All News

heart.EKG_.CVD_.jpg

CV Risks Similar in Systemic Sclerosis and Rheumatoid Arthritis

d Jack Cush, MD

Interactions between disease-related inflammatory processes and the development of several morbidities have been well-studied in RA, particularly heart disease. This is not the case for the often-lethal SSc (estimated standardized mortality ratio between 2.5 and 4.0).

Read Article
gene signature RNA

Genetic Diagnosis for Previously Undiagnosed Disorders

d Jack Cush, MD

The NEJM has reported the NIH's Undiagnosed Diseases Network (UDN) study results of genetically identifying new diseases from prospectively followed persons with undiagnosed disorders.

The UDN was formed in 2014 as a network of seven clinical sites, two sequencing cores, a coordinating center, central biorepository, a metabolomics core, and a model organisms screening center. It was established to apply a multidisciplinary model in the evaluation of the most challenging cases and to identify the biologic characteristics of newly discovered diseases.

Read Article
Cancer.risk_.jpg

SLE and Risk of Malignancy

d Jack Cush, MD

The risk for cancer in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients has been inconsistently studied.  A new metanalysis shows that SLE has an increased risk for 16 specific cancers and decreased risk for prostate cancer and cutaneous melanoma. 

Read Article
nurse.referral.jpg

Patients Don't Always Tell the Truth

d Jack Cush, MD

Sometimes patients withhold information from their doctors, and a new study suggests that as much as 60 - 80% of patients consciously omit information to their doctors, despite knowing this may bear on their health and well-being.

Read Article
WIR.large_.jpg (keep)

RheumNow Podcast – Can RA Be Prevented (12.7.18)

d Jack Cush, MD

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

Read Article
renal.genes_.jpg

Chronic Kidney Disease Increasing in the U.S.A.

d Jack Cush, MD

JAMA has published the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study showing that that, from 2002 to 2016, the US burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD) increased, with some states exhibiting more than twice the burden as others.

Read Article
vitamins.calcium.jpg

Deprescribing to Battle Polypharmacy

d Jack Cush, MD

The Gerontological Society of America has published a report calling for deprescribing as a means of managing polypharmacy in the elderly.

Read Article
Physician.Solo_.paper_.EMR_.jpg

The Benefits of a Lupus Clinic

d Jack Cush, MD

A comparative cohort study assessing the quality of care in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) suggests that a dedicated lupus clinic has better quality measure performance compared to lupus management in a general rheumatology clinic.

Read Article

Vasculitis may complicate autoinflammatory Dz - in FMF (IgA vasculitis, PAN), vasculitis may occur w/ CAPS, TRAPS, HIDS, DIRA, PAPA & Behcets syndromes. Vasculitis is part of DAD2 deficiency (STING-assoc vasculopathy w/ onset in infancy-SAVI (PAN-like) https://t.co/7MKo05pOa3

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

Systematic review of 41 papers shows that polymyalgia rheumatica is associated with comorbidities - CVA, CAD, peripheral arterial disease, diverticular disease, hypothyroidism, but there is disagreement as to an association betw PMR and cancer. https://t.co/74rwKuixR8

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

Registry studies of systemic sclerosis shows that early severe GI involvement (9% at 2yrs) is associated with increase risk of inflammatory myositis (OR 4.68), telangiectasias (OR 2.45), skin progression and a >2-fold risk of death (HR 2.27) https://t.co/6e96TldL2S

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

Pfizer intends to do a phase 3 study of tofacitinib 5 mg bid (vs PBO) in adults with active ankylosing spondylitis ~ 240 pts in a multinational study. Previously a 16 week, phase 2 trial showed an 82% ASAS20 response in AS pts. https://t.co/u1I0Tpdtl6

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

Full text overview of novel biologic and molecular targets studied or in development for SLE. https://t.co/7SGzKNm4Aa https://t.co/ki5toh6O3P

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Galectin-9 is a biomarker correlating with type 1 IFN signature and correlates w/ disease activity in SLE and and antiphospholipid syndrome and may also correlate with other autoimmune Dz - Sjögren’s, systemic sclerosis & juvenile) dermatomyositis https://t.co/TfpwMAIaaI

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

RheumNow Podcast is Up - Can RA be Prevented? watch here https://t.co/enxuQcF0qf or listen on iTunes, Stitcher or Soundcloud https://t.co/nmK3h2ri7I https://t.co/qS33jbtaUt

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
The Best Rheums go to the Best Meetings - RHEUMNOW LIVE - March 22-24 2019 Great Venue =Fort Worth. Short Lectures, interactive sessions, Q&A panels, TED (like) Talks, digital, streaming and much more. You dont want to miss this meeting! https://t.co/5TVg0Frsbf

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

As we continue our efforts to reduce the high cost of prescription drugs, meetings with groups like @ArthritisFdn and @ACRheum provide important insight into the needs of patients and physicians. https://t.co/jOOK4THTQ6
Secretary Alex Azar SecAzar ( View Tweet)
Bipartisan senators introduce new drug pricing bill https://t.co/mDWxPEtHhz

Links:

Angus Worthing MD AngusWorthing ( View Tweet)

J. Hopkins study of 27 pts with inflammatory arthritis due to immune checkpoint inhibitors (mostly European ancestry) shows higher rate (61.5%) of at least 1 Shared Epitope allele (similar to RA pts) but were more likely to be seronegative for RF or CCP https://t.co/uR7ESZ2s07

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

Direct Antiglobulin Test (DAT) or Coombs test reviewed in JAMA - hemolysis can be suggested by low haptoglobin, high LDH &reticulocytosis- a positive IgG DAT indicates warm AIHA. An IgM & anti-C3d activity --> cold agglutinin Dz https://t.co/XLZHtISTjn

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

×