Mental Health

Full read review of Neuropsychiatric SLE. NPSLE criteria includes 12 central & 7 peripheral findings (psych, cognitive, Sz, CVA/TIA, neuropathy, MS-like). NPSLE AutoAbs are many: Abs against APL, LAC, RP, NMDA, NMO/AQP4, EC, SBSN, UCH-L1, TP1, GAPDH, MAP2, U1RNP https://t.co/1m7SXMA68Z
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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D-Lay Trial: High-Dose Vitamin D Retards Multiple Sclerosis

Jack Cush, MD

A randomized clinical trial with oral high-dose cholecalciferol ( vitamin D3) was shown to prevent or delay the onset of clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), typical for multiple sclerosis (MS).

Vitamin D plays an important role in immune

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Full read review of Neuropsychiatric SLE. NPSLE criteria includes 12 central & 7 peripheral findings (psych, cognitive, Sz, CVA/TIA, neuropathy, MS-like). NPSLE AutoAbs are many: Abs against APL, LAC, RP, NMDA, NMO/AQP4, EC, SBSN, UCH-L1, TP1, GAPDH, MAP2, U1RNP https://t.co/HvDX8wSuoB
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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Rheumatology: Believe It or Not (4/25/2025)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com. Should we believe the reviews and metanalyses?

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Retrospective study of 334 children with non-organic amplified MSK pain syndr(AMPS) plus back pain. Pts w/ localized AMPS were more likely to have a (+) straight leg raising test (P 0.01) & diffuse AMPS more likely to have allodynia & incongruent affect (reporting pain, but still https://t.co/unbub6VK0t
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Systematic review shows PTSD is strongly assoc w/ an increased risk of developing SLE. 7 studies (5 prospect cohort) and 11614 SLE pts - 1,325 (11.4%) had comorbid PTSD, mostly females. All showed + association of PTSD & SLE, 3 showing 2fold incr risk of SLE. No genetic https://t.co/Xjya0QNznQ
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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EMR Messaging Woes (4.11.2025)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal reports and regulatory approvals from this past week on RheumNow.com

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MMWR: While PRE-overdose opioid prescribing is a risk marker for fatal overdose from opioids alone, stimulants alone, or both; PRE-overdose stimulant prescribing might not be a risk marker for fatal overdose attributable to stimulants. https://t.co/ReVbpligeT https://t.co/PnjeqaCySX

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Mindfulness and CBT improve chronic low back pain Behavioral interventions were associated with reduced pain and daily opioid use and improved function and quality of life for up to 12 months among adults with opioid-treated chronic low back pain, according to a new randomized https://t.co/e4jLNwNBy3
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
12-month community trial 770 adults w/ opioid-treated chronic low back pain (CLBP). Found that opioid dosage decreased with both mindfulness-based therapy & cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) at 6 & 12 mos.(noninferior) - Why dont we use these? https://t.co/9VhqJEHlhc https://t.co/GWnL66nbvY

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
NIH Complimentary Medicine overview of Music Therapy - preliminary research suggests that music interventions may be helpful for anxiety, depression, pain control, dementia, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, etc https://t.co/UGsfT7lITQ https://t.co/DrJm4JdEuY

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Fibromyalgia

Jack Cush, MD

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)

Jack Cush, MD

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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Single Center study of 112 RA pts from Morocco used machine learning (ML) logistic regression model & identified #Depression in 48% (HADS score >8) w/ 76.5% accuracy, 72.2% precision, 81.2% recall, and an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC AUC) of… https://t.co/LBvdVEzDGJ https://t.co/bYLqsFagbR
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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World Changers (3.14.2025)

Jack Cush, MD

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.

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Metanalysis of 376 studies, 347 468 pts w/ chronic pain (mean 51yrs; 70%F) finds ~40% had clinically significant depression and anxiety (more common in Women, younger people, pts w nociplastic pain). Depression common in FM (54%) & OA/RA (~28%). https://t.co/s1tcgC3y7k https://t.co/NCxkOA82jD

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
dementia.think.brain

Long-Term Use of NSAIDs Linked to Lower Dementia Risk

MedPage Today

Long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) was tied to a decreased risk of dementia, data from the prospective Rotterdam Study showed.

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Neuropsychiatric Lupus: More than just a headache Presentation by Dr. Daniel Carlson, at the Rheumatology Winter Clinical Symposia - Feb 2025 https://t.co/v0da4UNFNV https://t.co/BhBKOgak4W

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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Hydroxychloro-King (3.7.2025)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal reports and regulatory actions from the past week on RheumNow.com

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TheDaoIndex @KDAO2011 @UnaMakris wants us to shift our approach to #GeriRheum. #RNL2025– remember the 5 M’s Multimorbidity Mind Medications Mobility what Matters most https://t.co/MIVnpw87rW https://t.co/D4AmrYhyWH

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
The ‘dark’ side of #Hidradenitis #suppurativa 👇 Smell of leaking lesions #HS ⬆️skin folds, buttock, axilla, also thighs, neck ⬆️depression @RheumNow #RNL2025 ‘ If pt doesn’t get in gown then not ready for systemic #Rx!’ Jennifer Clay #ClinicalPearl https://t.co/tZzz5tielt

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Janet Pope @Janetbirdope( View Tweet )
Risk factors for development of PsA in psoriasis. Psoriasis severity, obesity, and depression. @alexisogdie @RheumNow @RNL2025 https://t.co/obMDBvLLnx

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Richard Conway @RichardPAConway( View Tweet )
Predicting #PsA PRESTO study #obvious risks are #predictive Alexis R Ogdie ⁦@RheumNow⁩ #RNL2025 bad PsO 2X ^PsA High BMI Depression Modifiable risks #psoriasis #psoriatic #arthritis https://t.co/pOxidCWcg5

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Janet Pope @Janetbirdope( View Tweet )
@UnaMakris #RNL25 @RheumNow Older patients w RA 1/3 of pts onset >60-65 - More acute onset, more systemic, more PMR-like, larger jts - Higher IL-6, lower TNF-a, less RF, higher ESR -Co-morbidities, polypharmacy, cognition, depression Age does not equal frailty, but does correlate https://t.co/5qb60WyKkP

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Eric Dein @ericdeinmd( View Tweet )
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Drug Naming Games (2.7.2025)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, regulatory and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com.

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Recent Blogs

Choice Overload (and the Way Out)

Jack Cush, MD
paint,choice,overload,color
I recently overheard a very good practicing rheumatologist complain, “why do I need yet another drug for psoriatic arthritis? I have more treatment choices than I have actual PsA patients who need a new or better drug”. Read Post

Comorbidities in RA: Focus on Difficult-to-Treat Disease

Elena Nikiphorou, MD, PhD
Puzzle pieces
The presence of comorbidities naturally complicates treatment choice, patient adherence to medication and patient outcomes, increasing also the risk of making RA ‘difficult-to-treat’. Read Post
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