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MTX Fails Knee OA (6.6.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com
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Autoimmunity Rising in Expectant Mothers
Lancet Rheumatology has published a UK study showing a significant increased in the number of expectant mothers beginning their pregnancies with autoimmune conditions.
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Genetic Link to CPPD
EurekAlert!
In a first-of-its-kind genome-wide association study (GWAS) researchers have discovered two genes, RNF144B and ENPP1, that cause calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) disease in Americans of European and African descent.
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Panacea of Prednisone & Cannabis (5.16.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal and regulatory reports from this week on RheumNow.com. Interesting trends and results with prednisone in lupus, cannabis in RA and opioid deaths too!
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Sex differences in biologic response in PsA.
DISCOVER-2 post hoc analysis showed:
•Radiographic progression at Week
♂️: 2.22 units
♀️: 1.10 units
•Early ACR-like response (cDAPSA LDA at 8wks) linked to less damage in men (0.39 vs 2.24)
Women less likely to progress https://t.co/NhBkXbuLjO
Antoni Chan MD (Prof) synovialjoints ( View Tweet)
Insights from the Gut-Joint Axis in axSpA: Findings from the DESIR cohort
-Baseline biomarkers of bacterial translocation: PLTP (phospholipid transfer protein) and LPS evaluated.
-In early axSpA baseline PLTP activity was associated with sacroiliac radiographic progression at 5
Adela Castro AdelaCastro222 ( View Tweet)
RA polygenic risk ≠ MI risk. In >8,700 Swedes w/ or w/o RA, higher genetic risk for RA wasn’t linked to higher MI incidence. Familial clustering of RA & MI likely driven by non-genetic factors. Traditional CV risk still key in RA care.
@RheumNow #EULAR2025 #OP0072 https://t.co/KN6Dg0ekt2
Mrinalini Dey DrMiniDey ( View Tweet)
Muscle biopsies form 3 treatment-naïve juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) finds transcriptomic evidence of mitochondrial dysfunction consistently in JDM muscle, independent of interferon-driven inflammation. Treating mitochondrial dysfunction may improve JDM outcomes https://t.co/u5tMhT23si
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Environmental and Geographic Risks for SLE
Dr. Karen Costenbader, a rheumatologist at the Brigham and Women's Hospital and a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston, discusses environmental and geographic risks for systemic lupus.
https://t.co/UDMgB8f0WZ https://t.co/ec5S5wGr9C
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Genetic Link to CPPD
In a first-of-its-kind genome-wide association study (GWAS) researchers have discovered two genes, RNF144B and ENPP1, that cause calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) disease in Americans of European and African descent.
https://t.co/YSR6rEYzjG https://t.co/L7JyoxQp3K
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Lupus in an empty house
The full house immunofluorescence pattern is the classic histopathologic finding of lupus and lupus nephritis. Glomerular deposits staining for IgG, IgA, IgM, C3 and C1q can help confirm a suspected diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This https://t.co/Zcywc5r9q9
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
>200 genes 🧬 implicated in #SLE
Complex indeed!
And
▶️ 7 clusters of signalling pathways
So we have to have many Rx options
Ab patterns vary
LN flares can have v diff pathways between Pts
#LUPUS2025 @RheumNow
Unravelling #LUPUS2026 https://t.co/LEKN363194
Links:
Janet Pope Janetbirdope ( View Tweet)
The ANA pattern I hate
#DFS
Why
Dense fine speckled should R/O #SLE
But mimicking patterns that MAY Have #lupus
AC-2 pattern mimickers ex AC-4
Machine learning models to help
▶️improved accuracy
Fast saving hrs
#Artificial #intelligence
May Choi #LUPUS2025 @RheumNow https://t.co/9tk80ZOAWg
Janet Pope Janetbirdope ( View Tweet)
Who with +ANA will become #SLE
Mostly similar cytokine signature
But ⬆️IFN and
more innate immune changes
👇
In those who developed #lupus
? prediction & Prevention model in +#ANA people 🤷♀️
yr in review E Vital’s paper
#LUPUS2025 @RheumNow @ZahiTouma https://t.co/khpqRlH8Nk
Janet Pope Janetbirdope ( View Tweet)
Who does worse with #SLE
#nature vs #nurture
South American #lupus #registries
⬆️ activity
⬆️damage
⬇️age
⬇️SES
⬆️SLE #antibodies
#Gladel registry and others vs Europe
Environment >genetics 🤔
#LUPUS2025 #45poster @RheumNow
@gponsestel https://t.co/XjiXHAMuGm
Links:
Janet Pope Janetbirdope ( View Tweet)
A brief history of familial Mediterranean fever - FMF is most common periodic fever syndr. an inherited polyserositis mainly affects Arabs, Armenians, Jews, & Turks. Hx may date back to 1802 & Heberden. Osler described 11 cases in 1895. 1st clear report 1945 by Siegal 10 pts. https://t.co/m20uO3bOoj
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Single center study of 2741 ANA tests: 65% ANA negative, 31% ANA+ w/ nuclear staining patterns, & 2.0% ANA+ w cytoplasmic staining. Cytoplasmic - most were reticular, dense fine speckled next. Reticular assoc w/ primary biliary cholangitis (w/ Abs against M2). Dense fine https://t.co/JI7iGvw8xp
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Using 16S rRNA gene amplification, Gut bacterial taxa from 53 CRPS pts compared to 52 controls. Differences were seen in microbiome and plasma short-chain fatty acid levels between CRPS patients and controls, w/ >90% accuracy https://t.co/TO7CCmmtD5 https://t.co/Gn9loJPNfM
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Full read review of Neuropsychiatric SLE. NPSLE criteria includes 12 central & 7 peripheral findings (psych, cognitive, Sz, CVA/TIA, neuropathy, MS-like). NPSLE AutoAbs are many: Abs against APL, LAC, RP, NMDA, NMO/AQP4, EC, SBSN, UCH-L1, TP1, GAPDH, MAP2, U1RNP https://t.co/HvDX8wSuoB
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
45 southern African American SLE pts compared to multiethnic cSLE, AA pts had signif higher Dz activity & greater damage accrual. Their mean SLICC score was 8.4, SLEDAI 13, but was 7.4 @6 mos & 4,7 @1 yr. They traveled an avg distance 75 miles to see Rheum https://t.co/NMlT4uo8jn https://t.co/uG5ofMGE6O
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
