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Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com.
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Swimming is commonly recommended for patients with chronic low back pain. Yet, there is little trial data investigating swimming. An Australian study has shown for the first time that a program of swimming can be clinically effective in reducing disability from chronic low back pain.
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Gout, historically referred to as the “disease of kings,” was once associated with a lifestyle of excess, including ready access to alcohol and rich meats once reserved for society’s highest ranks.
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Among 784,091 pts in a UK acute MI registry, 715 (0.1%) had SLE. SLE pts were younger & more female. SLE w/ MI had signif higher adjusted all-cause mortality from 30 days (HR 1.62) to 5 years (HR 1.84), despite age & having less traditional cardiovascular comorbidities https://t.co/78oHVWTdTJ
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Nerandomilast (Jascayd) has been approved in the European Union for adults with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF). The drug was approved for IPF & PPF by the FDA for US use in late 2025 https://t.co/scOuVb3aYy https://t.co/EcmpRhyWgu
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Coding: ICD-10 Code M45.7 describes ankylosing spondylitis of the lumbosacral region, a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code valid for FY2026. M45.7 became effective October 1, 2025 and belongs to the M45 parent category covering ankylosing spondylitis by anatomical site. https://t.co/jBmoD0CVps
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Chinese cohort of 209 AOSD pts identifed 49 (23%) w/ lung dz (by CXR), yet 69% were asymptomatic. Significcant risk factors for AOSD-LD were pleuritis, MAS (HR 2.62), & Dz relapse (HR 2.6). Imaging patterns: acute exudative pattern most prevalent, followed by interstitial and https://t.co/2IPJWRJicP
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Fibromyalgia: Diagnosis and Management
https://t.co/L9nA1TlJKx https://t.co/G4bkxTsXCt
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EUSTAR scleroderma substudy propensity matched pts Rx w/ JAKi (n 38) vs 180 pts ea Rx w/ MMF, MTX, RTX. 1/3 had dcSSc. 23 AEs in 997 Pt-yrs. JAKi outcomes similar to comparators. JAKi Tx D/C in 39%, FVC stable, skin fibrosis improved (mRSS −1.8) & SJC decreased. No new
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QD Clinic: Gout, Sepsis… or Both?
Dr. Mrinalini Dey, London, discusses a complex case.
https://t.co/UtncfZgZyL https://t.co/xVTA0LnPpN
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The Lancet Rheumatology has a good editorial about the avacopan bad news reports with EMA, FDA and Japan issuing negative opinions that threaten the drugs future. Yet, since approval real world data on avacopan has been favorable w/ less steroid toxicity & most hepatotoxicity https://t.co/k6ebVeWv2K
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"Leeuwenhoek (invented the microscope) examined uric acid (C5H4N4O3) crystals from gout patients and found them to resemble needles. He expounded on his observations in an 11 July 1679 letter responding to an earlier query from Mr. Lambert van Velthuysen (1622–1685), a physician, https://t.co/mY2wqYlRda
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UK primary care database (2000–21) gout study of new colchicine initiators (n 31,478) vs noninitiators (mean 60 yrs, BMI 30), follow-up of 4.5 yrs. Colchicine use had a signif. 12% lower risk of Joint Arthroplasty (HR 0.88); 23% lower TJA in knee/hip OA (HR 0.77) https://t.co/TkYFYhANuH
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QD Clinic: Gout: Is it the Journey or the Destination?
Dr. Arthur Kavanaugh discusses a gout patient whose frequent flares improved after lifestyle changes, despite medication not being enough on its own.
https://t.co/frf4O87L0I https://t.co/cjtiYY9Ayt
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Predicting and Managing Gout Flares in Hospitalized Patients
Dr. Kanon Jatuworapruk, Bangkok, discusses predicting and managing gout flares in hospitalized patients as part of RheumNow's "Gout: More than Flares" campaign in July 2026.
https://t.co/wrLbjsayrI https://t.co/eWmRqPNWsJ
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51 yoM w/ 2 yrs of FUO, unintentional 32-kg wt loss, LN, diffuse myalgias, but no GI Sxs or arthralgia. Neg MRIs, CT, PET scan, EGD, colonoscopy. Abnl labs: CRP 173 mg/L, ESR 46, anemia & ^ WBC. Cell-free DNA next-generation sequencing dx Tropheryma whipplei, & Whipple disease https://t.co/nJLa4l7Ers
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Genetic study of 16 pts w/ Allopurinol-induced severe cutaneous adverse Rxn (SJS/TEN) shows 2 class I alleles to be associated: HLA-B*58:01 (OR, 28.0 [95% CI, 8.6-100.6]) and HLA-A*34:02 (OR, 20.6 [95% CI, 3.3-131.1]). Both explain 80% risk in US pts https://t.co/OxDXuWCbup https://t.co/oky61JImQV
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Psoriatic Arthritis: EULAR 2026 Recap
https://t.co/tBMu4CEn0o https://t.co/iztShOHxOf
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Seronegative RA Disease Activity (7.17.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal articles and Gout features from this past week on RheumNow and check your knowledge in this week's RheumIQ quiz!
https://t.co/e0u9qwtHVi https://t.co/oav00L7Lzw
