Nurgül Arinci Incel

Assessment of symptom severity and functional status in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome: Reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the Boston Questionnaire

Objectives. The aim of this study was to develop a Turkish version of the Boston Questionnaire and assess its reliability and validity. Methods. Sixty-seven patients with idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome were included in the study. The Turkish version of Boston Questionnaire was obtained after translation process, and was then administered to subjects twice within seven days. Reliability was assessed by internal consistency (Cronbachs alpha and item-total correlation), and reproducibility. Validity was examined by correlating the Boston Questionnaire scores to general health status (Short Form-36), pain severity (Visual Analogue Scale) and pinch and grip strength measures. Results. Reliability of the Turkish version was very good, with high internal consistency (Cronbachs alpha 0.82 for symptom severity scale, and 0.88 for functional status scale), and reproducibility (Pearson correlation coefficient 0.60 for symptom severity scale, and 0.77 for functional status scale). The Boston Questionnaire scores were correlated with Visual Analogue Scale, physical functioning, physical role, bodily pain and emotional role subscales of Short Form-36, pinch and grip strength scores to obtain coefficients for external construct validity. Conclusion. Adaptation of the Boston Questionnaire for use in Turkey was successful. Our results seem to support previous finding of the English version, indicating that it is valid and reliable.

Respiratory muscle strength but not BASFI score relates to diminished chest expansion in ankylosing spondylitis

Pulmonary function is altered in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) owing mainly to the restriction of chest wall involvement (limited chest expansion). The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between chest expansion, respiratory muscle strength (MIP, MEP) maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV), and BASFI score in patients with AS. Twenty-three male patients with definite AS and 21 age-matched healthy male controls were recruited for the study. Patients with AS were assessed for functional status by BASFI. Measurement of chest expansion and lumbar spinal flexion (modified Schober) method was performed in all subjects. Pulmonary function tests were performed by spirometry. Respiratory muscle strength was evaluated by a mouth-pressure meter (MPM). Body mass index (kg/m2) was recorded in all individuals. Chest expansion and modified Schober measurement were significantly lower in AS patients (p<0.05). Pulmonary function tests revealed restrictive lung disease. The mean BASFI score suggested good functional capacity in the AS group. The respiratory muscle strength and MVV were also lower in AS (p<0.05). The chest expansion was correlated with MIP and MEP values (r=0.491; p=0.02, r=0.436; p=0.05). Chest expansion was also correlated negatively with disease duration (r=−0.502; p=0.03). In addition, there was no correlation between chest expansion and BASFI score (r=−0.076; p=0.773). This study demonstrates that functional status (BASFI) is not influenced by the limitation of chest wall movement. It may be as a result of the maintenance of moderate physical activity during active life in patients with AS.

Seronegative spondyloarthropathy of familial Mediterranean fever.

Abstract. Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is characterized by an autosomal inheritance pattern, Mediterranean ancestry, and history of recurrent fever. We present a 30-year-old Turkish man with FMF and accompanying seronegative spondyloarthropathy. His diagnose depended on the clinical course of his disease: recurrent fever accompanied by abdominal pain attacks together with a positive family history and his ethnic origin and sacroiliitis. We review the common manifestations of FMF and remind physicians that sacroiliac joint involvement must be kept in mind in presence of articular symptoms in a FMF patient.

Pain pressure threshold values in ankylosing spondylitis

Abstract Rheumatic patients experience persistent and disabling pain. We aimed to investigate the pain pressure threshold (PPT) values in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients compared to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and healthy subjects. The relationship between lumbar and thoracal Schober, chin-to-chest distance, occiput-to-wall distance, finger-to-floor distance, chest expansion, and pain scores were also evaluated in an AS group. Our study group consisted of 17 AS patients, 20 RA patients, and 21 healthy volunteers. Eighteen tender points accepted by the American College of Rheumatism (ACR) for fibromyalgia syndrome evaluation in 1990 and three control points were evaluated with Fischers tissue compliance meter, which can also be used as an algometer. Fourteen paravertebral points were evaluated, and mean values of paravertebral myalgic scores were recorded in the AS group. Our data indicate that AS patients do not have lower PPT with respect to healthy individuals, whereas RA patients have significantly lower PPT. A significant correlation was obtained between finger-to-floor distance and paravertebral myalgic score for AS. We conclude that AS does not have a widespread pain nature as RA.

Can mean platelet volume and red blood cell distribution width show disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis

AIM To evaluate the relationship between mean platelet volume (MPV) and red cell distribution width (RDW), and disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). PATIENTS & METHODS Hundred RA and 100 controls were included. RESULTS MPV and RDW were higher in RA (p < 0.0001). The cut-off levels of RDW and MPV were 14.8 and 10.4. Patients with RDW >14.8 had higher Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28; p = 0.002) and pain score (p = 0.0007). RDW was positively correlated with DAS28 and pain. But, DAS28 and pain were not different between patients with MPV >10.4 and <10.4. CONCLUSION MPV and RDW were significantly higher in RA. RDW and MPV were similar to erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein to indicate inflammatory activity. RDW was correlated with pain and DAS28, but MPV was not associated with them.

Obesity Related Measurements and Joint Space Width in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis

Background The aim of this study is to analyze the relationship between body mass index and obesity related measurements and tibiofemoral joint space which have been the principal method of radiographic evaluation in progression and therapeutic trials of knee osteoarthritis. Methods Fifty-five female patients with the diagnosis of osteoarthritis in knees according to the criteria of American College of Rheumatology in knees were included in the study. The mean age of patients was 57,42+/-8,60(SD) years with a range of 42-77. Medial and lateral compartment joint space widths were measured on antero-posterior knee radiography. Body mass index, triceps, biceps, subscapular and suprailiac skinfold thickness, waist and hip circumference were measured. Body composition was determined by dual energy X-ray absorpsiometry (DEXA) (Norland XR 46) and total lean mass (g), total fat mass (g), trunk lean mass, trunk fat mass, abdomen lean mass, abdomen fat mass measurements were recorded. Results Patients with body mass index>30 were accepted as obese patients. According to these criteria 33 of the 55 patients were obese. Tibial medial compartment and tibial lateral compartment measurements of obese patients were significantly lower than nonobese patients (p=0,000, p=0,003 respectively). Body mass index was correlated with total lean mass, total fat mass, trunk fat mass, abdominal fat mass, leg fat mass. Tibial medial compartment and tibial lateral compartment space measurements were negatively correlated with body mass index. Conclusion: Our results revealed significant difference in both medial and lateral joint spaces of obese and nonobese patients with knee osteoarthritis. Medial and lateral joint spaces of obese patients were narrower than nonobese osteoarthritis patients. The more body mass index had the patients the narrower joint space they had displayed. However body composition analysis and obesity related measurements did not show additional correlation with tibial compartment measurement.

Sleep quality in patients with chronic low back pain: A cross-sectional study assesing its relations with pain, functional status and quality of life

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate sleep quality in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) and its relationship with pain, functional status, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). METHODS Two hundred patients with CLBP aged 20-78 years (mean: 50.2 years) and 200 sex- and age-matched pain-free healthy controls (HCs) aged 21-73 years (mean: 49.7 years) were included in this study. After lumbar region examination, in patients, pain was evaluated with the Short Form-McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ), functional capacity with the Functional Rating Index (FRI), and health-related quality of life with the Short Form-36 (SF-36). The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to evaluate sleep quality of both groups.The sleep quality was compared between the patients and HCs. In patients with CLBP, its relations with pain, functional status and HRQOL were also investigated. RESULTS The patients had significantly higher total scores (8.1 ± 4.3, 4.6 ± 3.4, P< 0.001, respectively) and subscale scores (P< 0.001) for PSQI compared to HCs. The groups were only similar in use of sleeping medication (P> 0.05) Among the patients, sleep quality was worse in women, in the patients with complaints more than 11 years, in the patients with low back and two leg pain (P< 0.05). Mean scores of the FRI, SF-MPQ, and visual analog scale in the patients were 8.5 ± 3.0, 16.7 ± 8.0, 6.9 ± 1.2, respectively. The PSQI total scores of patients were positively related with both SF-MPQ and FRI scores (P< 0.001). Also, there were negative relationships between the physical component summary score of the SF-36 and all subscale scores of the PSQI, without sleep duration of PSQI (P< 0.001). CONCLUSION The sleep quality of patients with CLBP was worse compared to HCs, and there were positive relations between the sleep quality with pain and functional status. Also, the poor sleep quality had negative effect on the physical component of quality of life.

Effect of stanford pouch and ileal conduit urinary diversions on bone mineral density and metabolism

After urinary-intestinal diversions metabolic complications may occur in long term follow up. We aimed to evaluate bone metabolism changes in urinary diverted patients. Nineteen patients with urinary diversions (11 Stanford pouch and 8 ileal conduit) performed with diagnosis of locally invasive bladder cancer and 19 age-sex matched healthy subjects were enrolled in the study. Bone mineral density (BMD), arterial blood pH, bicarbonate and base excess as well as bone mineralisation parameters at urine and serum were evaluated for all groups. For statistical evaluation, nonparametric comparisons between groups were used. Comparison of ileal conduit and control groups displayed higher alkaline phosphatase and parathormone levels in the patient group though the difference was not significant. The mean BMD values of ileal conduit group were osteopenic, revealing a significant difference with the control group. Statistically significant differences between alkaline phosphatase, parathormone levels of Stanford pouch and control groups were apparent whereas BMD values were not significantly different. When the two patient groups were compared with each other, no difference in BMD or bone metabolism parameter values could be observed. Patients with urinary diversions are under risk of bone demineralisation and must be followed by BMDs, arterial blood analysis and bone mineral metabolism parameters.

Fibromyalgia Syndrome Patients Optimize the Oxygen Cost of Walking by Preferring a Lower Walking Speed

Objectives The aim of the study is to investigate the effect of fibromyalgia syndrome [FMS] on the preferred walking speed [PWS], energy expenditure at rest, and oxygen cost of walking. Methods Fifteen women with FMS and 15 healthy matched female subjects participated in our study. All patients were newly diagnosed and had no medication for FMS. The energy expenditure of FMS individuals was measured by using indirect calorimetry during resting and walking at PWS. Results The resting energy expenditure in healthy subjects [Group 1] was 1115.08 ± 154.33 kcal/day and that in FMS patients [Group 2] was 1253.48 ± 212.94 kcal/day; there was no statistical difference between the groups [P > 0.05]. The mean PWSs in Groups 1 and 2 were 81.22 ± 9.10 and 71.42 ± 6.61 m/min, respectively. The difference between the PWSs in Groups 1 and 2 was statistically significant [P < 0.05]. The mean oxygen consumption in the first walking trail was 12.95 ± 2.62 and 11.83 ± 1.68 mL/kg/min in Groups 1 and 2, respectively [P > 0.05]. The mean oxygen cost of the first walking trial in Groups 1 and 2 was 0.16 ± 0.02 and 0.17 ± 0.02 mL/kg/m, respectively; the difference was not significant [P > 0.05]. Conclusion The PWS of patients with FMS was lower than that of healthy controls. The oxygen cost and consumption were similar in both groups in our study. This study demonstrates that FMS individuals optimize the oxygen cost of walking by preferring a lower walking speed.

Bone mineral density and urolithiasis interaction in rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic inflammatory disease with extraarticular manifestations involving many organs. Both urinary stone formation and bone mineral density (BMD) can be affected by calcium (Ca) metabolism changes in RA. We aimed, in our study, to investigate the incidence of urolithiasis in adult RA patients and to identify the BMD characteristics of stone-forming RA patients. Seventy-nine RA patients and 35 control subjects participated in our study. None had a known renal disease, except for urolithiasis. Complete blood count (CBC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), rheumatcoid factor (RF), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were recorded. Twenty-four-hour urinalysis, as well as plain X-ray, ultrasound imaging, and BMD measurements with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) were performed. T scores more than 1 SD below the mean value were accepted as low BMD. There was no statistically significant difference between urinary stone incidence in RA patients and controls. There was a significant difference between BMD values in RA patients with and without urinary stone disease. The low T scores of stone-forming RA patients may be explained by the additive effect of two coexisting diseases, both shown to be related to low bone mass. From another point of view, both BMD loss and urolithiasis can be consequences of altered Ca metabolism in RA. So we suggest that RA patients with urolithiasis should be evaluated for BMD, and that RA patients with low BMD be evaluated for urolithiasis.