Articles By Jack Cush, MD
Rheumatoid Synovium Characterized by Six Cell Type Phenotypes
Research work from the Accelerating Medicines Partnership (AMP: RA/SLE) Network, was published in Nature and more specifically characterizes RA synovium into several cell-type abundance phenotypes (CTAPs). Could CTAPs known disease features or more effective future therapies?
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Incidence, Microbiological Studies, and Factors Associated With Prosthetic Joint Infection After Total Knee Arthroplasty
A study of nearly 80,000 US veterans who underwent primary knee joint arthroplasty (TKA) showed the incidence of prosthetic joint infection (PJI) was highest in the first 3 months and remained elevated through 12 months compared with 12 months or more after surgery.
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Choice Overload (and the Way Out)
I recently overheard a very good practicing rheumatologist complain, “why do I need yet another drug for psoriatic arthritis? I have more treatment choices than I have actual PsA patients who need a new or better drug”.
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Anakinra Effective in Systemic JIA, Irrespective of HLA-DRB1 and IL1RN Variants
A prospective study of first line use anakinra in systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA) proved to be effective and without potentially allergic lung reactions.
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Late Should Not Be Less (11.3.2023)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal reports and regulatory approvals from the past week on RheumNow.com.
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H. Zoster Subunit Vaccine Efficacy with JAK Inhibitor Therapy
JAK inhibitors are known to increase the risk of herpes zoster infections between between 3-5 fold. Two recent reports suggest variable efficacy when JAK inhibitor (JAKi) treated patients are vaccinated with the recombinant herpes zoster subunit vaccine (RZV).
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Oral Surveillance Study Alters Practice at VA
Safety risks found in a postmarketing trial with the Janus-associated kinase (JAK) inhibitor tofacitinib (Xeljanz) appear to have influenced prescribing patterns across the class for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in the Veterans Affairs (VA) health system, researchers found.
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Cardiovascular and Venous Thromboembolic Risk With JAK Inhibitor Treatment of Skin Disorders
A JAMA systematic review and meta-analysis has showed the use of JAK inhibitors (JAKi) in immune-mediated inflammatory skin diseases was not associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), or venous thromboembolism (VTE) (compared to the placebo
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Optimal Management of de Quervain Tenosynovitis
The treatment of de Quervain tenosynovitis (DQT) was examined by systematic review in JAMA, suggesting that local (US-guided) corticosteroid injection plus a thumb spica immobilization was associated with significant pain-relieving and functional benefits.
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FDA Approves Infliximab Biosimilar for Subcutaneous Use
Another infliximab biosimilar has been FDA approved, but this new version of Inflectra can be given subcutaneously for patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
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