Andrew Smith

Analysis of patient records from Denmark and Iceland found that obese psoriatic arthritis patients responded less than their lighter counterparts to tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFIs) and that they used such medications for shorter periods of time.

Some have called Medtronics MiniMed 670G an "artificial pancreas." The device is not that. It still requires user intervention. That said, it requires less intervention than any of the devices that have come before it.

The extremely robust connection between AF and ischemic stroke is well-established, but the strength of the connection between AF and TIA had not been quantified to nearly the same degree.

“Acute alcohol consumption has long been linked to development of AF. In the Framingham, Copenhagen, and Women's Health Studies, chronic alcohol consumption, especially two or more drinks per day, is associated with up to 30% higher risk for incident AF,” the study authors wrote in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

A two-year-long randomized trial has found that wearable monitors that track activity and vital signs — which are obviously designed to help people achieve their fitness goals — actually hindered weight-loss efforts in young adults with body mass indexes (BMIs) between 25 and 40.

A new model that combines real-world prices with outcome data from both controlled trials and clinical practice indicates that the immediate use of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (anti-TNFs) is a cost-effective way to achieve good first-year outcomes in patients newly diagnosed with both plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

A meta-analysis of 104 cohort studies involving more than 9.5 million patients concludes that atrial fibrillation is associated with elevated rates of cardiovascular disease, renal disease and early death. Its authors conclude the treatment of AF should expand its focus beyond stroke prevention.

Higher levels of nitrogen dioxide were associated with higher levels of HOMA-IR, glucose, insulin, and leptin. The degree of association, however, varied among the different populations. Effect estimates for pre-diabetic individuals were large and highly statistically significant, while the associations were smaller and weaker in non-diabetic individuals and those who had already developed T2DM.

A retrospective analysis of patient records has found a significant link between psoriatic arthritis and malignant cancer – particularly breast cancer.

Ixekizumab patients, who all started with an introductory 160-mg dose, were all more likely than placebo patients to achieve the primary endpoint of the study: a 20% reduction in disease burden as measured by American College of Rheumatology criteria (an ACR20 response) by week 24.

Analysis of a large cohort group has found a significant connection between gut microbes and 2 of the largest risk factors for diabetes.

A new analysis of data published in JAMA Cardiology concludes that apixaban (Eliquis) tends to be both safer and more effective than warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation, regardless of their renal function.

When patients were hospitalized, those who were monitored remotely tended to get out faster (5.3 vs 8.1 days, p

A small British study indicates that the use of several immunosuppressive agents can restore the effectiveness of ustekinumab (Stelara) in patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

Investigators recruited 20 middle-aged and sedentary patients who were at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and subjected them to an 8-week program of walking and cycling. Most of the patients saw significant increases in their insulin sensitivity (and thus significant reductions in their risk of developing T2DM), but insulin sensitivity remained unchanged in a handful of patients.

Many studies have looked for a link between psoriatic arthritis and cardiovascular disease. Some have found it, while others haven’t.

A trial of 3 automated blood pressure cuffs indicates that two of the devices provide reasonably accurate readings for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

A new analysis of patient records published in Diabetes Care supports rapid treatment intensification when metformin monotherapy fails in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but finds that intensification is often delayed in practice.

Analysis of adult diabetics between 1998 and 2014 has found a significant shift in how kidney disease presents itself, a shift that may have implications for both diagnoses and treatment.

A new matched cohort analysis contradicts several prior studies that conclude patients with psoriatic arthritis face an increased risk of cardiovascular comorbidity.

Among 968 patients, initial stability was no indicator of ongoing stability: only 34% of them remained in the therapeutic window at least 80% of the time.

Analysis of data from 2 large trials finds that cutoffs used to separate different “disease activity states” on the Disease Activity index for Psoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA) are valid. Different disease activity states are associated with different degrees of functional impairment and joint damage progression.

“Our study has taken us to the most complete understanding yet of the genetic architecture of type 2 diabetes,” say the researchers.

A new analysis finds that patients taking warfarin for their atrial fibrillation are more likely to develop dementia than those taking the drug for treatment of other conditions.

Retrospective analysis of ablation outcomes before and after a medical center began using ultrasound to guide vascular access indicates that the technology significantly reduces complications.

A new meta-analysis of 102 randomized controlled diet trials found that consumption of polyunsaturated fat instead of carbohydrate or saturated fat reduces blood sugar levels and insulin resistance while also increasing the body’s ability to make insulin.

New research comparing patients and controls suggests that the body’s inflammatory response to psoriatic arthritis can lead to atherosclerosis and then to cardiovascular disease.

New analysis of data from the Framingham Heart Study found a significant association between atrial fibrillation (AF) and reduced volume in the brain’s frontal lobe.

The US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) Arthritis Advisory Committee recently voted unanimously to recommend the approval of biosimilars to adalimumab (Humira) and etanercept (Enbrel).

A retrospective analysis of diabetes and prediabetes diagnoses found that screening guidelines from the United States Preventative Service Task Force (USPSTF) would have detected less than half of all cases that were discovered.