Articles By Jack Cush, MD
Implementing Smoking Cessation Programs
Rheumatologists are keen to the effects of smoking (increased arthritis risk, worse outcomes, blunted DMARD responses, added cardiopulmonary risks), but often do not have the resources or plan to encourage or implement smoking cessation from the rheumatology clinic. A new study details the success of a rheumatology staff‐driven protocol, Quit Connect, to increase the rate of electronic referrals to free, state‐run tobacco quit lines.
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Rheumatology Care Derailed by COVID-19
A survey study from the ArthritisPower PPRN or CreakyJoints database shows that during the COVID-19 pandemic patient care was substantially affected in unforeseen ways.
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Reactogenicity Following mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines
JAMA has published the real-world reporting of mRNA vaccine side effects (reactogenicity) gathered from CDC V-safe Surveillance system and shows that local and systemic reactions were often mild and transient and most commonly seen during the first day following their second dose.
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Cost Efficacy of Knee Replacement in Obese Osteoarthritis
Total knee replacement (TKR) in obese patients with end-stage knee osteoarthritis appears to be a beneficial and cost-effective strategy for treating. The only potential limitation is a greater risk for adverse events in those with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 kg/m2 or greater.
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Rituximab in Systemic Sclerosis?
No drug is FDA approved to manage the skin or joint complaints of systemic sclerosis (SSc); a recent metanalysis suggests that rituximab may improve skin score and disease activity indices (DAS, mRSS) while stabilizing organ involvement in SSc patients.
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RheumNow Podcast – Upadacitinib Wins in PsA (4.2.2021)
Dr Jack Cush reviews the news and Journal reports and takes "Back Talk" questions from viewers.
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Upadacitinib Clinical Efficacy in Psoriatic Arthritis
McInnes and colleagues have published the results of the SELECT - PsA trial in NEJM showing updacitinib (UPA) to be superior to placebo in active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients, with 15 mg UPA equal to adalimumab (ADA) and 30 mg UPA qd being superior to ADA.
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Inflammatory Conditions Up the Risk of Premature Myocardial Infarction
The European Journal of Preventive Cardiology reports that younger patients with their first myocardial infarction before age 50 yrs have a higher risk of having a systemic inflammatory disease (SIDs) and higher rates all-cause mortality.
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Aortic Calcification and Lumbar Fracture Risk in Older Men
Fractures of the spine and abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) can both be visualized with spinal imaging; a new report shows that finding both radiographic vertebral fracture and AAC on the same lateral spine images may predict the risk of future incident major osteoporotic fracture i
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Hypertension Unaffected by Urate Lowering Therapy
Does uric acid contribute to the risk of hypertension (HTN)? A recent cohort trial shows that allopurinol in young adults does not sufficiently lower blood pressure (BP).
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