Great Lectures; Great Presentations
Dr. Jack Cush lectures on giving a great presentation; based on 40 years of lecturing in Rheumatology.
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Switch or Cycle - Upadacitinib vs Adalimumab in Refractory RA
After the first tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) failure, patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) responded by switching to upadacitinib, compared to cycling to a second TNFi, adalimumab. https://t.co/Cml3Z7ZyQP
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
FDA Targeting the Safety of Avacopan
The future of avacopan is up in the air. In April, the FDA issued a drug safety warning, previously requesting that Amgen to pull its rare disease drug Tavneos from the market. Now, there appears more pressure to remove it from the market. https://t.co/4PyIoqwNIL
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
APR: Steroids
https://t.co/FxqGaijo6w https://t.co/OrybGNXsdf
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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
COVID Virus Persistence with DMARD Use
MedPage Today
Drugs commonly used to treat systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs) may keep the SARS-CoV-2 circulating after COVID-19 infection in patients with these conditions, with researchers documenting substantially increased viral antigen persistence compared with other post-COVID patients.
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APR: Methotrexate
Companion slide deck for the Advanced Practice Rheum: Methotrexate video, featuring Dr. Jack Cush.
https://t.co/8422FKN4dq https://t.co/6gVS7dA8Gi
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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Review of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists in Psoriasis
Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) have transformed cardiometabolic medicine and are now attracting intense interest in inflammatory disorders.
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True or False: Low-dose aspirin given at giant cell arteritis diagnosis is associated with a lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular events. Put your answer to the test in the latest RheumIQ quiz at https://t.co/XLPVoyCbLB. https://t.co/C5CSwuv5mF
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
FDA Targeting the Safety of Avacopan
The future of avacopan is up in the air. In April, the FDA issued a drug safety warning, previously requesting that Amgen to pull its rare disease drug Tavneos from the market. Now, there appears more pressure to remove it from the market.
The FDA’s concern is that the data, orginally
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EULAR Recommendations for Physical Activity in Arthritis
EULAR has published a 2025 update for physical activity recommendations for patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
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Neoplasia and Autoimmune Disease
Malignancy rivals cardiovascular disease as a leading cause of death in patients with systemic autoimmune diseases. Chronic inflammation and immune dysregulation can drive oncogenesis, while antitumor immune responses can trigger autoimmune phenomena (paraneoplastic syndromes, checkpoint
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Switch or Cycle - Upadacitinib vs Adalimumab in Refractory RA
After the first tumour necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) failure, patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) responded by switching to upadacitinib, compared to cycling to a second TNFi, adalimumab.
Does monotherapy work? network meta-analysis of 31 RCTs, 13 csDMARDs, Leflunomide, SSZ & gold were better than placebo & equal to MTX regarding annual xray progression scores. Evidence in favor BUT failed to study monoRx vs Combo Rx https://t.co/cMSZ4QHi5G https://t.co/o9ikhJu3UM
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
NSAIDs in Inflammatory Bowel Disease?
At least some patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can safely use common drugs for musculoskeletal aches and pains, a large study of insurance claims data suggested, contradicting a widespread concern that these products can https://t.co/JeINgTWTK0
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
TriNetX study of 7,929 RA pts Rx w/ bDMARDs (n 2668) w/in 6 mos of elective hand surgery - perioperative bDMARD continuation (34%) was not associated with significant increases in risks of wound healing failures (1.4% vs 1.4%) or SSI (2% vs 1.5%) https://t.co/NY6l2jRswb https://t.co/IxoYtLNGvf
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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Follow the Money (4.23.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush follows the money and all the news that fits the Rheumatology Gab for this past week.
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Chinese target emulation trial of MDA-5+, dermatomyositis w/ ILD. 106 Rx w/ UPA & 328 w/ TOFA. 6-month lung transplantation-free survival 72% vs 67% (UPA v TOFA). UPA non-inferior to TOFA in MDA5+DM-ILD https://t.co/BBAfbM06AM https://t.co/QP8YdX7CcH
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Twofold Mortality in SLE
Despite declining incidence of lupus, mortality for SLE was twice that of controls in this large incident cohort study.
Ethnicity is a strong predictor of incidence and outcomes in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. This population study used the UK Clinical Practice
NSAIDs in Inflammatory Bowel Disease?
MedPage Today
At least some patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can safely use common drugs for musculoskeletal aches and pains, a large study of insurance claims data suggested, contradicting a widespread concern that these products can trigger IBD flares.
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Aspirin Cardiovascular Prevention in Giant Cell Arteritis
A retrospective target trial emulations has shown that low-dose aspirin (ASA) given with a giant cell arteritis (GCA) diagnosis is associated with a lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), but a higher https://t.co/dpGzjKZYkA
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Weight-loss drugs may affect joints directly
A new study from Aarhus University shows that the hormone GLP-1, which is mimicked in medication for diabetes and weight loss, is present in joint fluid. In the long term, this may open up new treatments for arthritis. https://t.co/xKm8Ng7fXO
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Aspirin Cardiovascular Prevention in Giant Cell Arteritis
A retrospective target trial emulations has shown that low-dose aspirin (ASA) given with a giant cell arteritis (GCA) diagnosis is associated with a lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), but a higher risk of GI bleeding.
Read Article
Weight-loss drugs may affect joints directly
EulrekAlert!
A new study from Aarhus University shows that the hormone GLP-1, which is mimicked in medication for diabetes and weight loss, is present in joint fluid. In the long term, this may open up new treatments for arthritis.
Rsearchers from the Department of Biomedicine at Aarhus
Does monotherapy work? network meta-analysis of 31 RCTs, 13 csDMARDs, Leflunomide, SSZ & gold were better than placebo & equal to MTX regarding annual xray progression scores. Evidence in favor BUT failed to study monoRx vs Combo Rx https://t.co/eHdRPAcnkd https://t.co/1odwJjyL6A
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Adjunctive Prednisolone for Kawasaki Disease
An NEJM study has shown that glucocorticoids provide no added benefit when added to standard primary treatment in Kawasaki disease patients.
https://t.co/dS1uwufh69 https://t.co/wpxyOYXp8l
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Therapeutic Updates
Lupus Nephritis
Sponsored by RheumNow
View our six video perspectives on lupus nephritis, including Management of CKD in Lupus Nephritis.
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Recent Blogs
At first, it seemed similar to many other such sessions – a circle of folding chairs, a group of colleagues whose visages exuded understanding and acceptance – but this was special. I started the meeting…. “Hi, my name is Artie.”
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Podcasts
ACR 2025 Daily Podcasts Day3b-
ACR 2025 Daily Podcasts Day2d
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ACR 2025 Daily Podcasts Day2c
