
Dr. John Cush RheumNow
3 weeks 2 days ago
Recent Medscape Physician Compensation Report 2025, MD Salaries dropped by:
Dermatology: -11%
Neurology: -6%
Urology: -6%
Plastic surgery: -4%
Cardiology: -4%
Ophthalmology: -4%
Gastroenterology: -3%
Rheumatology: -3% https://t.co/kNKuBwbL8J https://t.co/fA7d5A3wJp

Genetic sequencing as a research and diagnostic tool has expanded in medicine and rheumatology. An interesting review in Arthritis and Rheumatology suggests that despite currently modest use, there will be an expanded role for genetic sequencing in the field of rheumatology.
A national commercial claims analysis of first-line use of biologics in biologic−naive plaque psoriasis patients found a near doubling of net treatment costs from 2007 to 2021 ($21 236 to $47 125). Despite the increasing costs, the 2021 average cost could have been 44% lower if the lowest-cost drug in the same mechanistic class were chosen.

Dr. John Cush RheumNow
3 weeks 2 days ago
Enzyme Porcupine inhibition of Wnt signaling is a promising treatment forsclerosteosis - rare Dz caused by SOST mutations & loss of functional sclerostin. Results in high bone mass & skeletal overgrowth (Sxs of facial paralysis, hearing loss, incr intracranial pressure https://t.co/9DYO82quiC


Dr. John Cush RheumNow
3 weeks 3 days ago
JAMA Pt Education handout - Scleroderma https://t.co/UpK24WfyNF

Dr. John Cush RheumNow
3 weeks 3 days ago
Ultrasound lesions of dactylitis associ w/short-term development of PsA. Study of 64 PsO +arthralgia pts. IUS PD synovitis & B mode enthesitis predicted PsA Dx (p < .001) w/ an accuracy of 89.1 %, a sensitivity of 86.7 % and a specificity of 89.8 %. https://t.co/Ij6oYP1TuK https://t.co/55sO4uFXNI


Dr. John Cush RheumNow
3 weeks 3 days ago
Phase 2, DBRPCT of nanobody anti-IL-17, izokibep in 172 Psoriatic arthritis pts, showed higher ACR50 rates for izokibep 80mg vs PBO at wk 16 (52% vs 13%; p=0.0006) w/ 40mg=48%. Other arthritis, psoriasis, enthesitis, dactylitis, QOL outcomes also improved.https://t.co/CQn9EVjr9g https://t.co/vVnTo2FPV6


Dr. John Cush RheumNow
3 weeks 3 days ago
AutoAbs & protein signatures evolve as pts go from Preclinical to established RA. Pts vs controls distinguished w/in 5 yrs of Dx best by iCCP3, RFIgA, RFIgM; and 104 proteins differentially expressed & gene analyses showed 21 pathways enriched ≤5 years of Dx. https://t.co/u8abvqNtnX


Dr. John Cush RheumNow
3 weeks 3 days ago
Daily purposeful walking assoc w/ lower risk of Knee OA (KOA). UK Biobank study of 89,969 persons, F/U 6.8 yrs - 2711 developed KOA. HRs for incident KOA were 0.84 (0.76-0.92), 0.81 (0.71-0.90), and 0.74 (0.64-0.85) if walking ~5000, ~7000, & ≥8000 steps/d, respectively https://t.co/St9QLuOy9R


Dr. John Cush RheumNow
1 month 3 weeks ago
Cardiovascular and Fracture Risk with Denosumab Versus Bisphosphonates in Dialysis Patients
Annals of Internal Medicine has published a Japanese administrative claims database study showing that, compared with oral bisphosphonates (BIS), denosumab (DEN) lowered fracture risk… https://t.co/kNqGNTrsAF https://t.co/xgCeaMDT1N


Dr. John Cush RheumNow
1 month 3 weeks ago
Increased Mortality In Arthritis Patients with COPD
A new study published in the January 2025 issue of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases: Journal of the COPD Foundation, a peer-reviewed, open-access journal, finds that people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease… https://t.co/6WCtfcrSaq https://t.co/ydVtBxqy37


Dr. John Cush RheumNow
1 month 3 weeks ago
Congress Passes Fiscal Year 2025 Funding for Lupus Programs, including
- $10 million Natl Lupus Patient Registry at CDC
- $2 million Natl Lupus Training, Outreach, CTE Program
- $47.08 billion for the National Institutes of Health SLE prgs https://t.co/BCs3lGdrXK https://t.co/58PkKG9ay6


Dr. John Cush RheumNow
1 month 3 weeks ago
Stelara Biosimilar Steqeyma Launches at 85% Discount https://t.co/2ZR7LMq1JT https://t.co/coHj1jh8JB


Dr. John Cush RheumNow
1 month 3 weeks ago
Japanese study of hip replacements (THA) - #RA pts undergoing THA at higher risk for dislocation and reoperation. Retrosp database study of THA - matching 3,951 RA vs 11,853 OA. w/ RA incr risk of dislocation (OR 2.8) & reoperation (OR: 2.25). No diff infx, Fx, VTE, death… https://t.co/Mz8niRlFaa https://t.co/mgcXTnw5Al

Analysis of a Greek Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) cohort shows that nearly one quarter of patients have axial involvement, and among them, ∼30% have isolated spinal axPsA and nr-axSpA, respectively.