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NHANES, Numbers, & Risk (7.18.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com along with interesting case questions from "Ask Cush Anything".
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Zasocitinib (Tyk2 Inhibitor) Efficacy in Psoriatic Arthritis
A highly selective, tyrosine kinase 2 inhibitor zasocitinib (TAK-279), was studied in a phase 2b trial and found to be effective and safe patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA).
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Americans choose short term relief for neck and back pain
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EurekAlert!
New survey data from the Orlando Health Spine Center reveals a significant difference among Americans on how to manage neck and back pain.
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Molecular profiling of RA synovium predicts biologic responses
Machine learning analysis of pre-treatment synovial tissue biopsy from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients starting either etanercept (ETN), tocilizumab (TCZ) and rituximab (RTX) revealed
1 in 5 Patients are Unaware of their Arthritis Diagnosis
Current CDC numbers suggest that arthritis (any type) affects an estimated 67.1 million (27.9% ) adults in the USA. Interestingly, 1 in 5 do not know their arthritis subtype (21.6%, 14.4 million).
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Molecular profiling of RA synovium predicts biologic responses
Machine learning analysis of pre-treatment synovial tissue biopsy from RA patients starting either ETN, TCZ and RTX revealed high accuracy prediction of 16 week outcomes unique to each biologic. https://t.co/4d6NEY6JN6
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MTX lowers risk of serious infxn (SI) - UK Observational study of 17 472 newly Dx RA (2018–2023); 10K on MTX, 4,540 other csDMARDs; 13680 corticosteroids (GC). 1307 SI (3/100 PY) w/ reduced adj HR 0.72 (95% CI: 0.63–0.82). 311 SI-related mortality (IR 0.69;0.61–0.77) https://t.co/YhJV3vyAmB
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1 in 5 Patients are Unaware of their Arthritis Diagnosis
Current CDC numbers suggest that arthritis (any type) affects an estimated 67.1 million (27.9% ) adults in the USA. Interestingly, 1 in 5 do not know their arthritis subtype (21.6%, 14.4 million).
https://t.co/G8zeP1K5X9 https://t.co/BdDFVSUuFf
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French Teratology Service study of 57 pregnant women exposed to anti-IL-1 (47% for Stills Dz) found no evidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes with IL-1 inhibition (43 anakinra, 5 canakinumab) 85% livebirths, 11% early miscarriages. Major congenital malformations 3% https://t.co/iyLvaNKA2o
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Manifestations and Treatment in Relapsing Polychondritis
A large multicenter cohort study of Relapsing Polychondritis (RP) describes the clinical manifestations and treatment approaches to this rare, heterogeneous, multisystem disease.
https://t.co/Gz2qwtC4jZ https://t.co/ZLkjNQmbRC
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Variability of Guidelines on the Perioperative Use of DMARDs in Rheumatic Diseases Patients
More effective treatments in patients with rheumatic diseases have resulted in less need for major surgery, yet a substantial number of RMD patients will undergo surgery often in the https://t.co/gjJOjZhSHU
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Stroke in patients with SLE is associated with a poorer outcome than matched controls in
terms of functional recovery, recurrence, and mortality - study of 40 SLE vs 120 controls w/ CVA https://t.co/spBT1u6bfj https://t.co/eVNYBogJWz
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Full read overview of new imaging modalities for inflammatory arthritis, including high-res.quantitative CT, ultra-high field MRI), PET, fluorescence optical imaging, optoacoustic imaging, contrast-enhanced ultrasonography - all with artificial intelligence analysis https://t.co/3w5RZEUC9K
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SSB, > SSA, Abs are signif associated w/ abnormal DLCO (AUC 0.791) in Sjogrens syndrome, esp in assoc. w/ LIP- lymphocytic interstitial pneumonitis. These findings more likely in quadruple positive Sjogrens w/ RF/ANA/SSA/SSB positivity. https://t.co/s6IyRzfXiN https://t.co/J3bMowsrUQ
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Metanalysis of Uveitis & JIA - 28 studies, 22,834 JIA pts w/ 3,381dx w/ uveitis - prevalence = 12.7%,, highest in Europeans (14.3%), lowest in Asian (6.5%). Uveitis risk factors included early age JIA onset, ANA-positive, and increased ESR. https://t.co/MxffJKvbik https://t.co/LDz60uwQTM
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Sulfasalazine as a preventative against Pneumocystis (PJP). 594 RA pts & 848 Rx episodes - 181 on SSZ, 667 controls. W/ 850 Pt-Yrs F/U, 21developed PCP, 3 died of PCP. SSZ significantly lowered PJP risk (p = 0.003, rate ratio = 0.05; 95% CI 0.00–0.34). https://t.co/PAgBaJGldR https://t.co/VV3MvVEGal
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Osteoporosis treatment benefits people older than 80
People who are older than 80 should be considered for osteoporosis treatment after a fracture to avoid further risk, according to a study being presented Saturday at ENDO 2025, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in San https://t.co/ry3V4Nmq7E
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New download available on biomarkers
https://t.co/rFeApBnHav https://t.co/vwjog6ILJU
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Interstitial Lung Disease and Lung Cancer Risk
A large prospective cohort study found that interstitial lung disease (ILD) is associated with an increased risk of lung cancer.
https://t.co/SdOT28qVfr https://t.co/6KhAijhfHw
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Study of a Chinese systemic JIA cohort using scRNA-seq and Bulk RNA-seq, found a potential biomarker w. UBE2D1 expression closely related to Dz activity levels, reflecting enhanced monocyte activity in sJIA patients. UBE2D1 may complement others S100A8/A9, IL-18, ferritin https://t.co/IDeEvitIrB
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