Effects of Benign Joint Hypermobility Syndrome on the Clinical Characteristics of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Females.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The study aim was to determine the effects of benign joint hypermobility syndrome (BJHS) on symptom severity and functional capacity in females with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) based on the findings of physical examinations. METHODS: One hundred female patients diagnosed with bilateral CTS in electrophysiological testing were included in this study. The participants were evaluated for BJHS using the Brighton 1998 criteria, and divided into two groups: one consisting of 56 CTS patients with BJHS, and the other comprising 44 CTS patients without BJHS. Tinel's, Phalen's, and reverse Phalen's tests were applied to all patients, and the severity and functional capacity of CTS were evaluated using the Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire. RESULTS: Symptom severity and functional capacity varied significantly between the two groups in the right hand (p=0.037 and p=0.039, respectively) and in the left hand (p=0.016 and p=0.029). The hypermobile group yielded more positive results on the right side during Tinel's, Phalen's, and reverse Phalen's tests (p=0.032, p=0.032, and p=0.018, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Hypermobility in females exacerbated the symptoms of CTS and led to a further reduction of functional capacity. Therefore, hypermobility should be tested and an intense exercise program should be implemented in BJHS patients, especially in females with CTS.

Evaluation of the physical and emotional effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with fibromyalgia and chronic low back pain: A multicenter cross-sectional controlled study.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the physical and emotional effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) and chronic low back pain (CLBP) patients. Patients and methods: The cross-sectional controlled study was performed with 1,360 participants (332 males, 1,028 females; mean age: 42.3±12.5 years; range, 18 to 65 years) between September 2020 and February 2021. The participants were evaluated in three groups: the FMS group (n=465), the CLBP group (n=455), and the healthy control group (n=440). Physical activity, pain levels, and general health status before and during the pandemic were evaluated in all participants. Stress levels were analyzed with the perceived stress scale (PSS) in all groups, and disease activity was analyzed with the fibromyalgia impact questionnaire (FIQ) in patients with FMS. Results: Patients with FMS had worsened general health status and pain levels during the pandemic compared to the other groups (p<0.01). The FMS group showed significantly higher PSS scores than those in other groups (p<0.01). There was a weak-positive correlation between FIQ and PSS parameters in patients with FMS (p<0.05, r=0.385). Conclusion: The general health status, pain, and stress levels of the patients with FMS and CLBP tended to worsen during the pandemic. This high-stress level appeared to affect disease activity in patients with FMS.

New Inflammatory Marker Associated with Disease Activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis: The Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to discover a new index for disease activity by reviewing the relationship between the Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index and Systemic Inflammation Response Index in rheumatoid arthritis. METHOD: A total of 109 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 31 healthy controls were involved in the study. Based on disease activity score (DAS-28) calculated by the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, rheumatoid arthritis patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 comprised patients in remission (DAS-28<2.6); Group 2 was the active patient group (DAS-28>2.6). The Systemic Immune Inflammation Index and the Systemic Inflammation Response Index compared between the groups. RESULTS: The Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index is 666.415±33.00 in the patient group and 596.71±57.64 in the control group, and the difference between the groups is statistically significant (p=0.002). The Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index was 574.69±34.72 in group 1 and 702.25±39.56 in group 2. There was a significant statistical difference between the active and remission patients (p=0.030). The Systemic Inflammation Response Index was not statistically significant between the groups. Different cut-off points were compared to detect the optimal cut-off value for SII. Based on the ROC curve analysis, SII cut-off point of 574.20 showed 56.3% sensitivity and 45.5% specificity and with the Area Under Curve (AUC) 95% was the optimal cut-off point for active RA. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to review the Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index in rheumatoid arthritis. The obtained conclusion verified that the Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index could be used as a new tool, showing disease activity.

Time and Repetitions Needed to Train Patients with Knee Pain on a Home Exercise Program: Are Learning Styles Important?

Objective This study was designed to identify the amount of time and number of repetitions needed to explain a home exercise program recommended for most of our patients, as well as to gauge how many items patients managed to remember at their 15-day follow-up. We also considered whether the learning method had any effect on these results. Methods Sixty-two patients with mechanical knee pain who were admitted to our clinic were included in this study. Patients were categorized into the following three groups: group 1 with a dominant physical learning style, group 2 with a dominant auditory learning style, and group 3 with a dominant visual learning style. Heel slide, quadriceps isometric, quadriceps stretching, adductor isometric, abductor isometric, and quadriceps isotonic exercises were explained and demonstrated to all patients by the same physiotherapist, and the required time (in seconds) and repeats of exercises until the patients learned them were recorded. Remembered/forgotten exercises at the follow-up, which occurred 15 days later, were identified. Results A statistically significant difference was observed between groups in terms of how many seconds were needed for learning the quadriceps isometric exercises (p: 0.042). In the inter-group comparison, the difference was significant when groups 2 and 3 were compared (p: 0.046). There was a significant difference between groups in terms of how many repeats were needed for learning heel sliding (p: 0.000). Moreover, there was a significant difference between group 3 and groups 1 and 2 in the inter-group comparison (p: 0.000, p: 0.000). There was also a significant difference between groups in terms of recalling the adductor isometric exercises. Patients in group 2 were able to fully recall all these exercises. Conclusion It was found that the quadriceps isometric, heel slide, and adductor isometric exercises were more quickly learned, while the quadriceps stretching exercise was forgotten. We concluded that learning style is not highly important in exercise learning or recall.

Bilateral Multilevel Cervical Rib and Bilateral Omovertebra in Klippel-Feil Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Klippel-Feil syndrome was first described in 1912; a short neck, low posterior hairline, and decreased cervical joint range of motion are the classical triad of this disease. In this syndrome, which is rarely observed, the characteristics that have been reported include the following: scoliosis; Sprengel deformity; cervical rib; ear, nose, oral, and laryngeal abnormalities; structural abnormalities of the urinary system; and congenital heart diseases. However, bilateral omovertebra and bilateral multilevel cervical ribs have not been reported. CASE DESCRIPTION: We aimed to present this rare syndrome via radiologic findings from cases with bilateral multilevel cervical rib and bilateral omovertebra. CONCLUSIONS: Cases of Klippel-Feil syndrome may be accompanied by multiple abnormalities. We want to highlight the need for detailed examination of patients and lifestyle modification at an early age, before symptom appearance, as well as adaptation to habitual exercise.

Jarcho-Levin Syndrome and Concomitant Carotid Glomus Tumor: First Reported Case.

BACKGROUND: Jarcho-Levin syndrome (JLS) is a rare congenital disorder characterized by different clinical and radiologic findings. The disease was first reported by Jarcho and Levin in 1938, and it was described as the presence of various malformations or abnormal fusion in the thoracic vertebrae and ribs, short trunk, and respiratory distress. CASE DESCRIPTION: In our case, fusion at the thoracic and cervical vertebrae, butterfly vertebrae, and a crablike-shaped thorax was present. The patient had a short trunk, short stature, and long extremities. Moreover, he had a syndromic face and restrictive-type respiratory distress. There was a glomus tumor in the carotid space. In our literature review, we found that neural tube defects are frequently present in this syndrome. However, we could not identify any cases with affected neural crest cells. CONCLUSIONS: JLS may affect cells derived from the neural crest located between the neural tube and surface ectoderm. Therefore patients with JLS should be screened for other tumors located in this area.