Synovial Tissue Signature Guiding Targeted IL-6 Therapy in RA

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RNA sequencing and classification of RA subsets has proven useful. RNA sequencing-based stratification of RA synovial tissue showed stronger associations with clinical responses compared with histopathological classification. Additionally, for patients with low or absent B-cell lineage expression signature in synovial tissue, tocilizumab is more effective than rituximab.

Comorbidity and Drugs Drive COVID-19 Severity and Survival in Rheumatic Disease

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While comorbidities are associated with severe COVID-19 infection, it appears they also influence severity and survival in rheumatic disease (RMD), according to a a French cohort study,

IVIg in MIS-C

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Among children with multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C), treatment with IVIG and methylprednisolone vs IVIG alone was associated with a more favorable fever course. MIS-C is a rare but serious pediatric condition associated with COVID-19 where different body parts can become inflamed, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes, or gastrointestinal organs.

NSAIDs in Osteoarthritis: Study Suggests Need for New Look

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Knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) showed greater loss of medial minimum joint space width than did others taking other drugs, registry data indicated.

Abrupt Cessation of Long-Term Opioid Prescribing Common

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Medicare beneficiaries were increasingly likely to have long-term opioid therapy stopped in recent years and medication changes often were abrupt, not tapered, an observational study showed.

RheumNow Podcast – Tofacitinib Safety Concerns (2.5.2021)

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Dr. Jack Cush reviews and discusses the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com.

Hydroxychloroquine Fails to Prevent COVID-19

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There is a preponderance and mounting evidence that hydroxychloroquine is ineffective in COVID-19 infection; and now the NEJM reports a the results of a trial where HCQ given as post-COVID exposure therapy failed to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection or symptomatic Covid-19 in healthy persons.

Cardiac and Cancer Signals Tofacitinib Safety Alert from FDA

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The FDA has notified healthcare professionals of a safety alert concerning tofacitinib (Xeljanz), noting that preliminary results from a long-term safety clinical trial show an increased risk of serious heart-related problems and cancer with tofacitinib (compared to adalimumab) when given to

Adverse Events with Anti-malarials during the COVID Pandemic

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For a variety of reasons, the use of anti-malarials (chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine) rose dramatically in the pandemic; notable was the lack of proven benefit and the dramatic risk in reported adverse drug reactions (ADRs) associated with these drugs being used to treat SARS-CoV-2.

Health Canada Approves Subcutaneous Infliximab Biosimilar

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The infliximab biosimilar CT-P13, developed by Celltrion and marketed as Remsima has been approved by HealthCanad for subcutaneous (SC) use in all the indications for infliximab.

Low Persistence of Biologics in Psoriatic Arthritis

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A longitudinal observational cohort study of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients treated with biologic therapy finds relatively low persistence of selected biologic therapy in PsA patients

Vagal Nerve Stimulation in Rheumatoid Arthritis

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Lancet Rheumatology has reported the results of a proof of concept trial, wherein vagal nerve stimulation was shown to ameliorate RA disease activity. The intervention involved non-invasive stimulation of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve using a wearable vagus nerve stimulation device for up to 30 min per day, delivering pulses of 20 kHz.