Immunosuppressive treatment is a common cause of cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation. However, there is no consensus regarding the risk factors for CMV reactivation in rheumatic diseases. Therefore, this study aimed to elucidate the risk factors associated with CMV reactivation. We retrospectively collected the data of 472 patients with rheumatic diseases whose CMV pp65 antigen (C7-HRP) titer was measured. We divided the patients into those with and those without C7-HRP. We retrospectively collected data on age, sex, primary condition and organ involvement, and blood test results. We also investigated the use of immunosuppressants and the maximum and cumulative doses of prednisolone (PSL). We performed univariate and multivariate analyses to identify risk factors for CMV reactivation. Multivariate analysis showed that higher age (71.2 vs. 64.4 years, p = 0.0022), hypoalbuminemia (2.9 vs. 3.4 g/dL, p = 0.0104), higher creatinine level (1.2 vs. 0.9 mg/dL, p = 0.0026), cyclosporine use (8.2 vs. 3.6%, p = 0.0101), and higher maximum (552.4 vs. 243.3 mg, p < 0.0001) and cumulative (2785.9 vs. 1330.5 mg, p < 0.0001) doses of PSL were associated with CMV reactivation. Older age, hypoalbuminemia, higher creatinine level, cyclosporine use, and higher maximum and cumulative doses of PSL were significant risk factors for CMV reactivation in rheumatic diseases.

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of studies that investigated the effect of a wide range of work environmental factors on stress and depression in Japan. OBJECTIVES: To examine the association of work environment factors with stress and depression among workers in Japan. METHODS: We conducted questionnaire surveys of workers that mainly engage in desk work in Japan. Stress was assessed through the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), depression through the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and work environment through physical and psychological workplace environment questionnaires. Workers were divided into low and high stress groups based on PSS score (median split), and divided into non-depressed and depressed groups based on their PHQ-9 score (<  5, and ≥5); these groups were then compared with their working environment. In addition, a multiple regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: Responses were obtained from 210 subjects. Multiple regression analysis showed that “Ability to work at one’s own pace” and “Ability to apply personal viewpoint to work,” etc., had effect on stress, while “Workplace harassment” and “Support from colleagues,” etc., had effect on depression. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that stress and depression in Japanese workers are related to factors such as job demands, control of work, workplace harassment, and psychological safety.

Anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) antibody is associated with clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM) with rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (RP-ILD). Recently, several studies have reported that tofacitinib, a Janus kinase inhibitor, might be effective for cases of new or refractory RP-ILD in anti-MDA5 antibody-positive CADM; however it is unknown whether tofacitinib can also be effective for relapsed cases. We herein report a relapsed case of RP-ILD in anti-MDA5 antibody-positive CADM which was successfully treated by combination therapy with tofacitinib (5 mg twice daily). Our case suggests that tofacitinib may also be a potential treatment option for relapsed cases of this disease.

Introduction: Mental disorders are a leading cause of disability worldwide. Depression has a significant impact in the field of occupational health because it is particularly prevalent during working age. On the other hand, there are a growing number of studies on the relationship between “well-being” and employee productivity. To promote healthy and productive workplaces, this study aims to develop a technique to quantify stress and well-being in a way that does not disturb the workplace.Methods and analysis: This is a single-arm prospective observational study. The target population is adult (&gt;20 years old) workers at companies that often engage in desk work; specifically, a person who sits in front of a computer for at least half their work hours. The following data will be collected: (a) participants' background characteristics; (b) participants' biological data during the 4-week observation period using sensing devices such as a camera built into the computer (pulse wave data extracted from the facial video images), a microphone built into their work computer (voice data), and a wristband-type wearable device (electrodermal activity data, body motion data, and body temperature); (c) stress, well-being, and depression rating scale assessment data. The analysis workflow is as follows: (1) primary analysis, comprised of using software to digitalize participants' vital information; (2) secondary analysis, comprised of examining the relationship between the quantified vital data from (1), stress, well-being, and depression; (3) tertiary analysis, comprised of generating machine learning algorithms to estimate stress, well-being, and degree of depression in relation to each set of vital data as well as multimodal vital data.Discussion: This study will evaluate digital phenotype regarding stress and well-being of white-collar workers over a 4-week period using persistently obtainable biomarkers such as heart rate, acoustic characteristics, body motion, and electrodermal activity. Eventually, this study will lead to the development of a machine learning algorithm to determine people's optimal levels of stress and well-being.Ethics and dissemination: Collected data and study results will be disseminated widely through conference presentations, journal publications, and/or mass media. The summarized results of our overall analysis will be supplied to participants.Registration: UMIN000036814

A 61-year-old man presented with weight loss, bilateral ocular redness, blurred vision, and sensorineural hearing loss. Fluorodeoxyglucose-position emission tomography/computed tomography demonstrated an uptake in the ascending and descending aorta, abdominal aorta and femoral arteries. Atypical Cogan's syndrome complicated with large-vessel vasculitis (LVV) was diagnosed. He was treated with high-dose prednisolone and subcutaneous tocilizumab (162 mg/week), resulting in successful improvements in his ocular and vascular involvements. Although there is currently no established treatment strategy for LVV associated with Cogan's syndrome, our case and literature review suggest that tocilizumab is a viable treatment option for this rare but life-threatening complication.

The importance of workers’ well-being has been recognized in recent years. The assessment of well-being has been subjective, and few studies have sought potential biomarkers of well-being to date. This study examined the relationship between well-being and the LF/HF ratio, an index of heart rate variability that reflects sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve activity. Pulse waves were measured using photoplethysmography through a web camera attached to the computer used by each participant. The participants were asked to measure their pulse waves while working for 4 weeks, and well-being was assessed using self-reported measures such as the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), and the Flourishing Scale (FS). Each of the well-being scores were split into two groups according to the median value, and the LF/HF ratio during work, as well as the number of times an LF/HF ratio threshold was either exceeded or subceeded, were compared between the high and low SWLS, positive emotion, negative emotion, and FS groups. Furthermore, to examine the effects of the LF/HF ratio and demographic characteristics on well-being, a multiple regression analysis was conducted. Data were obtained from 169 participants. The results showed that the low FS group had a higher mean LF/HF ratio during work than the high FS group. No significant differences were seen between the high and low SWLS groups, the high and low positive emotion groups, or the high and low negative emotion groups. The multiple regression analysis showed that the mean LF/HF ratio during work affected the FS and SWLS scores, and the number of times the mean LF/HF ratio exceeded +3 SD had an effect on the positive emotion. No effect of the LF/HF ratio on negative emotions was shown. The LF/HF ratio might be applicable as an objective measure of well-being.

Introduction: Mental disorders are a leading cause of disability worldwide and, among mental disorders, major depressive disorder was highly ranked in years lived with disability. Depression has a significant impact in the field of occupational health because it is particularly prevalent during working age. On the other hand, there are a growing number of studies on the relationship between "well-being" and employee productivity. To promote healthy and productive workplaces, this study aims to develop a technique to quantify stress and well-being in a way that does not disturb the workplace. Methods and analysis: This is a single-arm prospective observational study. The target population is adult (>20 years old) workers at companies that often engage in desk work; specifically, a person who sits in front of a computer for at least half their work hours. The following data will be collected: a) participants' background characteristics; b) participants' biological data during the 4-week observation period using sensing devices such as a camera built into or connected to the computer (pulse wave data extracted from the facial video images), a microphone built into or connected to their work computer (voice data), and a wristband-type wearable device (electrodermal activity data, body motion data, and body temperature); c) stress, well-being, and depression rating scale assessment data (New Occupational Stress Questionnaire, Perceived Stress Scale, Satisfaction With Life Scale, Japanese version of Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, Japanese Flourishing Scale, Subjective Well-being / Ideal Happiness, and Japanese version of Patient Health Questionnaire-9). The analysis workflow is as follows: (1) primary analysis, comprised of using software to digitalize participants' vital information; (2) secondary analysis, comprised of examining the relationship between the quantified vital data from (1), stress, well-being, and depression; (3) tertiary analysis, comprised of generating machine learning algorithms to estimate stress, well-being, and degree of depression in relation to each set of vital data as well as multimodal vital data. Ethics and dissemination: Collected data and study results will be disseminated widely through conference presentations, journal publications, and/or mass media. The summarized results of our overall analysis will be supplied to participants. Registration: UMIN000036814

Myositis-specific autoantibody is associated with the clinical phenotype and prognosis of dermatomyositis. Anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) and anti-aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (ARS) antibodies are generally mutually exclusive. We herein present an extremely rare case of dermatomyositis which showed double positivity for anti-MDA5 and anti-ARS antibodies. There have been very few reported cases of double positive anti-MDA5, anti-ARS antibodies. In such cases, the clinical characteristics of each autoantibody can coexist. Thus, we should pay attention to the rapidly progressing features of anti-MDA5 as well as the chronic relapsing features of anti-ARS for the better management of this rare condition.