The platelet indices in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: mean platelet volume reflects disease activity.

The present study was designed to investigate the interaction between platelet indices, inflammatory markers and disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) subjects. The effects of anti-TNF-alpha therapy and conventional treatment on platelet indices were also compared. We studied 97 patients with RA (19 men, 78 women: mean age 51 years) and 33 age and sex-matched healthy subjects as a control group. All RA patients were administered conventional therapy. After 3 months of therapy, 35 subjects who had high disease activity score (DAS28 > 5.1) were grouped as non-responders and were administered infliximab as a TNF-alpha blocker at the standard intravenous dose. Responders to the conventional therapy and non-responders were also compared. At baseline white blood cell (WBC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), platelet count and mean platelet volume (MPV) were significantly higher in patients with RA. Mean platelet volume was positively correlated with DAS28 score (r = 0.27; p = 0.007). These markers of inflammation and platelet indices were substantially decreased after therapy. The reductions were similar in responders to conventional therapy and non-responders (TNF alpha group). In conclusion, we found that MPV was correlated with inflammatory markers and disease activity in patients with RA. Both anti-TNF-alpha and conventional therapy decreases markers of inflammation and platelet indices. MPV can reflect both disease activity and response to treatment.

Effects of depression and anxiety on quality of life of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, knee osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To measure the effects of depression and anxiety on quality of life (QoL) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), knee osteoarthritis (OA) and fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). METHODS: One hundred and fifty-four patients with RA, knee OA, and FMS who presented to the physical medicine and rehabilitation department were studied. For evaluation of the patients, Beck depression scale, Beck anxiety scale, and Short Form-36 were used. RESULTS: Twenty-two per cent of patients (n = 34) were diagnosed with of RA, 52.6% (n = 81) knee OA and 25.3% (n = 39) FMS. Except for the subscales, of physical and emotional role, there were statistically significant differences among diagnostic groups in the rest of the SF-36 subscales. In the physical functioning subscale, the highest score was obtained in the fibromyalgia group and the lowest in the RA group (p < 0.001). However, in the bodily pain subscale, the lowest score was recorded in the fibromyalgia group (p = 0.019). In all diagnostic groups, the scores of SF-36 subscales were significantly low in patients who scored above the threshold value of Beck depression scale (p < 0. 001). A strong negative correlation was detected between scores of Beck anxiety scale and the scores of all SF36 subscales in patients with RA and knee OA. On the other hand, in patients with FMS, anxiety scores correlated negatively with only physical and somatic function scores of SF-36. CONCLUSION: Quality of life is significantly low in patients with RA, knee OA and FMS, whose depression and/or anxiety scores are high. Therefore, these patients should be managed using a multidisciplinary approach including psychiatric support.

Effects of depression and anxiety on quality of life of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, knee osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia syndrome / Efectos de la depresión y la ansiedad sobre la calidad de los pacientes con artritis reumatoide, osteoartritis de la rodilla y síndrome de fibromialgia

OBJECTIVE: To measure the effects of depression and anxiety on quality of life (QoL) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), knee osteoarthritis (OA) and fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). METHODS: One hundred and fifty-four patients with RA, knee OA, and FMS who presented to the physical medicine and rehabilitation department were studied. For evaluation of the patients, Beck depression scale, Beck anxiety scale, and Short Form-36 were used. RESULTS: Twenty-two per cent of patients (n = 34) were diagnosed with of RA, 52.6% (n = 81) knee OA and 25.3% (n = 39) FMS. Except for the subscales, of physical and emotional role, there were statistically significant differences among diagnostic groups in the rest of the SF-36 subscales. In the physical functioning subscale, the highest score was obtained in the fibromyalgia group and the lowest in the RA group (p < 0.001). However, in the bodily pain subscale, the lowest score was recorded in the fibromyalgia group (p = 0.019). In all diagnostic groups, the scores of SF-36 subscales were significantly low in patients who scored above the threshold value of Beck depression scale (p < 0. 001). A strong negative correlation was detected between scores of Beck anxiety scale and the scores of all SF36 subscales in patients with RA and knee OA. On the other hand, in patients with FMS, anxiety scores correlated negatively with only physical and somatic function scores of SF-36. CONCLUSION: Quality of life is significantly low in patients with RA, knee OA and FMS, whose depression and/or anxiety scores are high. Therefore, these patients should be managed using a multidisciplinary approach including psychiatric support.

OBJETIVO: Medir los efectos de la depresión y la ansiedad sobre la calidad de vida (CdV) en pacientes con artritis reumatoide (AR), osteoartritis de la rodilla (OA) y síndrome de fibromialgia (SFM). MÉTODOS: Se estudiaron ciento cincuenta y cuatro pacientes con RA, OA de la rodilla, y, que acudieron al departamento de medicina física y rehabilitación. Para la evaluación de los pacientes se utilizaron la escala de depresión de Beck, la escala de ansiedad de Beck, y el cuestionario de salud SF-3. RESULTADOS: Al veintidós por ciento de los pacientes (n = 34) se les diagnosticó RA, al 52.6% (n = 81) OA de la rodilla, y al 25.3% (n = 39) SFM. Excepto para las subescalas del rol físico y emocional, hubo diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los grupos diagnósticos en el resto de las subescalas del cuestionario SF-36. En la subescala del funcionamiento físico, la puntuación más alta se obtuvo en el grupo de fibromialgia y la más baja en el de RA (p < 0.001). Sin embargo, en la subescala de dolor corporal, la puntuación más baja se registró en el grupo de fibromialgia (p = 0.019). En todos los grupos diagnósticos, las puntuaciones de las subescalas del cuestionario fueron significativamente más bajas en los pacientes que obtuvieron puntos por encima del valor umbral de la escala de depresión de Beck (p < 0.001). Una fuerte correlación negativa fue detectada entre las puntuaciones de la escala de ansiedad de Beck y las puntuaciones de todas las subescalas del cuestionario SF-36 en pacientes con RA y OA de la rodilla. Por otro lado, en pacientes con SF, las puntuaciones de ansiedad tuvieron una correlación negativa con solo puntuaciones de función física y somática de SF-36. CONCLUSIÓN: La calidad de vida es significativamente mas baja en pacientes con RAD, OA de la rodilla y SFM, cuyas puntuaciones de depresión y/o ansiedad son elevadas. Por lo tanto, estos pacientes deben de ser tratados haciendo uso de enfoques multidisciplinarios, incluyendo apoyo...

The influence of duration of breastfeeding on bone mass in postmenopausal women of different age groups.

This study examines the influence of duration of breastfeeding on bone mineral density (BMD) and investigates the relationship between duration of breastfeeding and bone mass at four sites in postmenopausal women of different ages. A total of 509 postmenopausal women aged 45-86 years were included in the study. Patients were divided into three groups: never breastfed (n=67), < 96 months (n=157) and > or = 96 months (n=285); they were further classified into two age groups, 40-59 years (n=233) and 60-80 years (n=276). In all patients and in the 40-59 year age group, BMD of the spine was found to be significantly lower in the never-breastfed group, while BMD of the trochanter was significantly lower in the > or = 96 month breastfeeding group. BMD of the spine and femur tended to decrease with longer breastfeeding in all groups, while BMD of the spine and trochanter tended to decrease with longer breastfeeding in the 40-59 year group. Of patients in the 60-80 year group who had never breastfed, spinal BMD was significantly higher than that of the > or = 96 month group, while in the > or = 96 month group trochanter BMD was significantly lower than in other groups. In the never-breastfed group, ward's triangle BMD was significantly higher than that of other groups. There was a significant correlation between duration of breastfeeding and BMD of the spine, neck, trochanter and ward's triangle. The study suggests that duration of breastfeeding has an effect on BMD, and extended breastfeeding leads to lower BMD.

Traumatic spinal cord injuries in southeast Turkey: an epidemiological study.

In 1994, a retrospective study of new cases of traumatic Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) was conducted in all the hospitals in Southeast Turkey: 75 new traumatic SCI were identified. The estimated annual incidence was 16.9 per million population. The male/female ratio was 5.8/1. The mean age was 31.3, being 31.25 for male patients and 31.36 for female patients. 70.7% of all patients were under the age of 40. The major causes of SCI were falls (37.3%) and gunshot wounds (29.3%), followed by car accidents (25.3%), and stab wounds (1.3%). Thirty one patients (41.3%) were tetraplegic and 44 (58.7%) paraplegic. In tetraplegic patients the commonest level was C5, in those with paraplegia L1. The commonest associated injury was head trauma followed by fractures of the extremity(ies). Severe head trauma, being a major cause of death, may have obscured the actual incidence of SCI. Most of gunshot injured SCI patients were young soldiers fighting against the rebels. As there was no available data for the rebels with SCI, the actual incidence of SCI in Southeast (SE) Turkey should be higher than that found in this study.