Ultrasonographic evaluation of hand and foot tendons in Behçet's disease.

Background: There have been few studies in the literature evaluating the effect of Behçet's disease (BD) on tendons. Thus, we planned to search for the involvement of hand and foot tendons in BD by using ultrasonography and to determine the relation of tendon involvement with clinical measurements.

Methods: The study consisted of 33 randomly selected BD patients and 36 voluntary healthy controls matched by age and body mass index.

The autonomic dysfunction in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: a clinical and electrophysiological study.

The aim of this study was to determine autonomic nervous system (ANS) functions by using clinical and electrophysiological tests in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Twenty AS and 20 healthy control subjects were recruited. Demographic data, symptoms related with ANS, and neurological findings were recorded.

Decreased handgrip strength and increased hip osteoporosis in patients with Alzheimer`s disease.

Objective: To evaluate the causes of disability in the musculoskeletal system, and depression in patients with Alzheimer`s disease (AD) and healthy controls.

Methods: A case-controlled study in which healthy elderly patients (n=56) and patients with AD (n=75) attending the Geriatric Rehabilitation Unit of Ankara Education and Research Hospital, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation were compared on several measures of disability including handgrip strength, knee x-rays graded for osteoarthritis, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry results for osteoporosis, and depression scores in the training period of 2003-2004.

Results: Handgrip strength values were significantly lower in patients with AD compared to the controls (19.

Evaluation of pulmonary function and bicycle ergometry tests in patients with Behçet's disease.

Behçet's disease (BD) has well-defined pulmonary complications, but cardiopulmonary exercise testing and the strength of the respiratory muscles have not been studied in detail. We aimed to investigate the pulmonary functions tests, inspiratory and expiratory muscle strength and endurance, cardiopulmonary exercise test response, and the relationship of these parameters in patients with BD. Forty BD patients and 20 healthy control subjects were recruited for this study.

Bone and stone in ankylosing spondylitis: osteoporosis and urolithiasis.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) has well-defined renal complications, but urolithiasis has not been studied in detail. We aimed to evaluate the relation between AS and urolithiasis presence and the effect of this coexistence on the bone mineral status of patients. By dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry measurements at the femoral neck and lumbar vertebrae, we assessed the influence of urolithiasis, disease activity, and duration on bone mineral density (BMD) at different sites.

Evaluation of iontophoresis and local corticosteroid injection in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of local corticosteroid injection with iontophoresis of corticosteroids in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Design: This study was a prospective, randomized, unblinded clinical trial with follow-up at 2 and 8 wks. Thirty patients (48 median nerves) with clinical and electrophysiologic evidence of carpal tunnel syndrome were included in the study.