Analysing Biological Rhythms in Fibromyalgia Syndrome.

AIM: This study evaluated biological rhythm disorders in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). METHODS: The study enrolled 82 patients with FMS and 82 controls. Pain intensity was evaluated using a visual analogue scale (VAS). The psychological conditions of the patients were evaluated using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The Biological Rhythms Interview of Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (BRIAN) was used to assess disturbances in biological rhythms (ie sleep, activity, social and eating patterns). RESULTS: There was no difference between the two groups at baseline (all p > 0.05). The BDI, BRIAN total, sleep, activity, social, and eating scores were higher in patients with FMS than in the controls (all p < 0.001). Further, a significant correlation was found between biological rhythms and BDI scores (p < 0.001) and there were positive correlations between the VAS score and BRIAN total, sleep, and eating and BDI in patients with FMS (all p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: There are marked biological rhythm disturbances in FMS. There is an important relationship between rhythm disorders and FMS. The disturbances in sleep, functional activities, social participation, and disordered rhythms like eating patterns show the need for a multidisciplinary approach to treating patients with FMS.

The prevalence of Factor V Leiden, prothrombin G20210A, MTHFR C677T and MTHFR A1298C mutations in healthy Turkish population.

BACKGROUND: Factor V Leiden (FVL), prothrombin gene (PT G20210A) and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphisms are the main biomarkers used in the evaluation of tendency to venous thromboembolism. Our study aimed to investigate the distribution frequencies of these polymorphisms in healthy Turks living in the urban Yozgat region.  MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study included 90 blood donor candidates. All the donors were apparently healthy, and there was no family relationship between them. Mutations including FVL, PT G20210A, and MTHFR (C677T, A1298C) were investigated in all participants. Screening of polymorphisms was carried out using the SNaPshot® multiplex system. RESULTS: There were 42 male and 48 female individuals with age range 17-78 years and mean age 47.5 ± 13.6 years. The heterozygous FVL mutation was noted in 17 (10 male and seven female) donors (19%). FVL mutation was more frequently encountered in males than in females (23.8% vs. 12.5%). The heterozygous PT G20210A mutation was observed in five (5.5%) of the 90 (three male, two female) donors. The prevalence of homozygous polymorphisms of MTHFR C677T was 8.8% and of MTHFR A1298C 13.3%. On the other hand, four of the 90 participants (4.4%) carried none of these polymorphisms. CONCLUSION: This study showed that the prevalence of FVL, PT G20210A, MTHFR C677T and MTHFR A1298C polymorphisms is quite high, and the coexistence of FVL with other genotypes is not rare in a healthy Turkish population living in the Yozgat region. Of course, further detailed studies should be performed to support these findings. Hippokratia 2015; 19 (4): 309-313.