Beneficial use of serum ferritin and heme oxygenase-1 as biomarkers in adult-onset Still's disease: A multicenter retrospective study.

Background: Heme oxygenase (HO)-1 is a heme-degrading enzyme highly expressed in monocyte/macrophage, serum levels of which may be promising biomarker for adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD). We here report data on the use of serum ferritin and HO-1 levels in AOSD.

Methods: Under the Hypercytokinemia Study Group collaboration, we collected sera from a total of 145 AOSD patients.

Therapeutic response of patients with adult Still's disease to biologic agents: multicenter results in Japan.

Objective: The efficacy of biologics in treating adult Still's disease (ASD) is suggested, but the information is still lacking and the validation is insufficient. To determine the efficacy of several biologic agents in refractory ASD in Japan, a multicenter survey was performed.

Method: Clinical data on 16 ASD patients who had been treated with at least 1 of the biological agents (total 24 occasions) were collected retrospectively.

Phenotyping of P105-negative B cell subsets in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

This study aimed to investigate phenotype of RP105(-) B cell subsets in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Flow cytometry was used for phenotyping RP105-negaive B cell subsets. Based on CD19, RP105, and CD138 expression, RP105(-) B cells consist of at least 5 subsets of late B cells, including CD19(+)RP105(int), CD19(+) RP105(-), CD19(low) RP105(-) CD138(-), CD19(low) RP105(-)CD138(int), and CD19(low) RP105(-) CD138(++) B cells.

Interferon regulatory factor 5 is critical for the development of lupus in MRL/lpr mice.

Objective: Interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF-5) is a transcription factor that mediates intracellular signals activated by engagement of Toll-like receptors (TLRs). IRF5 polymorphisms are associated with an increased or decreased risk of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in various human populations, but the precise role of IRF5 in SLE development is not fully understood. This study was undertaken to examine the role of IRF5 in the development of murine lupus.

Functional disturbance of the stress-adaptation system in patients with scleroderma.

There have been several reports indicating the association between recent stress experiences and the onset or the exacerbation of rheumatic diseases, although few such reports exist in patients with scleroderma (SSc). The present study was performed to elucidate whether there were any functional disturbances in the neuro-endocrine-immune system as a homeostatic system upon stress in SSc patients. Various serum levels of stress-related hormones and cytokines were examined before and after a mental calculation stress test, and a basal questionnaire study of sense of coherence (SOC, which is related to the ability to cope with stress), recent stress experiences, and quality of life (QOL) was performed in 17 SSc patients and in 38 healthy volunteers.

[Influenza virus infection: clinical diagnosis and current considerations].

Point-of-care diagnosis of influenza requires sound recognition of the prevalence of the signs and symptoms of the patients, which would help to define the pattern of clinical presentation of this infection. In severely ill patients, however, clinical features of influenza could be erroneously modified by the exacerbation of co-morbid conditions, resulting in a delay of the diagnosis. Enzymatic rapid diagnostic tests, although establishing the diagnosis with positive result especially when the virus is in high circulation, has relatively poor sensitivity for the 2009 A/H1N1 virus and it varies among the different age groups.

[A case of cutaneous Mycobacterium nonchromogenicum infection suggesting sarcoidosis association].

A 67-year-old man clinically diagnosed a year earlier with sarcoidosis based on low-grade fever, lymphadenopathy, trunk skin rash, and histopathological skin tests was admitted for newly developing subcutaneous nodules on the trunk and arms and fever of 38 degrees C. Although initially suspected of recurrent sarcoidosis, he was diagnosed with Mycobacterium chromogenicum infection isolated from skin lesion culture. Combined clarithromycin of 800 mg/day, ethambutol of 750 mg/day, and embiomycin of 0.

Autoantibody-producing RP105(-) B cells, from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, showed more preferential expression of BCMA compared with BAFF-R than normal subjects.

Objective: B cells lacking RP105 produce autoantibodies in patients with SLE. Expression of B-cell activating factor (BAFF) binding receptors (BBRs) and survival of RP105(-) B cells from SLE patients were examined.

Methods: Detection of difference of gene expression between RP105(-) and RP105(+) B cells was done by DNA microarrays.

Sponsor-based evaluation of the system for the execution of clinical trial at hospitals and related issues.

With the revision of the Good Clinical Practice (GCP) in 1997, the Clinical Trial Center was established at Saga University Hospital in 1999, where clinical research coordinators (CRC) of nurses and pharmacists have been carrying out support for clinical trials since June 2000. At present, two pharmacists, two nurses, and three clerical work assistants support the execution of clinical trials; however, in recent years the number of clinical trial commissions has been gradually decreasing. On this occasion, in order to carry out even higher quality and smoother clinical trials, we conducted a questionnaire targeting the sponsors of clinical trials (head monitors) to evaluate this hospital's system for the execution of clinical trials from the sponsor's standpoint.

Toll-like receptor homolog RP105 modulates the antigen-presenting cell function and regulates the development of collagen-induced arthritis.

Introduction: RP105 is a Toll-like receptor homolog expressed on B cells, dendritic cells (DCs), and macrophages. We investigated the role of RP105 in the development of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA).

Methods: CIA was induced in RP105-deficient DBA/1 mice and the incidence and arthritis index were analyzed.

Reflux esophagitis and Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with scleroderma.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the possible effects of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in reflux esophagitis with scleroderma.

Patients And Methods: There were a total of 138 patients with scleroderma in our hospital between October 1998 and June 2005.

Nocardiosis in adult-onset Still's disease and vasculitis syndrome.

Four cases of nocardiosis in patients with adult-onset Still disease and vasculitis syndrome are presented. Three patients developed lung abscesses and 1 case developed a brain abscess. All were treated with high-dose corticosteroids, and 3 were given cyclosporine when they developed nocardiosis.

High-resolution computed tomography characterization of interstitial lung diseases in polymyositis/dermatomyositis.

Objective: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) associated with polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM) sometimes progresses rapidly and is resistant to therapy. Clinical features that forecast the prognosis of the disease remain to be elucidated. Our aim was to assess if selected clinical features and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) findings can assist in predicting the clinical course of ILD in PM/DM.

High expression of Toll-like receptor 4 on CD14+ monocytes in acute infectious diseases.

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) recognizes lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and other exogenous and endogenous molecules, and is thought to contribute to defense mechanisms against infections. Our objective was to elucidate the clinical significance of TLR4 in acute infectious diseases by analyzing its sequential expression on CD14+ monocytes. Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 36 patients with acute infectious diseases on admission and after treatment within certain intervals.

[A case of visceral larva migrans due to Toxocara canis showing varied manifestations].

A 21-year-old woman admitted for a low-grade fever, dry cough, polyarthralgia, and general fatigue was found to have elevateal accustomed to eating raw meat and cattle liver peripheral blood eosinophil counts and serum IgE. Chest X-ray imaging and computed tomography (CT) showed multiple small nodules in both lung fields. A multiple dot-ELISA assay of her serum showed that she had visceral larva migrans caused by Ascaris suum or Toxocara canis.

Antifibrotic effects of hepatocyte growth factor on scleroderma fibroblasts and analysis of its mechanism.

We investigated the effect of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) on collagen metabolism in cultured fibroblasts from scleroderma (SSc) patients and discussed the possible mechanism of its effect. Synthesis of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and collagen and mRNA levels of various cytokines were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and real-time polymerase chain reaction, respectively. Hepatocyte growth factor enhanced MMP-1 production and mRNA levels of MMP-1 and Ets-1 (a transcriptional factor of MMPs).

A functional M196R polymorphism of tumour necrosis factor receptor type 2 is associated with systemic lupus erythematosus: a case-control study and a meta-analysis.

Objectives: To perform a case-control study of a functional M196R polymorphism of tumour necrosis factor receptor type 2 (TNF-RII) in a Japanese population and a meta-analysis of all published reports on the polymorphism to investigate the association of the M196R polymorphism of TNF-RII with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: The functional M196R polymorphism of TNF-RII was genotyped by using polymerase chain reaction combined with the subsequent single-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis for screening, followed by nucleotide sequencing for confirmation. A total of 331 patients and 359 controls were subjected to a case-control study.

Pulmonary infarction as the initial manifestation of Takayasu's arteritis.

A 50-year-old woman reporting sudden-onset chest pain was diagnosed as having pulmonary infarction associated with Takayasus arteritis. She had experienced moderate malaise and cough for 3 months. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed wedge-shaped infiltrative shadows typical of pulmonary infarction in the right lung.

Smoking, drinking, sleeping habits, and other lifestyle factors and the risk of systemic lupus erythematosus in Japanese females: findings from the KYSS study.

Many risk factors have been proposed for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, there is little information about the relationship between lifestyles and SLE in Japan. Two case control studies were conducted in Kyushu, southern Japan, and in Hokkaido, northern Japan, to examine the relationship between lifestyles and development of SLE in females.