Dr. John Cush

RheumNow is LIVE from #ACR25 Oct 24–29.
KOL perspective videos, clinical-trial highlights, daily recaps & live streaming—all in one feed.

Sequencing DNA to find new lupus treatments

MUSC geneticist Betty Tsao, Ph.D., will lead a five-year project to identify rare mutations associated with childhood-onset SLE, or lupus, with more than $3.5 million in funding from the NIAMS.

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Associations in Rheumatology (10.3.2025)

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal reports and important associations in rheumatology from the past week on RheumNow.

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Mycophenolate mofetil versus cyclophosphamide as induction therapy in lupus nephritis at one year- a prospective cohort study. | The Professional Medical Journal Objective: To compare efficacy of mycophenolate mofetil to intravenous cyclophosphamide as inductive therapy for lupus nephritis at 1 years after induction. Study Design: Observational Prospective…

Prospective study of 62 lupus nephritis pts rx w/ induction therapy - MMF vs IV CYC x 6 mos followed by MMF for next 6 mos. At 1 year complete renal remission (CRR) seen in 77% MMF vs 29% CYC. www.theprofesional.com/index.php/tp...

Ethnic Minority Rheumatoid Arthritis Consortium registry study of 1315 RA pts (Dz duration 10yrs) incl 29% Blacks found Blacks in less remission(~2-fold by DAS28), more mod-hi dz activity, & frequently met active disease eligibility for RCTs. journals.lww.com/jclinrheum/a...

German survey of 124 AOSD pts - Dz duration 7 yrs (Dx delay 2 yrs), 2/3 on biologics, 84% responding, 81% inactive by CRP. MDs report 35% of pts Sx-free. More Patients report Persistent Sxs LBP (39.5%), fatigue/weakness (39%), & joint inflammation (27%). www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/14...

Full-spectrum extract from Cannabis sativa DKJ127 for chronic low back pain: a phase 3 randomized placebo-controlled trial - Nature Medicine A phase 3 trial found that VER-01, a full-spectrum cannabis extract, reduces chronic low back pain, improves physical function and sleep and shows no signs of dependence or withdrawal.

Phase 3 RCT Cannabis sativa DKJ127 (VER-1) in 820 chronic low back pain (cLBP) pts. Primary endpt at wk 12 showed pain reduction of −1.9 NRS VER-01 vs −0.6 PBO (P < 0.001). Pain further decreased to −2.9 w/ 6 mos OL Rx. VER-1 was well tolerated. No addiction www.nature.com/articles/s41...

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of pharmacological treatments for obesity in adults - Nature Medicine A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials investigating the efficacy and safety of obesity management medications reported tirzepatide and semaglutide to be the most effective in…

Systematic review of obesity management meds - 56 RCTs (60,307 pts). All OMMs were better at total weight loss than PBO (P < 0.0001), >10% semaglutide & tirzepatide (both effective at NIDDM CHF). Semaglutide effective reducing pain in knee osteoarthritis www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Activity Trackers Can Predict RA Flares

People with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who experienced disease flares often showed changes in heart rate and physical activity captured by popular wearable devices 4 weeks before they became clinically apparent, a small study indicated.

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FDA Approves Deuruxolitinib for Alopecia Areata | AJMC The FDA has approved deuruxolitinib, an oral medication developed by Sun Pharma, as the first-line treatment for adults with moderate to severe alopecia areata.

FDA Approves Deuruxolitinib for use in adult patients with moderate to severe Alopecia Areata www.ajmc.com/view/fda-app...

Time Trends and Predictors of Gout Remission Over 6 Years Objective This study aims to describe the trends in remission rates over 6 years of follow-up among people with gout taking urate-lowering therapy (ULT) and to identify variables that predict…

Post hoc Gout study of CARES trial (rx w/ ULT) showed remission @ 1yr increased from 37% to 63% at yr 6. In 6 yrs, 59% achieved remission 1+ times. Remission was signif assoc w/ age, race, Hi Dz severity, comorbidities, and febuxostat treatment acrjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

Psoriatic arthritis flare incidence, definition and risk factors: a systematic review AbstractObjectives. We systematically reviewed the literature to identify the incidence of PsA flare, criteria used to define it and associated risk factor

There is no consensus on flare definition in PSA. Review of 12 #PsA studies shows flare prevalence ranged 7% to 10%, w/ incidence was 22–23%. Over 12 mos, current patient-reported flare = 10%, physician-reported flare = 7% academic.oup.com/rheumatology...

Trends in remission rates for rheumatoid arthritis in England and Wales: a population-level cohort study AbstractObjectives. Considerable data support early treatment of RA to obtain disease remission. Data from the National Early Inflammatory Arthritis Audit

UK remission rates for early RA have been stablebut there are variations. DAS study of 13 752 RA, 35% remission, range 28% to 40%. Delays in referral since COVID-19. Less remission w/ youth, female, Black, hi DAS28, delayed DMARDs. longer Sxs duration academic.oup.com/rheumatology...

The complex diagnosis of primary heart involvement in systemic sclerosis: red flags to drive the choice of cardiac magnetic resonance AbstractObjectives. To analyse clinical features and biomarkers associated with primary heart involvement (pHI) confirmed at cardiac magnetic resonance (CM

Retrospective study of 259 SSc pts underwent cardiac MRI looking for primary heart involvement (pHI) - detected in 37 14%). Predictors included troponin T (OR 14.1), CRP [OR 11.2), ILD [OR 6.3), and arrhythmias buff.ly/dGXyz5l

The lack of association between cumulative MTX dose and liver fibrosis in PsA: a cohort study AbstractObjectives. Evidence for the association between MTX use and liver fibrosis in PsA remains inconclusive. We aimed to explore the frequency of liver

Impact cumulative MTX on liver fibrosis? 1314 #PsA pts (age 44), 28% on MTX. Total of 44 (3%) had baseline liver fibrosis & 12% developed it over med/ 5.6 yrs. Cumulative MTX Did NOT assoc w/ liver fibrosis (OR 0.99), but high BMI & DM did (Metabolic factors) academic.oup.com/rheumatology...

Guselkumab FDA Approved for Pediatric Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis

FDA announced yesterday that guselkumab (Tremfya) is approved for use in pediatric patients moderate to PsO or active PsA in children six years and older (weighing at least 40 kg).

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Challenges diagnosing lung disease and ILD in pediatric patients | RheumNow Children with juvenile idiopathic inflammatory myositis (JIIM) are at risk of developing lung disease, notably interstitial lung disease (ILD). ILD can be asymptomatic initially, progressing silently…

Challenges diagnosing lung disease and ILD in pediatric patients

Children with juvenile idiopathic inflammatory myositis (JIIM) are at risk of developing lung disease, notably interstitial lung disease (ILD).

rheumnow.com/news/challen...

RheumNow is LIVE from #ACR25 Oct 24–29.
KOL perspective videos, clinical-trial highlights, daily recaps & live streaming—all in one feed.

Lung Involvement in Pre-RA

When I see patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-associated interstitial lung disease (ILD), I’m often asked: “Are the lungs and joints really connected?” The answer is yes, and the connection extends further back than some may realize.

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Detection, Monitoring & Management of Autoimmune ILD

The American Journal of Managed Care has reviewed the approach to patients with ILD; a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in those with SARDs, including RA, SSc, and IIM.

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Mediterranean Diet and Patients With Psoriasis This randomized clinical trial assesses whether a 16-week Mediterranean diet intervention improves psoriasis severity in adult patients with mild to moderate disease.

Small 38 pt. RCT found that 16-wks of Mediterranean diet signif improved psoriasis PASI scores. Intervention grp had better PASI change at week 16 (−3.4 vs 0), PASI 75, and reducted hemoglobin A1c. Diet as adjunctive Rx in PsO!! jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

2019 National Health Survey of 87,678, 21% had chronic back pain (cLBP). cLBP had more Multimorbidity 62.1%, worse activity limitation. depression, and cardiovascular disease www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

When to test for myositis antibodies in usual interstitial pneumonia on chest CT? When to test for myositis antibodies in usual interstitial pneumonia on chest CT?

Retrospective study of 137 pts w/ Usual interstitial pneumonia w/ myositis Abs testing. 11% MSA+. likely to have autoimmune Dz, +ANA, +RF. MSA negativity predicted by these 4: neg RF, ANA <1:320, no hypergamma, no Raynaud's - specificity 100%, sensitivity 35%. www.em-consulte.com/es/article/1...

RA at risk for pneumonia & hospitalisation. Pop/ study (41187 RA vs 205935 matched controls). w/ 4yrs F/U, RA had signif. more pneumonia (adj HR 1.73) & hospitaliz (aHR 2.26); higher w/ seropositives (aHR 1.86 & 2.52) & bDMARDs (1.73), but not tsDMARDs (0.93) bmjopenrespres.bmj.com/content/12/1...

Sacroiliac joint involvement in psoriatic arthritis – MRI, radiographic and clinical findings in 581 European routine care patients - Arthritis Research & Therapy Background Axial involvement in psoriatic arthritis (axPsA) is associated with more severe disease and increased pain, yet no consensus definition of axPsA exists. This study aims to describe the…

Axial involvement in PsA (axPsA)? study of 581 PsA pts (mean 45 yrs) found 31% w/ SpA-SI joint (SIJ) abnl on MRI. MRI-axPsA pts had BM edema(69%), erosions (68%), fat lesions (58%). ~45% w/ Xrays, 29% met Xray mNY criteria for AS (38% +MRI). arthritis-research.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....

Study of 246 axSpA (nraxSpA 82, r-axSpA 164) w/ Sxduration 26 yrs. axSpA had more comorbid Dz (^CCI) esp for uveitis (28 vs 1%), IBD (10 v 1%), PsO (10 v 3%)], CVD (7 v 3%), FM (12 v 3%). BUT NO DIFF between r-axSp & nraxSpA for comorbidities www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1...

How Does Your Garden Grow (9.26.2025)

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from RheumNow. Pool therapy, Fibrosis, NSIE's and what's best for knee OA.

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What is IPAF?

Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonia with Autoimmune Features - or IPAF - describes patients with interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features, but they don’t meet a diagnosis of a CTD.

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🆕 ILD (Part III): clinical practice focus

🔬 Diagnostic challenges
🧑⚕️ Case-based learning
📈 Evidence & outcomes
🌍 Global perspectives

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@MithuRheum | For our Rheum to Breathe: ILD Campaign

Polypharmacy Impairs Rheumatoid Arthritis Outcomes

A French early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) study has shown that polypharmacy (PP) was associated with significantly lower treatment responses and more serious adverse events (SAEs).

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