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General Rheumatology

‘Tis the Season for Vaccination

Eric Dein, MD

As the leaves start changing color and spooky decorations populate neighborhood doorsteps, another autumnal tradition begins: vaccination counseling. Fall offers a golden opportunity to protect our patients before respiratory viruses fill our waiting rooms. In patients with rheumatologic

Dr. John Cush
@RheumNow
Surgery for 1st MTP Osteoarthritis Hallux rigidus, or osteoarthritis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint (MTPJ), is common, but treatment options and long-term outcomes remain poorly understood. A 12-month clinical trial showed that first MTPJ arthrodesis (compared to https://t.co/fHda4GK4vA
Dr. John Cush
@RheumNow
UK survey study of 6607 autoimmune dz pts (91% female) saw females had longer Dx delays, more HCP visits, & signif more often told their Dz attributed to psychiatric (43% vs 33%: OR 1.56) or psychosomatic causes (34% vs 21%; OR 1.87). Females had slightly more misdiagnoses (48% https://t.co/tGhiWCSPy9
Dr. John Cush
@RheumNow
Singapore center study of 119 IIM pts (DM 57%; ASyS 23%, OM 15%), IMNM 4%). MDA5 Abs seen in 35% DM. Vs ASyS, MDA5-DM had signif more Skin Sxs (ulcers, papules, Gottrons, heliotrope, periungual erythema). MSK Sxs equal & higher CK levels in ASyS MDA5. 79% DM-ILD were MDA5+ https://t.co/hWaaeLUYkz
Dr. John Cush
@RheumNow
Ann Int Med report - 1/3 of advanced practice registered nurses trained at for-profit programs (CA 41%, FL 35%, TX 21%, IO 15%), up from just 2.4% in 2010. Estimated 1 APRN for every 2.2 physicians. 35% projected growth over the next decade (vs 3% growth for MDs) https://t.co/7vkB5yeLNR
Dr. John Cush
@RheumNow
? value of FamHx in Rheum evals? My bias is that few Dz are heritable - #Ank Spondylitis, #gout, DIP Osteoarthritis! But literature says there's high heritability for SLE, RA, systemic sclerosis, Sjögren's, & autoimmune endocrinopathies. WHAT do you think? https://t.co/WGyQqpY1qX

Treatment Landscape for Dermatomyositis Is Evolving

MedPage Today

After years of inactivity, therapeutic development for dermatomyositis has begun to move forward with several new therapies and therapeutic strategies.

"This is a very exciting time for the field because we're finally going to get some new treatments, and I think it will be helpful in

Dr. John Cush
@RheumNow
EBR Journal Club: Brepocitinib in Dermatomyositis (VALOR) The EBR Journal Club Companion applies my adapted version of the JAMA approach to critical appraisal. Each review covers four domains: Does this apply to my patients? What is the risk of bias? How great are the benefits https://t.co/UoCQM4GtwL
Dr. John Cush
@RheumNow
Italian retrospective study of 36 difficult #GCA pts (89% relapsed; 72% prev TCZ) showed Clinical remission 85%, 81%, & 83% at 3, 6, & 12 mos. GC-free remission increased to 15%, 28%, & 40% at 3, 6, & 12 mos. GCs d/c in 43%. Results at odds w/ ph III GCAptAIN RCT where SEC https://t.co/VnMSCPwMrn

Don’t Hold the JAK (10.9.2026)

Jack Cush, MD

On this week's podcast, Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news: Steroids are easy to start and hard to stop; hold the MTX but not the biologic or JAK, weighing in on avacopan, and age-old messages for old-age patients. 

Can DMARD Doses Be Safely Reduced for RA Patients?

MedPage Today

Close to 90% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) well controlled on targeted therapies were able to take 50% dosage reductions without experiencing worsened disease activity in a randomized trial, South Korean researchers said.

Dr. John Cush
@RheumNow
Exercise Can Improve Pain A pooled meta-analyses (n=197,392) shows that exercise reduced pain versus control immediately after the intervention (SMD −0.59; 95% CI −0.65 to −0.53; P<0.001). The benefit held across musculoskeletal, inflammatory, neurologic and cancer pain, and https://t.co/rbZlyfrCOW
Dr. John Cush
@RheumNow
Triple Hormone Receptor Agonist for Treatment of Obesity and Knee Osteoarthritis The NEJM reports that retatrutide, an investigational incretin agent, was shown to yield up to 25% weight reduction, with subanalyses also showing reduced pain with knee osteoarthritis, and less https://t.co/18DM2UL6vB
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