Psychometric analysis and validation of the Persian translation of the systemic sclerosis questionnaire (SySQ).

Background: Scleroderma is a complex multisystem disorder that could have effects on the quality of patients' lives. This study was conducted by determining the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the systemic sclerosis questionnaire (SySQ) that specifically assesses indications and functional limitations of scleroderma patients.

Materials And Methods: In the present cross-sectional study, the method included: translation and back translation.

The effect of a self-management program on the quality of life of patients with scleroderma.

Background: Scleroderma is a rare disease with complex disorders. It affects the quality of life with severe impacts on the skin and extensive complications in the internal organs, and does not have a definitive treatment. This study aimed to investigate the effect of a self-management program on the quality of life of patients with scleroderma.

A smartphone-based supportive counseling on health anxiety and acceptance of disability in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus patients: A randomized clinical trial.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a supportive counseling via the smart phone on the health anxiety, and acceptance of disability in the patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Methods: The present study was a randomized clinical trial with pre-post design. Randomly dividing 124 patients into experimental and control groups.

Efficacy and safety of the biosimilar denosumab candidate (Arylia) compared to the reference product (Prolia®) in postmenopausal osteoporosis: a phase III, randomized, two-armed, double-blind, parallel, active-controlled, and noninferiority clinical trial.

Background/objective: Osteoporosis is a global health concern with an increasing prevalence worldwide. Denosumab is an antiresoptive agent that has been demonstrated to be effective and safe in osteoporotic patients. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of the biosimilar denosumab candidate (Arylia) to the originator product (Prolia®) in postmenopausal osteoporotic patients.

Is there any Sympathetic Skin Response Abnormality in Raynaud Phenomenon?

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate sympathetic skin response (SSR) among patients with Raynaud phenomenon (RP). SSR is a technique for assessment of the damage of peripheral neuropathies and the disorders of the sympathetic system.

Methods: Between January 2015 and December 2018, approximately 20 patients with RP and 20 healthy subjects (control group) were recruited from patients referred to the outpatient clinics of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

Diagnosis of Simultaneous Atrial and Ventricular Mechanical Performance in Patients with Systemic Sclerosis.

: Cardiac involvement is a predictor of poor prognosis in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc); therefore, preclinical diagnosis of heart involvement is crucial. Two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE), a method for evaluating the myocardial strain, could be helpful for the early diagnosis of cardiac mechanical function abnormalities. In this study, the simultaneous evaluation of all cardiac chambers was studied in patients with SSc, compared with normal individuals.

The effect of flaxseed with or without anti-inflammatory diet in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, a randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: Beneficial effect of long-chain ω-3 fatty acids against symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been indicated in previous studies. We examined the effect of flaxseed and anti-inflammatory diet in patients with RA.

Methods: The 12-week intervention was performed on 120 patients with RA who were randomized to three groups of flaxseed (30 g/day) plus anti-inflammatory diet (AIF group), flaxseed (30 g/day) plus regular diet (RF group), and roasted wheat (30 g/day) plus regular diet (RW group).

A 4-week comparison of capillaroscopy changes, healing effect, and cost-effectiveness of botulinum toxin-A vs prostaglandin analog infusion in refractory digital ulcers in systemic sclerosis.

Introduction: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a systemic multi-organ disease. Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) and digital ulcers (DUs) in SSc patients can be resistant to usual treatments. We studied the clinical benefits, capillaroscopy changes, and cost-effectiveness of local injection of botulinum toxin-A (BTX-A) and intravenous prostaglandin analogs (iloprost/alprostadil) in patients with SSc with resistant DUs.

Assessment of Treatment Safety and Quality of Life in Patients Receiving Etanercept Biosimilar for Autoimmune Arthritis (ASQA): A Multicenter Post-marketing Surveillance Study.

Introduction: Phase IV post-marketing surveillance studies are needed to evaluate the real-world safety and effectiveness of drug products. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of biosimilar etanercept (Altebrel, AryoGen Co., Iran) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Elevated IL-38 Serum Levels in Newly Diagnosed Multiple Sclerosis and Systemic Sclerosis Patients.

Objective: Interleukin (IL)-38 is a newly discovered member of the IL-1 cytokine family with a proposed anti-inflammatory profile. We studied the probable role of this cytokine in the pathogenesis of two autoimmune diseases: multiple sclerosis (MS) and systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Subjects And Methods: A total of 87 MS patients and 86 SSc patients (40 new and recently untreated cases and 46 treated cases) were selected for this study.

A Woman with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Odd Valvular Presentation: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic disease with various cardiac and non-cardiac presentations. We present the case of a young woman with odd presentation of SLE mistakenly identified as a valve abscess that was scheduled for surgery. CASE REPORT This 35-year-old woman presented with rapid progression of aortic stenosis, and the transesophageal echocardiography report showed a misdiagnosed aortic web (congenital) and aortic wall abscess.

Rheumatologists' insight into medication adherence in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A qualitative study.

Background: Medication non-adherence is prevalent among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Rheumatologists are specialists in medication prescribing and counselling for RA, but their insights regarding medication adherence have not been studied.

Objective: To explore rheumatologists' insights into medication adherence in patients with RA.

Medication adherence and cost-related medication non-adherence in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A cross-sectional study.

Aim: First, to assess the clinical characteristics and medication adherence to oral rheumatoid arthritis (RA) medications in patients with RA. Second, to examine adherence determinants with a focus on the effect of medication out-of-pocket (OOP) costs on medication adherence to oral RA medications. Lastly, to examine cost-related medication non-adherence (CRN) in patients with RA.

Mechanic hands: clinical and capillaroscopy manifestations of patients with connective tissue diseases presented with and without mechanic hands.

Objectives: The condition known as 'Mechanic's Hands' is a thickened, hyperkeratotic eruption, which is bilaterally symmetric along the fingers, and often occurs in patients with some connective tissue diseases. Nail fold capillaroscopy is a non-invasive technique for evaluation of connective tissue diseases. We evaluated the prevalence of mechanic hands in patients with connective tissue diseases and compared the clinical manifestations and capillaroscopic changes in the patients with and without mechanic hands.

The prevalence and predictors of herbal medicines usage among adult rheumatoid arthritis patients: A case-control study.

Objectives: This study was performed to evaluate the prevalence and predictors of herbal medicines usage among adult Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients.

Design: In this cross-sectional, case-control study, the case group included 500 RA patients and the control group contained 500 control individuals.

Setting: The study was performed in three rheumatology, surgical, and orthopedic clinics affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences.

Association of Serum Homocysteine Level and Interstitial Lung Disease in Systemic Sclerosis: A Case-control Study.

Background: Systemic sclerosis is a disorder of connective tissue with unknown cause, affecting the skin and internal organs, characterized by fibrotic changes.

Objective: To determine the correlation between serum homocysteine level and interstitial lung involvement in systemic sclerosis.

Materials And Methods: In this case - control study, 59 patients who fulfilled the ACR/EULAR classification criteria for systemic sclerosis and were referred to Hafez Hospital of Shiraz, Iran, were included as the case group.

The impact of dietary habits on the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis: a case-control study.

It has not been clear what kinds and how much nutrients could be harmful, preventive, or healthful for development of rheumatoid arthritis. This study aimed to determine the impact of dietary habits on the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. This case-control study was conducted on a total of 500 rheumatoid arthritis patients and 500 healthy controls refereed to three clinics of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in 2015-2016.

Gauzoma in A Scleroderma Patient Following Open Heart Surgery: A Case Report.

Introduction: Gauzoma is an iatrogenic complication which occurs rarely due to surgical team negligence. Depending on the sterility of the retained tissue, it can lead to life threatening surgical complications or may remain asymptomatic for many years and be detected incidentally in imaging studies. It may be mistaken as tumors or aneurysms.

Asymptomatic atlantoaxial subluxation in rheumatoid arthritis.

This cross-sectional study is conducted to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic cervical spine subluxation in rheumatoid arthritis patients by plain radiographs and its relation to demographic and clinical characteristics, disease activity measures and medications. 100 rheumatoid arthritis patients (18 male and 82 female) were selected randomly, according to the American college of Rheumatology Criteria, who were under follow up in the rheumatology clinic. A complete history was taken, and physical examination has been done with focus on the cervical spine to determine their demographic data, disease duration, age of disease onset, drug history, swollen and tender joint counts, and ESR, Hb, CRP, RF levels.

Serum homocystein level in patients with scleroderma.

Background: Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) is a systemic connective tissue disease. In this study, we compared the serum Homocystein (Hcy) level between patients with SSc and normal control group.

Objectives: The current study was conducted to determine whether serum Hcy levels are elevated in SSc patients and whether there is any correlation between Hcy levels and RP, Gastro intestinal and lung involvement.

The relation between serum homocysteine level and eye involvement in Behçet's disease.

Background: Behçet's disease is a chronic, multisystemic disease of unknown etiology in which eye involvement is the most common cause of morbidity. In this study, we investigated the possible relation between serum homocysteine level and ocular involvement in patients with Behçet's disease.

Methods: One hundred and fifty patients who fulfilled the criteria of the International Study Group for Behçet's disease (96 females and 54 males) were enrolled.