1.     Myositis: More Than Just Muscles!

·       Today's session showed us that myositis can affect more than just our muscles (who would have thought it?), and all the other manifestations are very important to treat.

·       Skin issues? Dr. Michelle Min shared some relevant info about add-on therapy with topical JAK-inhibitor cream that might help, along with a tip about tinted sunscreen for extra protection from visible light.

·       Trouble swallowing? Kendrea Garand reminded us that it's a common issue, especially for those with IBM.  We saw Rhonda Rogers (IBM, San Diego) on the big screen talking about how affects IBMers. No big breakthroughs yet, but it's important to get checked individually before trying any surgery.

2.     Predicting Lung Issues:

·       Dr. Cheilonda Johnson talked about predicting lung problems, like ILD, better.

·       She's using parameters like biomarkers/lab lung tests and different scores (age, sex, gender, MDA5, and others) to figure out who might be at greater risk. Knowledge is power, right?

3.     The Mystery of Missing Autoantibodies:

·       Ever wonder why some folks don't show certain autoantibodies? Turns out, we might just not know what they are yet!

·       We're discovering new ones all the time, like this latest one called Anti-Ly (ASyS). Science is always surprising us!

4.     Shoutout to Patient Organizations:

·       Big props to the presidents of Myositis Organizations! They're working hard to fund research and collaborate with others.

·       Our own Lynn Wilson is doing awesome work, along with others, to keep us connected and supported.

Don't forget to catch our interview with Dr. Didem Saygin. She's chatting about the challenges our community faces with clinical trials. Lots of important stuff to learn!