Is the isokinetic strength of nonparetic lower limb related to fatigue in stroke survivors? A cross-sectional study.

Objectives: The study aimed to investigate the correlation between nonparetic knee muscle strength and fatigue in a cohort of stroke survivors. Patients and methods: Thirty-two stroke survivors (17 females, 15 males; median age 62 (interquartile range [IQR] 51-69), (min: 45, max: 81) years were recruited in this cross-sectional study between January 2012 and September 2012. Sociodemographic, clinical, and stroke-related parameters were recorded. All participants underwent an isokinetic measurement of the nonparetic knee flexion and extension. Functional independence measure, functional ambulation category, and Mini-Mental State Examination scores were used to evaluate the functional status, ambulation, and mental status of the patients. Anxiety, depression, and fatigue severity were measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and fatigue severity scale (FSS), respectively. Results: The median duration of stroke was 3.1 (IQR: 2.5-6.5) months. Stroke survivors with reduced muscle strength were older and had lower motor and total functional independence measure scores than those with normal strength (p=0.026, p=0.034, and p=0.034, respectively). There were more patients with lower functional ambulation category scores in the group with reduced muscle strength (p=0.023). Peak torque values of knee flexors at 60°/sec and 180°/sec correlated negatively with FSS (r= -0.360, p=0.043 and r= -0.452, p=0.009, respectively). There was also a negative correlation between the work of knee extensor and flexors at 180°/sec and FSS (r= -0.398, p=0.024 and r= -0.451, p=0.010, respectively). Anxiety and depression scores were not significantly correlated with fatigue. Conclusion: The lower strength of nonparetic knee extensor muscles was related to greater disability and worse ambulatory scores. The lower strength of knee flexor muscles and the work of both knee muscles in the nonparetic limb were related to higher fatigue levels in stroke survivors. Therefore, fatigue management and strengthening of both knee flexor and extensor muscles in the nonparetic limb is emphasized during stroke rehabilitation.

Evaluation of the anterior shoulder instability using ultrasound shear wave elastography.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the soft tissue stiffness which has a prominent role in shoulder instability using ultrasound (US) shear wave elastography (SWE) and to compare the results with healthy shoulders. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between December 2018 and January 2020, a total of 33 male patients (mean age: 26±4.3 years; range, 18 to 35 years) who underwent arthroscopic repair for traumatic isolated anterior glenohumeral instability were included in this prospective study. The shoulder girdle was evaluated with US SWE in patients with traumatic anterior instability. Deltoid (D), supraspinatus (SS), infraspinatus (IS), subscapularis (SSC), and long head of biceps (LHB) tendons forming the shoulder girdle and anterior labrum (L) were evaluated with SWE. The elasticity and velocity of the tissues were quantitatively measured. The operated shoulders of 33 patients due to isolated traumatic anterior instability were named Group 1, while the healthy shoulders of these patients were named Group 2. Thirty volunteers with healthy shoulders were considered as the control group (Group 3, n=30). RESULTS: All three groups were compared in terms of SS, D, LHB, and SSC tendon velocity and elasticity; however, no statistically significant difference was observed among the groups (p<0.05). The anterior labrum of these three groups did not significantly differ in terms of SWE measurements (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The stiffness of shoulder girdle muscle tendons and labrum measured with US SWE does not constitute a risk factor for traumatic anterior shoulder instability.

Evaluation of hepatitis serology and frequency of viral reactivation in patients with inflammatory arthritis receiving biologic agents: a multicenter observational study.

To evaluate of hepatitis serology and reactivation frequency in patients with rheumatic disease receiving biologic agents. Our study included patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases from 23 centers, who were followed up with biological therapy. Demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients, duration of drug use and hepatitis serology and the state of viral reactivation were analyzed. A total of 4060 patients, 2095 being males, were included in our study. Of the patients, 2463 had Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), 1154 had Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), 325 had Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA), and 118 had other inflammatory rheumatic diseases. When the viral serology of the patients was evaluated, 79 patients (2%) who were identified as HBs Ag positive, 486 (12%) patients who were HBs Ag negative and anti-HBc IgG positive and 20 patients (0.5%) who were anti-HCV positive. When evaluated on a disease-by-disease basis, the rate of HBsAg was found to be 2.5% in RA, 2% in AS and 0.9% in PsA. Viral reactivation was detected in 13 patients while receiving biologic agents. HBs Ag was positive in nine patients with reactivation and negative in four patients. Anti-HBc IgG, however, was positive. Six of these patients had AS, four had RA, and three had PsA. The development of hepatitis reactivation in 11.4% of HBs Ag positive patients and 0.82% of anti-HBc IgG positive patients due to the use of biologic agents is an important problem for this group of patients. Antiviral prophylaxis is recommended to be started especially in patients who are HBs Ag positive and who are using biologic agents due to viral reactivation. Therefore, it is important to carry out hepatitis screenings before biologic agent treatment and to carefully evaluate the vaccination and prophylaxis requirements.

Diagnostic Dilemma: Which Clinical Tests Are Most Accurate for Diagnosing Supraspinatus Muscle Tears and Tendinosis When Compared to Magnetic Resonance Imaging?

BACKGROUND:  The study aims to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of five clinical shoulder tests in the diagnosis of supraspinatus tears and tendinosis when compared to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS:  A total of 116 shoulders of 106 consecutive patients who experienced shoulder pain were assessed for this cross-sectional diagnostic accuracy study. Patients were assessed with the most commonly used clinical shoulder tests, including the Jobe test (empty can), Neer test, drop arm test, Hawkins test, and full can test to identify supraspinatus tears and tendinosis. MRI examinations were performed on a 1.5 Tesla MRI system, and images were assessed by a blinded radiologist. The primary outcomes were to determine the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the five clinical tests and to establish their correlation with MRI for supraspinatus tears and tendinosis. RESULTS: The Hawkins test had a higher sensitivity and accuracy when diagnosing tears (sensitivity 89.66% [95% CI, 78.83-96.11] and accuracy 56.03% [95% CI, 46.51-65.23], respectively) and higher sensitivity in tendinosis (79.07% [95% CI, 63.96-89.96]). The drop arm test had a lower sensitivity but higher specificity in both tendinosis and tears (sensitivity 0% [95% CI, 0-8.22] and 12.07% [95% CI, 4.99-23.29], respectively, and specificity 87.67% [95% CI, 77.88-94.21] and 96.5% [95% CI, 88.09-99.58], respectively). The Neer test had a higher positive predictive value (PPV) of 37.21% in diagnosing tendinosis. When compared to the Hawkins test, the combination of the clinical tests had no statistically significant contribution to sensitivity and diagnostic accuracy. CONCLUSION: The Hawkins test had higher accuracy in diagnosing tears and was the most sensitive in diagnosing supraspinatus tendinosis and tears when compared to the MRI findings. The Neer test may also be another reliable tool for the diagnosis of tendinosis due to its higher PPV.

Neural therapy for fibromyalgia: Myth or improving quality of life?

BACKGROUND: Fibromyalgia is a common rheumatic disease, which is thought to be a neuroendocrine dysregulation disorder. Patients' quality of life (QOL) is severely affected by this disease. Though neural therapy, as a treatment option, attempts to correct the underlying neuroendocrine dysfunction, yet there is no proven evidence of its effect on this disease. The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of neural therapy on pain and functionality in patients with fibromyalgia. METHODS: The study was a 1-year retrospective cohort study and held in physical medicine and rehabilitation clinics. A total of 60 female patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia were included. Sixty female patients with fibromyalgia were included in this study. Patients were divided into two groups; the first group (n = 30) received neural therapy, the second group (n = 30) received conventional physical therapy and each of the two groups received the same home exercise (stretching, strengthening and aerobic exercises) programme for four weeks. The primer outcomes were visual analogue scale (VAS), Short Form-36 (SF-36) and Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) scores after the treatment. RESULTS: The social functioning score exhibited a significant improvement only in the intra-group comparison of the neural therapy group (P < .001). However, after treatment, the VAS, FIQ and all the SF-36 parameters, except role limitations because of physical health, were detected to be significantly improved in the neural therapy group compared with the exercise group (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Neural therapy may be an effective alternative treatment for improving the QOL in patients with fibromyalgia.