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Integrating D2T into T2T Practices in RA
EurekAlert!
Researchers at Semmelweis University analyzed how depression, smoking, obesity, sleep disorders, and other health problems are linked to difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis (D2T-RA) and how this can inform treat-to-target (T2T) and individualized therapy.
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Safety of Biologics and Novel Agents
Dr. Jack Cush reviews safety of biologics and novel agents.
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LRA Awards for Immune Resetting Therapies in Lupus
Lupus Research Alliance
Lupus Research Alliance (LRA), the world’s largest private funder of lupus research, in collaboration with Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, announced the inaugural recipients of t
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RepurpSS-II: Hydroxychloroquine plus Leflunomide in Sjögren's
A small, pilot, phase 2b trial has shown that the combination of leflunomide and hydroxychloroquine (LEF+HCQ) was effective and safe in treating patients with active Sjögren's disease.
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Trends and Innovations in Lupus Nephritis Clinical Trials
Xu et al. from Shanghai University have written an analysis of global lupus nephritis (LN) clinical trials and call for innovation.
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Quiz Talk (5.22.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush talks of birthdays, Quizzes and journal articles this week on the podcast.
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US Biobank (n=480K) study of mobile phone use. W/ 13.6 yrs F/U, 6082 new RA. Cell phone use incr incident RA 14% (HR: 1.14; 1.07–1.23); w/ 8% risk (HR: 1.08) if used >30 min/wk. Speakerphone use was NS. https://t.co/U7TcyoY5SS https://t.co/kqqnFXwaEi
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VACIMRA RCT in 249 RA pts on MTX were PCV13 vaccinated & continued or held MTX x 4wks. Best humoral responses w/ holding MTX x4wks with no clinical detriment over next 12 mos (remission, LDA, Xray outcomes) https://t.co/b6ByOYY0Fi https://t.co/XeJURKLpL8
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30 yr Retrospective study of 1216 SLE hospitalizations in Barcelona - SLE flares & infections were most frequent. Hosp for infections signif. increased & in last 5yrs, exceeded Dz flares (34% vs. 26%). Younger pts had more flare hosp; older more infx hosp. Over time infx have https://t.co/TkUiXaoL1R
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The safe/right choice is H. Zoster. You never fully eradicate invasive fungal or NTM infections. HBV is too risky to again use TNFi again. After H.zoster is Rx,there is evidence its safe to restart TNFi without risk of recurrence. Vagal N. Stim is the mechanistically same as
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Case-control study of 349 autoimmune (ARD) pts (SLE, RA, SSc) & serum assays for anti-neutrophil extracellular trap (aNET)Abs. aNET in 37% SLE assoc w/ APS (OR 3.4) & arterial thrombosis (OR 5.5). aNET in 40% RA assoc w/ ACPA+ (p=0.049) https://t.co/QwvmLAVmg7 https://t.co/VJ7JV5fcZE
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RHEUM Survey: After treating which infection can you safely resume anti-TNF therapy?
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Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) have been strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of lupus, as their primary product, type I interferon (IFN-I), drive systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE). A recent comprehensive review synthesizes the https://t.co/VaE295a2Ep
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True or False: In a Japanese study of refractory neuropsychiatric SLE, rituximab led to significant improvement in the majority of patients treated. See if you got it right at https://t.co/3F1h89Qrtw https://t.co/vx0ILsZ3WF
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RHEUM Survey: After treating which infection can you safely resume anti-TNF therapy?
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FDA has approved benralizumab (Fasenra) for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients w/ hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES); based on the NATRON Phase III trial https://t.co/7se6qLsQoP https://t.co/64wC94hTTq
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Fatigue in SLE
An NIH lupus cohort study looked at fatigue in SLE and found associations with organ damage, obesity, but does not correlate with disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients.
https://t.co/63JVDUwu88 https://t.co/3dPOThMbMD
Links:
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Does RTX work in CNS lupus? Japanese experience in 17 refractory NP-SLE pts Rx w/ RTX - 16/17 had significant improve. & 1 partial improvement -- none had NP-SLE relapse. Two died during COVID> https://t.co/GpCgpSxn37 https://t.co/PMz05MHBhj
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Press release of early study of IMVT-1402 (human mAb targeting FcRn) Open-label Rx in 170 active, refractory RA showed ACR 20/50/70 of 73%/54%/36% at wk 16. Next, Responders will do a blinded withdrawl - blinded results to follow. https://t.co/Mzmb3PPvMF https://t.co/oZ99l9VJQU
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Kissei Pharmaceuticals announced 20 deaths related to receiving avacopan (Tavneos), a vasculitis drug sold by the firm in Japan. Drug was released in June 2022, since its been given to ~8,500 pts. Avacopan safety is being reviewed by FDA with Amgen. https://t.co/ri0nROCL5U https://t.co/jbksrWMFwI
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