AW26LE66
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Best proof of difference betw Seropos vs seroneg RA from TREAT-EARLIER 12 mos study 236 clinically suspect arthralgia pts w/ subclinical Jt inflammation Rx w/ MTX vs PBO. MTX prevented RA only the seroneg RA (9 v 35%); But no protection in seropos RA (58 vs 65%) https://t.co/ufY9ZJmKgf
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
COLIPSO prospective study of psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis adults starting ts/bDMARDs; MRI done serially. 35 pts f/u for ~29 wks - MASLD. Only Rx w/ IL-17 inhibitors improved liver fat and inflammation in psoriatic disease as well as clinical outcomes. https://t.co/MFjvh5OJg2 https://t.co/k0C7RSvaaR
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
In a Cohort of 410 #SLE pts, there were 37 MALES who demonstrated a high prevalence of renal (IV/V lupus nephritis 49%) and a notable incidence of Plaquenil-related retinal toxicity. 62% on HCQ, but 22% D/C HCQ due to retinal toxicity or drug intolerance. https://t.co/VISwHO1wcK https://t.co/6SoD6mD5tf
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
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
Mentshlichkeit (8.7.2026)
A JAKi After TNFi Failure in RA: SELECT-SWITCH at Week 12
TU: Systemic Burden of Gout Part 2 (24 plus)-
Methotrexate Safety Tips (7.31.2026)
Therapeutic Updates
Make Rheum for Rads: Autoimmune ILD Diagnosis, Monitoring, and the Patient Experience
Sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Drs. Elizabeth Volkmann and Robert Suh explore the roles rheumatologists and radiologists play in diagnosing and monitoring autoimmune ILD and hear from a patient about her experience.
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A JAKi After TNFi Failure in RA: SELECT-SWITCH at Week 12
Sponsored by AbbVie Medical Affairs + Health Impact
Dr. Christina Charles-Schoeman and Dr. Manish Jain are back to discuss treatment considerations after TNFi failure in RA. Join them as they review the latest data from SELECT-SWITCH, including post hoc results in primary and secondary nonresponders presented at EULAR 2026.
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Poster Hall
Sponsored by AbbVie Medical Affairs + Health Impact
