General Rheumatology

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

RT @gibson_RheumPAC Axial PsA remains an area of active investigation. IL-17 inhibitors show consistent benefit, while IL-23 data are emerging—highlighting nuances when axial symptoms drive treatment choice. #RNL26 https://t.co/XFL3Sf8iK4
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
RT @Gibson_RheumPAC A good reminder: PsA treatment should be domain-based. Skin, peripheral joints, axial disease, and enthesitis may each favor different pathways. #RNL26 https://t.co/IUCsdlNopo
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
RT @ericdeinMD #RNL26 GLP on Knee OA STEP 9 Trial - 68 wk Mean WOMAC improved by 41.7 pts, compared to 27.5 in PBO, improved SF-36 7% stopped due to side effects https://t.co/LJzGzzlgq6 https://t.co/5ybyUdfNjZ

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
RT @Gibson_RheumPAC Important rheumatology signal: dupilumab-associated inflammatory arthritis. Usually seronegative, imaging-supported, and sometimes persistent despite normal labs. Co-management and careful work-up are essential.#RNL26 https://t.co/r73cSZC59s
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
RheumNow Podcast square

Maui Potpourri (2.13.2026)

Jack Cush, MD

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the hot item takeaways from last week's RheumNow.Live 2026.

  1. Diet & Obesity Management in Rheumatology - Uzma Haque, MD
  2. Mitigating risk for Rheum patients undergoing orthopedic surgery - Susan Goodman, MD
  3. Paradoxical skin reactions – Joseph
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Incretins/GLP-1s are being investigated widely. @RWCSmtg #RWCS26 https://t.co/57JzRJfK8l
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Most inhibition of inflammation is via the brain. More GLP1 and GIP1 receptors are in the brain, more than the gut. @RWCSmtg #RWCS26 https://t.co/CNzUqteBLg
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
The hx and timeline of GLP1a development. @RWCSmtg #RWCS26 https://t.co/7tPgcRy4Ze
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Dr. Willa Tsueh taking on hx of GLP-1 agonists. The first ones, Victoza and Tulicity go back to 2010. @RWCSmtg #RWCS26 https://t.co/cKiDCM5xw6
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
#RNL26 Haque @HopkinsRheum 1/2 of Americans will be obese by 2030 "Obesity is common & obesity is expensive" Adipose tissue - active endocrine organ -> cytokines, chemokines, adipokines Leads to inflamm axis - risk factor similar to 🚬, higher activity, worse response https://t.co/yQLTpE7reY
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
RT @ericdeinMD #RNL26 Dx Modification of OA @Tuhina_Neogi Challenge in drug develop: Models in young animal, not like human OA Trial enrollment in pts w late, establ OA- not early interv tx Many paths to OA - target mechanism to correct pt Slow progress of dx, $$ Endpt? Sx or

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Vasculitis Sunday’s vasculitis session at RNL26 was a fantastic update on inflamed blood vessels, large and small, by two experts in the field. https://t.co/ueg3yJDMu4 https://t.co/8uiI9A5G8x

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
RT @Gibson_RheumPAC GLP-1 receptor agonists do more than promote weight loss. They impact insulin resistance, inflammation, cardiovascular risk—and may influence musculoskeletal disease. #RNL26 https://t.co/ypKnOJojAm
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
RT @Gibson_RheumPAC Obesity doesn’t just increase risk of rheumatic diseases-it worsens outcomes. Patients with obesity have higher disease activity, poorer biologic response, and 20–25% lower remission rates in inflammatory arthritis. #RNL26

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Staying Ahead of Spondyloarthritis The diagnosis and treatment of spondyloarthritis can present challenging clinical scenarios for rheumatologists. At RheumNow Live, Pod IV focused on "Staying Ahead of Spondyloarthritis." https://t.co/hZeqYC7wi3 https://t.co/2eKEueAukY

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
RT @Gibson_RheumPAC Nearly 50% of U.S. adults may meet criteria for obesity by 2030. For rheumatologists, it directly impacts disease activity, outcomes, and treatment response. #RNL26 https://t.co/cpy4LBBPHc
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
RT @gibson_RheumPAC Osteoarthritis affects 600 million people worldwide—yet we still have no approved disease-modifying therapies. A powerful opening to this talk on why OA drug development keeps missing the mark. https://t.co/wBUN3lux6X
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Semaglutide ameliorates osteoarthritis via wt loss-independent mechanism. GLP-1R agonist exhibits OA chondroprotective effects in a mouse model of obesity by changing chondrocyte metabolism from glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation via the “GLP-1R-AMPK-PFKFB3” axis.

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

RT @richardPAconway Dr Sparks. RA-ILD is common. Pooled prevalence of 11% from recent meta-analysis. Less common than SSc or IIM, but more frequent than we think! #RNL26 https://t.co/mJSmMakSBM
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Rheum Cases & Guidelines https://t.co/0zI2KRuwxa https://t.co/TBw12LFh6i

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Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
RT @richardPAconway Dr Sparks. RA-ILD is common. Pooled prevalence of 11% from recent meta-analysis. Less common than SSc or IIM, but more frequent than we think! #RNL26 https://t.co/TCsDfeQjZC
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
FDA vs. Amgen: At Odds Over Avacopan The FDA has requested that Amgen voluntarily withdraw avacopan (Tavneos), a treatment for anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis, but the company said it has no plans to pull the drug from the market. https://t.co/v5AYm6r53W
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
ACR Applauds Recent Government Funding The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) praised the recent Congressional CY 26 funding package, highlighting its provisions to extend Medicare telehealth payment flexibilities, enhance transparency in pharmacy benefit management, and https://t.co/gr3X7RRGLN
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Air pollution ups ANA+: Ontariio Canadi study of 3548 serum samples (2010-13) corrlated particulate matter (PM2.5) w/ serologies. Highest vs lowest quartile PM2.5 showed higher risk of ANA ≥1:640 (OR 1.46) & ≥1:1280 (OR 1.54). Pollution has systemic immune effects! https://t.co/iyC68qh49R
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Recent Blogs

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Difficult to Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis

Jack Cush, MD
D2T RA Cover
Dr. Cush addresses the management of difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis (D2TRA). Read Post
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Methotrexate

Jack Cush, MD
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In this session, Dr. Jack Cush reviews methotrexate. Read Post
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Rx Updates (filtered for Topic)

Therapeutic Updates

The Impact of Obesity on Psoriatic Arthritis

Sponsored by Lilly Medical Affairs
Lilly February RX Update Revised Image
Image alt text: A person indoors raises one arm in a flexed pose while holding the elbow with the opposite hand. Is obesity common in your patients with PsA? Learn more about the intersection of disease pathogenesis between PsA and obesity and how weight intervention can affect PsA outcomes.
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