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SOCS1 Insufficiency - a Rare Inborn Error of Immunity
Lancet Rheumatology has published a population study of the rare suppressor of cytokine signalling 1 (SOCS1) insufficiency - an inborn error of immunity affecting the negative regulation of cytokine and growth factor signalling.
Read ArticleEarly Hydroxychloroquine Slows Cutaneous Lupus Progression
A prospective study of patients with limited cutaneous lupus erythematosus shows that early introduction of hydroxychloroquine may prevent progression to systemic lupus erythematosus.
Opioid Deaths are Down (2.28.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com. Opioid deaths are down, IL-33 levels are up and Weight loss is in the news again this week!
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Recurrent Pericarditis in Lupus
A study from the Lupus Hopkins Cohort shows that systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with pericarditis are at risk for recurrence, and likely to be younger patients, with uncontrolled disease, and linkage to higher doses of oral… https://t.co/hML8NfhBy3 https://t.co/cKX5KaSg3a
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

Risk of Cancer on JAKi in RA (12 463 vs 38 345 controls). No incr risk of CA w/ exposure to JAKi (adj OR 1.04), TNFi (0.98), other bDMARDs (0.98). But JAKi was assoc w/ signif more lung CA (1.40; esp in males 2.12) & less breast CA (0.62) in women https://t.co/fr3VjPhJve https://t.co/zNehdWBbeI
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Selective mutation of Traf1/cIAP2 (V196) interaction attenuates inflammatory responses that may contribute to rheumatoid arthritis activity. THis may lead to a new class of therapies for RA https://t.co/kYqAqGsSEA https://t.co/JWUN6iTvxa
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

I ALWAYS recommend paraffin wax baths for stiffness, RA, OA, PSS, etc.
Here are some instructions for home use https://t.co/CTI4K2kHf9 https://t.co/i0kO99vdYc
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

AbbVie Receives Positive CHMP Opinion for Upadacitinib (RINVOQ®) for the Treatment of Adults with Giant Cell Arteritis https://t.co/WP8JGpHc6p https://t.co/x9m870mCJ4
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

UK MRCP exam makeup:
Cardio 15%
Pharm 15%
Resp 10%
GI 10%
Neuro 10%
ID 8%
Endo 8%
RHEUM 6%
Heme 5%
Renal 5%
Derm 4%
Eye 2%
Psych 2% https://t.co/WG7X3B8a0Y https://t.co/9VF5LkLJjs
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

Cochrane review of TNF inhib. in #JIA shows TNFi efficacy, but uncertainty about LT safety, pain, function, & Dz control - esp compared to MTX. 9 studies, 678 JIApts, age 8-15 yrs (80% F), Dz duration 0.8-6.7 yrs. Withdrawls 1% v 3%; Serious AE 6% v 7% (PBO vs TNFi).… https://t.co/i35m5uzG1m https://t.co/VzJN9PmmMh
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

"Never take the advice of someone who has not had your kind of trouble"
- Sidney J. Harris https://t.co/xdB6u6OiPq
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

Ankle Fusion or Total Replacement?
In a large study of British patients needing surgical treatment for advanced arthritis in the ankle, fusion appeared to be a better option than total ankle replacement.
https://t.co/ZFbd2VinpP https://t.co/QCqMkxNLoQ
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

Schnitzler Syndrome: A Rare Autoinflammatory Disorder
A credible, quick overview
Chronic Urticaria
Monoclonal Gammopathy (
Recurrent Fever
Bone & Joint Pain
Elevated CRP &ESR https://t.co/sQ22t8Z46m https://t.co/nJOVCghoFa
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

Diagnoses via Immune ‘Fingerprints’
Science and researchers at Stanford Medicine have reported the use of Mal-ID (machine learning for immunological diagnosis) to analyze B and T cell receptors (BCRs and TCRs) sequences from human blood, showing the ability to predict health… https://t.co/nqyf4iaD10 https://t.co/wt5V6uxLYf
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JAMA Case: A Woman With Painful Digital Ulcers - What would you order next?
- chest CT w/ myositis-specific autoAb panel
- dsDNA
- SCL-70 & Centromere Abs
- muscle biopsy https://t.co/t0WCIMtZg2 https://t.co/M1jBhnclLl
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Misdiagnosis of Dermatomyositis
JAMA Dermatology reports a retrospective cohort study from Johns Hopkins reviewing mimic of dermatomyositis (DM), suggesting that DM and especially clinically amyopathic DM (CADM) are commonly and initially misdiagnosed as inflammatory skin… https://t.co/2SbGxxcPLm https://t.co/TtoxFIXg3Q
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

TNF Inhibitor Drug-Induced Lupus
A study from the FDA's adverse event reporting system (FAERS or Medwatch) database identified cases of drug induced systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in patients receiving tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) inhibitors - a paradoxical reaction to… https://t.co/LYq0qxDtp3 https://t.co/vRYrBAIMEA
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

13% of the ~22 million people with traditional coverage received a telehealth betw 10-12/2023. Expansion of Medicare telehealth coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic is set to expire on March 31 , 2025. Most telehealth will expire if Congress does not act. https://t.co/mVy7s664OX https://t.co/BVH6Hv5553
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

Retrospect. study of 77 RA pts w/ +ANCA (age 62 yrs, 79%F. 65% RF+. 45% p-ANCA+; 42% MPO+. Diagnoses included: AAV (29%); GPA (45%), MPA (36 %); EGPA (5%). Renal (41%) & upper Resp (36%) were most freq. Pts w/ RA+AAV had more RF, MPO+, nodules, inflam eye Dz… https://t.co/NTvAhZY2y8 https://t.co/IAkWHtcTCo
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

CDC reports an unprecedented drop of ~24% in US drug overdose deaths (87,000 down from 114,000) in 12 mos prior to 9/24. Yet, overdose remains the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-44 yrs https://t.co/REiaQx6NKd https://t.co/nzOMDgUYbS
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)