Quiz Talk (5.22.2026)

Jack Cush, MD

May 22, 2026 9:00 am

Dr. Jack Cush talks of birthdays, Quizes and journal articles this week on the podcast.

Take the RheumIQ quiz https://t.co/tVYUEjAPy3
Medical Economics reports only 18% MDs practiced in MD-owned settings, a new low. By Jan '26 hospitals or corporate employment rose to 550,494 & independent MDs fell to 120,900 https://t.co/l0tt3yO9kt
Fatigue in SLE An NIH lupus cohort study looked at fatigue in SLE and found associations with organ damage, obesity, but does not correlate with disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. https://t.co/JEAnhMFJD8
Does RTX work in CNS lupus? Japanese experience in 17 refractory NP-SLE pts Rx w/ RTX - 16/17 had significant improve. & 1 partial improvement -- none had NP-SLE relapse. Two died during COVID> https://t.co/GpCgpSxn37
Press release of early study of IMVT-1402 (human mAb targeting FcRn) Open-label Rx in 170 active, refractory D2TRA showed ACR 20/50/70 of 73%/54%/36% at wk 16. Next, Responders will do a blinded withdrawl - blinded results to follow. https://t.co/Mzmb3PPvMF
NLRP3 inflammasome activation triggers PAD (2, 4) release from human neutrophils, increasing citrullination of intracellular proteins (CCPs) and driving the pathogenesis of #RA. Further proof: , PAD concentrations and PAD activity correlate with IL-1β.https://t.co/pRQy0ECG5d
Prospective study of 40 newly Dx, Tx-naïve RA pts starting MTX; Of serum cytokines tested, high baseline IL-6 & IL-17 was assoc w/ nonresponse to MTX. Yet, still not good response biomarkers. TNF-α & GM-CSF did not assoc w/ MTX outcomes https://t.co/YIQKop9LMH
Israel study 264,858 pregnancies- 1st trimester NSAID exposure had no risk of major congenital malformations (MCM). 8% were exposed vs unexposed: overall MCM 8.2% v 7%; aRR 0.99). Specific MCMs not incr = MSK, CV, CNS, cleft palate, GI, GU, nonsignif MSM aRR from 0.77- 1.05 https://t.co/ytYhBFl44o
ANCA-Assoc. Vasculitis has great Rx option is, BUT still no reliable biomaker to predict relapse or renal outcomes, this includes IL-6. But there is hope for CD163 in the future. https://t.co/lFyfTPj5vG
Kissei Pharmaceuticals announced 20 deaths related to receiving avacopan (Tavneos), a vasculitis drug sold by the firm in Japan. Drug was released in June 2022, since its been given to ~8,500 pts. Avacopan safety is being reviewed by FDA with Amgen. https://t.co/ri0nROCL5U
Study of 305 newly Dx axSpA pts (age 38 yrs; 55% male, Dx delay 6yrs, 75% B27+). Clinical Dx, without Xray/imaging in 12%, 5% developed sacroiliitis during 8 yr F/U. r-axSpA mostly male w/ ^CRP https://t.co/zGjb3uSkjP
BE BOLD Week 16 data - Bimekizumab vs. Risankizumab in PsA
ABA versus HCQ in Palindromic Rheumatism
Advanced Practice Rheumatology Tutorials
EULAR Coverage 2026 – Starts Wednesday, June 3rd
Ask Cush Anything; Dr. Ali Jiwad – Can you reduce MTX if stable on MTX + ADA?