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ACR: Congress Fails to Reform PBMs, Mitigate Medicare Cuts
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ACR
The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) commended the limited extension of key Medicare telehealth coverage provisions but also expressed disappointment that Members of Congress have failed to pass measures to bring transparency to pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) practices, address flawed insur
Read ArticleFallen Angels (1.17.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com; and pays homage to colleagues who passed away in 2024.
Read ArticleChildhood Maltreatment and the Risk of Rheumatic Diseases
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EurekAlert!
A UK retrospective matched open cohort study shows that children who suffered frmo abuse, neglect or domestic abuse carry a significantly increased risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis or psoriasis in later life.
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Study of predominantly older males from the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) data, shows the use of b/ts-DMARDs is not associated with a risk for multiple myeloma. From 27,540 RA pts, 30% took b/tsDMARD, 77 incident MM (HR1.32;95% CI 0.78, 2.26) https://t.co/KZLEfq8vRK https://t.co/7qLQISRCoC
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"I'd rather be a failure at something I love than a success at something I hate."
- Martin Luther King Jr. https://t.co/E2f5mEV9Jx
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QD Clinic - Natural RA
PsO/PsA patient avoiding DMARDs and Biologics, and wants Natural therapies
Features Dr. Jack Cush
QD Clinics - lessons from the clinic, sponsored by RNL2025 in Dallas, TX; Feb 8 & 9, 2025
Register at https://t.co/2dcFVgu8z6
https://t.co/nYhcPaC0qW https://t.co/wT80JoY4OE
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Childhood Maltreatment and the Risk of Rheumatic Diseases
A UK retrospective matched open cohort study shows that children who suffered from abuse, neglect or domestic abuse carry a significantly increased risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis or psoriasis in later life.… https://t.co/f0XMDJbvvg https://t.co/9KvpixsNFL
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

Outcomes of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C)
A nationwide cohort study of patients with MIS-C, a life-threatening complication of COVID-19 infection, showed that many had severe disease during the acute phase, but most recovered quickly and had a reassuring… https://t.co/qbV4Z8SX0x https://t.co/VUD5KHeXZH
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Challenging the status quo is difficult, and worth it. Happy Birthday.
-Seth Godin https://t.co/xVgdC8wJnD https://t.co/Mdtm9XwOs9
Links:
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U.S. overdose deaths far outpace other countries. In 2023 US drug overdoses >100,000 for 3rd year — a >50% jump since 2019. 2022 rate=324/1 million. High rates attributed to fentanyl, polysubstance use, counterfeit pills, variance in state policies on harm reduction… https://t.co/IYpytkEgpt https://t.co/HrrU9SCJT1
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GLP-1 Agonists Alleviate Knee Osteoarthritis
In October, the NEJM published a randomized clinical trial demonstrating the efficacy of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1ra) in patients with obesity and knee osteoarthritis.
https://t.co/jlYGDTTsYZ https://t.co/O23mN1CPVO
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QD Clinic - CREST or More?
Is this CREST or Diffuse PSS?
Features Dr. Jack Cush.
QD Clinics - lessons from the clinic, sponsored by RNL2025 in Dallas, TX; Feb 8 & 9, 2025
Register at https://t.co/2dcFVgu8z6
https://t.co/h7e2tcOaaF https://t.co/6AceRXb4Nq
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Screening for Osteoporosis to Prevent Fractures - USPSTF Recommendations
The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has done a systematic review on osteoporosis screening to prevent fractures and put forth its recent recommendations. These recommendations pertain to adults… https://t.co/u8LsIf453d https://t.co/I5DsQkkV2X
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Among SLE pts, males have a higher risk of infection compared to females. Males have a (6X) higher prevalence of pneumonia and women have more urinary tract infections. Retrospective study of 119 SLE pts (107 females, 12 males) https://t.co/dhq3yoFUi8 https://t.co/Lf1X2k0Gte
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Dazukibart Effective in Adults with Dermatomyositis
Lancet reports that the use of dazukibart, a selective monoclonal antibody against interferon B (IFNβ), was clinically effective in reducing disease activity in adults with active dermatomyositis (DM).… https://t.co/7oRyxrFpar https://t.co/wA06Kzsdqg
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Just published, a new review of Axial spondyloarthritis from Baraliakos, et al in Lancet! https://t.co/0pIFM1Q2jO https://t.co/iGQ3ES7Nie
Links:
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Network metanalysis of 9 RCTs, 3699 patients looked at small molecule Rx in #PsA. With ACR 50/70, PASI 75, & HAQ-DI @ wk 12-16, UPA was > ADA in PASI75 (RR 1.2); Deucravacitinib > Otezla at HAQ (RR −0.16) no OTHER SIGNIF differences observed https://t.co/WQCFQDnnft https://t.co/7NTNIpzEuG
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QD Clinic - Treating Overlap with ILD
Polyarthritis, ILD, Dermatomyositis - how to treat?
Features Dr. Jack Cush.
QD Clinics - lessons from the clinic, sponsored by RNL2025 in Dallas, TX; Feb 8 & 9, 2025
Register at https://t.co/2dcFVgu8z6
https://t.co/CsIpdS8hyd https://t.co/I92p5U3UTp
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

Screening for Osteoporosis to Prevent Fractures - USPSTF Recommendations
The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has done a systematic review on osteoporosis screening to prevent fractures and put forth its recent recommendations. These recommendations pertain to adults… https://t.co/gQ1vcpxih7 https://t.co/SQLJPALq3f
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

BACHELOR Trial - Baricitinib in Early Polymyalgia Rheumatica
Lancet reports a French study demonstrating the efficacy of baricitinib in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR).
Glucocorticoids are the mainstay of therapy in PMR patients and may be problematic in older… https://t.co/svLmE6OBWm https://t.co/K8sdROswxV
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