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Generics Surge the Market
Generics are being approved at a record-setting pace. Thanks to the 2012 FDA Safety and Innovation Act, there are new funds generated by manufacturers' fees for drug applications to hasten the approval of generics. In 2015 alone, the FDA has approved 580 generic drugs – the highest number on record – while another 146 were granted tentative approval.
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Curbside Consults - May 2016
How would you manage rheumatoid arthritis patients with melanoma in situ, or high liver enzymes or interstitial lung disease? Curbside consults takes on these challenging therapeutic or safety issues with answers are based on experience, literature and guidelines.
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Scleroderma Digital Ulcers Fail to Respond to Endothelin Antagonist
Khanna and coworkers have published the results of the DUAL-1 and DUAL-2 clinical trials (sponsored by Actelion Pharmaceuticals) testing the efficacy macitentan in reducing the number of new digital ulcers in patients with systemic sclerosis.
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Moderate Alcohol Intake While on Methotrexate Appears Prudent
Research presented at the annual British Society for Rheumatology conference revealed that rheumatoid arthritis patients who drink moderately while taking methotrexate appear to be at no greater risk for liver damage than nondrinkers.
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faSScinate Study Shows Tocilizumab to be Effective in Systemic Sclerosis
The results of the faSScinate trial were published in Lancet showing that treatment with Actemra (tocilizumab) resulted in a reduction in skin thickness and an improvement in lung function in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).
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The RheumNow Week in Review – 6 May 2016
Watch Dr. Cush discuss the highlights from this week on RheumNow.com.
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Risk of Steroid-Induced Diabetes Quantified
Glucocorticoid (or steroid) therapy is a well-known risk factor for diabetes. But what dose, given how and for how long? Dixon and colleagues from the The University of Manchester have quantified the risk of diabetes associated with steroid use.
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FDA REMS/Safety Panel Backs Educational Requirements for Opioid Prescribers
An advisory panel to the Food and Drug Administration met May 3rd and 4th to review whether the long-acting or extended release (ER/LA) opioid REMS programs approved in 2012 have had a meaningful effect on the opioid abuse problems noted nationwide. The FDA panel voted overwhelming
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Methotrexate Yields No Added Benefit in Etanercept Treated Psoriatic Arthritis Patients
Despite a paucity of clinical trial proof, methotrexate is often advocated or mandated to treat psoriatic arthritis. A recent comparison of clinical trials outcomes fails to show any added value when MTX is given to PsA patients taking etanercept.
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A Rheumatologist's Guide to Bariatric Surgery
Obesity is epidemic in North America, affecting nearly 76 million adults. Obesity is not only a risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, it clearly worsens pain and function in most musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions and has been shown to blunt DMARD and biologic resp
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Simple Referral Rule May Lead to Earlier Referral and Diagnosis of Axial Spondyloarthritis
Early referral and diagnosis remains a challenge for many who care for patients with musculoskeletal complaints. This is especially so in those with chronic low back pain (LBP) and the minority who will have ankylosing spondylitis or axial spondyloarthritis.
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CDC Updates Arthritis Numbers
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) routinely surveys the population prevalence of certain chronic disorders, including arthritis.
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Biosimilar Switching Shows Favorable Interchangeability
Interchangeability is a major issue that will determine the success of biosimilars.
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Poor Outcomes for Dermato/Polymyositis Admitted to ICU
Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) may be complicated with life-threatening conditions requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission. The outcomes of such complications may be dire, but there are few series addressing the outcomes of those admitted to the ICU.
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Consensus Guideline on Drug Therapy After Osteoporotic Fractures
Silverman and a panel from the IOF Fracture Working Group reviewed the data and trials to develop guidelines for the use of osteoporosis medications after incident fractures or to treat delayed fracture healing.
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Low Adherence to Biologics in Psoriasis Patients
Doshi and colleagues have conducted a retrospective claims analysis (2009 through 2012) of psoriasis patients on Medicare to examine the use and adherence to those initiating treatment with either infliximab, etanercept, adalimumab, or ustekinumab.
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Can Rituximab Change the Course of Interstitial Lung Disease?
Like other extraarticular manifestations, rheumatoid (RA) or connective tissue disease (CTD) related interstitial lung disease (ILD) is difficult to identify early and equally challenging to treat.
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Anniversary Feature: Top 5 Most-Read Articles from 1st Year
It is important to know where you’ve been, as it will most certainly color where you are going. Hence, in honor of our 1st year anniversary, we have taken note of our most popular articles.
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Doctors Need to See the Forest, Not Just the Trees
Doctors have an interesting problem. They have an ingrained professional obsessive-compulsive habit; they fixate on the care of individual patients and on the science of healing. This is an admirable trait; it results in high-quality care. However, when physicians need to change their attention from healer to leader, from medicine to the business of medicine, from healthcare to the healthcare system, they falter. Stuck in silos, they fail to adjust their focus. They resist systemic innovation. Because they cannot flip, they flop.
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RheumNow Week in Review – 22 April 2016
Watch Dr. Jack Cush cover ten highlights from this week on RheumNow.com.
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