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Panacea of Prednisone & Cannabis (5.16.2025)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal and regulatory reports from this week on RheumNow.com.  Interesting trends and results with prednisone in lupus, cannabis in RA and opioid deaths too!

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Smoking & Autoantibodies in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Jack Cush, MD

Investigators from the Netherlands have published their findings that smoking is a risk factor in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), led by the induction of local autoimmune responses at mucosal sites (in the lungs) and exemplified by RA-specific autoantibodies. 

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Vitamin D Headlines (5.9.2025)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal reports and lupus highlights from the past week on RheumNow.com. Triple positivity, the gut and CRPS, and hope for better outcomes with Vitamin D therapy. 

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D-Lay Trial: High-Dose Vitamin D Retards Multiple Sclerosis

Jack Cush, MD

A randomized clinical trial with oral high-dose cholecalciferol ( vitamin D3) was shown to prevent or delay the onset of clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), typical for multiple sclerosis (MS).

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Keys to Mastery (5.2.2025)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, articles and drug approvals from the past week on RheumNow.com. This podcast marks the beginning of our Lupus Campaign called "Lupus Unlocked: Keys to Mastery". This month's campaign on Lupus is sponsored by Aurinia.

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Secondary Benefits to SGLT2 Inhibitor Use in SLE

Jack Cush, MD

An emulation trial of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) in systemic lupus erythematosus patients yielded a significantly reduced risk of several cardiorenal complications among patients with SLE and type 2 diabetes.

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Retrospective cohort study 112 biopsy-proven Lupus nephritis pts (65% class IV; F/U 8.3 yrs). (64.3%), alone or in combination. Renal damage incr betw 5 & 10 yrs F/U. 13.4% progressed to renal function impairment, and 11.6% to ESRD. Early Dx & Rx of LN, esp w/ highproteinuria, https://t.co/N1BL9Bri3M
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Retrospective study of 131 childhoold SLE pts found lymphopenia (in 53%) significantly correlated w/ higher anti-dsDNA and increased disease activity. (r = −0.63). Lymphopenia assoc w/ more nephritis (72%), HTN (24%), leukopenia (36%) & neuropsychiatric SLE https://t.co/ONUm84jThE
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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome as a Harbinger of Rheumatoid Arthritis Rates of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) were significantly greater in patients later diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to a large, long-running observational study. https://t.co/JiYvjhsKEp https://t.co/szmG5vrvcd

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Retrospective study of 131 childhoold SLE pts found lymphopenia (in 53%) significantly correlated w/ higher anti-dsDNA and increased disease activity. (r = −0.63). Lymphopenia assoc w/ more nephritis (72%), HTN (24%), leukopenia (36%) & neuropsychiatric SLE https://t.co/F1NALw86hu
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Using 16S rRNA gene amplification, Gut bacterial taxa from 53 CRPS pts compared to 52 controls. Differences were seen in microbiome and plasma short-chain fatty acid levels between CRPS patients and controls, w/ >90% accuracy https://t.co/TO7CCmmtD5 https://t.co/Gn9loJPNfM

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Full read review of Neuropsychiatric SLE. NPSLE criteria includes 12 central & 7 peripheral findings (psych, cognitive, Sz, CVA/TIA, neuropathy, MS-like). NPSLE AutoAbs are many: Abs against APL, LAC, RP, NMDA, NMO/AQP4, EC, SBSN, UCH-L1, TP1, GAPDH, MAP2, U1RNP https://t.co/1m7SXMA68Z
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Using 16S rRNA gene amplification, Gut bacterial taxa from 53 CRPS pts compared to 52 controls. Differences were seen in microbiome and plasma short-chain fatty acid levels between CRPS patients and controls, w/ >90% accuracy https://t.co/TO7CCmmtD5 https://t.co/zM1wKxjGBX

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Triple positivity (anti-CarP Abs, RF, ACPA) assoc w/ increased Dz activity in RA. Single center, 138 RA pts. Triple pos. pts had signif more TJC (10 v 7.7), Pain (6.3 v 5.1), DAS28-CRP (4.7 vs. 4.0), ESR (33 v 23), ACPA (395 v 369), but lower RF (164 v 453). NO diff in Bone https://t.co/DexENW4W2T
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Circulating miR-126-3p is a mechanistic biomarker for knee osteoarthritis. Study of 145 pts w/ #OA undergoing knee or hip arthroplasty or arthroscopy. miR-126-3p highest in subchondral bone, fat pad &synovium, not cartilage. IV or IA miR-126-3p given to mouse model of kneeOA https://t.co/DzudhYAK8E
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2023 report from US NHANES study says #Gout affects 12.1 million in the USA. Gout prevalence incr from 3.6% in 2011/12 to 5.1% in 2017/2018. Recent increases do to doubling in Asian Americans from 3.3% to 6.6%. https://t.co/IBa3fOt83c https://t.co/06Ltm0FycI

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Procalcitonin > 0.9 ng/mL can be a critical marker for identifying bacterial infection in #SLE. Single center study of 116 juv. SLE pts dx bacterial infx in 17%. Procalcitonin was signif better than others: NLR, PLR, ESR, CRP, LC4R, ferritin (cut offs need to be defined) https://t.co/NAM8xopNW5
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US guided lymph node Bx compared 25 controls, 14 ACPA (+) & 45 ACPA (-) RA pts. ACPA+ LN Bx showed upregulated adaptive imm. genes, but ACPA neg LN Bx showed higher innate imm genes - especially w/ higher neutrophil presence & incr CD15 + PMNs irrespective of ACPA status https://t.co/C42QMd2zap
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RHEUMATOLOGIST Survey: What are your contraindications tor renal Bx?

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RHEUMATOLOGIST SURVEY: Which Lupus patients should undergo renal Bx?

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