RA adds to mortality risk in nontuberculous mycobact. infx (NTM). Retro study 1420 NTM pts, 66 (4.6) had RA. RA was independent predictor of resp-death (HR 4.30) - partly explained by ILD & systemic inflammation https://t.co/S9bndHsXCE https://t.co/mC74Qve1LZ

NEJM reports a 10 yrs study of Arthroscopic Partial Meniscectomy (APM) for Degenerative Tear — randomized, sham-surgery–controlled RCT of 147 pts w/o Knee https://t.co/WMGRIOunwZ 10 years, found no signif benefit betw APM and Sham surgery (pain, function) & possible worsening https://t.co/979C7IYuyZ

UCB has aquired Candid Therapeutics for $2 billion; plan to lead in autoimmune dz by acquiring cizutamig - a T cell engager. Its been studied in >100 pts, including early Global Phase 2 RCTs of myasthenia gravis & ILD. https://t.co/xz4uEhvxu6 https://t.co/6FS1riLecW

ArthritisPower Registry (now PatientSpot) survey study of 351 RA pts (age 60, F 84%); reported 439 nonserious infx. 27% total infx, 14%w/ MD visist & Abx. Infx incr w/ GC ≥10 mg/d (OR 1.94), but Biologics & JAKi not assoc. w/ greater NSIE risk vs cs DMARDs https://t.co/bHqFnoY0Ud

Society of Interventional Radiology position statement supports genicular artery embolization (GAE) symptomatic knee #OA pts who have failed conservative therapy and not candidates for TKA. https://t.co/fFkKqRm0s6 https://t.co/0jDhVsgyha

Advanced Practice Rheum: Fibromyalgia https://t.co/Wx09nPMA5n https://t.co/UAysDMGuFC

JAMA Insights on Chikungunya (affects 35 million worldwide) - mosquito-borne alphavirus seen in tropics, also travelers. Dz char by fever, disabling polyarthritis; less rash, HA, myalgia, N/V, conjunctivitis; rarely myocarditis. https://t.co/Fa3cHygc4W https://t.co/jmh2WjOcI5

Advanced Practice Rheum: Still's Disease and Fever https://t.co/P3qbGYll8y https://t.co/6EAoVWimSI

Registry of 587 #SLE pts. 30% were RNP+ --> more dz activity than RNP- (SLEDAI-2 8.0 vs 4.0) and more Rx use (daily GC 6.8 vs 3 mg). RNP+  more renal, skin & serologic activity & less likely to LLDAS (20% vs 32%) or REM (12% vs 23%). RNP + 18-fold more likely to be Sm+ https://t.co/3J0Uew48OS

PTPN22 1858C>T allele, seen in 5-15% NAmerica, often assoc. w/ autoimmune dz risk. BUT...PNAS shows Ptpn22 augments innate immunity and enhances NK activity against coronavirus infection https://t.co/1AMTuOXtoT https://t.co/9f3JdimJsG

Chronic Low Back Pain Disappointments in a Randomized Trial Annals of Internal Medicine reports that patients with chronic low back pain (cLBP) may benefit from physical therapy (PT); but when that fails, other secondary measures (cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or https://t.co/17JObbXz5U

Vitamin D in Rheumatic Disease - Is It Good Enough? Vitamin D in rheumatic disease — is it sufficient? Vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency is common and linked to inflammatory rheumatic diseases, raising the question of whether low vitamin D drives immune dysregulation, disease https://t.co/CLBFii2TbR