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Ankle Fusion or Total Replacement?
In a large study of British patients needing surgical treatment for advanced arthritis in the ankle, fusion appeared to be a better option than total ankle replacement.
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Diagnoses via Immune ‘Fingerprints’
Science and researchers at Stanford Medicine have reported the use of Mal-ID (machine learning for immunological diagnosis) to analyze B and T cell receptors sequences from human blood, showing the ability to predict health status (healthy vs diseased) and discriminate between distinct autoimmune diseases or viral infections, and those who had received an influenza vaccine.
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Postoperative Weight Loss Improves Joint Replacement Survival
A cohort study of shows that postoperative weight loss with antiobesity medications significantly reduced the risk of 5-year and 10-year revision among patients with obesity undergoing hip or knee replacement.
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Optimal Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients and Liver Disease
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B Cell Depleters (2.21.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.
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Medicare study of 2.3 million shows high Telemedicine use was assoc w/ slight increase in visits (F2F & telemed), modestly lower use of 7 of 20 low-value screen tests for cervical CA, ECG, CMP, CBC, TFTs, & imaging for uncomplicated LBP (with less costs too)… https://t.co/lrG9NJ20B7 https://t.co/rLkGdBqWmr
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National Statistics analysis (2020-22)of 3.6 million US workers shows MDs & HCP had lower age/sex adjusted mortality rates vs non-HCPs. In nonHCPs, mortality is lower in females (HR 0.55), but in MD/HCP females its equal (HR 0.97; more CA +respt) & MD/HCP Black higher than whites… https://t.co/gmPJEN4xs0 https://t.co/7QpTZko8GP
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ACPA+ linked to nodule progression. 208 #RA pts w/ Chest CT studied. Lung nodules seen in 1/3; 10% before RA Dx (10.4 mos before). Positive ACPA (not RF) was assoc w/ nodule progression (OR 3.69). csDMARDs & b/ts-DMARDs NO affect on nodule progression. https://t.co/GO1wLRIl9j https://t.co/pfFGbPv2DG
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US nationwide claims data study of CV outcomes (MACE) in #RA based on b/tsDMARD (n=34375) exposures (71% TNFi, 10% JAKi, 8% ABA, 5% RTX, 5% IL-6i). Compared to TNFi, RTX (HR 1.5) & IL-6i (HR 1.3) had numerically higher, but not statistically significant, MACE risk.… https://t.co/GXunfMY3US https://t.co/XYZPt0kzGE
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Srudy of 558 #RA pts finds GERD symptoms were significantly w/ higher TJC28 and VAS scores and lower use of MTX (but not related to NSAID or steroid use). GERD Sxs may impact MTX dosing and Dz activity measures in RA https://t.co/2H8RUNywlG https://t.co/ZBSlTL1ZA3
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JAMA Case: A Woman With Painful Digital Ulcers - What would you order next?
- chest CT w/ myositis-specific autoAb panel
- dsDNA
- SCL-70 & Centromere Abs
- muscle biopsy https://t.co/9T8mNDdJTs https://t.co/pTphzcuZKF
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Seeing Beyond the Surface: Salivary Gland Ultrasound in IgG4 Related Disease
Presentation by Dr. Amy Trang at the Rheumatology Winter Clinical Symposia - Feb 2025.
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Optimal Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients and Liver Disease
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Increased L-33 linked to SLE. Study of 120 #SLE vs 60 controls. IL-33 levels signif higher in SLE (258.7 vs 78.3, p < 0.001) & correlated w/ SLEDAI (r = 0.68, p < 0.001) & organ damage (r = 0.45, p < 0.01) & renal dz (p < 0.01). https://t.co/8dbH6u2s1r https://t.co/SzKWy5Xbv1
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AI-assisted diagnosis for immunological disease
A novel machine learning framework – Mal-ID – can decipher an individual’s immune system’s record of past infections and diseases, according to a new study, providing a powerful tool with the potential for diagnosing autoimmune… https://t.co/gAViSbzreI https://t.co/IFXObUZe2s
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CRP and Hidradenitis Supprativa
A post hoc analysis of 2 phase 3 randomized clinical trials (PIONEER I and II) of adalimumab vs Placebo in patients with active Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) demonstrated more severe HS that was associated with elevated CRP had a higher BMI.… https://t.co/VxFRjt3cRw https://t.co/rdNIvzMaP8
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Eric Dein @ericdeinmd
Active Morphea: - MTX +/- steroids. If not effective, MMF/RTX/ABA - Topicals for circumscribed - Phototherapy Most pts achieve remission in active in 1 year Inactive morphea - Can address with PT, pain rx, psychological support, plastic surgery fat… https://t.co/wEnlo6vtAB https://t.co/4uJYC9HaS1
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Full read, comprehensive review of Hidradenitis Supprativa in Lancet Feb 1, 2025
Common assn; DM, IBD, Smoking, Obesity, metabolic syndr, NASH, SpA, RA
FDA approved Rx: Adalimumab, Secukinumab, Bimekizumab https://t.co/9er7TkNXpK https://t.co/N6sal9URv3
Links:
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Risk for Serious Infection with Low-Dose Glucocorticoids in RA
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Deucravacitinib in Psoriasis - 5 Year Outcomes
BMS released new five-year results from the POETYK PSO long-term extension (LTE) trial of deucravacitinib in treating patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. The data was presented by Dr. Marc Lebwohl at the Winter… https://t.co/as7QR8RTyx https://t.co/yNluBPR7fO
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