Exploring hand function in newly diagnosed primary Sjögren's syndrome: Clinical, radiographic, and ultrasonographic insights.

Background: Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is a chronic, systemic autoimmune disease. Musculoskeletal and neurological system involvement occurs in patients with pSS, which may lead to impairment in hand function. Hand dysfunction and its underlying causes remain an underexplored area in pSS.

Piriformis muscle abnormalities in sacroiliac MRI of patients with axial spondyloarthritis.

Background: Piriformis syndrome, an often-overlooked cause of sciatica, commonly presents as chronic gluteal pain and poses a diagnostic challenge, particularly in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).

Purpose: To examine piriformis muscle abnormalities on sacroiliac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and their association with clinical outcomes in patients with axSpA.

Material And Methods: This cross-sectional study included 100 axSpA patients (50 radiographic [r-axSpA], 50 non-radiographic [nr-axSpA]), classified by the 2009 ASAS Axial Spondyloarthritis criteria, who underwent MRI evaluations of the sacroiliac joints over a 6-month period.

Effect of splinting and kinesiotaping treatments on functional status, sleep quality and median nerve cross-sectional area in carpal tunnel syndrome: A single blind prospective randomized controlled study.

Background: The effect of conservative treatments on sleep quality in carpal tunnel syndrome is unclear.

Purpose: Comparing the effect of splinting and kinesiotaping in carpal tunnel syndrome on functional status, pain, grip strength, nerve cross-sectional area and sleep quality.

Study Design: Randomized controlled study.

Utility of shear wave elastography for diagnosing carpal tunnel syndrome with psoriatic arthritis.

Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a type of peripheral entrapment neuropathy and common for the patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Shear wave elastography (SWE) is a new ultrasonography technique that can be used for diagnosing CTS, but not studied in PsA patients.

Aims: The aim of this study to measure the stiffness of median nerve and hand muscles by quantitative SWE to identify whether SWE can be used for diagnosing CTS in patients with PsA or not.

Fatigue, anxiety and depression in patients with prediabetes: a controlled cross-sectional study.

Objective: We aimed to determine fatigue, depression, anxiety levels, and quality of life (QoL) in patients with prediabetes (PD) and to compare them with healthy subjects.

Materials And Methods: A controlled, cross-sectional study was conducted. The patients, aged 18-65, were recruited from a tertiary care hospital.

Evaluation of hepatitis serology and frequency of viral reactivation in patients with inflammatory arthritis receiving biologic agents: a multicenter observational study.

To evaluate of hepatitis serology and reactivation frequency in patients with rheumatic disease receiving biologic agents. Our study included patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases from 23 centers, who were followed up with biological therapy. Demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients, duration of drug use and hepatitis serology and the state of viral reactivation were analyzed.

Frequency of carpal tunnel syndrome and hand dysfunction in prediabetes: A cross-sectional, controlled study.

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the frequency of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), to investigate the impairment of hand functions in patients with prediabetes (PD), and to compare laboratory findings of PD patients with and without CTS.

Patients And Methods: Between June 2018 and January 2019, a total of 115 patients (29 males, 86 females; mean age: 51.4±11.

Portal hypertension in familial Mediterranean fever patients.

Introduction: Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autoinflammatory disease characterized by polyserositis and arthritis attacks, which are mediated by increased plasma levels of cytokines. Our hypothesis was that the increase in specific cytokines can also lead to portal hypertension, even in the absence of overt hepatic steatosis.

Methods: We designed a comparative cross-sectional study with 41 patients and 30 healthy individuals to show if there is a relationship between portal hypertension and FMF.

Comparison of "burden of disease" in elderly and non-elderly patients with pre-diabetes: A cross-sectional study.

Objective: There are a lot of studies comparing elderly and adult patients with diabetes but not pre-diabetes systematically. We aimed to compare the discrepancies of clinical status and burden of disease in elderly (≥60 years old) versus non-elderly (18-59 years old) adult pre-diabetics.

Methods: A total of 126 pre-diabetic patients were included in the study and were compared as two groups; the elderly (n=32) and non-elderly (n=94).

Bone mineral density and fracture risk in prediabetes: a controlled cross-sectional study.

Objectives: There is comparatively scarce data on bone health in prediabetes (PD). This study aimed to evaluate osteoporosis, fracture risk, and to determine related factors in adults with PD comparing them with healthy participants.

Materials And Methods: A controlled, observational, cross-sectional study was conducted.

Antiphospholipid antibodies in COVID-19-associated pneumonia patients in intensive care unit.

Objectives: Antiphospholipid antibodies (APAs) increase the risk of excessive blood clotting, but their role in COVID-19 remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the presence of conventional APAs used in the classification of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome in patients with severe lung infection with SARS-CoV-2 and to compare these results with non-COVID-19 critically ill patients.

Methods: Thirty-one COVID-19 patients (COVID group) and 28 non-COVID-19 critically ill patients (non-COVID group), were included in the study.

The effect of long-term hydroxychloroquine use on the corneal endothelium in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of long-term effects of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) use on the corneal endothelium in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: The study included 30 eyes of 15 patients who used HCQ for at least five years and were followed up in the rheumatology clinic for SLE and 29 eyes of 15 patients newly diagnosed with SLE who had not taken any medication. All patients underwent complete ophthalmologic examinations, central corneal thickness measurements, endothelial cell counts and endothelial morphological examinations by specular microscopy.

Fatigue Is Common and Predicted by Female Gender and Sleep Disturbance in Patients with Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria.

Background: Fatigue is a common and disabling symptom in chronic inflammatory diseases. To the best of our knowledge, there are no studies evaluating fatigue thoroughly in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU).

Objectives: To evaluate fatigue and its drivers in patients with CSU, and to compare patients with healthy controls in terms of fatigue.

[Turkish Cardiology Association Consensus Report: COVID-19 Pandemic and Cardiovascular Diseases (May 13, 2020)].

In December 2019, in the city of Wuhan, in the Hubei province of China, treatment-resistant cases of pneumonia emerged and spread rapidly for reasons unknown. A new strain of coronavirus (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 [SARS-CoV-2]) was identified and caused the first pandemic of the 21st century. The virus was officially detected in our country on March 11, 2020, and the number of cases increased rapidly; the virus was isolated in 670 patients within 10 days.

[Consensus Report from Turkish Society of Cardiology: COVID-19 and Cardiovascular Diseases. What cardiologists should know. (25th March 2020)].

In December 2019, in the city of Wuhan, in the Hubei province of China, treatment-resistant cases of pneumonia emerged and spread rapidly for reasons unknown. A new strain of coronavirus (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 [SARS-CoV-2]) was identified and caused the first pandemic of the 21st century. The virus was officially detected in our country on March 11, 2020, and the number of cases increased rapidly; the virus was isolated in 670 patients within 10 days.

Sexual Functioning Is Frequently and Markedly Impaired in Female Patients with Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria.

Background: Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is common, chronic, and debilitating, and has serious effects on quality of life and mental health. Three of 4 patients with CSU are women. The impact of CSU on female sexual functioning remains largely unknown.

Tofacitinib Induced Psoriasiform Lesion in a Patient With Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Paradoxical psoriasis or psoriasiform lesion is an adverse effect, represented by the occurrence of a psoriasiform lesion or exacerbation of psoriasis caused by the drugs normally used for the management of psoriasis. In this article, we present the first case of a 45-year-old male patient with rheumatoid arthritis who developed psoriasiform lesions following treatment with tofacitinib, and highlight the possible pathogenetic mechanisms involved in such an occurrence.

Comparison of Level of Fatigue and Disease Correlates in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis and Systemic Sclerosis.

Objectives: This study aims to compare the levels of fatigue in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic sclerosis (SSc) and to assess the potential influence of fatigue on clinical variables.

Patients And Methods: Age- and sex-matched adult patients with SSc (n=50; 6 males, 44 females; mean age 47.7 years; range 23 to 72 years) and RA (n=51; 6 males, 45 females; mean age 50.

Comparison of Pain Characteristics in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Systemic Sclerosis with Particular Reference to the Neuropathic Pain Component: Cross-Sectional Study.

Objective: The aim of the study was to compare characteristics of pain in terms of neuropathic pain (NeP) and to assess the association between the neuropathic component and quality of life (QoL) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Subjects And Methods: Fifty-four patients (47 females, 7 males) with SSc and 53 patients (46 females, 7 males) with RA were assessed for outcome measures including disease activity, physical functions, mental condition and health-related QoL (HRQoL) measures (Short Form-36; Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), and pain. NeP was assessed by the Douleur Neuropathique 4 (DN4) and PainDetect questionnaires in this cross-sectional study.

Neuropathic Pain Component in Axial Spondyloarthritis and the Influence on Disease Burden.

Objectives: Patients with nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) and radiographic axSpA/ankylosing spondylitis (AS) have similar burden of disease; however, the potential influence of pain characteristics including the neuropathic pain (NeP) component has not been assessed yet. The aim of this study was first to assess frequency of NeP component in patients with axSpA and second to assess the potential influence of NeP on burden of disease.

Methods: Adult patients who met the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society classification criteria for axSpA were consecutively recruited.