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RheumNow Podcast – Drive Them Crazy (4.17.20)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal articles and new ACR COVID-19 guidelines from the past week on RheumNow.com.
COVID-19 Systemic Involvement
The presentations of the COVID-19 infection have been clearly chronicled with the worrisome onset of sore throat, dry cough, loss of smell and taste with fevers, myalgias, fatigue and the worrisome progression of pulmonary involvement in a minority. Lab findings may include a leukocytosis,
Read ArticleACR COVID-19 Guidance for Rheumatic Disease Patients
On April 11th, the ACR Board of Directors approved a COVID-19 guidance document written by an ACR task force charged with updating and clarifying recommendations for rheumatologists and rheumatic disease patient management during the current COVID-19 crisis.
Read ArticlePost 9/11 Autoimmune Disease Risk
The 9/11/01 terrorist attach on the World Trade Center (WTC) resulted in at least 2,977 fatalities, over 25,000 injuries, and caused at least $10 billion in infrastructure and property damage. Arthritis & Rheumatology reports that dust cloud exposure among responders and
Read ArticleRheumNow Podcast – The Beginning of Something Else (4.10.20)
Dr Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com
Read ArticleCoagulopathy and Antiphospholipid Antibodies with Covid-19
The New England Journal of Medicine has featured a report of three COVID infected patients, who developed peripheral and central infarcts with a antiphospholipid antibodies.
Read ArticleTNR - Grand Rounds: Safety of Biologics & New Agents
On Tuesday, April 7th, RheumNow hosted its first Tuesday Nite Rheumatology webinar - kicking off a two-month series of Rheumatology Grand Rounds lectures. The first session featured Jack Cush, MD (UT Southwestern) who lectured on "The Safety of Biologics and Newer Agents".
Read ArticleIncubation Period for COVID-19
The incubation period for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has important implications for surveillance and control activities. The Annals of Internal Medicine reports a pooled analysis of confirmed COVID-19 cases January 4, 2020 and February 24, 2020.
Read ArticleCOVID-19 Susceptibility: Why Do Some Become So Ill?
The differential susceptibility to COVID-19 infection is attributable to socioeconomic factors and genetic differences, that together with environmental factors, human-virus interactions, gender, perhaps blood type, and age-related senescence determine the immune response and the likelihood of developing disease.
Read ArticleNICE Guidelines on Managing Rheumatologic Conditions During COVID-19 Pandemic
On April 3rd, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in the UK, published a rapid guideline for managing children and adults with rheumatological autoimmune, inflammatory and metabolic bone disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic, while protecting staff from infection.
Read ArticleCOVID Town Hall Meeting for Rheumatology
On Thursday, April 2nd, RheumNow hosted its' first Town Hall Meeting for Rheumatologist, with this 90 minute discussion devoted to the COVID-19 crisis as it affects Rheumatologists.
Read ArticleRheumNow Podcast – Pandemic Numbers (4.3.20)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news on COVID-19 and FDA actions this past week. Be sure to check out:
Read ArticleUniversal Masking for COVID?
In early March 2020, there were widespread recommendations that wearing routine "surgical masks" by the public sector was not likely to be helpful or advisable. Now we are hearing of a 180 degree shift in thinking with the CDC, leading health officials and the current NEJM Perspective pointing to more widespread use of masks by healthcare workers and even by individuals in the public sector.
CDC: Impact of Underlying Health Conditions Among COVID-19 Patients
The March 31 release of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) reviews the impact of several key comorbidities, most commonly diabetes mellitus, chronic lung disease, and cardiovascular disease, as cofactors leading to worse outcomes with COVID-19 infections. Below are e
Read ArticleTeleRheumatology - a TED Talk by Alvin Wells, MD
RheumNow Live 2020 featured a series of shorter STEP (TED-like) talks. This one features Dr. Alvin Wells discussing the opportunities and new paradigms encumbent with telemedicine in rheumatology.
Read ArticleRheumNow Podcast – New World Order (3.27.20)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and COVID developments from this past week.
Read ArticleACR Infusion Guidance During COVID-19 Crisis
The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) has published a guidance document on infusions and office based therapies.
Read ArticleDr. Artie Kavanaugh - Don't Stop!
Drs. Cush and Kavanaugh discuss the downside of stopping hydroxychloroquine, DMARDs and biologics in lupus, RA and pregnancy.
Read ArticleGlobal Rheumatology Alliance Registry Will Study COVID-19
In the midst of a global pandemic of the 2019 Novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (COVID-19), a small handful of Rheumatologists gathered on social media to collectively grapple with the impact of this virus on vulnerable populations with rheumatic disease.


