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Repurposing & Pipeline (8.8.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, reports, pipeline and drug repurposing on this week’s podcast.
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Dermatomyositis Reviewed
Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania have published an open-access review of dermatomyositis (DM) - its manifestations, hallmark cutaneous features, etiopathogenesis and treatment options.
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Inefficiencies of ANA Testing
The Journal of Rheumatology has published an analysis of antinuclear antibody (ANA) multiplex testing showing its nonspecific utility and poor rate of return in identifying ANA-associated autoimmune rheumatic disease (ARDs).
Rheums Speak - RA Treatment Survey
RheumNow's August 2025 “Live Vote” surveys will examine Rheumatologist impressions, knowledge and practices over the last 20 years when treating rheumatoid arthritis.
https://t.co/hJSQ5mMJ6b https://t.co/7sBXpzkVLg
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Aging Quiets Lupus
UCSF researchers have found that epigentic changes in interferon genes over time may lead to lupus being less active as they age.
https://t.co/MLBFLXnXOQ https://t.co/9aacdZPoED
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
"What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference
you want to make." – Jane Goodall
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Full read review of DMARD effects on CV Risks. Strongest CV protective effects for MTX & TNF inhibitors. Potentially beneficial are sulfasalazine, hydroxychloroquine, & leflunomide. More info needed on IL-6, IL-17/23 inhibitors. Concerns over NSAIDs & JAKi https://t.co/0BW4StS15N
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Large metanalysis of TNFi use in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (45 studies, 150K pts) shows no increased risk of de novo heart failure (HF), and no significant risk of HF worsening w/ TNFis. https://t.co/9sRVsMZ1kv https://t.co/igCdcQMVK3
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
FDA Approves Vagal Nerve Stimulator for RA
SetPoint Medical announced the FDA approved the SetPoint System, a neuroimmune modulation treatment for moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA), for patients not well-managed or cannot tolerate—existing RA therapies like https://t.co/MtVny1iBQ4
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Smoking and the Global Burden of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Detailed analysis of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 database shows that tobacco and smoking is one of the most significant environmental risk factors for RA over the last 20 years.
https://t.co/4IDf1ZTl7w https://t.co/oM0bNXIw28
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
RA leads to ILD: but ILD does not lead to RA
New research sheds light on the link between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). A team from Taizhou Hospital used advanced multi-omics methods to explore the causal relationship between these two https://t.co/QbY6GC0KBZ
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis - NEJM Review
Sandborg et al. has published an overview of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) - its classification, biology, genetics, , clinical presentations and treatment advances in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). https://t.co/ykI9zAUXaF
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
DID YOU KNOW? >30% of Systemic Sclerosis pts present without Raynauds!. Data from 2 large US cohorts, of SSc dx with puffy fingers/hands or other symptoms. Such patients presented with more severe skin and musculoskeletal disease. https://t.co/NP3KeUL5iX https://t.co/XWiAIljujL
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Metanalysis of 35 studies, 887 participants, shows 3 consecutive nights of sleep deprivation (~4.3hr/hs) assoc w/ signif. increase in IL-6 (p < 0.01) and C-reactive protein (p = 0.03) in blood. This was not seen w/ a single night of total or partial sleep deprivation https://t.co/M60wPUbsch
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
2025 BSR Recommendations for ANCA-associated Vasculitis
The BSR and BHPR have published a guideline for the management of adults with AAV; specifically three conditions: GPA, MPA, and EGPA.
https://t.co/nYpbBK7Ahr https://t.co/J4KcAzA5Xd
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Retrospective study of FDG-PET scans at Int. Medicine tertiary hosp (2015-2020), included 260 adult IM pts - indications: infx 42%, inflammation 35%, suspected CA 17%. 80% were helpful; 40% Rx changed. 23% neg. results; 9% made the Dx; 43% PET superior to other imaging. Less https://t.co/2UG2npJgRg
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Retrospective study of 63 pts w/ Cryoglobulinemia (essential mixed [EM], CTD-related) vasculitis (CryoVas) in remission post RTX induction. W/ 58 mos F/U Relapse rates were 23%, 42%, 71% (@ 1yr, 2yrs, 5yrs). Relapse risk w/ purpura [HR 2.2] & prior CryoVas flare (HR 1.9). https://t.co/6zGgSN8Wfe
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Rheums Speak - RA Treatment Survey
RheumNow's August 2025 “Live Vote” surveys will examine Rheumatologist impressions, knowledge and practices over the last 20 years when treating rheumatoid arthritis.
https://t.co/hJSQ5mMJ6b https://t.co/466wOjTSGS
Links:
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
COVID Vaccine study in rheum pts on JAKi (n 22) or TNFi (n 16) Showing 50% response in JAKi and 81% w/ TNFi Rx. Pt PBMCs were stim by SAR-CoV2 spike proteins & CD4+ T cells IFNγ production as Pos. response. Do JAKi impair COVID-19 Vax responses? https://t.co/dZAktwrytf https://t.co/mjkBfcGcfD
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
