Anti-MDA5 antibodies are prevalent and closely associated with ILD in our series compared with other countries. There was no apparent difference in clinical features associated with other MSAs among races.

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Leukemia-associated osteoarthralgia is often indistinguishable from rheumatic diseases by imaging and laboratory findings and should be confirmed by bone marrow examination.

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[Purpose] The aims of the present study were to investigate the most suitable location for vibroarthrography measurements of the knee joint to distinguish a healthy knee from knee osteoarthritis using Wavelet transform analysis. [Subjects and Methods] Participants were 16 healthy females and 17 females with severe knee osteoarthritis. Vibroarthrography signals were measured on the medial and lateral epicondyles, mid-patella, and tibia using stethoscopes with a microphone while subjects stood up from a seated position. Frequency and knee flexion angles at the peak wavelet coefficient were obtained. [Results] Peak wavelet coefficients at the lateral condyle and tibia were significantly higher in patients with knee osteoarthritis than in the control group. Knee joint angles at the peak wavelet coefficient were smaller (more extension) in the osteoarthritis group compared to the control group. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve on tibia assessment with the frequency and knee flexion angles was higher than at the other measurement locations (both area under the curve: 0.86). [Conclusion] The tibia is the most suitable location for classifying knee osteoarthritis based on vibroarthrography signals.

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Pediatric SS is suspected from active systemic manifestations. The items of ESSDAI are useful clues to the diagnosis of pediatric SS.

Recent advances in biologic therapy have enabled reduction of the progression of destructive arthritis in rheumatoid arthritis. Once destroyed, however, the affected bones and cartilage are not fully repaired. We describe the case of an 8-year-old girl with anti-citrullinated peptide antibody (ACPA)-positive polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (p-JIA). Destructive arthritis progressed during combination therapy with infliximab, methotrexate, mizoribine and prednisolone. Clinical remission was achieved, however, after switching the biologic agent to tocilizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody to interleukin-6 receptor. Both bone erosion and bone marrow edema on magnetic resonance imaging were repaired in association with restoration of joint spaces. Furthermore, there was no relapse of arthritis on weekly methotrexate alone for 2 years after discontinuation of the tocilizumab. Tocilizumab led to radiological repair of both bone and cartilage destruction and long-term biologics-free remission in a patient with ACPA-positive p-JIA, and should be considered for tumor necrosis factor inhibitor-resistant cases.