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CDC: 40% of U.S Adults Claim to Have Arthritis
The CDC has reported its 2013 and 2014 prevalence statistics for arthritis and other chronic medical conditions affecting U.S. adults aged ≥18 years. Data is drawn from the ongoing Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), a state-based, telephone survey of noninstitutionalized adults. Data herein is self-reported arthritis (OA, RA, Gout, FM) and is quantified by state and metropolitan areas.
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Mortality with Interstitial Lung Disease in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Annals of Rheumatic Disease has published a Danish population based study demonstrating the high mortality rates seen with interstitial lung disease (ILD).
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15 September 2017 The RheumNow Week in Review
The RheumNow Week in Review discusses the past week's news, journal articles and highlights from RheumNow.com. This week's report discusses metabolic syndrome in lupus, bisphosphonate holidays, vasculitis and vascular inflammation, vaccination, and the repeated wonders of Vitamin D.
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Sarcoid and Rheumatoid Arthritis Risk Increased by Silica Exposure
A Swedish study has shown that occupational silica exposure increases the incidence rates of sarcoidosis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in those exposed workers in Swedish iron foundries.
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New Zoster Vaccine Recommended by FDA Panel
Reuters reports that the FDA advisory panel has voted 11-0 in favor of the safety and efficacy and ultimate approval of GlaxoSmithKline’s Shingrix shingles vaccine for use in adults aged 50 and over.
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Why Rheumatologists Should Do Better Vaccinating this Flu Season
It is well known that influenza infection is more common in patients with rheumatologic diseases. Blumentals et al.
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Jak Inhibition May Ameliorate Pruritus
Interleukin-4 has been shown to activate sensory neurons involved in pruritus, and that inhibition of IL-4 with Jak inhibition significantly alleviates itching.
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Past Infection, Lung Disease Raise Risk for Myopathy
Infections and noninfectious pulmonary disease were associated with an increased risk for idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM), a Swedish study found.
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Biologic Use in Adult-Onset Still's Disease
Adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) is the adult continum of systemic-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SoJIA). Treatment of this febrile polyarticular systemic disorder can be complex, but has been relieved by several specific biologic therapies.
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8 September 2017: The RheumNow Week in Review
The RheumNow Week in Review discusses the past week's news, journal articles and highlights from RheumNow.com. This week's report includes trends in MTX use and outcomes, fibromyalgia as an inflammatory disorder, drugs that stop psoriasis pruritus, drugs that don't cause TB, cardiovascular risk, and what Rheums think of ACR/EULAR criteria.
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Hugo E. Jasin, MD (1933-2017)
Hugo E. Jasin, M.D., a long-time faculty member at The University of Texas Southwestern Medeical Center and the University of Arkansas College of Medicine, passed away on August 24th, at the age of 84 years.
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New Recommendations on Biosimilar Use
The introduction of a growing number of biosimilars into the market poses a substantial change in cost of care for patients with inflammatory rheumatologic disorders.
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Rheumatoid Arthritis Augments Cardiovascular Risk
A large multi-center study of cardiovascular (CV) risk factors in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has shown, after nearly 6 years follow-up, more CV events in males than females (21% vs. 11%, respectively) and that RA itself accounts for 30% of the attributable CV risk.
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Psoriasis Doubles Mortality Risk
Noe and colleagues have reported in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology that by estimating the extent of skin involvement in psoriasis (%BSA) they may assess future mortality risk.
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New EULAR Guidelines for Ultrasound Use
In the current issue of ARD, the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) has revised and updated its 2001 guideline for musculoskeletal (MS) ultrasound (US) in rheumatology; this time incorporating new advances, technological developments and use indications in rheumatology. EULAR has provided this as an educational tool and standard reference for MSUS practice and research in rheumatology.
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Do Rheumatologists Use ACR/EULAR Guidance on Rheumatoid Arthritis? “Live Vote” Results
The June 2017 RheumNow “Live Vote” surveyed US and non-US rheumatologists and patients about how they diagnose and treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and whether they rely on newer diagnostic criteria and management guidelines propagated by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR).
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Increasing Deaths and Breaking Bad with Fentanyl
Opioid overdose deaths quadrupled from 1999 to 2015 and accounted for 63% of drug overdose deaths in the United States in 2015. During 2010–2015, heroin overdose deaths quadrupled from 3,036 to 12,989, with heroin and illicitly manufactured fentanyl (IMF) as likely contributors to this trend.
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1 September 2017: The RheumNow Week in Review
This week's report includes new data on IL-1 inhibition and protection from CV events and lung cancer, baricitinib given a reprieve, and features on infections: HBV, shingles and mortality of septic arthritis.
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What Can 30 Years of Rheumatic Disease Research Tell Us About the Future?
As a practicing rheumatologist for more than 30 years, I can recall a time – just a couple of decades ago – when waiting rooms were full of patients in wheelchairs, debilitated and in pain from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other related conditions.
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DSB Reports & Updates – August 2017
This Drug Safety Bulletin address FDA delay of baricitinib, etanercept effective at room temperature, Consumer Reports features on drug safety, no association between Alzheimer's and PPIs, AHRQ review of opioid drug safety, FDA safety abeling changes, drug shortages and more.
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