UBER Rheumatology Ride (3.6.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this week on RheumNow.com
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Open-access Arthralgia Clinics
The early diagnosis of IA, particularly RA, hinges on efficient referral and screening of arthralgia patients. Yet most rheumatology practices are ill-equipped or don't have EACs. This report describes the use of an OAC to manage primary care https://t.co/8ut6LkIUEX
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Missed #RheumNowLive 2026?
The full meeting is now available On Demand.
✔ 2 days of clinical updates
✔ Expert faculty panels
✔ Speaker slides
✔ Pre-learn modules
Watch anytime for $250.
Learn from the meeting that kicks off the year in rheumatology.
🔗 Access here: https://t.co/jRvmbf87cs
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Metanalysis of 8 articles, 2655 gout pts shows that ELEVATED neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR; SMD: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.48–1.03) and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR; SMD: 0.52; 95% CI: 0.24–0.79) showed significant value in predicting acute gout attacks https://t.co/RaArPdoc2s https://t.co/Qi2WDSPlde
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Open-access Arthralgia Clinics
The early diagnosis in inflammatory arthritis (IA), particularly rheumatoid arthritis (RA), hinges on efficient referral and screening of arthralgia patients. Yet most rheumatology practices are ill equipped or don't
Observational study of 42 Mexican lupus nephritis pts on Immunosuppressives + Calcineurin Inhibitors (CNIs) @ 12 mos complete & partial responses seen in 26% & 36%, w/ signif reduction in proteinuria (2.89 vs 0.72 g/d, p < .001), & transient decrease in eGFR at 12 mo (109 vs 114) https://t.co/G70POtJwhS
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Treat-to-Target and Cardiovascular Benefits in Gout
A new user cohort study of 109 504 gout patients, achieving a serum urate level less than 6 mg/dL, was associated with a significantly lower risk of cardiovascular events.
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BREAKING NEWS: How many patients with RA achieve and maintain remission with a JAKi? Find out in the RheumNow poster hall with data from the latest real-world study of long-term RA remission. Sponsored by AbbVieMedical Affairs + Health Impact. https://t.co/PPYVfz3tuC https://t.co/Boq8V3qqFp
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Hydroxychloroquine Lowers SLE and RA Hospitalizations
A population based study from British Columbia, Canada, shows that antimalarial adherence was associated with a lower risk of hospital admission in patients with rheumatoid
Equivalent Healthcare Outcomes by Nurses and Physicians
With increasing demand for health services in an aging population, serving complex patients with comorbidities, and increasing healthcare costs, the question of whether nurses can substitute for physicians was addressed by https://t.co/nKsFn7pUgw
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OA & Exercise? Metanalysis of 5 reviews (n=8631) & 28 trials (n=4360) show little or no proof that exercise benefits OA. Exercise has small, short-term effects vs placebo & no-treatment for knee OA pain. Moderate evidence of no effects in hip, & small effects in hand OA. https://t.co/ycLGNlP8Sf
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The prevalence of Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in Australia is 26,788 (16,294 certain, 10,494 uncertain cases). Betw 2010-2022 incidence was 77-127/100,000 (certain cases). About half had received SLE care in an outpatient setting. Australia is 1/13 the population of USA https://t.co/n1sbFNPRbn
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3 Months of Romosozumab in Postmenopausal Osteoporosis
A report in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology suggested that 3 months of romosozumab (ROMO) followed by denosumab is as effective at increasing hip bone mineral density (BMD) as the standard 12-month course. https://t.co/HPM7DdRFBM
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Early vs Delayed Belimumab in Lupus
An economic evaluation of early vs delayed use of the Blys inhibitor, belimumab (BEL), in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has shown both cost-effectiveness and clinical utility of early BEL initiation in active lupus patients. https://t.co/7unHZhR6Dd
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GLP-1s are known to improved knee OA. Using a mouse OA model w/ obesity, semaglutide yielded less pain, osteophytes & had strong chondroprotective effects, fia a wt loss-independent way. Changing from glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation resulted in cartilage restoration. https://t.co/8zs34ys9o9
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Systematic Review of Targeted Rx for Systemic Sclerosis: from 32 RCTs & 2036 pts Rx w/ 23 targeted agents. Guselkumab had greatest effect on mRSS, followed by tofacitinib, inebilizumab, & baricitinib. For FVC, B-cell Rx (belimumab, RTX) had highest efficacy https://t.co/cXTQ2TWyHZ
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SATISFACTION (2.27.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com.
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Danish DERMBIO registry of psoriasis pts Rx w/ biologics. Among 3790 bionaive pts ustekinumab had best 1-5 yr survival vs (ADA & SEC). In 3403 bioexperienced pts, bimekizumab, guselkumab, & risankizumab had highest 2-year drug survival rate. https://t.co/TInyLPMYkb https://t.co/UTPqa9erPU
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Equivalent Healthcare Outcomes by Nurses and Physicians
With increasing demand for health services in an aging population, serving complex patients with comorbidities, and increasing healthcare costs, the question of whether nurses can substitute for physicians was addressed by a recent Cochrane review.
Congratulations to Dr. Kevin Tracey for being named toTIME100 2026 Health list. He is president & CEO of the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research and helped develop vagal N. Stimulation in RA from SetPoint https://t.co/rgtVUldNLt https://t.co/Y4ka9GSORx
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Case-control study of 72 estab. & 56 early RA pts the diagnostic performance of 14-3-3η testing showed AUC ≥0.85 for early & estab.RA. Early RA, -CCP had better specificity (96.4%) and a positive likelihood ratio (21.2%), while 14-3-3η had higher sensitivity (88.1%) https://t.co/jaUux9quy6
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
3 Months of Romosozumab in Postmenopausal Osteoporosis
A report in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology suggested that 3 months of romosozumab (ROMO) followed by denosumab is as effective at increasing hip bone mineral density (BMD) as the standard 12-month course. https://t.co/6HfGFZqavF
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
July 2024 survey of 143 women (18-45 yrs) with rheumatic disease shows only 63% used effective contraception. In those previously pregnant, 33% experienced an unplanned pregnancy, highlighting contraceptive failure. https://t.co/tR6976vmJp https://t.co/1XRkQfWL5r
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Supportive vs Flexible Footwear in Hip Osteoarthritis
Do shoes make a difference in osteoarthritis (OA)? Common advice often suggests that stable supportive shoes can improve arthritis symptoms in the knee, but does this apply to hip osteoarthritis?
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Real-world study of 1202 #PsA pts shows that secukinumab retention rates were lower w/ smoking (79%/73%/72% in never/former/current smokers) but not w/ obesity (72%/77%/77% in normal/overweight/obese), Adh HR signif. higher w/ former (1.32) & current smokers (1.27) https://t.co/1REWmod73W
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Recent Blogs
Nearly 25 years ago, while lecturing on best therapies for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), I loudly stated that hydroxychloroquine was “useless” and, deservedly, I was “boo-ed” off stage. My point then was that rheumatologists needed to be aggressive, if not overly aggressive, in treating all RA patients. And my view was that HCQ was representative of under-treatment. I have reconsidered the use of HCQ in RA substantially in the last few years, based on its merit.
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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”.
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Podcasts
Are your patients with moderate to severe RA getting the appropriate dose? Sponsored by Genentech, Inc
