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Baricitinib’s COVID-19 Efficacy in the RECOVERY Trial
Pre-print results of the RECOVERY Trial has shown that when baricitinib (BAR) is given to hospitalized severe COVID-19 patients, it results in significantly less mortality.
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Failed Osteoarthritis Pulse Ultrasound Study
A promising therapy aimed at halting and even reversing the pathology underlying osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee failed to show any benefit in a randomized trial.
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Tocilizumab Works Best in Non-Mechanical Ventilated COVID-19 Patients
JAMA has published a meta-analysis of 15 studies of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 treated with tocilizumab and corticosteroids, showing that a clinically meaningful mortality benefit from tocilizumab (and steroids) was best seen in those not requiring invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV).
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Drug Survival Differences in RA, PsA, SpA and PsO
Drug survival may be the best measure of efficacy and safety. A new study of novel therapy durability (survival) in patients with RA, axial spondyloarthritis, PsA, and psoriasis shows that while all these drugs are approved for said conditions, drug survival varies by condition, suggesting an ongoing need for individualized treatment.
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2021 Top Articles from Arthritis & Rheumatology
The ACR journal, Arthritis & Rheumatology, has publish a listing of top articles in 2021 as measured by Altmetric, an online service that tracks what gets "clicked" and discussed. Interestingly, this includes 4 guidelines and 5 COVID-related papers.
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Spondyloarthritis in Early Crohn's Disease
Analysis of a German Crohn's disease cohort finds that in patients with early Crohn’s disease (CD), spondyloarthritis was present in nearly one out of five patients and was associated with HLA-B27 positivity and a highly active CD.
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Increased SLE Flares with Hydroxychloroquine Reduction
Concerns about the long-term safety of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) often results in dose reduction or drug discontinuation; yet a current study shows that, for those in remission, HCQ taper/discontinuation resulted in a significantly higher rate of SLE flares.
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Updated ACR/AAHKS Guidelines on Drug Use in Knee & Hip Arthroplasty Patients
The American College of Rheumatology and the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons released a summary of their updated guideline for the Perioperative Management of Antirheumatic Medication in Patients with Rheumatic Diseases Undergoing Elective Total Hip or Total Knee Arthroplasty.
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Downside of Holding Methotrexate with COVID-19 Vaccination
A recent prospective, randomized, blinded clinical trial has shown that a 2 week hold of methotrexate (MTX) following COVID-19 (Sinovac-CoronaVac) vaccination resulted in greater anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunogenicity; but there was an increase in flare rates after the second dose of vaccine.
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MMWR - NFL Study on When to Be Released if COVID(+)
MMWR has reported the results of the National Football Leagues (NFL) change in SARS-CoV-2 testing program that went into effect in December 2021, at the height of the Omicron variant surge, showing that among those with asymptomatic infection, only half were PCR test negative and could return to
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Diagnostic Delay in Axial Spondyloarthritis (2.25.2022)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com. This week, rheumatologic problems incited by respiratory infections, air pollution and how you live, now where you live.
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COSMOS Study - Guselkumab Efficacy at 1 Year in Psoriatic Arthritis
Guselkumab, an IL-2319-subunit antibody, was studied in active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients who had a previously inadequate response (IR) to tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) and after 1 year was shown to significantly improved joint and skin manifestations and physical function.
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ACR Addresses Racial Disparities in Lupus Trials
The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) is launching two new initiatives to reduce racial disparities in lupus clinical trials: Training to Increase Minority Enrollment in Lupus Clinical Trials with CommunitY Engagement (TIMELY) and new Continuing Medical Educatio
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Low COVID-19 Vaccine Risks in Rheumatic Patients
Data from the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology Coronavirus Vaccine registry shows that patients with with inflammatory or noninflammatory rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease have similar adverse event rates as the general public.
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Medscape: Physician Burnout Report 2022
The annual Medscape Physician Burnout & Depression survey has been published for 2022 and Rheumatology burnout stats have improved, now ranking 10th (middle of the pack).
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Positive Results from the DOA (Duloxetine in OsteoArthritis) Study
A pragmatic, open-label trial of osteoarthritis (OA) patients demonstrated that adding duloxetine treatment seems to be beneficial for end-stage knee OA patients with neuropathic-like symptoms (at risk of central sensitization).
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RheumNow Podcast - RWCS 2022 Roundup (2.19.2022)
Drs. Jack Cush and Artie Kavanaugh review the highlights of the RWCS (Rheumatology Winter Clinical Symposium) from Maui.
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Did Your Specialty Choose You?
Why did I end up a rheumatologist? Circumstance, personality types, horoscopes or what? A current study in BMJ sheds light on why.
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BMI Most Impairs Treatment Response in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Using a large cohort of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, Tumor-Necrosis Factor inhibitors (TNFi) were compared to non-TNFi biologic therapies and showed that poorer responses were seen in obese and underweight patients, with no clear superiority of non-TNFi therapy over TNFi therapy in an
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Two Year Guselkumab Benefits in Psoriatic Arthritis
Patients enrolled in one of the pivotal trials of guselkumab (Tremfya) as therapy for psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and followed for 100 weeks continued to show significantly reduced symptoms relative to pretreatment baseline, researchers said.
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