Cancer Survival with TNF Inhibitors (3.28.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com
Read Article
Worse Outcomes in HLA-B27+ JIA
Patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) who carried the HLA-B27 genetic marker tended to have worse long-term outcomes, including lower rates of drug-free remission, in a prospective Scandinavian study.
https://t.co/VEKqHvO1qw https://t.co/49y0JQL0Gr
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
A comprehensive examination of the pathogenesis and recent advancements in Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF). This condition results from autosomal recessive mutations in the MEFV gene, which codes for Pyrin, a crucial component of the NLRP3 inflammasome. These genetic https://t.co/XNV89LW893
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Worse Outcomes in HLA-B27+ JIA
MedPage Today
Patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) who carried the HLA-B27 genetic marker tended to have worse long-term outcomes, including lower rates of drug-free remission, in a prospective Scandinavian study.
Read Article
Large GWAS study of smokers, shows that polygenic risk scores (PRS) for RA & ILD were assoc w/ their intended phenotypes in whites (OR 1.32 & 1.88, respectively) but no in blacks https://t.co/FflF2f1orq https://t.co/NlxcASrj9K
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
ERA, APPs, & Alpha GAL (3.21.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com. Listen in for 2 new case questions - Ask Cush Anything.
Read Article
Axial Involvement in Psoriatic Arthritis
Analysis of a Greek Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) cohort shows that nearly one quarter of patients have axial involvement, and among them, ∼30% have isolated spinal axPsA and nr-axSpA, respectively.
World Changers (3.14.2025)
Dr Jack Cush and his podcast friends are out to change the world. Here is his weekly review of the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.
Read Article
New insights into Moyamyoa a complex cerebrovascular disorder affecting children/young adults w/ carotid or CV vessel narrowing; leading to CVA, Sz, HA, TIA, Cognitive Sx. Genetic mutations add to succeptibility (RNF213, ACTA2, DIAPH1, HLA). DIfficult to Dx vs Atherosclerosis.… https://t.co/LqFcU0xO3J https://t.co/CileSRAZgU
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
SOCS1 Insufficiency - a Rare Inborn Error of Immunity
Lancet Rheumatology has published a population study of the rare suppressor of cytokine signalling 1 (SOCS1) insufficiency - an inborn error of immunity affecting the negative regulation of cytokine and growth factor… https://t.co/I0muoIk5GL https://t.co/jbcuAZivci
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Diagnoses via Immune ‘Fingerprints’
Science and researchers at Stanford Medicine have reported the use of Mal-ID (machine learning for immunological diagnosis) to analyze B and T cell receptors sequences from human blood, showing the ability to predict health status (healthy vs diseased) and discriminate between distinct
Read Article
Risk Prediction Modeling in MDA5 Dermatomyositis
Patients with Melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) positive dermatomyositis (DM) are complicated and prone to interstitial lung disease, poor prognosis, and a high mortality. A new study suggests a risk prediction… https://t.co/v20ZCVZUQE https://t.co/GmWWQDpWUU
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
SLE subphenotypes predisposed by distinct genetic risk loci. Multicenter 10 yr genotyping study on 1462 SLE pts (56% w/ lupus nephritis & 43% not LN) found significantly higher polygenic risk scores (PRS); significant LN variants included HLA, TNFAIP3, BLK, & STAT4.… https://t.co/5igpgtdE1U https://t.co/5KOXRThzlk
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
SLE subphenotypes predisposed by distinct genetic risk loci. Multicenter 10 yr genotyping study on 1462 SLE pts (56% w/ lupus nephritis & 43% not LN) found significantly higher polygenic risk scores (PRS); significant LN variants included HLA, TNFAIP3, BLK, & STAT4.… https://t.co/zvYGct9aqG https://t.co/obgkHbXNWA
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Weak Data (1.24.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from RheumNow.com, and features Dr. Charity Dean, the Keynote speaker at RheumNow Live 2025, and why she is an inspiration.
Read Article
ICYMI: Sex related differences in PsA
Different factors are known to influence disease characteristics and outcomes in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Recently, there is new evidence that sex-related differences play a role not only in disease manifestations but also in efficacy and… https://t.co/60vdbWLltB https://t.co/nY1CuJhKMb
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
#CRISPR reviewed in
👇
#fibroblasts
Found deletion of certain genes
Ex JIA had marked change in expression
Yr in Preview ACR24 @RheumNow @ACRheum
Dr Chris Ritchlin 👏 https://t.co/jnmtk1eXGp
Janet Pope @Janetbirdope( View Tweet )
Severe thrombocytopenia (TP) is rare but linked to major organ involvement and poor prognosis in #SLE. Data from the RISE registry shows TP in 9.3% of SLE patients, with higher prevalence in males, African-Americans+ those with multiple comorbidities.
#ACR24 @RheumNow abst#2680
Bella Mehta @bella_mehta( View Tweet )
#Scleroderma #molecular #signatures in #skin predict long term outcomes
👇worst with inflammatory signature
This may have clinical and trial applicability
Nice work!
Abst0711 #ACR24 @RheumNow @ACRheum https://t.co/3CFxu6bACu
Janet Pope @Janetbirdope( View Tweet )
Study on #SLE and ESRD using machine learning:
Developed model to identify patients with SLE and ESRD
Used NIH 'All of Us' dataset
XGBoost outperformed Random Forest
SDOH data improved model precision #ACR24 @rheumnow #MachineLearning abst#1876 https://t.co/PQ7u4Pj5OH
Bella Mehta @bella_mehta( View Tweet )
Abstract 1873: The impact of urbanization on lupus nephritis mortality is complex.
Race/ethnicity + income modify the effects
- Income ≥$50k + living in suburbs associated with lower odds of mortality due to LN in racial/ethnic minorities
@RheumNow #ACR24
Akhil Sood MD @AkhilSoodMD( View Tweet )
Why is there female predominance in #SLE - the extra X chromosome in females (XX) may not be inactivated properly- usually maintained by the long non-coding RNA #Xist
#ACR24 abst#2599 @RheumNow https://t.co/C9Qj5zSnpN
Bella Mehta @bella_mehta( View Tweet )
Abstract 1876: Developed a machine learning model w/ #SDoH covariates to accurately identify patients with SLE and ESRD in NIH All of US dataset
@RheumNow #ACR24 https://t.co/TLDSiBZZPs
Akhil Sood MD @AkhilSoodMD( View Tweet )
A#2528
Hes1/Piezo1 Pathway - role in osteocyte response to mechanical stimulus
Yoda1 - Piezo1 agonist shown to help fx healing in mice
Piezo1 decrease in GIOP
Basic sci research shows activation of pathway promotes mechanical stress response, decr GIOP
#ACR24 @RheumNow
Eric Dein @ericdeinmd( View Tweet )
A#2530
ANA reactive CD4 cells: elevated B cell help activation in SjD
Unique autoreactive T cell cluster in SSc shows CD4+ TRAIL+ IFN type I - unique to SSc
Leads to decrease activation of APCs, decrease CD4 T effector fxn
@RheumNow #ACR24 https://t.co/4JnA3SpVM8
Eric Dein @ericdeinmd( View Tweet )
Recent Blogs
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.
Read Post
