Recent News
Read ArticleDr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com
Lifestyle and Incretin Therapy Advice for Rheumatologists
As GLP-1/GIP receptor agonists become standard co-management tools for obese patients with RA, PsA, axSpA, and gout, this JAMA Insights perspective by Kushner, et al. reframes lifestyle counseling as an adjunct to pharmacotherapy - a reversal of the traditional model. This has with direct implications for how we counsel obese patients we start or co-manage on these agents.
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Obesity management goes far beyond the number on the scale.
Watch our Four Pillars of Weight Loss video series, part of this month’s The Obesity Imperative campaign.
What Are the Four Pillars of Obesity Management?
Building a Multidisciplinary Program for Obesity & Arthritis https://t.co/3tjeST1wWs
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
n the updated ACR osteoarthritis guidance, methotrexate received a conditional recommendation for which OA subtype: hip OA; knee OA; erosive hand OA; or axial OA?
Test your knowledge in the latest RheumIQ quiz at https://t.co/LHFv1P6XZe.
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Added IVIG is Effective in Myositis
A small randomized controlled trial demonstrates that intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) added to cortocosteroids lead to greater and faster improvements in patients with newly diagnosed IIMs.
https://t.co/XLrvLSoOic https://t.co/xhjPBXLxiC
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Added IVIG is Effective in Myositis
A small randomized controlled trial demonstrates that intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) added to cortocosteroids lead to greater and faster improvements in patients with newly diagnosed idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs). https://t.co/CBzgOfSotj
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
True or False: According to a metanalysis of 87 studies, higher BMI and smoking were linked to reduced methotrexate efficacy in rheumatoid arthritis. Check your knowledge in the latest RheumIQ quiz at https://t.co/LHFv1P6XZe.
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Discussing Weight Loss: 3 Minute Script
Dr. Jack Cush's 3 Minute Script as discussed in his Introducing Weight Loss video.
https://t.co/JRWAPc5if5 https://t.co/jI65VzTIfs
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Chinese 52 wk study of XKH004, a novel, SC, humanized anti-17A/F in 323 active AS pts Rx q4 wks vs PBO. @ Wk 16, XKH004 was superior for ASAS40 (45.4% vs 19.4%; P<0.001), improved to 66% by wk 52. https://t.co/f7w41m4QZy https://t.co/LELo52zUb7
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Obesity and Rheumatic Disease
Presented as part of RheumNow's "The Obesity Imperative" campaign.
https://t.co/d2fl4EJX8Q https://t.co/AZGfKRvZrx
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Join us for Tuesday Nite Rheumatology on September 22 for:
Obesity Treatment & Safety
Experts will tackle:
• GLP-1/GIP therapies
• Lifestyle & bariatric interventions
• Treatment selection & safety
• Cost & compounding concerns
• Sarcopenia & bone health
• The future of https://t.co/BCSOUot5FL
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Review of HLA-B27
What’s New? HLA-B27 remains the dominant genetic link to spondyloarthritis (SpA) across the age spectrum, but B27 related clinical expression diverges between children and adults. New mechanistic data on autoreactive T cells, HLA-B27 misfolding, and gut-joint https://t.co/13hbXlAvCr
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Added IVIG is Effective in Myositis
A small randomized controlled trial demonstrates that intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) added to cortocosteroids lead to greater and faster improvements in patients with newly diagnosed idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs). https://t.co/uNNJ9sHU8M
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Bariatric Surgery in the Era of GLP-1RA
Overweight/obesity is a chronic multi-system disease that can impair physical and mental health. It now affects almost 1 in 3 Canadians. Multiple recent guidelines have therefore suggested using waist measurements, in addition to BMI, to https://t.co/RaXnQ2d9Yr
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
4,197 pts from the UK Biobank met fibromyalgia criteria, yet 72.6% had NOT received a diagnosis. Non-Dx assoc w/ male, older age, milder sxs or other pain Dx (OA, CRPS, CFS), lower polysymptomatic distress scores, and less frequent fatigue. https://t.co/Y9m9jR5wbR https://t.co/fitm675kyK
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Research at Cedars-Sinai used synthetic noncoding RNA TY1 in a bleomycin mouse model of scleroderma, noting improved exercise tolerance, CV function, lung hydroxyproline, skin thickness, less fibrosis. TY1 attenuates the cGAS/STING pathway https://t.co/jOwlPokxKE https://t.co/aIgIPzZbGa
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
OL study of tofacitinib in 20 juvenile DM pts w/ calcinosis cutis (11 boys; age 10.4 yrs; CC x 31 mos). Calcinosis assessed by CT scan showed decr Agatston score from 6,349 to 4,007. No SAE. https://t.co/UDLLwce3mp https://t.co/BflewkO0RM
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Metanalysis of 87 studies shows predictors of #MTX response: early Dz, low dz activity, early MTX initiation, and absence of erosive disease. Smoking and higher BMI were linked to reduced efficacy. https://t.co/OfB09aHNOS https://t.co/4UiOgfW940
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Obesity and Rheumatic Disease
Presented as part of RheumNow's "The Obesity Imperative" campaign.
https://t.co/d2fl4EJX8Q https://t.co/DpihLZz5Ch
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
QD Clinic: GLP-1s and History of Thyroid Cancer?
Daric Mueller, PA-C, St. Clair Shores, MI, presents this case as part of RheumNow's "The Obesity Imperative" campaign, presented in September 2026.
https://t.co/uob8RlMV14 https://t.co/f42gB0IXl1
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Video
From the Blog
A few years ago, when I would see a patient with rheumatic disease and increased BMI, I would often document it as obesity as a comorbidity, recommend weight loss and exercise, and then move on. My approach has changed.
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Podcasts
Obesity QD Clinics Part Two
Early RA Referral Clinics Work (9.18.2026)-
Obesity QD Clinics Part One
Obesity & Inflammation: Understanding the Impact on Rheumatic Disease
Therapeutic Updates
The Four Pillars of Weight Loss
RheumNow
Watch our 'Four Pillars of Weight Loss' series as part of this month's The Obesity Imperative campaign. Videos include: 'Building A Multidisciplinary Program for Obesity and Arthritis Management' and "Nutrition, Weight Management and Rheumatic Disease".
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Label update: Structural damage progression in active PsA
Sponsored by Johnson & Johnson Medical Affairs
Listen to Dr. Catherine Bakewell’s review of clinical data from a recent label update.
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Poster Hall
Sponsored by AbbVie Medical Affairs + Health Impact
Long-Term Safety of a JAKi in Clinical Trial and Real-World Settings Across >21,000 Patient-Years
Daily Gem
Obesity can escalate pain, function and disease activity scores.
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