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Lipstick Rheumatology
A 25 year-old female recently diagnosed with seronegative rheumatoid arthritis was started on a TNF inhibitor. She came in for a follow-up visit and noted that her toenails were brittle and discolored when she removed her nail polish recently. She is concerned that she may have psoriasis or that this may be a side effect of the TNF inhibitor.
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Read ArticleBest to Rehab at Home Following Joint Replacement
A New York Times article sheds light on recent evidence suggesting that those undergoing hip or knee replacement will do just as well with home therapy compared to inpatient rehabilitation following surgery.
Read ArticleParadoxical Toxicities with TNF Inhibitors
Something is curiously wrong when a drug induces the disease it is intended to treat. Yet this phenomenon has been described with all five FDA-approved TNF inhibitors.
Read ArticleMortality in Gout Increased
Two current articles in the Journal of Rheumatology address issues surrounding mortality risk among those with new and established gout.
Read ArticleACR Says the New AHCA is Insufficient for Arthritis Patients
Dr. Sharad Lakhanpal, MBBS, MD, President of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) has issued a press release condeming the insufficiencies of the newly proposed American Health Care Act (AHCA).
Read ArticleIs a Crisis in Physician Manpower Looming?
CNN has reported that changes in immigration policies is but one of many factors that may add to an existing doctor shortage. This and other events now begs the the question, why the federal government doesn't train more doctors in the US?
Read ArticleInterns Can Now Work 24 Hour Shifts
The ACGME has revised its traing guidelines such that, starting July 1st, new interns are allowed to work shifts lasting as long as 24 hours, and as much as 28 hours according to a recent New York Times article.
Read ArticleThe UnderManagement of Gout
Most physicians believe they understand and can manage gout. Yet, the number of gout patients has risen at an alarming rate and the introduction of 4 new drugs has done little to close the education gap and improve the care and outcomes of gout patients. Misuse, misunderstandings and missed opportunities abound in the wide world of gout.
Read ArticleMethotrexate and Folate Use by Rheumatologists - Survey Results
The February 2017 RheumNow “Live Vote” surveyed US and non-US rheumatologists about their beliefs and practices regarding folic acid and methotrexate (MTX) use. A total of 495 responses were tabulated in 2 weeks. Here are the results, and comments from Dr. Kremer on his preferred answers to these questions.
Read ArticlePsychologic Impact of Rheumatoid Arthritis on Men
Arthritis Care & Research has reported the results of a study that analyzed the perceptions and attitudes of men afflicted with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The results are drawn from a series of focus groups involving 22 men with RA.
Read ArticleEULAR Recommendations on Reproductive Issues in Lupus and Anti-Phospholipid Syndrome
There is a significant unmet need with regard to counseling and managing SLE and APS patients who become pregnant or who may be planning for pregnancy.
Read ArticleBiosimilar Reports – February 2017
Biosimilar reports is an ongoing series dedicated to advances, discussions and developments in biosimilar agents intended for use by rheumatologists. Many of these items were compiled from news sources, journal articles and regulatory documents and are cited and linked within each section.
Read ArticleThe RheumNow Week in Review – 17 February 2017
Dr. Jack Cush reviews this week's news and information from the 2017 RWCS meeting in Maui.
Read ArticleTop Ten Things Rheumatologists Should Know When Ordering Imaging
As a musculoskeletal radiologist, I work every day with rheumatologists. I have been in practice for approximately 17 years and had a musculoskeletal radiology fellowship prior to establishing my practice.
Read ArticleChronic Pain Associated with Poverty and Less Education
Poorer and less-educated older Americans are more likely to suffer from chronic pain than those with greater wealth and more education, but the disparity between the two groups is much greater than previously thought, according to new research.
Read ArticleCurbside Consults - January 2017
Curbside Consults are cases submitted by our rheumatology colleagues as challenging therapeutic or safety issues. Answers are based on experience, with added evidence from the medical literature and published guidelines.
Read ArticleThe Challenge of Screening for Obstructive Sleep Apnea
A JAMA article presents the US Public Health Task Force review of OSA testing.
Read ArticleTies to Pharma Influences Clinical Trial Results
A study published in The BMJ shows that financial ties between researchers and companies that make the drugs they are studying are independently associated with positive trial results; thereby questioning the bias in these objective trials.
Read ArticleMultiple Comorbidity Risks with Giant Cell Arteritis
Elderly patients treated with high doses of corticosteroids are bound to have multiple medical problems. But this was only recently quantified by researchers analyzing a a population-based cohort of biopsy-proven giant cell arteritis (GCA) patients in Southern Sweden.
Read ArticleDo Exercise ‘Weekend Warriors’ Lower Their Risk of Death?
Is being a “weekend warrior” and cramming the recommended amount of weekly physical activity into one or two sessions associated with lower risks for death?
A new article published online by JAMA Internal Medicine suggests that compared with inactive adults, weekend warriors who performed the recommended amount of 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous activity in one or two sessions per week had lower risks for death from all causes, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer.