Articles By Jack Cush, MD
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Fibromyalgia
A randomized, sham-controlled trial has shown that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) reduced pain in fibromyalgia for up to 8 weeks; while analgesic effects waned, functional improvements remained during extended maintenance at week 16.
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Predicting Premature Death with Multimorbidity
Machine learning (ML) models were used to predict premature death in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients with multimorbidity, the co-occurrence of 2 or more chronic conditions.
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Peripheral Nerve Blocks for Hip Fractures
JAMA reviews the use of peripheral nerve block with hip fractures as an effective pain management strategy that can be performed by credentialed clinicians outside of the operating room.
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Autoimmune Disease Impact Report
Integrated Benefit Institute, a nonprofit independent research organization, has published its 2025 Autoimmune Disease Impact Report, which examines the health and productivity impacts of five prevalent and costly autoimmune conditions: rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, inflammat
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Targeting Obesity in Rheumatic Disease Patients
Sattar et al. has published an informative overview of the effect of obesity on rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs). They estimate that nearly 70% of RMD patients are overweight or obese.
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ERA, APPs, & Alpha GAL (3.21.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com. Listen in for 2 new case questions - Ask Cush Anything.
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Disease activity during Pregnancy in Rheumatoid arthritis and Spondyloarthritis
A prospective French study of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or spondyloarthritis (SpA) patients showed that most maintained stable disease activity during pregnancy, but over one-third flared and required major changes in treatment.
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Increasing Prevalence of Osteoporosis
Research published in Osteoporosis International studied NHANES data showed increasing trends in osteoporosis in the United States of America. The key findings showed statistically significant results.
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NP and PA Growth in the USA
Forbes has published a thoughtful perspective on the declining number of US physicians and the growth in the number of advanced practice providers or APPs (nurse practitioners and physician assistants) in the US clinical workforce. Gastroenterologist Dr. Spencer Dorn writes that in the US, there are fewer physicians per capita (2.6 per 1,000) than most developed nations (average 3.6 per 1,000), with a physician shortfall of 125,000, that is projected to be ~200,000 by 2037.
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Adrenal Dysfunction after Steroids in PMR and GCA Patients
JAMA has published a study of PMR and GCA patients who stopped glucocorticoid (GC) therapy and noted a low (1.2%) risk of GC-induced adrenal insufficiency after planned cessation.
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