The process from symptom onset to rheumatology clinic in polymyalgia rheumatica.

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is an inflammatory disease of individuals aged over 50 years. Because of the concomitant malignancy possibility and the high prevalence of constitutional symptoms seen in this condition, patients with classical clinical picture often experience delay in diagnosis and treatment and are exposed to a wide list of laboratory and imaging procedures. In this study, we aimed to explore the adventure these patients experience from symptom onset to rheumatology clinic.

Ki-67 proliferation index in renal biopsy samples of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and its correlation with clinical findings.

Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease that may affect almost all organ systems. Renal involvement is the most significant prognostic factor. Renal biopsy findings play an important role in treatment decision.

The time course of gastric methotrexate intolerance in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the incidence and the time course of methotrexate (MTX)-associated gastric intolerance in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis.

Methods: Four hundred twenty subjects undergoing MTX treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (n = 346) and psoriatic arthritis (n = 74) were retrospectively assessed. The incidence and time course of gastric MTX intolerance resulting in treatment discontinuation were investigated.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha antagonist therapy-induced psoriasis in Turkey: analysis of 514 patients.

Objectives: New adverse events are being reported with the increased use of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α therapy. We studied cases of anti-TNFα-induced psoriasis observed in our pool of 514 patients receiving anti-TNFα treatment in Turkey.

Methods: Three rheumatoid arthritis patients and 3 ankylosing spondylitis patients with anti-TNFα-induced psoriasis were included in the study.

Urinary IL-18: a marker of contrast-induced nephropathy following percutaneous coronary intervention?

Objectives: Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is a complication that is underestimated in clinical practice after cardiac catheterization. Recently, the value of interleukin (IL)-18 as a novel biomarker for the detection of acute renal failure has been highlighted. In the present study, we sought to investigate whether urine IL-18 may be an early diagnostic marker of CIN.

Oxidative stress and ferritin levels in haemodialysis patients.

Background: Increased oxidative stress (OS) and inflammation are associated with atherosclerotic coronary artery disease in haemodialysis (HD) patients. Ferritin may have other effects in addition to its role in storing intracellular iron. This study was performed to determine any relationships between markers of OS, nutrition and inflammation in HD patients with normal and high ferritin levels.

Paraoxonase activity in glomerulonephritic patients.

Background: Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic renal failure. Glomerulonephritic patients have an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, but its etiology is unclear. It is known that an increase in oxidizability of apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins has a key role in the initiation of atherosclerosis, and paraoxonase enzyme activity particularly has a preventive role against atherosclerosis.

Balneotherapy and tap water therapy in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.

To investigate if spa water is superior to tap water (TW) in relieving the symptoms of pain, joint motion, life quality in knee osteoarthritis (KOA) patients. In this randomized placebo-controlled trial, 52 patients with KOA were followed in two groups. In group I (n = 27), patients were treated in the pool full of spa water at 37 degrees C for 20 min a day, 5 days a week, for a period of 2 weeks.

Effect of indomethacin and selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors on proteinuria and renal function in patients with AA type renal amyloidosis.

Aims: Because the cardiovascular system (CVS) side-effects of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) selective inhibitors have recently been questioned, we aimed to compare the renal and haemodynamic effects of cyclooxygenase selective (celecoxib and rofecoxib) and non-selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (indomethacin) in patients with renal amyloidosis secondary to rheumatological diseases who required anti-inflammatory agents and are taking maximum tolerable dose of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors.

Methods: The present study was performed on 11 patients with stable proteinuria who were diagnosed as AA amyloidosis secondary to rheumatological diseases confirmed by renal biopsies. The study had three consecutive stages (celecoxib 200 mg/day; indomethacin 100 mg/day; rofecoxib 25 mg/day.

Laparoscopic findings of peritoneal dialysis catheter malfunction and management outcomes.

Objective: Peritoneal dialysis catheter malfunction is a common complication forcing conversion to hemodialysis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate laparoscopic findings of catheter malfunction and to establish a relationship between those findings and the outcomes of procedures performed.

Design: Retrospective study.

Hand involvement in Behçet's disease.

Aims: To study the clinical hand findings in Behçet's disease (BD) and to observe scintigraphic changes of these areas.

Methods: Fifty-seven randomly selected BD patients and the patients in the control group (N=40) were evaluated by two blind rheumatologists. The hands were examined for the presence of pain, tenderness, swelling, effusion, erythema, warmth, range of motion and limitation of motion, deformities and muscle atrophy.

Prevalence of transfusion transmitted virus infection and its effect on renal graft survival in renal transplant recipients.

Objective: Little is known about the prevalence of transfusion transmitted virus (TTV) infection in renal transplant recipients (RTxs) and its effects on allograft survival. We investigated the prevalence of TTV and its effects on liver injury and graft survival in RTxs.

Material And Methods: The study was performed in 33 consecutive RTxs (8 females, 25 males) and 100 blood donors (35 females, 65 males).

Long-term effects of losartan on proteinuria and renal function in patients with renal amyloidosis.

Objective: To investigate the effect of the angiotensin II receptor antagonist losartan on proteinuria in secondary amyloidosis cases.

Material And Methods: Sixteen patients with renal biopsy-proven AA amyloidosis with proteinuria were included in the study. All the patients had received colchicine treatment for at least 18 months.

Free choline and phospholipid-bound choline concentrations in serum and dialysate during peritoneal dialysis in children and adults.

Objectives: This study tested whether continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) changes free or phospholipid-bound choline concentrations in serum or peritoneal dialysis fluid of patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD).

Design And Methods: Serum and dialysate choline and phospholipid-bound choline were measured before, during and after 6 h CAPD.

Results: Serum choline concentrations were higher in patients with ESRD compared with age-matched controls.

Changes of plasma free choline and choline-containing compounds' concentrations and choline loss during hemodialysis in ESRD patients.

Objectives: This study was undertaken to determine the changes in plasma free choline and choline-containing compounds in end stage renal disease (ESRD) and to determine if they were lost into the dialysate during hemodialysis.

Design And Methods: Plasma and dialysate free choline, phosphocholine and phospholipid-, phosphatidylcholine-, sphingomyelin-bound choline were measured before, during and after hemodialysis.

Results: Plasma free and bound choline concentrations (mean +/- standard error of the mean) were 12.

Angiotensin-II receptor antagonist losartan reduces microalbuminuria in hypertensive renal transplant recipients.

In recent years, it has been demonstrated that losartan lowers macroproteinuria in diabetic or non-diabetic renal transplant recipients (RTx) similar to angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. Microalbuminuria (MAU) may reflect subclinical hyperfiltration damage of the glomerulus. It could be a marker of kidney dysfunction in renal transplantation.