Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com. New drugs approved, new drugs halted and some drugs out of control. Ready to test your knowlege? Take this week's quiz!
Dr. John Cush RheumNow
3 weeks ago
Cochrane systematic review of LBP Rx (8 RCTs, 501 cLBP pts) show that Lumbar supports may result in a small reduction in pain intensity if given w/ NSAIDs, but may offer little to no benefit for pain intensity & disability if used alone. Insufficient evidence to support their https://t.co/6Vq4CPXLvE
Dr. John Cush RheumNow
3 weeks 1 day ago
NY Times reports Gallop poll: 15% Americans have used a wt-loss drug (11% currently taking) - up from 3% in 2024. These have been approved for use in NIDDM, weight loss, liver Dz, CV risk reduct. & sleep apnea. Also obesity in USA is fell to 36.4%, after peak of 39.9% in 2022. https://t.co/ghxUEcuoGr
Dr. John Cush RheumNow
3 weeks 1 day ago
NEJM images: Jaccoud’s arthropathy is a chronic, deforming;from laxity of the ligaments & tendons (not damage to bone & cartilage). Deformities are reducible & no erosions on Xray. Jaccoud’s mimics RA, but most seen w/ SLE. https://t.co/99WDNcpT5c https://t.co/77zAjpQh9A
The American College of Physicians (ACP) in July 2026 published its first living clinical guideline addressing pharmacologic management of overweight and obesity in nonpregnant adults in outpatient settings. The guidelines importance is driven by striking epidemiology: 59% of the global population and 68.5% of US adults now have overweight or obesity.
Dr. John Cush RheumNow
3 weeks 1 day ago
Korean retrospective study compared NIDDM pts Rx w/ SGLT2 inhibitor (n 552,065) vs sulfonylurea (1,480,092) showed SGLT2 inhibitors were assoc w/ a signif 11% lower risk of incident autoimmune rheumatic disease (HR 0.89). Diff of −6.50 per 100K PYs over median ~9 mos F/U. https://t.co/uTiCjejkjL
Dr. John Cush RheumNow
3 weeks 1 day ago
Lupus Research Alliance has awarded >$2 million in 2026 awards to studying innovative lifestyle interventions for people living with lupus. This includes studies on ginger supplementation, physical activity, and a whole health online programs https://t.co/C45y9laeHN https://t.co/6ifbPMWNt9
A meta-analysis of Janus kinase (JAKi) inhibitors clinical trials in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has shown higher BMI was associated with poorer responses and a reduced treatment benefit with JAK inhibitors in RA patients.
If laughter is the best medicine, then music has to be second best. A new scoping review in Pain Reports by Bradt et al., examines the effect of music-based interventions (MBIs) on pain management. While its efficacy is well established, how or why music relieves pain has never been fully explained.
Dr. John Cush RheumNow
3 weeks 2 days ago
Sleep and Obesity: A Bidirectional Relationship
In July 2026, JAMA published a concise review of the bidirectional relationship between sleep health and obesity. Obesity affects roughly 40% of US adults, and sleep problems affect nearly one-third. This review outlines the https://t.co/cA6P4aOHR0
Dr. John Cush RheumNow
3 weeks 2 days ago
MSK problems w/ Mobile gaming addiction (MGA)? Study of 364 Jordanian med students showed 9% had MGA- these has signif more UE MSK pain (71% vs 48%; p 0.012) vs nonaddicts. Elbow pain (41%) best predictor of MGA, but also neck (85%), upper back (65%), wrists (41%). https://t.co/51AWgHjrGC
Dr. John Cush RheumNow
3 weeks 2 days ago
Chinese retrospective study of 140 Bx proven Kikuchi-Fujimoto pts shows very few evolve into #SLE. While 60% were ANA+ (11.3% other autoAbs) - none developed SLE (median F/U 39mos). KFD is benign, self limiting necrotizing lymphadenitis usually in young women. https://t.co/Ai7W9GCBVb
Dr. John Cush RheumNow
3 weeks 2 days ago
VA (VARA) registry study of 2723 RA pts showed frailty was independently associated with increased cancer incidence. Age-adjusted CA incidence rates (per 1,000PYs) were 12.3 (robust), 15.5 (pre-frail), and 19.9 (frail). CA mortality rates were 7.8, 10.6, & 9.8/1,000PYs https://t.co/Ex52R56oT1
Dr. John Cush RheumNow
3 weeks 2 days ago
EUSTAR Registry - Cancer in Systemic Sclerosis
Cancer is a major cause of mortality in systemic sclerosis (SSc). A nested case-control study within the EUSTAR registry shows distinct patterns of cancer temporally related to SSc, serologic profiles, and traditional cancer risk https://t.co/BORvxu5QG8
