Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Need to Quit Smoking ASAP A report from an early arthritis registry shows that current smoking increases disease activity and lowers health-related quality of life. https://t.co/04WeK1OlRw https://t.co/yjZQdsrKsH

The University Of Pennsylvania has recv a $50 Million Gift (from Stewart & Judy Colton) to further develop the Autoimmune Disease Research program at Penn’s Colton Center for Autoimmunity. 6.4% of women and 2.7% of men have autoimmune disease https://t.co/7kdTiZnmiD https://t.co/5yXZTzmRM0

Causes of Death in Lupus The California Lupus Surveillance Project has longitudinally followed included SLE cases and shown that overall, the leading cause of death was CVD, followed by rheumatic disease and hematologic/oncologic conditions. https://t.co/XRtD2Rr77j https://t.co/fzVGSeQGQu

2 open-label reports of JAK inhibitors in Systemic sclerosis (SSc) - 59 SSc pts: significant decr in mRSS in 88%. 28/29 w/ ILD had no progression. Overall responses better in treatment naïve SSc patients. 20% had side-effects. More studies needed https://t.co/sR2OMNtxAk https://t.co/qOdMEZheFz

Dr. Jack Cush goes off on "Untitling" (not using proper names/titles) in the clinic, in addition to reports on rheumatologist salaries, new drugs in phase 1-3 development and the range of COVID-19 MSK symptoms -- all from the past week on RheumNow. https://t.co/eHKx2D0kKp https://t.co/UdC0k3hlmX

20% of SLE pregnancies end w/ adverse preg outcome (APO). Use of LASSO & Machine learning of PROMISSE data (385 pt) before wk 12 could predict APO based on BP Meds, low Plts, Dz activity, and LAC (AUC=0.78) https://t.co/DZJ9UCpwCk https://t.co/5yYgj9g0dP

Physician Burnout Rising The NY Times has reported results of a study showing that nearly 2/3 of doctors are experiencing at least one symptom of burnout, with a marked increase since the onset of the pandemic. https://t.co/EGDezgyQ9e https://t.co/TmG01Un191

Rheumatology Salaries and Career Choices A recent doximity report shows how rheumatology salaries increase by years in practice. https://t.co/Fmzq5zv3yp https://t.co/5Ju7ABiK2m

Opioid Crisis Costs USA $1.5 Trillion Reuters has reported the results of a Congressional report showing the economic toll of the opioid addiction and overdose crisis on the United States reached nearly $1.5 trillion in 2020 alone and is likely to grow. https://t.co/n2FC75hpDt https://t.co/UHTOMUDP5Q

Tofacitinib in 15 pts w/ early diffuse skin Scleroderma. Tofa downregulated STAT3 (macrophages, DCs) & IFN (fibroblasts) & MYOC/CCL19 (adventitial fibroblasts); well tolerated & trend to improved mRSS scores (ns) https://t.co/Vt25ui8GwF https://t.co/chKZt6dvaO

Microbioime analyses of cancer patients suggests over abundance of fungi, expecially transcriptionally active Candida and is associated with gastrointestinal and lung cancers. Candida DNA is also predictive of reduced survival in GI cancers https://t.co/JKaffWZqy7 https://t.co/suByUP6anA

Comprehensive full-read review of #Baricitinib trials in treating COVID-19. 24 studies (16 retrospective, 5 prospective, 3 case control) studies & 3 larged RCTs show Bari as 24-38% better than comparators/SOC (few showed no change in mortality) https://t.co/pps1Du9rEt https://t.co/ZEDiHwZ5po