Publications by authors named "Yuki Rikitake"
Article Synopsis
- Treating cryptococcosis in HIV patients is tough due to limited antifungal options and lack of approval for isavuconazole in the US and Europe.
- A case study follows a Japanese man who developed cryptococcal meningitis, relapsed after fluconazole treatment, and was later diagnosed with disseminated cryptococcosis.
- He was successfully treated with a combination of isavuconazole and liposomal amphotericin B, suggesting that isavuconazole may be a viable treatment option, warranting further clinical trials to ensure effectiveness and safety.*
Human granulocytic anaplasmosis with rash and rhabdomyolysis: A case report.
J Infect Chemother
December 2024
Article Synopsis
- Human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) is a rare tick-borne disease in Japan, with only seven reported cases, including a significant one involving a 61-year-old female farmer.
- The patient presented with symptoms like rash, fever, and rhabdomyolysis, and testing revealed elevated levels of creatinine and creatinine kinase, indicating muscle damage, alongside a tick bite.
- Despite initial treatments for suspected Japanese spotted fever, the diagnosis of HGA was confirmed through antibody detection, highlighting the need for better diagnostic systems and awareness of HGA in Japan, especially for patients with outdoor activity history.
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.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: 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.
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).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- The study focuses on assessing the clinical characteristics of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with human T-cell leukaemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection and its effects on serious infections and cancers.
- A total of 150 HTLV-1-negative and 50 HTLV-1-positive RA patients were analyzed, revealing that those with HTLV-1 had higher patient-reported health assessments despite similar inflammatory markers.
- The incidence rates of serious infections and malignancies were notably higher in HTLV-1-positive patients, suggesting that HTLV-1 infection may exacerbate RA symptoms and increase the risk of severe health issues.
Background: CD4-positive T cells are the main target of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1). Interferon-γ release assays rely on the fact that T-lymphocytes release this cytokine when exposed to tuberculosis-specific antigens and are useful in testing for latent tuberculosis infection before initiating biologic therapy, such as anti-tumor necrosis factor agents. However, the reliability of interferon-γ release assays in detecting tuberculosis infection among HTLV-1-positive patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remains unclear.
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- A 61-year-old woman with HTLV-1-associated myelopathy and interstitial pneumonia was admitted with symptoms like dry eyes, joint pain, and swelling.
- She was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren's syndrome but could not take standard treatments due to her severe respiratory and neurological conditions.
- Tocilizumab monotherapy was effective in reducing the rheumatoid arthritis activity without worsening her neurological symptoms, indicating its potential as a safe treatment option for similar patients.
Rationale: Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute febrile illness predominantly affecting children less than 5 years of age and characterized by systemic inflammation in all medium-sized arteries. Adult-onset KD (AKD) is rare with only 105 case reports published. Recently, the efficacy of infliximab (IFX) for patients with refractory KD has been demonstrated.
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