Articles By Jack Cush, MD
Best of 2024: Diagnosing Seronegative Sjogren's Disease
Sjögren disease (SjD) is highly prevalent, but diagnosis may be challenged if anti-SSA antibodies or a labial salivary gland biopsy are negative. A recent cohort analysis suggests a novel autoantibody profile has predictive value SSA negative SjD and also in those with a positive labial biopsy.
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Best of 2024: Determinants of Gout Flares
Approximately 12 million US adults in the US have gout. Two recent literature reports in JAMA and Arthritis Care & Research highlight contributors to gout flares.
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Abuse of the Safety-Net 340B Drug Programs
Dr. Madelaine Feldman has written an important commentary on the 340B Drug Pricing Program, a safety-net program that would allow vulnerable populations to receive expensive new therapies. But she points out that "this well-intentioned program has strayed from its original purpose", allowing certain hospitals and for-profit pharmacies to exploit the program.
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Tocilizumab Efficacy in Giant Cell Arteritis Phenotypes
A Spanish Collaborative Group study of Tocilizumab (TCZ) in Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) demonstrated high efficacy regardless of the different vascular phenotypes treated.
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54K Peptic Ulcers Annually (12.13.2024)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com
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Outcome of Pain in Hand Osteoarthritis
Leiden cohort study of hand osteoarthritis (HOA) patients shows that over 4 years, pain outcomes are variable, and not inevitably worsening.
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Drug-Free Remission in Giant Cell Arteritis is Uncommon
A Spanish retrospective registry study of patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) found that 3-4 years after diagnosis, only 21% of patients with GCA successfully reached the sustained drug-free remission (SDFR).
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Way Behind in Pediatric Rheumatology
While adult rheumatology fellowships have surged in popularity and become quite competitive, more than half of pediatric rheumatology fellowship positions went unfilled in 2024, according to the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP).
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Chikungunya marches on, at a cost
A recent article from BMC Global Health suggests that between 2011 and 2020, the mosquito-borne disease chikungunya, has disabled millions and likely amassed close to $50 billion in healthcare and disability-related costs in 110 countries.
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Don’t Buy Guitars (12.6.2024)
This year at ACR24, the RheumNow faculty and reporters were prolific, generating >800 Tweets, 56 written articles, 117 Videos and 28 podcasts – all in 4 days! You can best review and learn ACR24 by A) Rheumatology Roundup; b) Topic Panel videos; and c) Topic podcasts.
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