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Extreme Global Costs of Physical Inactivity
A global, population-based study shows that physical inactivity is not only an important modifiable risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health conditions, it also imparts a considerable health and economic burden that is avoidable.
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Best of 2022: Allopurinol Safety in CKD Patients
A study in the Annals of Internal Medicine reports chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients can be safely treated with allopurinol without an increased risk of mortality.
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Best of 2022: Allopurinol Safety in CKD Patients
https://t.co/BDjuL2Fp94 https://t.co/d3Jo4SKwHQ
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Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
FDG-PET Scan in RA? Study of 34 #RA pts shows PET uptake (SUV scores) measures were significantly correlated with the number of swollen joints, SDAID but not the CDAI, disease duration, seropositivity, or RA treatments. https://t.co/AkGhEiNqwt https://t.co/FkKh49KYyd
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10% of PsA is PsA Sine Psoriasis - how to differentiate from seroneg RA? PsA sine PsO pts have peripheral arthritis, no skin dz, but may have axial sxs, +Family Hx or nail psoriasis, dactylitis, enthesitis, DIP involvement. https://t.co/BeYOq8ysgW https://t.co/pLogz1HHTV
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IL-18 is a proinflammatory cytokine involved in innate & adaptive immune responses. IL-18 is a key mediator in autoinflammatory diseases, MAS, Still’s disease. Serum IL-18 levels may be useful in diagnosis and monitoring of disease activity https://t.co/1SXlODZcXc https://t.co/xtauaMMMos
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Does Methotrexate Use Lead to Melanoma?
A systematic review suggests that low-dose methotrexate (MTX) use is associated with an increased melanoma risk, but the absolute risk increase could be considered negligible.
https://t.co/dChsIsCAMt https://t.co/5PgjlunTmp
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Drugs causing Scleroderma (DASSc) - Anticancer rx made up 42% DASSc & 62.3% case reports. Included: taxane-based agents, bleomycin, vinblastine, imatinib, dacarbazine, pembrolizumab pemetrexed; also HRT romiplostim & eculizumab https://t.co/jPNIuaYdnJ https://t.co/efZG5kG2Yd
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2 open-label reports of JAK inhibitors in Systemic sclerosis (SSc) - 59 SSc pts: significant decr in mRSS in 88%. 28/29 w/ ILD had no progression. Overall responses better in treatment naïve SSc patients. 20% had side-effects. More studies needed https://t.co/zjxZtTFnlS https://t.co/XTwip2wv1n
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Rituximab Efficacy in Systemic Sclerosis
The DESIRES trial studied rituximab (RTX) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and showed clinically significant improvement in skin and lung outcomes after a subsequent 24-week open-label extension phase.
https://t.co/cqlVo104Y9 https://t.co/dYgBsj65BJ
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AVOID THE WEEKEND! Study of high-impact rheumatology journals (Rheumatology, J Rheum, & Seminars A&R) shows higher risk of "desk rejections" by editor (avoiding peer review) for manuscripts submitted Saturday (OR 1.23) or Sunday (OR 1.13) https://t.co/rWIkiYgh8Y https://t.co/kPSJmfWSUl
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Treatment of pyoderma gangrenosum is clinically empiric. Full read ref w/ Graded Rx Recommendations:
- 1st line: Steriods or Cyclosporin
- Consider biologics: TNFi, IL-1, IL-12/23, IL-17, IL-23
- Others: MTX, MMF, AZA, Dap, colchic, thalidomide, IVIG
https://t.co/z0XeT0ja45 https://t.co/fWAcryIDJR
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Women Heroes in Rheum:
- Barbara Ansell - JIA
- Nanna Svartz - SSZ
- Gertrude Elion - Nobel Prize for allopurinol, AZA
- Tsai-Fan Yu - gout Rx
- Mary Betty Stevens - lupus & vasculitis
- Marian Ropes - 1st F ARA president
- Fionula Brennan - TNFi
& more
https://t.co/FDRORJ7c1q https://t.co/ZebVagIyQA
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Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Best of 2022: Was this a Mistake? HCQ Dose Reductions per AAOS Guidelines
https://t.co/Swf5kq6VtG https://t.co/UTIaCFpAX6
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Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Good review of Diagnosis and Treatment of Pulmonary Sarcoidosis in JAMA.
- Lung progression (in only 10%) assoc w/ 12-18% 5yr mortality
- Sx Sarcoid w/ Lung: start Pred 20 to 40 mg/d for 2 -6 wks
- Steroid sparing w/ MTX, AZA or TNFi
https://t.co/aVnUXaj0sj https://t.co/JN142hlR6g
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Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Approximately 61% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis who use methotrexate report side effects following weekly dosing, including fatigue and nausea, according to data published in Rheumatology and Therapy https://t.co/k7hhdbIhW1 https://t.co/GiaihMGnWK
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Full read review of advances in bone biology leading to drug development (denosumab, romosuzumab, Burosumab), advances in Pagets and rickets and key regulatory molecules for bone remodeling, RANK, RANKL, OPG, & sclerostin https://t.co/1d6A6MsdbJ https://t.co/IuKEp1PQtr
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Best of 2022: The Enthesitis Challenge in Psoriatic Arthritis
https://t.co/S7OR6zXTiw https://t.co/Mgy4IcoIZj
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JAMA - Update/Review of Hemochromatosis Dx and Rx.
- 5 gene defects in hepcidin. 95% HFE & the C282Y variant
- 90% are asymptomatic
- Suspicion w/ arthralgias, LFTs, hepatomegaly, cardiomyopathy, 1st degr relative
- Untreated, 9% risk of cirrhosis
https://t.co/LWbIbLITK9 https://t.co/xDpA16K0tm
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Hyaluronic Acid Knee Injections Equivalent to Placebo
In the United States, where over $300 million is spent annually on intraarticular hyaluronic acid injections, yet another study shows such therapy to be no better than placebo.
https://t.co/bBEwpId84L https://t.co/5msGqViTpz
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Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
