News
Hyaluronic Acid Knee Injections Equivalent to Placebo
In the United States, where over $300 million is spent annually on intraarticular hyaluronic acid injections, yet another study shows such therapy to be no better than placebo.
Bullous Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Bullous systemic lupus erythematosus (BSLE) is a rare blistering cutaneous manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
As goes SLE, bullous disease typically affects women, especially those of African descent.
Record Use of Marijuana and Hallucinogens in Young Adults
The NY Times reports that a recent survey of drug use indicates that daily consumption of marijuana among young adults nearly doubled in the last decade. This is coupled with growing mainstream acceptance of cannabis and hallucinogenic compounds.
Bidirectional Association Between Depression and Rheumatoid Arthritis
A recent meta-analysis suggests a bidirectional association between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and depression. Finding RA patients with depression yields an 80% increased mortality risk.
Anti-cytokine therapies represents a potential alternative for the treatment of depression.
Weight Loss Slows Knee OA Progression
MedPage Today
Declines in body mass index (BMI) were linked with slower worsening of knee osteoarthritis (OA), according to data from three large longitudinal cohort studies.
Axial Psoriatic Arthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis with Psoriasis
A cohort analysis from Toronto suggests that axial psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is distinctly different from axial ankylosing spondylitis (AS) with psoriasis.
What to do with "no-shows"
A current Medscape article on patient "no shows" in private medical practice examines the cause and approach to the problem. The most common reason for no shows is lack of knowledge about the scheduled appointment. Here are other common causes of no-shows, and how to address the problem.
Managing JDM with Calcinosis
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow and discusses a case of refractory juvenile dermatomyositis with calcinosis.
Melatonin Use Growing, Inappropriate & Potentially Unsafe
With nearly one-third of adults, adolescents and children having sleep difficulties, many resort to using melatonin. JAMA reports substantial increases in the use of over-the-counter (OTC) melatonin, in all age groups. But is it effective, safe and warranted?
Rituximab Efficacy in Systemic Sclerosis
The DESIRES trial studied rituximab (RTX) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and showed clinically significant improvement in skin and lung outcomes after a subsequent 24-week open-label extension phase.
Low Dose IL-2 Therapy in SLE
A multicentre, proof-of-concept trial of suggests that low-dose IL-2 therapy may be effective in moderate-to-severe systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
