Acute- or Subacute-Onset Lung Complications in Treating Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis

AbstractRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common systemic disease that manifests as inflammatory arthritis of multiple joints and produces a wide variety of intrathoracic lesions, including pleural diseases, diffuse interstitial pneumonia, rheumatoid nodules, and airway disease. Patients treated for RA can have associated lung disease that commonly manifests as diffuse interstitial pneumonia, drug-induced lung injury, and infection. The purpose of this pictorial review is to illustrate the radiographic and clinical features of lung complications of acute or subacute onset in patients treated for RA and to show the computed tomography features of these complications

Imaging Diagnosis of Interstitial Pneumonia with Emphysema (Combined Pulmonary Fibrosis and Emphysema)

Based on clinical and radiological findings, Cottin defined combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE) as pulmonary emphysema in the upper lungs and interstitial pneumonia in the lower lungs with various radiological patterns. Pathologic findings of CPFE probably corresponded with diffuse interstitial pneumonia with pulmonary emphysema, emphysema with fibrosis, and the combination of both. We described reported radiological findings of CPFE

Obesity and glucose metabolism abnormalities by post-disaster evacuation

Background: The objectives of this study were to determine the longer-term trends in childhood obesity and glucose metabolism abnormalities among residents of Fukushima Prefecture 5 years after the Great East Japan Earthquake. Methods: We evaluated the changes in height, weight, body mass index (BMI), BMI SD score, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) concentration, and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) among elementary and junior high school residents who had lived in the evacuation zone between 2011 and 2015. Results: Of the residents, 11,112 received health checks in 2011, while in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015, 5,737, 4522, 4297 and 3405 received health checks, respectively. The mean BMI SD score for all participants in 2011 was 0.149, and this score gradually decreased from 2011 to 2015. FPG levels and HbA1c levels for all participants with a BMI value +2SD or more in 2011 were higher than those in residents with a BMI value of less than +2SD. The frequency of participants with a FPG level of 126 mg/dl or more and the frequency of participants with a HbA1c level of 6.5% or more in 2011 were higher than those in 2012, 2013, and 2015. Conclusions: These results suggest that a number of pediatric residents suffered from obesity and glucose metabolism abnormalities. However, the longer-term observations indicated an improvement in obesity and glucose metabolism abnormalities. There was a strong association observed between obesity and glucose metabolism, thus, it is important to continue with health checks for children with obesity and strive to improve their health