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An official publication of the ACR and the ARP serving rheumatologists and rheumatology professionals

Most Americans Want Congress to Ensure Obamacare Subsidies

Kylie Gumpert  |  

(Reuters)—A majority of Americans say Congress should make sure Obamacare subsidies to buy health insurance are available nationwide if the Supreme Court rules that the payments in at least 34 states are illegal, according to a poll released on Tuesday. The Kaiser Family Foundation poll surveyed 1,200 people from June 2 to June 9 in…

Increased Risk of Serious Infections During Early Anti-TNF Treatment

Will Boggs, MD  |  

NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—The risk of serious infections increases in the early months of anti-TNF treatment for inflammatory bowel disease, researchers from Denmark report. “The pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha plays an important role in the immune system and therefore it is biologically plausible that TNF-alpha inhibitors may increase the risk of infections,” said Dr. Nynne Nyboe…

The ACR’s RISE Registry Can Help Rheumatologists Improve Patient Care

E. William St.Clair, MD  |  

“RISE is a tool designed by rheumatologists, for rheumatologists. I would encourage everyone to give it a try, watch our demo and learn about our results. We now have over 900,000 patient encounters, and the growth of the registry has been amazing. With your participation, it will develop into a powerhouse of knowledge. It’s so…

HIV Infection: What Rheumatologists Need to Know

HIV Infection: What Rheumatologists Need to Know

Leonard H. Calabrese, DO, & Elizabeth Kirchner, MSN, CNP  |  

It has been nearly 35 years since the original descriptions of what now is recognized as AIDS (the acquired immune deficiency syndrome), an advanced form of infection secondary to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The epidemic of HIV infection remains the singular most dramatic epidemic of our generation and will likely remain with us for…

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Eosinophilia: A Diagnostic Evaluation Guide for Rheumatologists

Praveen Akuthota, MD, Aryeh Fischer, MD, & Michael E. Wechsler, MD  |  

Clinical Vignette A 45-year-old woman with long-standing asthma and chronic sinusitis has new-onset peripheral neuropathy, arthralgias, fatigue, progressive dyspnea and a nonproductive cough. She has never smoked and has no environmental exposures. Her medications include an albuterol metered-dose inhaler (which she uses daily); an inhaled corticosteroid, montelukast; and ibuprofen (which she takes occasionally). She is…

Zoledronic Acid May Improve Bone Density in Elderly Women

Anne Harding (Reuters Health)  |  

A single injection daily of zoledronic acid may improve bone mineral density (BMD) in frail elderly women in long-term care facilities, a new randomized controlled trial shows. However, the clinical importance of the improvement, observed over a two-year period, remains unclear, Dr. Neil M. Resnick, of the University of Pittsburgh, told Reuters Health in a…

Study Reveals Role of IL-17–Secreting CD4+ T Cells in Lupus

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Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are characterized by high-titer, highly specific, isotype-switched antibodies against DNA and RNA. Patients have both CD4+ T helper (Th) cell- dependent as well as Th cell-independent autoantibody production. Two mouse models of lupus demonstrate T-cell–independent autoantibody production: the pristane model of lupus, as well as in the MRL/lpr mouse…

Ixekizumab Clinical Trials Continue; FDA Updates Warning Label for Varenicline

Michele B. Kaufman, PharmD, CGP, RPh  |  

It seems to have begun in Norway, the international pressure to switch patients from well-known brand biologic agents, such as Remicade (infliximab), to biosimilar agents, due to a significant cost advantage.1 This biosimilar came with a 39% price markdown last year compared with the brand, and when Norway called for bids, the discount went to…

Rheumatoid Arthritis, Periodontal Disease Link Suggests Benefits in Behavioral Change

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Although compelling data exist to support a link between periodontal disease (PD) and the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), cementing the association will require extensive investigative work.1 However, in reviewing the literature of the past 10 years, Elliot D. Rosenstein, MD, director, Institute for Rheumatic and Autoimmune Diseases at Overlook Medical Center, Summit, N.J., and…