Articles By Jack Cush, MD
Opioid Crisis Costs USA $1.5 Trillion
Reuters has reported the results of a Congressional report showing the economic toll of the opioid addiction and overdose crisis on the United States reached nearly $1.5 trillion in 2020 alone and is likely to grow.
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Efficacy and Safety of JAK Inhibitors in Psoriatic Disease
There is a growing body of evidence demonstrating efficacy and safety of JAK inhibitors in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, according to a systematic review in BMC Rheumatology.
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Uncommon Misdiagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Using long-term patient data from the BARFOT study of early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, researchers at the Karolinska Institute have shown that use of the ACR-1987 classification criteria was highly precise.
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Immune Benefits to Sound Sleep
The revitalizing powers of sleep are numerous but what are the consequences to inadequate sleep? A current report in the Journal of Experimental Medicine shows the connection between sleep and immune function as measured in mice and humans; specifically, a good night’s sleep promotes normal production and programming of hematopoietic stem cells.
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Heavy Metal Rheumatology (9.23.2022)
Below are this week’s highlights from RheumNow, as discussed by Dr. Jack Cush. Thanks to all of you for your kind comments and great reviews of our weekly podcast. Please let us know how we can improve by emailing me or recording your suggestion using the "Ask Cush Anything" link on our website.
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Cancer Risk with Scleroderma
Spanish Scleroderma Registry examined a large cohort of systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients showing an increased cancer risk, especially breast, lung, hematologic and colorectal cancer. The registry included 1930 patients with SSc and were compared to a matched general population to derive the standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) and independent cancer risk factors.
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USPSTF Recommends Screening for Anxiety and Depression
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has recommended that general practitioners actively screen and identify anxiety and depression in all adult patients under 65 yrs.
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Clinical Profiles Seen with NXP-2 Antibodies
A recent review of the myositis associated autoantibody NXP-2 profiles its clinical associations with dermatomyositis (DM), calcinosis, severe myositis and, in some reports, with cancer.
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Yoga Fails to Benefit Knee Osteoarthritis
The Annals of Internal Medicine has published a study showing online yoga education and an unsupervised yoga program may improve physical function did not improve knee pain after 12 weeks and 24 weeks.
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Hydroxychloroquine Dosing and SLE Flares
A cohort study examining hydroxychloroquine dosing in patients with SLE suggests that HCQ doses of 5 mg/kg per day or less, in accordance with current ophthalmology and rheumatology guidelines, was associated with a higher risk of lupus flares, including moderate or severe lupus flares.
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