Asymmetrical Damage of the Wrist Joint Induces Lateralized Cortical Bone Loss in the Metacarpal Diaphysis in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

: Osteoporosis is common in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), occurring either systemically or locally around inflamed joints. Decreased metacarpal bone density is a known marker of RA progression and hand function impairment. Although RA is generally characterized by symmetrical arthritis, some patients exhibit asymmetrical joint involvement.

Negative correlation between organ heteroplasmy, particularly hepatic heteroplasmy, and age at death revealed by post-mortem studies of m.3243A > G cases.

Mitochondrial DNA m.3243A > G mutation causes mitochondrial encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) and its associated multi-organ disorders, including diabetes. To clarify associations between m.

Urinary abnormality in mixed connective tissue disease predicts development of other connective tissue diseases and decrease in renal function.

Objective: To clarify the clinical significance of development of urinary abnormality in mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD).

Methods: Forty-one patients with an initial diagnosis of MCTD, followed at five hospitals between April 1, 2000 and December 31, 2013, were included. The relationship between urinary abnormality and various clinical parameters were retrospectively analyzed.

Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome-associated renal thrombotic microangiopathy improved not with rivaroxaban but with warfarin in a systemic lupus erythematosus patient without lupus nephritis.

A 34-year-old Japanese woman with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was admitted to our hospital for exacerbation of renal dysfunction, hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia. Twenty-two years before admission, she was diagnosed with SLE. Eight years before, lupus anticoagulant (LAC) positivity was detected without any thrombotic findings.

Contribution of HLA-DRB1 * 09: 01 allele to development of minocycline induced antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated cutaneous vasculitis: report of two cases.

We report two cases of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) that developed after long-term oral administration of minocycline and consider the contribution of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB 1 * 09: 01 allele to its development. Case 1; A 47-year-old man receiving minocycline for palmoplantar pustulosis for 24 months developed fever, arthralgia, and irregular livedo on the bilateral lower legs. Skin biopsy demonstrated vasculitis, while a blood test showed positivity of myeloperoxidase (MPO)-ANCA.

Elderly-onset Still's Disease Complicated by Macrophage Activation Syndrome: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) usually affects young adults. Some cases of elderly-onset Still's disease (EOSD) have been reported, but its clinical features are unclear. We herein report a 74-year-old woman who developed AOSD with macrophage activation syndrome (MAS).

Epidemiological analysis of multicentric and unicentric Castleman disease and TAFRO syndrome in Japan.

Castleman disease is a polyclonal lymphoproliferative disease which is clinically classified into unicentric (UCD) and multicentric (MCD). TAFRO syndrome is a relatively new concept that partly overlaps with MCD. Due to their rarity, their incidence remains unknown.

Changes in serum interleukin-6 levels as possible predictor of efficacy of tocilizumab treatment in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the association between the change in serum IL-6 during the clinical course of tocilizumab (TCZ) therapy and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease activity or occurrence of adverse events.

Methods: General laboratory data including serum IL-6 levels and physical findings were obtained every 4 weeks, and, in addition, at the time when any adverse events occurred.

Results: The proportion achieving Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) remission at 52 weeks was significantly lower in 20 patients with serum IL-6 ≥ 30 pg/ml at 12 weeks than 24 patients with serum IL-6 < 30 pg/ml.

Apparent diffusion coefficient map based on diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging is useful in diagnosing the brainstem variant of reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome with uremia.

A 54-year-old Japanese man entered our hospital for investigation of appetite loss. His blood pressure was 201/113 mmHg, and laboratory findings revealed renal failure and hyponatremia. On physical examination, disorientation and dysarthria were observed.

Late onset of cholesterol crystal embolism after thrombolysis for cerebral infarction.

A 73-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of bilateral foot pain. He was treated with thrombolysis for cerebral infarction about 5 months ago. Anticoagulants had not been used because of hemorrhagic infarction.

Fatal cytomegalovirus infection with CD4+ T-lymphocytopenia during corticosteroid therapy for bronchial asthma.

An 80-year-old woman was admitted with dyspnea. She had been treated with oral prednisolone for bronchial asthma. She was intravenously treated with dexamethasone.

Impact of inflow reduction of arteriovenous fistula on systemic hemodynamics in a patient with high-output heart failure during hemodialysis: A case report.

A 68-year-old woman was admitted with dyspnea. The patient had been treated with hemodialysis for renal failure for 11 years. On admission, chest X-ray showed pulmonary edema.

Aortoesophageal fistula following nasogastric tube placement.

A 78-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of fresh cerebral infarction. She had been diagnosed as having rheumatoid arthritis, but had not been treated for 50 years. She could not take in sufficient food.

A case of immunoglobulin G4-related chronic sclerosing sialadenitis and dacryoadenitis associated with tuberculosis.

We describe a 64-year-old woman with chronic sclerosing sialadenitis and dacryoadenitis, which developed during treatment for cervical lymph node tuberculosis. Anti-tuberculosis treatment did not improve the swelling in the lacrimal and submandibular glands, and a biopsy specimen of the lacrimal gland showed inflammation, with abundant lymphoid follicles with fibrosis and granuloma without caseous necrosis. Immunohistological examination of a repeat biopsy specimen showed abundant immunoglobulin (Ig) G4-positive plasma cell infiltration.

Bilateral total knee arthroplasty after spontaneous osseous ankylosis in rheumatoid arthritis.

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) was carried out on both knee joints for spontaneous bony ankylosis due to rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Preoperative fixation angles were 40 degrees . First, the peroneal nerve was released prior to TKA.

Crow-Fukase syndrome associated with high-output heart failure.

A 64-year-old woman was admitted with systemic edema and exertional dyspnea. High-output heart failure was diagnosed by right heart catheterization and she was treated with diuretics. After 3 weeks, her symptoms disappeared but a high cardiac output state persisted.