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Generic Price Fixing Alleged by State Prosecutors

d Jack Cush, MD

The NY Times and 60 Minutes have reported that Connecticut, along with 43 other states, filed a mega-lawsuit accusing the generic drug makers of a massive, systematic conspiracy to bilk consumers out of billions of dollars.

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Low Serious Infection Risk with Newer Agents in Psoriasis

d Jack Cush, MD

JAMA Dermatology reports on a comparative cohort study of 107,707 psoriasis patients, finding a decreased risk of serious infections among users of apremilast, etanercept, and ustekinumab when compared with methotrexate.

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Employed Physicians Outnumber Self-Employed

d Anonymous

For the first time in the United States, employed physicians outnumber self-employed physicians, according to a newly updated study on physician practice arrangements by the American Medical Association (AMA).

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RheumNow Podcast – Periodontitis in RA Relatives (5.10.19)

d Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com

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Gabapentinoid Drugs Overuse and Misuse

d Jack Cush, MD

A recent article in JAMA by Drs. Goodman and Brett reviews the increasing off label use of gabapentinoid drugs, originally developed as antiseizure drugs that are now increasingly prescribed for painful conditions.

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Calcineurin Inhibitors in Anti-Synthetase Dermatomyositis ILD

d Jack Cush, MD

A pilot treatment study of patients with anti-aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase antibody–positive polymyositis/dermatomyositis-associated interstitial lung disease (anti-ARS-PM/DM-ILD) shows therapy with glucocorticoids and calcineurin inhibitors (CNI) to be highly effective. 

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Biomarkers Predict Thrombosis in Lupus

d RheumNow

A composite risk score that included three biomarkers predicted thrombotic events among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a cross-sectional study found.

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Drug Pricing Regulations in US and Canada

d Jack Cush, MD

Reuters reports on regulatory efforts by Canada and the US to curb the rising cost of drugs, especially expensive new medicines. 

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Studies argue about MTX efficacy in GCA; many calling for new RCTs at higher doses. A new real world study compared 83 GCA pts on MTX (13.5mg/wk) vs 83 controls showing signif. lower relapse rates with MTX (0.32; 0.24–0.41), but no change in steroid use https://t.co/aCrL4PILUM

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Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

When two people have respect and rapport, the one with certainty will influence or outperform the other. – Tony Robbins

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

The RheumNow Podcast is up! Watch it here https://t.co/fKvdmcuBtE or listen to the podcast on iTunes or SoundCloud https://t.co/IBOgZQvIiC

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Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

Have you accessed RheumNow Live On Demand? It's free. More than 30 speakers delivered outstanding talks that I think you'll enjoy. Just go to https://t.co/1jGiIQXvua to register. #rheumed https://t.co/Gxahq1Tp9X

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Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Initiating Urate Lowering Therapy (ULT) in 75 #Gout patients was associated with a 48% gout flare rate (within 3 mos of ULT). Risk factors include CRP >30mg/L, no prophylaxis (NSAID, colchicine) https://t.co/0oqnMgNVzX

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Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

Analysis of claims data compared hospitalized infection rates among 11,248 matched pairs of new initiators of abatacept or TNF inhibitors. Serious hosp infections were significantly lower in ABA vs infliximab (HR 0.63; 0.47-0.85), but similar to ETN & ADA https://t.co/JhXlC7p1A7

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Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

23 pts with Fibromyalgia were compared to non-diabetic Framingham and NHANES cohorts and shown to have significantly higher Hgb-A1c levels; suggesting insulin resistence in FM. 16 pts were given metformin and 50% had complete pain resolution (=0) https://t.co/OsbGFhcaCd

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Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

Fascinating case series - which suggests potential reasons to include a PSCK9 inhibitor in a statin-associated necrotizing myopathy — due to these meds possibly lowering HMGCR levels. https://t.co/Jblf2EDNmp

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Paul Sufka, MD psufka ( View Tweet)

Time To Stop Labeling Physicians As Providers - thoughtful discussion of an unfortunate trend. https://t.co/W5c0sLHKal

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Eric Ruderman JointMD ( View Tweet)

Biologic Survival study from Japan- ANSWER study w/ 4466 courses in 2494 pts (2009-17). Efficacy Survival best for ABA, TCZ; worst for IFX & CZP. Toxicity Dropouts most in IFX & ADA, least ABA & CZP. Remission best w/ ETN & ABA, least w/ GLM, IFX. https://t.co/IgRDKLemjW

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Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

"Everyone Needs A Coach" my TED-like talk from RheumNow Live 2019. https://t.co/G4jengfX0X

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Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

FDA has approved Ruzurgi (amifampridine) for Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome in children 6-17 years. Drug works by blocking potassium channel efflux in nerve terminals, opening Ca2+ channels & increasing acetylcholine release https://t.co/y7JFr76PTr

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Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

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