Genetics

Geo-epidemiology of Autoantibodies in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Save

A multinational study of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients shows a variety of post-translationally modified anti-modified protein antibodies (AMPA). While AMPA differed in different ethnic populations, their levels correlated with total serum IgG.

Half the Experts are Wrong (2.17.2023)

Save

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and tries to stump the expert panel this week on the podcast.

Burnout #10 (2.3.2023)

Save

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the past week of news on RheumNow.com.

VEXAS may be more common than expected

Save

A great study of a recently described rheumatologic/hematologic disorder VEXAS (vacuoles, E1-ubiquitin-activating enzyme, X-linked, autoinflammatory, somatic) syndrome recently appeared in JAMA, describing the frequency and presentations of UBA1 variant. 

Multi-ancestry analysis reveals novel genetic loci associated with Osteoarthritis

Save

The first large multi-ancestry genetics study of osteoarthritis (OA) has found 10 novel OA-associated genetic loci, and results showed some of the OA-associated regions are robustly found in every population ancestry studied. 

Pregnancy Outcomes with Belimumab

Save

Pregnancy in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is fraught with problems of adverse pregnancy outcomes, more pregnancy loss and birth defects. Now a study of SLE pregnancies exposed to belimumab (BEL) shows and expected rate of pregnancy loss but a variable rate of birth defects.

Data

CRTAC1- a Novel Biomarker for Osteoarthritis

Save

Scientists at deCODE genetics a subsidiary of Amgen report in Arthritis & Rheumatology that a novel plasma protein (cartilage acidic protein-1; CRTAC1) is a potential biomarker of osteoarthritis (OA) through its association with OA risk and progression to joint replacement.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Need to Quit Smoking ASAP

Save

While it is known that smoking ups the risk of developing RA, its effect on outcomes in those with established rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is less known.  A report from an early arthritis registry shows that current smoking increases disease activity and lowers health-related quality of life.

Heavy Metal Rheumatology (9.23.2022)

Save

Below are this week’s highlights from RheumNow, as discussed by Dr. Jack Cush. Thanks to all of you for your kind comments and great reviews of our weekly podcast. Please let us know how we can improve by emailing me or recording your suggestion using the "Ask Cush Anything" link on our website

Genetic Testing for Autoinflammatory Disease

Save

Not all patients with periodic fevers fit neatly into diagnostic categories. Some can be diagnosed as Still’s disease (based on criteria) while others can be classified as autoinflammatory diseases (AID) and some may be unclassifiable, clinically or genetically.

EULAR/ACR Classification in MDA5+ Myositis Patients

Save

The diagnosis of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) can be informed by the 2017 EULAR/ACR classification criteria, but their utility in patients with clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM) and anti–melanoma differentiation–associated protein 5 (anti–MDA-5)–positive IIM is less

STING/IFN Activation Promotes ANCA-Associated Vasculitis Progression

Save

Research presented in the Journal of Experimental Medicine shows that ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) may be propagated by pathogenic mechanisms triggering cGAS/STING/IRF3-dependent IFN-I release.

Managing JDM with Calcinosis

Save

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow and discusses a case of refractory juvenile dermatomyositis with calcinosis.

1. 
   

   CDC report of fungal infx in US 2019 - coccidioidomycosis (20,061), histoplasmosis (1,124) & blastomycosis (240

CC Genotype and Thiopurine Toxicity

Save

Annals of Internal Medicine reports that thiopurine toxcicity risk is associated with the "CC" genotype and that azathioprine discontinuation was associated with hematopoietic toxicity and lower thiopurine doses. 

Prior studies have shown that azathiprine (AZA) use is associated with

Polygenic Risk Scores to Identfy Severe Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis

Save

Prevention of knee and hip osteoarthritis would obviate considerable disability and future surgery.  We may be one step closer according to a prospective European GWAS study showing polygenic risk scores (PRSs) significantly associated with higher risks for knee and hip OA joint replacement

Arthritis Predicts Hepatic Fibrosis in Hemochromatosis

Save

Mayo Clinic Proceedings reports the results of a retrospective, cross-sectional of patients with HFE hemochromatosis showing that advanced hepatic fibrosis is primarily seen in those with arthritis due to HFE hemochromatosis. 

A total of 112 patients with a liver biopsy confirmed

Consequences of TNF inhibition (3.18.2022)

Save

This week we're going to talk about the downside of TNF inhibitors, a few interesting observations in gout, and yes, kids do get COVID. We're also going to preview what's coming in April (hint: it's about PsA). This and more as Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from the past

Environmental Pollutants Ups Autoimmune Disease Risk

Save

An Italian environmental study shows that air pollution increases the risk of autoimmune diseases, in particular rheumatoid arthritis, connective tissue diseases (CTDs) and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD).

Previously environmental pollutants have been linked to an increased risk of

Predicting Spondylitis in At-Risk Relatives

Save

The risk of developing axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) if you’re a first-degree relative (FDRs) of an ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patient has been deflined by a 35 year follow-up study showing that if you are a FDR of axSpA you may be at higher risk of acute anterior uveitis (AAU).

An Ounce of Prevention (2.4.2022)

Save

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com.  He discusses the GI side effects of IL-17 inhibitors, downstream revenues from rheumatology care and dietary prevention of gout. 

Genes and Obesity Tied to Higher Gout Risk in Women

Save

Excess adiposity and genetic predisposition both contributed to risk of gout among U.S. women, with the risks being highest when both factors are present, a large prospective study found.

Analysis of data from the Nurses' Health Study (NHS) found that the relative risk for incident

Cytokine Inhibitor Lung Disease in Still's Linked to HLA-DRB1 Alleles

Save

Pulmonary complications in the setting of Still's disease (juvenile and adult) has seldom but consistently been reported, including reports of pneumonitis, pulmonary hypertension and a severe or fatal lung disease, often associated with hypersensitivity to anticytokine therapy. A multicenter

RheumNow Podcast - ACR 2021 Rehash (the good stuff..)

Save

The ACR 2021 meeting has concluded. Dr. Jack Cush recounts a few more great abstracts from this past week’s virtual meeting.

Opening Day Report

Save

The opening of ACR2 Convergence was a hit for all who signed up and viewed in. The day included the presidential address by outgoing president Dr. David Karp (UT Southwestern) and a keynote talk and interview with Dr. Seema Yasmin (Stanford).

The Year in Review