The Effect of Distant Reiki Applied to Individuals with Extremity Amputation on Pain Level and Holistic Well-Being: A Quasi-experimental Study.

BACKGROUND: Pain felt in an amputated limb is quite common. Phantom pain affects the lives of individuals in many ways and can negatively affect the holistic well-being of individuals. Distant Reiki can be used in the management of these problems. AIM: This study was conducted to examine the effect of distant Reiki applied to individuals with extremity amputation on pain level and holistic well-being. METHOD: This a quasi-experimental single group pre-test. Post-test design research was conducted between September 2022 and April 2023 and included 25 individuals with extremity amputation. Then, according to Classical Usui Reiki, distant Reiki application has been performed for 20 minutes every day for 10 days. Data were collected at the beginning of the study and at the end of the 10th day. The data were obtained using an Introductory Information Form, the Visual Analog Scale for Pain, and Holistic Well-Being Scale. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 51.32 ± 16.65 years. There was a significant difference between pre-test and post-test pain levels of the participants (p < .05) and HWBS subscale scores (p < .05). Accordingly, it was determined that after 20-minute distant Reiki sessions for 10 consecutive days, the pain levels of the individuals were significantly reduced and their holistic well-being improved. CONCLUSION: Distant Reiki has been found to be easy to administer, inexpensive, non-pharmacological, and appropriate for independent nursing practice to be effective in reducing phantom pain levels and increasing holistic well-being in people with limb amputation.

Determination of Health Anxiety and Resilience Levels in Patients with Fibromyalgia Syndrome and Rheumatoid Arthritis During SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: A Case-Control Study.

Background: Fibromyalgia Syndrome and Rheumatoid Arthritis are chronic diseases associated with pain. These diseases reduce the patient's quality of life and cause psychological problems. The study aimed to determine health anxiety and resilience levels in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis during the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pandemic. Methods: This case-control study conducted in Central Anatolia Region, Turkey, included 180 participants (60 patients with fibromyalgia syndrome, 60 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and 60 healthy subjects). Data were collected using the Brief Resilience Scale and Health Anxiety Scale. Pain intensity was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale. Results: Resilience was significantly higher in healthy controls than in the fibromyalgia syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis groups (P < .001). Resilience was also higher in the rheumatoid arthritis group than fibromyalgia syndrome (P < .001) group. Hypersensitivity to somatic symptoms and anxiety, negative results of diseases, and total scores of Health Anxiety Scale were significantly higher in the fibromyalgia syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis groups than healthy controls (P < .001). Also, Health Anxiety Scale scores in the fibromyalgia syndrome group were higher than the rheumatoid arthritis group (P < .001). There was a very strong and negative correlation between the participants' resilience and health anxiety levels (r = -0.818, P < .001). The most important predictors of resilience were hypersensitivity to somatic symptoms and anxiety (r = -0.335, P < .001), the group (r = 0.302, P = .003), the pain intensity (r = -0.169, P = .043), and the negative consequences of the disease (r = -.149, P = .038). The hypersensitivity to somatic symptoms and anxiety, the Visual Analog Scale, and the negative consequences of the disease were negatively correlated with resilience. But there was a positive correlation between fibromyalgia syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis groups and resilience. Conclusions: Patients with fibromyalgia syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis have low resilience and high health anxiety. The interventions should be planned to increase resilience and decrease the health anxiety of patients with fibromyalgia syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis.

The effects of elastic band exercise on the pain, kinesiophobia, functional, and psychological status after total knee arthroplasty: a randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Elastic band exercise not only improves muscle strength and elasticity, increases efficiency, balance, and quality of life but also decreases the injury risk. This study was conducted to determine the effect of elastic band exercise on pain, kinesiophobia, functional, and psychological status after total knee arthroplasty. METHODS: This study was conducted out between October 2019 and April 2020 as a randomized controlled experimental study with a total of 60 patients. Data collection tools in this study included a descriptive information form, visual analog scale, Tampa Kinesiophobia, WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index, and Beck Depression Inventory. RESULTS: Before intervention, the total score of VAS, WOMAC, Tampa Kinesiophobia, and Beck Depression showed no statistically significant difference between intervention group and control group. However, 4 weeks after intervention observed a statistically significant difference between the intervention and control groups in terms of VAS (U = 10,000; p < 0.001), WOMAC (U = 0.00; p < 0.001), Tampa Kinesiophobia (U = 221.5; p = 0.001), and Beck Depression means score (U = 112.5; p < 0.001). In addition, 4 weeks after the intervention, joint range and walking test assessments were statistically significant between the intervention and control groups (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The results of the research showed that elastic band exercise had a positive effect on psychological and functional capacity. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study is registered in the Clinical Trial Registry (registration number NCT04981106) Key points • Patients with total knee arthroplasty require rehabilitation exercise to avoid physical function weakness. • Elastic band exercise significantly reduces patients' fear of movement and depression. • Elastic band exercise activities facilitate significant physical motion function. • Elastic band exercise inspires the will of patients to engage in home rehabilitation exercise patients after total knee arthroplasty.

The Relationship between Alexithymia, Psychological Well-Being and Religious Coping in Fibromyalgia Patients in Turkey.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between alexithymia, psychological well-being, and religious coping in fibromyalgia patients. This study was planned as a descriptive and cross-sectional research design. The sample consisted of 175 fibromyalgia patients. Data were collected using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20, the Psychological Well-being Scale, and the Religious Coping Scale. Data were analyzed by Pearson's correlation test and Multiple Linear Regression analysis. A negative correlation was found between alexithymia and negative religious coping (r = - 0.377, p = 0.000). A positive correlation was found between psychological well-being and negative religious coping (r = 0.364, p = 0.000). The alexithymia was predicted by psychological well-being level (ß = - 0.629), positive (ß = 0.170) and negative (ß = - 0.216) religious coping levels (p < 0.05). Negative and positive religious coping strategies can affect psychological well-being and expressive thinking in patients with FMS.

YouTube videos as a source of information concerning Behçet's disease: a reliability and quality analysis.

In this study, we aimed to investigate the reliability and quality of YouTube videos concerning Behçet disease, for the first time in the literature. The most viewed 50 YouTube videos about Behçet disease were included. Study data used in the analysis included video length, image type, video content, uploaders, time since the date of upload, the number of total views, daily views, and the numbers of like, dislike and comments. The Video Power Index was used to determine popularity of the videos. Reliability and quality of the videos were evaluated using DISCERN and Global Quality Scale (GQS) instruments. The examined YouTube videos were divided into two groups as uploaded by professionals (physicians, health and hospital channels, institutions and societies) and non-professionals (patients, social organizations, others). Twenty-three (46%) videos were uploaded by professionals. The mean DISCERN score was found as 3.98 ± 0.77 in the videos uploaded by healthcare professionals and 2.83 ± 0.64 in those uploaded by non-professionals (p < 0.01). The mean GQS score was found as 4.09 ± 0.72 in the videos uploaded by healthcare professionals and 3.41 ± 0.69 in those uploaded by non-professionals (p < 0.01). 46% of the videos were of low-to-moderate reliability and 56% of low-to-moderate quality. Nearly half of the YouTube videos concerning Behçet disease were uploaded by non-physician sources with poor reliability and quality. Physicians should be encouraged to upload more professional videos to help and guide patients appropriately. YouTube videos should be subjected to an objective evaluation for content quality before they can be published.

The effect of mindfulness-based therapy on psychiatric symptoms, psychological well-being, and pain beliefs in patients with lumbar disk herniation.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to determine the impact of mindfulness-based therapy on psychiatric symptoms, psychological well-being, and pain beliefs in patients with lumbar disk hernia. DESIGN AND METHODS: The study was a nonrandomized pretest-posttest controlled quasi-experimental research and carried out in a total of 64 patients. A personal information form, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, the Psychological Well-Being Scale, and the Pain Beliefs Scale were used for data collection. FINDINGS: We observed a statistically significant difference between the intervention and control groups in terms of the posttest mean scores of the psychiatric symptoms, psychological well-being, and pain beliefs. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The results revealed that mindfulness-based therapy has a positive impact on pain beliefs and psychological well-being.

Does Sjogren's syndrome affect only the lacrimal gland in the eye? Time to replace the missing stones.

Purpose: This study aimed to reveal the cause of meibomian gland disease and meibomian gland loss in patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS) as the leading factor for dry eyes. Methods: The study included a total of 30 patients with SS and dry eye symptoms and a control group of 50 age- and gender-matched healthy subjects. The dryness parameters of all the participants were evaluated. At first, meibography was performed to measure meibomian gland loss using noninvasive methods. Later, meibomian gland expression and secretion quality were evaluated using silt-lamp biomicroscopy. Correlations between the measurements were analyzed statistically. Results: In patients with SS, MG loss was significantly greater than in the control group (19.7 ± 71%, 12.7 ± 9.6%, P < 0.001). All dry eye parameters (tear film breakup time, Schirmer's test score, OSDI, stain score, dry eye disease) were statistically significant in the SS group. There was an extremely negative correlation between upper MB loss and BUT (P = 0.08, r: 0.781). There was an extremely positive correlation between upper MB loss and staining (P = 0.015, r: 0.739). An extremely negative correlation was determined between sub-MB loss and BUT (P = 0.18, r:-0.781), and a moderately positive significant correlation was found between sub-MB loss and staining (P = 0.031, r: 0.659). Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated that patients with SS were at a higher risk of being exposed to meibomian gland loss, which directly leads to the severe dry eye symptoms associated with SS.

Is There a Relationship Between Kinesiophobia and Physical Activity Level in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis?

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the levels of kinesiophobia, physical activity, depression, disability, and quality of life in patients with knee osteoarthritis. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: A tertiary health care center. SUBJECTS: Ninety-six patients with knee osteoarthritis. METHODS: Pain intensity was evaluated by the Visual Analog Scale, kinesiophobia by the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia and Brief Fear of Movement Scale, depression by the Beck Depression Inventory, disability by the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index, physical activity level by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire short form, and quality of life by the Short Form 12 Health Survey Questionnaire. RESULTS: Of the patients, 85.7% had high-level kinesiophobia, 70.6% had depression, and 64.4% had low, 27.8% moderate, and 7.8% high physical activity levels. Age, activity-related pain score of the Visual Analog Scale, Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia and Brief Fear of Movement Scale scores, and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index and Beck Depression Inventory scores were higher in the group with high-level kinesiophobia, whereas the mental, physical, and total scores obtained from the Short Form 12 Health Survey Questionnaire were higher in the group with low-level kinesiophobia (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: As the treatment of pain alone in patients with knee osteoarthritis is not sufficient to reduce fear of movement, we suggest that approaches to increase awareness of fear of movement and physical activity and cognitive behavioral therapy related to fear of movement should be included in the treatment program.

Isokinetic Analysis of Trunk Muscles in Stroke Patients and its Association with Functional Parameters.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study is to investigate the association of balance, motor and functional development parameters with trunk muscles via isokinetic analysis in stroke patients due to cerebrovascular event. METHODS: The study included 91 stroke patients and 28 healthy controls. Brunnstroom staging (BS) for motor functions, functional independence measurement (FIM) and Barthel index (BI) for disability, Berg balance scale (BBS) balance test for balance, Rivermead motor evaluation (RMA) for mobility, and mini-mental test (MMT) for cognitive function were used. Strength and proprioception measurements of patients and controls' trunk extensor and flexor muscles were evaluated via exercise system and isokinetic test. RESULTS: A strong positive correlation was found between FIM total score and lower-extremity Brunnstrom staging (p < 0.001). A strong positive correlation was found between trunk control test (TCT), and FIM total scores (p < 0.001, r = 0.892), BI (p < 0.001, r = 0.799) and BBS (p = 0.01, r = 0.885). Isokinetic muscle strength values of controls were found statistically significantly higher than those in patients with stroke (p < 0.001). Trunk control and proprioception were poor in patients with stroke compared to the control group (p <0.001). Trunk muscles performance measures were significantly associated with balance and functional parameters. However, no significant relationship was found between the angular values of trunk muscle proprioception and clinical parameters in patients with stroke. CONCLUSIONS: In stroke patients, trunk muscles were weak and trunk proprioception was impaired. So, inserting exercise programs to strengthen trunk muscles and improve trunk proprioception through isokinetic dynamometers or conventional methods into the rehabilitation programs of patients with muscle weakness and proprioception disorder may provide a better functional development.

When rheumatoid arthritis is mentioned, should only dryness come to mind?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate corneal parameters of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients by corneal topography. METHODS: One hundred two RA patients and 60 control subjects were enrolled. Corneal topography measurements and ophthalmologic findings were examined from all participants' files. RESULTS: Corneal thickness measurements were significantly lower in the RA group (p = 0.025). All values of corneal curvatures (K1, K2, Kmean) in 3 mm, 5 mm, and 7 mm zones were found statistically significantly higher in the RA group compared with the control group. Forty-five RA patients had a dry eye. Disease duration was correlated with dry eye in the RA group. There was a significant correlation between the duration of disease in RA patients and mean corneal curvatures (p 0.012/0.010/0.007, 3/5/7 mm respectively) and central corneal thickness (p 0.025). There is no statistical difference between other topographic measurements. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that RA patients have thinner and steeper corneas compared with control subjects. These parameters change in negative correlation as the duration of the disease increases. Key Points • Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease with systemic involvement. • In rheumatoid arthritis, systemic involvement is affected in the eyes. • When it comes to eye involvement, it comes to mind that it makes the eyes more dryness. • In addition to dryness in the eyes, rheumatoid arthritis makes morphological changes in the cornea.

The Relationship Between Atherogenic Index and Carotid Artery Atherosclerosis in Familial Mediterranean Fever.

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a disease characterized by chronic inflammation. Atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) is a logarithmic value of the triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio and it is a good marker for atherosclerotic heart disease and cardiac risk. In this study, we investigated subclinical atherosclerosis and cardiac risks in patients with FMF. Patients with FMF (78 men and 84 women) and healthy controls (74 men and 82 women) were included in this study. The AIP values of the patients were calculated and carotid intima-media thicknesses (cIMTs) were measured. The cIMT ( P < .001) and AIP ( P < .001) values of patients with FMF were higher than the values of the control group. There was a positive correlation between cIMT and AIP values ( r = .304, P < .001). In regression analysis, we detected an independent relationship between cIMT and AIP (ß = .248, P = .001). Atherogenic index of plasma may be highly correlated with the subclinical atherosclerosis. Particularly, male patients with FMF may have a high cardiac risk.

Assessment of relation between neutrophil lympocyte, platelet lympocyte ratios and epicardial fat thickness in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

AIM: To investigate whether there is a relation between neutrophillymphocyte (N/L) and platelet- lymphocyte (P/L) ratios and epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). METHODS: Thirty patients diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis and 25 healthy people (controls) were included in the study. Age, gender, body mass index (BMI), height, hemogram, sedimentation, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, platelet/lymphocyte ratio, CRP, hepatic and renal function tests, lipid profile of the all patients were recorded. Data related to duration of the disease, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) values of the cases in the patient group were obtained. A cardiologist measured EAT thickness by ECHO in both patient and control groups. RESULTS: In the patient group, mean BASDAI and BASFI scores were 2.48±2.21 and 1.5±2.07, respectively. Age, gender, BMI values did not show statistically significant difference between the patient and the control groups. N/L and P/L ratios did not change significantly in the patient group having higher EAT, BASFI values and taking anti-TNF compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: In patients with AS, EAT measurements, which are related to inflammatory response increase, can be used for monitoring of the risk of development of cardiac disease. We could not find the relation between EAT and N/L, P/L ratios in terms of evaluation of inflammatory response.

Electrophysiological and clinical evaluation of the effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on the spasticity in the hemiplegic stroke patients.

To investigate whether transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) mitigates the spasticity of hemiplegic stroke patients, as assessed by electrophysiological variables, and the effects, if any, on the clinical appearance of spasticity. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty-seven subjects who had acute hemiplegia and 24 healthy people as the control group, were enrolled in this study. Some of the acute cerebrovascular disease patients could walk. Subjects who did not have spasticity, who were taking antispasticity medicine, or had a previous episode of cerebrovascular disease were excluded. The walking speed of the patients was recorded before and after TENS. EMG examinations were performed on the healthy controls and in the affected side of the patients. A 30-minute single session of TENS was applied to lower extremity. At 10 minutes after TENS, the EMG examinations were repeated. [Results] A statistically significant decrease in the spasticity variables, and increased walking speed were found post-TENS. The lower M amplitude and higher H reflex amplitude, H/M maximum amplitude ratio, H slope, and H slope/M slope ratio on the spastic side were found to be statistically significant. [Conclusion] TENS application for hemiplegic patients with spastic lower extremities due to cerebrovascular disease resulted in marked improvement in clinical scales of spasticity and significant changes in the electrophysiological variables.