Ashkan Ara, MD, MPH, PhD Candidate
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ashkanara.bsky.social
Ashkan Ara, MD, MPH, PhD Candidate
@ashkanara.bsky.social
75 followers 180 following 32 posts
STAR Fellow @UCLA ( #Rheum + #Pharmacoecon ) | Leveraging #DecisionScience & #ML to optimize medical decisions | Triathlon & Tennis fanatic | Ts=mine & RT≠endorse ⚛️

https://www.uclahealth.org/departments/medicine/rheumatology/fellowship/fellows
Posts Replies Media Videos
ashkanara.bsky.social
Couldn't have said it better - Thank you @glaucomflecken.bsky.social

www.youtube.com/shorts/DaDRi...
Doctors Aren't The Problem
YouTube video by Dr. Glaucomflecken
www.youtube.com
August 18, 2025 at 5:23 AM
Reposted by Ashkan Ara, MD, MPH, PhD Candidate
rheumnow.bsky.social
US- Top Drug Rx Sales in 2024
Semaglutide $54 Billion
Tirzepatide $31.7 B
Adalimumab $28B
Ustekinumab $17 B
Risankizumab $16 B
Etanercept $10.1 B
Secukinumab $7.7 B
Immune globulin $7.1 B
Upadacitinib $7 B
Ixekizumab $5.8 B
Guselkumab $5.8 B www.beckershospitalreview.com/pharmacy/25-...
25 drugs ranked by 2024 healthcare expenditure - Becker's Hospital Review | Healthcare News & Analysis
In 2024, the U.S. healthcare industry spent $6.1 billion on Pfizer’s COVID-19 therapy Paxlovid, a 6,922.8% increase from 2023 expenditure data, according to a recent study.  The research, published…
www.beckershospitalreview.com
April 29, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Reposted by Ashkan Ara, MD, MPH, PhD Candidate
acr-journals.bsky.social
Scoping review compared guideline recomm. for DMARD use in pregnancy & repro health for patients with rheumatic disease. Although recomm. for csDMARDs were similar b/w guidelines, there was significant variability in recomm. for b/tsDMARD use

AC&R
doi.org/10.1002/acr....
#Medsky #Obsky #Reprosky
Table 1. Recommendations for DMARD use in pregnancy
April 28, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Reposted by Ashkan Ara, MD, MPH, PhD Candidate
jrheumatol.bsky.social
Editor's Picks Spotlight

Disparities in Time to Diagnosis of Radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis with Drs. Renato Ferrandiz-Espadin, Jean W. Liew and Maureen Dubreuil
@renatoferrandiz.bsky.social @rheumcat.bsky.social
@spondymd.bsky.social

📖 doi.org/10.3899/jrhe...

📽️ youtu.be/jXAe-dlbxsc
Editor's Picks Spotlight: Disparities in Time to Diagnosis of r-axSpA
YouTube video by The Journal of Rheumatology
youtu.be
April 25, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Reposted by Ashkan Ara, MD, MPH, PhD Candidate
jama.com
Viewpoint: Political interference in the medical profession threatens evidence-based standards of care and the autonomy of health care professionals. https://ja.ma/4iuXJZ5
Intrusion in the Practice of Medicine
This Viewpoint discusses the importance of medical professionals and experts protecting modern medicine and public health by defending the profession’s unique expertise and ability to set the standard of care.
ja.ma
April 24, 2025 at 11:00 AM
ashkanara.bsky.social
Great @nytimes.com article with incredible visuals:

To stop a contagious dz like measles, vaccinate enough for herd immunity is >94%. Uneven vaccination rates create vulnerable pockets, risking outbreaks. #PublicHealth
April 24, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Reposted by Ashkan Ara, MD, MPH, PhD Candidate
joannespetz.bsky.social
Important column by the brilliant Ninez Ponce at our sister center at UCLA on federal changes and disappearances to key public data.

www.milbank.org/quarterly/op...
Data Democracy in Crisis: How Changing Federal Data Reshapes Research and Representation | Milbank Memorial Fund
Recent political events have data custodians and users across the country asking an important question—if the federal government is backing away from its historical role as a leader in advancing data ...
www.milbank.org
April 24, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Reposted by Ashkan Ara, MD, MPH, PhD Candidate
acr-journals.bsky.social
Meta-analysis using pooled data from 23 RCTs addressed risk of GI perforation with JAK inhibitor use in rheumatoid arthritis. JAKi therapy did not significantly increase GI perforation risk vs other therapeutic options

Arthritis Care & Research
doi.org/10.1002/acr....
#Medsky #Rheumsky
Gastrointestinal perforation as a safety concern among patients with rheumatoid arthritis on Janus kinase inhibitor therapy: A systematic review and network meta‐analysis
Objective Gastrointestinal perforation (GIP) is a rare and life-threatening safety concern associated with Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi). We aimed to review the evidence regarding the risk of GIP a...
doi.org
April 23, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Reposted by Ashkan Ara, MD, MPH, PhD Candidate
acr-journals.bsky.social
Among rheumatoid arthritis patients in the international JAK-pot registries collaboration, no evidence of increase in cardiovascular events during the 1st 2 years of JAK inhibitor use was found compared to TNF inhibitors

Arthritis & Rheumatology
doi.org/10.1002/art....
#Medsky #Rheumsky
April 22, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Reposted by Ashkan Ara, MD, MPH, PhD Candidate
kaz-yos.bsky.social
ACR & Arthritis Foundation Denounce the Dismantling of Vital Health Programs | RheumNow
ACR & Arthritis Foundation Denounce the Dismantling of Vital Health Programs | RheumNow
As organizations representing nearly 60 million adults and children living with arthritis in the United States and the rheumatologists and health care professionals who treat them, we are deeply…
rheumnow.com
April 22, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Reposted by Ashkan Ara, MD, MPH, PhD Candidate
jeremymberg.bsky.social
My quote of the day

The price of inaction is far greater than the cost of making a mistake

Eckhart von Hochheim (Meistere Eckhart) in ~1300
April 18, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Reposted by Ashkan Ara, MD, MPH, PhD Candidate
kathrynp-phd.bsky.social
@UCSF colleagues find higher than expected. Projected Lifetime Cancer Risks From Current Computed Tomography Imaging jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Projected Lifetime Cancer Risks From Current Computed Tomography Imaging
This risk model projects how many future cancers in the United States could result from annual computed tomography examinations.
jamanetwork.com
April 19, 2025 at 3:56 AM
ashkanara.bsky.social
Insightful article by Benjamin N. Rome, @akesselheim.bsky.social, & colleagues showing that from 2007 - 2021, IL inhibitors for plaque psoriasis surpassed TNF inhibitors; costs increased from $21,236 to $47,125, and using the lowest-cost options could save 44%.
#PharmacoEcon #RheumSky
April 18, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Reposted by Ashkan Ara, MD, MPH, PhD Candidate
kathrynp-phd.bsky.social
Confirms important role of @NIH funding in developing new drugs jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Comparison of Research Spending on New Drug Approvals by the NIH vs the Pharmaceutical Industry
This cross-sectional study examines National Institutes of Health and pharmaceutical industry investments in recent drug approvals.
jamanetwork.com
April 11, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Reposted by Ashkan Ara, MD, MPH, PhD Candidate
drminidey.bsky.social
Delighted to share our review on #HealthDisparities in #rheumatology management in #JointBoneSpine.

Here, we discuss aspects such as social, societal & structural barriers to care and optimal management in #RMDs, & how we may tackle them.

🔗 www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
April 12, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Reposted by Ashkan Ara, MD, MPH, PhD Candidate
natrevrheum.nature.com
New content online:
Upadacitinib effective for GCA in phase III trial
Nature Reviews Rheumatology, Published online: 15 April 2025; doi:10.1038/s41584-025-01260-7In the phase III SELECT-GCA trial, upadacitinib at a dose of 15 mg daily was superior to placebo with respect to achievement of sustained remission of giant cell arteritis at 52 weeks.
bit.ly
April 15, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Reposted by Ashkan Ara, MD, MPH, PhD Candidate
acr-journals.bsky.social
Phase 2 study evaluated zimlovisertib+ritlecitinib or tofacitinib (tofa) vs tofa alone in mod/severe RA. Zimlovisertib+tofa was more effective (change in DAS28-CRP) than tofa monotherapy. Zimlovisertib+ritlecitinib efficacy was not significant vs tofa

A&R
doi.org/10.1002/art....
#Medsky #Rheumsky
Mean change from baseline (90% CI) in (A) DAS28-CRP and (B) DAS28-ESR, and the proportion of patients with (C) DAS28-CRP remission and (D) DAS28-ESR remission for each treatment group over time. Vertical solid lines show CIs with 90% coverage. Dashed vertical lines show the timing of the primary analysis (week 12) and the last dose of treatment (week 24). CI, confidence interval; CRP, C-reactive protein; DAS28, Disease Activity Score in 28 joints; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate
April 16, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Reposted by Ashkan Ara, MD, MPH, PhD Candidate
christophmolnar.bsky.social
My stock portfolio is deep in the red, and tariffs by the Trump admin might be the cause. Could an LLM have been used to calculate them? It made me rethink how LLMs shape decisions, from big global-economy-wrecking ones to everyday decisions.
Who’s Really Making the Decisions?
LLMs, tariffs, and the silent takeover of decisions
mindfulmodeler.substack.com
April 8, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Reposted by Ashkan Ara, MD, MPH, PhD Candidate
rheumnow.bsky.social
JAK-pot study, looked at MACE risk in RA pts & found NO incr CV risk during 1st 2 yrs of JAKi (vs TNFi) use. 51233 pts; 828 MACE; in 73008 Rx courses JAK adj IRR: 0.89;0.63 to 1.25 (vs TNFi); bDMARD-OMA had higher rates (adj IRR: 1.35,1.10 to 1.66)
Incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with Janus kinase inhibitors compared to biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs: data from an international collaboration of registries (the "JAK-pot" study)
Abstract
research.manchester.ac.uk
April 7, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Reposted by Ashkan Ara, MD, MPH, PhD Candidate
acr-journals.bsky.social
The ever-expanding connections between PAD4 and rheumatoid arthritis

Editorial on the below study in A&R
doi.org/10.1002/art....

Figure: Multiple roles of PAD4 in RA pathogenesis

#Medsky #Immunosky #Rheumsky
Multiple roles of PAD4 in RA pathogenesis. A. PAD4 in neutrophils citrullinates histones as part of NETosis and also citrullinates NFkappaB p65, leading to production of TNFa and IL-1β, which have inflammatory effects on many types of immune cells. Antigens in NETs are recognized by B cells that become ACPA-producing plasma cells. B. As newly described in Won et al, anti-PAD4 antibodies bind to monocytes, inducing IL-8, MCP-1, and MIP-1β, which recruit and activate neutrophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes. The T cells produce TNFa, IFNg, and IL-17, which stimulate synovial fibroblasts and provide help to B cells. C. In macrophages, PAD4 citrullinates histones enabling METosis. Like NETs, METs are recognized by B cells that will differentiate into plasma cells that secrete ACPAs. Figure created in BioRender
April 5, 2025 at 9:44 PM
ashkanara.bsky.social
“American universities, in their recent dealings with the federal government – and with their own trustees – have repeatedly shown themselves incapable of preserving the core values of academic freedom and shared governance.”
April 6, 2025 at 7:29 AM
Reposted by Ashkan Ara, MD, MPH, PhD Candidate
zingherpolisci.bsky.social
Today, millions of Americans from all walks of life showed more backbone than the country’s fanciest universities and law firms.
April 6, 2025 at 12:34 AM
Reposted by Ashkan Ara, MD, MPH, PhD Candidate
kathrynp-phd.bsky.social
Brilliant of these authors ‪@akesselheim.bsky.social‬ et al to provide DATA on this timely issue. Disappearing Data at the U.S. Federal Government | New England Journal of Medicine www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
Disappearing Data at the U.S. Federal Government | NEJM
Starting in January 2025, various government health datasets were removed, restored, manipulated, or not posted as planned. The consequences of these changes could be far-reaching.
www.nejm.org
March 30, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Reposted by Ashkan Ara, MD, MPH, PhD Candidate
ireneblanco.bsky.social
All lupus patients should push back on GSK stopping diversity efforts. Bad enough that they didn't include enough Black patients in the Benlysta clinical trial that they had to do another one. Diversity in trial participants and scientists produces better science
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
British pharma company GSK pauses diversity work citing Trump orders
London-based FTSE 100 firm reviewing its policies, saying it is obliged to comply because US is its No 1 market
www.theguardian.com
March 16, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Reposted by Ashkan Ara, MD, MPH, PhD Candidate
stevelevitsky.bsky.social
www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
First They Came for Columbia | Opinion | The Harvard Crimson
We must learn from the past. We cannot remain silent in the face of authoritarian attacks on our peers, even if they have not yet come for us.
www.thecrimson.com
March 14, 2025 at 9:23 AM