Articles By Jack Cush, MD
Best of 2024: Analgesic Prescribing in Patients with Inflammatory Arthritis
A UK cross-sectional EHR clinical practice analysis between 2004 and 2020 shows that analgesic prescribing in inflammatory arthritis patients has declined, but still remains substantial, including opioid prescribing. Data was drawn from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink Aurum to evaluate analgesic prescription annual prevalence in patients with RA, PsA and axSpA and found that analgesic prescribing declined over time but remained common.
Read Article
Bah Humbug Vitamin D (12.20.2024)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com.
Read Article
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.
Read Article
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.
Read Article
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.
Read Article
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.
Read Article
54K Peptic Ulcers Annually (12.13.2024)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com
Read Article
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.
Read Article
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).
Read Article
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).
Read Article
