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COVID 19 Updates from RheumNow

Decline in Physician Trust During the COVID-19 Pandemic

JAMA reports that following the COVID-19 pandemic US adults trust in physicians and hospitals decreased, and was associated with lower odds of COVID vaccination.

A survey study between April 2020 and Feb. 2024 of 443 455 adult respondents assess trust in physicians. 

Arthritis drugs may relieve long COVID lung symptoms

EurekAlert!

University of Virginia School of Medicine researchers have identified a potential treatment for the respiratory symptoms of long COVID after discovering an unknown cause of the condition inside the lungs.

ACR’s Run at Goliath (PCPs) (5.31.2024)

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the journal reports and articles from this past week on RheumNow.com.  The ACR (and Cush) address their new website designed to educate PCPs and APPs - what do you think?

Ides of March (3.15.2024)

Dr. Jack Cush has advice for Caesar and the superstitious, and covers pregnancy, platelets, dialysis and vaccinations in Lupus.

MMWR: Vaccination and Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children

CDC

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a rare but serious condition typically occurring 2–6 weeks after SARS-CoV-2 infection and characterized by fever and multiorgan involvement.  The current MMWR report shows that MIS-C case numbers have decreased by 98% since 2021.

COVIDs Extended Risk for Rheumatic Disease

EurekAlert!

Annals of Internal Medicine reports a large, binational study finding SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with an increased risk for autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIRDs) that extends up to 12 months after infe

Best Treatments for COVID-Related MIS-C

The RECOVERY trial focused on pediatric MIS-C patients treated with immunomodulators and anti-cytokine therapy demonstrated the benefits of first-line therapy with intravenous methylprednisolone or second-line tocilizumab in children refractory to initial treatment.

Is MTX Safe in the Elderly? (12.1.2023)

Dr. Jack Cush reviews this past week's news and journal reports from RheumNow.com. Good news is that nearly 99% of adult rheumatology positions matched! But the challenge is that 45% of pediatric fellowship programs and 39% of pediatric rheum slots were unfilled in the 2024 NRMP match.

Sleep Apnea Smart Watches (10.13.2023)

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal reports and regulatory approvals from this past week on RheumNow.com.

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:

Social

Singapore study of Autoimmune (AIRD) risk w/ COVID infx compared 104 179 DELTA + pts vs 666 575 PCR neg controls (~80+% Vax) & 375 903 Omicron+ vs 619 379 controls (~75% boosted). Found no signif incr risk of AIRD w/ COVID infx. https://t.co/gXzWdotzvL https://t.co/UsQpwgsyTD
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet )
1 month 3 weeks ago
The new Covid KP.2 booster vaccines are becoming available throughout the US. Besides high-risk (e.g. age 65+, immunocompromised, comorbidities), one of the most important reasons to get boosted, often overlooked, is to reduce #LongCovid risk by ~50%. Agree with Marks at FDA… https://t.co/SgX7JiPRzH https://t.co/i0W4xadxjW
Eric Topol @EricTopol ( View Tweet )
2 months ago
Anti-Inflammatory Diet yields a lower risk of Dementia. UK Biobank study shows patients w/ type 2 diabetes, heart disease, or stroke who were on an anti-inflammatory diet had a 31% lower risk for dementia vs. a pro-inflammatory diet https://t.co/OjHq3BBOfd https://t.co/tG9vO59IEc
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet )
2 months 2 weeks ago
3+ million persons died in USA in 2023. Overall age-adjusted death rate in 2023 was 6.1% lower than 2022. Overall death rate highest among non-Hispanic Blacks or African Americans. The number of COVID-19 deaths was 68.9% lower than in 2022 https://t.co/Oqgxcs4yUz https://t.co/lDn1PuEQ5Z
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet )
2 months 3 weeks ago
Study of 4378 pts COVID tested betw 2020-22, found low risk (3-4%)of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndr (ME/CFS) subsequent to SARS-CoV-2 infx, w/ no difference betw COVID test pos & neg. (OR 0.84; 0.42-1.67) Not supporting long COVID as FM? https://t.co/M0NWvuxT2n https://t.co/hoW5sVOYcN
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet )
2 months 3 weeks ago
Decline in Physician Trust During the COVID-19 Pandemic AMA reports that following the COVID-19 pandemic US adults trust in physicians and hospitals decreased, and was associated with lower odds of COVID vaccination. https://t.co/3XcMYcnzD3 https://t.co/yiIvOp1o5a
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet )
2 months 3 weeks ago
Arthritis drugs may relieve long COVID lung symptoms University of Virginia SOM researchers have identified a potential treatment for the respiratory symptoms of long COVID after discovering an unknown cause of the condition inside the lungs. https://t.co/4gqVhzOEMg https://t.co/NEysSjRE8c
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet )
3 months ago
@RheumNow The always erudite @LCalabreseDO is no slouch of a debating opponent, however. He acknowledges that the science has been imperfect, too much is wrapped up in it, and that fibromyalgia can teach a lot to long COVID. #EULAR2024 @RheumNow https://t.co/TzR4SMZh9f
David Liew @drdavidliew ( View Tweet )
4 months 2 weeks ago
@RheumNow @LCalabreseDO @NIH and Len gives us some key recommendations for better practice for long COVID - for me, equally as applicable to fibromyalgia as to long COVID. Fantastic discussion #EULAR2024 @RheumNow https://t.co/8PnjPEKcOu
David Liew @drdavidliew ( View Tweet )
4 months 2 weeks ago
Fantastic long COVID debate: close friends Xavier Mariette & @LCalabreseDO head-to-head, debating whether long COVID is a specific disease or part of fibromyalgia. Xavier argues it looks like any post-viral syndrome, & the immunological signal isn’t there. #EULAR2024 @RheumNow https://t.co/ajKjBSRo2n
David Liew @drdavidliew ( View Tweet )
4 months 2 weeks ago