Articles By Jack Cush, MD
RheumNow Podcast – Rituximab Monitoring (5.31.19)
Dr. Jack Cush presents the news and best of rheumatology and medicine from the past week on RheumNow.com
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The Cost of Physician Burnout
An article in the Annals of Internal Medicine has analyzed the cost-consequences of physician burnout, including costs related to physician turnover and reduced clinical hours.
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2019 EULAR Guidelines on Antiphospholipid Syndrome Management
A EULAR task force has reviewed the medical literature and developed evidence-based recommendations for the management of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) in adults. They note that a high-risk antiphospholipid antibody (aPL) profile is associated with greater risk for thrombotic and obstetric APS.
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Biologic Retention in Ankylosing Spondylitis Patients
A study of biologic-naïve patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) who started therapy with a tumour necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) shows that after 5 years only 46% are still on a TNFi and that some are able to lower the dose over time.
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Upadacitinib Monotherapy in MTX-IR Rheumatoid Arthritis
Upadacitinib (UPA) is an oral, selective JAK1-selective inhibitor being developed for use in rheumatoid arthritis patients; Lancet has reported the SELECT-MONOTHERAPY trial showing that UPA is safe and effective in RA patients with an inadequate response to methotrexate (MTX).
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Predictors of Serious Infections with Rituximab
The risk of serious infectious events (SIE) with rituximab (RTX) is similar to that seen in other biologics (e.g., RA: 2% or 4.3/100PY), but with prolonged use the risk may change. Recent research says that low IgG levels, RTX induced neutropenia, prior SIE and comorbidities can significantly augment this risk. A retrospective longitudinal single center study of 700 rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) treated monitored serum immunoglobulins (at baseline and 4–6 months after each cycle), clinical outcomes and SIE over time.
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Rheumatologist's Vacation Checklist
Nearly half of all available vacation days go unused and over 40% of Americans failed to use any vacation days in 2015. Common sense says that taking more time off (not less) is likely to lead to increased work productivity. Your next vacation is essential to building a better you. Here are some tips to insure you get the most from your time off.
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RheumNow Podcast – Medical Selfies (5.24.19)
Dr. Jack Cush Reviews the news and journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com
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Additive Effects of Insomnia and Depression on Osteoarthritis
A study of osteoarthritis patients, finds that pain is the primary driver for health care utilization, and that the presence of insomnia or depression augments health care use.
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ACR Statement on CMS Medicare Advantage Final Rule
In August 2018, the CMS announced that Medicare Advantage (MA) plans would be allowed to utilize step therapy for Part B drugs. The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) expressed strong concerns about this proposal.
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