Sjögren's Graduates (8.22.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal reports, FDA approvals, drug safety, and more from this week.
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Dr. Alberta Hoi graphically presents the difference bet acute confusional states & chronic cognitive changes in #lupus patients presenting with NP symptoms.
NPSLE continues to pose a diagnostic challenge bec pts may present with more than one syndrome complex
@RheumNow #APLAR25 https://t.co/4nYTo1fzVz
sheila @RHEUMarampa( View Tweet )
Lessons Learned in Neuropsychiatric SLE
Dr. Sheila Reyes, The Philippines, reports highlights from a session on neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus, presented at the APLAR 2025 Congress in Fukuoka, Japan.
https://t.co/Dh1GQnBhvg https://t.co/wX5FgpIq7C
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
High unemployment in Dutch SLE patients, linked to SLE Sxs & Dz duration.
Supervisor support helps with employment. https://t.co/E5jqmUHqo7
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
JAMA: Cognitive functional therapy (CFT) is effective in control of chronic low back pain. Study of 500 LBP pts Rx w/ usual care, CFT, or CFT with biofeedback over 3 mos. F/U of ~ 300 pts found that the benefits extended up to 3 years after the intervention. https://t.co/dLv53M7Xkp
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Ambient Dictation Works and Reduces Burnout
Passive documentation of clinic visits using artificial intelligence (AI)-drafted notes was linked to reduced burnout and improved well-being, a survey study from two academic medical centers suggested.
https://t.co/Tu3sOfZUBI https://t.co/WiC3uJeFEC
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Prenatal acetaminophen linked to increased autism and ADHD
Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have found that prenatal exposure to acetaminophen may increase the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder and ADHD, in https://t.co/Zpo9dymPPf
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
RCT of 2331 chronic MSK pain pts showed that telehealth Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) (health coach) superior to self-care (Pain trainer) or usual care at achieving a >30% reduction in pain (32% vs 26.6% vs 20.8% respectively) & benefits were sustained at 12 months. https://t.co/a69zPsJslH
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Pain Flares in RA are just pain, not inflammation. Study of 195 RA pts (11+ yrs dz dur), 49-89% experienced at least 1 flare (median 2-4 flares/mo), IQR 2.1-5), lasting median of 2 days. Flares preceded by worsening mood, anxiety, sleepiness - but no change in Accelerometer https://t.co/csbHtiEglp
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Pain Flares in RA are just pain, not inflammation. Study of 195 RA pts (11+ yrs dz dur), 49-89% experienced at least 1 flare (median 2-4 flares/mo), IQR 2.1-5), lasting median of 2 days. Flares preceded by worsening mood, anxiety, sleepiness - but no change in Accelerometer https://t.co/twI6wcxKf7
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
The Patient Journey with Rheumatic Disease
Oton and colleagues have reviewed the "patient journey" - from symptoms to specialty referral in those diagnosed with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs).
Metanalysis of 35 studies, 887 participants, shows 3 consecutive nights of sleep deprivation (~4.3hr/hs) assoc w/ signif. increase in IL-6 (p < 0.01) and C-reactive protein (p = 0.03) in blood. This was not seen w/ a single night of total or partial sleep deprivation https://t.co/M60wPUbsch
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Repurposing & Pipeline (8.8.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, reports, pipeline and drug repurposing on this week’s podcast.
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A New RA Approval (8.1.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal reports and a new treatment for RA from the FDA.
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CKD & Osteoporosis Rx Revisited (7.25.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal and FDA updates from this past week on RheumNow.com.
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La Paz study of 903 RA pts; 136 (14.5%) were D2T-RA, 96 for inefficacy. They define early vs Late D2T-RA=44.5 mos, & differed>> Early D2T-RA (1/3) pts more likely to have anxiety or depression (76% v 0), higher CRP @6mos, & time to develop D2TRA (35 vs 70 mos) https://t.co/KFG68y9Uq5
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Hmmm Really? (7.11.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week - some obvious, other new thoughts and some - hmmm, reallly?
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BMJ - UK population study of 1.5 million adults finds pts w/ autoimmune dz have twice the risk of affective disorders (depression, bipolar dz, anxiety) significantly higher (p<0.001) (28.8% vs 17.9% in gen. population. Signif regardless of age, sex, ethnicity, income, Fam Hx, https://t.co/dsJxkvD4Nu
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Jokes Aside: The Impact of Laughter in RA
Dr. Aurelie Najm reports on POS0685, 'The Impact of Social Frailty and Physical Function on Laughter Frequency in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients from a Multicenter Observational Study (T-FLAG)', presented at EULAR 2025 in Barcelona, https://t.co/z3tvqQmH96
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Transcranial Stimulation is Effective in Fibromyalgia
A randomized, controlled clinical trial in fibromyalgia (FM) has shown the efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation (A-tDCS) (along with exercise and pain neuroscience education [PNE]), in alleviating the pain. https://t.co/kJk1R8ubqk
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Older adults with chronic MSK pain report lower physical health—but better mental health—than younger peers.
Fewer missed work days, too.
Is this resilience, adaptation, or shifting expectations with age?
POS0402 @RheumNow #EULAR2025
Jiha Lee @JihaRheum( View Tweet )
Presenteeism and absenteeism in RA aren’t just about joints. In this UK study, comorbid anxiety, depression, and OA drove lost productivity.
Treating RA is not enough —holistic management matters.
POS0403 @RheumNow #EULAR2025
Jiha Lee @JihaRheum( View Tweet )
The relation between RA, comorbidities and presenteism
NRAS survey 891 RA pts
75% had at least one comorbidity
Absenteeism more likely if
One OR = 1.68 or Two OR = 2.26 comorbid conditions
In particular
Anxiety OR = 2.39
Depression OR = 1.75
Osteoarthritis OR = 1.85
Back
Aurelie Najm @AurelieRheumo( View Tweet )
Why do Rheumatologists shift to private practice? Are there gender based differences?
A survey of 100+ European rheumatologists
Female 🚺 rheumatologists:
Leave hospital earlier
At a lower hierarchical level
Reasons for leaving:
nightshifts
unfair promotion decisions
Aurelie Najm @AurelieRheumo( View Tweet )
ICI-PMR irAEs are sometimes underestimated compared to inflamm arthritis, but why?
ICI-IA and ICI-PMR look different, but at @HSpecialSurgery, steroid needs and disease impact for both are basically the same. Let’s not devalue either
@lovetolearn27 #EULAR2025 POS1200 @RheumNow https://t.co/NVq2tpjvdu
Links:
David Liew @drdavidliew( View Tweet )
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