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Cochrane Review: How Good is Ultrasound Diagnosing GCA?
Is temporal artery ultrasound equivalent or superior to the reference standard of temporal artery biopsy when diagnosing giant cell arteritis (GCA)?
Read ArticleCurbside Consults (2.16.2024)
Dr. Jack Cush answers audience clinical case questions sent by email or "ask Cush anything". Cases and questions from:
Read ArticleAPIPPRA Trial: Abatacept in at-risk rheumatoid arthritis patients
Abatacept has been studied in seropositive clinically suspect arthralgia patients (at risk for rheumatoid arthritis) and shows the potential to delay or prevent the disease.
Read ArticleCould Weight-Loss Drug Improve Hip Replacement Outcomes?
The antidiabetic and weight-loss drug semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus) either does or does not help patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA) avoid complications and other poor outcomes, according to two retrospective studies presented here.
Read ArticleOral IL-23 Inhibitor Effective in Psoriasis
The NEJM has published the results of the FRONTIER 1 trial demonstrating the efficacy of JNJ-77242113, an oral interleukin-23 (IL-23) receptor antagonist peptide, in patients with psoriasis (PSO).
Read ArticleVITAL Info on Autoimmune Disease (2.9.2024)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com. Highlights are summarized by three songs: "Stairway to Heaven", "You're No Good", and "How Long (has this been going on)".
Read ArticlePoly-Refractory Rheumatoid Arthritis
Refractory of difficult to treat (D2T-RA) rheumatoid arthritis (RA) comprises a minority of patients that can be categorized by clinical and imaging parameters to formulate a better therapeutic approach.
Read ArticleInflammatory Arthritis in Systemic Sclerosis is Problematic
Inflammatory arthritis (IA) is a common manifestation in systemic sclerosis (SSc), affecting nearly one-third of patients.
Read ArticleVITAL Study - Autoimmune Prevention Requires Continued Supplements
In the 2 years that followed the termination of the VITAL study, the preventative effect of vitamin D on incident autoimmune disease disappeared with supplement discontinuation; but n-3 fatty acid treated individuals had a sustained benefit in reducing the risk of autoimmune disease.
Read ArticleDeterminants of Gout Flares
Approximately 12 million US adults in the US have gout. Two recent literature reports highlight contributors to gout flares.
Read ArticleRacial and Ethnic Determinants of Psoriatic Arthritis
A study from a large metropolitan registry of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients showed several racial and/or ethnic groups are underrepresented and demonstrate differences in disease activity.
Read ArticleAutoimmune disease and pregnancy
For many aspiring mothers with autoimmune disease, pregnancy can be daunting and full of unknowns. In some cases, those suffering from specific autoimmune conditions have chosen to forego pregnancy altogether due to concerns about their disease treatments and adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Read ArticleLeaving Academia (2.2.24)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com. This week we discuss hipsters undergoing hip replacement, pregnancy outcomes in RA and the future of academic clinicians.
Read ArticleSeXXist Reason for More Women with Autoimmune Disease
Somewhere between 24 and 50 million Americans have an autoimmune disease, a condition in which the immune system attacks our own tissues. As many as 4 out of 5 of those people are women.
Read ArticlePre-Treatment Testing with Biologics Falls Short
US commercial insurance claim analysis of laboratory screening and monitoring practices in chronic inflammatory skin disease (CISD) patients shows that < 60% received the recommended pretreatment testing when starting systemic immunomodulatory treatment.
Read ArticleOutcomes of Acute, Subacute and Persistent Low Back Pain
Low back pain is a major cause of disability around the globe, with more than 570 million people affected. In the United States alone, health care spending on low back pain was $134.5 billion between 1996 and 2016, and costs are increasing.
Read ArticleAnti-Drug Antibodies and Biologic Drug Responses
A prospective cohort study suggests the presence of antidrug antibodies may be associated with bDMARDs nonresponse in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Should we be monitoring ADAbs (especially in nonresponders)?
Read ArticlePrevalence of Cardiovascular Disease in Rheumatoid Arthritis
A prospective study of the BioSTAR registry estimates the prevalence of cardiovascular disease in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to be 4.6%.
Read ArticleBest Treatments for COVID-Related MIS-C
The RECOVERY trial focused on pediatric MIS-C patients treated with immunomodulators and anti-cytokine therapy demonstrated the benefits of first-line therapy with intravenous methylprednisolone or second-line tocilizumab in children refractory to initial treatment.
Read ArticleACR Applauds Prior Authorization Rule
The American College of Rheumatology (ACR), on behalf of over 9,100 rheumatologists and rheumatology professional team members, applauds the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for finalizing its Advancing Interoperability and Improving Prior Authorization Processes for Medicare Adva
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