Vitamin D Headlines (5.9.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal reports and lupus highlights from the past week on RheumNow.com. Triple positivity, the gut and CRPS, and hope for better outcomes with Vitamin D therapy.
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National Inpatient Sample retrospective study of #RA pts using cannabis (n 42,415). Cannabis assoc w/ lower mortality (0.98% vs 2.71%; OR 0.50), depression (OR 0.47), chronic pain (OR 0.45), anxiety (OR 0.55); but more use of opioids (OR: 1.10), nicotine (OR: 1.35), & alcohol https://t.co/87SnCHVxkN
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
National Inpatient Sample retrospective study of #RA pts using cannabis (n 42,415). Cannabis assoc w/ lower mortality (0.98% vs 2.71%; OR 0.50), depression (OR 0.47), chronic pain (OR 0.45), anxiety (OR 0.55); but more use of opioids (OR: 1.10), nicotine (OR: 1.35), & alcohol https://t.co/qzlj0MIClY
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Risk Factors for Knee Osteoarthritis
EurekAlert!
New research from the University of Sydney reveals that obesity, having a knee injury and occupational risks such as shift work and lifting heavy loads are primary causes of knee osteoarthritis.
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Metformin Effective in Osteoarthritis
The diabetes drug metformin provided overweight/obese patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee with significantly greater pain relief than did placebo in a small randomized trial, researchers said.
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Inflammatory vs. Noninflammatory Pain
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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Inflammatory vs. Noninflammatory Pain
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Metformin Effective in Osteoarthritis
MedPage Today
The diabetes drug metformin provided overweight/obese patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee with significantly greater pain relief than did placebo in a small randomized trial, researchers said.
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Senescent "Zombie" Cells and Low Back Pain
In a preclinical study led by McGill University researchers, two drugs targeting “zombie cells” have been shown to treat the underlying cause of chronic low back pain. The condition affects millions of people worldwide. https://t.co/UxHH3bMGkQ
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Metanalysis suggests MTX may be effective in knee OA. 6RCTs, 602 pts of MTX vs PBO, showed MTX significantly relieved pain (mean diff −0.44; P 0.0003) knee/hand OA; Functional improved for knee only, but no differences in quality-of-life outcome or adverse events https://t.co/lmBEnTLFHY
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Rheumatology: Believe It or Not (4/25/2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com. Should we believe the reviews and metanalyses?
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Retrospective study of 334 children with non-organic amplified MSK pain syndr(AMPS) plus back pain. Pts w/ localized AMPS were more likely to have a (+) straight leg raising test (P 0.01) & diffuse AMPS more likely to have allodynia & incongruent affect (reporting pain, but still https://t.co/unbub6VK0t
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Senescent "Zombie" Cells and Low Back Pain
EurekAlert!
In a preclinical study led by McGill University researchers, two drugs targeting “zombie cells” have been shown to treat the underlying cause of chronic low back pain. The condition affects millions of
Read Article
Genomics and Future Drug Targets for Osteoarthritis
EurekAlert!
A Nature article details the results of an osteoarthritis, genome-wide association study meta-analyses across up to 489,975 cases and 1,472,094 controls, establishing 962 independent associations, 513 of which have not been previously reported. Results were published this week in the journal
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ACP: Best Practice Advice on Cannabis or Cannabinoids Use for Chronic Noncancer Pain
The American College of Physicians published a best practice advisory on cannabis or cannabinoids in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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2nd Opinions in Rheumatology
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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
EMR Messaging Woes (4.11.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal reports and regulatory approvals from this past week on RheumNow.com
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Mindfulness and CBT improve chronic low back pain
Behavioral interventions were associated with reduced pain and daily opioid use and improved function and quality of life for up to 12 months among adults with opioid-treated chronic low back pain, according to a new randomized https://t.co/e4jLNwNBy3
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12-month community trial 770 adults w/ opioid-treated chronic low back pain (CLBP). Found that opioid dosage decreased with both mindfulness-based therapy & cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) at 6 & 12 mos.(noninferior) - Why dont we use these? https://t.co/9VhqJEHlhc https://t.co/GWnL66nbvY
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
ACP: Best Practice Advice on Cannabis or Cannabinoids Use for Chronic Noncancer Pain
The American College of Physicians published a best practice advisory on cannabis or cannabinoids in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Read Article
Mindfulness and CBT improve chronic low back pain
EurekAlert!
Behavioral interventions were associated with reduced pain and daily opioid use and improved function and quality of life for up to 12 months among adults with opioid-treated chronic low back pain, according to a new randomized clinical trial.
Read Article
Consensus Against Interventional Injections for Chronic Spinal Pain
BMJ has published a clinical practice guideline resulting from the work of an international, multidisciplinary panel addressing chronic spine pain (≥3 months duration) not associated with cancer or https://t.co/mCsz88JACh
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NIH Complimentary Medicine overview of Music Therapy - preliminary research suggests that music interventions may be helpful for anxiety, depression, pain control, dementia, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, etc https://t.co/UGsfT7lITQ https://t.co/DrJm4JdEuY
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Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Fibromyalgia
A randomized, sham-controlled trial has shown that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) reduced pain in fibromyalgia for up to 8 weeks; while analgesic effects waned, functional improvements remained https://t.co/nJdSrUcizo
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Consensus Against Interventional Injections for Chronic Spinal Pain
BMJ has published a clinical practice guideline resulting from the work of an international, multidisciplinary panel addressing chronic spine pain (≥3 months duration) not associated with cancer or inflammatory arthropathy. This is a chronic (not acute) spine pain
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