Regional variations in psoriatic arthritis: Insights from a nationwide multicenter analysis in Türkiye.

Objectives: The study aimed to investigate and compare clinical features, disease activity, and the overall disease burden among psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients across seven distinct geographic regions in Türkiye.

Patients And Methods: A multicenter cross-sectional study involving 1,134 PsA patients from 25 referral centers across seven regions was conducted. Demographic and clinical characteristics, comorbidities, joint involvement, extra-articular manifestations, and disease activity measures were evaluated across regions.

Diagnostic delay in psoriatic arthritis: insights from a nationwide multicenter study.

This study aimed to investigate the duration of diagnostic delay in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and identify potential contributing factors using a comprehensive, population-based approach. Data were obtained from the Turkish League Against Rheumatism (TLAR)-Network, involving patients who met the CASPAR criteria. Diagnostic delay was defined as time interval from symptom onset to PsA diagnosis, categorized as ≤ 2 years and > 2 years.

Beyond expectations: disease duration and psychological burden in psoriatic arthritis.

This study aims to investigate the relationship between disease duration and psychological burden in PsA and to identify the risk factors associated with psychological distress. Patients with PsA who met CASPAR classification criteria enrolled by Turkish League Against Rheumatism (TLAR)-Network. Patients were categorized into three groups based on disease duration: early stage (< 5 years), middle stage (≥ 5, < 10 years), and late stage (≥ 10 years).

The impact of nail psoriasis on disease activity, quality of life, and clinical variables in patients with psoriatic arthritis: A cross-sectional multicenter study.

Aim: Nail involvement is common in psoriatic arthritis. This study assesses clinical characteristics, nail psoriasis prevalence, and impact of nail psoriasis on disease activity in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Method: This cross-sectional multicenter study was conducted by the Turkish League Against Rheumatism using PsA patients recruited from 25 centers.

Inconsistencies of the Disease Activity Assessment Tools for Psoriatic Arthritis: Challenges to Rheumatologists.

Objective: Currently, concerning the evaluation of psoriatic arthritis (PsA), there is no agreement on a standardized composite index for disease activity that includes all relevant domains. The present study sought to assess the rates of remission (REM)/low disease activity (LDA) and disease states [minimal disease activity (MDA), very low disease activity (VLDA)] as defined by diverse activity scales (DAPSA, DAS28-ESR) in an attempt to display discrepancies across these assessment tools for peripheral PsA.

Methods: The study involved 758 patients (496 females, 262 males; mean age 47,1 years) with peripheral PsA who were registered to the Turkish League Against Rheumatism (TLAR) Network.

Impact of obesity on quality of life, psychological status, and disease activity in psoriatic arthritis: a multi‑center study.

This article aims to evaluate the possible effect of obesity on quality of life, psychological status, and other clinical variables in Psoriatic arthritis (PsA). PsA patients have been recruited by the Turkish League Against Rheumatism-Network from various centers in Turkey in this cross-sectional study. Patients with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ of 30 kg/m were considered obese.

Clinical characteristics, disease activity, functional status, and quality of life results of patients with psoriatic arthritis using biological and conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs.

Objectives: This study aims to compare the clinical characteristics, disease activity, and quality of life (QoL) of patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) who use biological and conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in a nationwide cohort throughout Turkey.

Patients And Methods: A total of 961 patients (346 males, 615 females; mean age 46.9±12.

Thiol/disulphide homeostasis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a potential link between disease activity and preclinical atherosclerosis.

Introduction/objectives: Thiols are crucial anti-oxidant agents that contain a sulfhydryl group; they play an important role in defence against reactive oxygen species. We aimed to determine the thiol/disulphide homeostasis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in conjunction with its association with disease activity, preclinical atherosclerosis, and other disease-related indices.

Methods: We enrolled 64 RA patients without known cardiovascular (CV) disease or risk factors and 46 healthy controls.

Gender-related differences in disease activity and clinical features in patients with peripheral psoriatic arthritis: A multi-center study.

Objective: This study sought to compare disease activity, clinical features, and patient-reported outcomes concerning anxiety, depression, fatigue, function, quality of life, and fibromyalgia between female and male patients with peripheral PsA in a Turkish population.

Methods: This multi-center Turkish League Against Rheumatism (TLAR) Network study included 1038 patients (678 females, 360 males) diagnosed with peripheral PsA according to the CASPAR criteria. The demographic and clinic parameters of the patients were recorded.

The effect of gender on disease activity and clinical characteristics in patients with axial psoriatic arthritis.

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of gender on clinical findings, disease activity, functional status and quality of life in patients with axial involvement in Turkey.

Methods: Patients with PsA who met the CASPAR classification criteria were enrolled consequently in this cohort. Turkish League Against Rheumatism (TLAR)-Network was formed with the participation of 25 centres.

Enthesitis and its relationship with disease activity, functional status, and quality of life in psoriatic arthritis: a multi-center study.

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an inflammatory arthritis with distinct phenotypic subtypes. Enthesitis is assigned as a hallmark of the disease, given its significant relations to disease activity and quality of life. Our objective is to evaluate the prevalence of enthesitis and its association with some clinical parameters, particularly quality of life, using data from a national registry.

Short-term effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation and ultrasound therapies on muscle architecture and functional capacity in knee osteoarthritis: a randomized study.

Objective:: To determine the effects of ultrasound therapy and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) application on the muscle architecture and functional capacity in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Design:: A randomized study.

Subjects:: A total of 60 patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Assessment of hand function and disability in fibromyalgia.

Objective: Fibromyalgia, a potentially debilitating chronic pain syndrome, is a chronic disease. We aimed to compare the hand function of fibromyalgia (FM) patients and healthy individuals and to demonstrate the relationship between hand disability and FM.

Patients And Methods: The study was consisted of 40 female patients with FM and 30 healthy controls.

Three Case Reports of Rhupus Syndrome: An Overlap Syndrome of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

We present the clinical and serological characteristics of three patients with rhupus. The 3 patients with rhupus presented ACR criteria for SLE as well as for RA, ANA positive with a titer of 1/100 in all patients, and positive anti-DNA in 2 of the 3 patients, with the predominance of symmetrical polyarthritis. We found anti-CCP positivity and rheumatoid factor positivity and high titers in all patients, positive anti- anti-SSA in one patient, and positive anti- anti-Sm in one patient.

Comparison among pain, depression, and quality of life in cases with failed back surgery syndrome and non-specific chronic back pain.

[Purpose] The aim of this study is to compare patients with failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) with those with non-specific chronic back pain (NSCBP) in terms of pain, depression, and quality of life levels to explain the effects of surgery experience on low-back pain. [Subjects and Methods] A total of 50 patients with FBSS and 51 patients with NSCBP who consecutively applied to the outpatient clinic from September 2012 to April 2013 were included in the study. Patients completed questionnaires on demographics, body mass index, education level, work history, and pain duration (in months).

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.

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.

Comparison of the effectiveness of local corticosteroid injection and extracorporeal shock wave therapy in patients with lateral epicondylitis.

[Purpose] This study aimed to determine and compare the effectiveness of extracorporeal shock wave therapy and local corticosteroid injection in patients with lateral epicondylitis. [Subjects and Methods] Sixty-four patients with lateral epicondylitis were randomly divided into extracorporeal shock wave therapy and steroid injection groups. Patients were evaluated using hand grip strength, visual analog scale, and short-form McGill pain questionnaire at baseline and at 4 and 12 weeks post-treatment.

Relationship of osteoprotegerin to pulse wave velocity and carotid intima-media thickness in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Objective: Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is considered an important biomarker in cardiovascular (CV) disease. CV disease is the most common cause of mortality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a consequence of accelerated atherosclerosis. The present study aimed to evaluate the relationship of serum OPG levels to arterial stiffness, carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), and clinical and laboratory indices in RA 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.

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.