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Imaging

Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) longitudinal study analyzed 1075 #OA knees (1/pt) in 96 mo. MRI study to predict outcomes. Infrapatellar fat pad (IPFP volume & signal) predicted future knee replacement & long-term damage. IPFP correlated w/ cartil. volume & BM lesions; Not https://t.co/VrLfiSGWGA
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Simplistic overview of Lupus Nephritis - causes, risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of lupus nephritis. https://t.co/QkLXUQcSqo https://t.co/pGjCHmoelG
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Hip replacement outcomes are not linked to OA severity, instead pts muscle quality before THA best predicts recovery after surgery. Imaging of 10 pts undergoing THA showed poor muscle quality predicted post-op performance/movement after surgery https://t.co/io0UXQl6n2 https://t.co/cFM7Fg10Zm
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Hip replacement outcomes are not linked to OA severity, instead pts muscle quality before THA best predicts recovery after surgery. Imaging of 10 pts undergoing THA showed poor muscle quality predicted post-op performance/movement after surgery https://t.co/io0UXQl6n2 https://t.co/eI7u6BTPYx
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Ultrasound lesions of dactylitis associ w/short-term development of PsA. Study of 64 PsO +arthralgia pts. IUS PD synovitis & B mode enthesitis predicted PsA Dx (p < .001) w/ an accuracy of 89.1 %, a sensitivity of 86.7 % and a specificity of 89.8 %. https://t.co/KoXMmoxXhP https://t.co/tj2NxKDkqh
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Distinguishing Septic and Gouty Arthritis A single center, retrospective review of patients undergoing knee joint fluid aspirations for presumed crystalline arthritis (CA) showed that synovial WBC may provide a useful diagnostic marker for SA with an optimal threshold of 50,000 https://t.co/ye69mRooSh
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Genomics and Future Drug Targets for Osteoarthritis 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 https://t.co/OYyePkAeAM
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Osteoarthritis Risky Business (4.18.2025)

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and Journal reports from this week on RheumNow.com.  Osteoarthritis patients have unique risks and synovial fluid WBC numbers can tell you when to worry about septic arthritis in gout and pseudogout patients.

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Ultrasound lesions of dactylitis associ w/short-term development of PsA. Study of 64 PsO +arthralgia pts. IUS PD synovitis & B mode enthesitis predicted PsA Dx (p < .001) w/ an accuracy of 89.1 %, a sensitivity of 86.7 % and a specificity of 89.8 %. https://t.co/Ij6oYP1TuK https://t.co/55sO4uFXNI
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🚨 New publication alert! We review the latest advances in imaging for axial spondyloarthritis—from high-res MRI and synthetic CT to deep learning algorithms improving lesion detection. 🔗 https://t.co/oddjoFOGzM #AxSpA #AIinMedicine @XBaraliakos @WalterMaks @krystelaouad https://t.co/VwuUwYL1Xs
Nelly ZIADE 🍀 @Nellziade( 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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KORAIL (Korean RA-ILD) prospective cohort study of CT and biomarkers showed 35% ILD progressed over 3 yrs. Higher baseline KL-6 (HR 1.37) & hSP-D (1.51) levels assoc w/ progression. Increasing KL-6 at 1 yr showed the greatest progression (∆KL-6: HR 2.0) https://t.co/efowyCp1qu https://t.co/JVd7sRKzVF
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Diagnostically, Xrays are effective & sufficient at Diagnosing chronic low back pain; X-rays predicted MRI results in approximately 75% of the cases for common low back pain problems suggesting they may be a preferred initial imaging study for this condition. https://t.co/PYzd1zXIRz
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Consensus on Bone Turnover Biomarkers in Osteoporosis A new consensus paper, published by the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases (ESCEO), the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), and the https://t.co/lq1odNBLdZ
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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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Consensus on Bone Turnover Biomarkers in Osteoporosis

EurekAlert!

A new consensus paper, published by the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases (ESCEO), the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), and the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (

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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 during extended maintenance at week 16.

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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.

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Increasing Prevalence of Osteoporosis

Research published in Osteoporosis International studied NHANES data showed increasing trends in osteoporosis in the United States of America. The key findings showed statistically significant results.

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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.

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Is better earlier imaging needed for axial #PsA? to better visualize spinal ligamentous soft tissue Spinal entheseal soft tissue and contiguous ligamentous tissues are poorly visualized on MRI in early inflammatory back pain pts. https://t.co/4w4CamMT4I https://t.co/RQigMjMe9n
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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
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Increased Mortality In Arthritis Patients with COPD

EurekAlert!

People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and arthritis have a higher risk of death than people with arthritis who do not have COPD, according to a new study. The study is published in the January 2025 issue of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases: Journal of the COPD

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MMWR: Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Mortality in the United States

MMWR

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a progressive lung disease characterized by scarring and worsening lung function, has a poor prognosis. An estimated 21% of IPF deaths might be attributable to occupational exposures.

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Opioid Deaths are Down (2.28.2025)

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com.  Opioid deaths are down, IL-33 levels are up and Weight loss is in the news again this week!

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