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Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and recent journal reports on RheumNow.com.
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In this study from Korea, levels of small particulate matter correlated with increased RA disease activity and risk for disease flares.
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The rheumatology, genetics and NIH communities mourn for Dr. Daniel L. Kastner, who died on July 28, 2026, in Bethesda, Maryland, at age 74. The following are declarations, tributes, and memories dedicated to this mensch of a man, titan of science, memorable mentor and humble physician.
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A new review in the Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease (Tamirisa et al) synthesizes how systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic sclerosis have an increased risk of arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death attributable to shared immune pathways.
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Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from this past week on RheumNow.com.
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July is Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month, and while many people think of arthritis as a disease of aging, nearly 300,000 children in the U.S. are living with a rheumatic disease.
Dr. John Cush
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Best proof of difference betw Seropos vs seroneg RA from TREAT-EARLIER 12 mos study 236 clinically suspect arthralgia pts w/ subclinical Jt inflammation Rx w/ MTX vs PBO. MTX prevented RA only the seroneg RA (9 v 35%); But no protection in seropos RA (58 vs 65%) https://t.co/A5aFUgMPQR
Dr. John Cush
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JAMA Case Quiz - A 57 yoF w/ #RA has a new vesicular rash. 9mos prior ETN change to ADA. Rash (painful, pruritic) started 2 wks ago. Exam: PIP swelling, & ulcerated plaques on neck, chest, & erythroderma on hands, CRP 15.0 mg/L , ESR 111 mm/h. What would you do? order?
Dr. John Cush
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Retrospective study of 2187 RA pts initiating menopausal hormone Tx (MHT) vs 8,205 unexposed controls. VTE incidence higher among MHT users (6.49 vs 3.3/1000PY). MHT use was associated with a 92% signif increased risk of VTE in RA (adj HR: 1.92), mostly DVT risk (aHR: 2.26)
Dr. John Cush
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STOP-HZ trial - 30 #RA pts going on tofacitinib given Shingrix (RZV) on day 1 & wk 8 & started Tofa on d1 or wk8. @wk 12 VZV responses incr in both (2.66 & 2.91 fold incr). @wk 4, d1 Tofa had fewer ≥1.5-fold VZV vs wk8 (44.8% vs 80%); BUT can you wait 8wks to start JAKi? https://t.co/tH0zPgBbHQ
Dr. John Cush
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UTSW observational study of labs (n 14,199) changes w/ MTX use in 2,439 pts (13% RA, 11% PsO/PsA, 15% inflam arthritis) - found no difference in labs q3 vs q6 mos. No signif correlation betw monitoring intervals & changes in ALT, AST,WBC, HCT, MCV, PLT, FIB-4. Small https://t.co/gKwA7juexG
Dr. John Cush
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Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) Index for Liver Fibrosis is calculated from age, AST, ALT, Plts. Study of 174 RA, PsA, PsO pts on MTX find 11% w/ fibrosis (by elastography). FIB-4 AUC for fibrosis =0.68 (weak). Fibrosis was signif assoc w/ FIB-4 >1.62, DM, obesity, advanced steatosis https://t.co/GYrhs2U1s3
Dr. John Cush
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Chinese cohort of 209 AOSD pts identifed 49 (23%) w/ lung dz (by CXR), yet 69% were asymptomatic. Significcant risk factors for AOSD-LD were pleuritis, MAS (HR 2.62), & Dz relapse (HR 2.6). Imaging patterns: acute exudative pattern most prevalent, followed by interstitial and https://t.co/2IPJWRJicP
Dr. John Cush
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Seronegative RA Disease Activity (7.17.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal articles and Gout features from this past week on RheumNow and check your knowledge in this week's RheumIQ quiz!
https://t.co/e0u9qwtHVi https://t.co/oav00L7Lzw
Dr. John Cush
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From 2015-2024, 148 inflam arthritis pts (43 SpA, 35 PsA, 50 RA) w/ a prior cancer were followed 58.1 mos. 24 (19%) had CA recurrence/progression. Post-CA exposure to b/ts-DMARDs did not incr. recurrence risk after adjusting for age & comorbidity burden. https://t.co/MHKIqwyjNN https://t.co/uhOdq1cCPW
Dr. John Cush
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Metanalysis of 51 studies shows vaccination is suboptimal in Rheum. Influenza Vax rates: RA 50%, SLE 42%, AS 43% & Psa 53%. Pneumococcal vaccinations even lower: 37%, 30%, 39% and 41%. More by with age & comorbidites and by rheumatologists (vs PCPs) https://t.co/3DborC9BLW https://t.co/MPDeJUH0HI
Dr. John Cush
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#THA revisions in 3657 RA vs 446428 OA pts (mean F/U ~7y) find RA has signif incr risk of revision (HR 1.35); espec due to infx (HR 1.48), dislocation (1.87), aseptic loosening (0–3m; 2.81). No diff w/ cemented, cementless, hybrid THA. Age > 65 was main risk factor. https://t.co/iK6pL3QF1W
Dr. John Cush
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RheumIQ: True or False: In an international consortium of RA patients, MACE risk was significantly associated with disease activity but not ACPA positivity.
Test your knowledge here: https://t.co/LATb1P18Sh https://t.co/Bs1ReJk0OY
Dr. John Cush
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Rheumatoid arthritis is found in 2-3.8% of gout patients.
For more gout content, follow our Gout: More than Flares campaign at https://t.co/lQoiFjubZJ, https://t.co/moAOVUJjKZ
Dr. John Cush
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ARTIC trial enrolled 234 DMARD naive RA (<2yrs) pts; 15.4% (36) were seronegative (SNRA). @enrollment SNRA worse than SPRA(+) w/ higher SJC (17 vs 8, p<0.001), DAS28 (3.9 vs 3.4, p=0.03), US scores (55 vs 25, p<0.001), MD global (49 vs 39, p=0.006). No diff in Sharp score, https://t.co/xDxQKY8ZG2
