Objective: To identify factors associated with the absence of cervical spine instability in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: Cervical spine instability was defined as the presence of at least one of the following: atlantoaxial subluxation, vertical subluxation of the axis, or subaxial subluxation. In 2001–2002, 634 enrolled outpatients with “classical” or “definite” RA underwent a radiographic cervical spine checkup. In 2012–2013, 233 (36.8%) prospectively underwent routine clinical follow-ups with a >10-year radiographic evaluation. The prevalence and independent predictive factors for no instability were analyzed by multivariable logistic regression. Next, 85 of 292 outpatients (29.1%) without baseline cervical spine instability completed consecutive >5-year and >10-year radiographic examinations. The incidence and predictors for no new development of instability were assessed similarly. Results: Among 233 patients, those without cervical spine instability decreased from 114 (48.9%) to 47 (20.2%) during >10 years. Steinbrocker peripheral joint destruction stages I–II (odds ratio [OR], 3.797; p=0.001), no corticosteroid administration (OR, 2.700; p=0.007), and no previous joint surgery (OR, 2.480; p=0.020) were predictors for no instability. Then, 33 of 85 (38.8%) consecutively followed patients without baseline cervical spine lesions did not develop instability throughout. Steinbrocker stages I–II (OR, 5.355; p=0.005) and no corticosteroid therapy (OR, 3.868; p=0.010) were predictors for no new onset of instability. C-reactive protein (CRP) level≤1.0 mg/dL was marginal in both models (n=233 [OR, 2.013; p=0.057], n=85 [OR, 2.453; p=0.075]). Conclusion Steinbrocker stages I–II, no corticosteroids, no previous joint surgery, and possibly CRP ≤1.0 mg/dL are factors associated with >10-year absence of cervical spine instability in RA.

Objective: To identify factors associated with the absence of cervical spine instability in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: Cervical spine instability was defined as the presence of at least one of the following: atlantoaxial subluxation, vertical subluxation of the axis, or subaxial subluxation. In 2001–2002, 634 enrolled outpatients with “classical” or “definite” RA underwent a radiographic cervical spine checkup. In 2012–2013, 233 (36.8%) prospectively underwent routine clinical follow-ups with a >10-year radiographic evaluation. The prevalence and independent predictive factors for no instability were analyzed by multivariable logistic regression. Next, 85 of 292 outpatients (29.1%) without baseline cervical spine instability completed consecutive >5-year and >10-year radiographic examinations. The incidence and predictors for no new development of instability were assessed similarly. Results: Among 233 patients, those without cervical spine instability decreased from 114 (48.9%) to 47 (20.2%) during >10 years. Steinbrocker peripheral joint destruction stages I–II (odds ratio [OR], 3.797; p=0.001), no corticosteroid administration (OR, 2.700; p=0.007), and no previous joint surgery (OR, 2.480; p=0.020) were predictors for no instability. Then, 33 of 85 (38.8%) consecutively followed patients without baseline cervical spine lesions did not develop instability throughout. Steinbrocker stages I–II (OR, 5.355; p=0.005) and no corticosteroid therapy (OR, 3.868; p=0.010) were predictors for no new onset of instability. C-reactive protein (CRP) level≤1.0 mg/dL was marginal in both models (n=233 [OR, 2.013; p=0.057], n=85 [OR, 2.453; p=0.075]). Conclusion Steinbrocker stages I–II, no corticosteroids, no previous joint surgery, and possibly CRP ≤1.0 mg/dL are factors associated with >10-year absence of cervical spine instability in RA.

Objective: To identify factors associated with the absence of cervical spine instability in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: Cervical spine instability was defined as the presence of at least one of the following: atlantoaxial subluxation, vertical subluxation of the axis, or subaxial subluxation. In 2001–2002, 634 enrolled outpatients with “classical” or “definite” RA underwent a radiographic cervical spine checkup. In 2012–2013, 233 (36.8%) prospectively underwent routine clinical follow-ups with a >10-year radiographic evaluation. The prevalence and independent predictive factors for no instability were analyzed by multivariable logistic regression. Next, 85 of 292 outpatients (29.1%) without baseline cervical spine instability completed consecutive >5-year and >10-year radiographic examinations. The incidence and predictors for no new development of instability were assessed similarly. Results: Among 233 patients, those without cervical spine instability decreased from 114 (48.9%) to 47 (20.2%) during >10 years. Steinbrocker peripheral joint destruction stages I–II (odds ratio [OR], 3.797; p=0.001), no corticosteroid administration (OR, 2.700; p=0.007), and no previous joint surgery (OR, 2.480; p=0.020) were predictors for no instability. Then, 33 of 85 (38.8%) consecutively followed patients without baseline cervical spine lesions did not develop instability throughout. Steinbrocker stages I–II (OR, 5.355; p=0.005) and no corticosteroid therapy (OR, 3.868; p=0.010) were predictors for no new onset of instability. C-reactive protein (CRP) level≤1.0 mg/dL was marginal in both models (n=233 [OR, 2.013; p=0.057], n=85 [OR, 2.453; p=0.075]). Conclusion Steinbrocker stages I–II, no corticosteroids, no previous joint surgery, and possibly CRP ≤1.0 mg/dL are factors associated with >10-year absence of cervical spine instability in RA.

Objective: To identify factors associated with the absence of cervical spine instability in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: Cervical spine instability was defined as the presence of at least one of the following: atlantoaxial subluxation, vertical subluxation of the axis, or subaxial subluxation. In 2001–2002, 634 enrolled outpatients with “classical” or “definite” RA underwent a radiographic cervical spine checkup. In 2012–2013, 233 (36.8%) prospectively underwent routine clinical follow-ups with a >10-year radiographic evaluation. The prevalence and independent predictive factors for no instability were analyzed by multivariable logistic regression. Next, 85 of 292 outpatients (29.1%) without baseline cervical spine instability completed consecutive >5-year and >10-year radiographic examinations. The incidence and predictors for no new development of instability were assessed similarly. Results: Among 233 patients, those without cervical spine instability decreased from 114 (48.9%) to 47 (20.2%) during >10 years. Steinbrocker peripheral joint destruction stages I–II (odds ratio [OR], 3.797; p=0.001), no corticosteroid administration (OR, 2.700; p=0.007), and no previous joint surgery (OR, 2.480; p=0.020) were predictors for no instability. Then, 33 of 85 (38.8%) consecutively followed patients without baseline cervical spine lesions did not develop instability throughout. Steinbrocker stages I–II (OR, 5.355; p=0.005) and no corticosteroid therapy (OR, 3.868; p=0.010) were predictors for no new onset of instability. C-reactive protein (CRP) level≤1.0 mg/dL was marginal in both models (n=233 [OR, 2.013; p=0.057], n=85 [OR, 2.453; p=0.075]). Conclusion Steinbrocker stages I–II, no corticosteroids, no previous joint surgery, and possibly CRP ≤1.0 mg/dL are factors associated with >10-year absence of cervical spine instability in RA.

Objective: To identify factors associated with the absence of cervical spine instability in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: Cervical spine instability was defined as the presence of at least one of the following: atlantoaxial subluxation, vertical subluxation of the axis, or subaxial subluxation. In 2001–2002, 634 enrolled outpatients with “classical” or “definite” RA underwent a radiographic cervical spine checkup. In 2012–2013, 233 (36.8%) prospectively underwent routine clinical follow-ups with a >10-year radiographic evaluation. The prevalence and independent predictive factors for no instability were analyzed by multivariable logistic regression. Next, 85 of 292 outpatients (29.1%) without baseline cervical spine instability completed consecutive >5-year and >10-year radiographic examinations. The incidence and predictors for no new development of instability were assessed similarly. Results: Among 233 patients, those without cervical spine instability decreased from 114 (48.9%) to 47 (20.2%) during >10 years. Steinbrocker peripheral joint destruction stages I–II (odds ratio [OR], 3.797; p=0.001), no corticosteroid administration (OR, 2.700; p=0.007), and no previous joint surgery (OR, 2.480; p=0.020) were predictors for no instability. Then, 33 of 85 (38.8%) consecutively followed patients without baseline cervical spine lesions did not develop instability throughout. Steinbrocker stages I–II (OR, 5.355; p=0.005) and no corticosteroid therapy (OR, 3.868; p=0.010) were predictors for no new onset of instability. C-reactive protein (CRP) level≤1.0 mg/dL was marginal in both models (n=233 [OR, 2.013; p=0.057], n=85 [OR, 2.453; p=0.075]). Conclusion Steinbrocker stages I–II, no corticosteroids, no previous joint surgery, and possibly CRP ≤1.0 mg/dL are factors associated with >10-year absence of cervical spine instability in RA.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To confirm the feasibility of using newly developed endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) with Zone sonography(TM) technology (ZST; Fujifilm Corp.). METHODS: Seventy-five patients with pancreatic disorders were enrolled: 45 with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm; 15 with ductal carcinoma; five with neuroendocrine tumors; three with serous cystic neoplasms; and seven with simple cysts. The endoscopes used were EG-530UR2 and EG-530UT2 (Fujifilm Corp.). Two items were evaluated: visualization depth among four frequencies and image quality after automatic adjustment of sound speed (AASS), assessed using a 5-scale Likert scale by two endosonographers blinded to disease status. Because sound speed could be manually controlled, besides AASS, image quality at sound speeds of 1,440 and 1,600 m/sec were also assessed. RESULTS: In all cases, sufficient images were obtained in the range of 3 cm from the EUS probe. Judgments of image quality before AASS were 3.49+/-0.50, 3.65+/-0.48, respectively. After AASS, A and B scored 4.36+/-0.48 and 4.40+/-0.49 (p<0.0001). There were significant differences in the data before and after AASS and plus 60 m/sec, but no significant difference between the datasets were seen after AASS and at sound speeds manually set for minus 100 m/sec. CONCLUSIONS: EUS with ZST was shown to be feasible in this preliminary experiment. Further evaluation of this novel technology is necessary and awaited.
Endoscopes ; Endosonography ; Humans ; Judgment ; Mucins ; Pancreatic Diseases