All News

RheumNow Podcast - Why we Love Rheumatology Fellows (8.7.20) Watch it here>> https://t.co/ftrycqoWRR or Listen to the podcast on iTunes or on SoundCloud>> https://t.co/gi5hO0HaIl

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

Hong Kong study Myositis-specific autoantibodies in 201 pts with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) shows MDA-5 (14%), TIFF-1γ (14%), Jo-(12.4%). MDA5 seen w/ DM, digital ulcers, amyopathy, ILD. TIF1γ was associ w/ refractory rash and cancer https://t.co/3E365F5SON

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

Xeljanz4.jpg

Thromboembolic Risk with Tofacitinib in RA, PsA and UC

d Jack Cush, MD

An analysis of the tofacitinib (Xeljanz) drug development program in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and ulcerative colitis suggests a low level risk for venous (VTE) and arterial thromboembolism (ATE).  

Read Article
RA is associated with a 24‐35% lower risk of type 2 diabetes. Claims data comparison of 449,327 RA, general non‐RA, hypertension, OA, or PsA patients finds a lower risk of T2DM in RA (7/1000PY) and highest w/ HTN (12.3/1000PY) https://t.co/uZn5qaImO9

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

Study of 662 temporal artery Bx shows that when diagnosing #GCA, the TAB length should be at least 5 mm and should analyze at least 3 further sections at deeper levels for maximal yield. https://t.co/6zM9hBUsXy

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

Analysis of PPI use from the Nurses Health Study shows regular PPI use was associated with increased risk of RA in women, higher with a longer duration of PPI use. With 1.7 million PY F/U, Regular PPI users had a 44% higher RA risk (adjHR 1.44; 1.10–1.89) https://t.co/pmBf88zGKH

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

smartwatch wearable

Wearable Technology to Measure Arthritis Outcomes

d Jack Cush, MD

In this lockdown, virtual medicine, post-COVID world, wouldn't it be ideal to have an reliable digital readout on patient activity as a measure of health?

Read Article
statin

Lovastatin Fails to Lower CRP and Activity in RA

d Jack Cush, MD

Ridker and colleagues have shown that statins (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme-A (HMG Co-A) reductase inhibitors) are effective at treating hyperlipidaemia and lowering C-reactive protein levels; Aranaow and colleagues have shown that lovastatin, when given to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with elevated CRP levels failed to significantly lower disease activity. 

Read Article
Virtual Video Joint Exam Pearl #5: The worst/most ineffective Virtual visits done with the Patient (or MD) driving in their CAR for the virtual visit!! Amazingly I have had a half dozen of these & requested the patient pull over so I could deliver a rheum Citation.

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

Virtual Video Joint Exam Pearl #4: Professor Paul Emery was right! THe MCP squeeze (done by the patient) and MTP squeeze is fairly predictive of RA/inflammatory arthritis AND outperforms the "Finger" (distal hand) squeeze. Hence the MCP/MTP is my main squeeze!

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

Virtual Video Joint Exam Pearl #3: Despite cam setups designed to do upper extremity exams, patients can easily move cams and limbs to examine spinal movt, gait, knee, ankle and foot problems with great accuracy.

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

Virtual Video Joint Exam Pearl #2 : Despite being in my video on the Virtual joint exam; asking the patient to show you their fist (AKA fist bump the camera) to see potential MCP swelling has thus far been a largely useless maneuver...but it looks good on cam...

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

Plaquenil.HCQ_.pills_.jpg (keep)

Fighting Hydroxychloroquine Misinformation

d Jack Cush, MD

JAMA Internal Medicine has posted an Editor's note on the use of hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19; noting the sequence of dysfunction since the president promoted its use on March 21, 2020, when he said “What do you have to lose? I’ll say it again: What do you have to lose? Take it.”.

Read Article
Retrospective study of 20 RA pts w/ resolved hepatitis B (HBcAb+; HBsAg neg). 16/20 were Rx w/ tocilizumab & 8/20 w/ tofacitinib (nearly all HBsAb+). 25% recv antiviral Rx w/in 2 yrs of TCZ or Tofa; 6 had mild LFT elevations & No one had HBV reactivation https://t.co/EeFXo7mLhQ

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

Systematic literature finds a connection between ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and dementia (RR 1.19 [95% CI 1.01‐1.41]). From a total of 6562 articles reviewed, only 4 met criteria - analysis included 156418 pts. Cause? inflammation, inactivity?

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

The RheumNow Podcast is up - Top 13 Rheumatology Centers in the US; anakinra & colchicine in COVID, unload the loading dose, CB2 in Scleroderma. Watch it here>> https://t.co/5LIIi7Pwg1 or listen to the podcast here>> https://t.co/5LIIi7Pwg1

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

podcast logo

RheumNow Podcast - Top 13 Rheumatology Centers (7-31-20)

d Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and TOP 13 list of Best Rheumatology Hospitals.

Read Article
Based on a small number of studies (n = 5), there is little evidence to support the superiority (efficacy & safety) of Loading dose regimens when starting biologic (abatacept, certolizumab and secukinumab) therapy. https://t.co/0lNUzTFIOK

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

Safety & efficacy of rituximab in Older RA (>65; n=97) vs younger (<65yrs; n=276) showed no difference in drug survival over 2 yrs (72% vs 74%)or SDAI activity. BUT.. there were more SIE (14.2 vs 6.6/100 PY) & pneumonia (10.7 vs 5.1/100 PY) in older pts https://t.co/dxqPg2fOlV

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

FDA recommends health care professionals discuss naloxone with all patients when prescribing opioid pain relievers or medicines to treat opioid use disorder. Naloxone can be administered(+/- medical training) to help reduce opioid overdose deaths https://t.co/9B0hPhOm57

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

Do you get our email newsletter?

Looking for the latest rheumatology news & trends? Sign up for the RheumNow weekday newsletter:

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Rheumnow.com is a news source dedicated to the field of Rheumatology. It is written by experts in the field, and written for rheumatologists and individuals working in related fields. Rheumnow.com provides daily updates on the site and in your inbox when you are signed up for our newsletter.

Copyright {{ 'now'|date('Y') }} All Rights Reserved.