BEAM Study: Baricitinib Beats Placebo and Adalimumab in Rheumatoid Arthritis

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Baricitinib is a novel inhibitor of Janus kinases JAK1 and JAK2 that has been extensively studied in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).  Baricitinib (AKA Oluminant) was recently approved by the EMA for use in Europe at a once daily dose of 4 mg per day.

An Integrated Analysis of Tofacitinib Safety

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Since its US approval in 2012, tofacitinib has become a widely used treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Whether you're impressed with its efficacy, or distressed with its side effects, its track record is voluminous and has been recently reviewed.

Intra-articular Corticosteroids or Methotrexate for Oligoarticular JIA?

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Oligoarticular-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis accounts for nearly half of all JIA patients. While many of these children will require DMARD therapy, many others are treated with antiinflammatory meds or intra-articular corticosteroids. But the evidence for this latter approach is scant.

The RheumNow Week in Review – 3 February 2017

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Dr. Jack Cush reviews this week's highlights from RheumNow.

Limited Efficacy of NSAIDs in Spondyloarthritis

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Prior to the biologic era, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were the mainstay of drug therapy in thos with spondyloarthritis (SpA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS).  Their role in the modern era has changed and the claims for efficacy have varied. 

Is the Jury Still Out on Triple Therapy vs. MTX + TNF inhibitor?

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There are several trials that test the efficacy and safety of combination tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) plus methotrexate against triple therapy (methotrexate plus hydroxychloroquine plus sulfasalazine) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

The Challenge of Screening for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

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A JAMA article presents the US Public Health Task Force review of OSA testing.

Ties to Pharma Influences Clinical Trial Results

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A study published in The BMJ shows that financial ties between researchers and companies that make the drugs they are studying are independently associated with positive trial results; thereby questioning the bias in these objective trials.

The RheumNow Week in Review – 20 January 2017

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Dr. Jack Cush reviews highlights from the past week on RheumNow.

EULAR Revised Recommendations for Fibromyalgia

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The European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) recommendations for fibromyalgia (FM) management were published in 2007 and largely had recommendations based on expert opinion’. These guidelines were updated in May of 2015 after a systematic reviews and meta-analyses of the data.

Dietary Intake Triggers Inflammation

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IL-1β, along with pancreatic insulin, helps regulate blood sugar levels, as well as chronic inflammation.

Patient and Provider Education Fails to Improve Osteoarthritis Outcomes

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A randomized trial of 537 knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients in the Duke Healthcare system has shown that patient- and provider interventions were no better than the usual standard of care.

Rituximab Effects on ANCA, IgG and Infectious Risk in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis

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Rituximab has significantly changed the management of patiehts with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). Yet the longitudinal assessment of such patients needs to be guideded by clinical and laboratory parameters.

PPIs Reduce Post-Hip Fracture Mortality

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The association between the use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), osteoporosis (OP) and OP-related fragility fractures has been a topic of ongoing discussion in rheumatology community.

The RheumNow Week in Review – 13 January 2017

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Dr. Jack Cush reviews highlights from this past week on RheumNow.com:

Psoriatic Arthritis Patients have More Heart Disease

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A study of 90 consecutive male (50.3±11.1 years) with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) were were compared to 240 age matched controls without known cardiovascular (CV) diseases who underwent angiography for chest pain and/or multiple CV risk factors.

Weight Loss Improves Psoriasis

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Jennsen et al previously reported their findings regarding weight reductions ability to improve cutaneous psoriasis at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) meeting in 2015, Now their results are published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Pregnancy Outcomes in Psoriatic Arthritis

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Disease Activity Pre-pregnancy During Pregnancy Post-pregnancy
Mild 10 6 4
Moderate 2 6 8
Severe 2 2 2

Biopsy Proven Renal Involvement in Sjogren's Syndrome

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A French multicenter study of primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS) patients fulfilling the American–European Consensus Group criteria or enlarged American–European Consensus Group criteria were retrospectively studied based on having biopsy-proven renal involvement.

DMARDs Under Study for Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Events

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Several important lines of population and large cohort research have shown that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients have a substantially higher risk for myocardial infarction and major cardiovascular events.