Articles By Jack Cush, MD
The Differential Diagnosis of Heel Pain
A slim, yoga bending, middle aged school teacher seeks a rheumatology consultation to determine the cause and cure for her left lateral heel pain for the past 6 months. No trauma, no crazy footwear and no systemic symptoms, uveitis, or peripheral/axial arthritis.
Read ArticleHealth Canada Issues Acetaminophen Advisory
Yesterday Health Canada announced it “is taking additional steps to minimize the risk of liver damage and improve acetaminophen safety,” citing the findings of a government review that underscored the possibility of accidental overdose.
Read ArticleDoes ACPA Increase the Risk of Interstitial Lung Disease?
The anti-citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP or ACPA) antibody assay has a specificity of greater than 90% for rheumatoid arthritis and is associated with worse articular outcomes.
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Guselkumab Tops Adalimumab in Psoriasis Trial
NEJM reports a 52 week, phase II trial in 293 adult patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis (>10 BSA) who were randomized to receive either placebo, adalimumab or guselkumab - a novel IL-23 inhibitor.
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Safety of Colchicine in End Stage Renal Disease
Colchicine toxicity has been linked to renal function and it has generally been advised to adjust colchicine dosing in patients with renal insufficiency.
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Brodalumab Backlash
On May 26, RheumNow.com reported that Amgen and Astra-Zenica suspended drug development for the IL-17 inhibitor brodalumab.
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Neurologic Events with TNF Inhibitor Therapy
Demyelinating disorders are an uncommon complication of TNF inhibition and have been described with all TNF inhibitors but also with other biologics.
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Get Ready for ICD-10
With three months until the switch from ICD-9 to ICD-10 coding, CMS and the AMA have announced efforts to continue to help physicians get ready ahead of the October 1 deadline.
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Rheumatology Leads the List in Drug Company Engagements
Based on recently released data, ProPublica.org has compiled a list of pharmaceutical payments made to 606,000 US physicians in the last year. Their analysis turned up big differences between the different specialties.
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What's Your Diagnosis? Hand Arthritis in 57 year old Man
A 57 year old male is referred for arthritis of the hands for the last 8 years. He complains of pain, swelling, stiffness in the fingers only. He denies rash, bowel, urologic or ocular complaints. Over-the-counter NSAIDs have provided only partial relief.
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