Archives of rheumatology最新文献

{"title":"The effects of Lactobacillus delbrueckii and Lactobacillus rhamnosus on cytokines and their related molecules: An <i>ex vivo</i> study on patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.","authors":"Atefeh Alaei, Mahmoud Mahmoudi, Maryam Sahebari, Zohreh Vahidi, Nafiseh Tabasi, Maryam Rastin","doi":"10.46497/ArchRheumatol.2023.9941","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.46497/ArchRheumatol.2023.9941","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aimed to assess the <i>ex vivo</i> impact of <i>Lactobacillus delbrueckii (L. delbrueckii)</i> and <i>Lactobacillus rhamnosus (L. rhamnosus)</i> on inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines as well as their related molecules on the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients.</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>This study was conducted with 20 newly diagnosed SLE patients (18 females, 2 males; mean age: 33.3±12.4 years; range, 18 to 68 years) between September 2017 and September 2018. Extracted PBMCs from each patient were divided into 4 cell groups in our study. Three cell groups act as treatment groups receiving <i>L. rhamnosus</i> (10⁷ CFU/mL), L. delbrueckii (10⁵ CFU/mL) or a mixture of both, and one group act as our untreated control group in the absence of any probiotic agents. All cell groups were cultured in RPMI 1460 medium for 48 h. Then, total RNA was extracted, and cDNA was synthesized.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The gene expression levels of forkhead box P3 (FOXP3), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, and IL-2 were evaluated by a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The results revealed that expression levels of FOXP3, TGF-β, IL-10, and IL-2 increased and the level of IL-6 decreased in probiotics-receiving groups compared to the control group. <i>Lactobacillus delbrueckii</i> and <i>L. rhamnosus</i> enhanced the expression of regulatory T cell-related molecules such as FOXP3 and IL-2 and also increased the expression of IL-10. These probiotics also reduced the expression of IL-6 as proinflammatory cytokines in the PBMCs of SLE patients.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The results of the present study show that these probiotics could be effective in regulating the balance of cytokine gene expression <i>ex vivo</i> , and due to their beneficial effects, they can be an intriguing option in the production of new complement drugs for SLE.</p>","PeriodicalId":93884,"journal":{"name":"Archives of rheumatology","volume":"38 4","pages":"642-652"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10728742/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138833462","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Translation, cross-cultural adaptation, reliability, and convergent and known-group validity of the Turkish full version of the Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score in patients with hip osteoarthritis.","authors":"Ayşenur Gökşen, Remzi Çaylak, Fatma Kübra Çekok, Turhan Kahraman","doi":"10.46497/ArchRheumatol.2024.10197","DOIUrl":"10.46497/ArchRheumatol.2024.10197","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The study aimed to culturally adapt the full version of the Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS) into Turkish and evaluate its reliability and validity.</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>Patients with hip osteoarthritis were included in the methodological crosscultural adaptation study between May 2022 and December 2022. We translated and adapted the HOOS into a Turkish version and validated it in a cohort of native Turkish-speaking patients with hip osteoarthritis. The HOOS includes five subscales named symptoms, pain, activities of daily living (ADL), sport and recreation (Sport/Rec), and quality of life (QoL). The psychometric properties of the Turkish HOOS were assessed. The reliability was investigated using test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient; ICC) and internal consistency methods (Cronbach's alpha). The convergent validity of the Turkish HOOS was evaluated by testing the predefined hypotheses using the correlations with the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and the European Quality of Life Scale (EQ-5D-3L), a generic QoL scale.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 202 patients (131 females, 71 males; mean age: 55.2±9.7 years; range, 50 to 70 years) were recruited for the study. Cronbach's alpha values for each subscale of the HOOS were as follows: symptoms=0.76, pain=0.94, ADL=0.96, Sport/Rec=0.87, QoL=0.78, and total score=0.98, indicating it has high internal consistency. For all subscales and total score of the HOOS, the ICC values were between 0.77 and 0.86, indicating good to excellent test-retest reliability. All correlations between each subscale and total score of the Turkish HOOS, WOMAC, and EQ-5D-3L were moderate to strong. Therefore, 23 predefined hypotheses out of 24 were confirmed with a confirmation rate of 96%, indicating the Turkish version of the HOOS had adequate convergent validity.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study shows that the Turkish version of the HOOS has a convergent and knowngroup validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability. It can be used to assess the patient's perception of their hip and associated difficulties, as well as their symptoms and functional limitations.</p>","PeriodicalId":93884,"journal":{"name":"Archives of rheumatology","volume":"39 2","pages":"180-193"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2023-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11196225/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141461226","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Elastosonography and electrodiagnosis in relation to symptomatic and functional grading of carpal tunnel syndrome.","authors":"Marwa Yahia, Ahmed El Shambaky, Doaa Lasheen","doi":"10.46497/ArchRheumatol.2023.10022","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.46497/ArchRheumatol.2023.10022","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study focused on the symptomatic and the functional evaluation in correlations to median nerve elasticity, its ultrasound parameters, and the electrodiagnostic grading of primary carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) patients.</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>In the case-control study, 100 wrists of 57 CTS patients (54 females, 3 males; mean age: 39±9.8 years; range, 20 to 60 years) clinically diagnosed according to the American Academy of Neurology Clinical Diagnostic Criteria were evaluated between December 2019 and December 2020. The control group included 110 nondiseased wrists of 55 sex- and age-matched healthy subjects (males 7, females 48; mean age: 35.7±10.3 years; range 20 to 58 years). Functional assessment using Hi-Ob-Db clinical scale, electrodiagnosis, ultrasonographic screening, and elasticity evaluation were done for all patients.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>CTS patients had an increased stiffness of the median nerve compared to controls. Functional stages were positively correlated with the ultrasonographic parameters and the electrodiagnostic stages of CTS. The elastogram of clinically diagnosed patients was revealed more stiffness of the MN, with negative electrodiagnosis results.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Clinically diagnosed CTS could be missed by the electrodiagnosis but then properly figured by ultrasonography and potentially graded by sonoelastography. Sonoelastography may be an effective method for early diagnosis and appropriate grading of CTS.</p>","PeriodicalId":93884,"journal":{"name":"Archives of rheumatology","volume":"38 4","pages":"620-632"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10728749/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138833456","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Examining the functions of the vascular endothelial growth factor/hypoxia-inducible factor signaling pathway in psoriatic arthritis.","authors":"Yavuz Kiliç, Derya Guzel Erdogan, Merve Baykul, Kemal Nas","doi":"10.46497/ArchRheumatol.2023.9898","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.46497/ArchRheumatol.2023.9898","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The present study aimed to examine the roles of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF), and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in psoriatic arthritis (PsA).</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>In this cross-sectional study conducted between November 2020 and May 2021, 64 patients (43 female, 21 male; mean age: 43.2±10.4 years; range, 22 to 60 years) with active PsA were included in the patient group, and 64 healthy volunteers (43 female, 21 male; mean age: 42.8±10.5 years; range, 23 to 61 years) were included in the control group. The demographic features of all cases were recorded. The following indices were used to assess the activity of PsA: Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index, Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28), and Visual Analog Scale. Additionally, Disease Activity in Psoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA) and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) were used to evaluate the patients. The biochemical parameters of the patients were calculated. The serum levels of VEGF, HIF, and HO-1 were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>When the molecule levels and clinical features of the groups were evaluated, it was found that the VEGF and HIF-1 levels were higher in the patient group compared to the control group (p<0.05). No difference was observed in the comparison of the HO-1 levels of the patient group and the control group (p<0.05). A positive correlation was found between VEGF, HIF-1, and HO-1 (p<0.05). A positive relationship was found between VEGF and HIF-1 and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, DAPSA score, and PASI score (p<0.05). It was also determined that there was a positive relationship between the HIF molecule and DAS28 (p<0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>According to the results obtained in the present study, VEGF and HIF play a role in the etiology of PsA, and the observation of intermolecular correlation suggests that these molecules move together in pathogenesis.</p>","PeriodicalId":93884,"journal":{"name":"Archives of rheumatology","volume":"38 4","pages":"579-589"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10728743/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138833457","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Risk of flare in juvenile idiopathic arthritis: Is it related to the methotrexate treatment strategy or patient characteristics?","authors":"Rana İşgüder, Zehra Kızıldağ, Rüya Torun, Tuncay Aydın, Balahan Makay, Erbil Ünsal","doi":"10.46497/ArchRheumatol.2023.10035","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.46497/ArchRheumatol.2023.10035","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The study aimed to determine the factors that increase the risk of disease flare in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis who stopped methotrexate (MTX) monotherapy following inactive disease (ID).</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>In the retrospective study, files of all juvenile idiopathic arthritis cases between April 1992 and June 2022 were examined. Patients who stopped MTX monotherapy following ID were evaluated. Patients with disease flare and persistent ID were compared. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis subgroup, age of symptom onset, autoantibodies, acute phase reactants, MTX method of use, and withdrawal strategy were recorded. Systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients were excluded from the study due to different clinical symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment methods.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Files of 1,036 patients were evaluated, and 107 patients (88 females, 19 males; mean age: 5.9±4.2 years; range, 0.8-16.5 years) were included in the study. The median age at symptom onset was 4.8 (interquartile range [IQR]: 2-7.6) years. In terms of juvenile idiopathic arthritis subgroups, 52 (48.6%) had oligoarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis, 43 (40.2%) had polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and 12 (11.2%) had juvenile psoriatic arthritis. The patients reached ID in nine (IQR: 4.8-17.7) months after starting MTX, and MTX treatment was discontinued after one (IQR: 0.7-1.3) year following ID. The disease flare developed in 59 (55%) of the cases. The ID continued in 48 (45%) patients. In multivariate analysis, the risk of flare was associated with younger symptom onset (odds ratio [OR]=2.2, p=0.006), antinuclear antibody positivity (OR=1.6, p=0.03), higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate (OR=1.01, p=0.04), and C-reactive protein (OR=1, p=0.02) at the MTX onset. No difference was observed between the two groups regarding MTX dose, route of administration, prior and concomitant treatments, time to reach ID, and time and method of MTX discontinuation.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In this study, the risk of flare was associated with patient's characteristics, rather than the administration and discontinuation method of MTX.</p>","PeriodicalId":93884,"journal":{"name":"Archives of rheumatology","volume":"38 4","pages":"602-610"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10728747/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138833461","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Males and females with scleroderma: A comparative study in a Brazilian sample.","authors":"Matheus Costa, Igor Jorge, Patricia Martin, Renato Nisihara, Thelma Skare","doi":"10.46497/ArchRheumatol.2023.10011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.46497/ArchRheumatol.2023.10011","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aimed to evaluate the clinical and serological profile in systemic sclerosis (SSc) by comparing females and males.</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>This retrospective study was conducted with 215 SSc patients (193 females, 22 males; mean age: 50.1±14.5 years; range, 16 to 88 years) between September 2005 and September 2020. Disease severity was calculated by the Medsger severity score. Males and females were compared for clinical and serological markers.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Females more frequently had esophageal involvement (p=0.003), telangiectasias (p=0.03), and antinuclear antibodies (p=0.04). Males more frequently had fingertip scars (p=0.03), digital ulcers (p=0.006), and a worse median Medsger severity score (6 in males <i>vs.</i> 4 in females, p=0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In the studied sample, males had more severe disease than females with greater repercussions in periferic circulatory system.</p>","PeriodicalId":93884,"journal":{"name":"Archives of rheumatology","volume":"38 4","pages":"542-548"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10728735/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138833460","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association between choroidal thickness and interstitial lung disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A cross-sectional study.","authors":"Serdar Kaymaz, Nilüfer Savurmuş, Uğur Karasu, Hüseyin Kaya, Furkan Ufuk, Ayşe Rüksan Ütebey, Veli Çobankara, Murat Yiğit","doi":"10.46497/ArchRheumatol.2023.10116","DOIUrl":"10.46497/ArchRheumatol.2023.10116","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aimed to evaluate choroidal thickness (CT) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and healthy controls and to determine its relationship with RA-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD).</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>A total of 63 patients with RA and 36 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were recruited in the cross-sectional study. Serological findings, Disease Activity Score-28, disease duration, and medical treatment of patients were recorded. Patients with RA were subdivided into two groups: patients with RA-ILD (Group 1) and patients with RA but without ILD (RA-noILD; Group 2). CTs were measured using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography. CT was measured at five points: the subfoveal region, 750 μm nasal and temporal to the fovea, 1500 μm nasal and temporal to the fovea. Patients with RA-ILD were evaluated with delta high-resolution computed tomography (ΔHRCT) and pulmonary function test to determine the severity of interstitial lung disease.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Four of 63 RA patients were excluded due to comorbidities. Thus, 59 RA patients, 20 in the RA-ILD group and 39 in the RA-noILD group, were included in the analyses. The RA groups were similar in terms of clinical characteristics and laboratory findings. There were statistically significant differences between Group 1, Group 2 and healthy controls (Group 3) compared to all CT values (p<0.05). The mean CT measured at 750 μm and 1500 μm nasal to the fovea was lowest in the RA-ILD group, followed by the RA-noILD and healthy groups (p<0.05). CT measurements did not correlate with the pulmonary function test and ΔHRCT.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>RA-ILD patients had a thinner CT measured at nasal points. However, there was no association between CT measurements and the severity of ILD.</p>","PeriodicalId":93884,"journal":{"name":"Archives of rheumatology","volume":"39 1","pages":"89-98"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11104761/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141077483","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The short-term effect of glucosamine-sulfate, nonanimal chondroitin-sulfate, and S-adenosylmethionine combination on ultrasonography findings, inflammation, pain, and functionality in patients with knee osteoarthritis: A pilot, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial.","authors":"Zoran Veličković, Slavica Pavlov Dolijanović, Nikola Stojanović, Saša Janjić, Ljiljana Kovačević, Ivan Soldatović, Goran Radunović","doi":"10.46497/ArchRheumatol.2023.9994","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.46497/ArchRheumatol.2023.9994","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of glucosamine-sulfate (GS), nonanimal chondroitin-sulfate (naCS), and S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) combination on ultrasound findings, inflammation, pain, and functionality in knee osteoarthritis.</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>In the prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study conducted between August 2019 and November 2019, 120 participants (28 males, 92 females; mean age: 66.4±7.9 years; range, 42.4 to 74.5 years) were randomized at a 1:1:1 ratio to the placebo group, the first experimental group (a combination of GS, naCS, and SAMe was administered to the experimental groups. The first experimental group received 375 mg of GS, 300 mg of naCS, and 100 mg of SAMe, whereas the second experimental group received 750 mg of GS, 600 mg of naCS, and 200 mg of SAMe). Laboratory (erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin [IL]-1β, IL-6, IL-17), clinical (Visual Analog Scale [VAS], short form health survey [SF-36], the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index [WOMAC], and the Tegner Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale [TLKS]), and musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) assessments were performed at baseline and after three and six months.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A minor increase was observed in the second experimental group after six months using ultrasonography to evaluate articular cartilage thickness (p<0.05). The investigational product's superiority in reducing osteoarthritis ultrasonographic findings was not proven. A moderately negative association was found between cartilage thickness and VAS scores at baseline (ρ=-0.36, p<0.01), while the presence of massive osteophytes on MSUS showed a low to moderate association with all clinical outcomes. There was no difference in the delta changes between groups for the VAS, TLKS, WOMAC, and SF-36. The only serum inflammatory marker outside the reference range was IL-1β, but no significant changes were observed after six months.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>According to the results of our investigation, treatment for knee osteoarthritis should be evaluated using more objective outcomes. The most important conclusion of our study is that IP may result in a slight increase in articular cartilage thickness, which was associated with a decrease in pain intensity at baseline. Clarification of the potential influence of this combination on radiographic progression and laboratory markers of inflammation requires further exploration.</p>","PeriodicalId":93884,"journal":{"name":"Archives of rheumatology","volume":"38 4","pages":"521-541"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10728741/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138833464","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The evaluation of tibial nerve using shear-wave elastography and ultrasound in patients with systemic sclerosis: A cross-sectional study.","authors":"Serdar Kaymaz, Murat Yiğit, Furkan Ufuk, Burak Sarılar, Uğur Karasu, Veli Çobankara, Nuran Sabir, Hakan Alkan","doi":"10.46497/ArchRheumatol.2023.9835","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.46497/ArchRheumatol.2023.9835","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The study aimed to evaluate stiffness and the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the tibial nerve (TN) using shear wave elastography (SWE) and ultrasound (US) and investigate the relationship of these with disease activity, quality of life, and severity of neuropathic pain in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study included 28 SSc patients (1 male, 27 females; mean age: 50±11 years; range, 28 to 67 years) and 22 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (4 males, 18 females; mean age: 48±6 years; range, 37 to 66 years) between March and April 2022. US and SWE were performed on the TN, and CSA and nerve stiffness were measured. The TN was examined by a radiologist, 4 cm proximal to the medial malleolus. A few days later, an evaluation was performed in the second session by a second observer to investigate inter-and intraobserver agreement. Interobserver agreement was evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The Scleroderma Health Assessment Questionnaire, European League Against Rheumatism European Scleroderma Trial and Research (EUSTAR) group activity index, and Douleur-Neuropathique 4 scores of the patients were evaluated. Correlations between the questionnaires and measurements of nerve stiffness and CSA were assessed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Patients with SSc had significantly higher stiffness and CSA values of the right TN compared to healthy controls (p<0.001 and p=0.015, respectively). The nerve stiffness values of the right TN were positively correlated with the EUSTAR activity index (p=0.004, r=0.552). The CSA of the left TN was larger in patients with SSc (21.3±4.9 mm² ) than in controls (12.8±3.4 mm² ), and the nerve elasticity was positively correlated with the EUSTAR activity index (p=0.001, r=0.618). The interobserver agreement was moderate to good for measuring stiffness and CSA of the TN (ICC were 0.660 and 0.818, respectively). There was a good to excellent intraobserver agreement for measuring stiffness and CSA of TN (ICC were 0.843 and 0.940, respectively).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The increased disease activity in patients with SSc is associated with TN involvement, which can be demonstrated by US and SWE.</p>","PeriodicalId":93884,"journal":{"name":"Archives of rheumatology","volume":"38 4","pages":"556-565"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-07-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10728736/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138833463","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Altered serum antibody levels in children with periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and cervical adenitis.","authors":"Umut Gazi, Ceyhun Dalkan, Burcin Sanlidag, Zeynep Cerit, Ilke Beyitler, Nerin Narin Bahceciler","doi":"10.46497/ArchRheumatol.2023.9988","DOIUrl":"10.46497/ArchRheumatol.2023.9988","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aimed to extend the literature by analyzing immunoglobulin (Ig) A, IgE, IgG, IgG2, IgG3, and IgM antibody levels in periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and cervical adenitis (PFAPA) patients.</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>This study retrospectively analyzed the antibody test results of 20 pediatric patients (10 males, 10 females; mean age: 2.5±1.5 years; range, 0.5 to 5.4 years) with and without flare who were initially evaluated for a number of underlying diseases due to periodic fever/infectious symptoms but then diagnosed with PFAPA between January 2015 and December 2020. Antibody levels were determined by chemiluminescence microparticle immunoassay. The results were retrospectively compared with a group of healthy children after the PFAPA diagnosis was confirmed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The chemiluminescence microparticle immunoassay revealed 35%, 65%, 20%, 86.6%, and 55% of PFAPA cases with low serum levels of IgA, IgG, IgG2, IgG3, and IgM respectively, while 56.2% had high IgE levels. Moreover, low serum levels of at least two antibody classes or subclasses were reported in 80% of the PFAPA children. While cases with low IgG serum levels were with the highest incidence rates among the low IgG3 PFAPA patient population, both high IgE and low IgM cases were common in the rest of the patients.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our results suggest an association between PFAPA and low serum antibody levels, particularly of IgG3. Future studies are needed to confirm our conclusion.</p>","PeriodicalId":93884,"journal":{"name":"Archives of rheumatology","volume":"39 1","pages":"99-106"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-06-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11104745/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141077414","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}