Articles By Jack Cush, MD
Chronic Low Back Pain Disappointments in a Randomized Trial
Annals of Internal Medicine reports that patients with chronic low back pain (cLBP) may benefit from physical therapy (PT); but when that fails, other secondary measures (cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or mindfulness) may not be effective.
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Vitamin D in Rheumatic Disease - is it Good Enough?
Vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency of is highly prevalent and has been often associated with inflammatory rheumatic diseases, raising the question of whether inadequate vitamin D status contributes to immune dysregulation, incipient disease, increased disease activity, or poor skeletal outco
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Influential Rheumatoid Factors (5.8.2026)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from this past week on RheumNow.com
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A Review of Hydroxychloroquine Ocular Toxicity
While hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is thought to be a very safe drug, its ocular risk profile is probably more serious than appreciated. A comprehensive review published in the Journal of Rheumatology discusses HCQ pharmacokinetics, mechanisms of retinal toxicity, risk stratification, and evidence-based screening protocols and how the drug can be used and monitored.
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Gout Control Lowers Cardiovascular Events
A large target emulation trial suggests that gout patients prescribed urate-lowering treatment who achieve a serum urate level lower than 6 mg/dL significantly lower their risk of cardiovascular events.
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Nurses - the calm through chaos
Gloria was the charge nurse on 3 West when a “code” was called. Action, running, and commotion ensues as the crash cart, nurses, and respiratory therapist appear at the bedside. Two residents emerge as the patient is hooked up to the monitor. While everyone assumes their position and role, Gloria ensures the protocol and steers the people, pumping, intubating, monitoring and medicating.
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A Patient’s Plea for a New Paradigm in Autoimmune Disease
A current article in Nature Reviews Rheumatology has a patient boldly asking why we rheumatologists aren't more like her oncologists?
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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.
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