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Nutrition/Obesity

200 Biologic naive #RA pts in remission under csDMARD tapering and withdrawal while given either placebo or oral curcumin (1 g bid). Flare-free survival at 52 wks was similar between groups (60% vs 64%; p = 0.76). Time to flare was similar (219d vs 214d) https://t.co/pVV6njVZzH https://t.co/VOqmbewJ4u

Pizza and Rheumatoid Arthritis (8.11.2023)

Aug 11, 2023

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the wonderful wide world of Rheumatology. This week:




  1. Swedish study of 325 #AAV pts saw CVA in 35 pts (8%); CVA incidence=11.3/1000 PYs - this was higher than gen population [SIR 1.85). AAV CVA risk factors included age

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Cross-sectional study 365 RA pts showed eating half a pizza >1 time/wk (vs. ≤2 times/mo) was assoc w/ 70% less Dz activity; esp w/ more severe RA (80%) (benefit likely due to mozzarella & olive oil). YES, this was an italian study... https://t.co/6xKMIFdEWf https://t.co/UfpJO1xNe4

English for the Biologically-Challenged (8.4.2023)

Aug 04, 2023

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com.  This week highlights Veterans, Vegetarians and Antenatal Corticosteroids.

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Vegetarians have a significantly higher hip fracture risk (HR 1.50) than regular meat-eaters, partly (28%)explained by BMI. UK Biobank compared meat-eaters (n=regular 258,765, occasional 137,954), pescatarians (9557), & vegetarians (7638) https://t.co/EyL1PPpfYE https://t.co/n0wNDVWMuP

Link Between Vitamin D and Psoriasis Severity

EurekAlert!
Jul 25, 2023

More than eight million people in the U.S. experience psoriasis, a condition in which skin cells build up and form itchy dry patches. A person’s vitamin D levels could play an important role in psoriasis severity, according to one of the largest studies to date.



The analysis, which

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SGLT2 Inhibitors Reduce Gout Flares and CV Events

Jul 24, 2023

A cohort analysis shows that gout patients initiating sodium–glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) had lower serum urate levels and fewer gouty flares requiring emergency department (ED) visits or hospitalizations.

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MMWR: Arthritis Among Children and Adolescents

Jul 21, 2023

The CDC estimates that nearly 220,000 children and adolescents had arthritis during 2017–2021. Prevalence (305 per 100,000) increased with age and is higher in 12–17 year olds; non-Hispanic Black or African Americans; those with anxiety or depression; physically inactive; overweight or a

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Scleroderma – Thick and Thin (6.30.2023)

Jun 30, 2023

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal articles and regulatory decisions from the past week from RheumNow.com. This week focuses on parodoxical psoriasis, scleroderma outcomes and subsets, and alopecia areata therapy.

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High BMI Increases Arthritis Risk

Jun 26, 2023

Obesity carries many risks, now a new study in Arthritis & Rheumatology shows that higher body mass index (BMI) increases the risk for several rheumatic diseases, especially in women for both gout and psoriatic arthropathy. 



The association between BMI and the risk of rheumatic

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Supervised 12 weeks High-intensity interval training program Improves Vo2 peak in IA patients But does not improve pain or fatigue It is disappointing but it is also a small study w/ n=30 pts in each group. It is unclear if the type of exercise has an impact on outcome https://t.co/Plk7sflrh5
Late Breaker - Cardiorespiratory fitness increased in patients with IJD after 12 weeks of supervised HIIT and effect maintained at 6 months. No significant differences in pain and fatigue vs control. HIIT is a viable intervention Norden K Abst#LB0007 #EULAR2023 @RheumNow
In ERA high BMI is associated with high BMI is assoc with failure to get to Low disease activity. From NORD-STAR RCT. Cdn CATCH cohort in #early #Rheumatoid #arthritis also shows I is associated w less remission and less sustained remission #EULAR2023 @RheumNow POS0324 https://t.co/9EXY8Dyz74
Very interesting. Overweight fibromyalgia pts had some sustained benefit of their fibro on a very low calorie ketogenic diet (8 weeks ketogenic, 12 weeks carb reintroduce) Pain improvements matched weight loss. Many questions, I want to see more! POS1339 #EULAR2023 @RheumNow https://t.co/3rIPmSVUwj
I swear it is muscle, Doctor! GLORIA trial substudy Pred 5 mg/day 2 years in RA pts >65yo: Weight gain 1kg vs. PBO, no increase or redistribution of fat mass but augmentation in lean mass 💪 Probably explained by better disease control (although NS in study, small sample size)
Comorbidities and metabolic burden in PsA: -Occur EARLY -Early PsA pts > multiple comorbidities & > CV morbidity vs. age-matched early RA pts Independent of BMI & obesity Time to address these as part of dis pathogenesis in PsA https://t.co/qOiGHn2eZT OP0066 #EULAR23 @Rheumnow https://t.co/lK7MbeMybO

Allergic Drug-Induced Arthritis (5.19.2023)

May 19, 2023

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com.  This week we delve into some odd associations, repeat drug warnings and the consequences of antirheumatic therapies.




  1. Subanalysis of the tofacitinib ORAL Surveillance study shows the JAK

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RCT of 122 active plaque Psoriasis pts (38F, 55M) with low vitamin D (~15). Rx w/ either PBO or Vit D (100K IU, followed by 20K IU/wk x 4 mos). Vitamin D supplementation had no effect on psoriasis severity (but pts had mild PSO). https://t.co/JXtEBaop3c https://t.co/ScGtBUIrm0
Study of 481 incident RA: - no risk of RA w/ tea, alcohol & sugar-soft drinks - Incr RA risk seen w/ coffee [≥4 vs ≤1cup, HR=1.24;p=0.04] & diet drinks [HR=1.66;never-smokers] - Reduced RA risk w/ mod EtOH (ever-smokers;HR=0.63) & wine (seropos RA) https://t.co/RQFpxXUT11 https://t.co/ew2imYMLnJ

One in Ten is Bad! (5.12.2023)

May 12, 2023

This week on the Podcast Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles, including the risks of dying, developing RA or autoimmune disease!

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Study of 481 incident RA: - no risk of RA w/ tea, alcohol & sugar-soft drinks - Incr RA risk seen w/ coffee [≥4 vs ≤1cup, HR=1.24;p=0.04] & diet drinks [HR=1.66;never-smokers] - Reduced RA risk w/ mod EtOH (ever-smokers;HR=0.63) & wine (seropos RA) https://t.co/gPZkTl9rid https://t.co/khYEZYFotl

National Population Insights (4.28.2023)

Apr 28, 2023

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports and addresses 3 viewer case questions.

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Denosumab Reduces Type II Diabetes Risk

Apr 25, 2023

The British Medical Journal has publish a matched cohort analysis demonstrating that adults receiving denosumab had a lower risk of incident type 2 diabetes (NIDDM) compared with those taking oral bisphosphonates for osteoporosis.



Design Population based study involving emulation of a

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The Match Game (4.14.2023)

Apr 14, 2023

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com, including Rheumatology success in the NRMP MATCH, Cocaine vasculitis and worrisome safety risks with Biologics and tsDMARDs.




  1. 2023 NRMP Match: 365 applicants for Rheum; 97.8% (265 of 271

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Retrospective of 28,360 #PsA pts saw more comorbidities by race - AAs had signif. more HTN (59% vs 52%), DM (31% vs 23%), obesity (47% vs 30%) & gout (12% vs 8%); but whites more cancer (20% vs 16%), anxiety (28% vs 23%), OP(14% vs 12%), more biologic use https://t.co/YwGjVowO3G https://t.co/3BUXFX11rh
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