Antiviral immune response against HTLV-1 invalidates T-SPOT.TB results in patients with HTLV-1-positive rheumatic diseases.

Background: T-SPOT.TB, one of the screening tests for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), yields invalid results in human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-positive patients with rheumatoid arthritis. However, the detailed mechanisms behind this invalidation are unclear.

Treatment with low-dose nintedanib and tacrolimus in patients with progressive fibrosing interstitial lung diseases with anti-ARS antibody-positive dermatomyositis.

Nintedanib has been demonstrated to inhibit the rate of forced vital capacity decline in patients with progressive fibrosing interstitial lung diseases (PF-ILD) at a dose of 200 or 300 mg/day in the INBUILD trial. Although concomitant use of nintedanib with P-glycoprotein inhibitors reportedly increases the plasma concentrations of the former, tacrolimus, a P-glycoprotein inhibitor, is often used to treat connective tissue diseases-related interstitial lung diseases. The optimal dose of nintedanib in combination with tacrolimus for the treatment of PF-ILD with connective tissue disease is unknown.

Nine-year seroepidemiological study of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus infection in feral horses in Cape Toi, Japan.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a fatal zoonosis caused by ticks in East Asia. As SFTS virus (SFTSV) is maintained between wildlife and ticks, seroepidemiological studies in wildlife are important to understand the behavior of SFTSV in the environment. Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan, is an SFTS-endemic area, and approximately 100 feral horses, called Misaki horses (Equus caballus), inhabit Cape Toi in Miyazaki Prefecture.

Purification Method of Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type 1-Infected Cells without Virions.

To mediate intercellular communication, cells produce extracellular vesicles (EVs). These EVs transport many biomolecules such as proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids between cells and regulate pathophysiological actions in the recipient cell. However, EVs and virus particles produced from virus-infected cells are of similar size and specific gravity; therefore, the separation and purification of these two particles is often controversial.

Luteibacter jiangsuensis blood stream infection: a first case report.

Background: Luteibacter jiangsuensis is a gram-negative aerobic bacillus that was first isolated from soil samples at a pesticide factory in China and reported in 2011. Here, we describe the first case of L. jiangsuensis infection in human.

Coronavirus disease 2019 in a patient with pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema: An autopsy report.

Various diseases (e.g., hypertension and diabetes) are risk factors for the exacerbation of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19).

Differences in muscle magnetic resonance imaging findings between anti-signal recognition particle antibody-positive myopathy and anti-aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase antibody-positive myositis.

Objectives: To compare the findings of muscle magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) between anti-signal recognition particle antibody-positive myopathy (anti-SRP myopathy) and anti-aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase antibody-positive myositis (anti-ARS myositis).

Methods: Of the patients newly diagnosed with polymyositis (PM)/dermatomyositis (DM) and immune-mediated necrotising myopathy (IMNM) admitted to our Department between April 2012 and December 2021, those who met the eligibility criteria of positive for anti-SRP or anti-ARS antibodies and thigh MRI at the time of diagnosis were included. We compared the lesion sites and MRI findings of the thigh muscles that were classified into oedema, fascial oedema, fatty replacement, and muscle atrophy between the three groups of anti-SRP myopathy, anti-Jo-1 antibody-positive myositis, and non-Jo-1 antibody-positive myositis.

HAS-Flow May Be an Adequate Method for Evaluating Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type 1 Infected Cells in Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type 1-Positive Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Receiving Antirheumatic Therapies: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Observation Study.

The study aims to assess the usefulness of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-infected cell analysis using flow cytometry (HAS-Flow) as a monitoring method for adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) development in HTLV-1-positive patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) under treatment with antirheumatic therapies. A total of 13 HTLV-1-negative and 57 HTLV-1-positive RA patients participated in this study, which was used to collect clinical and laboratory data, including HAS-Flow and HTLV-1 proviral load (PVL), which were then compared between the two groups. CADM1 expression on CD4+ cells in peripheral blood (PB) was used to identify HTLV-1-infected cells.

Nosocomial Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome in Companion Animals, Japan, 2022.

In Japan, 2 cats that underwent surgery in a room where a sick dog had been euthanized became ill within 9 days of surgery. Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus was detected in all 3 animals; nucleotide sequence identity was 100%. Suspected cause was an uncleaned pulse oximeter probe used for all patients.

Possible Transmission of Severe Fever with the Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus to an Individual Who Buried an Infected Cat.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is caused by the severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV). Although SFTS is a fatal tick-borne zoonosis, it can infect humans without tick bite exposure. Recently, direct transmission of SFTSV from companion pets to humans has become a major problem.

Seroprevalence of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus in medium-sized wild mammals in Miyazaki, Japan.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a fatal emerging tick-borne zoonotic disease caused by the SFTS virus (SFTSV). SFTSV infection in humans and companion animals is a matter of concern in endemic areas. Various wild animals are involved in the transmission cycle of SFTSV with vector ticks.

Neutralizing mAbs against SFTS Virus Gn Protein Show Strong Therapeutic Effects in an SFTS Animal Model.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an infectious disease with a high case fatality rate caused by the SFTS virus, and currently there are no approved specific treatments. Neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against the virus could be a therapeutic agent in SFTS treatment, but their development has not sufficiently been carried out. In the present study, mouse and human mAbs exposed to the viral envelope proteins Gn and Gc (16 clones each) were characterized in vitro and in vivo by using recombinant proteins, cell culture with viruses, and an SFTS animal model with IFNAR mice.

Effect of HTLV-1 Infection on the Clinical Course of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is the causative agent of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) and HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). The effects of HTLV-1 on health are not fully elucidated. Epidemiological studies have shown that the prevalence of HTLV-1 infection is high in patients with rheumatic diseases.

Neuropsychiatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus with Cerebral Vasculitis and Lupus Nephritis Successfully Treated with High-dose Glucocorticoids and Mycophenolate Mofetil.

Neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) with cerebral vasculitis is rare, and its prognosis is unfavorable. High-dose glucocorticoids and cyclophosphamide are widely used for the treatment of NPSLE, but cyclophosphamide has a risk of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and ovarian insufficiency, which may discourage its use in young women. We experienced a case of NPSLE with cerebral vasculitis and lupus nephritis that responded successfully to glucocorticoids and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF).

Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Accompanied by Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis: An Autopsy Case.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging tickborne infectious disease in China, Korea, and Japan caused by the SFTS virus (SFTSV). SFTS has a high mortality rate due to multiorgan failure. Recently, there are several reports on SFTS patients with mycosis.

Survey of actual conditions of erythema marginatum as a prodromal symptom in Japanese patients with hereditary angioedema.

Background: Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare but life-threatening condition. HAE types I and II (HAE-1/2) result from C1-inhibitor (C1-INH) deficiency. However, recent genetic analysis has established a new type of HAE with normal C1-INH (HAEnC1-INH).

Impact of C-Reactive Protein Levels on Differentiating of Severe Fever With Thrombocytopenia Syndrome From Japanese Spotted Fever.

Background: Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging viral hemorrhagic fever in China, Korea, and Japan. Japanese spotted fever (JSF), which belongs to spotted fever group rickettsioses, is also endemic to Western Japan. Patients with SFTS and those with JSF display many of the same clinical manifestations.

Effectiveness and safety of non-tumor necrosis factor inhibitor therapy for anti-human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 antibody-positive rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: Our previous study showed that the effectiveness of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors was attenuated in anti-human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) antibody-positive patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of non-TNF inhibitors in anti-HTLV-1 antibody-positive patients with RA.

Methods: We reviewed patients with RA who received abatacept or tocilizumab as the first biologic agent.

Detection of anti-SFTSV nuclear protein antibody in the acute phase sera of patients using double-antigen ELISA and immunochromatography.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a life-threatening febrile illness that is caused by the SFTS virus (SFTSV). The diagnosis of SFTS is usually performed by detecting viral RNA. However, it has been reported that viral RNA is no longer detectable at 6-12 days after the onset of disease.