Causes of severe infections in patients with systemic sclerosis and associated factors.

Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic systemic disease characterized by vascular damage, autoimmunity, and fibrosis in the skin and internal organs. In this study, we tried to determine the causes of severe infection in patients with SSc and to reveal the factors associated with severe infection.

Methods: We retrospectively examined 214 SSc patients between January 2010 and August 2020.

Predictors of pain catastrophizing in women with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify predictive factors associated with pain catastrophizing in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: A total of 104 volunteered women with a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus participated in the study. Pain Catastrophizing Scale, Body Awareness Questionnaire, Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia, and Beck Depression Inventory were used to assess patients.

Indications and risk factors for hospitalization in patients with primary Sjögren syndrome: experience from a tertiary center in Turkey.

Objective: In this study, it was aimed to reveal the hospitalization reasons for patients diagnosed with primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS) and potentially associated factors in a tertiary health center.

Method: One hundred and sixty-three pSS patients who regularly attended their follow-ups between January 2010 and May 2021 were included in the study. These patients' reasons for hospitalization, duration of hospitalization, and numbers of presenting to the hospital were recorded.

Interstitial Lung Disease in Systemic Sclerosis: A Single-center Retrospective Analysis.

Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by microangiopathy, inflammation, fibrosis. Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is common among SSc patients.

Objective: This study aims to define the clinical, laboratory, and serologic characteristics of SSc patients with ILD and to present the frequency of chest computed tomography features.

Serum Calprotectin is Indicating Clinical and Ultrasonographic Disease Activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis, even with Normal C-Reactive Protein Levels.

Objective: Calprotectin is an inflammatory biomarker which assesses disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The objective of this study was to test whether serum calprotectin is associated with clinical and ultrasonographic disease activity in patients with RA, and to analyse its predicting value for disease activity evaluation despite normal C-Reactive protein (CRP) levels.

Methods: We included 80 patients with RA and 30 healthy subjects.

High mobility group box-1 levels may be associated with disease activity of Behcet's disease.

Background: High mobility group box- 1 (HMGB- 1) is a nuclear protein acting as a proinflammatory molecule. The serum HMGB- 1 levels were found elevated in chronic inflammatory diseases. In this cross-sectional study, serum HMGB- 1 levels in Behcet's disease (BD) patients and healthy controls (HC) were studied.

Early onset primary Sjögren syndrome, clinical and laboratory characteristics.

Introduction/objectives: Primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS) is usually encountered between the fourth and sixth decades. It is known that the age of onset in autoimmune diseases may affect the clinical features. In this study, we aimed to investigate the clinical and laboratory characteristics of early onset pSS patients.

Association of simple hematological parameters with disease manifestations, activity, and severity in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Introduction/objectives: Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), mean platelet volume (MPV), and red cell distribution width (RDW) may potentially reflect inflammatory status in systemic autoimmune diseases. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between these proposed markers and disease manifestations, activity, and severity in systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Method: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 69 systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients and 50 healthy volunteers in a single center.

Serum Interleukin 35 Levels in Systemic Sclerosis and Relationship With Clinical Features.

Background/objective: Interleukin (IL) 35 is a member of the IL-12 family. Studies show that IL-35 is an important anti-inflammatory cytokine and suppresses effector T-cell activity. In this study, we aimed to evaluate serum IL-35 levels in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients and its potential relation with clinical findings.