Effectiveness of Therapeutic Ultrasound on Clinical Parameters and Ultrasonographic Cartilage Thickness in Knee Osteoarthritis: A Double-Blind Trial

WOS: 000459738000004PubMed ID: 30662150Objective: A double-blind placebo-controlled randomized study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of therapeutic ultrasound (US) in knee OA. Patients and Methods: Thirty-three patients (mean age 54.7 +/- 14.7) were randomized to receive either continuous US (n = 15) or sham US (n = 18) as a placebo. Continuous ultrasonic waves with 1 MHZ frequency and 1 watt/cm2 power were applied for 5 min for 10 sessions. The primary outcome was pain on movement assessed by visual analog scale (VAS). The secondary outcomes were WOMAC scores and measurements of distal femoral cartilage thickness by imaging US. Results: Both groups showed reduced knee pain on movement following intervention. The VAS measurements improved significantly both in the treatment and the placebo group patients (P < 0.05 and P < 0.05). WOMAC scores improved statistically significant in all domains (pain, stiffness, physical function, and total score) in the treatment group (P < 0.05). All domains of WOMAC score showed statistically significant change when compared with the placebo group (P < 0.05). There was no change in the cartilage thickness measurements of medial femoral condyle, lateral femoral condyle, and intercondylar area in both groups after intervention. Conclusion: Results suggest that US is effective treatment modality in pain relief and improvement of function in patients with knee OA; however, US had no effect on cartilage repair

The effectiveness of extracorporeal shockwave treatment in subacromial impingement syndrome and its relation with acromion morphology

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the extracorporeal shock wave therapy in the subacromial impingement syndrome and its relationship with the acromion morphology. Methods: Thirty patients (24 women, 6 men) with subacromial impingement were evaluated. The average age of patients was 53.6 ± 9.8 years (range 39–80). Patients were divided into 3 groups according to the acromion morphology. ESWT 1500 at 0.12 am mL/mm2 violence was applied once a week for 3 weeks. Shoulder pain and disability index (SPADI) was used to assess function and pain scores of the patients. The evaluations were made prior to and 12 weeks after the ESWT. Results: Thirteen shoulders had type 1 acromion, 11 shoulders type 2 acromion and 6 shoulders type 3 acromion. After ESWT, the SPADI pain score decreased from 16.1 ± 5.1 (7–25) to 10.4 ± 4.9 (1–20); SPADI functional score decreased from 37.3 ± 19.8 (5–70) to 26.7 ± 17.5 (1–60); SPADI total score decreased from 53.4 ± 24.5 (14–95) to 37.1 ± 21.6 (2–74) (p  0.05, one way ANOVA test). Conclusion: ESWT was found to be effective in the treatment of impingement syndrome both for pain and functional outcome in the early period regardless of acromion morphology. Level of evidence: Level IV, Therapeutic study. Keywords: Subacromial impingement syndrome, Extracorporeal shock wave therapy(ESWT), Acromion morpholog

Ultrasonographic Evaluation of Lower Extremity Entheseal Sites in Diabetic Patients Using Glasgow Ultrasound Enthesitis Scoring System Score

Objective: The prevalence of musculoskeletal complications in diabetes mellitus (DM) increases with the duration of disease and with poor glycemic control. Our aim was to evaluate lower extremity musculoskeletal complications in patients with DM using the Glasgow Ultrasound Enthesitis Scoring System, and to reveal the relationship between clinical and sonographic findings. Materials and methods: A total of 67 patients (25 men, 42 women) with DM were included in the study. All the diabetic patients were selected if they did not have any symptom of musculoskeletal system in the lower extremities. They were divided into four groups. Ultrasonographic assessment was performed according to the Glasgow Ultrasound Enthesitis Scoring System with an Esaote MyLab 5 device equipped with a 5–13 MHz linear transducer. Correlation between diabetes duration and lower extremity enthesopathy scores were evaluated. Results: There was a significant correlation between duration of DM and total Glasgow Ultrasound Enthesitis Scoring System scores (p < 0.001). In addition, duration of DM was significantly correlated with enthesophyte scores and erosion scores (both p < 0.001). There was a significant difference among Groups 1–4 for the mean enthesophyte score and mean erosion score (both, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Musculoskeletal ultrasonography is an effective, inexpensive, and useful tool without radiation for evaluating diabetic patients for the early diagnosis of musculoskeletal complications

Relationship between desease activity and ultrasonographic enthesitis assessment of lower extremity in ankylosing spondylitis

WOS: 000393168200004Objective: We aimed to investigate the relationship between clinical and laboratory indicators of disease activity in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and Glasgow Ultrasound Enthesitis Scoring System (GUESS) score which is created for diagnosis and monitoring of enthesitis. Materials and Methods: 50 patients with diagnosis of AS who were following-up in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic of Istanbul Training and Research Hospital were included in the study. Routine biochemical tests, complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) were analysed. BASDAI, ASDAS-ESR and ASDAS-CRP scores were calculated for desease activity. Clinical enthesitis scores was calculated according to Maastricht Ankylosing Spondylitis Enthesitis Index (MASES). The relationship between clinical and laboratory findings and GUESS scores were investigated. Results: 37 (74%) male, 13 (26%) female patients were evaluated. Mean disease onset age was 28.2, mean disease duration was 7.18 years. Mean GUESS score was calculated as 11.36 (SD: 5.27). There were not any significant correlation between GUESS scores and age or disease onset age. GUESS scores were slightly significant positively correlated with disease duration (r=0.49 p<0.001). BASMI, BASFI, BASDAI and ASDAS-CRP, ASDAS-ESR values were not correlated with GUESS scores. Also there were not any significant correlation between GUESS scores and MASES scores. Conclusion: Although GUESS system is a fast and easy method for diagnosis and follow-up of enthesitis it has not found to be correlated with clinical and laboratory disease activity parameters in AS. We think that new scoring systems for USG should be developed for AS

Effects of Acupuncture Treatment on Fibromyalgia Symptoms, Serotonin, and Substance P Levels: A Randomized Sham and Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Objective. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of acupuncture treatment on serum levels of serotonin and substance P (SP) as well as on clinical parameters in patients with fibromyalgia (FM). Methods. This is a randomized controlled clinical trial. Seventy-five women with FM were randomized into one of three kinds of acupuncture treatment: real acupuncture group (AcG), sham acupuncture group (ShG), and simulated acupuncture group (SiG). Treatments were applied semiweekly for four weeks. The serum levels of serotonin and SP were evaluated before and after the eight sessions. Patients were clinically assessed by visual analog scale (VAS), the number of tender points (NTP), Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) at baseline, after the last treatment, and one and three months after completion of all treatments. Results. Serum serotonin values increased significantly after treatment in AcG and ShG (P < 0.001 and P < 0.01, respectively). The increase in the AcG was also different from both of the other groups (P < 0.01). While SP levels decreased in the AcG, they increased in the SiG (P = 0.001). In the AcG, significant improvements were found in almost all clinical outcomes after treatment. These usually continued for three months. In the ShG, there were also significant changes on the NTP, VAS, FIQ, and BDI scores after treatment. Improvements on the NTP and FIQ scores lasted for three months. In the SiG, significant improvements were found only in the NTP, VAS, and BDI scores after treatment. Conclusions. Acupuncture, rather than sham or placebo acupuncture, may lead to long-term improvements on clinical outcomes and pain neuro-mediator values. Changes in serum serotonin and SP levels may be a valuable explanation for acupuncture mechanisms in FM treatment

The association of antiviral drugs with COVID-19 morbidity: The retrospective analysis of a nationwide COVID-19 cohort

Copyright © 2022 Babayigit, Kokturk, Kul, Cetinkaya, Atis Nayci, Argun Baris, Karcioglu, Aysert, Irmak, Akbas Yuksel, Sekibag, Baydar Toprak, Azak, Mulamahmutoglu, Cuhadaroglu, Demirel, Kerget, Baran Ketencioglu, Ozger, Ozkan, Ture, Ergan, Avkan Oguz, Kilinc, Ercelik, Ulukavak Ciftci, Alici, Nurlu Temel, Ataoglu, Aydin, Cetiner Bahcetepe, Gullu, Fakili, Deveci, Kose, Tor, Gunluoglu, Altin, Turgut, Tuna, Ozturk, Dikensoy, Yildiz Gulhan, Basyigit, Boyaci, Oguzulgen, Borekci, Gemicioglu, Bayraktar, Elbek, Hanta, Kuzu Okur, Sagcan, Uzun, Akgun, Altinisik, Dursun, Cakir Edis, Gulhan, Oner Eyuboglu, Gultekin, Havlucu, Ozkan, Sakar Coskun, Sayiner, Kalyoncu, Itil and Bayram.Background and objectives: Although several repurposed antiviral drugs have been used for the treatment of COVID-19, only a few such as remdesivir and molnupiravir have shown promising effects. The objectives of our study were to investigate the association of repurposed antiviral drugs with COVID-19 morbidity. Methods: Patients admitted to 26 different hospitals located in 16 different provinces between March 11–July 18, 2020, were enrolled. Case definition was based on WHO criteria. Patients were managed according to the guidelines by Scientific Board of Ministry of Health of Turkey. Primary outcomes were length of hospitalization, intensive care unit (ICU) requirement, and intubation. Results: We retrospectively evaluated 1,472 COVID-19 adult patients; 57.1% were men (mean age = 51.9 ± 17.7years). A total of 210 (14.3%) had severe pneumonia, 115 (7.8%) were admitted to ICUs, and 69 (4.7%) were intubated during hospitalization. The median (interquartile range) of duration of hospitalization, including ICU admission, was 7 (5–12) days. Favipiravir (n = 328), lopinavir/ritonavir (n = 55), and oseltamivir (n = 761) were administered as antiviral agents, and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ, n = 1,382) and azithromycin (n = 738) were used for their immunomodulatory activity. Lopinavir/ritonavir (β [95% CI]: 4.71 [2.31–7.11]; p = 0.001), favipiravir (β [95% CI]: 3.55 [2.56–4.55]; p = 0.001) and HCQ (β [95% CI]: 0.84 [0.02–1.67]; p = 0.046) were associated with increased risk of lengthy hospital stays. Furthermore, favipiravir was associated with increased risks of ICU admission (OR [95% CI]: 3.02 [1.70–5.35]; p = 0.001) and invasive mechanical ventilation requirement (OR [95% CI]: 2.94 [1.28–6.75]; p = 0.011). Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated that antiviral drugs including lopinavir, ritonavir, and favipiravir were associated with negative clinical outcomes such as increased risks for lengthy hospital stay, ICU admission, and invasive mechanical ventilation requirement. Therefore, repurposing such agents without proven clinical evidence might not be the best approach for COVID-19 treatment