Coexistence of anti-KS and anti-TIF1-γ antibodies in clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis presenting with rapid progression of interstitial lung disease.

Polymyositis/Dermatomyositis (PM/DM) is an idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) manifesting mainly as symmetrical proximal muscle weakness and/or typical cutaneous features due to autoimmune mechanisms. Clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM) is a subset of DM that exhibits only the typical cutaneous features without any clinical muscle symptoms. Several autoantibodies have been found specifically in patients with PM/DM, including CADM patients.

Early Initiation of Plasma Exchange Therapy for Anti-MDA5Dermatomyositis with Refractory Rapidly Progressive Interstitial Lung Disease.

Objectives Dermatomyositis (DM) is often associated with fatal anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) antibody-positive rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (RP-ILD). RP-ILD often fails to respond to intensive treatment and has a poor prognosis. We examined the effectiveness of early plasma exchange therapy plus intensive treatment with high-dose corticosteroids and multiple immunosuppressants.

Temperature and time after urine collection affect the detection of phenethylamine, a substance prohibited in sports.

2-Phenylethylamine (phenethylamine) and its derivatives are stimulant drugs, which are prohibited in sports because of their potential performance-enhancing properties. If phenethylamine is detected in an athlete's urine, the athlete may be subjected to serious sanctions, such as disqualification for both domestic and international competitions. Given the serious consequences athletes face for phenethylamine detection, great care should be taken to avoid false positive tests.

New aspects of clinical and immunological characteristics in patients with anti-asparaginyl tRNA synthetase (anti-KS) autoantibody.

Objectives: Anti-asparaginyl tRNA synthetase (anti-KS) antibody is present in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) accompanied by polymyositis/dermatomyositis. We examined clinical/immunological features of these patients.

Methods: Polymyositis/dermatomyositis or ILD patients were screened for autoantibodies, and clinical/immunological data were collected retrospectively.

Changes in the levels of α-actinin-4 in differentiating human myeloid leukemia cells induced by retinoic acid.

Retinoic acid (RA) induces granulocytic differentiation and inhibits the growth of human promyelocytic leukemia HL60 cells. α-Actinin-4 is a member of the α-actinin family, which exhibits unique mechanosensory regulation. Herein, we elucidated the effects of RA on α-actinin-4 expression during cell differentiation.

Early initiation of plasma exchange therapy for a patient with anti-MDA5 autoantibody-positive dermatomyositis developing rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease.

Dermatomyositis (DM) is a categorised as one of idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) indicated by symmetrical proximal muscle weakness as well as characteristic cutaneous manifestations typical of DM. Clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM), a subtype of DM, shows only the skin involvement without any clinical signs of myositis. This condition is often associated with fatal anti-MDA5 antibody-positive rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (RP-ILD), especially in Eastern Asian populations.

A Fatal Case of Poisoning with Fentanyl Transdermal Patches in Japan.

Fentanyl transdermal patches have been used to treat cancer- and noncancer-related chronic pain. However, its inappropriate or illegal application may cause fatal poisoning. We herein present the case of a Japanese woman in her 40s who was found dead with seven 25-μg/h fentanyl transdermal patches on her body.

Forensic analysis using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with solid-phase extraction of α-solanine and α-chaconine in whole blood.

Purpose: The potato glycoalkaloids (PGAs), α-solanine and α-chaconine can exert adverse effects on human health when consumed in excess. This study aimed to investigate the optimal extraction method for the quantitative analysis of PGAs in whole blood by using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) and to apply this validated method to postmortem blood.

Methods: A total of 200 µL of human whole blood was prepared for PGA extraction.

A Case of Dermatomyositis and Anti-EJ Autoantibody with Chronic Intestinal Pseudoobstruction Successfully Treated with Octreotide.

Chronic intestinal pseudoobstruction (CIPO) is a serious complication in patients with connective tissue disease (CTD) and is sometimes life-threatening or fatal despite intensive medical treatment. Here, we report a patient with dermatomyositis (DM) and anti-EJ autoantibody who developed CIPO that was improved by octreotide. Because her abdominal pain and bloatedness were so severe and persistent, we introduced octreotide to relieve symptoms.

A case of sarcoidosis with interstitial lung disease mimicking clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis and rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease.

Here, we report a patient with sarcoidosis who developed edematous erythema and interstitial lung disease. At the initial visit, clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM) with rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (RP-ILD) was suspected because he had progressive dyspnea but no muscle weakness. The presence of anti-CADM-140/MDA5 autoantibodies was immediately assessed to facilitate a precise diagnosis, with negative results.

A case of rheumatoid arthritis and limited systemic sclerosis overlap successfully treated with tocilizumab for arthritis and concomitant generalized lymphadenopathy and primary biliary cirrhosis.

A 57-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and limited systemic sclerosis (lSSc) was suspected to have lymphadenopathy and primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). Lymph node biopsy showed reactive follicular lymphadenopathy with intrafollicular plasmacyte infiltration that was interleukin-6 positive by immunohistostaining. Because of gradually worsening arthritis, tocilizumab was administered and arthritis improved markedly.

A novel case of nocardiosis with skin lesion due to Nocardia araoensis.

Nocardiosis is caused by gram-positive aerobic actinomycetes that live in soil and are known to be responsible for opportunistic infections. The condition mostly affects the lung, brain or skin. Here, we present a 24-year-old Japanese woman who had had systemic lupus erythematosus since the age of 20 years, and lupus nephritis since the age of 23 years.

[Benefits and risks of glucocorticoid therapy for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and management of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis].

More than 50 years have passed since glucocorticoid (GC) therapy was introduced into the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) . Although the effect of GC monotherapy on RA is limited to short-term and long-term GC treatment carries the risks of adverse effects and rebound phenomenon after the discontinuation, disease-modifying action of GC have been recently reported when used in combination with DMARDs. One of the important side effects associated with GC therapy is osteoporosis, and Japanese guidelines on the management and treatment of glucocorticoid -induced osteoporosis have been published recently.

Direct electrochemistry of engineered cytochrome b562 molecules with a ligand binding pocket.

The rapid and reversible electron transfer reaction of cytochrome b562 was observed at an In2O3 electrode. The estimated heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant (k0') was k0' > or = 5.0 x 10(-3) cm s(-1) at pH 6.

[Inhibition of joint destruction by methotrexate].

Methotrexate (MTX) plays an important role in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It significantly reduce expected radiographic progression. Comparing with other traditional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), MTX slow radiographic progression during the first 2 years.

Notable deuterium effect on the electron transfer rate of myoglobin.

The electron transfer reaction of wild-type myoglobin at an electrode was significantly facilitated in a D2O buffer as compared with that in an H2O buffer, with k(0)'(H2O)/k(0)'(D2O)= 0.13, while a minimal deuterium kinetic isotope effect on the myoglobin with modification at distal histidine (His-64) was observed.

Functional evaluation of heme vinyl groups in myoglobin with symmetric protoheme isomers.

We replaced protoheme-IX in native myoglobin with the symmetric protohemes-III and -XIII, in order to investigate the role of heme vinyl-globin contacts on Mb function. The UV-visible spectra and the resonance Raman spectra in the high-frequency region (containing oxidation, spin, and coordination state marker lines) of the two reconstituted Mbs were very similar. However, the signal intensity of the Soret band in the CD spectra and the resonance Raman lines for vinyl bending modes in the low-frequency region notably differed, thereby reflecting altered heme peripheral contacts.