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COVID 19 Updates from RheumNow

RheumNow Podcast – with Special Guest Dr. Peter Nash (9.15.2023)

This week, Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news with special guest, Dr. Peter Nash. They discuss COVID Autoantibodies, SpA life expectancy, HCQ, extraarticular RA and our approach to Early RA referrals and pre-clinical RA.

Respiratory Burden of RA

Over the last few decades, the availability of biologic and targeted synthetic DMARDs has revolutionized the treatment of RA, resulting in improved mortality and lower likelihood of joint deformities and disability.

Pizza and Rheumatoid Arthritis (8.11.2023)

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the wonderful wide world of Rheumatology. This week:

Patient Perspectives on Telemedicine Use During the Pandemic

Research from the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance included surveys and data gathering from rheumatology patients.

Hold the Methotrexate for One Week

In 2018, Park et al showed optimal responses to influenza vaccination in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients was best achieved by holding methotrexate (MTX) for 2 weeks following immunization, with improved humoral responses.

RA Biologics Lower COVID-19 Deaths, but Not Recovery Time

Do abatacept, cenicriviroc, or infliximab improve time to recovery for patients hospitalized with COVID-19 pneumonia compared with standard care?

What is Colchicine Worth? (6.23.2023)

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and reports from the past week on RheumNow.com. This week a new colchicine FDA approval, rising rate of IgG4 related disease and what's the safest biologic?

Allergic Drug-Induced Arthritis (5.19.2023)

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com.  This week we delve into some odd associations, repeat drug warnings and the consequences of antirheumatic therapies.

One in Ten is Bad! (5.12.2023)

This week on the Podcast Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles, including the risks of dying, developing RA or autoimmune disease!

  1. Does King Charles have Sausage Digits (dactylitis) or OA? https://t.co/mRis21OWKH

2022 EULAR Recommendations on Screening and Prophylaxis for Opportunistic Infections

Opportunistic and chronic infections may be rare and are often difficult to diagnose, especially in patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIIRD), that may be immunocompromised. A EULAR task force has established recommendations for screening and prophylaxis against OI. 

Industry Payments to Rheumatologists Dropped During COVID

MedPage Today

Having their clinics shut down and patients staying away during the COVID-19 pandemic was bad enough for physicians' finances, but now a new study finds that, at least for rheumatologists, payments from industry dried up as well.

Faith and Miracle Larry

This week on the podcast, Dr. Jack Cush recalls what life was like early on during COVID, from March to June of 2020.  During this time, his close friend, Larry, contracted COVID-19 and was hospitalized, intubated and put on mechanical ventilation for nearly 2 months.

Social

Korean retrospective cohort study betw 4/20-11/22 shows COVID infx assoc w/ increased risk of autoimmune disease; BUT 2 doses of COVID-19 vaccine was assoc w/ decrease risk of pemphigoid, Graves, APL syndrome, ITP, SLE, autoimmune arthritis https://t.co/vzBEcalUL9 https://t.co/P4yWSvjTJL
4 days 5 hours ago
The EMA has approved an anti-IL-6/tocilizumab biosimilar, manufactured by Fresenius-Kabi, and called Tyenne. This is the 1st TCZ biosimilar, indicated for use in RA, Systemic JIA, poly-JIA, GCA, COVID-19 and CAR-T cell-induced cytokine release syndrome https://t.co/KGhOqmmjWe https://t.co/VGwNRSI0ls
1 week 1 day ago
Study of 159 COVID pts vs 73 controls shows AutoAbs increase w/ age, but it worse with SARS-CoV-2 infection, esp. severe COVID; who were more likely to develop anticardiolipin & anti-platelet glycoprotein AutoAbs that complicate COVID with thromboses. https://t.co/uFMVTWvzC3 . https://t.co/Iyla56jN2A
2 weeks 2 days ago
Retro cohort study finds COVID may incr risk of autoimmunity & risk is decr by Vax. Found Incr rates of SpA(1.32), RA (1.29), PsO(1.42), Graves' (1.30), APL (2.12), ITP (2.1), MS (2.66), vasculitis (1.46). Vax decr pemphigoid, Graves, APL, ITP, SLE https://t.co/0WzSTlowcR https://t.co/u0tWXhIfGE
1 month ago
Retro cohort study finds COVID may incr risk of autoimmunity & risk is decr by Vax. Found Incr rates of SpA(1.32), RA (1.29), PsO(1.42), Graves' (1.30), APL (2.12), ITP (2.1), MS (2.66), vasculitis (1.46). Vax decr pemphigoid, Graves, APL, ITP, SLE https://t.co/Ln3NN6RfmZ https://t.co/VH3cia4AXr
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet )
1 month 1 week ago
While COVID rates are near historic lows & far less dangerous, hospitalizations are up 10.3%, ER visits up 7%, pos. tests rose to 6.3% from 5.8% in the last week https://t.co/TFAt4p24au

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet )

2 months ago
RA Biologics Lower COVID-19 Deaths, but Not Recovery Time Do abatacept, cenicriviroc, or infliximab improve time to recovery for patients hospitalized with COVID-19 pneumonia compared with standard care? https://t.co/o56m9WumiC. https://t.co/GHe1RprDnk
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet )
2 months 2 weeks ago
An RCT of 1136 newly COVID test positive pts compared long term outcomes if immediately given METFORMIN or Placebo. Cumulative incidence of long COVID at day 300 was 6.3% w/ metformin vs 10.4% w/ placebo (HR 0.59; HR 037 if given w/in 3d) https://t.co/aCTX7xFewW https://t.co/xbBeED9K7U
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet )
3 months ago
Factors associated with higher prevalence of post COVID-19 condition include female sex, age, asthma, diabetes, hypertension, number of symptoms in the acute phase and possible mechanisms causing the syndrome, Mayssam Nehme, COVID-19, #EULAR2023 https://t.co/IzHEQqfPb1
Dr. Antoni Chan @synovialjoints ( View Tweet )
3 months 3 weeks ago
Reflections on COVID-19 and autoimmunity: post-vaccination autoimmunity is not specific to COVID-19, autoimmunity is not autoimmune disease, the large numbers may result in the perception of increased occurrence of autoimmunity, Schulze-Koops H, COVID-19, #EULAR2023 @RheumNow https://t.co/Rm9OEWrBzo
Dr. Antoni Chan @synovialjoints ( View Tweet )
3 months 3 weeks ago
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