Psoriasis Symptom Inventory (PSI) as a patient-reported outcome in mild psoriasis: Real life data from a large psoriatic arthritis registry

Objective: Our aim is to test the validity of the Psoriasis Symptom Inventory (PSI), a patient-reported outcome, to assess the psoriasis severity within the scope of rheumatology. Methods: Within the PsA international database (PSART-ID), 571 patients had PSI, while 322 of these also showed body surface area (BSA). Correlations between PSI, BSA, and other patient- and physician-reported outcomes were investigated. Results: There was a good correlation between PSI and BSA (r=0.546, p<0.001), which was even higher for mild psoriasis (BSA<3 (n=164): T-0.608, p<0.001). PSI significantly correlated with fatigue, pain, and patient and physician global parameters (p<0.001). Conclusion: PSI has a good correlation with other patient- and physician-reported outcomes, and our findings support its use in rheumatology practice

HLA B-27 Subtypes in Turkish Patients with Spondyloarthropathy and Healthy Controls

The frequency and the distribution of HLA-B27 subtypes in spondylarthropathy (SpA) patients and controls were investigated in a sample Turkish population. B27 subtyping was performed by PCR-SSP method in two groups: 49 unrelated HLA-B27 positive Turkish patients with the diagnosis of SpA according to the European Spondyloarthropathy Study Group Criteria, and 55 HLA-B27 positive healthy controls. The frequency of HLA-B(∗)27 was 2.6% in the Turkish population, and B(∗)2705 was the predominant allele among patients with SpA. The difference was mainly between male patients and male controls The proportion of B(∗)2705 among B27-positive patients and controls was significantly different (P = 0.02). Our study supports other reports from different populations which showed that B(∗)2705 and B(∗)2702 were more frequent in Caucasian patients with SpA

Erratum to: 36th International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s13054-016-1208-6.]

Formation of carbon nanowalls by pulsed filtered cathodic vacuum arc deposition

In the present study, Carbon Nanowalls (CNWs) were produced by Pulsed Filtered Cathodic Vacuum Arc Deposition (PFCVAD) on glass substrates. A high purity graphite rod was used as a cathode target. Growth was performed by varying the distance between the target and substrate, namely 1 cm (1A250), 2 cm (2A250) and 3 cm (3A250). No CNW formation has been observed on the substrate, when the target and substrate distance is 3 cm. Amorphous nature of carbon structures has been shown with the Raman measurements. Raman mapping has been also performed to show the vertical wall structures of the CNWs. Surface morphology of the CNWs was investigated by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) measurements. It has been found that the wall widths are roughly 1.8 µm and 1.0 µm for the samples 1A250 and 2A250, respectively. It has also shown that curvier vertical wall structures have formed for samples 2A250 compared to that of 1A250. X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy measurements have shown that 40% sp3 C[sbnd]C bonding and C[sbnd]O bonding which indicates the amorphous nature of the structure. Optical studies have shown that CNWs have low reflectance in visible region when the substrate to target distance is 1 cm which makes this thin coating very suitable for dark coating applications. © 2019F-589This work is supported by Scientific Research Project Fund of Sivas Cumhuriyet University , Turkey under the project number F-589 . We are thankful to Dr. Ali Ozer for his support in SEM measurements and to Merve Kucukoflaz for her support in AFM measurements. Appendix

Clinical evaluation and comparison of different criteria for classification in Turkish patients with psoriatic arthritis

Several criteria are being used for the classification of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and there is a lack of consensus about PsA as a separate entity. Our aim is to investigate the clinical features of our patients with a clinical diagnosis of PsA, compare the sensitivities of different classification criteria and agreement between the criteria. In this study 86 PsA patients were investigated (48 female, mean age 44). Moll and Wright criteria were fulfilled by 91%, Vasey and Espinoza criteria by 94% and modified European SpA study group criteria by 59%, classification of PsA study group criteria by 86%, modified McGonagle criteria by 96%, Fournie et al. criteria by 84%, and Gladman criteria by 95%. Significant agreement was present between criteria but generally kappa values were less than 0.5. The pattern of PsA can differ with time and the implementation of the available classification criteria showed considerable differences

HLA B-27 subtypes in turkish patients with spondyloarthropathy and healthy controls

Abstract. The frequency and the distribution of HLA-B27 subtypes in spondylarthropathy (SpA) patients and controls were investigated in a sample Turkish population. B27 subtyping was performed by PCR-SSP method in two groups: 49 unrelated HLA-B27 positive Turkish patients with the diagnosis of SpA according to the European Spondyloarthropathy Study Group Criteria, and 55 HLA-B27 positive healthy controls. The frequency of HLA-B*27 was 2.6% in the Turkish population, and B*2705 was the predominant allele among patients with SpA. The difference was mainly between male patients and male controls The proportion of B*2705 among B27-positive patients and controls was significantly different (P = 0.02). Our study supports other reports from different populations which showed that B*2705 and B*2702 were more frequent in Caucasian patients with SpA

Low frequency of HLA-B27 in ankylosing spondylitis patients from Turkey

Objectives: Ankylosing spondylitis is strongly associated with HLA-B27. However, the strength of the association with HLA-B27 and the clinical features may vary in different parts of the world. The aim of this study is to compare the clinical features of AS and the frequencies of HLA-B27 and its alleles in patients from Turkey with other series

Rosai-Dorfman disease with factor XII deficiency

A 17-year-old female patient presented with chronic symmetrical oligoarthritis of both knees and ankles, xerostomia, xerophthalmia, multiple bilateral lymphadenopathies in the cervical region, and bilateral parotid enlargement with the histological finding of chronic sialoadenitis. She had been already given methotrexate, chloroquine, and corticosteroids with the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) before referral to our outpatient clinic. Because her complaints and the lumps did not remit and she could be classified as neither RA nor primary Sjogren's syndrome (SS) according to 1987 ACR RA criteria or European preliminary criteria for SS, lymph node biopsy was repeated and revealed the diagnosis of Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD) with the histological findings of histiocytes, phagocyting lymphocytes in enlarged sinuses, and mature plasma cells infiltrating the pulpa. All the medications were stopped after the pathological diagnosis of RDD and consulting with the Division of Hematology. She was reevaluated with magnetic resonance imaging, which showed dense infiltrative areas around knee and ankle joints, and computed tomography that showed a soft tissue mass surrounding the descending aorta and upper part of the abdominal aorta. Activated partial thromboplastin time was found to be prolonged in prebiopsy examinations, and factor XII deficiency was detected after detailed hematological evaluation. The symptoms of joint involvement were relieved with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs. She has been followed-up without medication without obvious clinical or laboratory change. We herein report a patient with RDD mimicking RA and SS. We consider that RDD should be kept in mind especially in patients with resistant symptoms to conventional therapies, younger disease onset, and predominant parotid and lymph node enlargement

Six-joint ultrasound in rheumatoid arthritis: a feasible approach for implementing ultrasound in remission

Objectives: Subclinical disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) detected by imaging methods is predictive for flares and damage. Lack of time is the major limitation for not screening for subclinical disease in routine practice. We aimed to determine the most feasible protocol to screen patients with no clinical disease activity by ultrasound (US). Methods: A hundred consecutive RA patients with no clinical activity according to the physician had an US scan for 38 joints. The prevalence of power Doppler (PD) signal in each joint was determined and different combinations of joints were assessed for their ability to capture this information. The most practical combination with a good sensitivity was tested in another group of 50 RA patients. Results: Having any PD signal was not linked to the disease activity parameters whereas presence of PD of 652 was associated with higher DAS28CRP. Sixty patients had at least one joint with PD of grade 652 (60%). A combination of the wrists and 2nd-3rd MCP joints bilaterally (PD-6 joints) was able to detect 45/60 (75%) cases with PD signals and 45% of the whole patient population. The correlation between PD-38 and PD-6 joints was excellent (r=0.820, p&lt;0.0001). PD-6 joints in the 2nd cohort was also able to detect 22/50 (44%) of the whole group. Conclusions: Subclinical disease activity could be detected in 60% of RA patients when 38 joints screened by US. Limiting the screening to wrists, 2nd-3rd MCPs bilaterally was acceptable as it detected 75% of cases with subclinical disease and increased the feasibility