Recent News
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from RheumNow.com, including info on scleroderma, dermatomyositis and malignancy, rheumatologist and APP salary concerns.Read Article
Hematologic Malignancies Increased in Systemic Sclerosis
Swedish national study found that among a cohort of systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients a two-fold increase risk of hematological malignancies was seen.
https://t.co/K1WuMC0mXI https://t.co/MGkvwESqIe
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
TriNetX retrospective cohort study of 1402 propensity matched Systemic Sclerosis pts on vs off SGLT2 inhib (2013-2025) & found SGLT2i significantly lowered all-cause mortality (HR 0.54), stroke (HR 0.64), & hospitalizations (HR 0.76), moreso in SSc without Hx of CHF (HR 0.62) https://t.co/CVkRJegei9
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Coccyx and Sacrococcygeal Joint Disorders
Pain from coccygeal or sacrococcygeal disorders is rare, often presenting as a diagnostic challenge. Coccygeal pain is often mistaken for lumbosacral, pelvic, or gastrointestinal disorders. This review presents the epidemiology, https://t.co/zrGDwULms5
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Korean claims study of 60 315 adult #RA pts (matched 1:5 controls), found risk for nontuberculous mycobacteria pulmonary disease was 3 fold higher in RA (0.23% vs 0.06%; 0.54 vs 0.14/1000PYs). Mostly in seropositive RA (OR 3.77), also males, obese, EtOH use. https://t.co/xPPHvtwxIB
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
PROSPERO metanalysis of 22 studies & 2208 JIA associated uveitis (JIAU) showed severe visual impairment in 16.6% at ~18 yrs. Most frequent: Cataract (44.3%), followed by glaucoma, synechiae, band keratopathy and hypotony. Biologics were protective https://t.co/6OoupX64NE https://t.co/7bp0JtRken
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
High Cost of Cancelling Knee Replacement Surgery
Thousands of NHS knee replacement operations are cancelled at short notice every year, many for avoidable reasons, according to a new study published December 1st. This costs the NHS millions of pounds and increases waiting times https://t.co/USWAPC0k6N
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
ICYMI: Inflammatory vs. Noninflammatory Pain
https://t.co/3nJ2NZYTQY https://t.co/7FuSYzkX2G
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Changing Loan Limits for Advance Practice Providers
The "One Big Beautiful Bill" (OBBB), or H.R. 1, was signed into law in July, calls for significant changes in the funding of healthcare education. This bill that lowers cap limits on education loans applies to graduate (APRN, https://t.co/4fwhAo2WG5
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Legislative Issues Affecting APPs
Major interstate “compacts” allow for cross state licensing for physicians. However, compacts for Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) are fewer and currently on hold - thereby limiting healthcare manpower and patient care. https://t.co/sBYtX03IY7
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Hiring, Onboarding and Training APPs
Watch our kickoff webinar for this month's Mission: APP — Partners in Care campaign. Our panel of rheumatologists and experienced advanced practice providers share insights into hiring, onboarding, training, compensation, and more. https://t.co/stgTQM9soW
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Low Dose Naltrexone for Fibromyalgia Pain - Use it or Lose it?
Medscape recently reviewed off-label use of low dose naltrexone (LDN) in fibromyalgia (FM) and found it is deemed effective by some clinicians and patients, but 1) there is no FDA indication for LDN use in FM and 2) the data supporting its use is limited.
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DMARD Treatment Lags for Minority Groups with Rheumatoid Arthritis
MedPage Today
Use of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was markedly lower among all major racial-ethnic minority groups in the U.S. compared with white patients, analysis of federal survey data indicated, even after adjusting for income, education, and other factors.
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QD Clinic: Flare or Beware
Lindsay Tom, PA-C and Phong Nguyen, MD, Reston, VA discuss today's case called "Flare or Beware", involving a patient who has psoriatic arthritis mutilans, presented as part of RheumNow's "Mission: APP Partners in Care" campaign during the month of https://t.co/JbyHBCQ4ct
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Survey of 500 Rheum Patients, 37% reported having APPs (NP or PA) as primary rheum providers. APP patients had greater ease scheduling& more prefer to see APPs over rheumatologists (P < 0.01) & recommend APPs . No difference between MD vs APP experience https://t.co/VShREnhsMG https://t.co/glaIUPZ5qh
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
RheumNow Live 2026
Where the data meets the dialogue.
Join leading rheumatologists, researchers, and innovators at RheumNow Live 2026 — the meeting redefining rheumatology education.
➡️https://t.co/zYYC2350tE https://t.co/4Vz7swwqFJ
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Retrospective cohort study of 546 DM or clinically amyopathic DM pts. 5 factors were signif assoc w/ cancers (1 point ea): 1) TIFF-1-γ Ab (OR 3.8), poikiloderma (OR 3.1), DM subtype (2.8), anemia (2.4), but ILD was protective (OR 0.39). Markedly elevated DM cancer risk seen w/ https://t.co/r564RbZys2
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Consensus Definitions on Difficult to Treat PsA
A substantial number of patients with PsA, have difficult, persistent and hard-to-treat disease. A GRAPPA task force has developed a consensus terminology for two distinct states:
Complex-to-manage PsA (C2M-PsA) https://t.co/po1psn9GNm
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Hematologic Malignancies Increased in Systemic Sclerosis
Swedish national study found that among a cohort of systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients a two-fold increase risk of hematological malignancies was seen.
https://t.co/BypsCRUthe https://t.co/lfLJhSqn9e
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Long-Term APP Retention: Building Success for Practices and Providers
Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) are vital in rheumatology due to rising patient numbers and the need for prompt care. Their integration enhances practice efficiency, improves patient access, and balances https://t.co/bZBkbWyWfI
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet)
From the blog
Podcasts
APPs in the news (12.05.25)
Hiring, Onboarding and Training APPs-
Turkey Tryptophan (11.28.2025)
DERM on RheumNow (November 2025)
Therapeutic Updates
Underserved and Under-treated
RheumNow
Watch our Underserved and Under-Treated series as part of this month's Mission: APP Partners in Care campaign. Now available: Vaccine Pearls, Sex & The Rheumatology Patient, Pitfalls in Osteoporosis and Genesis & History of APPs.
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Poster Hall
