Plasma leptin values in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

Obesity has a protective effect against osteoporosis and this effect has been attributed to a high body fat content. It has been shown that the leptin concentration is higher in obese patients. Leptin, the protein product of obesity gene, is a hormone produced in adipose tissue.

Anatomic and functional improvements achieved by rehabilitation in Zone II and Zone V flexor tendon injuries.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare anatomic and functional improvements in zone II and zone V flexor tendon injuries and to determine the effect of injury level on disability.

Design: Seventeen patients (53 digits) with zone V and 14 patients (25 digits) with repaired zone II flexor tendon injuries were enrolled in this study. All patients were treated with Modified Kleinert protocol and followed up for a median of 60 mos.

Sexual functions in ankylosing spondylitis.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the axial skeleton. In recent years, several authors reported an increased prevalence of sexual dysfunction among AS patients. We aimed to find out, whether the prevalence of erectile dysfunction among AS patients is different from age-matched healthy controls.

Toxic neuropathy due to N-hexane: report of three cases.

Chronic exposure to n-hexane is one of the well known causes of peripheral neuropathy. This type of neuropathy is commonly seen among individuals employed in shoe and bag factories with inadequate ventilation. We describe three patients with acute and sub-acute neuropathy following n-hexane exposure via inhalation of glue.

Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda: four cases from two families.

Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda with progressive arthropathy (SEDT-PA) is an autosomal recessively inherited skeletal dysplasia. We present four patients (three patients-a brother and a sister and their third cousin-in a family and one patient in another family) with SEDT-PA. All patients had short stature and stubby hands and feet.

Camptocormia and dropped head syndrome as a clinic picture of myotonic myopathy.

Dropped head syndrome is primarily based on weakness localized at neck extensors. It may result from motor neuron disease, myasthenia gravis, and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy and also from various neuromuscular diseases including inflammatory, dystrophic and metabolic myopathies. Camptocormia (CC) on the other hand is an unusual condition characterized by progressive weakness of the extensor vertebral muscles and results in involuntary trunk flexion.

Ochronosis with cardiovascular involvement: a case report.

Ochronosis is a rare autosomal-recessive disease, characterized by increased homogentisic acid (HGA) and substrates due to deficiency of HGA oxidase. The most common clinical presentations are homogentisic aciduria, blue-black pigment accumulation in collagen tissues, large joint arthropathies and degenerative disk diseases. However, the disease may exert very large spectrum with various system involvements.

Hemiplegia and heterotopic ossification on the non-paretic extremity: a case report.

Heterotopic ossification is the formation of new bone in an abnormal location. It is usually seen following central nervous system disorders, including spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, encephalitis, and burn and trauma. Heterotopic ossification in post-stroke hemiplegia is rare; the reported incidence is 0.

Assessment of fatigue in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

In this study, we evaluated fatigue by using the multidimensional assessment of fatigue (MAF) index in 68 ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients. To determine the disease activity, functional status and quality of life, bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI), bath ankylosing spondylitis functional index (BASFI) and Short Form 36 (SF36) were used respectively. Mander enthesis index (MEI) was used for evaluation of enthesitis.

Serum hyaluronan levels in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

We examined the association between clinical parameters of disease activity and serum hyaluronic acid (HA) level in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Fifty-eight patients with knee OA and 40 healthy individuals were included in this study. Demographic data were noted.

Relationship between the severity of enthesitis and clinical and laboratory parameters in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

In this study, we evaluated the relationship between the severity of enthesitis and outcome of measurement indices, clinical and laboratory parameters in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Thirty-three patients who fulfilled the modified New York criteria for AS were included in this study. Patients were asked to record the severity of current pain, night pain and morning stiffness on a 10-cm visual analogue scale.

F wave studies of neurogenic intermittent claudication in lumbar spinal stenosis.

Objective: Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) may result in neurogenic claudication (NC), which is thought to be a result of transient ischemia during exercise. In this study we evaluated the changes in F wave studies before and immediately after walking stress in patients with NC.

Design: Twenty-six patients with LSS who had signs and symptoms of NC and 20 healthy volunteers were included in this study.

A case with cauda equina syndrome due to bacterial meningitis of anterior sacral meningocele.

Study Design: A case of a patient with anterior sacral meningocele that was misdiagnosed as perianal abscess is presented. After the transrectal aspiration, the patient developed meningitis and cauda equina syndrome.

Objective: To report a rare case of anterior sacral meningocele in which primary presentation was mimicking perianal abscess.

Thoracic sequels after thoracotomies in children with congenital cardiac disease.

The standard surgical approach for closed heart procedures in small infants and children is to use a posterolateral thoracotomy incision, which results in the division of the latissimus dorsi and serratus anterior muscles. The aim of our study was to determine the frequency and type of musculoskeletal deformities in children undergoing surgery with this approach for congenital cardiac disease. We included 49 children, 28 boys and 21 girls, in the study.

A challenging case of rheumatoid arthritis in an acromegalic patient.

A 63-year-old man with complaints of joint pain and ankle swelling was evaluated. The arthralgias he described were mainly in the knees, elbows, and shoulders. Accompanying swelling and erythema in his left ankle and left second metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint had recently ensued.

Factors playing a role in the development of decreased bone mineral density in juvenile chronic arthritis.

Objective: The aims of this study were to evaluate bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA), compare them with healthy controls, and assess the effects of disease activity and corticosteroid treatment on BMD.

Methods: Twenty-eight patients diagnosed with JCA and 45 healthy controls were included in this study. Disease activity was determined by clinical and laboratory evaluation, Articular Disease Severity Score (ADSS), and the Juvenile Arthritis Functional Assessment Report (JAFAR).