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ACR and Congress Address “Damaging” Cuts to Medicare MD Payments
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ACR
The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) today commended the 233 bipartisan representatives who signed a letter urging House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) to support legislative action to address “damaging” payment cuts to physicians in
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Inadequate Zoster Vaccination in Immunocompromised Patients
A VA study of shows that recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) vaccination in immunocompromised patients or those receiving immunosuppressive medications is insufficient, given these are high risk individuals.
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Run-Walk Exercise May Help Lower Back Pain
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MedPage Today
Adults younger than age 45 with chronic, nonspecific lower back pain saw significant pain relief with a structured run-walk program in a randomized trial.
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Efficacy of Acupuncture for Sciatica
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MedPage Today
Real Chinese acupuncture was more effective than a sham version for treating sciatica stemming from herniated spinal disks in a randomized trial conducted in China.
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Run-Walk Exercise May Help Lower Back Pain
Adults younger than age 45 with chronic, nonspecific lower back pain saw significant pain relief with a structured run-walk program in a randomized trial.
https://t.co/8U8ovgQQkD https://t.co/zTENGgfJ3b
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Efficacy of Acupuncture for Sciatica
Real Chinese acupuncture was more effective than a sham version for treating sciatica stemming from herniated spinal disks in a randomized trial conducted in China.
https://t.co/ukfApikSOl https://t.co/6zu5YWPV0L
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Screening to Prevent Multimorbidity in Rheumatic Patients
A population based screening program of patients with chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRD) demonstrates that systematic screening IRD patients for multimorbidity increased preventive interventions and reduced… https://t.co/qh0mkN8HgD https://t.co/ggz5bafCMt
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ANA+ consult? 2 Yr study of 207 asymptomatic ANA-pos, found only 11% progressed to systemic autoimmune rheum Dz (89% did not). Progressors developed SLE (48%), Sjögren (22%), scleroderma (13%), RA (4%); Arthritis (RR 1.74) more likly in progressors https://t.co/53bmkQ0qj0 https://t.co/8VUxqxnuGl
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AI-powered chatbot (Bing) was asked 10 questions each on 50 common drugs. Of 500 AI generated answers overall had low readability and a high but still not sufficient quality, repeatedly lacking infor or w/ inaccuracies possibly threatening patient & medication safety.… https://t.co/r1wwKPAtrK https://t.co/1PWcuzh24r
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Comparison of 2 criteria for "difficult to Rx PsA" - 378 pts - 19.8% met Perrotta criteria, & 15.3% met Kumthekar D2T criteria. Sensitivity 30-38%, but specificity 82- 86%, w/ good agreement betw 2 sets. D2T-PsA research is needed! https://t.co/MUWPsargrU https://t.co/P40DAkb5qT
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#SLE and biologics (approved & under study) - Full read review:
Anifrolumab
Belimumab
Ocrelizumab
Obinutuzumab
Ofatumumab
Veltuzumab
Epratuzumab
Tocilizumab
Secukinumab
Ustekinumab
Eculizumab https://t.co/RGS2DJgzyS https://t.co/PhqXt0hIzY
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Cytokines/biomarkers from IL-23/IL-17 pathways are Increased in psoriasis. Subanalysis of phase 2 254 pt PsO trial revealed that 12 wks of deucravacitinib assoc w/ reduction in IL-17A, IL-17C, beta-defensin, PI3 - decreases correlated w/ PASI changes https://t.co/Ii381B2mZx https://t.co/vXDyLUsKPi
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FDA has approved a 4th biosimilar to Stelara - the new agent, ustekinumab-srl (Imuldosa), is indicated for Rx of plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Originator Stelara sales in 2023 were nearly $10.86 USD billion globally… https://t.co/MoNBj2UaVH https://t.co/3Tenkfq0KK
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GI Abnormalities in Scleroderma
A prospective Scleroderma Cohort Study found that gastrointestinal tract (GIT) involvement was common and negatively impacted quality of life, physical function, and employment, but had no effect on mortality.
https://t.co/9z1ycWkCQt https://t.co/oE5RgjJ9tm
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Full read review of the interaction of innate immune and adaptive immune systems. https://t.co/00UUSat6yj https://t.co/HDMSfFJ7Ts
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Intracellular vs extracellular Calcium Pyrophosphate Crystals in 134 pts - 108 w/ intracellular & 26 w/ extracellular CPP crystals. Having Acute/chronic CPP crystal arthritis - 97% had intracellular and 62 extracellular crystals (p<0.001). Arthritis more likely to be asso w/… https://t.co/oRVNKptLfx https://t.co/06oGP4EyVJ
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Upadacitinib safety across in RA, PsA, AS, atopic dermatitis >15000 Pt-Yrs exposure. Rates (per 100PYs) of Hzoster (1.6–3.6), NMSC (0–0.8) & incr CPK (4.4–7.9) higher w/ UPA vs comparators (RA, PsA); Deaths (0–0.8), SIE (0–3.9), MACE (0–0.4), VTE (<0.1–0.4), CA, malignancies… https://t.co/OoJ5OX7JyL https://t.co/vaMVFmldEB
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Risk of Uveitis with Spondyloarthritis
A retrospective registry study shows that uveitis may be seen in 10% with the diagnosis of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) but becomes more common (47%) over the next 30 years of disease. The good news is that biologic therapy can… https://t.co/96rRu77Tyl https://t.co/bGHnZ7lCIm
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Long Term Antibiotics Increase Risk of RA
JAMA has published a population-based retrospective cohort study showing a possible association between the long-term use of antibiotics and the risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
https://t.co/U7lPvTSJWO https://t.co/MrUuP6crB7
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GI Abnormalities in Scleroderma
A prospective Scleroderma Cohort Study found that gastrointestinal tract (GIT) involvement was common and negatively impacted quality of life, physical function, and employment, but had no effect on mortality.
https://t.co/6jQvKz7nmm https://t.co/1IGPe6obyS
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)