Aims: Dupuytren’s disease affects the palmar fascia and causes a movement disorder. Treatment varies considerably, and many treatment options exist. This study aimed to determine the extent to which joint range of motion (ROM) increases after surgery and how postoperative rehabilitation affects functional outcomes. Materials and Methods: Forty-one patients who underwent fasciectomy for Dupuytren’s contracture were analyzed, with a mean follow-up of 12 months. We collected demographic details, affected fingers, surgical techniques, physical therapy status after surgery, and both preoperative and late postoperative joint ROM values. We measured ROM by calculating the total flexion-extension arc of the metacarpophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joints with a goniometer. We used paired-samples and independent-samples t-tests for statistical analysis. Results: The study included 36 male and 5 female patients with a mean age of 65.7 ± 7.8 years. The fourth and fifth fingers were most often affected. The mean increase in postoperative ROM was 37.12 ± 6.45° for patients receiving physical therapy and 29.18 ± 15.55° for those who did not, showing a significant difference between the two groups (p value = 0.029). In both groups, the ROM gains achieved after surgery were mostly maintained at late follow-up. Conclusion: Functional ROM achieved after fasciectomy for Dupuytren’s contracture is preserved over the long term. Postoperative physical therapy offers an additional significant improvement in ROM and seems to help maintain functional recovery.
Objective: Migraine affects approximately 20% of the general population. This study evaluated the effects of anthropometric measurements on migraine. We aimed to investigate the relationship between migraine and various anthropometric indices as superior indicators of regional body fat distribution. Methods: This study included 190 participants. Height, weight, waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), and neck circumference (NC) were measured. These measurements were used to calculate body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and a body shape index (ABSI). The relationships between these anthropometric parameters and the Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) scale were evaluated. Results: BMI, WHR, and HC were significantly associated with migraine status (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p = 0.040, respectively). Among migraine patients, attack frequency correlated significantly with BMI, WHtR, WC, NC, and HC, whereas ABSI showed no significant association with attack frequency or severity (p = 0.746). Conclusion: BMI, WHR, and HC are significantly associated with migraine. No correlation was observed between ABSI and migraine attack frequency or severity. Furthermore, a significant relationship was identified between MIDAS scores, HC, and WHtR.
Background: Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is a neurological disorder primarily linked to dopaminergic dysfunction. Since vitamin D plays a role in modulating the dopaminergic system, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of vitamin D supplementation on symptom severity, sleep quality, depression, and fatigue in patients with idiopathic RLS and vitamin D deficiency. Methods: This study retrospectively evaluated patients with idiopathic RLS and vitamin D deficiency who presented to our clinic between April 2022 and March 2023. Participants received weekly oral supplementation of 50,000 IU vitamin D and were assessed at baseline and at 3 months using the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group (IRLS) Symptom Scale, Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Results: Twenty-five patients (10 females and 15 males) meeting the eligibility criteria were enrolled. Following vitamin D replacement, mean serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels increased significantly from 16.91 ± 8.09 ng/mL to 38.08 ± 9.58 ng/mL (p< 0.001). A statistically significant reduction was observed in IRLS symptom severity scores (15.36 ± 6.75 vs. 14.28 ± 6.22, p = 0.019). However, no statistically significant changes were found in FSS, PSQI, and BDI scores (p = 0.058, 0.242, and 0.846, respectively). Conclusion: Vitamin D supplementation appears to reduce symptom severity in patients with idiopathic RLS and vitamin D deficiency; however, its impact on sleep quality, depression, and fatigue warrants further investigation. Large-scale, randomized controlled trials are necessary to confirm these preliminary findings and define the role of vitamin D in RLS management.
Objective: This study aimed to explore common patient inquiries about Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) and systematically assess the accuracy, quality, usefulness, and readability of outputs from four AI-based conversational platforms (ChatGPT-3.5, DeepSeek-V3.1, Gemini 1.5 Flash, and Microsoft Copilot Free). Materials and Methods: Common questions about CBCT were gathered from online sources and expert contributions and submitted to ChatGPT-3.5, DeepSeek, Gemini, and Copilot under standardized conditions. Outputs were independently evaluated by three specialists using CLEAR, mGQS, accuracy, usefulness, DISCERN, and readability metrics (FRE and FKGL). Results: Significant differences were observed among AI platforms regarding CLEAR scores (p < 0.05), with Gemini showing higher values than ChatGPT (p = 0.016). Across all four platforms, strong to a very strong positive correlations were found among CLEAR, mGQS, and Accuracy scores (r ≥ 0.77, p < 0.001), while these measures were strongly to very strongly and inversely correlated with Usefulness (r ≤ −0.77, p < 0.001). Flesch Reading Ease and Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level demonstrated a very strong negative correlations across platforms (r ranging from −0.85 to −0.93, p < 0.05). Within the Gemini group, Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level showed a moderate positive association with DISCERN scores (r = 0.496, p = 0.043). Conclusions: Gemini and DeepSeek produced more accurate and clearer responses. The readability of all AI systems was below the recommended level for patient education. These systems may support patient education but require expert validation.
Mucinous carcinoma of the breast is a rare histological subtype of invasive breast carcinoma characterized by abundant extracellular mucin production and generally favorable biological behavior. However, because it may present as a circumscribed or partially lobulated lesion on imaging, it can mimic benign breast masses and create a diagnostic challenge. We report the case of a 52-year-old asymptomatic postmenopausal woman in whom a left retroareolar breast lesion was detected incidentally during routine screening mammography. Initial mammography revealed a 15 mm partially irregular lobulated mass categorized as BI-RADS 4. Subsequent ultrasonography and breast magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the lesion, and interval enlargement resulted in a BI-RADS 5 assessment. Excisional biopsy demonstrated a well-circumscribed 2.3-cm gelatinous tumor. Microscopically, more than 90% of the lesion consisted of extracellular mucin pools containing neoplastic epithelial cells arranged in adenoid and cribriform-like structures, consistent with pure mucinous carcinoma. Immunohistochemically, the tumor showed strong, diffuse estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor positivity (95% each), HER2/c-erbB-2 negativity (score 0), MUC2 positivity, and a low Ki-67 proliferation index (<5%), supporting a luminal A-like immunophenotype. Based on the available pathological tumor size, the tumor was categorized as pT2. Regional nodal status could not be pathologically assessed because a sentinel lymph node biopsy was not performed (pNX). The patient underwent surgical excision followed by adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and was scheduled for endocrine therapy. No evidence of recurrence or disease progression was observed during 12 months of follow-up. This case highlights the importance of screening mammography in the detection of clinically occult mucinous carcinoma and underscores the value of radiologic-pathologic correlation in lesions with deceptively benign imaging features.
Objective: To evaluate cognitive performance in patients with chronic postoperative hypoparathyroidism and to investigate its association with biochemical parameters. Methods: This prospective, observational, cross-sectional study included 56 patients aged 40–65 years with chronic postoperative hypoparathyroidism, 28 post-thyroidectomy hypothyroid patients without hypoparathyroidism, and 28 healthy controls. Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Biochemical parameters, including albumin-corrected serum calcium and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), were measured concurrently. Multivariable analyses were performed to identify independent determinants of cognitive performance. Results: Although no significant differences were observed among the groups in terms of total MMSE scores, selective differences were detected in the registration and language subdomains in patients with chronic postoperative hypoparathyroidism. Albumin-corrected serum calcium levels and age independently predicted language performance. In addition, a positive correlation was identified between iPTH levels and registration memory scores. Conclusion: Chronic postoperative hypoparathyroidism may be associated with mild, domain-specific cognitive alterations rather than global cognitive decline. The association of albumin-corrected serum calcium and age with language performance suggests a potential role of calcium homeostasis in cognitive function. Cognitive assessment may therefore be considered as part of long-term follow-up in these patients.
Aim: To evaluate the reproductive and obstetric outcomes after complete hydatidiform mole (CHM) and partial hydatidiform mole (PHM) in a tertiary referral center. Materials and Methods: This retrospective cohort included 90 women with histologically confirmed molar pregnancy (65 CHM and 25 PHM) who were managed between 2015 and 2024. Cases with ectopic localization, uncertain diagnosis, missing essential data, or insufficient follow-up were excluded. Women with uterine preservation, no permanent contraception, reproductive age, and adequate follow-up were defined as the subgroup with potential for subsequent pregnancy and were included in the reproductive outcome analysis. Postmolar gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN), occurrence of at least one subsequent pregnancy, outcomes of the first postmolar pregnancy, and obstetric outcomes of the first live birth were compared between CHM and PHM. Results: Among women with potential for subsequent pregnancy (43 CHM and 14 PHM), at least one subsequent pregnancy occurred in 22 (51.2%) and 8 (57.1%) women, respectively (p=0.697). When only the first subsequent pregnancy was considered, live birth, miscarriage, and recurrent molar pregnancy rates did not differ significantly between CHM and PHM groups (live birth: 63.6% vs 87.5%, p=0.374; miscarriage: 18.2% vs 12.5%, p=1.000; recurrent mole: 18.2% vs 0%, p=0.550). Obstetric outcomes of the first subsequent live birth were also comparable between groups, including gestational age at delivery (p=0.336), birthweight (p=0.924), Apgar scores (all p>0.05), and mode of delivery (p=1.000); all deliveries occurred at term. Fetal growth restriction, preeclampsia, uterine atony, and oligohydramnios did not differ significantly between groups (all p>0.05). No cases of preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM), premature rupture of membranes (PROM), placenta previa, placenta accreta spectrum, or placental abruption were observed. Conclusion: In this single-center cohort, fertility potential and obstetric outcomes appeared generally favorable after both CHM and PHM. However, subgroup comparisons should be interpreted cautiously, as the limited sample size, particularly in the PHM group, may have reduced the statistical power to detect meaningful between-group differences.
Aim: This study aimed to evaluate pathological response rates using the Ryan tumor regression grading system in rectal cancer patients who underwent surgery after neoadjuvant therapy and to investigate the relationship between response levels and clinicopathological parameters. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective single-center study, 58 patients diagnosed with rectal cancer between January 2020 and December 2025 and treated with neoadjuvant therapy followed by surgery were included. Patients who did not receive neoadjuvant therapy were excluded. Demographic, clinical, and pathological data were recorded. Tumor response was graded according to the Ryan tumor regression system, and associations with clinicopathological variables were analyzed statistically. Results: Ryan score distribution was 10.3% (n=6) for Score 0, 20.7% (n=12) for Score 1, 25.9% (n=15) for Score 2, and 43.1% (n=25) for Score 3. Residual tumor size increased significantly as pathological response decreased (p<0.001). No statistically significant associations were found between Ryan score and age, gender, total or metastatic lymph node count, T stage, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, or tumor localization. Conclusion: The Ryan tumor regression score is a practical and reliable method for evaluating treatment response in rectal cancer after neoadjuvant therapy. In this series, residual tumor size was significantly associated with treatment response, whereas other clinicopathological parameters were not.
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between A Body Shape Index (ABSI) and normal values of gated myocardial perfusion SPECT (g-MPS) parameters. Materials and Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study analyzed 329 individuals (188 females and 141 males) who presented to the outpatient clinic of the Department of Nuclear Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University, and underwent myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS). Anthropometric measurements were obtained before MPS, and g-MPS parameters were retrieved from clinical reports of patients with normal perfusion and gated functional findings. Descriptive statistics, including mean, standard deviation, median, interquartile range, frequency, and percentage, were calculated. Relationships between variables were evaluated using Spearman’s rank correlation analysis. Results: The analysis revealed the following mean values: age, 60.61 years; height, 161.15 cm; weight, 79.41 kg; waist circumference (WC), 95.73 cm; body mass index (BMI), 30.74 kg/m2; and ABSI, 0.081. A positive correlation was found between BMI and WC (r = 0.730, p < 0.001). ABSI showed a weak negative correlation with heart rate (r = -0.124, p = 0.025). Metabolic equivalent of task (METS) values were negatively correlated with BMI (r = -0.301, p < 0.001) and WC (r = -0.205, p < 0.001). Additionally, negative correlations were observed between risk level and heart rate (r = -0.121, p = 0.029), and between ejection fraction (EF) and both end-diastolic volume (EDV; r = -0.628, p < 0.001) and end-systolic volume (ESV; r = -0.884, p < 0.001). Conclusion: In individuals with normal myocardial perfusion findings, ABSI may serve as a complementary anthropometric index, providing additional insight into the relationship between abdominal fat distribution and cardiovascular physiological parameters.
Congenital myasthenic syndromes are a rare subgroup of neuromuscular diseases caused by genetic defects in proteins involved in the structure, function and repair of the neuromuscular junction. Although these syndromes usually start in the neonatal and childhood periods, they may rarely start in adulthood. Because the clinical and laboratory findings of congenital myasthenic syndrome that starts in adulthood closely resemble those of seronegative myasthenia gravis, a differential diagnosis between the two is essential. This differential diagnosis is clinically important because treatment approaches and drug responses differ between the two diseases. Here, we aimed to draw attention to this disease and increase clinical awareness by presenting a case of congenital myasthenic syndrome diagnosed in adulthood.
Objectives: In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between the age of onset of disease symptoms, the age at diagnosis, and cognitive function in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). Methods: Sixty-two patients diagnosed with pSS who presented to the Sakarya Training and Research Hospital Internal Medicine Rheumatology outpatient clinic between November 2021 and November 2022 were included in the study. Parameters such as age at diagnosis, age at symptom onset, fibromyalgia status, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) score, Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) score, insomnia, fatigue, learning disability, and number of comorbidities were recorded. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score was used to evaluate cognitive function. The scale ranges from 0 to 30, with a threshold value set at 21. Scores of 21 and above were considered normal. Independent samples t-tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, and chi-square tests were used for data comparison. Results: Patients with MoCA values less than 21 were significantly older. In the study, the age at symptom onset for patients with a MoCA score<21 was significantly higher than for those with a MoCA score ≥ 21 (p<0.05). Similarly, the age at diagnosis for patients with MoC
Aim: This study aimed to radiographically evaluate the diameters of the nasolacrimal duct (NLC) and infraorbital foramen (IOF) in patients operated on for antrochoanal polyps (ACP) and to investigate the association of these structures with the location of the polyp. Materials and Methods: The transverse and anteroposterior diameters of NLC and IOF were measured from paranasal CT images of 40 patients who underwent functional endoscopic sinus surgery with a diagnosis of ACP between January 1, 2020, and January 15, 2025. Patients were classified according to the location of the polyp, its origin, and the status of sinus ventilation. Results: While there was generally no significant difference in NLC diameters, in some subgroups the transverse diameters were found to be significantly larger on the normal side than on the pathological side. On the pathological side, a clear and significant narrowing of the IOF diameter was observed in all groups. Conclusion: ACP causes morphological changes, particularly at the IOF, and the narrowing of this structure suggests bone remodeling. The effect on the NLC is more limited. A preliminary assessment of these anatomical structures during surgery planning is important to prevent possible complications.
Aim: To evaluate undergraduate dental students’ perceived adequacy of preclinical endodontic training and its association with their perceived competence to perform endodontic treatment according to clinical protocols. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional questionnaire-based study included 265 fourth- and fifth-year undergraduate dental students from dental schools in Ankara, Türkiye, who had completed their clinical endodontic training. The questionnaire comprised demographic items and questions with responses recorded on a 3-point Likert scale (1 = Disagree, 2 = Neutral, 3 = Agree) to assess clinical self-competence and the perceived adequacy of preclinical training. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Associations between students’ perceived clinical competence and the perceived adequacy of preclinical endodontic training were analysed using Pearson’s chi-square test, with effect sizes assessed by Cramér’s V. A linear-by-linear chi-square test was applied to evaluate ordinal trends. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: A total of 265 students participated in the study, comprising 188 (70.9%) females, 72 (27.2%) males, and 5 (1.9%) students who preferred not to disclose their gender. Among them, 115 (43.4%) were fourth-year and 150 (56.6%) were fifth-year students. Students’ self-reported clinical competence was significantly associated with the perceived adequacy of preclinical training across all assessed endodontic procedures (Pearson’s chi-square test, p < 0.05). Effect sizes were predominantly small to moderate. The linear-by-linear chi-square test showed a positive linear trend for most procedures, whereas no significant trend was observed for irrigation or the use of magnification. Conclusion: Students generally consider their endodontic preclinical education and clinical competence to be adequate. The perceived adequacy of preclinical training was significantly associated with perceived clinical competence and demonstrated a consistent directional trend across the majority of the assessed endodontic procedures.
Aim: Pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX) is a form of systemic elastic microfibrillopathy that affects multiple organs. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of PEX in the Çorum province of Turkey and its relationship to various clinical manifestations. Materials and Methods: A total of 1,013 patients underwent a comprehensive ophthalmic examination. Clinical diagnosis of PEX was established based on the presence of pseudoexfoliative material on the anterior lens capsule surface or the pupillary margin during slit-lamp biomicroscopy after pupillary dilation, or during surgery. Data were obtained from medical histories and patient records, including age, sex, history of ocular and systemic diseases, and systemic medication use. The systemic conditions evaluated included diabetes mellitus (DM), systemic hypertension (HT), ischemic heart disease (IHD), cerebrovascular disease (CVD), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: PEX was identified in 154 of the 1,013 patients, yielding an overall prevalence of 15.2%. The prevalence of HT (p = 0.009), IHD (p < 0.001), and CVD (p = 0.036) was significantly higher in patients with PEX. Although the prevalence of DM was lower and COPD was slightly higher in the PEX group, these differences were not statistically significant (p = 0.069 and p = 0.472, respectively). Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that even within geographically similar regions, the prevalence of pseudoexfoliation varies alongside different systemic comorbidities. These findings may be fundamental for identifying patients at an increased risk of systemic disease and for potentially tailoring follow-up protocols according to regional data, thereby improving public health and clinical outcomes.
Objective: We aimed to investigate how the heights of the vertebral bodies on the concave and convex sides, as well as the differences between these heights, affect the Cobb angle in patients presenting with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Materials and Methods: Radiographs and computed tomography (CT) images of 23 patients aged 13-18 years diagnosed with AIS were retrospectively analyzed. The heights of the vertebral bodies on the concave and convex sides were measured and compared with the curvatures determined using the Cobb method. The contributions of the vertebral body Cobb angle and the intervertebral disc Cobb angle to the total Cobb angle were also evaluated. Results: The vertebral body Cobb angle contributed an average of 52% to the total Cobb angle, while the intervertebral disc Cobb angle contributed an average of 48%. A stronger correlation was observed between the intervertebral disc Cobb angle and the total angle than between the vertebral body Cobb angle and the total angle. Conclusion: The reduced heights of both the intervertebral disc and the vertebral body on the concave side compared to the convex side indicate that as the difference between these values decreases, these components progressively move away from the apical vertebrae. This causes greater wedging at the apex and reduced wedging in adjacent segments, consequently increasing the total Cobb angle. Although the vertebral body Cobb angle contributes more numerically to the total Cobb angle, the relationship between the intervertebral disc Cobb angle and the total Cobb angle was found to be statistically stronger.
Aim: We aimed to investigate changes in intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients who underwent chalazion surgery, specifically examining the impact of chalazion location, size, and site on the eyelid. Materials and Methods: Forty eyes with chalazia were included in this prospective study. Chalazia were categorized based on size (Group 1: 3-5 mm; Group 2: >5 mm), location on the eyelid (central, temporal, nasal), and eyelid site (upper, lower). Before surgery, all patients underwent a comprehensive biomicroscopic examination, IOP measurement using both a pneumotonometer and a Goldmann applanation tonometer (GAT), and central corneal thickness (CCT) assessment. All measurements were repeated at the 1-month postoperative follow-up. Results: Following chalazion surgery, a significant decrease in IOP was observed using both GAT (p=0.001) and pneumotonometry (p=0.035). No statistically significant difference was found between preoperative and postoperative CCT values (p=0.642). In Group 1 (3-5 mm), a significant postoperative decrease in IOP was observed (p=0.021). Furthermore, significant reductions in IOP measurements were noted in the upper eyelid group (p=0.003) and for centrally located chalazia (p=0.016). No significant correlation was found between changes in IOP measurements and changes in CCT. Conclusion: Chalazia may influence IOP measurements, particularly those obtained via GAT. Therefore, IOP values measured in the presence of a chalazion should be interpreted with caution; repeating measurements after chalazion treatment may provide a more reliable clinical assessment.
Aim: This study investigated the relationship between kinesiophobia, cardiac anxiety, and dyspnea symptoms in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 84 patients at a tertiary care facility over a 15-month period from December 2023 to March 2025. The study population included adult patients (≥18 years) who underwent elective CABG and remained hospitalized for 3 to 5 days postoperatively. Data were collected using the Cardiac Anxiety Questionnaire (CAQ) and the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK), alongside demographic and clinical assessments of pain, fatigue, and dyspnea. Results: Data analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between kinesiophobia and cardiac anxiety (r=0.602, p=0.01), suggesting that these psychological barriers frequently coexist post-surgery. Participants with higher levels of kinesiophobia exhibited significantly higher cardiac anxiety. However, kinesiophobia was not correlated with pain (r=0.161, p=0.142) or dyspnea (r=-0.010, p=0.924). Regression modeling demonstrated that cardiac anxiety was the sole independent predictor of kinesiophobia, accounting for 23% of the total variance (p=0.001). Other variables, including age, weight, smoking status, and dyspnea, were not significant predictors. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that cardiac anxiety is a primary driver of kinesiophobia following cardiac surgery. These results underscore the necessity for healthcare providers to conduct multidisciplinary assessments of physical, mental, and respiratory status during cardiac rehabilitation to optimize patient outcomes.
Aim: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex disease in terms of diagnosis and differential diagnosis due to the variety of clinical and radiological findings. Many diseases have similar characteristics and mimic MS. Thus, potential differential biomarkers have an importance for diagnosis of MS. Homeobox protein-3 (HOXB3) is a homeobox transcription factor implicated in immune cell regulation and neurodevelopment, and recent cerebrospinal fluid proteomic studies have suggested its potential role in neuroinflammatory processes, making it a plausible candidate biomarker for differential diagnosis in MS. The aim of this study was to investigate whether cerebrospinal fluid levels of HOXB3 differ between treatment-naïve patients with relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) during relapse and patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). Methods: Forty-one pwMS diagnosed with McDonald criteria were enrolled for the case groups. Thirty-four patients with IIH diagnosed with Dandy criteria were enrolled for control group. We measured cerebrospinal fluid level of HOXB3 (CSF HOXB3) by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method. Results: No significant difference was observed in CSF HOXB3 levels between pwMS and control group. The ROC curve for HOXB3 was not statistically significant with the AUC at 0.573. Conclusion: HOXB3 does not differentiate RRMS from IIH under the studied conditions.
Aim: This single-center cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the clinical, demographic, and psychological characteristics of patients with fibromyalgia (FM) and assess the impact of these parameters on quality of life, daily functioning, and psychological well-being. Materials and Methods: Eighty-six women diagnosed with FM according to the 1990 ACR criteria were included. Socio-demographic, clinical, and psychometric characteristics were recorded. The severity of pain was assessed with the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), while the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), Nottingham Health Profile (NHP), Hamilton Anxiety (HAM-A), and Depression (HAM-D) scales, Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL90-R), and Modified Fatigue Impact Scale were used to evaluate disease severity, quality of life, and psychological symptoms, respectively. Physical activity level, hand grip strength, 100-meter walking time, and tender point counts were also recorded. Results: Major anxiety was detected in 61.6% and moderate-to-severe depression in 38.4% of participants. Pain levels (VAS) showed a significant positive correlation with both functional disability (FIQ) and depression (HAM-D). Physical activity was inversely associated with fatigue scores (p=0.039). No significant associations were found between BMI and most clinical parameters, except for walking time. SCL90-R scores indicated elevated somatization and psychological distress in a substantial subgroup. Conclusion: FM adversely affects quality of life and is commonly accompanied by psychological symptoms. Comprehensive assessment strategies addressing both physical and psychological aspects are essential for effective management.
Objective: Vertigo represents a chronic and disabling disorder that is often associated with anxiety, depressive symptoms, sleep disturbances, and prolonged medication use, factors that may collectively contribute to impaired sexual function. Sexual health is rarely addressed in vestibular clinics. We aimed to quantify sexual dysfunction in adults with chronic vertigo using the Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale (ASEX) and to compare outcomes with healthy controls. Methods: We performed a prospective case–control study of 30 consecutive outpatients with chronic vertigo (mean age 37.8 years; 57% female) and 30 age- and sex-matched volunteers. Participants completed the ASEX, Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Between-group differences in ASEX total and item scores were analysed with t-tests or Mann–Whitney U tests. Sexual dysfunction was defined as ASEX ≥19. Multivariable logistic regression tested whether vertigo status predicted sexual dysfunction after adjustment for depressive symptoms and sleep quality. Results: Vertigo patients showed significantly worse global sexual function than controls (ASEX total 16.9±5.1 vs 11.8±3.7; p
