Outcomes

Women Doctors More Likely to Be Called By First Name in Patient Messages

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Female physicians were more likely to be called by their first names in electronic medical record (EMR) patient portal messaging, researchers found.

In adjusted analyses, women doctors were more than twice as likely as their male counterparts to be addressed by their first name in

Orthopedic surgery patients do fine without opioid painkillers

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Hamilton, ON (Oct. 4, 2022) – Patients can recover from orthopedic surgery just as well without using opioid-based painkillers, says a McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

Study results showed

Transitioning JIA to Adult Care is Problematic

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Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) may start in adolescence and extend into adulthood. This report of the Nordic experience shows that both pediatric and adulty rheumatologists need to develop "transition" practices; without such an approach considerable gaps in healthcare will befall these

Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Need to Quit Smoking ASAP

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While it is known that smoking ups the risk of developing RA, its effect on outcomes in those with established rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is less known.  A report from an early arthritis registry shows that current smoking increases disease activity and lowers health-related quality of life.

Causes of Death in Lupus

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The California Lupus Surveillance Project has longitudinally followed included systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) cases and shown that overall, the leading cause of death was cardiovascular disease (CVD), followed by rheumatic disease and hematologic/oncologic conditions.

IL-17 Switching Works in Psoriatic Disease

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Analysis of data from a Czech nationwide registry of psoriatic patients receiving biologic or targeted therapies (BIOREP) has shown a high success rate when switching between specific IL-17 inhibitors.

COVID-19 Arthropathy and Myalgia

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An online survey of random COVID-19 infected persons shows that arthralgia and myalgia are common consequences to COVID-19 infection.

Like other alphaviruses, the coronavirus has been reported to result in numerous musculoskeletal complaints. Researchers assessed the prevalence of

2022 Lasker Award Winners

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The Lasker Foundation has announced the winners of its 2022 Lasker Awards, widely regarded as America’s top biomedical research prize since its creation more than 75 years ago. Here's a look at the award winners and their important contributions to biomedical research.

Opioid Crisis Costs USA $1.5 Trillion

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Reuters has reported the results of a Congressional report showing the economic toll of the opioid addiction and overdose crisis on the United States reached nearly $1.5 trillion in 2020 alone and is likely to grow.

Efficacy and Safety of JAK Inhibitors in Psoriatic Disease

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There is a growing body of evidence demonstrating efficacy and safety of JAK inhibitors in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, according to a systematic review in BMC Rheumatology.

Uncommon Misdiagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis

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Using long-term patient data from the BARFOT study of early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, researchers at the Karolinska Institute have shown that use of the ACR-1987 classification criteria was highly precise.

The BARFOT (Better Anti-Rheumatic PharmacOTherapy) study enrolled

NSAIDs Linked to Heart Failure in Diabetes Patients

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Short-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is associated with a first-time hospitalisation for heart failure in patients with type 2 diabetes, according to research presented at ESC Congress 2022.

Are We Overcautious With TNF Inhibitors in Pregnancy?

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What may seem like a prudent approach to treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in pregnant women actually represents an overabundance of caution, suggested researchers who found no increased risk from tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors.

Rheumatology Leaders and Patient Advocates Convene on Capitol Hill

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ACR members along with rheumatology patients gathered on Capitol Hill and urged federal lawmakers to support the HELP Copays Act, Safe Step Act, and Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act.

Heavy Metal Rheumatology (9.23.2022)

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Below are this week’s highlights from RheumNow, as discussed by Dr. Jack Cush. Thanks to all of you for your kind comments and great reviews of our weekly podcast. Please let us know how we can improve by emailing me or recording your suggestion using the "Ask Cush Anything" link on our website

USPSTF Recommends Screening for Anxiety and Depression

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The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has recommended that general practitioners actively screen and identify anxiety and depression in all adult patients under 65 yrs.

The USPSTF was appointed by the Department of Health and Human Services, and has been working on this guideline

Is PMR the Next Indication for Tocilizumab?

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About half of patients with steroid-dependent polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) were able to get off steroids altogether when they were started on tocilizumab (Actemra) infusions, which also improved disease control in most cases, a randomized phase III trial showed.

In a 24-week study, 49

Clinical Profiles Seen with NXP-2 Antibodies

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A recent review of the myositis associated autoantibody NXP-2 profiles its clinical associations with dermatomyositis (DM), calcinosis, severe myositis and, in some reports, with cancer.

Yoga Fails to Benefit Knee Osteoarthritis

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The Annals of Internal Medicine has published a study showing online yoga education and an unsupervised yoga program may improve physical function did not improve knee pain after 12 weeks and 24 weeks.

The study included 212 adults with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis who were

Hydroxychloroquine Dosing and SLE Flares

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A cohort study examining hydroxychloroquine dosing in patients with SLE suggests that HCQ doses of 5 mg/kg per day or less, in accordance with current ophthalmology and rheumatology guidelines, was associated with a higher risk of lupus flares, including moderate or severe lupus flares.

ACR's State-by-State Report Cards for Rheumatic Disease

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New report examines access, affordability, and activity and lifestyle factors in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, evaluating how easy it is to live with a rheumatic disease in your state. No state scored an "A" or "F", and only two states improved their 2018 grades.

CD19 CAR T Cell Therapy in SLE (9.16.2022)

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The big news this week: the approval of deucravacitinib (a new class of drug?) for psoriasis; the 2022 ACR guidance on glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis; a national poll of older adults over the age of 50 who claimed self-reported or doctor-diagnosed arthritis; and much more. Let's review

IBD Ups Risk of Psoriatic Disease

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Findings of a new study suggest a causal effect between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and psoriasis (PSO) as well as psoriatic arthritis (PsA), but not vice versa.

A mendelian randomization study based on genome-wide association studies including up to 463 372 European individuals

Does Methotrexate Use Lead to Melanoma?

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A systematic review suggests that low-dose methotrexate (MTX) use is associated with an increased melanoma risk, but the absolute risk increase could be considered negligible.

2022 New ACR Guidance on Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis (GIOP)

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The ACR has updated this guideline and includes recommendations on abaloparatide (PTHrP) and romosozumab, which are newly available since the ACR’s 2017 GIOP guideline.

It also addresses sequential therapy, which was not addressed in the past. Patients need to understand that when