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Intraarticular IL-1Ra Gene Therapy in Knee Osteoarthritis
De la Vega et al. have published in Science Translational Medicine the efficacy of an IL-1Ra gene therapy in adults with knee osteoarthritis (OA).
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Transcranial Stimulation is Effective in Fibromyalgia
A randomized, controlled clinical trial in fibromyalgia (FM) has shown the efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation (A-tDCS) (along with exercise and pain neuroscience education [PNE]), in alleviating the pain.
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Vitamin D Headlines (5.9.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal reports and lupus highlights from the past week on RheumNow.com. Triple positivity, the gut and CRPS, and hope for better outcomes with Vitamin D therapy.
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Risk Factors for Knee Osteoarthritis
EurekAlert!
New research from the University of Sydney reveals that obesity, having a knee injury and occupational risks such as shift work and lifting heavy loads are primary causes of knee osteoarthritis.
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We can control inflammation in RA, but some pts still struggle with disease impact, despite improving with bDMARDs:
- lower inflamm
- higher comorbidities
Doesn’t necessarily map to fibromyalgia dx
Beyond Rx, this is the critical question
CareRA/2000
#EULAR2025 OP0330 @RheumNow https://t.co/Th3smMgtVb
Links:
David Liew drdavidliew ( View Tweet)
#neuromodulation in #rheumatoid #arthritis
What is it?
👇
Autonomic & immune system interaction
Who seeks this Rx?
desperate pts w pain
No Rx left
Interested in technology
#EULAR2025 @RheumNow @eular_org
#D2T #RA https://t.co/XWWFiUK6Em
Links:
Janet Pope Janetbirdope ( View Tweet)
The great debate: are cannabis and cannabinoids a valid treatment option in patients with rheumatic diseases?
A thread 🧵👇🏼
@RheumNow #EULAR2025 https://t.co/KLZN9MvcFy
Aurelie Najm AurelieRheumo ( View Tweet)
Interesting debate today #EULAR2025 about medical cannabis - where relative harms have come up.
Would you rather be addicted to prescription opioids or recreational cannabis?
(not going to argue about cannabis addiction - let’s say social impact is equal)
@RheumNow
David Liew drdavidliew ( View Tweet)
#polyrefractory #RA
=
failed all classes in #rheumatoid #arthritis
+inflammatory #arthritis
Longer disease duration
Late RA Rx
+power Doppler in POCUS
⬆️no refractory
BMI
Fibromyalgia - pain
⬇️SJC, less DAS , rapid X-ray progression
#EULAR2025 @RheumNow #D2T #RA https://t.co/1sPwf3Qa3m
Links:
Janet Pope Janetbirdope ( View Tweet)
Transcranial Stimulation is Effective in Fibromyalgia
A randomized, controlled clinical trial in fibromyalgia (FM) has shown the efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation (A-tDCS) (along with exercise and pain neuroscience education [PNE]), in alleviating the pain. https://t.co/P8SKs3JNEx
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
#D2T #RA ~20%
#Polyrefractory 3%
Many reasons for d/c ing #Rx - D2T
AEs
Intolerance
Chronic pain
Etc
My approach is different depending on reasons why drugs were d/c
Ie ?obj inflammation vs pain or intolerance
@RheumNow @eular_org #EULAR2025
#whatmakes D2T RA difficult https://t.co/AL6TMVJIk9
Janet Pope Janetbirdope ( View Tweet)
Pain & age predict outcomes in #osteoarthritis
In a #cohort of 92 pts with #knee #OA
Factors were studied for response
Better
✅#NSAIDs or #acetaminophen v #opiates
✅Older
✅Lower #WOMAC PAIN & no sensitization
🤔help RCT inclusion
#EULAR2025 @RheumNow POS0612 @eular_org https://t.co/9I2JN9sgUe
Janet Pope Janetbirdope ( View Tweet)
Systematic review of fibromyalgia & sleep quality - 47 RCTs, 11094 pts showed CBT for insomnia had a significant improvement in sleep quality; but CBT for pain had no impact. Only moderate improvement w/ pregabalin, sodium oxybate; but no effect w/ amitriptyline, milnacipran, https://t.co/bArizMLGR8
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Systematic review of fibromyalgia & sleep quality - 47 RCTs, 11094 pts showed CBT for insomnia had a significant improvement in sleep quality; but CBT for pain had no impact. Only moderate improvement w/ pregabalin, sodium oxybate; but no effect w/ amitriptyline, milnacipran, https://t.co/AEqbShRh6e
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Psychological Bulletin has published that invalidating (gaslighting) pts Sxs can have harmful consequences. Includes pts dx w/ Ehlers-Danlos, endometriosis, fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, POTS, Gulf War, IBS, long Covid, multiple chemical sensitivity, SLE, and vulvodynia.
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Psychological Bulletin has published that invalidating (gaslighting) pts Sxs can have harmful consequences. Includes pts dx w/ Ehlers-Danlos, endometriosis, fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, POTS, Gulf War, IBS, long Covid, multiple chemical sensitivity, SLE, and vulvodynia.
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
National Inpatient Sample retrospective study of #RA pts using cannabis (n 42,415). Cannabis assoc w/ lower mortality (0.98% vs 2.71%; OR 0.50), depression (OR 0.47), chronic pain (OR 0.45), anxiety (OR 0.55); but more use of opioids (OR: 1.10), nicotine (OR: 1.35), & alcohol https://t.co/87SnCHVxkN
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Metformin Effective in Osteoarthritis
The diabetes drug metformin provided overweight/obese patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee with significantly greater pain relief than did placebo in a small randomized trial, researchers said.
https://t.co/7krvFFfRFC https://t.co/g1UyNjazUv
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Inflammatory vs. Noninflammatory Pain
https://t.co/ZZLMnT8IVO https://t.co/AqqonM6Vht
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Inflammatory vs. Noninflammatory Pain
https://t.co/ZZLMnT8IVO https://t.co/pD6nutctI0
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
