Evaluation of the effects of neural therapy in patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to compare the effects of neural therapy and exercise on pain, quality of life, depression, anxiety, and functioning status in patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This multi-center study included a total of 72 patients (60 females, 12 males; mean age: 39.2±9.5 years; range, 22 to 53 years) who were diagnosed with FMS according to the 1990 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria between January 2015 and June 2015. The patients were randomly divided into two groups: the first group (n=30) received an exercise program (strengthening, stretching, relaxation, and aerobic exercises, three days a week), and the second group (n=42) received a total of six sessions of neural therapy as one session a week in addition to the same exercise program. Pain severity was assessed with the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), emotional state with the Beck Depression Scale (BDS) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), quality of life with Short Form-36 (SF-36), and functioning status with the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ). The patients were evaluated at the end of treatment (week 6) and one month after the end of treatment. RESULTS: The mean disease duration was 34.3±9.3 months, the mean VAS score was 7.3±2.2, and the mean FIQ score was 58.4±13.2. There were significant improvements in the VAS, FIQ, SF-36, BDS, and BAI scores after the treatment in both groups (p<0.05). Post-treatment BDS and VAS scores were significantly lower in the neural therapy group (p=0.038; p=0.049; p<0.05). There was no significant difference in any parameter one month after the treatment between the groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: When neural therapy is combined with exercise in FMS patients, it may be advantageous in terms of pain and depression, compared to exercise alone.

Common Mistakes in the Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) in Turkey. A Retrospective Descriptive Multicenter Study.

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis is a widespread metabolic bone disease representing a global public health problem currently affecting more than two hundred million people worldwide. The World Health Organization states that dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is the best densitometric technique for assessing bone mineral density (BMD). DXA provides an accurate diagnosis of osteoporosis, a good estimation of fracture risk, and is a useful tool for monitoring patients undergoing treatment. Common mistakes in BMD testing can be divided into four principal categories: 1) indication errors, 2) lack of quality control and calibration, 3) analysis and interpretation errors, and 4) inappropriate acquisition techniques. The aim of this retrospective multicenter descriptive study is to identify the common errors in the application of the DXA technique in Turkey. METHODS: All DXA scans performed during the observation period were included in the study if the measurements of both, the lumbar spine and proximal femur were recorded. Forearm measurement, total body measurements, and measurements performed on children were excluded. Each examination was surveyed by 30 consultants from 20 different centers each informed and trained in the principles of and the standards for DXA scanning before the study. RESULTS: A total of 3,212 DXA scan results from 20 different centers in 15 different Turkish cities were collected. The percentage of the discovered erroneous measurements varied from 10.5% to 65.5% in the lumbar spine and from 21.3% to 74.2% in the proximal femur. The overall error rate was found to be 31.8% (n = 1021) for the lumbar spine and 49.0% (n = 1576) for the proximal femur. CONCLUSION: In Turkey, DXA measurements of BMD have been in use for over 20 years, and examination processes continue to improve. There is no educational standard for operator training, and a lack of knowledge can lead to significant errors in the acquisition, analysis, and interpretation.

Anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha therapy is associated with less frequent mood and anxiety disorders in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

AIMS: The purpose of the present study was to examine the current prevalence of mood and anxiety disorders, and factors related to mood and anxiety disorders in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHOD: The study sample included 83 consecutive patients with RA who were admitted to a rheumatology outpatient clinic. Diagnoses of psychiatric disorders were determined using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID-I). To assess physical disability and disease activity, the Health Assessment Questionnaire and the Disease Activity Score, respectively, were used. RESULTS: The prevalence of any mood or any anxiety disorder was 43.4%. The two most common psychiatric diagnoses were major depression (21.7%) and generalized anxiety disorder (16.9%). Mood and anxiety disorders were unrelated to sociodemographic features, disease-related factors, and medications for RA except anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). These disorders, however, were identified less frequently in patients with RA receiving anti-TNF-alpha drugs compared to patients who did not receive such medications. CONCLUSION: Patients with RA frequently have mood and anxiety disorders, and anti-TNF-alpha drugs may be useful for the mental status of these patients.