Differential effects of IL-6 blockade tocilizumab and TNF inhibitors on angiogenesis in synovial tissues from patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To compare the influences of tocilizumab (TCZ) and TNF inhibitors (TNFi) on the angiogenesis in synovial tissues of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Synovial tissues were obtained during joint operations from 13 RA patients treated with TCZ for at least 4 months with or without previous use of TNFi, from 13 RA patients with TNFi alone and from 10 RA patients with only conventional synthetic DMARDs (csDMARDs). Synovial tissues were evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin stain as well as by immunohistological staining with anti-CD31 in which the microvessel densities (MVD) were quantitated.

Spontaneously Resolved Recurrent Cervical Epidural Hematoma in a 37-Week Primigravida.

Study Design Case report. Objective To describe a patient with a recurrent spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH) during pregnancy that had spontaneous remission. Methods A 27-year-old primigravida at 37 weeks' gestation suddenly felt a strong left shoulder pain without any trauma.

Long-term safety and efficacy of treatment with subcutaneous abatacept in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis who are methotrexate inadequate responders.

Objective: To assess the long-term safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of subcutaneous (SC) abatacept in combination with methotrexate (MTX) in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis who were MTX inadequate responders, in a long-term extension (LTE) to a double-dummy, double-blind study (NCT01001832).

Methods: Patients, who had previously received SC or intravenous (IV) abatacept with MTX (6-8 mg/week) for 24 weeks, received SC abatacept (125 mg/week) with MTX for an additional 52 weeks. Safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy were assessed.

Efficacy, safety, pharmacokinetics and immunogenicity of abatacept administered subcutaneously or intravenously in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis and inadequate response to methotrexate: a Phase II/III, randomized study.

Objective: To evaluate efficacy and safety of subcutaneous (SC) and intravenous (IV) abatacept and background methotrexate (MTX) in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and inadequate response to MTX (MTX-IR).

Methods: Double-dummy, double-blind study (NCT01001832); 118 adults with ≥ 10 swollen joints, ≥ 12 tender joints and C-reactive protein (CRP) ≥ 0.8 mg/dL randomized 1:1 to SC abatacept (125 mg weekly) with IV loading (∼10 mg/kg on Day 1), or IV abatacept (∼10 mg/kg monthly) for 169 days, both also receiving MTX (6-8 mg/week).

A Fatal Case of Relapsing Pneumonia Caused by Legionella pneumophila in a Patient with Rheumatoid Arthritis After Two Injections of Adalimumab.

We present a rare fatal case of relapsing pneumonia caused by Legionella pneumophila in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis after only two injections of adalimumab. A 78-year-old Japanese woman with a 14-year history of rheumatoid arthritis was prescribed adalimumab because her disease activity remained high. However, 8 days after her second injection of adalimumab, she was admitted to our hospital and diagnosed with pneumonia caused by L.

Golimumab reduces disease activity of rheumatoid arthritis for 1 year and strongly inhibits radiographic progression in Japanese patients: partial but detailed results of the GO-FORTH and GO-MONO studies.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of golimumab (GLM) in Japanese patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for 1 year. Nineteen patients were enrolled; 9 were randomized to the placebo (PBO) + methotrexate (MTX), GLM 50 mg + MTX, or GLM 100 mg + MTX therapy group; and 10 were randomized to the PBO, GLM 50 mg, or GLM 100 mg therapy group. One patient in the GLM 100 mg + MTX therapy group with median values from the GO-FORTH study was added.

Pneumococcal polyarticular septic arthritis after a single infusion of infliximab in a rheumatoid arthritis patient: a case report.

Introduction: We present a case of Streptococcus pneumoniae polyarticular septic arthritis in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis receiving a single infusion of infliximab.

Case Presentation: A 38-year-old Japanese man with a 5-year history of seronegative rheumatoid arthritis had previously received sulphasalazine and methotrexate therapies and was on regular low-dose prednisolone therapy. Despite these treatments, his disease activity remained high and infliximab was introduced in addition to methotrexate, prednisolone, and folic acid.

The migration of a broken luque rod: a case report.

An exceedingly rare complication of Luque segmental spinal instrumentation in spinal fractures is described. A patient was treated for fractures of the eighth and ninth thoracic vertebra associated with traumatic paraplegia using Luque segmental spinal instrumentation. Ten years postoperatively, broken rods and sublaminar wires were found.

Intra-articular synovial lipoma of the knee joint (located in the lateral recess): a case report and review of the literature.

This report describes a rare intra-articular synovial lipoma of the knee joint which developed in a 66-year-old female. The patient suffered from sudden knee pain and a catching or slight interruption of normal motion of the left knee and then noticed the tumor. The tumor was located in the lateral recess of the knee joint and showed a signal intensity similar to subcutaneous fat on T1 and T2()-weighted magnetic resonance images.