In a joint session of the ACR and the Japan College of Rheumatology, experts including Keishi Fujio, MD, PhD, discussed recent advances in omic technology that pave the way for novel approaches to the translation of basic science discoveries into clinical rheumatology. READ MORE

Panelist Madeleine Cunningham, PhD, highlighted the connection between streptococcal infection, autoimmunity, and molecular mimicry. She reviewed how antigenic determinants are shared between the host and invading organism. READ MORE

Onyinye Iweala, MD, PhD, outlined bulk transcriptomics profiling and methods focused on characterizing individual cells. She explained that handling vast quantities of multidimensional data requires specialized statistical and data visualization. READ MORE

Of all outpatient rheumatology visits, 17 percent are conducted via telemedicine. Only three specialties report higher engagement in telemedicine: psychiatry, substance-abuse disorder treatment, and endocrinology. Jack Cush, MD, and other panelists discussed the dynamics of telehealth for rheumatology providers and patients. READ MORE

In the second of three sessions dedicated to better understanding how to use research statistics, Becki Cleveland, PhD, and Todd Schwartz, PhD, presented an overview of methods for modeling categorical variables rheumatologic researchers may encounter, which can greatly affect the impact and validity of one’s data. READ MORE

In 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the use of new agents for pediatric lupus nephritis, juvenile psoriatic arthritis, and enthesitis-related arthritis. Amit Golding, MD, PhD, highlighted the approvals of belimumab IV, ustekinumab, and secukinumab, and Cmdr. Hyun Son, PharmD, discussed the FDA’s role when drug shortages occur. READ MORE

In the Oscar S. Gluck, MD, Memorial Lecture, Joel Block, MD, described a biomechanistic and loading model of idiopathic osteoarthritis (OA). The conventional model presumes that all OA proceeds from similar processes. Therapeutic strategies involve controlling early inflammation and stabilizing joint structures. That these strategies have been uniformly unsuccessful suggests other factors are at work. READ MORE

In the first of three Stats Bootcamp sessions at ACR Convergence, Carolina Alvarez, MS, reviewed how to calculate key measurements in binary and dichotomous testing comparisons. She also analyzed the factors that drive sample size and power considerations in testing. READ MORE

Claire Owen, MBBS (Hons), PhD, FRACP, CCPU, explained advances in imaging modalities for diagnosing and monitoring polymyalgia rheumatica, and Christian Dejaco, MD, PhD, MBA, discussed new steroid-sparing agents for the treatment of this chronic inflammatory disease. READ MORE