Assessment of corneal parameters in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

PURPOSE: To assess the corneal parameters in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. METHODS: We enrolled 64 patients with RA (32 receiving biologic and 32 receiving conventional drugs) and 32 healthy subjects. Keratometric values (anterior flat [K1], steep [K2], and mean keratometry [Km]), corneal thickness from the pupil center (CCT), apex (ACT), and the thinnest point (TCT), and corneal volume (CV) were measured and compared between the groups. RESULTS: K1, K2, and Km values were significantly higher in the RA group (P = 0.013, P = 0.048, P = 0.027, respectively). The means of CCT, ACT, TCT, and CV were significantly lower in RA patients (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P = 0.011, respectively). When we divided RA patients into two groups according to the treatment and compared them to controls, the differences in K1, CCT, ACT, TCT and CV were significant (P = 0.030, P = 0.005, P = 0.001, P = 0.001, P = 0.034, respectively). K1 and CV values of RA-biologic group were similar to the control group (P = 0.205 and P = 0.127, respectively). CONCLUSION: Biologic agents contribute to the improvement of K1 and CV values in patients with RA.

Association of synaptosomal-associated protein 25 (SNAP-25) gene polymorphism with temperament and character traits in women with fibromyalgia syndrome

Abstract Background: Synaptosomal-associated protein 25 (SNAP-25) may be contribute to the pathogenesis of fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) by affecting the release of neurotransmitters. Objectives: We aimed to investigate the relationship between the SNAP-25 gen (DdeI = rs1051312 and MnlI = rs3746544) polymorphism and the temperament and character traits. Methods: A total of 85 female patients diagnosed with FMS and 70 age-matched healthy female subjects were enrolled into the study. The Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) were performed on all the patients. SNAP-25 gene polymorphism was determined in the patients group and controls group. Results: No significant difference between groups was found regarding the distribution of SNAP-25 MnlI polymorphism (p > 0.05), but it was seen that the frequency of TC genotype for DdeI gene was higher in the patients group (p < 0.05). Increased hazard avoidance was found in the patients group (p < 0.05). When TCI scores were assessed in terms of SNAP-25 gene polymorphism, no statistically significant relationship was detected between the TT, TG, GG genotypes for MnlI gen and TCI scores (p > 0.05). However, increased hazard avoidance was detected in patients with TC genotype for DdeI gene compared to patients without such genotype. Discussion: SNAP-25 might be an etiological factor in FMS pathogenesis and might affect personality traits of FMS patients by mediating neurotransmitter release.