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Nursing Shortage Could Worsen Due to Limited Student Loans

d MedPage Today

In November, we reported on nursing groups that pushed back against a Trump administration proposal to de-list nursing as a professional degree for purposes of student borrowing. In this report, we look ahead to see what might happen as a result of the policy change.

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alveolar hemorrhage acute

Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage in Rheumatic Disease

d Jack Cush, MD

A retrospective, cross-sectional, single-center study of adult rheumatic disease patients with diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH), demonstrates a high proportion have coexistent pulmonary infection and significant mortality risk. 

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APR Rheum and Inflammation Testing Cover

Rheumatoid & Inflammation Testing

d Jack Cush, MD

Master the dos and don'ts of ordering RF, CCP (ACPA), and inflammatory markers that could transform your diagnostic accuracy.

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lupus SLE

Subcutaneous Anifrolumab in SLE

d Jack Cush, MD

Manzi et al. have published the results of the TULIP-SC trial that showed that weekly subcutaneous (SC) anifrolumab, when given to severe SLE patients, had comparable efficacy and safety to the approved intravenous (IV) anifrolumab. 

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1 in 3 NPs and PAs switch specialties at least once in career; often without formal training in the specialty. Both "depend on MDs for mentorship and training". Hence AMA is opposed to Removing physician supervision or collaboration requirements” for nonphysician providers https://t.co/8RXL8zre0p

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A 2 yr. old female pt reported w/ a a novel P435S gain-of-function variant in TLR7 (thought pathogenic in SLE) - pt dx w/ juvenile SLE, recurrent infection, and neuroinflammatory features. A review of 12 other TLR7 GOF variants revealed similar SLE associations. https://t.co/TGgKDQ0D7F
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EasyJIA score - a tool developed to refer juvenile pts w/ MSK sxs for rheum referral. 342 pts, (18%) Dx w/ JIA. 8 variables (10 total points) includes large Jts, daily Sxs, JT swelling, activity precipitating, +squeeze test, bending IP Jts, limping/stiffness, SI Pain. You need 3 https://t.co/zcCRUkuqh8
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ADJUST trial (248 JIA pts w/ Uveitis & inactive >6mos, either continued or weaned off adalimumab. ADA weaning resulted in more flares (68% vs 14%, mostly uveitis) w/ no protection from background DMARD Rx. Restarting ADA was mostly effective. https://t.co/ZWHfPl2UNl https://t.co/xodyrbaQOj

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2025 Lancet review https://t.co/Qbwup6QxZK of Osteoarthritis did not mention/endorse Rx w/ platelet rich plasma (PRP) prompting several letters of protest. Read the authors response: Despite the popularity of PRP, there are few PBO controlled high quality studies to prove its https://t.co/7pCZV9CHfJ

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NJ Senate (Senate Bill No. 3560) has voted to permite Physician Assistans to enter the Interstate Physician Assistant Licensure Compact, designed to streamline PA licensing to work in multiple states https://t.co/VE1DdWuFwM https://t.co/szJzShVAaz

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FIBROSCANS in 60 RA pts on #MTX for 5 yrs w/ liver studies. Mean age = 39.5yrs, w/ Dz Dur 8.2 yrs, mean BMI 24.4 & MTX 12.5–25 mg for ~8 yrs (cum dose 6728mg). All had normal AST, ALT, APRI, Abd US; fibroscan score = 170 ((steatosis grade 0). Only 4(6.7 %) had mild, fibrosis https://t.co/OOctcfI1sT
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Systematic review of Apremilast in soriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis: 28 RCTs involving 6825 patients. Efficacy ( PASI 75 and ACR 20) observed at APR 30 mg or 20 mg bid (RR > 2) & both doses did not affect CRP levels. GI side effx most common (see figure) https://t.co/YqfaWPvmTm https://t.co/z8PfJqp0CJ

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DANFLU-2 RCT of 332 438 elderly (43 881 w/ diabetes) tested high (HD-IIV) vs standard dose SD-IIV) flu vaccine. HD-IIV signif. reduced cardioresp., CV, CHF, influenza, hospitalizations vs SD-IIV, irrespective of DM status. Similar results previously seen in a Canadian RA pop. https://t.co/GGZPThoHrs
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QD Clinic: Tophi Tales: Management of Uncontrolled Gout Daric Mueller, PA-C and Andrew Sulich, MD, St. Clair Shores, MI, present this QD Clinic: Tophi Tales: Management of Uncontrolled Gout. This QD Clinic is presented as part of RheumNow's "Mission: APP Partners in Care" https://t.co/7JTbC0223I

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GLP-1 Agonist plus IL-17 Inhibition in Obese Psoriatic Arthritis Lilly announced the topline results from its phase 3b "TOGETHER PsA" trial, showing that the combination use of ixekizumab (Taltz) and tirzepatide (Zepbound) was superior to IXE alone, yielding both significant https://t.co/8fOXWULH7w
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2025 Rheumatologists, In Memorium In 2025, rheumatology lost many of its most influential clinicians, mentors, and colleagues. This honor roll recognizes those who cared for countless patients, shaped generations of rheumatologists, and left a lasting legacy in our field. As Dr. https://t.co/MMa670vsoH
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
J&J announced positive topline results from Phase 2b JASMINE study showing the efficacy of of nipocalimab, FcRn blocker that reduces AutoAbs & B cell activity. Study met its 24 wk primary endpoint (SRI-4 response) vs placebo. There were no new safety signals https://t.co/KMseKyGirt
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Kick off 2026 with #RheumNowLive—two days of cutting-edge rheumatology, rapid-fire STEP talks, interactive Q&A, and real-world insights with Drs. Jack Cush, Arthur Kavanaugh, and a powerhouse faculty. Register: https://t.co/MVgXnacU5q https://t.co/7ajH7Ry0Uj

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“The practice of medicine is an art, not a trade; a calling, not a business; a calling in which your heart will be exercised equally with your head. – Sir William Osler

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Anti-mitochondrial M2 Ab (AMA-M2) in 987 IIM pts-- 55 (6%) were AMA-M2 positive. AMA-M2+ had signif. higher rates of polymyositis (56% vs 23.5%), GGT, alk phos levels, & 3 fold more cardiac involvement (60 vs 13%) (arrhythmias, CHF, pulm HTN (31-56%), but no effect on survival https://t.co/8fQzgRfHr4
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