Assessment of quality of life, anxiety, depression, and sleep quality in women with fibromyalgia and their spouses.

OBJECTIVE: Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic disease that is more common in adult women and is characterized by widespread pain in the body, especially in the musculoskeletal system. Fatigue, sleep disturbance, anxiety disorder, and depression can be observed in this syndrome alongside pain. The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of FMS on the quality of life, psychological condition, and sleep quality of affected female patients and their spouses compared to women without FMS and their spouses. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty female patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia and their spouses and 38 healthy women and their spouses similar in age to these patients voluntarily participated in our study (136 participants total). The diagnosis of the patients was made according to the American College of Rheumatology. Turkish versions of the Short Form-36 (SF-36), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaires with validity and reliability were applied to all participants. The statistical analyses were carried out using SPSS 24.0 for Windows (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, US). Differences with p-values of ≤0.05 were statistically significant, and all results are expressed with a 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: A total of 136 people, including women with FMS (n=30), spouses of FMS women (n=30), non-FMS control women (n=38), and spouses of the control women (n=38), were included in the study. The patient and control groups were similar in age and gender. However, participants in the study group had higher mean Body Mass Indexes compared to the controls. Quality of life and its sub-scales (except SF-36/Social function parameter), depression, anxiety status, and sleep quality were significantly different between the patients and controls. Additionally, quality of life and its sub-scales (except SF-36/Social function parameter), depression, and anxiety status were significantly different between the spouses of the patients and controls. There were no significant differences between the groups regarding the mean SF-36/SF (p=0.995 for both). Additionally, there was no significant difference between the spouse of the patient and control regarding the mean PSQI values (p=0126). CONCLUSIONS: We believe that new and more comprehensive studies are necessary regarding the spouses of women with FMS in depression, anxiety, sleep quality disorders that we frequently see in women with FMS, and other psychosocial conditions that we have not mentioned here. In conclusion, women with FMS and their spouses.

Sexual Dysfunction in Male Patients With Behçet's Disease.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to evaluate sexual dysfunction in male patients with Behçet's Disease in comparison to healthy control subjects. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seventy-two sexually active male patients with Behçet's Disease and 62 healthy control subjects were included in this study. Patients' demographic and clinical characteristics were noted. Sexual function was assessed by means of the International Index of Erectile Function scoring system. In addition, disease-related quality of life was measured by means of the Nottingham Health Profile, and anxiety and depression levels were assessed by means of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. RESULTS: Patients with Behçet's Disease scored significantly lower in each of the 5 parameters of International Index of Erectile Function (p < 0.001) and significantly higher in Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale compared to healthy control subjects (p < 0.001). International Index of Erectile Function scores correlated with age, duration of disease and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Nottingham Health Profile scores in patients with Behçet's Disease (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Sexual function is impaired in male patients with Behçet's Disease, which might be associated by age, duration of disease, psychological status and quality of life.

Ultrasonographic evaluation of femoral cartilage thickness in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate femoral cartilage thickness in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) by using ultrasonography. METHODS: Eighty-four patients (55 M, 29 F) with a diagnosis of AS and 84 age-, gender- and body mass index-matched healthy subjects were enrolled. Demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients including disease duration, morning stiffness and medications were recorded. The femoral cartilage thicknesses of both knees were measured with a 7-12 MHz linear probe while subjects' knees were held in maximum flexion. Three mid-point measurements were taken from both knees (lateral femoral condyle (LFC), intercondylar area (ICA) and medial femoral condyle (MFC)). RESULTS: Concerning both ICA (p < 0.001) and left MFC (p = 0.013), cartilage measurements were significantly thicker in AS patients than control subjects. In a subgroup analysis (anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) users vs anti-TNF naive), cartilage thickness measurements - bilateral ICA (p = 0.000) and left MFC (p = 0.017) - were found to be greater in AS patients under anti-TNF treatment (n = 65) when compared with those of healthy controls. CONCLUSION: We imply that AS patients seem to have thicker femoral cartilage, which could be related to anti-TNF treatment.

Relation of asymmetric dimethylarginine and cardiac involvement in systemic sclerosis.

OBJECTIVES: The heart is a commonly involved organ in systemic sclerosis (SSc) and pulmonary hypertension is a commonly observed complication that is associated with poor prognosis in this disease. Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide synthases. In this study, we aimed to contribute to an early diagnosis of cardiac involvement by evaluating ADMA and tissue Doppler electrocardiographic findings in patients with SSc. METHODS: 30 SSc patients without clinical cardiac symptoms and 30 controls were included. Plasma ADMA levels were measured and tissue Doppler electrocardiography examination was carried out for all participants. Systolic and diastolic functions were assessed; pulmonary arterial systolic pressure and mean pulmonary arterial pressure were measured. RESULTS: The patient and control groups demonstrated a significant difference with regard to right ventricular free wall tissue Doppler late diastolic wave, pulmonary arterial systolic pressure, right ventricular ejection fraction, and right ventricular diastolic dysfunction values. ADMA levels were significantly higher in SSc patients and also in active patients compared to inactive patients. No significant relationship between ADMA and echocardiographic parameters was found. CONCLUSION: Tissue Doppler echocardiography is capable of revealing impaired right ventricular functions and increased pulmonary arterial systolic pressure before the occurrence of any cardiac clinical symptoms in patients with SSc. Serum ADMA levels were increased in SSc and in patients with active disease.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of home based or hospital based calisthenic exercises in patients with multiple sclerosis.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of calisthenic exercises on balance, walking speed, fatigue, quality of life, and psychological status in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty patients diagnosed with MS were randomized into two exercise groups (group 1 = hospital-based, group 2 = home-based). Outcome measures including the MS International Quality of Life Scale, 10-meter walking test, Berg Balance Scale, Fatigue Severity Scale and the Hospital Anxiety Depression Inventory were assessed at the baseline and at 12-weeks. RESULTS: Thirty-six participants completed the exercise programme (hospital based = 16, home based = 20). The mean age was 32.83 ± 3.64 years. The mean duration of disease was 6.97 ± 3.15 years. Hospital-based and home-based exercise groups had significant improvements in the balance, 10-meter walking test, anxiety, and the quality of life after the 12-week exercise programme. There was a significant improvement in the hospital-based patients in terms of the depression scores. No significant improvement was observed in terms of fatigue in any of the groups. When both groups were compared, the improvement in the balance and depression scores of the hospital-based patients was significantly higher than the home-based patients. CONCLUSIONS: Calisthenic exercises can be easily performed both at home and in hospital setting. In patients with MS, calisthenic exercises performed at home or at the hospital may improve the balance, quality of life, and the functional and psychological status, while no significant effect has been observed on fatigue.

Protective Effects of Carvacrol Against Methotrexate-induced Liver Toxicity in Rats.

BACKGROUND: To investigate whether carvacrol (CAR) pretreatment reduces the severity of methotrexate (MTX)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. METHODS: A total of 24 rats were equally divided into three groups : group I, control ; group II, MTX-treated ; and group III, CAR+MTX-treated. On Day 1 group III received a one-time intraperitoneal dose of CAR (73 mg/kg), and on Day 2 both groups II and III received a single dose of intraperitoneal MTX (20 mg/kg). The rats were then sacrificed so to harvest blood and liver tissue samples to determine malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels. Histological specimens were examined via light microscopy. RESULTS: Levels of MDA, ALT, AST and ALP in rat liver tissue samples were significantly higher in the MTX-treated group relative to the control group. However, TAS was significantly reduced in the MTX-treated group when compared to controls. Pretreating rats with CAR counteracted the effect of MTX exposure as MDA was significantly decreased and TAS was elevated in liver tissues when contrasted with the MTX-treated group. Furthermore, histological examination demonstrated significant liver injury in the MTX-treated group versus the CAR+MTX group. CONCLUSIONS: Pretreatment with CAR markedly diminished liver damage induced by MTX. Therefore, CAR administration preceding MTX treatment might be a promising therapeutic modality to prevent and/or lessen the extent of MTX-induced hepatotoxicity.

Ultrasonographic Measurement of the Femoral Cartilage Thickness in Patients with Behçet's Disease.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate femoral cartilage thickness in patients with Behçet's disease (BD) by using ultrasonography. METHODS: Thirty-one patients with BD (18 M, 13 F; mean age: 32.87 ± 8.5 years) and 31 age-, gender- and body mass index-matched healthy subjects were enrolled. Demographic features and medications of the patients were recorded. The femoral cartilage thicknesses of both knees were measured with a 7-12 MHz linear probe while subjects' knees were held in maximum flexion. Three mid-point measurements were taken from both knees: lateral femoral condyle (LFC), intercondylar area (ICA) and medial femoral condyle (MFC). RESULTS: Cartilage measurements of BD patients were significantly thinner at the ICA (p = 0.009) and LFC (p = 0.007) on the left knee, and at the MFC on both sides (both p < 0.05). Left knee cartilage thickness value at MFC (p = 0.005) was decreased in BD patients with arthritis compared to the healthy control group. CONCLUSION: These preliminary findings of decreased femoral cartilage thickness in BD patients with arthritis should be complemented with future studies. However, the possibility of early knee joint degeneration and eventual osteoarthritis in BD should also be kept in mind.

Determining treatibility of primary teeth with pulpal exposure.

OBJECTIVES: To determine rates of pulpal exposure during caries removal with an excavator or a bur, to assess success rates of vital pulp therapies in both cases, to analyze pulpal bleeding as an indicator of primary teeth treatability. STUDY DESIGN: Of the 352 primary mandibular molars with deep carious lesions, 141 with pulp exposed during the removal of caries were grouped according to type of instrument causing pulpal exposure and existence of bleeding at the exposure site. Teeth suitable for direct pulp capping or formocresol pulpotomy were treated and followed up for two years. RESULTS: The difference between the rates of pulpal exposure with an excavator (52.5%) or a bur (47.5%) was insignificant. The treatment success rate of teeth with pulp exposed by an excavator (15.8%) was significantly lower than teeth with pulp exposed by a bur (48.8%), regardless of whether bleeding existed at the exposure site or not; however when bleeding existed, this difference was insignificant (15.8% and 40.6%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Pulpal exposure possibility during caries removal caused by an excavator and a bur was similar the treatment success rate was lower when the exposure was caused by an excavator the existence of pulpal bleeding resulted in mistakes in diagnoses.

The impact of ankylosing spondylitis on female sexual functions.

The aim of this study was to explore the impact of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and the disease-related variables, psychological status and the quality of life on the female patients' sexual function measured according to the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Thirty-seven sexually active female AS patients and 33 healthy controls were enroled in this study. Their demographic data were evaluated and the generalised pain in patients with AS was assessed according to the visual analogue scale (0-100 mm). Laboratory tests were conducted in order to measure the C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rates (ESR) of the patients. In comparison to the healthy control group, patients with AS had significantly lower scores in each of the five domains of the FSFI except for the pain domain (P<0.05). The disease activity, functional status, quality of life, radiological score and CRP levels were negatively correlated with the FSFI (P<0.05). No significant correlation was observed with the disease duration, smoking status, depression, anxiety, pain and ESR when the total scores and the scores from the domains of the FSFI were compared. The sexual function is impaired in female patients with AS. This impairment in the sexual function is especially related to the functional status and disease activity among the clinical and laboratory parameters.