Dr. John Cush RheumNow
1 year 6 months ago
Post hoc analysis of 5 ph III Belimumab RCTs (BLISS, etc, N=3086) on skin outcomes BILAG & SLEDAI-2K), BEL was superior to PBO (mcBILAG OR: 1.29; mcSLEDAI-2K OR: 1.37). Also if SLEDAI ≥10 & dsDNA+ pts. BEL prevented skin flares (HR 0.70) https://t.co/p1MVVf97Go https://t.co/qwWUyegpyi
Dr. John Cush RheumNow
1 year 6 months ago
55 myositis (IIM) pts studied Nailfold Capillaries, MSAbs, cytokines & IFN genes. MDA5(+) pts signif more dilated (DIL), giant & abnl morphology caps, w/ microhemorrhages (MH) vs ARS (+) pts. MH & DIL assoc w/ MX1, IFI27, IP-10, RANTES, GROα. Giant caps assoc w/ IFI27, SDF-1α, https://t.co/3WQL8Sw0rq
Integrated Benefit Institute, a nonprofit independent research organization, has published its 2025 Autoimmune Disease Impact Report, which examines the health and productivity impacts of five prevalent and costly autoimmune conditions: rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel diseases, psoriasis, and thyroid autoimmune disorders.
Dr. John Cush RheumNow
1 year 6 months ago
Veterans Admin (VA) EHR study of #RA-associated ILD (n 1047), matched 237 RA-ILD pts who Rx w/ TNFi vs 237 Rx w/ non-TNF biologics (mean age 68y; 92% male). Death & Resp hospitalisation were similar (adj HR 1·21, 1·27), as was mortality (1·15), Resp mortality (1·38) https://t.co/03LV5B4FSV
Sattar et al. has published an informative overview of the effect of obesity on rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs). They estimate that nearly 70% of RMD patients are overweight or obese.
Dr. John Cush RheumNow
1 year 6 months ago
NP and PA Growth in the USA
Forbes has published a thoughtful perspective on the declining number of US physicians and the growth in the number of advanced practice providers or APPs in the US clinical workforce.
https://t.co/syQcSFIeMP https://t.co/wbkofNJxd0 https://t.co/2cY42RX6Xo
Dr. John Cush RheumNow
1 year 6 months ago
Adrenal Dysfunction after Steroids in PMR and GCA Patients
JAMA has published a study of PMR and GCA patients who stopped glucocorticoid (GC) therapy and noted a low (1.2%) risk of GC-induced adrenal insufficiency after planned cessation.
https://t.co/ZTaIQxs0ex https://t.co/LA5qji8Zj5
Dr. John Cush RheumNow
1 year 6 months ago
Mizoribine Effective in Lupus Nephritis
A randomized clinical trial has shown that oral mizoribine, a common immunosuppressant in Japan, was noninferior to intravenous cyclophosphamide (CTX) as induction therapy in patients with active lupus nephritis.
https://t.co/OWnGly4TUX https://t.co/zbPPH1n4lU
Dr. John Cush RheumNow
1 year 6 months ago
Systematic literature review of sleep Rx in Fibromyalgia - 47 RCTs, 11094 pts, found cognitive behavioral Tx (CBT) significantly benefitted insomnia, but not pain. Pregabalin & sodium oxybate had small effect, but Amitriptyline, milnacipran, & duloxetine showed no benefit for https://t.co/XG8cFlpQqq
Dr. John Cush RheumNow
1 year 6 months ago
Glucocorticoid Toxicity Index
Dr. John Stone has led the effort to develop the GTI - glucocorticoid toxicity index. In this review article he acknowledges the need and benefit of steroids, but details a novel means to identify and limit the untoward effects of glucorticoids https://t.co/foTaoYrfDn
Dr. John Cush RheumNow
1 year 6 months ago
Comprehensive review of the management of knee osteoarthritis - topicals, analgesics, narcotics, intraarticular, metabolic, nutraceuticals, TENS, acupuncture and biologics. https://t.co/3UjPQeZut9 https://t.co/kpGsVFDzAV
Dr. John Cush RheumNow
1 year 6 months ago
617 seropos ARTHRALGIA pts - 34% got inflamm. arthritis (avg time ~20mos). Arthritis risk factors: high ACPA (HR 4.7) or double positive(HR 6.8); 1st degree relative (1.5); intermittent Sxs(1.6); <12 mos Sxs (HR 0.71); AM stiff ≥1hr (1.6); joint swelling (1.5). IF > 2 https://t.co/tHL19ro5C8
Dr. John Cush RheumNow
1 year 6 months ago
Large GWAS study of smokers, shows that polygenic risk scores (PRS) for RA & ILD were assoc w/ their intended phenotypes in whites (OR 1.32 & 1.88, respectively) but no in blacks https://t.co/FflF2f1orq https://t.co/NlxcASrj9K
Dr. John Cush RheumNow
1 year 6 months ago
For the first time ever, https://t.co/4UQlqwujiR 2025 is Available On Demand!
✔️ STEP Talks from top rheumatologists
✔️ Lectures on the biggest clinical challenges
✔️ Speaker slides and handouts you’ll use
Non-CME, practical, and finally here.
👉 Register today: https://t.co/YNgLfp4IMb
Dr. John Cush RheumNow
1 year 6 months ago
ACR Frustrated with Congress Failures on Physician Fee Schedule and Research Programs
The ACR expressed deep dissatisfaction that the recent passage of the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, failed to address payment cuts imposed in the CY25 Medicare https://t.co/hObTXHMhRA

