Background: Nociplastic-like pain features are increasingly recognized as significant contributors to chronic pain and reduced quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, their clinical correlates and relationship with disease activity remain incompletely understood. Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of nociplastic-like pain features in patients with RA and to investigate their associations with disease activity, pain intensity, fatigue, sleep quality, and health-related quality of life. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 160 patients with RA were enrolled. Nociplastic-like pain features were assessed using the PainDETECT questionnaire. Disease activity was evaluated using the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28). Pain intensity, fatigue, sleep quality, and health-related quality of life were assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS), Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Short Form-36 (SF-36), respectively. Continuous variables were compared using t-tests or Mann-Whitney U tests according to data distribution. Stepwise multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to identify independent factors associated with PainDETECT scores. Results: Pain patterns suggestive of nociplastic-like features were identified in 22.5% of patients. These patients had significantly higher pain intensity, greater fatigue (lower FACIT-F scores), poorer sleep quality (higher PSQI scores), and lower SF-36 scores across all domains compared with patients without these features (all p < 0.001). PainDETECT scores showed a strong positive correlation with VAS pain intensity (r = 0.679, p < 0.001) and a moderate correlation with DAS28 (r = 0.536, p < 0.001). PainDETECT scores were negatively correlated with FACIT-F (r = -0.512, p < 0.001) and several SF-36 domains. In stepwise multivariate regression analysis, pain intensity, tender joint count, and education level emerged as independent predictors of nociplastic-like pain features, whereas inflammatory markers (CRP, ESR) and DAS28 were excluded from the model. Conclusions: Nociplastic-like pain features are common in RA and are independently associated with pain intensity, joint tenderness, and psychosocial factors rather than inflammatory activity alone. Routine assessment of these features is essential for personalized pain management and underscores the importance of considering potential central sensitization mechanisms in addition to traditional anti-inflammatory therapies.

This study was aimed at determining the prevalence of difficult-to-treat (D2T) axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and identifying main associated factors for D2T axSpA. This multicenter observational cross-sectional study included axSpA patients from the BioSTaR (Biological and Targeted Synthetic Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs Registry) from February 1, 2019, to January 1, 2025. Data from 1800 axSpA patients who have previously used or are currently using at least one biologic/targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug were analyzed. Patient data included demographic characteristics, body mass index (BMI), marital status, smoking and alcohol use, family history of SpA, and presence of comorbidities. The parameters related to SpA such as disease duration, type of axSpA (radiographic/non-radiographic), HLA-B27 status, the presence of extra-musculoskeletal manifestations (uveitis, psoriasis, and inflammatory bowel disease), arthritis, enthesitis, and dactylitis were also recorded. Comorbidities including hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, and hyperlipidemia were recorded, and Charlson Index scores were evaluated. Maastricht Ankylosing Spondylitis Enthesitis Score (MASES) and disease activity in means of Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) and Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score with C-reactive protein (ASDAS-CRP) were also recorded. All medication history and currently used medications for axSpA and other diseases were noted. D2T and non-D2T axSpA patients were classified according to the suggested extrapolated definition. Of the 1800 axSpA patients recorded in the BioSTaR database, 204 (11.3

Background and Objectives: Neuropathic pain is a prevalent and disabling consequence of spinal cord injury (SCI), adversely affecting physical function, psychological health, social engagement, and overall quality of life. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of neuropathic pain in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) and to examine its associations with clinical and demographic factors, quality of life, depression, and anxiety. Materials and Methods: Eighty-four patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) who were admitted to the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and followed up at the rehabilitation outpatient clinic of Dicle University Faculty of Medicine (Diyarbakır, Turkey) were included in the study. Neurological status was assessed using the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scale. Functional ambulation was evaluated with the Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury (WISCI) and the Functional Ambulation Scale (FAS), while independence was measured using the Spinal Cord Independence Measure, version 3 (SCIM-III). Quality of life was assessed with the Short Form-36 (SF-36), and depression and anxiety were evaluated using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), respectively. The severity of neuropathic pain, fatigue, and paresthesia was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and the Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (LANSS) questionnaire. Results: Neuropathic pain was observed in 41.7% of patients. No significant differences were found in age, sex, or marital status between patients with and without neuropathic pain. Patients with neuropathic pain had significantly higher Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) scores and lower scores in several Short Form-36 (SF-36) domains, including vitality, bodily pain, and emotional well-being. Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (LANSS) scores were positively correlated with Visual Analog Scale (VAS) fatigue and BAI scores, and negatively correlated with SF-36 domains such as vitality, general health, and bodily pain. Conclusions: Neuropathic pain is a common and debilitating complication following spinal cord injury (SCI). It is closely associated with reduced quality of life and heightened psychological distress, particularly anxiety. Early recognition and effective management of neuropathic pain are crucial for optimizing functional recovery and enhancing psychosocial well-being in patients with SCI.

The Impact of Obesity and Overweight on Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients: Real-World Insights from a Biologic and Targeted Synthetic DMARDs Registry. The management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has advanced with biological and targeted synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (b/tsDMARDs). However, obesity, a common comorbidity, impacts treatment and disease progression efficacy. This article examines the association between body weight, activity of the disease and the effectiveness of b/tsDMARDs in RA patients. This multicenter observational cohort study, conducted as part of the BioSTAR Registry, involved a total of 856 patients diagnosed with RA (168 males and 688 females). Patients were separated into groups based on BMI: Group 1 (“normal BMI: ≥18.5 to < 25 kg/m2 or underweight BMI: <18.5 kg/m2”) and Group 2 (“overweight BMI: ≥25 to < 30 kg/m2 or obese BMI: ≥30 kg/m2”). Baseline socio-demographic and clinical data, medication use, switching status, and total glucocorticoid dose (mg-year) were collected. Age, disease duration, disease activity scores were considerably higher in obesity/overweight patients. Remission rates were lower in obese/overweight patients (35.6

Background Neuropathic pain is a common and challenging complication following spinal cord injury (SCI). It significantly affects patients’ physical, psychological, and social well-being, often leading to impaired quality of life and increased emotional distress. Objectives To determine the prevalence of neuropathic pain in patients with SCI, evaluate its re-lationship with clinical and demographic characteristics, and examine its associations with quality of life, depression, and anxiety. Methods Eighty-four patients with SCI who were admitted to the Department of Physical Medi-cine and Rehabilitation and followed up at the rehabilitation outpatient clinic of Dicle University Medical Faculty Hospital (Diyarbakır, Turkey) were included. Neurological status was assessed using the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scale. Func-tional ambulation was evaluated by the Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury (WISCI) and Functional Ambulation Scale (FAS), while independence was assessed with the Spinal Cord Independence Measure version 3 (SCIM-III). Quality of life was measured using the Short Form-36 (SF-36). Depression and anxiety were evaluated by the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Neuropathic pain, fa-tigue, and paresthesia severity were assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and the Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (LANSS) questionnaire. Results Neuropathic pain was identified in 41.7% of patients. No significant differences were observed in age, gender, or marital status between those with and without neuropathic pain. Patients with neuropathic pain had significantly higher BAI scores and lower scores in several SF-36 domains, including vitality, bodily pain, and emotional well-being. LANSS scores correlated positively with VAS fatigue, BAI scores, and ne-gatively with SF-36 domains such as vitality, general health, and bodily pain. Conclusion Neuropathic pain is a frequent and burdensome complication after SCI, strongly asso-ciated with reduced quality of life and increased psychological distress, particularly anxiety. Early recognition and management of neuropathic pain are essential to imp-rove functional and psychosocial outcomes in patients with SCI.

To examine the pneumococcal, haemophilus influenza, hepatitis A virus (HAV), and hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine rates and and predictors of vaccination among a Türkiye population of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. In this multicenter, cross-sectional study, vaccination levels and related factors were questioned by face-to-face survey method during routine clinical examination of patients with RA followed in different regions of Türkiye. All statistical analyses were performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software package, version 26. A total of 715 patients (mean age 53.1 ± 13 years), of whom 552 (77.2

Background:The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of kinesiophobia and its relationship with functional status, quality of life, pulmonary involvement, depression, and other clinical parameters of the disease in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Methods:A total of 100 individuals (40 patients with SSc and 60 healthy controls) were included in the study. The Tampa scale was used to assess kinesiophobia. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was used to assess depression. Scleroderma Health Assessment Questionnaire (SSc-HAQ) was used to assess functional status. Modified Rodnan skin score was used to assess skin thickness, and high-resolution computed tomography was used to assess lung fibrosis. Results:The mean Tampa kinesiophobia score was significantly higher in patients with SSc compared to healthy controls. Depressive symptoms were present in 57.5% of patients with SSc. Disease duration, pain, fatigue, disease activity, functional status, pulmonary fibrosis, and depressive symptoms were correlated with kinesiophobia in patients with SSc. Conclusion:There is an increased prevalence of kinesiophobia in patients with SSc, which seems to be more closely associated with disease duration, pain levels, and depressive symptoms.

Objectives:This study aims to assess patients' level of satisfaction with physical therapy modalities from different centers in Türkiye. Patients and methods:In this cross-sectional study, a "Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire in the Treatment with the Physical Therapy Modalities" was created by the Turkish Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, the Physical Therapy Modalities Working Group and it was applied to a total of 2,466 patients (847 males, 1,619 females; mean age: 51.8±14.6 years; range, 18 to 90 years) from 13 different hospitals. The participants were selected from patients who were treated in the physical therapy and rehabilitation departments of nine universities and four training and research hospitals for musculoskeletal complaints. The questionnaire included questions assessing demographic data, disease characteristics and level of satisfaction with the treatment program. Consecutive patients that were enrolled in treatment programs for musculoskeletal problems were included in the study. Results:The cumulative rate of patients who were very satisfied and satisfied with these treatments was 54.1%. The higher the education level, the higher the satisfaction rate was. The satisfaction level of the currently employed was higher than that of retirees. The patients who were most satisfied with physical therapy were those who presented with cervical spinal complaints. The rate of patients who never received physical therapy before was 51.5%, indicating higher satisfaction levels. Outpatient physical therapy patients reported higher satisfaction rates than inpatients. The patients conveyed their satisfaction with the therapist performing the treatment and expressed their intention to choose physical therapy again, if necessary. Conclusion:Patients express high levels of satisfaction with physical therapy modalities, and they encounter minimal or no issues in practice.

The association between spondyloarthritis and cardiovascular (CV) diseases is complex with variable outcomes. This study aimed to assess the prevalence rates of CV diseases and to analyze the impact of CV risk factors on CV disease in patients with spondyloarthritis. A multi-center cross-sectional study using the BioSTAR (Biological and Targeted Synthetic Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs Registry) database was performed on patients with spondyloarthritis. Socio-demographic, laboratory, and clinical data were collected. Patients with and without major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were grouped as Group 1 and Group 2. The primary outcome was the overall group’s prevalence rates of CV disease and CV risk factors. The secondary outcome was the difference in socio-demographic and clinical characteristics between the groups and predictive risk factors for CV disease. There were 1457 patients with a mean age of 45.7 ± 10.9 years. The prevalence rate for CV disease was 3% ( n = 44). The distribution of these diseases was coronary artery disease ( n = 42), congestive heart failure ( n = 4), peripheral vascular disorders ( n = 6), and cerebrovascular events ( n = 4). Patients in Group 1 were significantly male ( p = 0.014) and older than those in Group 2 ( p < 0.001). There were significantly more patients with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, chronic renal failure, dyslipidemia, and malignancy in Group 1 than in Group 2 ( p < 0.05). Smoking (36.7%), obesity (24.4%), and hypertension (13.8%) were the most prevalent traditional CV risk factors. Hypertension (HR = 3.147, 95% CI 1.461–6.778, p = 0.003), dyslipidemia (HR = 3.476, 95% CI 1.631–7.406, p = 0.001), and cancer history (HR = 5.852, 95% CI 1.189–28.810, p = 0.030) were the independent predictors for CV disease. A multi-center cross-sectional study using the BioSTAR (Biological and Targeted Synthetic Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs Registry) database was performed on patients with spondyloarthritis. Socio-demographic, laboratory, and clinical data were collected. Patients with and without major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were grouped as Group 1 and Group 2. The primary outcome was the overall group’s prevalence rates of CV disease and CV risk factors. The secondary outcome was the difference in socio-demographic and clinical characteristics between the groups and predictive risk factors for CV disease. There were 1457 patients with a mean age of 45.7 ± 10.9 years. The prevalence rate for CV disease was 3% ( n = 44). The distribution of these diseases was coronary artery disease ( n = 42), congestive heart failure ( n = 4), peripheral vascular disorders ( n = 6), and cerebrovascular events ( n = 4). Patients in Group 1 were significantly male ( p = 0.014) and older than those in Group 2 ( p < 0.001). There were significantly more patients with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, chronic renal failure, dyslipidemia, and malignancy in Group 1 than in Group 2 ( p < 0.05). Smoking (36.7%), obesity (24.4%), and hypertension (13.8%) were the most prevalent traditional CV risk factors. Hypertension (HR = 3.147, 95% CI 1.461–6.778, p = 0.003), dyslipidemia (HR = 3.476, 95% CI 1.631–7.406, p = 0.001), and cancer history (HR = 5.852, 95% CI 1.189–28.810, p = 0.030) were the independent predictors for CV disease. The prevalence rate of CV disease was 3.0% in patients with spondyloarthritis. Hypertension, dyslipidemia, and cancer history were the independent CV risk factors for CV disease in patients with spondyloarthritis.

Objectives:The purpose of the study was to contribute further to this debated topic by investigating the correlation of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings with the clinical picture in lumbar spondylosis patients. Patients and methods:This multicenter retrospective study (as part of the epidemiological project of the TLAR-OASG [Turkish League Against Rheumatism-Osteoarthritis Study Group]) included 514 patients (101 males, 413 females; mean age: 63.6±10.8 years; range, 40 to 85 years) who were diagnosed as lumbar spondylosis by clinical examination and direct X-ray between December 2016 and June 2018. Demographic characteristics of patients, Visual Analog Scale for pain, presence of radiating pain, Roland-Morris disability questionnaire, straight leg raise test, deep tendon reflexes, neurogenic intermittent claudication symptoms, any decrease of muscle strength, and abnormality of sensation were recorded. Lumbar MRI findings of the patients were recorded as positive or negative in terms of disc herniation, intervertebral disc degeneration, root compression, osteophytes, spinal stenosis. Statistical analysis was done to assess the correlation between the clinical symptoms, physical examination, and MRI findings. Results:Correlation analysis of the MRI results and the clinical findings showed a significant correlation between straight leg raise test and root compression (p<0.001, r=0.328) and a significant correlation between neurogenic intermittent claudication and spinal stenosis (p<0.001, r=0.376). Roland-Morris disability questionnaire had a significant correlation with all MRI findings (p<0.05, r<0.200). Conclusion:The results of this study corroborate the notion that diligent patient history and physical examination are more valuable than MRI findings, even though a higher incidence of abnormal MRI findings have been obtained in patients with disability and dermatomal radiating pain.

In this study, it was aimed to investigate the effects of tarantula cubensis extract (TCE) and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on cancellous and cortical bone repair. A circular unicortical bone defect was created on both the cancellous and cortical regions of the tibia of each subject. The subjects, totaling 54 mature New Zealand rabbits, were randomly allocated into three groups (n:18 each): control, LLLT (Galium-aliminum-arsenide laser at a wavelength of 780 nm and 4 J/cm2, 5 min/day) and TCE (1 mu g/kg) groups. Relative optic density (ROD) level was higher in the TCE group than the control group on day 28 as radiological (P<0.05). In both cancellous and cortical bone, inflammatory cell densities were less on the 14 and 21st day in the TCE and LLLT groups, bone tissue formation and qualities were higher 7 and 14th days in TCE and LLLT and collagen maturation were higher 28th day in the TCE group as histopathological (P<0.05). In this study, TCE accelerates bone repair as much as LLLT and more than the control group. In conclusion, that TCE is an effective, easier to apply and more economical supportive treatment in bone defects like LLLT.

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have increased morbidity and mortality due to cardiovascular (CV) comorbidities. The association of CV diseases (CVD) and traditional CV risk factors has been debated, depending on patient and RA characteristics. This study aimed to find the prevalence of CVD and CV risk factors in patients with RA. A multi-center cross-sectional study was performed on RA patients using the BioSTAR (Biological and Targeted Synthetic Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs Registry) in September 2022. Socio-demographic, clinical, and follow-up data were collected. Myocardial infarction, ischemic heart disease, peripheral vascular disorders, congestive heart failure, ischemic stroke, and transient ischemic attack were regarded as major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). CVD was defined as the presence of at least one clinical situation of MACE. Group 1 and Group 2 included patients with and without CVD. Prevalence rates of CVD and traditional CV risk factors were the primary outcomes. Secondary outcomes were the differences in the clinical characteristics between patients with and without CVD. An analysis of 724 patients with a mean age of 55.1 ± 12.8 years diagnosed with RA was conducted. There was a female preponderance (79.6

Background and purpose: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with psoriasis (PsO) affecting both skin and joint. ADAMTS (A disintegrin-like and metalloproteinase domain with thrombospondin-1 repeats) is a large family of proteoglycanase enzymes and the expression levels of ADAMTS proteases are upregulated in arthritis. In this study, we aimed to determine mRNA expression levels of ADAMTS1, ADAMTS4 and ADAMTS5 and identifying the key signaling pathways involved in the regulation of these proteases in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with PsO who later developed PsA. Materials and methods: 25 PsA patients, 25 PsO patients and 25 healthy individuals were included in this study. PBMCs were isolated from venous blood and mRNA expression levels of ADAMTS1, ADAMTS4 and ADAMTS5 were measured through Real-time quantitative PCR (RTqPCR). Results: mRNA expression levels of ADAMTS1 and ADAMTS4 were found to be increased in PsA patients compared with control and PsO patients. In response to TNF-a stimulation, the expression of ADAMTS1 in PsA patients was determined to be reduced in a Erk1/2 activity dependent manner, whereas p38 and JNK activities were shown to induce the expression of ADAMTS4 in PsA patients. The reduced ADAMTS1 expression in PsA patients induced by IL-1b stimulation was revealed to be dependent on NFkB activity. Conclusions: mRNA expressions of ADAMTS1 and ADAMTS4 regulated by MAPKs and NFkB were increased in PBMCs of PsA patients. This study supports the hypothesis that ADAMTS1 and ADAMTS4 mRNA level might be diagnostic markers for identifying psoriatic patients who are more likely to develop PsA and a future drug target for PsA treatment.

The aim of this study was to analyze the pregnancy process, especially the Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) disease course and attack types during pregnancy, and to examine the relationship between disease-related factors and female infertility in FMF patients. The study, which was planned in a multicenter national network, included 643 female patients. 435 female patients who had regular sexual intercourse were questioned in terms of infertility. Pregnancy and delivery history, FMF disease severity and course during pregnancy were evaluated. The relationship between demographic and clinical findings, disease severity, genetic analysis results and infertility was investigated. 401 patients had at least 1 pregnancy and 34 patients were diagnosed with infertility. 154 patients had an attack during pregnancy. 61.6% of them reported that attacks during pregnancy were similar to those when they were not pregnant. The most common attack symptoms were fever, fatigue and abdominal pain-peritonitis (96%, 87%, and 83%, respectively) in the pregnancy period. The disease-onset age, disease activity score, gene mutation analyses, and regular colchicine use (> 90%) were similar between the fertile and infertile groups, while the frequency of previous appendectomy and alcohol consumption rates were higher in individuals with infertility. Our results indicated no significant change in the frequency and severity of attacks during pregnancy. The low rate of infertility (7.8%) in our patients was noted. It has been suggested that the risk of FMF-related infertility may not be as high as thought in patients who are followed up regularly and received colchicine.

Aim: This study investigates serum interleukin(IL)-37 levels in patients with systemic sclerosis (SS) and assesses its relationship with clinical findings. Methods: This study included 35 patients with SS and 30 healthy control subjects. The demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients, such as the presence of Raynaud’s phenomenon, SS subtype, digital ulcers, gastrointestinal and lung involvement, and disease activity, were recorded. The medications used by the patients were recorded, and Serum IL-37 levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The United Kingdom Functional Scoring system was used to evaluate the functional status of the patients, while the Valentini criteria were used to evaluate disease activity. Skin involvement was evaluated based on the modified Rodnan skin score. Results: Although serum IL-37 levels were found to be lower in patients with SS than in the control group, the difference was not statistically significant (p= 0.078). A negative correlation was identified between serum IL-37 levels and C3 levels in patients with SS (p= 0.046). No significant relationship was found between IL-37 levels and other clinical and laboratory parameters. Conclusion: Unlike in patients with autoimmune disorders, serum IL-37 levels were found to be lower in patients with SS than in the control subjects, and IL-37 demonstrated a negative correlation with C3 levels.

In this study, it was aimed to investigate the effects of tarantula cubensis extract (TCE) and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on cancellous and cortical bone repair.A circular unicortical bone defect was created on both the cancellous and cortical regions of the tibia of each subject.The subjects, totaling 54 mature New Zealand rabbits, were randomly allocated into three groups (n:18 each): control, LLLT (Galium-aliminum-arsenide laser at a wavelength of 780 nm and 4 J/cm 2 , 5 min/day) and TCE (1 µg/kg) groups.Relative optic density (ROD) level was higher in the TCE group than the control group on day 28 as radiological (P<0.05).In both cancellous and cortical bone, inflammatory cell densities were less on the 14 and 21 st day in the TCE and LLLT groups, bone tissue formation and qualities were higher 7 and 14 th days in TCE and LLLT and collagen maturation were higher 28 th day in the TCE group as histopathological (P<0.05).In this study, TCE accelerates bone repair as much as LLLT and more than the control group.In conclusion, that TCE is an effective, easier to apply and more economical supportive treatment in bone defects like LLLT.

Objectives This study aims to evaluate the clinical, functional, and radiological features of hand osteoarthritis (OA) and to examine their relationships in different geographic samples of the Turkish population. Patients and methods Between April 2017 and January 2019, a total of 520 patients (49 males, 471 females; mean age: 63.6±9.8 years) with hand OA were included in the study from 26 centers across Turkey by the Turkish League Against Rheumatism (TLAR). The demographic characteristics, grip strengths with Jamar dynamometer, duration of hand pain (month), the severity of hand pain (Visual Analog Scale [VAS]), and morning stiffness were evaluated. The functional disability was evaluated with Duruöz Hand Index (DHI). The Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) OA scoring system was used to assess the radiological stage of hand OA. Results The DHI had significant correlations with VAS-pain (r=0.367, p<0.001), duration of pain (r=0.143, p=0.001) and bilateral handgrip strengths (r=-0.228, p=0.001; r=-0.303, p<0.001). Although DHI scores were similar between the groups in terms of the presence of hand deformity (p=0.125) or Heberden's nodes (p=0.640), the mean DHI scores were significantly higher in patients with Bouchard's nodes (p=0.015). The total number of nodes had no significant correlations with the VAS-pain and DHI score (p>0.05). The differences between the groups of radiological hand OA grades in terms of age (p=0.007), VAS-pain (p<0.001), duration of pain (p<0.001), and DHI (p<0.001) were significant. There were no significant differences between radiological hand OA grades according to the duration of the stiffness, grip strength, and BMI (p>0.05 for all). Conclusion In our population, the patients with hand OA had pain, functional disability, and weak grip strength. The functional impairment was significantly correlated with the severity of the pain, and the functional status was worse in high radiological hand OA grades.

Purpose: In this study, we aimed to show whether a difference exists between retinal and choroidal microcirculation findings between patients with familial Mediterranean fever and healthy controls. Methods: Thirty-two patients with familial Mediterranean fever and 30 healthy controls were included in the study. All the patients underwent a complete ophthalmologic examination, including best-corrected visual acuity and intraocular pressure measurement. The AngioVue optical coherence tomography angiography device (Optovue, Fremont, CA) with split-spectrum amplitude-decorrelation angiography was used to evaluate and examine the retinal microvascular structure. Three-dimensional en face Optical coherence tomography angiography images were obtained by examining the macula using the 3 x 3 mm scanning protocol in the Angio Retina mode and the optic nerve using the 3 x 3 mm scanning protocol in the Angio Disk mode. All the patients’ right eyes were examined. Results: A total of 62 subjects were included in the study, of whom 32 (53.3%) were female and 30 (46.7%) were male. No statistically significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of optic nerve head or radial peripapillary capillary vessel density. On examination, the superficial capillary plexuses were statistically similar between the two groups, but the deep capillary plexus vessel density in the parafovea, superior hemi, temporal, and superior areas were significantly lower in the patients with familial Mediterranean fever. Conclusions: We found that the capillary plexus vessel density was significantly lower in the parafovea, superior hemi, temporal, and superior regions in the patients with familial Mediterranean fever than in the control group. Therefore, OCTA, a noninvasive study, may be useful for understanding the systemic effects of familial Mediterranean fever.

Objectives:In this study, we aimed to evaluate the factors associated with disability and quality of life (QoL) in Turkish patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Patients and methods:Between January 2018 and January 2019, a total of 256 SSc patients (20 males, 236 females; mean age: 50.9±12.4 years; range, 19 to 87 years) who were diagnosed with SSc were included in the study. Disability and health-related QoL (HRQoL) were evaluated by the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), scleroderma HAQ (SHAQ), Duruöz Hand Index (DHI), and Short Form-36 (SF-36). Linear regression analysis methods were used to describe factors associated with disability and QoL of the patients. Results:All disability scores were higher and HRQoL scores were lower in diffuse cutaneous SSc patients compared limited cutaneous SSc, and differentiations were significant (p=0.001 and p=0.007). In multiple regression, pain (VAS) was the strongest predictor for high disability and low QoL scores (p<0.001) as HAQ (β=0.397, 0.386, 0.452), SHAQ (β=0.397, 0.448, 0.372), DHI (β=0.446, 0.536, 0.389), PCS (β=-0.417,-0.499, -0.408) and MCS (β=-0.478, -0.441, -0.370) in combined, lcSSc and dcSSc patients respectively. The factors associated with high disability and low QoL scores were forced vital capacity for HAQ (β=-0.172, p=0.002) and SF-36 PCS (β=0.187, p=0.001); disease duration for HAQ (β=0.208, p<0.001), DHI (β=0.147, p=0.006), and SF-36 PCS (β=-0.134, p=0.014); 6-minute walk test for HAQ (β=-0.161, p=0.005) and SF-36 PCS (β=0.153, p=0.009); and modified Rodnan skin score for SHAQ (β=0.250, p<0.001) and DHI (β=0.233, p<0.001) in SSc patients. Diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide for HAQ (β=-0.189, p=0.010) and SHAQ (β=-0.247, p=0.002); erythrocyte sedimentation rate for DHI (β=0.322, p<0.001); age for SF-36 PCS (β=-0.221, p=0.003) and body mass index for SF-36 PCS (β=-0.200, p=0.008) and MCS (β=-0.175, p=0.034) were the other variables associated with high disability or low QoL scores in SSc subsets. Conclusion:Clinicians should consider the management of the pain and its sources as a key to improve better functional state and quality of daily life in SSc.