[Henoch-Schönlein purpura developed after radical cystectomy].

We report a case of Henoch-Schönlein purpura that developed after radical cystectomy. The patient was a 70-year-old man who visited our hospital with a chief complaint of asymptomatic macroscopic hematuria and was diagnosed with invasive bladder cancer. After providing one course of gemcitabine and cisplatin therapy as neoadjuvant chemotherapy, radical cystectomy was performed.

[The use of negative pressure wound therapy to treat wound necrosis and groin lymphorrhea after inguinal lymph nodes dissection: a case report].

Wound necrosis and groin lymphorrhea after inguinal lymph nodes dissection are serious complications. But treatment options for these complications are somewhat controversial. We report a patient who underwent an inguinal lymph node dissection for a regional metastasized squamous cell carcinoma of penis.

Use of musculoskeletal ultrasound in Japan: a survey of practicing rheumatologists.

We aimed to describe how often Japanese rheumatologists currently use musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS), and how they are currently being trained in the use of this imaging technique. Questionnaires were sent to 200 Japanese rheumatologists: 100 to participants attending the first Scientific Meeting of the Japanese Society of Imaging in Rheumatic Diseases in 2006, and 100 to other randomly selected rheumatologists certified by the Japan College of Rheumatology. A total of 139 questionnaires (74 from meeting participants, 65 from randomly selected rheumatologists) were completed and analyzed.

Therapeutic angiogenesis in patients with systemic sclerosis by autologous transplantation of bone-marrow-derived cells.

We examined the efficacy and safety of autologous transplantation of bone-marrow-derived cells in patients with intractable ulcers caused by systemic sclerosis. Eight patients with ulcers resistant to treatment were enrolled. Bone marrow cells were gathered from the bilateral iliac crests with multiple repositioning bone marrow needles, and bone-marrow-derived mononuclear cells were isolated and injected into skeletal muscles of the ischemic limb.

Laser treatment of 26 Japanese patients with Mongolian spots.

Background: Mongolian spots are congenital hyperpigmented areas of varying size and shape and are usually confluent grayish-blue in color. They are found most frequently in the sacral region and typically disappear during childhood. Occasionally, they persist to adulthood.

Net positive charge of HIV-1 CRF01_AE V3 sequence regulates viral sensitivity to humoral immunity.

The third variable region (V3) of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope gp120 subunit participates in determination of viral infection coreceptor tropism and host humoral immune responses. Positive charge of the V3 plays a key role in determining viral coreceptor tropism. Here, we examined by bioinformatics, experimental, and protein modelling approaches whether the net positive charge of V3 sequence regulates viral sensitivity to humoral immunity.

Treatment of 153 Japanese patients with Q-switched alexandrite laser.

We have recently used Q-switched alexandrite laser for the treatment of various kinds of pigmented skin lesions. We retrospectively compared therapeutic outcomes of 153 Japanese patients who consulted our department. This approach was not very efficient for nevus spilus/café-au-lait spots, which seemed laser-resistant, especially when the pigmentation had appeared after 1 year of age, was treated after 5 years of age, was located on the face, was oval with a smooth border, and the patient was male.

A case of systemic lupus erythematosus complicated with pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis.

Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis (PCI), which is characterized by the presence of multiple gas-filled mucosal, submucosal, or subserosal cysts located throughout the colon and/or small intestine, is an unusual complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We report a case of a 33-year-old woman with a 5-year history of SLE with PCI. Her symptoms improved with conservative management.

Evaluation of the treatment of port-wine stains with the 595-nm long pulsed dye laser: a large prospective study in adult Japanese patients.

Background: Treatments of port-wine stains with conventional pulsed dye laser yield inconsistent results.

Objective: We evaluated the efficacy and safety of the longer pulse duration 595-nm dye laser.

Methods: Sixty-six adult Japanese patients were enrolled in this prospective study.

Risk factors for major limb amputations in diabetic foot gangrene patients.

We analyzed the clinical picture of diabetic foot lesion patients to investigate the risk factors for major limb amputations. The subjects were 210 diabetic foot lesion patients treated at our department over the past 9 years. The mean follow-up period was 604.

Increased serum HO-1 in hemophagocytic syndrome and adult-onset Still's disease: use in the differential diagnosis of hyperferritinemia.

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), an inducible heme-degrading enzyme, is expressed by macrophages and endothelial cells in response to various stresses. Because ferritin synthesis is stimulated by Fe2+, which is a product of heme degradation, we examined the relation between HO-1 and ferritin levels in the serum of patients with hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS), adult-onset Still's disease (ASD), and other diseases that may cause hyperferritinemia. Seven patients with HPS, 10 with ASD, 73 with other rheumatic diseases, 20 with liver diseases, 10 recipients of repeated blood transfusion because of hematological disorders, and 22 healthy volunteers were enrolled.

Chronic active EB virus infection complicated with IgG3 subclass deficiency: an adult case treated with intravenous immunoglobulin and IFN-alpha.

A 60-year-old man presented with recurrent genital and oral ulcers, necrotic papules on his face and scalp, spiking fever and indurated skin erythema on the trunk. A diagnosis of chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection and IgG3 subclass deficiency was made, and he was supplemented by intravenous gammaglobulin injection. The spiking fever was resistant to treatment, but the addition of systemic interferon-alpha therapy was partially effective in treating his clinical symptoms, although the patient eventually died from pulmonary effusions and cardiac insufficiency.

Therapeutic effect of CpG motifs on the development of chronic graft-versus-host disease in mice.

Transferring DBA/2 spleen cells into (C57BL/10xDBA/2) F1 (referred to as BDF1) mice induces a chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), characterized by the production of Th(2) cytokines, hypergammaglobulinemia, and immune complex-mediated glomerulonephritis that resembles systemic lupus erythematosus. DNA motif consisting of an unmethylated CpG dinucleotide flanked by two 5' purines and two 3' pyrimidines (CpG ODN) induces Th(1) cytokine production in mice. This study examines the effect of administering CpG ODN to mice undergoing chronic GVHD, based on the premise that altering Th(1)/Th(2) activity might beneficially impact on disease progression.

[Difference in the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by internists and orthopedists: a survey at the 44th annual meeting of Japan Rheumatism Association in 2000].

Objective And Methods: One of the reasons of the wide variation in the management of RA in Japan might be due to the different behaviors between internists and orthopedists. To investigate this possibility, a survey was done at the 44th annual meeting of Japan Rheumatism Association in 2000.

Results: Four hundred and ninety clinicians responded to our survey, including 212 internists and 252 orthopedists, respectively.

[How Japanese clinicians treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA): a survey at the 44th annual meeting of Japan Rheumatism Association in 2000].

Objective And Methods: To gain insight into the current management of RA in Japan, a survey was done at the 44th annual meeting of Japan Rheumatism Association in 2000.

Results: Four hundred and ninety clinicians responded to our survey, including 212 internists and 252 orthopedists, respectively. In the management of RA, there was a wide difference between their present behaviors and the ideal way they believe.