Reefer Madness (12.12.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal and regulatory reports from this past week on RheumNow.com. B cell drugs in SLE and ITP, biomarkers in GCA & PSS and great videos by APPs.
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Cases & Guidelines: Tuesday Night Rheumatology
Panelists discuss their approaches to a range of difficult cases in multiple areas, including RA, PsA and PMR. Panelists: Audrey Gibson, PA-C; Benjamin A. Smith, PA-C; Emma Bavage, ANP; Jack Cush, MD
https://t.co/1HPBdPdIVx https://t.co/30Q6azQU3r
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
RHEUM Survey> In RA, seropositivity correlates best with what?
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Metabolic Bone Pearls
Betsy Kirchner, DNP, shares practical tips for managing metabolic bone disease, including the importance of VFA imaging to catch asymptomatic vertebral fractures and utilizing fracture liaison services to close care gaps. She highlights key pearls like the doubled fracture risk in RA patients,
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I Can't Believe it's Not Seronegative Rheumatoid Arthritis?!
In rheumatology, we're no stranger to uncertainty. In any diagnosis of seronegative rheumatoid arthritis, it's always our invitation to reconsider the diagnosis.
https://t.co/JGPTXkvF3E https://t.co/ds1aRzAPF7
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
The countdown is on! ⏱️
Drs. Jack Cush & Artie Kavanaugh are previewing what’s coming to RheumNow Live 2026 in Dallas (Feb 7–8) – and you don’t want FOMO on this one.
✅ Register now at https://t.co/4UQlqwujiR
🔥Early bird pricing ends December 15 – Get the inside scoop on https://t.co/K6kxX2oDtu
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
2018 NHANES population survey of 28,040 individuals, 4168 (14.32%) identified with sleep disorders, and 1589 (4.28%) had #RA. Thus, sleep disorders were significantly associated with increased odds of RA (OR = 1.76, 95% CI: 1.46–2.13, P < 0.001). https://t.co/9O2MsLvwVe https://t.co/cBsm8Jt8Ks
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
I Can't Believe it's Not Seronegative Rheumatoid Arthritis?!
In rheumatology, we're no stranger to uncertainty. In any diagnosis of seronegative rheumatoid arthritis, it's always our invitation to reconsider the diagnosis.
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DMARD Treatment Lags for Minority Groups with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Use of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) for RA was markedly lower among all major racial-ethnic minority groups in the U.S. compared with white patients, analysis of federal survey data indicated, https://t.co/eZOLAN4KVr
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Cochrane review of nurse-led care (NLC) in RA, included 14 articles & 3369 RA pts. NLC proves highly effective in managing RA patients, surpassing usual care and equating to rheumatologist-led care in dz activity and some secondary (self efficacy, pain, QOL) outcomes https://t.co/gd9vbcOR8P
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JAMA Case Challenge - Painful Hand Swelling With Finger Contractures
56-yoF w/ BL hand contractures, 15 mos BL hand pain/swelling/stiffness. No or partial relief w/ ibuprofen, 30 mg prednisone, MTX 10-20 mg/wk. All labs were normal. Whats the Dx? https://t.co/lZ0NHX5Y56 https://t.co/JC04E3JUxB
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British Society of Rheumatology Guideline for Monitoring DMARDs
The British Society of Rheumatology has published an update to their previous 2017 BSR/BHPR guideline regarding the use and monitoring of DMARDs (disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs) used to treat systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs).
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Korean claims study of 60 315 adult #RA pts (matched 1:5 controls), found risk for nontuberculous mycobacteria pulmonary disease was 3 fold higher in RA (0.23% vs 0.06%; 0.54 vs 0.14/1000PYs). Mostly in seropositive RA (OR 3.77), also males, obese, EtOH use. https://t.co/xPPHvtwxIB
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APPs in the News (12.5.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from RheumNow.com, including info on scleroderma, dermatomyositis and malignancy, rheumatologist and APP salary concerns.
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High Cost of Cancelling Knee Replacement Surgery
Thousands of NHS knee replacement operations are cancelled at short notice every year, many for avoidable reasons, according to a new study published December 1st. This costs the NHS millions of pounds and increases waiting times for patients, many of whom are in severe pain.
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Korean claims study of 60 315 adult #RA pts (matched 1:5 controls), found risk for nontuberculous mycobacteria pulmonary disease was 3 fold higher in RA (0.23% vs 0.06%; 0.54 vs 0.14/1000PYs). Mostly in seropositive RA (OR 3.77), also males, obese, EtOH use. https://t.co/hJgoD8mnhv
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Taiwan Health Insurance study of 5749 #RA pts Rx w/ b/tsDMARD, followed >2.5 yrs - 268 (4.7%) had serious infx (1.3 SIE/100PYs); 51% pneumonia, 25% UTI, 10% TB). 60% had b/tsDMARDs dose reduction- not assoc w/ increase SIE (3.4% v 4.2%), but D/C increased SIE (35% v 26%) https://t.co/6J8rB3IyFR
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
RheumNow Live 2026 is coming February 7th and 8th to Dallas, Texas - and registration is now open!
Ready for the most interactive, engaging and practice-changing rheumatology meeting of the year?
This year’s program covers vasculitis, autoimmune disease, PsA, RA outcomes, https://t.co/cftvdSn3t7
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Turkey Tryptophan (11.28.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and reports from this past week on RheumNow.com, including reports on FDA resurrections, FM seasonal worsening, and do you fight switch or swap biologics in PsA TNFi nonresponders?
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RheumNow Live 2026 is coming February 7th and 8th to Dallas, Texas - and registration is now open!
This year’s program covers vasculitis, autoimmune disease, PsA, RA outcomes, spondyloarthritis, and much more.
Reserve your spot today at https://t.co/o78Pc8LPsQ https://t.co/GOUW5Od9Hy
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
BASDAI scores elevated in Fibromyalgia - 58 FM pts were surveyed wtih FIQ, SSS, BASDAI. BASDAI was ≥ 4 points in 91.4% of FM (vs 13% controls (p < 0.001). BASDAI correlated w/ the FIQ (pain, fatigue, stiffness) & SSS scores (r = 0.88, p < 0.00). Could BASDAI be used in FM? https://t.co/VF94ru0o3Q
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
PROSPERO meta-analysis shows an effect of diet on #RA risk. 8 independent studies (n=270,121) showed a reduced risk of incident RA with Anti-inflammatory (OR 0.56; 0.31–0.99), Mediterranean (OR 0.88; 0.78–0.99), and HEI (OR 0.60; 0.25–1.47), but not DASH diets https://t.co/qf4kTVyJ0m
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Retrospective cohort study adult RA patients shows that TRIPLE Positivity (RF + /ACPA + /ANA +) was consistently associated with higher disease activity at baseline and 12 months of follow-up and lower rates of sustained remission compared to RF + /ACPA + /ANA- https://t.co/l2TQDShFYi
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Study of 489,569 UK Biobank participants (40 to 69yrs) betw 2006–2010 showed incident RA in 5404. Having self reported eating disorders (anorexia nervosa, bulimia, etc) was associated with a higher risk of developing RA (ad HR 1.76; 1.12–2.76), moreso in men (HR 5.09). https://t.co/GPV3YoE3kt
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Japanese ANSWER cohort (3623 RA pts on bDMARDs or JAKi) included looked at T2T in 118 RA pregnancies. 93% had full-term deliveries; 85% w/ remission or LDA maintained throughout preg. 35/118 cont' bDMARDs during preg & had signif lower DAS28-CRP vs those D/C (n 24) (P = 0.007). https://t.co/uG8m7RzSiU
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
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