Neglected spontaneous rupture of the Achilles tendon in elderly patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Spontaneous Achilles tendon rupture associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a very rare complication. In this report, we have experienced neglected spontaneous rupture of the Achilles tendon in 5 elderly RA patients, and report its clinical features and management. These patients had taken corticosteroids for a long time for RA control.

Complications and features after joint surgery in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with tumour necrosis factor-alpha blockers: perioperative interruption of tumour necrosis factor-alpha blockers decreases complications?

Objective: TNF-alpha blockers reportedly increase the risk of complications in rheumatic patients following surgery. Whereas deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is a significant complication after orthopaedic surgery of the lower limbs, the risk for DVT in RA patients receiving TNF blockers remains unclear. The aim of this study was to identify complications that can be attributed to the use of TNF-alpha blocker therapy.

Risk factors for wrist surgery in rheumatoid arthritis.

To assess the risk factors for wrist surgery in a cohort of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients recruited and followed prospectively for 6 years. A linked registry study was performed using information from a large observational cohort of RA patients followed at the Institute of Rheumatology, Tokyo Women's Medical University. Baseline routine clinical and laboratory assessments were recorded.

Iliopsoas bursitis-associated femoral neuropathy exacerbated after internal fixation of an intertrochanteric hip fracture in rheumatoid arthritis: a case report.

We present the case of a 63-year-old woman with a six-year history of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and a left iliopsoas bursitis. Radiography had detected destructive changes in her hip joint associated with her bursitis, and she had reported some paresthesia along the left anterior distal thigh. Her pain and numbness remained tolerable, and her disease activity was well controlled until she accidentally fell on the floor, which resulted in an unstable intertrochanteric fracture of left femur with displacement of the proximal portion.

Risk factors for total knee arthroplasty in rheumatoid arthritis.

We conducted a study to assess the predictive factors for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in a cohort of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients recruited and followed prospectively for 5 years. A linked registry study using information from a large observational cohort of RA patients followed at the Institute of Rheumatology, Tokyo Women's Medical University (IORRA) was done. Baseline routine clinical and laboratory assessments were recorded.

A case of Castleman's disease associated with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the spine.

Castleman's disease (CD), diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH), and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the spine (OPLL) are three different entities. Castleman's disease displaying a variety of calcifications in the abdomen and/or pelvis has been reported in some papers. However, there were no reports suggesting an association between CD and ossification/calcification in spine and joints.

Disturbances of the symphysis pubis in rheumatoid arthritis: report of two cases.

We present two rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients suffering from disturbances of the symphysis pubis. Radiography revealed one with pelvic ring disruption with symphysis pubis diastasis, and the other with osteolysis at both pubic rami and disruption of the superior aspect of the symphysis pubis. Both cases had received long-term corticosteroid therapy, including pulse therapy.

The serum concentration of infliximab in cases of autologous blood donation for patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Our aim was to determine whether the use of infliximab for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients is associated with an increased rate of postoperative complications. In this study we evaluated the serum concentration of infliximab to study the influence of autologous blood donation (AB donation) in patients who were administered infliximab and underwent total knee replacement (TKR). We examined five RA patients.

Acute destruction of the hip joints and rapid resorption of femoral head in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

We report three rheumatoid arthritis (RA) cases with acute destruction of hip joint and rapid resorption of femoral head. The condition occurred in less than 6 months and closely resembled rapid destructive coxarthrosis. All three patients were postmenopausal women with active RA who had been taking steroids.

Adenoviral-mediated transfer of TGF-beta1 but not IGF-1 induces chondrogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells in pellet cultures.

Objective: The objective of the present study was to investigate the potential of application of growth factor genes to induce chondrogenic differentiation of human-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). The growth factor genes evaluated in the present study were transforming growth factor 1 (TGF-beta1) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1).

Methods: Human MSCs were transduced with the adenoviral vectors carrying either TGF-beta1 or IGF-1 (AdTGF-beta1 and AdIGF-1 respectively) or a combination of both growth factor genes at different multiplicities of infection (MOI) and were then made into pellets.

[Alignment of lower extremity in rheumatoid arthritis patients with a history of both total hip replacement and total knee replacement].

Objective: The following is a retrospective study on lower extremity alignment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with a history of both Total Hip Replacement (THR) and Total Knee Replacement (TKR).

Methods: From 1992 to 2000, our department had 26 rheumatoid arthritis patients who underwent both THR and TKR. We classified these patients into three groups based on radiographic alignment of the lower extremities in the standing position: Knock-knee (valgus deformity of the knees), Bowleg (varus deformity of the knees) and Windswept Deformity (one knee in severe varus alignment with the other in severe valgus alignment).