Are Transitional Vertebra and Spina Bifida Occulta Related with Lumbar Disc Herniation and Clinical Parameters in Young Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain?

Objective: Lumbosacral transitional vertebra (LSTV) and spina bifida occulta (SBO) are widespread within the lumbosacral spine. Their connection to lumbar disc herniation (LDH) and/or lower back pain has been debated in the current literature; however, there is no consensus. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between the frequency of LSTV and SBO with that of LDH among young patients with chronic lower back pain.

Infliximab Modulates Cisplatin-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats.

Background: Cisplatin (Cis) is one of the most commonly used antineoplastic drugs. It is used as chemotherapy for many solid organ malignancies such as brain, neck, male and female urogenital, vesical and pulmonary cancers. Infliximab blocks tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α).

The relationship between serum YKL-40 levels and arterial stiffness in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

Objective: Serum YKL-40 plays roles in inflammatory and vascular processes. Our aim was to evaluate serum YKL-40 levels in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and to investigate their potential relationship with arterial stiffness based on carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (CF-PWV).

Methods: Forty-three patients with AS and 41 healthy controls with no history or current signs of cardiovascular disease were included in the study.

Ultrasonographic evaluation of the femoral cartilage thickness in patients with hypothyroidism.

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of hypothyroidism on femoral cartilage thickness by using ultrasound, which has been found to be useful in the early diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis. [Subjects and Methods] Forty patients diagnosed with hypothyroidism and 30 age-, gender-, smoking status, physical activity-, and body mass index-matched healthy subjects were enrolled. The thickness of the femoral articular cartilage was measured using a 7- to 12-MHz linear probe.

Effectiveness of Kinesiotaping and Subacromial Corticosteroid Injection in Shoulder Impingement Syndrome.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether kinesiotaping or subacromial corticosteroid injection provides additional benefit when used with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in patients with shoulder impingement syndrome.

Design: Patients with shoulder impingement syndrome were divided into 3 groups as follows: NSAID group (n = 33), kinesiotaping group (kinesiotaping + NSAID) (n = 33), and injection group (subacromial corticosteroid injection + NSAID) (n = 33). Outcome measures including visual analog scale, shoulder ranges of motion, Shoulder Disability Questionnaire, and University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) scale were evaluated before and after the treatment (fourth week).

Relationship of serum osteoprotegerin with arterial stiffness, preclinical atherosclerosis, and disease activity in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

Patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) reportedly have a higher mortality and morbidity risk. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) was recently defined as an important cardiovascular (CV) marker in the general population. We aimed to assess the relationship of serum OPG levels with arterial stiffness, carotid intima media thickness (CIMT), and clinical and laboratory data in AS patients.

The effects of whirlpool bath and neuromuscular electrical stimulation on complex regional pain syndrome.

[Purpose] The aim of the present study was to investigate and compare the effects of whirlpool bath and neuromuscular electrical stimulation on complex regional pain syndrome. [Subjects and Methods] Sixty outpatients (30 per group) with complex regional pain syndrome participated. They received 15 treatment 5 days per week for 3 weeks.

Carpal tunnel syndrome in women working in tea agriculture.

Objective: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine the frequency of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) among women using tea leaf scissors and compare it with normal population.

Methods: Two hundred hands of 100 women using tea leaf scissors (tea leaf scissors group) and 112 hands of 56 healthy women (control group) were clinically and electrophysiologically evaluated for CTS. Women using tea leaf scissors were evaluated with visual analog scale (VAS) for pain and Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire for symptoms and functional status.

Investigation of tear osmolarity in early rheumatoid arthritis: relation to disease activity.

Objective: To investigate the frequency of dry eye (DE) by measuring tear osmolarity (TO) with the recently introduced TearLab system (TearLab Corp, San Diego, Calif.) in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (ERA) and the relationship between the severity of DE and ERA disease activity.

Design: Prospective study

Participants: Sixty-four eyes of 64 newly diagnosed and untreated patients with ERA were enrolled in this study.

Atypical Skin Rash in a Patient with Adult-Onset Still's Disease: A Case Report.

Adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) is an uncommon idiopathic disorder with various clinical manifestations. The absence of specific serological and pathological findings often makes the disease difficult to diagnose. The presence of skin lesions is important to the correct diagnosis of the disease.

Relationship between pulse wave velocity and serum YKL-40 level in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis.

Subclinical atherosclerosis has been demonstrated in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (ERA) without any signs of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum YKL-40 level and arterial stiffness in patients with ERA. Forty two patients with ERA and 35 healthy controls with no history or current sign of CVD were included in the study.

Dry eye in patients with fibromyalgia and its relevance to functional and emotional status.

Purpose: To evaluate dry eye in patients with fibromyalgia (FM).

Methods: Fifty-three FM patients and 53 age and sex well-matched controls were included in this study. Visual analog scale (VAS), number of tender points, FM impact questionnaire (FIQ), Beck depression scale (BDS), Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), the tear break-up time (TBUT), Schirmer test, and tear osmolarity (TO) were assessed.

Evaluation of peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in patients with vitamin B12 deficiency using spectral domain optical coherence tomography.

Purpose: To compare peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thicknesses measured by Cirrus HD optical coherence tomography (OCT) of patients with vitamin B12 deficiency with healthy controls and to evaluate the correlation between the peripapillary RNFL thickness and plasma vitamin B12 levels.

Materials And Methods: Forty-five patients (19 male and 26 female) with a diagnosis of vitamin B12 deficiency (patient group) and 45 age- and sex- matched healthy subjects (control group) were consecutively enrolled in this study. Average, temporal, nasal, inferior, and superior quadrant peripapillary RNFL thicknesses of each subject were obtained using the Cirrus HD OCT.

Investigation of the relationship between vitamin D and bone mineral density in newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between vitamin D and bone mineral density in newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis (MS) and to compare results with data from healthy controls. A total of 60 subjects, including 30 patients with MS, newly diagnosed and untreated (18 females, 12 males, at 18-40 years of age) and 30 healthy controls (20 female, 10 male) were enrolled in this study. Bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine and left femoral neck region were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA).

Sociodemographic characteristics, clinical signs and quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics as well as the quality of life of patients with fibromyalgia (FM).

Materials And Methods: A total of 37 female patients diagnosed with FM and 31 healthy females were included into the study. Individuals were asked about their demographic characteristics.

The relationship between plasma homocysteine level and different treatment modalities in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

To determine plasma homocysteine levels in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and their correlation with disease activity measurements. To examine the effects of different treatment modalities on homocysteine levels. One hundred eight patients diagnosed with AS according to New York criteria and 65 healthy individuals matched in terms of age and gender were enrolled in the study.

Low back pain prevalence and characteristics in caregivers of stroke patients: a pilot study.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and features of low back pain (LBP) among stroke caregivers.

Method: Participants included 64 caregivers of stroke survivors in our inpatient clinic. Age, gender, body weight, FIMTM, and Brunnstrom Scale of patients and low back pain history, Short Form-36 (SF-36), Beck Depression Measure (BDM), and Oswestry Disability Scale (ODS) of caregivers were reported.

Investigation of effects of two-different treatment modalities on nerve conduction in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

The objective of this study was to investigate any relationship between peripheral neuropathy and anti-TNF-α therapy used in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Thirty-nine patients monitored in our clinic with a diagnosis of AS and without neuropathic symptoms were enrolled in the study. Patients were divided into two groups.