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Incidence, Microbiological Studies, and Factors Associated With Prosthetic Joint Infection After Total Knee Arthroplasty
A study of nearly 80,000 US veterans who underwent primary knee joint arthroplasty (TKA) showed the incidence of prosthetic joint infection (PJI) was highest in the first 3 months and remained elevated through 12 months compared with 12 months or more after surgery.
Read ArticleACR Reacts to 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule
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ACR
The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) expressed concern that the conversion factor included in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) CY 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and Quality Payment Program final rule is insufficient to address rising inflation.
Read ArticleAnakinra Effective in Systemic JIA, Irrespective of HLA-DRB1 and IL1RN Variants
A prospective study of first line use anakinra in systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA) proved to be effective and without potentially allergic lung reactions.
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2023 Medscaped Female Compensation Survey asked What percentage would again chose their specialty ?
Top 5 specialties rechosen:
Cardiology: 82% & Dermatology: 82%
Psychiatry: 81%
Allergy and immunology: 80%
Neurology: 79%
Rheumatology: 78% https://t.co/Zy4AJzb7dn. https://t.co/m9HjQ4T5aW
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Long term results of the MAINRITSAN study (Maintenance Remission w/ RTX in Systemic AAV) showed fixed-schedule RTX superior to AZA in preventing major relapses at 84mos (HR 0.38), but tailored-RTX assoc w/ incr risk of major relapse (HR 2.92) https://t.co/xLxvPCsRC9 https://t.co/mWwo7GgCIq
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Biologics, #RA and Risk of skin CA (NMSC) is complex.
- RA alone is a risk for NMSC
49K study of ABA & NMSC ;
- In RCTs, risk same w/ ABA & PBO
- Registries & Claims data: equal w/ ABA, csDMARDs. b/tsDMARDs
- Pooled obs data shows slight ABA risk https://t.co/tp6F0cJWug https://t.co/u6UdAUZqoc
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UK biobank population study shows a bidirectional assoc. betw RA & ILD (each @ incr risk for the other). In non-COPD pts, RA increased risk of COPD (HR=1.65) & in non-RA pts, COPD had a higher risk of future RA (HR=1.67). Both mediated by inflammation https://t.co/imn4ddV7CS https://t.co/UZaszEnCqt
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Good Treatment review of biologics (IL-1, IL-6) in systemic JIA (Stills) including complications of #MAS and lung disease; also info on horizon therapies like JAK inhibitors and IL-18 targeting and novel biomarkers (calgranulins, IL-18 and CXCL9) https://t.co/ACe7nDDwop https://t.co/lV66WerkAp
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PMR QD Clinics - Teaching Cases
https://t.co/fJThsc2T2k https://t.co/c4mAVqfBeO
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Late Should Not Be Less
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal reports and regulatory approvals from the past week on RheumNow .
https://t.co/GwJdJKHuDZ https://t.co/S51g7aQ0i4
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RheumNow will be providing #ACR23 coverage from Nov 11-15. Tune in for daily recaps, KOL videos, live streaming and more. https://t.co/2kBkHq6rIc
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LANCET: Efgartigimod (neonatal Fc receptor mAb) shown effective in chronic #ITP. RCT, 205 pts with refractory ITP (Plt <30K for ~10.6 yrs) Rx w/ EFGR vs PBO. @24 wks EFGR incr Plt >50k in 22% vs. 6%). A larger RCT in progress https://t.co/uXyjYoXlyF https://t.co/jGroGNeD4W
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Marijuana use is on the rise, including older adults. Data presented at 2023 AHA (cardiology) meeting suggests that marijuana user have higher risk of MI & CVA; & daily marijuana users were 34% more likely to develop heart failure (in hospitalized adults) https://t.co/EnEnf6pqdr https://t.co/GXSv30AFLr
Links:
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NEJM: Clinical Examination of the Cervical Spine (full read, with video). Great overview of Cx exam, useful in evaluation of axial neck pain, radiculopathy, or myelopathy; info on dermatomes, reflexes, Lhermites sign, etc https://t.co/EMizgh6Dtg https://t.co/6tdx1LBSDh
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

New download available, titled "Dealing with Infections"
https://t.co/hsOuJoFokg https://t.co/G3MZ9BQo0X
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Oral Surveillance Study Alters Practice at VA
Safety risks found in a postmarketing trial with the JAKi tofacitinib (Xeljanz) appear to have influenced prescribing patterns across the class for RA patients in the VA health system, researchers found.
https://t.co/6WktHCkrI1 https://t.co/8wpAeLsBbw
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H. Zoster Subunit Vaccine Efficacy with JAK Inhibitor Therapy
Two recent reports suggest variable efficacy when JAK inhibitor (JAKi) treated patients are vaccinated with the recombinant herpes zoster subunit vaccine (RZV).
https://t.co/QEPQJkfSjE https://t.co/pFk2mF22ex
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Optimal Management of DQT
The treatment of DQT was examined by systematic review in JAMA, suggesting that local corticosteroid injection + a thumb spica immobilization was associated w/significant pain-relieving and functional benefits.
https://t.co/Qo5XGwCRsy https://t.co/58n74oFbfh
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Study of TNFi tapering in 108 axSpA patients in remission. Gradual tapering over 2 yrs resulted in flares in 99% (108).
- 27% flared at 2/3 dose
- 20% at 1/2 dose
- 27% at 1/3 dose
- 25% w/ discontinuation
WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS? I DONT! https://t.co/g8L7E4lcqG https://t.co/oaBILUrlmd
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BMJ State of the Art (full read) review of ADVANCES in LUPUS THERAPY (Morand EF, et al).
- Recent SLE RCTs
- Pathogenesis, genetics, epigenetics
- Phenotypes
- Emerging treatments
- Guidelines on Rx
https://t.co/qZFvQkaFeO https://t.co/r9IriOR8FF
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)