BMJ has reported the results of a case-control study that analyzed the risk of hospitalization from heart failure associated with the use of NSAIDs amongst healthcare databases from four European countries (the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, and the United Kingdom).

A year ago, physicians panicked with a new and formidable change in practice called ICD-10.  This newer and more complex coding system had the angst of Y2K and nearly as much true trouble - largely because of the "relaxed" stance taken by CMS with its introduction.  

Rates of serious infection and mortality among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)  did not depend on the immunosuppressive drug regimen they were on, investigators reported.

Ilaris was previously approved for use in systemic JIA and CAPS. The FDA has expanded this to include TRAPS, Hyper-IgD and FMF based on clinical trials.

Romosozumab is being developed as a novel therapy for osteoporosis. It is a monoclonal antibody that binds sclerostin, and has been shown to increase bone formation while decreasing bone resorption.

2016 has been a big year for biosimilars in rheumatology.

The anti-IL-12/IL-23 inhibitor, Stelara (ustekinumab) has been FDA approved for the treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.  In the last week, the EMA's CHMP has recommended that the drug also be approved for use in Crohn's disease.

Who makes billions in profits and millions in bonus monies? PBMs and insurers, thats who.

This week United Healthcare and Express Scripts announced new plans to restrict patient and prescriber access to popular, expensive, albeit FDA-approved, medications and biologics.

Who benefits, who loses?

What does sex have to do with it? Although the Zika virus infection is known to be sexually transmitted, the same cannot be claimed for Dengue or Chikungunya.

JAMA has reported the results of a 24-month trial showing that obese individuals on a long-term healthy diet and exercise program do not have significantly more weight loss from using a wearable device that tracks their activity. 

A review of this week's news including the cost of opioid abuse, a RTX biosimilar, a new drug for scleroderma, a new shingles vaccine and a CPAP disappointment.

The Sept.16th issue of MMWR reports that many Americans over age 50 are not getting sufficient exercise, thereby increasing their risk for falls, fractures and comorbidities, if not premature death. (Citation source http://buff.ly/2cPAcq9)

Updates and journal articles on opioids, drug induced sarcoidosis, cancer and cancer recurrence risks with TNF inhibitors and biologics, and FDA labeling changes.

The current issue of ACP Internist discusses the considerable dissent among the medical community about fibromyalgia (FM), its cause, diagnosis and care. This review addresses many concerns with input from well-known experts in rheumatology.

There are numerous health hazards associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), including an increased risk of cardiovascular events.

Although cardiovascular disease and complications have been well-described in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the association between SLE and heart failure (HF) remains undefined.

Dr. Jack Cush reviews highlights from the past week on RheumNow.com, including IBD/TNFi and cancer risk, fracture nonunion, PMR worse in women, not treating asymptomatic hyperuricemia, and shingles followed by stroke.

Periodontal disease, gingivitis and Porphyromonas gingivalis have been linked to the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the production of anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA).

A recent JAMA Internal Medicine report on pharmaceutical-sponsored meals disclosed that a $20 meal provided by a drug company could yields 2-5 times more prescriptions.  (Citation source http://buff.ly/2cd58i0)

Researchers suggest that the burden of EHRs could contribute to physician burnout. The findings of a time and motion study are published in Annals of Internal Medicine.