Lacrimal gland ultrasonography and elastography as a diagnostic and activity tool for primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of 2-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE) in the assessment of lacrimal gland involvement in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) and to determine the association between ultrasonographic findings and clinical activity measures.

Method: Forty-six patients who fulfilled the 2016 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) classification criteria of pSS and 23 age and gender-matched healthy control subjects were enrolled. Clinical, laboratory and labial biopsy histopathologic characteristics of patients were recorded.

The effects of Pilates training on respiratory muscle strength in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

Background: Reduction in flexibility and mobility are important factors that lead to impairments in quality of life, reduction of exercise tolerance, and a decreased pulmonary capacity with the progression of Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS).

Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Pilates exercises on mobility, quality of life, and respiratory muscle strength in patients with AS.

Methods: Forty patients with AS were randomly divided into two groups as Pilates group and the control group.

Treatment with biologic DMARDs may not adversely affect lung nodules in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Objective: Lung nodules (LNs) impose diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in patients with rheuma- toid arthritis (RA) due to unpredictable outcomes. Potential induction of nodulosis with the use of con- ventional synthetic DMARDs (csDMARD) and lack of knowledge regarding the effect of biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs)/tofacitinib on the LN raise concerns and have an impact on treatment decisions. This study aims to evaluate the possible effects of the bDMARDs/tofa- citinib and csDMARDS on LNs observed in RA patients.

The impact of anti-TNF treatment on Wnt signaling, noggin, and cytokine levels in axial spondyloarthritis.

Introduction: Anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) agents are commonly used in treatment of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), but clinical and radiological improvement is not achieved in all patients. We aimed to investigate the impact of anti-TNFs on inflammatory and noninflammatory parameters in patients with axSpA.

Methods: In this longitudinal study, 30 biologic naïve axSpA patients with high disease activity and 30 healthy controls were enrolled.

Serum levels of fetuin-A as a novel biomarker for disease activity in patients with Takayasu arteritis and granulomatous polyangiitis.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate serum fetuin-A (Fet-A) levels in patients with Takayasu arteritis (TA) and granulomatous polyangiitis (GPA) and to analyze the relationship between serum Fet-A levels and disease activity scores.

Method: Thirty-two TA and 28 GPA patients presented to the rheumatology clinic at Gazi University and met the criteria of American College of Rheumatology 1990 and 2012 International Chapell Hill meeting, respectively, and 20 healthy control subjects were included in the present study. We collected data on serum C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin, calcium, and phosphate levels as well as erythrocyte sedimentation rates.

Diagnostic utility of serum biomarkers in large vessel vasculitis and their correlation with positron emission tomography.

Objectives: To investigate the association between vascular inflammation, as detected by positron emission tomography (PET) imaging and interleukin-6 (IL-6), pentraxin3, and B-cell-activating factor (BAFF) in subjects with LVV.

Methods: The study included newly diagnosed giant cell arteritis (GCA, n = 27) or Takayasu arteritis (n = 9) patients and healthy control (HC, n = 31) subjects. PET scan and blood samples were obtained before the introduction of treatments.

Test-retest reliability and validity of the 6 minute stepper test to evaluate functional exercise capacity in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

Objectives: The 6-minute stepper test (6MST) is a submaximal test that requires little space to assess exercise capacity compared to the 6-minute walk test (6MWT). The study aims to investigate the test-retest reliability and convergent validity of 6MST and to compare physiological responses, dyspnea, fatigue perception with 6MST and 6MWT in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Methods: To test the convergent validity of 6MST, 65 patients performed both 6MWT and 6MST on the first day and correlation between two tests were assessed with Pearson correlation test.

[Investigation of the Relationship of Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index, C-Reactive Protein and Interleukin-6 with Viral Dynamics in Patients with COVID-19].

Coronaviruses are enveloped, positivepolarity, single-stranded RNA viruses that can cause respiratory and gastrointestinal tract infections, less likely to cause infections with hepatic, neurological and nephrotic involvement. A novel coronavirus termed as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in the city of Wuhan, China, and caused an outbreak of unusual viral pneumonia at the end of 2019. This study aimed to reveal the relationship between systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) and viral dynamics in COVID-19 patients.

Long-term safety and efficacy of anakinra and canakinumab in patients with familial Mediterranean fever: a single-centre real-life study with 101 patients.

Objectives: Anakinra and canakinumab are the most commonly used agents in colchicine resistant/intolerant patients. In this study we investigated long-term efficacy and safety of anakinra and canakinumab.

Methods: In this retrospective study, we enrolled 101 adult patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF).

Phenotypic characterization of Familial Mediterranean Fever patients harboring variants of uncertain significance.

Background/aim: Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is the prototype of hereditary autoinflammatory disorders and caused by mutations on the MEFV gene located on the short arm of chromosome 16. Although some MEFV variants are clearly associated with disease phenotype, there are numerous variants with unknown clinical association which are termed as variants of uncertain significance (VUS). Here, we present clinical correlations of VUS in a large cohort of adult FMF patients from three tertiary centers located in Central Anatolia.

Appendectomy history is associated with severe disease and colchicine resistance in adult familial Mediterranean fever patients.

Background/aim: Peritonitis attacks of Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) usually requires emergency medical admissions and it’s hard to distinguish a typical abdominal attack from surgical causes of acute abdomen. Therefore, history of abdominal surgery, particularly appendectomy, is very common in patients with FMF. However, history of appendectomy might also give some clues about the course of FMF in the adulthood.

Compliance of Familial Mediterranean Fever Patients With Regular Follow-up Visits and Associated Factors.

Background: Follow-up is crucial to detect asymptomatic complications of familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). The current European League Against Rheumatism recommendations state that patients with FMF should be evaluated at least every 6 months to monitor attacks, acute phase response, and proteinuria.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess compliance of FMF patients with regular follow-up visits and the associated factors.

Predictors of persistent inflammation in familial Mediterranean fever and association with damage.

Objective: Persistent inflammation is an insidious and less studied feature of FMF. We investigated clinical determinants of persistent inflammation and its associations with individual damage items.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional analysis of 917 FMF patients, who fulfilled the Tel Hashomer criteria and had at least 6 months' follow-up.

Use of prognostic nutritional index in the evaluation of disease activity in patients with Behçet's disease.

Objective: Behçet's disease (BD) is a chronic, multisystem disorder that can cause severe morbidity and mortality. Monitoring tools that measure disease activity are required for effective management of BD. We aimed to investigate the association of prognostic nutritional index (PNI) with disease activity in BD.

Factors associated with damage in patients with familial Mediterranean fever.

Objectives: Defining predictors of damage would improve patient care. We applied damage indexes to patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) and identified the predictors of damage.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional analysis of 926 FMF patients, who fulfilled the Tel-Hashomer criteria and had at least six months of follow-up.

Colchicine intolerance in FMF patients and primary obstacles for optimal dosing.

Background/aim: Colchicine is the mainstay of treatment in FMF. However, in daily practice it is not easy to maintain effective colchicine doses in a substantial number of patients due to its side effects. In this study, we aimed to investigate prevalence and risk factors for colchicine side effects that limit optimal drug dosing and cause permanent discontinuation.

Diagnostic Role of 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography for the Evaluation of Patients With Inflammation of Unknown Origin.

Background: Sometimes, the underlying causes of inflammation cannot be established despite meticulous investigation, including medical history, physical examination, laboratory tests, and radiologic procedures. Rheumatologists are often faced with patients whose condition is known as inflammation of unknown origin (IUO). Differential diagnosis of IUO is diverse, and investigation of these cases is challenging and time-consuming.

Tofacitinib for the treatment for colchicine-resistant familial Mediterranean fever: case-based review.

Familial Mediterranean fever is characterized by self-limited attacks of serositis and arthritis. However, substantial number of patients suffer from chronic complications of this disease, primarily involving musculoskeletal system. Treatment for these complications is challenging due to limited evidence.

Importance of 14-3-3eta, anti-CarP, and anti-Sa in the diagnosis of seronegative rheumatoid arthritis.

Background/aim: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by synovial inflammation. The study aimed to assess serum 14-3-3eta, anti-CarP, and anti-Sa in seronegative RA (SNRA) patients who were treatment-naïve as well as in healthy subjects. This is the first study in the literature to examine these autoantibodies together in SNRA patients.

Certolizumab Pegol Treatment in Three Patients With Takayasu Arteritis.

Although glucocorticoids are the mainstay of treatment in Takayasu arteritis (TA), anti-tumor necrosis factor agents are other treatment options in refractory disease. The onset of TA is generally observed in females of reproductive age. Certolizumab pegol (CZP) lacks a fragment crystallizable region and this gives advantage of minimal transfer through the placenta, which makes CZP a safer option in pregnancy.

Familial Mediterranean fever-associated infertility and underlying factors.

Introduction/objectives: Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is characterized by recurrent attacks of fever, serositis, and arthritis, but some patients may experience long-term complications of disease such as infertility/subfertility. The published data about FMF-associated infertility is still limited. The aim of this study is to investigate the frequency and to determine potential factors for FMF-associated infertility/subfertility.

Familial Mediterranean fever is associated with a wide spectrum of inflammatory disorders: results from a large cohort study.

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is characterized by recurrent short-lived/self-limiting inflammatory attacks. Besides these, a substantial number of patients with FMF present with a variety of other inflammatory diseases; however, this issue has not been systematically studied previously. Hence, we aimed to investigate the frequency of inflammatory comorbid diseases in a large FMF cohort.