The Role of Tenascin-C in the Physiopathology of Familial Mediterranean Fever.

Objective: Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autoinflammatory disease common in the Mediterranean basin. It has been determined that tenascin-C level is increased in rheumatic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus, and systemic sclerosis. However, the role of tenascin-C has not been investigated in FMF.

An investigation of the relationship between Behçet's disease and tenascin-C.

Objectives: The study aimed to investigate serum tenascin-C levels and its relationship with pathogenesis of Behçet's disease (BD) with inflammatory processes.

Patients And Methods: This prospective and analytical study included 34 BD patients (19 males, 15 females; mean age: 31.5±8.

Assessment of pulmonary arterial stiffness in patients with systemic sclerosis without overt pulmonary hypertension.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a pathophysiological disorder that may involve multiple clinical conditions and complicate most systemic diseases. Systemic sclerosis (SSc), represents the leading cause of connective tissue disease (CTD) associated with PAH. Although SSc is a rare disease, it is associated with higher morbidity and early mortality than other rheumatological diseases due to developing SSc-associated interstitial pulmonary disease (ILD) and/or pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

A national, multicenter, retrospective study evaluating retention rate and efficacy of tocilizumab treatment in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis who had an inadequate response to csDMARDs and/or TNF inhibitors.

Background: To describe the disease activity and retention rate in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with inadequate response (IR) to conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) and/or tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFis) who were prescribed tocilizumab (TCZ) as first-line or second-line biologic treatment in real-world setting.

Methods: Data gathered from patients' files was used in a multicenter and retrospective context. Retention rates and the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints with CRP (DAS28-CRP) were evaluated at time points.

Treatment of systemic sclerosis-associated digital ulcers: recommendations of the Turkish Society for Rheumatology.

Objectives: Digital ulcers (DUs) are associated with a significant burden in systemic sclerosis (SSc) by leading to severe pain, physical disability, and reduced quality of life. This effort aimed to develop recommendations of the Turkish Society for Rheumatology (TRD) on the management of DUs associated with SSc.

Methods: In the first meeting held in December 2020 with the participation of a task force consisting of 23 rheumatologists the scope of the recommendations and research questions were determined.

EGFR blocker lapatinib inhibits the synthesis of matrix metalloproteinases from synovial fibroblasts.

Background: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family members and their associated ligands may be related to bone and joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis. Matrix metalloproteinases are responsible for joint and bone tissue degradation. This study is intended to investigate the effect of epidermal growth factor receptor inhibition by lapatinib on the synthesis of matrix metalloproteinases in in vitro.

The Relationship Between COVID-19 Disease Severity and Zonulin Levels.

Introduction Zonulin is a protein that plays a role in the reversible regulation of epithelial permeability. As zonulin is released in large amounts into the intestinal lumen, it disrupts the integrity of the tight junctions and causes continuous migration of antigens to the submucosa. Consequently, it can trigger inflammatory processes and severe immune reactions.

Ovarian Reserve and Pelvic Ultrasound Assessment in Familial Mediterranean Fever.

Introduction Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an inflammatory rheumatic disease that affects people in their reproductive period. The aim of this study was to investigate the number of gravida, ovarian reserve, and ovarian doppler characteristics in FMF patients. Methods The study design is cross-sectional.

Clinical manifestations of Behçet's syndrome: A single-center cohort of 777 patients.

Objective: Behçet's syndrome (BS) is a multisystem variable vessel vasculitis characterized by skin-mucosal lesions. It can also involve the eyes, blood vessels, joints, gastrointestinal system, urogenital system, and central nervous system. BS starts in the third or fourth decade and affects both genders equally.

Infliximab therapy in parenchymal neuro-Behçet's disease: A single-center experience.

Background: Parenchymal neuro-Behçet's disease involvement is the most serious complication of Behçet's disease, and no sufficient data on its treatment exists. This study aims to investigate the efficacy and safety of infliximab treatment in neuro-Behçet's disease patients with parenchymal involvement.

Materials And Methods: Patients who were diagnosed with Behçet's disease with parenchymal neurological involvement and underwent infliximab treatment for at least 12 months were included in the study.

Budd-Chiari syndrome in Behçet's disease: a retrospective multicenter study.

Objective: To compare the clinical features, laboratory findings, and prognosis of Behçet's disease (BD) patients with and without Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS).

Methods: This multicenter retrospective study investigated 61 (M/F: 41/20) patients with BD, having coexistent BCS, and 169 (M/F:100/69) BD patients as the control group without BCS from 22 different centers of Turkey diagnosed between 1990 and 2017.

Results: Of the total 61 BD patients with BCS, the onset of the first symptom and the median age of diagnosis were earlier in contrast to BD patients without BCS (p = 0.

The inhibition of Src kinase suppresses the production of matrix metalloproteinases in from synovial fibroblasts and inhibits MAPK and STATs pathways.

Background/aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the antiarthritic potentials of the inhibition of Src kinase in vivo and in vitro settings.

Materials And Methods: Arthritis was induced by intradermal injection of chicken type II collagen combined with incomplete Freund’s adjuvant (collagen induced arthritis [CIA] model) in Wistar albino rats. One day after the onset of arthritis, dasatinib, a potent Src kinase inhibitor, (5 mg/kg/day) was given via oral gavage.

Adult-onset still's disease and treatment results with tocilizumab.

Aims: Adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) is a rare and non-familial auto-inflammatory disorder. Increased levels of IL-6 and other pro-inflammatory cytokines have been shown in AOSD. To evaluate the efficacy and safety profile of tocilizumab (TCZ), an IL-6 receptor antagonist monoclonal antibody, in AOSD.

The receptor for advanced glycation end product (RAGE) pathway in COVID-19.

Introduction: Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) with lung involvement frequently causes morbidity and mortality. Advanced age appears to be the most important risk factor. The receptor for advanced glycation end-product (RAGE) pathway is considered to play important roles in the physiological aging and pathogenesis of lung diseases.

The assessment of the serum levels of TWEAK and prostaglandin F2α in COVID – 19.

Background/aim: It is claimed that aberrant immune response has a more important role than the cytopathic effect of the virus in the morbidity and mortality of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We aimed to investigate the possible roles of tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK)/Fn14 pathway and leukotrienes (LT) in uncontrolled immune response that occurs in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

Materials And Methods: This study included 25 asymptomatic patients and 35 patients with lung involvement who were diagnosed with COVID-19 as well as 22 healthy volunteers.

Efficacy of anti-interleukin-1 treatment in colchicine-resistant arthritis in patients with familial Mediterranean fever.

Objective: In the familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) clinic, arthritis is among the most common symptoms, and it generally responds well to colchicine treatment. However, cases of patients with chronic prolonged colchicine-resistant arthritis have been reported, and there are inadequate studies on the treatments to be used for such patients.

Methods: This study included 18 patients diagnosed with FMF who had colchicine-resistant chronic arthritis and received anti-interleukin (IL)-1 treatment for at least 1 year.

The importance of Mediterranean fever gene in familial Mediterranean fever.

Objective: Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is the most common autoinflammatory disease characterized by recurrent serositis attacks and fever. The discovery of the Mediterranean fever (MEFV) gene has been a milestone in FMF etiopathogenesis. Our knowledge about the relationship between the MEFV gene and FMF phenotype increases each day.

Two cases of calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD) presented with spondylodiscitis.

Calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD) is a crystal arthropathy, and may present with various clinical manifestations such as asymptomatic CPPD, osteoarthritis with CPPD, acute CPPD crystal arthritis (formerly pseudogout), and chronic CPPD crystal inflammatory arthritis. It is known that aging, trauma and osteoarthritis are major risk factors for CPPD. Acute CPP arthritis may occur as monoarticular or oligoarticular and usually involves large peripheral joints such as the knees, wrists and ankles.

Effectiveness of Methotrexate in Idiopathic Granulomatous Mastitis Treatment.

Background: Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis is a rare inflammatory disease of the breast, for which there is a lack of consensus on the treatment protocol; it requires long-term follow-up and is associated with a high rate of relapse after surgical treatment. In this study, we report on the largest single-center cohort of idiopathic granulomatous mastitis treated with steroids + methotrexate.

Methods: We retrospectively examined the data of 33 patients histopathologically diagnosed with idiopathic granulomatous mastitis who were evaluated by our Rheumatology or General Surgery Clinics between 2013 and 2016.

Infliximab treatment in refractory vascular Behcet's disease: A single-center experience.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the efficacy and reliability of infliximab treatment in Behcet's disease with vascular involvement.

Methods: This single-center retrospective study included a total of 18 patients diagnosed with Behcet's disease with vascular involvement who were initiated infliximab treatment after exhibiting resistance to conventional immunosuppressive treatments.

Results: Seventeen patients achieved remission with infliximab treatment.

Epigallocatechin 3-gallate attenuates arthritis by regulating Nrf2, HO-1, and cytokine levels in an experimental arthritis model.

Epigallocatechin 3-gallate (EGCG) is a polyphenol that has been shown to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model, in Wistar albino rats, was used to elucidate the effect of EGCG on pathogenetic pathways in inflammatory arthritis. The levels of serum TNF-α, IL-17, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx); the expression levels of tissue heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2); histopathologically, perisynovial inflammation and cartilage-bone destruction were examined.

Ptosis and Mass Like Lesions in Behçet's Disease: A Rare Presentation.

In this article, we describe a case of neuro-Behçet's disease presenting with unilateral ptosis and facial paresis due to an intracranial mass lesion. A 25-year-old male patient with a history of Behçet's disease presented with headache, vertigo, double vision, ptosis in his right eyelid and slurred speech. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging scan revealed a right-sided capsulothalamic lesion, which was extending to the right cerebral pedicle, pons and superior cerebellar pedicle.

Sleep quality, sleeping postures, and sleeping equipment in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

Background/aim: Inflammatory back pain, spinal stiffness, and limited spinal mobility are characteristic features of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Sleeping postures can affect and/or reflect sleeping disturbances. The aim of the study was to evaluate sleeping postures and sleep disturbances in patients with AS.

Nationwide Experience With Off-Label Use of Interleukin-1 Targeting Treatment in Familial Mediterranean Fever Patients.

Objective: Approximately 30-45% of patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) have been reported to have attacks despite colchicine treatment. Currently, data on the treatment of colchicine-unresponsive or colchicine-intolerant FMF patients are limited; the most promising alternatives seem to be anti-interleukin-1 (anti-IL-1) agents. Here we report our experience with the off-label use of anti-IL-1 agents in a large group of FMF patients.