Quiz Talk (5.22.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush talks of birthdays, Quizzes and journal articles this week on the podcast.
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NLRP3 inflammasome activation triggers PAD (2, 4) release from human neutrophils, increasing citrullination of intracellular proteins (CCPs) and driving the pathogenesis of #RA. Further proof: , PAD concentrations and PAD activity correlate with IL-1β.https://t.co/pRQy0ECG5d https://t.co/HExIhebJ4u
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
ABA versus HCQ in Palindromic Rheumatism
Palindromic rheumatism may develop rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and could be an at-risk population. A pilot trial compared abatacept (ABA) versus hydroxychloroquine and demonstrated ABA reduces RA development in a 2 year study. https://t.co/XPP7CSxGad
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Does Exercise and Lifestyle Modification Improve RA?
Do exercise or lifestyle modifications reduce the risk of getting RA or change those with early RA? A current review and meta-analysis found no studies addressing the benefit in pre-clinical RA, but found evidence that https://t.co/Bvp3Ery5Fg
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Press release of early study of IMVT-1402 (human mAb targeting FcRn) Open-label Rx in 170 active, refractory RA showed ACR 20/50/70 of 73%/54%/36% at wk 16. Next, Responders will do a blinded withdrawl - blinded results to follow. https://t.co/Mzmb3PPvMF https://t.co/oZ99l9VJQU
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Prospective study of 40 newly Dx, Tx-naïve RA pts starting MTX; Of serum cytokines tested, high baseline IL-6 & IL-17 was assoc w/ nonresponse to MTX. Yet, still not good response biomarkers. TNF-α & GM-CSF did not assoc w/ MTX outcomes https://t.co/YIQKop9LMH https://t.co/XxwcRsKwoM
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
ABA versus HCQ in Palindromic Rheumatism
Palindromic rheumatism may develop rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and could be an at-risk population. A pilot trial compared abatacept (ABA) versus hydroxychloroquine and demonstrated ABA reduces RA development in a 2 year study. https://t.co/z0ptEYdhQj
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Hydroxychloroquine: 5 mg/kg/day Is Only the Starting Point
Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is one of the most important drugs in rheumatology, especially for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). It reduces flares, organ damage, cardiovascular events, and pregnancy complications, and it improves survival. Yet many clinicians still prescribe HCQ as
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In this week's RheumIQ quiz: An RA patient has a current or new cancer. With which cancer should you avoid/stop the use of a TNF inhibitor? See if you got it right at https://t.co/DTabBEfjj9 https://t.co/tVYUEjAPy3
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Update on Multicentric Reticulohistiocytosis
Have you ever seen multicentric reticulohistiocytosis (MRH)? Don't worry, it's a rare non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis condition characterized by papulonodular skin lesions and symmetric erosive polyarthritis, and it has only been https://t.co/koXOwktDgA
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
ABA versus HCQ in Palindromic Rheumatism
Palindromic rheumatism may develop rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and could be an at-risk population. A pilot trial compared abatacept (ABA) versus hydroxychloroquine and demonstrated ABA reduces RA development in a 2 year study.
An open-label, multicenter, randomized trial enrolled 70
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Meet the RheumNow #EULAR2026 Reporting Team
Delivering real-time insights from the forefront of rheumatology:
🩺 Dr. Antoni Chan (@synovialjoints)
🩺 Dr. Mrinalini Dey (@DrMiniDey)
🩺 Dr. Jiha Lee (@JihaRheum)
🩺 Dr. Aurelie Najm (@AurelieRheumo)
🩺 Dr. Janet Pope https://t.co/zpIeGWpL6P
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Branebrutinib (Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor) was studied in phase 2 RCT of 85 RA pts for 12 weeks and was safe but failed to achieve an ACR50 response (19% BTK vs 33% PBO; p=0·16). https://t.co/gTjLJm9iIW https://t.co/GN9p1P8ZNJ
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
RA adds to mortality risk in nontuberculous mycobact. infx (NTM). Retro study 1420 NTM pts, 66 (4.6) had RA. RA was independent predictor of resp-death (HR 4.30) - partly explained by ILD & systemic inflammation https://t.co/S9bndHsXCE https://t.co/mC74Qve1LZ
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Infectious Rheumatology (5.15.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush discusses his favorite journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com.
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ArthritisPower Registry (now PatientSpot) survey study of 351 RA pts (age 60, F 84%); reported 439 nonserious infx. 27% total infx, 14%w/ MD visist & Abx. Infx incr w/ GC ≥10 mg/d (OR 1.94), but Biologics & JAKi not assoc. w/ greater NSIE risk vs cs DMARDs https://t.co/bHqFnoY0Ud
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Influential Rheumatoid Factors (5.8.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from this past week on RheumNow.
https://t.co/BaugLQEIai https://t.co/WdWXAfB5lk
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
CorEvitas RA registry study of 9601 RA pts starting b/tsDMARDs (52K yrs F/U) - 10.4% had eGFR<60 9CRI). Achieving CDAI remission was lower w/ CRI - 28% vs 19%(adj HR 0·76 [0·66–0·88]) https://t.co/E42N3PQHwG https://t.co/WNIGGCpCfZ
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Full read review of Preclinical Rheumatoid Arthritis:
- Mucosal Origin Hypothesis
- Gut Microbiota
- Smoking & environment
- Periodontitis
- Immunosenescence
- T cell abnormalities
- Drug prevention https://t.co/SdcDtYGObO https://t.co/2UYGs5eTsu
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Rheumatoid Factor as a Potential Marker of Cardiometabolic and Hepatic Risk. RF has been assoc w/ ASHD, MI, CAD, ischemic stroke, obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome -- all mediated via downstream inflammation. https://t.co/gQvqMJmyPw https://t.co/8VnmVsuU2h
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
24 systemic amyloidosis pts (AA type 46%, AL 29%); 62% joint pain & AM stiff, axial 37.5%, macroglossia (4 pts, 17%), carpal tunnel (12%), proteinuria > 1 gm 50%, CKD 21%, Cardiac amyloid 29%. Amyloid was secondary to Rheum Dx in 11/24. Better survival w/ AA than AL (91% vs https://t.co/hwkpeav4MQ
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Medicare analysis of RA pts w/ metastatic nonsmall cell lung CA (mNSCLC) looked at 663 ICI-treated pts - 46% Rx w/ glucocorticoids (median Pred 6.6 mg/d). GC use was not associated with survival outcomes https://t.co/mwQeAgyKTC https://t.co/SR2XRD5Rhx
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Breaking the Rules: Dual-Advanced Combinations in Rheumatology
For decades, the standard of care in rheumatology has been combination therapy - pairing methotrexate (MTX) with an advanced biologic or synthetic agent to achieve optimal outcomes.
https://t.co/4lyYTTwJUU https://t.co/sYpYbCjlzm
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Metabolic Syndrome Predicts Cardiovascular Outcomes in Inflammatory Arthritis
In this prospective observational study 811 CIA patients analyze outcomes in patients with and without MetS, including cardiovascular death/hospitalization and all-cause death/hospitalization. https://t.co/WT3wTpeGPi
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
More Comorbidity in Difficult-to-Treat RA
A systematic review demonstrated that smoking, obesity, fibromyalgia, and depression are significantly associated with difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis (D2T-RA).
https://t.co/guMm6mqJGr https://t.co/xiykw5tBlJ
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Therapeutic Updates
Expert insights on the 2024 ACR Guideline recommendations for lupus nephritis
Sponsored by Aurinia
Two experts in lupus care offer a balanced perspective on applying the updated ACR Guideline recommendations and the clinical nuances of managing lupus nephritis.
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