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

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

This week's Tuesday Nite Rheumatology featured Dr Randy Cron from the University of Alabama - Birmingham as he spoke and took questions on the immunology, immunopathogenesis and treatment of Cytokine Storm Syndrome, especially as they relate to COVID-19 and rheumatic disease patients. The program was moderated by Dr. Jack Cush.

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

This week's Tuesday Nite Rheumatology features presentations and interviews with Drs. Peter Nash and Philip Robinson. Dr. Robinson presents latest data on the Rheum-Covid.org Registry, that he helped establish under the Global Rheumatology Alliance. Dr. Nash presents the impact of COVID in Australia and pragmatic COVID management.

Nagaraja, Khanna and colleagues have published an overview of current and future therapies in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and have reviewed the potential outcome measures for this difficult autoimmune disorder.

Anakinra was studied in 29 COVID(+) patients with respiratory distress and high inflammatory markers (CRP or ferritin) and compared to non-anakinra patients, those on anakinra had better survival (90% vs. 56% ;p=0·009) and greater improvements in CRP and pulmonary function (72% vs 50%) compared to controls at day 21.

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

It's Nurses Week and time to reaffirm our reverence for nurses. Dr. Jack Cush gives a video testimonial to the dedication, dependability and excellence Nurses bring to patient care. God Bless our Nurses! 

MMWR reports that after attending a 2.5 hr choir practice with one COVID+ symptomatic person, 87% of the choir developed COVID 19; 3 were hospitalized, and two died. 

The ACR has published the 2020 guidelines on the management of gout that includes strong recommendations favoring treat‐to‐target management and starting urate lowering therapy (ULT) for patients with frequent flares, radiographic damage or tophi due to gout.

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

Modifiable lifestyle choices can impact long term health.  A recent study shows that usual and increased physical activity can results in less hospitalization amongst the the general population.

Dr. Len Calabrese from the Cleveland Clinic delivers this week's Tuesday Nite Rheumatology Grand Rounds, entitled "IL-6 in Health and Disease: Where Rheumatology Meets COVID-19".

Dr. Calabrese provides a comprehensive review of IL-6 biology, and discusses IL-6 signaling, IL-6 roles in health, exercise, infection, innate and adaptive immunity as pertains to both rheumatology and the management of coronavirus infection.

On April 26, 2020 the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) published a guidance paper to assist rheumatologists and rheumatology health professionals in assessing the need for urgent or face-to-face medical care versus virtual or telehealth patient care.  The driving principals being

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from the past week. Many interesting early reports on the use of rheumatic drugs, including hydroxychlorquine, IL-6 inhibitors, canakinumab, baricitinib and colchicine. Below are some of the links or citations of interest.

The Annals of Rheumatic Disease has published the preliminary recommendations of the German Society of Rheumatology for the management of Inflammatory rheumatic diseases patients during the SARS-CoV-2/Covid-19 pandemic.

These preliminary recommendations are based on an expert consensus from 17 experienced German rheumatologists.