BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to identify the characteristics of appendicular lean mass (ALM) associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to analyze appendicular tissue components in patients with RA. METHODS: We prospectively reviewed of patients with RA who underwent dual energy X-ray absorptiometry in a single center. From data of 28 patients, ALM was calculated. Regression analysis was used to investigate the association between ALM and RA. Using propensity score matching, patients with RA were compared to the control group from 18,698 patients of Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys data. RA and control group were matched in a 1: 5, respectively. RESULTS: In regression model, there was significantly negative association between disease activity score and ALM index in patients with RA in unadjusted (β=−0.387, 95% confidence interval [CI], −0.729 to −0.045) and model adjusted for age, sex, and body mass index (β=−0.227, 95% CI, −0.451 to −0.003). In matching with age and sex, the arms fat mass and fat fraction of RA group were significantly lower than that of control group. In matching with age, sex, and body mass index, the ALM index and legs lean mass of RA group were significantly higher than control group. CONCLUSIONS Patients with RA have a lower ALM with higher disease activity. In addition, we found that patients with RA had different tissue component in arms and legs compared to general population.

BACKGROUND: Patients with non-Q wave myocardial infarction tend to have smaller infarcts and less degree of ventricular function impairment initially, however, uncomplicated non-Q wave infarctions are known to be as serious as Q wave myocardal infarction due to residual myocardal ischemia and higher reinfarction rate. METHODS: Inorder to compare the clinical and coronary angiographic findings of Q wave infarction with those of non-Q wave infarction. 58 partients with acute myocardial infarction were reviewed retrospectively. Patients were classified into Q wave(n=45) and non-Q wave infarction(n=13) according to electrocardiographic findings. RESULTS: 1) There were no significant differences between the two groups in risk factors of coronary artery disease such as hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, smoking and diabets mellitus. 2) The peak myocardial enzyme levels of CPK, CPK-MB were significantly higher in the Q wave MI group, and the percentage of wall motion abnormality on two-dimensional echocardiography was significantly higher in Q wave MI than in the non-Q wave MI group. 3) The number of involved vessel, degree of stenosis and collateral circulation were not different but high degree of stenosis of infarct-related artery was more frequent in Q wave MI group. 4) There were no significant differences between the two groups in the incidence of arrhythmia and in-hospital mortality. CONCLUSION: There were some differences in clinical and angiographic findings, but in-hospital mortality was not significant different between two groups. Futher prospective studies should be performed to clarify the long term prognosis.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Arteries ; Collateral Circulation ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Echocardiography ; Electrocardiography ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Infarction ; Ischemia ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Ventricular Function

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is categorized as vasculitis of the large and medium-sized vessels. Visual loss is one potential consequence of cranial arteritis. Temporal artery biopsies are performed frequently to demonstrate the involvement of arteritis. On the other hand, cerebral artery involvement with pathological findings is not well documented in patients with GCA. We report a rare case of GCA with cerebral vessel involvement in a 76-year-old woman.
Aged ; Arteritis ; Biopsy* ; Brain* ; Cerebral Arteries ; Female ; Giant Cell Arteritis* ; Giant Cells* ; Hand ; Humans ; Temporal Arteries ; Vasculitis

Sarcoidosis is an idiopathic, systemic, noncascating, granulomatous disease with protean clinical manifestations. Although the first description of sarcoidosis is attributed to Hutchinson, its ocular features received little attention until 1936 when Heerfordt's syndrome of uveitis, salivary gland enlargement, and cranial nerve palsies was recognized as a sign of sarcoidosis. The incidence and prevalence of sarcoidosis vary widely between countries and among ethnic groups within a country. The types of ocular abnormalities encountered were classified into three categories (1) anterior segment disease (2) posterior segment disease (3) orbital and other disease. Anterior segment structures were affected most often. Chronic granulomatous uveitis was the most common ocular manifestation of sarcoidosis. We have experienced a 25 year old male who had uveitis, vitreous hemorrhage over the optic disc and peripheral retina and hilar lymphadenopathy. In the course of corticosteroid treatment, uveitis and vitreous hemorrhage were subsided gradually, leaving the peripapillary glial proliferations.
Adult ; Cranial Nerve Diseases ; Ethnic Groups ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Male ; Orbit ; Prevalence ; Retina ; Salivary Glands ; Sarcoidosis* ; Uveitis* ; Vitreous Hemorrhage*

OBJECTIVE: Uveitis is the most common extra-articular manifestation occurring in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). This study examined the characteristics of uveitis in patients with AS using a questionnaire survey. METHODS: A questionnaire-based survey was given to patients enrolled in an AS registry at a rheumatology clinic in a tertiary hospital between September 2015 and December 2015. The patients responded to several questions and sub-questions related to uveitis. RESULTS: A total of 750 patients participated in the survey. The number of patients diagnosed with uveitis in the ophthalmology department was 218 (29%). The most common symptoms in patients with uveitis were ocular injection (61%), eye pain (54%), and decreased visual acuity (51%). Interestingly, 91 of the 532 patients (17%) who had not been diagnosed with uveitis before also experienced similar symptoms, such as tearing, ocular injection, and eye pain. The number of patients who experienced a flare of uveitis more than once a year was 109 (50%), and 124 patients with uveitis responded that the treatment of AS had no significant effect on the prevention of uveitis recurrence. CONCLUSION: The clinical characteristics of uveitis that patients experience was investigated through surveys. Because uveitis in patients with AS is not well diagnosed and treated, active screening for suspected symptoms and the prevention of a recurrence is needed.
Eye Pain ; Humans ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Ophthalmology ; Recurrence ; Rheumatology ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tears ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Uveitis ; Visual Acuity

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by endothelial and fibroblast dysfunction, resulting in progressive fibrosis of the skin and internal organs. Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is an arthritic condition affecting the axial skeleton and peripheral joints. An association between SSc and AS is relatively rare, as the two diseases share few characteristics. Here, we present a case of limited SSc in a 44-year-old man who exhibited low-grade AS, and discuss several cases of coexisting SSc and AS in the literature. Patients with both diseases showed several common features, including male predominance, middle age, and combined interstitial lung disease. However, unlike our case, the patients reported in the literature had advanced ankylosis and diffuse SSc.
Adult ; Ankylosis ; Fibroblasts ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Joints ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pleural Effusion* ; Scleroderma, Systemic* ; Skeleton ; Skin ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing*

Background/Aims: Biologics are very effective drugs for patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). However, there are patients who are not responding to biologics. This study aimed to evaluate the level of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-23, and IL-17 from synovial fluid in patients with AS and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and differences of the level of those cytokines according to drugs. Methods: Synovial fluid was obtained from 34 patients (42 samples) with AS and 45 patients (47 samples) with RA with active arthritis of the knee, and the cytokine levels were measured. The differences in the levels between patients treated with and without biologics (biologics and non-biologics groups, respectively) were analyzed in AS and RA. The correlations between cytokines were examined in the non-biologics and biologics groups. Results: The TNF-α level in AS was significantly lower than that in RA (p = 0.016). The IL-17 and IL-23 levels were not different between AS and RA (p = 0.409 and p = 0.562, respectively). In AS and RA, TNF-α, IL-17, and IL-23 showed good correlation among each other in the non-biologics group. However, there was no significant correlation in biologics group. In some patients in the AS group, the IL-17 or IL-23 level was markedly elevated in the biologics group. Conclusions Treatment with biologics affects the cytokine profile in inflammatory synovial fluid in patients with both AS and RA. Furthermore, IL-23 and IL-17 cytokine might be an important factor in some patients who are unresponsive to biologics in AS.

Objective: We quantitatively measured the fat fraction (FF) in the vertebrae of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and investigated the role of FF as an indicator of both active inflammation and chronicity. Materials and Methods: A total of 52 patients with AS who underwent spinal MRI were retrospectively evaluated. The FF values of the anterosuperior and anteroinferior corners of the bone marrow in the L1–S1 spine were assessed using the modified Dixon technique. AS activity was measured using the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), AS Disease Activity Score (ASDAS), and serum inflammatory marker levels. AS disease chronicity was assessed by AS disease duration and the modified Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spinal Score (mSASSS). Univariable and multivariable regression analyses were conducted to investigate the correlation between FF and other clinical characteristics. Results: The mean FF ± standard deviation of the total lumbar spine was 43.0% ± 11.3%. At univariable analysis, spinal FF showed significant negative correlation with BASDAI (β = -0.474, p = 0.002) and ASDAS with C-reactive protein (ASDAS-CRP; β = -0.478, p = 0.002) and a significant positive correlation with AS disease duration (β = 0.440, p = 0.001). After adjusting for patient age, sex, and total mSASSS score, spinal FF remained significantly negatively correlated with BASDAI (β = -0.543, p < 0.001), ASDAS-CRP (β = -0.568, p < 0.001), and ASDAS with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (β = -0.533, p = 0.001). Spinal FF was significantly lower in patients with very high disease activity (ASDAS-CRP > 3.5) than in those with only high disease activity (2.1 ≤ ASDAS-CRP ≤ 3.5) (p = 0.010). Conclusion Spinal FF may help assess both AS disease activity and chronicity.

Objective: We quantitatively measured the fat fraction (FF) in the vertebrae of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and investigated the role of FF as an indicator of both active inflammation and chronicity. Materials and Methods: A total of 52 patients with AS who underwent spinal MRI were retrospectively evaluated. The FF values of the anterosuperior and anteroinferior corners of the bone marrow in the L1–S1 spine were assessed using the modified Dixon technique. AS activity was measured using the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), AS Disease Activity Score (ASDAS), and serum inflammatory marker levels. AS disease chronicity was assessed by AS disease duration and the modified Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spinal Score (mSASSS). Univariable and multivariable regression analyses were conducted to investigate the correlation between FF and other clinical characteristics. Results: The mean FF ± standard deviation of the total lumbar spine was 43.0% ± 11.3%. At univariable analysis, spinal FF showed significant negative correlation with BASDAI (β = -0.474, p = 0.002) and ASDAS with C-reactive protein (ASDAS-CRP; β = -0.478, p = 0.002) and a significant positive correlation with AS disease duration (β = 0.440, p = 0.001). After adjusting for patient age, sex, and total mSASSS score, spinal FF remained significantly negatively correlated with BASDAI (β = -0.543, p < 0.001), ASDAS-CRP (β = -0.568, p < 0.001), and ASDAS with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (β = -0.533, p = 0.001). Spinal FF was significantly lower in patients with very high disease activity (ASDAS-CRP > 3.5) than in those with only high disease activity (2.1 ≤ ASDAS-CRP ≤ 3.5) (p = 0.010). Conclusion Spinal FF may help assess both AS disease activity and chronicity.

Objective: The primary objective of this study was to investigate the effect of methylphenidate (MPH) on height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) in drug-naive children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) over 24 months. The secondary objective was to investigate whether the age of MPH initiation and sex act as risk factors for growth retardation. Methods: A total of 82 patients with ADHD were included. Weight, height, and BMI were measured at baseline and every 6 months up to 24 months. Weight, height, and BMI data were converted to z-scores and analyzed using two-way repeated-measures ANOVA and multiple linear regression. Results: The z-score of height, weight and BMI decreased from the baseline values. The z-scores of height were at baseline 0.002; 6 months -0.100; 12 months -0.159; 18 months -0.159; 24 months -0.186. The z-scores of weight were at baseline 0.104; 6 months -0.155; 12 months -0.256; 18 months -0.278; 24 months -0.301. Here were no age and sex differences of height, weight, and BMI. Conclusion The use of MPH was associated with attenuation of weight and height gain rates in children and adolescents with ADHD.