Osteogenesis and osteoclast inhibition in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with bisphosphonates alone or in combination with pitavastatin over an 18-month follow-up after more than 4 years of treatment with bisphosphonates.

Introduction: To investigate the effects of bisphosphonates (Bis) (etidronate, alendronate, and risedronate), alone and in combination with statin, on the BMD (bone mineral density) and bone metabolism of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Methods: Seventy-seven RA patients who had been receiving prednisolone (PSL) and Bis for over 4 years were divided into two groups: Bis and Bis + statin (n = 42 and 35; average age, 66.4 and 65.

Osteoclast inhibitory effects of vitamin K2 alone or in combination with etidronate or risedronate in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: 2-year results.

Objective: To investigate the effects of vitamin K2 (Vit K2) alone or in combination with etidronate and risedronate on bone loss, osteoclast induction, and inflammation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Subjects comprised 79 patients with RA who were receiving prednisolone, divided into 3 groups: Group K, Vit K2 alone; Group KE, Vit K2 plus etidronate; and Group KR, Vit K2 plus risedronate. During a 24-month treatment and followup period, levels of N-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (NTx) and bone alkaline phosphatase were measured.

Comparative study between thromboembolism and total knee arthroplasty with or without tourniquet in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Introduction: To investigate whether the occurrence of pulmonary embolism (PE) and/or deep vein thrombosis (DVT) are influenced by use of a tourniquet or not in the patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty for rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Patients And Methods: The patients were randomly divided into a with-tourniquet group (19 patients) and a without-tourniquet group (18 patients). In the first group, snowstorm-like echogenic particles were observed after deflation of the tourniquet in all patients according to the transesophageal echocardiography.

Expression and localization of vascular endothelial growth factor-C in rheumatoid arthritis synovial tissue.

Objective: Vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C), a member of the VEGF family, induces lymphangiogenesis through VEGF receptor-3 (VEGFR-3/Flt-4). We examined the expression and localization of VEGF-C to clarify its role in synovial tissues in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blot analysis, immunohistochemical staining, and in situ hybridization for VEGF-C were performed on synovial tissue specimens obtained from 10 patients with RA and 4 with osteoarthritis (OA).