RheumNow Podcast – Psoriatic Arthritis Without Psoriasis (7.30.2021)
Dr Jack Cush reviews rheumatology and COVID news from the past week on RheumNow.com.
CDC Reverses Stance on Masks
Today the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that masks should be used by those vaccinated against the coronavirus in public indoor spaces in parts of the country where the virus is surging.
DMARD Effects on COVID-19 Outcomes
Sparks and colleagues have published data from the Global Rheumatology Alliance noting that among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients afflicted with COVID-19 infection, there was little influence of their baseline biologic or targeted synthetic (b/ts) disease-modifying antirheumatic drug
Canakinumab Fails to Improve COVID-19 Survival
JAMA has published the findings of trial wherein the anti–interleukin-1β antibody canakinumab (CAN) failed to improve survival in patients hospitalized with severe COVID-19.
Rare Myocarditis Risk following COVID-19 Vaccine
CDC/MMWR
MMWR review of the risk of myocarditis and pericarditis reports a June 23, 2021 recommendation by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices that the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination clearly outweighed the risks of myocarditis after vaccination.
ICYMI: RheumNow Podcast – Tofacitinib Safety Concerns
Dr. Jack Cush reviews and discusses the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com.
ICYMI: 2020 Rheumatology Year in Review
2020 was historic, memorable and game-changing. Under the cloud of COVID-19, there were many significant and memorable advances and setbacks for the rheumatology world. In our accounting of most read articles for 2020, (not surprisingly) 17/20 were COVID-related.
RheumNow Podcast – As Good As I Ever Was (7.2.2021)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com.
RheumNow Podcast – Modern Treatment of RA Pregnancy (6.25.2021)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews this week’s news and journal reports featured on RheumNow.com.
Birthday Gatherings Increase COVID-19 Risk
How risky are family gatherings, birthday parties and informal social gatherings? A cross-sectional analysis suggests that birthdays may be associated with increased rates of COVID-19 infection within households where there is a high COVID-19 prevalence in the population.
Treatment of MIS-C COVID in Kids
The NEJM has published results of a real-world efficacty trial showing that COVID infected children with the multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) respond better to initial IVIG plus glucocorticoids (than IVIG alone) which was associated with less subsequent cardiovascular co
Tofacitinib Efficacy in COVID-19 Pneumonia
NEJM has published the results of an observational trial wherein tofacitinib given to patients hospitalized with Covid-19 pneumonia, was shown to significantly lower risk of death or respiratory failure.
Social
FDA Approves BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron COVID Booster Vaccines
Today the FDA authorized the updated Omicron subvariant (BA.4 and BA.5) COVID-19 booster shots manufactured by Pfizer and Moderna; with an anticipated ship/start date of early September 2022.
https://t.co/VzQBFgvAqu https://t.co/r0pQuoDVcn
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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet )
2 years 7 months ago
This precipitous drop and current level is substantially worse than 21 peer countries
https://t.co/NAEMjhs4j3 https://t.co/QhrZ1Xnwcr
Eric Topol @EricTopol ( View Tweet )
2 years 7 months ago
Mass Gen Brigham study of Rheum (SARD) pts COVID severity over time (3/20-1/22) shows less severe COVID over time. 1449 SARD pts had COVID-19 (1/3 RA); 28% severe. Early COVID was more severe (46%) vs 15% w/ Omicron. Unvax were more severe (78% v 60%) https://t.co/DTge2od82Q https://t.co/LXeujT6zd5
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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet )
2 years 8 months ago
CDC has updated COVID-19 guidelines
- People COVID exposed: no need to quarantine, regardless of Vax status, but use mask x10 d & get tested day 5
- Surveillance testing without Sxs not recommended
- if COVID test +, should isolate at home x 5d https://t.co/whVQShsSJR? https://t.co/KnYtJ7BfOO
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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet )
2 years 8 months ago
Evusheld works & reduces COVID-19 by 77%; yet only 25% of available Rx has been used. Its FREE to the ~7000 immunocompromised pts who might benefit from it. Repeat doses (300 mg) every 6 mos! Time to jump on this! https://t.co/IzcAUvKoW8 https://t.co/h5q25yWCHG
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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet )
2 years 8 months ago
In the RECOVERY trial - 8156 hospitalized COVID-19 patients; those on baricitinib had significantly fewer deaths (12% vs 14% PBO) but the size of benefit was somewhat smaller than that suggested by previous trials. (adjusted rate ratio 0·87) https://t.co/EW7xLc9TLC https://t.co/Ahr7bwAQmJ
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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet )
2 years 8 months ago
I had the chance to discuss intrinsic protection from Covid with my friend @ASlavitt
https://t.co/dI993XBoXr https://t.co/lidQnzgjJg
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Eric Topol @EricTopol ( View Tweet )
2 years 8 months ago
Every moderately to severely immunocompromised person should know about Evusheld, a preventive Rx. It's uncommonly prescribed by doctors and there's a general lack of awareness. Still works vs BA.5
An excellent patient page @JAMA_current https://t.co/Exn82D8712 @AnuMalaniMD https://t.co/Rpdhcgg33h
Eric Topol @EricTopol ( View Tweet )
2 years 8 months ago
Anyone who thinks BA.5 is just another variant isn't paying attention
>200,000 new cases yesterday. Vertical. https://t.co/x7wziHMZ9K
Eric Topol @EricTopol ( View Tweet )
2 years 8 months ago
During 2021-22, there was 387,112 deaths due to pneumonia, influenza, or COVID-19. At least 72% were dut to COVID-19 and 0.6% was due to influenza https://t.co/0ljpXJt0yr https://t.co/1Sp4RULVAY
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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet )
2 years 8 months ago
