This edition: REPLENISH (secukinumab in polymyalgia rheumatica). The EBR Journal Club Companion applies my adapted version of the JAMA approach to critical appraisal to an important RCT in rheumatology. 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?
Recent News
Professor van Vollenhoven has compiled a state-of-the-art review on lupus treatment advances – current and future. SLE management is entering an unprecedented phase.Read Article
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Dr. John Cush
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Using Global Burden of Disease study data, an economic evaluation of 204 countries & territories, osteoarthritis & Alzheimers/dementias had highest health burden, but largest economic losses observed for combinations involving osteoarthritis, particularly osteoarthritis and https://t.co/0JgRgJAWy7
Dr. John Cush
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150 #Gout pts (56 yrs old; 33wks F/U; 21% drank EtOH, 29% obese, 5% MASLD) on allopurinol followed w/ labs. 30y (20%) had incr AST/ALT (87% mild, none severe). Allopurinol was cont 18/10 without change in AST/ALT. Allopurinol was not the primary cause of LFT elevation https://t.co/nBCACpvr5W
Dr. John Cush
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The FDA is reviewing Sun Pharma’s tildrakizumab (Ilumya), an IL-23 inhibitor, for use in active psoriatic arthritis, with an October 29, 2026 action (PDUFA) date. Decisons to be based on PsA INSPIRE-1 and INSPIRE-2 Phase 3 Studies https://t.co/iDWhub0k91 https://t.co/j8wQLxNCdA
Dr. John Cush
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RHEUMATOLOGIST Survey Q: How do you assess cutaneous lupus activity or treatment responses? CLICK HERE> https://t.co/PZDVpkqR1q https://t.co/bAQ7qNqGIA
Dr. John Cush
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Tis the Season for Vaccination
Vaccination is essential for all rheumatologic patients, but particularly for patients on glucocorticoids and immunosuppression who face increased risk from infectious diseases.
https://t.co/hHx1okkwHD https://t.co/nzRa9pzQ1X
Dr. John Cush
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Novel Imaging of Skin Disease in Scleroderma
An emerging technique called spatial frequency domain imaging (SFDI) proved its mettle for evaluating skin fibrosis in systemic sclerosis (SSc), also called scleroderma, in an early clinical study.
https://t.co/vHmxD1cHRR https://t.co/BWW6Te9FFI
Dr. John Cush
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Impact of Myositis in Scleroderma Patients
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) may have overlap features such as myositis. When present, myositis in SSc is associated with an increased risk of cardiac involvement and a shift in mortality away from ILD towards a greater cardiac risk. https://t.co/dsGOXvdEuK
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Most patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) whose initial treatment used a stringent treat-to-target strategy in a clinical trial were in remission 10 years later, with only modest radiographic progression over that time, researchers said.
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Lancet Rheumatology has published a large cohort analysis with a genome-first approach using whole exome sequencing to find 1 in 4026 prevalence (159/640092) of monogenic disorders, half with inflammatory features. Only one of these patients were previously diagnosed with an autoinflammatory disorder.
Dr. John Cush
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Prospective RCT of 39 refractory carpal tunnel pts (63 wrists) were injx w/ 1) US hydrodissection w/ normal saline (NS); 20 steroid injx; 3) US saline + steroid. Wk 24: Improved 86% & 90% grps 1 & 3; Saline superior to steroid; & adding steroid to NS yielded no benefit https://t.co/vCAB7Hojlo
Dr. John Cush
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I saw an AARP article on the "best mattresses for Fibromyalgia"!! A mattress (unless you have a really bad, saggy one) will not fix FM. Focus on sleep habits, sleep aids, pain at night and everything but the mattress!! IMHO https://t.co/MIwxpKMRih https://t.co/11J2HsL0ai
Dr. John Cush
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Tokyo study of 107 pts (age: ~86y) on synov. aspiration found to have CPPD crystals - MSU crystals also seen 17 pts (16%), where CPPD crystals predominated. 7/17 had Hx of gout or hyperuricemia. None were Rx for gout. https://t.co/lDnBhd5EFA https://t.co/9DjaLHygMc
Dr. John Cush
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Scleroderma Research Foundation Raises Nearly $1.1 Million At This Year's Cool Comedy • Hot Cuisine event hosted by Jeff Ross & included Fortune Feimster, Matt Friend, Ron Funches, Jay Pharoah, Lisa Ann Walter, Seth Green, Howie Mandel, and John Mayer https://t.co/ktgaNNinXa https://t.co/7RhaB9li9B
Dr. John Cush
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THIS SATURDAY IS National Prescription Drug Take Back Day - October 24, 2026, 10AM to 2PM (safe disposal of prescription drugs) FIND a center near you >> https://t.co/gle5p0G3fC https://t.co/OBjRaTPa9B
Dr. John Cush
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FDA has approved NDA for Evoxac, granting Cosette right to sell oral, liquid Evoxac as an alternative treatment option for managing dry mouth symptoms in Sjögren’s patients. NA until end of 2026. https://t.co/jTySNljXMv https://t.co/PCnfAmIB2W
Dr. John Cush
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Portugese single center study of primary Sjögren’s dz shows early damage is assoc w/ 12-14X incr risk of lymphoma. 208 pts (F/U 14_ yrs) Damage seen in 79% & 85%. Mortality linked to age but not damage. 17 (8%) had lymphoma. Early damage incr lymphoma (HR 14.5 or HR https://t.co/g62KtjDuWg
Dr. John Cush
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RheumNow Live 2027 registration is NOW OPEN.
GLP-1s in your clinic. CAR-T in lupus. Rheumatology experts vs. AI, with your vote.
Jan. 30–31 | Onsite + virtual
Early Bird Pricing through 12/15/2026.
See the agenda. Register: https://t.co/zYYC2350tE https://t.co/mPdcOhbrC6
Dr. John Cush
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Cryptococcus is rare, but twice as likely with JAK inhibitors. Retrospective TriNetX analysis of RA pts (>30k/grp) starting JAKi vs TNFi; JAKi vs non-TNFi; & TNFi vs non-TNF. Crypto seen in <0.2% in all groups; but signif higher HR for JAKi (HR 2.2 & 2.15) https://t.co/fJeKwDZABL

Poster Hall
