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CKD & Osteoporosis Rx Revisited (7.25.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal and FDA updates from this past week on RheumNow.com.
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Practical management of rheumatic immune-related adverse events with immune checkpoint inhibitors
Joint Bone Spine has published a full read review of the management of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) in patients receiving Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for cancer.
NHANES, Numbers, & Risk (7.18.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com along with interesting case questions from "Ask Cush Anything".
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Zasocitinib (Tyk2 Inhibitor) Efficacy in Psoriatic Arthritis
A highly selective, tyrosine kinase 2 inhibitor zasocitinib (TAK-279), was studied in a phase 2b trial and found to be effective and safe patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA).
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Molecular profiling of RA synovium predicts biologic responses
Machine learning analysis of pre-treatment synovial tissue biopsy from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients starting either etanercept (ETN), tocilizumab (TCZ) and rituximab (RTX) revealed
TNFi are relatively contraindicated in RA pts w/ #MS. Literature review suggests for pts w/ MS and RA, teriflunomide and anti-CD20 therapies are the most suitable, and Cladribine may also be considered https://t.co/gIVaJ7Kwn0 https://t.co/1ar0q2OnzB
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Survival in #RA pts undergoing cervical spine surgery is not good! Retrospective study of 139 RA pts who underwent Cx surgery shows higher mortality risk if they are older, w low albumin levels, high-dose pred. and have subaxial subluxation. https://t.co/hKvgaas2gh https://t.co/ygtJjb4mVl
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New CDC report confirms a record number of Measles cases in the USA, now at 1,319 (in 39 states), the highest since 1992. National cases are more than 4.5 times higher than the entirety of last year, which had an estimated 285 cases reported. https://t.co/KkqQu9C4cO https://t.co/bND6hPDUNA
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Pesticides and Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Women exposed to pesticides through farm work or as farmers' wives face increased risk for developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a new analysis of Agricultural Health Study (AHS) data indicated.
https://t.co/ISddKbnxMY https://t.co/E5tpX5D70X
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Diminishing trend in serious infections assoc w/ TNFi use in inflammatory arthritis over the years. ICEBIO study 1387 Rx w/ 1st TNFi 2003–2018 (vs 6936 comparators. Over tme the SI rate dropped 52% (IRR 0.48; 0.25–0.94), but not for controls (Abx use stable) https://t.co/jDsKlCrd0p
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PMR & GCA not assoc w/ increased mortality, Norway study of 274 isolated PMR (mean age 72 yrs) & 63 GCA (age 72 yrs) pts. After mean F/U 13.7 yrs 96% were deceased. Standardized mortality ratio was Not incr for PMR (0.97)or GCA (1.10), but men w/ PMR had , lower all-cause https://t.co/Mgq920awbD
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FDA has accepted BLA for BAT2506, a biosimilar of Simponi (golimumab) for all approved doses, formulations, & indications of reference product, with a request for interchangeability (BsUFA: May 16, 2026) https://t.co/kVFAz9ltlr https://t.co/LqdzsXlqER
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La Paz study of 903 RA pts; 136 (14.5%) were D2T-RA, 96 for inefficacy. They define early vs Late D2T-RA=44.5 mos, & differed>> Early D2T-RA (1/3) pts more likely to have anxiety or depression (76% v 0), higher CRP @6mos, & time to develop D2TRA (35 vs 70 mos) https://t.co/KFG68y9Uq5
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MTX lowers risk of serious infxn (SI) - UK Observational study of 17 472 newly Dx RA (2018–2023); 10K on MTX, 4,540 other csDMARDs; 13680 corticosteroids (GC). 1307 SI (3/100 PY) w/ reduced adj HR 0.72 (95% CI: 0.63–0.82). 311 SI-related mortality (IR 0.69;0.61–0.77) https://t.co/iuxAivtrYZ
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Short full read review of the history, safety and use of Corticosteroids in Respiratory Medicine (including use in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), ARDS, septic shock, ILD, COPD/asthma, COVID-19, Cancer, Sarcoid & IPF. https://t.co/aKMAT8IhLm https://t.co/RopoNnYJ6Z
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Sulfasalazine as a preventative against Pneumocystis (PJP). 594 RA pts & 848 Rx episodes - 181 on SSZ, 667 controls. W/ 850 Pt-Yrs F/U, 21developed PCP, 3 died of PCP. SSZ significantly lowered PJP risk (p = 0.003, rate ratio = 0.05; 95% CI 0.00–0.34). https://t.co/PAgBaJGldR https://t.co/PuTxGXTeRS
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Biologic survival study of British Assoc. of Dermatologists Biologics Register (11/07-6/23) looked at 19,034 Rx courses (median F/U 2.3 yrs), of TNFi, IL-12/23i, IL-17i, & IL-23i. IL-23i (GUS & RIS) had best survival (~1.93yrs) for efficacy & safety (broadalumab the least) https://t.co/uhomYmiUZy
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MTX lowers risk of serious infxn (SI) - UK Observational study of 17 472 newly Dx RA (2018–2023); 10K on MTX, 4,540 other csDMARDs; 13680 corticosteroids (GC). 1307 SI (3/100 PY) w/ reduced adj HR 0.72 (95% CI: 0.63–0.82). 311 SI-related mortality (IR 0.69;0.61–0.77) https://t.co/YhJV3vyAmB
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French Teratology Service study of 57 pregnant women exposed to anti-IL-1 (47% for Stills Dz) found no evidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes with IL-1 inhibition (43 anakinra, 5 canakinumab) 85% livebirths, 11% early miscarriages. Major congenital malformations 3% https://t.co/iyLvaNKA2o
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Stroke in patients with SLE is associated with a poorer outcome than matched controls in
terms of functional recovery, recurrence, and mortality - study of 40 SLE vs 120 controls w/ CVA https://t.co/spBT1u6bfj https://t.co/eVNYBogJWz
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