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Top Four and More (4.10.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from RheumNow.com this week - including his top four favorite subjects.
Hopkins Myositis study of 637 dermatomyositis pts - FLARES were assoc w/ DM Dz activity; manifest as rash (76%), motor w

Dr. John Cush RheumNow

5 months 2 weeks ago
Hopkins Myositis study of 637 dermatomyositis pts - FLARES were assoc w/ DM Dz activity; manifest as rash (76%), motor weakness (58%), Pulm (19%), arthritis (12%). O nly 2–5% of Flare pts had cancer Dx w/in 6–24-mos https://t.co/AKC9oIKAS7 https://t.co/26q8FfkUfl
Among neuro-ophthalmic complications of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors, myasthenia gravis (often with concomitant myositis

Dr. John Cush RheumNow

5 months 2 weeks ago
Among neuro-ophthalmic complications of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors, myasthenia gravis (often with concomitant myositis) is most common irAE, followed by optic neuropathy (often as optic neuritis) https://t.co/7pxqSKY3M1 https://t.co/bisbShFHIc
Predictors of Calcinosis Cutis in Systemic Sclerosis

Calcinosis cutis (CaC) is a common and disabling non-lethal manif

Dr. John Cush RheumNow

5 months 2 weeks ago
Predictors of Calcinosis Cutis in Systemic Sclerosis Calcinosis cutis (CaC) is a common and disabling non-lethal manifestation in systemic sclerosis (SSc). This study used SSc patients from the EUSTAR database to clinically characterize patients and identify risk factors for https://t.co/uXbcCa04Lv
VEXAS Syndrome - A Review

Beck et al has published a review of the VEXAS syndrome in The Lancet, focusing on the patho

Dr. John Cush RheumNow

5 months 2 weeks ago
VEXAS Syndrome - A Review Beck et al has published a review of the VEXAS syndrome in The Lancet, focusing on the pathogenesis, spectrum, and treatment strategies. https://t.co/Nik0TJm6Qu https://t.co/WS35PRnbBv
Itch is common in Scleroderma (SSc) and not related to Dz duration. Study of 2173 Pts (~20K itch assessments), 87 F; mea

Dr. John Cush RheumNow

5 months 2 weeks ago
Itch is common in Scleroderma (SSc) and not related to Dz duration. Study of 2173 Pts (~20K itch assessments), 87 F; mean age 55 yrs; 40% w/ diffuse SSc. Itch (moderate 4/10) seen in ~35% at all times https://t.co/QnT8d0xA5Z https://t.co/yEgB6ImDTi
The number of U.S. patients prescribed long-term opioid therapy declined from 2015 to 2023, but co-prescribing of opioids with gabapentinoids increased, prescription data showed.
5 yr Italian study of hospitalized autoimmune pts(2018-23) 4,896 IMID pts compared to 301,126 non-IMIM. IMID had signif

Dr. John Cush RheumNow

5 months 2 weeks ago
5 yr Italian study of hospitalized autoimmune pts(2018-23) 4,896 IMID pts compared to 301,126 non-IMIM. IMID had signif higher risk cancer (adj OR 1.32) highest 1st yr. Decreased from 1.83 @ yr 1 to 1.2 @5+ yrs. IMID had more lung & bladder CA, leukemia lymphoma & melanoma https://t.co/UXqDHQtzv0
From 2015 to 2023, long-term opioid therapy declined in the USA. Approximately 4 million to 5 million patients were pres

Dr. John Cush RheumNow

5 months 3 weeks ago
From 2015 to 2023, long-term opioid therapy declined in the USA. Approximately 4 million to 5 million patients were prescribed long-term opioid therapy in 2023. Long term opioid use remains a challenge https://t.co/N5s7mYvXSw https://t.co/YHdTbHLB4q
The risk of malignancy in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients receiving biologic agents was evaluated by metanalysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and found no significant increased risk of malignancy compared with other disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) or with placebo.
Claims data 2,751 #AAV patients - 6.2% developed #PJP infx. w/ predictors: age, max GC dose, rituximab, CTX, & PJP p

Dr. John Cush RheumNow

5 months 3 weeks ago
Claims data 2,751 #AAV patients - 6.2% developed #PJP infx. w/ predictors: age, max GC dose, rituximab, CTX, & PJP prophylaxis had Good concordance (0.70) @2mos & 0.66@1yrs. W/ monthly risk of 1.0%, prophylaxis yielded 34 potentially preventable PJP cases https://t.co/c2ObDnmfYp https://t.co/Ljr5maHZcr
Single-centre retrosp study of established 257 PMR pts. 98 referred by GPs were for Dx uncertainty (51 vs 14%), less for

Dr. John Cush RheumNow

5 months 3 weeks ago
Single-centre retrosp study of established 257 PMR pts. 98 referred by GPs were for Dx uncertainty (51 vs 14%), less for relapse (27%) or recurrence (11%). PMR Dx accuracy better by Rheums vs PCPs (83% v 62%, P < 0.05) https://t.co/DvTKeuGa4Q https://t.co/wQDXR46k5F
JAMA has published a current Clinical Guidelines Synopsis on the Management of Crohn Disease (CD) in Adults.
In this cross-sectional study of 602 Finnish adults undergoing bilateral shoulder magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and clinical assessment, found abnormalities in nearly everyone over age 40yrs, regardless if asymptomatic or symptomatic.
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