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Participation is Up! (1.31.2025)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com. We also have two call-in cases on "Ask Cush Anything".

Be sure to join in the fun at RNL 2025 next weekend - Gong Show Karaoke; what will you sing?

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Infectious Sacroiliitis

Jack Cush, MD

A large Chinese cohort study of patients with infectious sacroiliitis (SI) suggests that CT-guided biopsy of the sacroiliac joint is necessary to properly identify the infectious pathogen leading to SI.

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Alive in 2025 (1.10.2025)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush brings in the new year with a review of the latest from RheumNow.com

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Best of 2024: Mixed Long-term Effects of Calcium and Vitamin D in Postmenopausal Women

Jack Cush, MD

A follow-up analysis of a randomized clinical trial found that the use of calcium and vitamin D supplements among postmenopausal women was associated with decreased risk for cancer mortality, but increased risk for cardiovascular disease mortality. The analysis is published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Best of 2024: 13 Risk Factors for RA-associated Interstitial Lung Disease

Jack Cush, MD

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is the most widespread and fatal pulmonary complication of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A recent metanalysis shows the pooled prevalence of RA-ILD was approximately 18.7%.

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Best of 2024: Lung Cancer in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Interstitial Lung Disease

Jack Cush, MD

A matched cohort study from the Veterans Health Administration shows that rheumatoid arthritis patients have a >50% increased risk of lung cancer, and a 3-fold higher risk of lung cancer in RA-interstitial lung disease (ILD).

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Bah Humbug Vitamin D (12.20.2024)

Jack Cush, MD

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

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Tocilizumab Efficacy in Giant Cell Arteritis Phenotypes

Jack Cush, MD

A Spanish Collaborative Group study of Tocilizumab (TCZ) in Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) demonstrated high efficacy regardless of the different vascular phenotypes treated. 

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ICYMI: Beyond the Needle: Redefining the Assessment of Lupus Nephritis

Akhil Sood, MD

Lupus nephritis is one of the most silent and severe manifestations of SLE. When not captured early, patients are at high risk of progressing to end-stage renal disease, which would require dialysis or transplantation. Renal biopsy remains the gold standard for diagnosis and disease classification. However, the procedure is invasive and very painful. Non-invasive measures are critical for early detection and continuous monitoring.

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Infectious Sacroiliitis A large Chinese cohort study of patients with infectious sacroiliitis (SI) suggests that CT-guided biopsy of the sacroiliac joint is necessary to properly identify the infectious pathogen leading to SI. https://t.co/GYI8iz0rOS https://t.co/3wQR47Wd4g

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Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Review of 39 imaging studies (12 MRI, 26 evaluated ultrasound) in pts w/ clinically suspect arthralgia showed variable results for imaging predicting progression from CSA to inflamm. arthritis (RA). US sensitivity/specificity = 37%/90%; MRI was 45%/84% https://t.co/uUl5i2t7ib https://t.co/ScnA7aN07N

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Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Palmar fasciitis & polyarthritis syndrome (PFPAS). JAMA case 50yoM w/ progressive hand swelling, stiffness, thickening, erythema, hepato-splenomegaly. Skin Bx dermal fibrous tissue. WBC 152k, LDH 889, lead to CML dx made by BM Fx (myeloid-erythroid ratio 21 w/ myeloblasts). +… https://t.co/xtHbzAioss https://t.co/RfMrfntFtb
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Systematic review of 208 pts w/ IgG4–related disease & pachymeningitis - mean age 52 yrs; 2/3 male. HA & cranial nerve dysfunctions were most common Sxs. nearly half had systemic Dz. Abnl imaging of cavernous sinus and middle fossa. Incr. IgG4 in 65% w/ CSF pleocytosis in 52%… https://t.co/0TberfIXsH https://t.co/6k5QgGTnkw
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
🚨 Just 4 weeks until #RheumNowLive 2025! 🚨 📅 Feb 8-9 | Dallas, TX Don’t miss 1.5 days of cutting-edge #rheumatology education, interactive sessions, and unmatched networking! 🧠 Expert insights: 🔹 EGPA care innovations (Dr. Wechsler) 🔹 Vasculitis imaging… https://t.co/ObHBj1dQoK https://t.co/UuDZxBhdLr
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Full read JAMA ILD Review article. ILD= 33% idiopathic (IPF) + 15% hypersensitivity pneumonitis + 25% from CTD. 30% of ILD has cough Chest CT 91% sensitive, 71% specific 5% decr in FVC/12 mos assoc w/ 2-fold incr in mortality Rx options nintedanib or pirfenidone, TCZ, MMF, RTX… https://t.co/s5v3XD8QmC https://t.co/iP5yFWkQwb
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
A re-evaluation of lupus arthritis. Old dogma is RA is erosive and SLE non-erosive. With better imaging, lupus arthritis can be erosive. Vivianne Malstrom. @RheumNow #ACR24 https://t.co/dFRnmGMGls https://t.co/LNoCtmtVuI

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Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Full read JAMA ILD Review article. ILD= 33% idiopathic (IPF) + 15% hypersensitivity pneumonitis + 25% from CTD. 30% of ILD has cough Chest CT 91% sensitive, 71% specific 5% decr in FVC/12 mos assoc w/ 2-fold incr in mortality Rx options nintedanib or pirfenidone, TCZ, MMF, RTX… https://t.co/FKZyNU1s06 https://t.co/w5q0hOesEH
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
171 SSc pts w/ hand Xrays and US found 20% w/ Joint involvement. Active Synovitis & tenosynovitis predicted by CRP>10mg/L (p = 0.013), fibrotic tenosynovitis on US (p = 0.005), anti-RNA polymerase III antibodies (p = 0.043) https://t.co/XYeMl6ag9c https://t.co/ycM573lUGT

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Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Sarcoidosis is biopsy supported not proven” -Dx is clinical with broad ddx. -Assess organ involvement in all pts. -Whole body PET can help assess disease activity (not in CNS disease) -MR brain with pituitary cuts helpful in CNS sarcoid. #ACR24 @ACRheum @RheumNow… https://t.co/Ka1cHtFOqj

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

Steroids do NOT hamper muscle Bx dx of ANCA vasculitis. Tokyo study of 126 pts w/ suspected vasculitis had Quad muscle Bx; 71 (+) w/ Dx of AAV. Bx yield in 56 and 15 pts w/ off or on steroids, respectively, was similar (59% vs 53%). https://t.co/Xpt01Wksd3 https://t.co/NSBclcEgwq

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Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
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