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

The ACR, ARHP Develop National Research Agenda for 2016–2020

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Since 2005, the ACR’s Committee on Research has been responsible for advancing the research goals of the organization and providing leadership in research and research training in rheumatology via the ACR’s Research Agenda. The ACR Research Agenda is designed to address critical areas of research in rheumatic diseases, including the need for new technology, new…

How to Decipher the American Medical Association’s Billing, Coding Processes

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The American Medical Association consists of two key groups: 1) the Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC), which oversees the annual updates to the physician work relative values, and 2) the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Editorial Panel, which assigns new or revised codes in the CPT book. The CPT Process Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) was…

Research Provides Insight into Impact of Microbiome on Health, Rheumatic Disease

Neha Ohri, MD, & Kristine A. Kuhn, MD, PhD  |  

The microbiome comprises diverse microbial flora, including bacteria, viruses and fungi, that live on mucosal surfaces, predominantly the skin and digestive tract. Microbes evolved billions of years prior to the development of modern Homo sapiens 200,000 years ago; we have always existed with their ubiquitous presence. Despite this, the first microbe was not visualized until…

Opinion: Politics Should Not Trump Science in Medicine

John A. Goldman, MD  |  

I tell my patients there are three types of science: 1) investigative science, which sometimes gets it right; 2) science in the courtroom, which is junk science; and 3) science in Washington, D.C., which is political science. Our decisions are based on art and science; our patients’ medications are brought to market based on science….

Biosimilars Debate Heats up over Cost Savings, Safety Concerns

Biosimilars Debate Heats up over Cost Savings, Safety Concerns

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After years of speculation about potential cost savings and debates on safety, biosimilars are about to step onto the stage of rheumatic disease treatment. On Feb. 9, the Arthritis Advisory Committee of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) met in Washington, D.C., and recommended the approval of CT-P13, a proposed biosimilar to infliximab (Remicade),…

Diagnostic Imaging in Patient with Chronic Left Ankle Pain: History

Cianna Leatherwood, MD, & Derrick J. Todd, MD, PhD  |  

Editor’s note: In this recurring feature, we first present a series of images (this page) for your review, and then a brief discussion of the findings and diagnosis. Before you turn to the discussion, examine these images carefully and draw your own conclusions. History A 49-year-old woman presents with one year of chronic left ankle…

Diagnostic Imaging in Patient with Chronic Left Ankle Pain: Findings

Cianna Leatherwood, MD, & Derrick J. Todd, MD, PhD  |  

Radiographic imaging showed circumferential soft tissue swelling of the ankle with a soft-tissue density seen in the tibiotalar and posterior subtalar joints, as well as a large, lobulated effusion. MRI of the left ankle shows cystic changes within the talus and first cuneiform bones, as well as a lobulated abnormal soft tissue density with low…

Tips for Selecting Best Job Candidates to Fill Positions, Avoid Turnover

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As much as 80% of employee turnover can be attributed to bad hiring decisions, the Harvard Business Review reported.1 And turnover costs are high—one report estimated them to be 100–300% of the base salary of a replaced employee (with 150% commonly cited).2 Given this, the importance of hiring the right employees can’t be underestimated. So…

2015 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting: Macrophage Polarization and Its Role in Inflammatory Disease

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SAN FRANCISCO—To unravel how out-of-control inflammation begins in rheumatoid arthritis and other diseases, one target for immunologists is the macrophage. Researchers discussed macrophage activation and other key drivers of inflammation at the 2015 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting on Nov. 7. How macrophages behave when recognizing damage-associated molecular pathways (DAMPs) tells us more about why some inflammation doesn’t…