Infectious Rheumatology (5.15.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush discusses his favorite journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com.
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PTPN22 1858C>T allele, seen in 5-15% NAmerica, often assoc. w/ autoimmune dz risk. BUT...PNAS shows Ptpn22 augments innate immunity and enhances NK activity against coronavirus infection https://t.co/1AMTuOXtoT https://t.co/9f3JdimJsG
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
True or False: HLA-B27 positivity in psoriatic arthritis is associated with earlier disease onset and a higher prevalence of axial involvement. Put your knowledge to the test in this week's RheumIQ quiz at https://t.co/KVK8J2iaFQ https://t.co/SZZqaNvO2Z
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Review of Toll-like Receptor Research
A new review on TLRs systematically summarizes 40 years of discoveries in the TLR field, from the initial identification of Toll in Drosophila embryonic development to the current understanding of multilayered regulatory mechanisms that https://t.co/Rvy24nmuTj
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
HLA-B27 in PsA: assoc w/ earlier onset, axial Dz, enthesitis, systemic inflammation. Study of 333 CASPAR PsA pts - 12% HLA-B27 positive--earlier onset (43 v 49), axial (46 v 24%), enthesitis (33 v 18%). No signif differences in sex, dactylitis, uveitis, Rx responses, https://t.co/ALP6AnygSf
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
A Patient’s Plea for a New Paradigm in Autoimmune Disease
A current article in Nature Reviews Rheumatology has a patient boldly asking why we rheumatologists aren't more like her oncologists?
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In this https://t.co/4UQlqwujiR 2026 podcast, Dr. Kristin Demoruelle explores the mucosal origins of RA and implications.
🎧 Listen here: https://t.co/ehPLdB4byb
#Rheumatology #Autoimmunity #RNL2026 https://t.co/nLEPM3REi4
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Prescribing Lessons (4.17.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from this past week on RheumNow.com.
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Still's Disease Update
Arthritis Research & Therapy has published an overarching review of Still's disease - claiming it to be a single acquired and complex autoinflammatory disease in which both pediatric and adult forms share core pathogenic mechanisms, genetic associations and clinical presentations, with minor
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Italian retrospective study 411 IIM pts classified cancer risk per IMACS criteria: 44% high-, 38% intermed- 18% standard-risk. 9.2% had CA w/in 3yrs. Signif more in high-risk (OR 4.05). CA predictors: TIF1γ (OR 12.3), SAE1 (OR = 11.9) https://t.co/j4gA0g79bI https://t.co/Pt5nMs89bl
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Top Four and More (4.10.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from RheumNow.com this week - including his top four favorite subjects.
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VEXAS Syndrome - A Review
Beck et al has published a review of the VEXAS syndrome in The Lancet, focusing on the pathogenesis, spectrum, and treatment strategies.
https://t.co/Nik0TJm6Qu https://t.co/WS35PRnbBv
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
VEXAS Syndrome - A Review
Beck et al has published a review of the VEXAS syndrome in The Lancet, focusing on the pathogenesis, spectrum, and treatment strategies.
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UBER Rheumatology Ride (3.6.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this week on RheumNow.com
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RT @ericdeinmd
Mucosal Hypothesis RA #RNL26
Demoruelle
ACPA can predate RA development
Nam et al: non-specific jt pain: 42% developed RA in 12 mos
Circiumaro et al: MSK complaints 38% devel RA in 36 mo
APIPPRA: 29% at 12 mo, 37% at 24 mo, StopRA 18% in 12 mo, 33% at 36 mo https://t.co/DxGhhFL1gO
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
RT @ericdeinmd
Mortality risk in RA #RNL26
Myasoedova
Premature deaths in up to 1/4 of pts
Decline in mortality in RA after year 2000
Full siblings of RA also high mortality (shared genetic or environ factors affect risk?)
Risks: Seropositivity, esp ACPA, CRP, extra-artic https://t.co/ytm6odmtgR
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
The challenge may be that lupus has multiple endotypes with variable rates of progression/trajectories. Can you Prevent SLE? Dr. David Karp lecturing at UTSW @drdavidkarp @utswrheum https://t.co/BA4KRKebIv
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
RA outcomes according to onset: typica RA vs undifferentiated inflam arthritis (UIA) or palindromic rheumatism (PR). Progress to RA = RA > UIA > PR. PR has more +FHx & ACPA; UIA more females w/ Knee Sxs. Best remission rates w/ PR onsets. https://t.co/JJRCdKcs1u https://t.co/n385f6EF59
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
🧬 PAPA Syndrome: When Sterile Inflammation Mimics Infection
(Pyogenic Arthritis, Pyoderma gangrenosum, Acne)
•A rare monogenic autoinflammatory disease
•Caused by gain-of-function mutations in PSTPIP1
🧠 Pathophysiology
•Mutant PSTPIP1 → increased interaction with pyrin https://t.co/tJ4INdgfky
Ravi Kumar @RheumattDoc( View Tweet )
A 2 yr. old female pt reported w/ a a novel P435S gain-of-function variant in TLR7 (thought pathogenic in SLE) - pt dx w/ juvenile SLE, recurrent infection, and neuroinflammatory features. A review of 12 other TLR7 GOF variants revealed similar SLE associations. https://t.co/NU553QwCtj
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
The 2025 Rheumatology Year in Review
The year 2025 presented numerous advances in rheumatology and related inflammatory and autoimmune disorders ranging from several new groundbreaking FDA approvals/indications, drug developments, game-changing guidelines and practices that will impact patient care for rheumatic diseases.
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A 2 yr. old female pt reported w/ a a novel P435S gain-of-function variant in TLR7 (thought pathogenic in SLE) - pt dx w/ juvenile SLE, recurrent infection, and neuroinflammatory features. A review of 12 other TLR7 GOF variants revealed similar SLE associations. https://t.co/TGgKDQ0D7F
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
2026 Resolutions (1.9.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, announcements and journal articles from this past week on RheumNow.com. More on Variable bendability, a better way to treat RA, and a novel advance for GLP1a in PsA; and 2026 Resolutions!
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HLA-B27: still the most important genetic factor in axSpA susceptibility, but has lower frequency African American, South American & Middle Eastern pop. B27 discerns clinical subsets of SpA and PsA, particularly acute anterior uveitis or axSpA with psoriasis, https://t.co/Yg7DBOTW8o
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Disease Activity Criteria for Adult-Onset Still's Disease: EULAR Points to Consider
EULAR has published a "points to consider" (PtCs) guidance on the development of criteria for the assessment of the disease activity in adult-onset Still’s disease (AOSD).
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Cush and Dao are at it again. This time it's whether men or women are better patients. Cush says men are better patients; Dao says Er, not so fast bub! This is their light-hearted, gender biased debate on the best patients: Men vs. Women.
