Quiz Talk (5.22.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush talks of birthdays, Quizzes and journal articles this week on the podcast.
Read Article
NLRP3 inflammasome activation triggers PAD (2, 4) release from human neutrophils, increasing citrullination of intracellular proteins (CCPs) and driving the pathogenesis of #RA. Further proof: , PAD concentrations and PAD activity correlate with IL-1β.https://t.co/pRQy0ECG5d https://t.co/SlLO35JhvY
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
True or False: In a registry of SLE patients, RNP-positive patients showed lower disease activity and less prednisone use. If you think you know the answer, prove it in this week's RheumIQ quiz at https://t.co/DTabBEfjj9
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Prospective study of 40 newly Dx, Tx-naïve RA pts starting MTX; Of serum cytokines tested, high baseline IL-6 & IL-17 was assoc w/ nonresponse to MTX. Yet, still not good response biomarkers. TNF-α & GM-CSF did not assoc w/ MTX outcomes https://t.co/YIQKop9LMH https://t.co/XxwcRsKwoM
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Study of 305 newly Dx axSpA pts (age 38 yrs; 55% male, Dx delay 6yrs, 75% B27+). Clinical Dx, without Xray/imaging in 12%, 5% developed sacroiliitis during 8 yr F/U. r-axSpA mostly male w/ ^CRP https://t.co/zGjb3uSkjP https://t.co/3bdGAvKXAm
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
ANCA-Assoc. Vasculitis has great Rx optionis, BUT still no reliable biomaker to predict relapse or renal outcomes, this includes IL-6. But there is hope for CD163 in the future. https://t.co/lFyfTPj5vG https://t.co/wLfOPz76JC
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Registry of 587 #SLE pts. 30% were RNP+ --> more dz activity than RNP- (SLEDAI-2 8.0 vs 4.0) and more Rx use (daily GC 6.8 vs 3 mg). RNP+ more renal, skin & serologic activity & less likely to LLDAS (20% vs 32%) or REM (12% vs 23%). RNP + 18-fold more likely to be Sm+ https://t.co/9i3BBGA0uu
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Vitamin D in Rheumatic Disease - Is It Good Enough?
Vitamin D in rheumatic disease — is it sufficient? Vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency is common and linked to inflammatory rheumatic diseases, raising the question of whether low vitamin D drives immune dysregulation, disease https://t.co/Xd8s8LKqKT
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Infectious Rheumatology (5.15.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush discusses his favorite journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com.
Read Article
Registry of 587 #SLE pts. 30% were RNP+ --> more dz activity than RNP- (SLEDAI-2 8.0 vs 4.0) and more Rx use (daily GC 6.8 vs 3 mg). RNP+ more renal, skin & serologic activity & less likely to LLDAS (20% vs 32%) or REM (12% vs 23%). RNP + 18-fold more likely to be Sm+ https://t.co/3J0Uew48OS
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
EGPA Review
A current review of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) provides current recommendations on diagnosis and management.
Read Article
ANCA assoc. pachymeningitis (AAP) is rare. 230 systemic vasculitis, from 177 reports (108 MPO+, 71 PR3+); age~60; HA & cranial neuropathy (hearing/visual loss, diplopia) common. 89% w/ systemic Sxs (ENT, lungs, orbits, kidneys). Look for abnl ESR/CRP, CSF https://t.co/bHQegYYl5V https://t.co/hpfu8iaIkx
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Rheumatoid Factor as a Potential Marker of Cardiometabolic and Hepatic Risk. RF has been assoc w/ ASHD, MI, CAD, ischemic stroke, obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome -- all mediated via downstream inflammation. https://t.co/gQvqMJmyPw https://t.co/8VnmVsuU2h
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 )
Influential Rheumatoid Factors (5.8.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from this past week on RheumNow.com
Read Article
Gout Control Lowers Cardiovascular Events
A large target emulation trial suggests that gout patients prescribed urate-lowering treatment who achieve a serum urate level lower than 6 mg/dL significantly lower their risk of cardiovascular events.
Cohorts were derived from the Clinical Practice Research
Review of Toll-like Receptor Research
EurekAlert!
A new review on Toll-like receptors (TLRs) systematically summarizes forty years of discoveries in the TLR field, from the initial identification of Toll in Drosophila embryonic development to the current understanding
Read Article
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 )
Rheumatoid Factor as a Potential Marker of Cardiometabolic and Hepatic Risk. RF has been assoc w/ ASHD, MI, CAD, ischemic stroke, obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome -- all mediated via downstream inflammation. https://t.co/gQvqMJmyPw https://t.co/TmoodnuJTe
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?
Read Article
Metabolic Syndrome Predicts Cardiovascular Outcomes in Inflammatory Arthritis
Chronic inflammatory arthritis (CIA) is associated with elevated cardiovascular risk. While metabolic syndrome (MetS) is prevalent, how much it contributes to adverse clinical outcomes is unclear.
Read Article
Among 1074 #PsA tested annually, RF positivity was found in 16.1% overall (5.1% RF+ at baseline). RF+ rediced odds of MDA (OR 0.53) w/ incr risk of bDMARD discontinuation (OR 2.65) https://t.co/AmG6hkWABW https://t.co/MYhkfxAh0r
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Study of 216 RA pts - Serum IL-8 independently assoc w/ RA Dz activity. CRP & IL-6 significantly associated w/ higher IL-8 levels, but RF & CCP did not. IL-8 also correlated w/ CV risk (SCORE2) & carotid intima media thickness https://t.co/aqUoAeXFFP https://t.co/ZW7OAx8YGK
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Dental study from India assessed periodontal Dz (PD) in 170 RA vs 170 non-RA pts. RA had more PD, ^ESR, more mild PD (39% v 29%). DAS-28 correlated w/ PD severity. Pts w/ periodontitis had 3X ods of RA (OR = 2.9) /https://t.co/bvOnFzbRcd https://t.co/cSxfiIR4iS
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Arthralgia w/ HIGH ACPA level >3x ULN) has a 30–50% probability of being diagnosed with RA within 3–5 years https://t.co/iJTyMQM480
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Therapeutic Updates
Watch our 11-video series on ILD Treatment and Guidelines including videos on assessing ILD, guidelines caveats and concerns, and more.
Read Post
Recent Blogs
At first, it seemed similar to many other such sessions – a circle of folding chairs, a group of colleagues whose visages exuded understanding and acceptance – but this was special. I started the meeting…. “Hi, my name is Artie.”
Read Post
Master the dos and don'ts of ordering RF, CCP (ACPA), and inflammatory markers that could transform your diagnostic accuracy.
Read Article
Podcasts
EULAR 2021 - Day2d00:23:12
