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Despite some differences in demographic data, patients with RA and OA have equivalent risks of VTE and bleeding following TKA.

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Objective: Second-generation high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) has provide higher quality of bone images with a voxel size of 61 µm, enabling direct measurements of trabecular thickness. In addition to the standard parameters, the non-metric trabecular parameters such as trabecular morphology (plate to rod-like structures), connectivity, and anisotropy can also be analyzed. The purpose of this study is to investigate deterioration of bone microstructure in healthy Japanese women by measuring standard and non-metric parameters using HR-pQCT. Methods: Study participants were 61 healthy Japanese women (31-70 years). The distal radius and tibia were scanned using second-generation HR-pQCT, and microstructures of trabecular and cortical bone were measured. Non-metric trabecular parameters included structure model index (SMI), trabecular bone pattern factor (TBPf), connectivity density (Conn.D), number of nodes (N.Nd/TV), degree of anisotropy (DA), and star volume of marrow space (V*ms). Estimated bone strength was evaluated by micro finite element analysis. Associations between bone microstructure, estimated bone strength, age, and menopause were analyzed. 2 Results: Trabecular number declined with age, and trabecular separation increased. SMI and TBPf increased, Conn.D and N.Nd/TV declined, and V*ms increased. Cortical BMD and thickness declined with age, and porosity increased. Stiffness and failure load decreased with age. Cortical thickness and estimated bone strength were affected by menopause. Cortical thickness was most associated with estimated bone strength. Conclusions: Trabecular and cortical bone microstructure were deteriorated markedly with age. Cortical thickness decreased after menopause and was most related to bone strength. Non-metric parameters give additional information about osteoporotic changes of trabecular bone.

Takayasu's arteritis (TA) is a rare large vessel vasculitis that is difficult to diagnose in the early stages. Therefore, it is also very difficult to manage and prevent irreversible vascular damage in TA. A 19-year-old female patient with back pain was examined using [(18)F]-FDG-PET to detect the source of inflammation. Specific accumulation of [(18)F]-FDG was observed in the thoracic and abdominal aorta, leading to the diagnosis of TA. Corticosteroid treatment resulted in clinical remission. However, the serum amyloid A (SAA) levels remained elevated. A follow-up scan showed residual uptake of [(18)F]-FDG in the thoracic aorta suggesting subclinical vascular inflammation. Methotrexate was combined with the corticosteroid, and the elevated levels of SAA became normalized. The present case suggests that monitoring serum levels of SAA and [(18)F]-FDG-PET could help clinicians to make adequate treatment adjustments in TA patients.