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ACR Fellow Training Subcommittee Report on Pandemic Experiences
Arthritis & Rheumatology has publish an ACR Subcommittee report on how the COVID-19 pandemic affected fellows and their training.
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FDA Authorizes 2nd Booster for Older and Immunocompromised Individuals
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized a second booster dose of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or the Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for older people and certain immunocompromised individuals.
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Are Shoulder Conditions Incited by Vaccination?
A retrospective cohort study from Kaiser Permanente Southern California intramuscular vaccination given between 2016 and 2017 shows a small but significant increase in shoulder conditions, reported as an adverse event (AE) following intramuscular vaccination in the deltoid muscle.
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Environmental Pollutants Ups Autoimmune Disease Risk
An Italian environmental study shows that air pollution increases the risk of autoimmune diseases, in particular rheumatoid arthritis, connective tissue diseases (CTDs) and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD).
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Low Dose IL-2 Efficacy in Rheumatoid Arthritis
A novel biologic intervention trial has shown that subcutaneous, intermittent therapy with low-dose interleukin-2 (Ld-IL2) is potentially effective and safe in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
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Tocilizumab Works Best in Non-Mechanical Ventilated COVID-19 Patients
JAMA has published a meta-analysis of 15 studies of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 treated with tocilizumab and corticosteroids, showing that a clinically meaningful mortality benefit from tocilizumab (and steroids) was best seen in those not requiring invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV).
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Hand OA and Heroes in Rheumatology (2.11.2022)
Interesting reports this week about dementia, who gets hand OA and a great list of women Heroes and Pillars of Rheumatology. Tune in as Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from this past week in RheumNow.com.
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Herpes Zoster Vaccination in Immunocompromised Adults
The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recently recommended and approved two doses of the recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV, AKA Shingrix) for prevention of herpes zoster and complications in immunodeficient or immunosuppressed adults aged ≥19 years.
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Referral Rules for At-Risk Inflammatory Arthritis
A prospective primary care study of patients at-risk for inflammatory arthritis (IA) showed that progression to IA was most likely in those with high anti-CCP antibody titers levels and involvement of the hands/feet/ IA.
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Weak Vaccine Responses in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis Patients
Patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) did not mount durable antibody responses to the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant after the standard two-dose regimen of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine -- and for those taking rituximab (Rituxan) as maintenance therapy, even a third dose wasn't much help.
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The Overpricing of Drugs (1.14.2022)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com. This week we discuss amputations, a $57 billion RA market, an FDA approved drug for Cat arthritis and drug that works in Sjogren's.
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Hold Myophenolate or Not with COVID-19 Vaccination?
While the American College of Rheumatology recommends holding mycophenolate (MMF) in rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases patients (RMD) receiving COVID-19 vaccines, there is limited data on such an approach. A recent cohort study of RMD patients showed that holding MMF yielded higher antibody responses than continuing MMF.
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BEAT LUPUS - Belimumab after Rituximab in SLE
A recent trial published in Annals of Internal Medicine analyzed the effects of B-cell depletion (rituximab) followed by B-cell suppression (belimumab) and showed effective lowering of anti-dsDNA titers and and fewer severe flare in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
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2021 Rheumatology Year in Review
Our top 10 list of advances, game-changers, worries and those better medical practices that evolved during 2021.
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Comorbidities Drive Risk of Severe Outcomes with COVID-19
The current edition of the MMWR from the CDC shows that among those vaccinated against COVID-19, there is a low risk of severe outcomes (hospitalization and death); the highest risk is seen in those with multiple comorbidities.
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COVID Breakthrough Infections with Arthritis and HIV
Among immunocompromised individuals vaccinated against COVID-19, solid organ transplant recipients as well as those with HIV and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were significantly more likely to experience breakthrough infections versus people without immune dysfunction, a retrospective study found.
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New Onset Rheumatic Disorders with COVID-19 Infection
The journal Cells has published a review of new rheumatic disorders following COVID-19 infection. Rheumatologists have infrequently noted such events and wondered what is the true incidence or range of possible manifestations.
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