Evolutionary model for antibiotic resistance reveals dose timing critical to care

Cleveland Clinic researchers are working to improve the way we use evolutionary modeling to understand drug resistance. The study, published in Science Advances, uses a new type of evolutionary model called a “fitness seascape” to incorporate a patient’s dosage schedule into models that predict whether an infection will develop antibiotic resistance, and has found that inconsistent timing and missing early doses can lead to treatment failure.

Synergistic drug combinations explored for systemic sclerosis vasodilation

It is known that vasculopathy plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc). Vasoactive vasodilating drugs (VVD) are an option. The most recent treatment recommendations from EULAR—The European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology—note that advances in vasculopathy management for patients with SSc emphasize a treatment continuum for the use of various VVD, but also stress the need for trials to look for potential synergistic combinations as well as high-quality real-world data to build the evidence. New data shared at the 2025 EULAR congress in Barcelona may take a step in that direction.

Studies show nurses play a critical role for people with rheumatic musculoskeletal diseases

EULAR—The European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology—believes that nurses are an important part of the health care team, especially for providing evidence-based care and endorsing shared decision-making in consultation with the patient. This is also important considering the shortage of rheumatologists in Europe, which means delegation is necessary.

The value of physical activity for people with RMD

Regular physical activity is increasingly promoted for people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMD) as well as the general population. EULAR—The European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology—has published recommendations for physical activity in people with inflammatory arthritis and osteoarthritis. There are also points to consider on helping people participate in healthy and sustainable paid work.

Heart disease and diabetes drive surge in deaths among Americans without college degrees

About 525,000 more deaths occurred among US adults in 2023 than would be expected had pre-2010 mortality trends continued. More than 90% of these deaths occurred among individuals without a bachelor’s degree and were largely caused by cardiovascular diseases, underscoring how educational attainment can influence individuals’ health opportunities and outcomes.