A Study on the Effects of Sympathetic Skin Response Parameters in Diagnosis of Fibromyalgia Using Artificial Neural Networks

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), usually observed commonly in females over age 30, is a rheumatic disease accompanied by extensive chronic pain. In the diagnosis of the disease non-objective psychological tests and physiological tests and laboratory test results are evaluated and clinical experiences stand out. However, these tests are insufficient in differentiating FMS with similar diseases that demonstrate symptoms of extensive pain. Thus, objective tests that would help the diagnosis are needed. This study analyzes the effect of sympathetic skin response (SSR) parameters on the auxiliary tests used in FMS diagnosis, the laboratory tests and physiological tests. The study was conducted in Suleyman Demirel University, Faculty of Medicine, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic in Turkey with 60 patients diagnosed with FMS for the first time and a control group of 30 healthy individuals. In the study all participants underwent laboratory tests (blood tests), certain physiological tests (pulsation, skin temperature, respiration) and SSR measurements. The test data and SSR parameters obtained were classified using artificial neural network (ANN). Finally, in the ANN framework, where only laboratory and physiological test results were used as input, a simulation result of 96.51 % was obtained, which demonstrated diagnostic accuracy. This data, with the addition of SSR parameter values obtained increased to 97.67 %. This result including SSR parameters - meaning a higher diagnostic accuracy - demonstrated that SSR could be a new auxillary diagnostic method that could be used in the diagnosis of FMS

The Frequency of Fibromyalgia Syndrome in Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Objectives: Polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS] is one of the most common reproductive abnormalities and is characterized by hyperandrogenemia. We aimed to assess the frequency of fibromyalgia syndrome [FMS] and psychological distress in patients with PCOS. Methods: Forty patients with PCOS and 39 age-matched healthy controls were included in the study as PCOS and healthy normal control [HNC] groups. The diagnosis of FMS was based on the American College of Rheumatology criteria of 1990, and the diagnosis of PCOS was based on the Rotterdam criteria of 2003. All participants completed the questionnaires to gather information including demographic features, FMS-related symptoms, and the psychological status. Patients with PCOS were divided into two subgroups according to coexistence of FMS [PCOS only and PCOS + FMS]. Results: The mean age of PCOS and HNC groups were 23.97 +/- 6.01 and 26.15 +/- 5.45 years, respectively [P > 0.05]. The frequency of FMS in PCOS and HNC groups was 32.5 percent and 7.7 percent, respectively [P < 0.05]. Except constipation and paresthesia, the presence of FMS-related symptoms in the PCOS + FMS subgroup were higher than those of the PCOS only subgroup and HNC group. There were no differences in depression scores between the PCOS only and PCOS + FMS subgroups, but there were differences in anxiety scores. Conclusion: The frequency of FMS was found to be increased in PCOS. Anxiety risk was also found to be increased, particularly in patients with PCOS and concomitant FMS

Comparison of the short-term effects of the conventional motorized traction with non-surgical spinal decompression performed with a DRX9000 (TM) device on pain, functionality, depression, and quality of life in patients with low back pain associated with lumbar disc herniation: A single-blind randomized-controlled trial

WOS: 000429653400003PubMed ID: 31453485Objectives: This study aims to compare the efficiency of conventional motorized traction (CMT) with non-surgical spinal decompression (NSD) using the DRX9000 (TM) device in patients with low back pain associated with lumbar disc herniation (LDH). Patients and methods: Between March 2009 and September 2009, a total of 48 patients (29 females, 19 males; mean age 43.1 +/- 9.8 years; range, 18 to 65 years) were randomized into two groups. The first group (n=24) underwent CMT and the second group (n=24) underwent NSD for a total of 20 sessions over six weeks. The patients were evaluated before and after the treatment. Pain was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), functional status using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), quality of life using the Short Form-36 (SF-36), state of depression mood using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the global assessment of the illness using the Patient's Global Assessment of Response to Therapy (PGART) and Investigator's Global Assessment of Response to Therapy (IGART) scales. Results: There was no significant difference in the evaluation outcomes before the treatment between the groups. However, a statistically significant decline was found in the VAS, ODI, and BDI scores after the treatment in both groups (all p<0.001). Except for two subgroups, no significant changes were observed in the SF-36 form. Assessment of "marked improvement" was globally most frequently reported one in both groups. No significant difference was observed in the evaluation outcomes after treatment between the groups. Conclusion: Our study results show that both CMT and NSD are effective methods in pain management and functional status and depressive mood improvement in patients with LDH, and NSD is not superior to CMT in terms of pain, functionality, depression and quality of life.Akcil Health Equipment Marketing, Import, Export Industry [DRX9000(TM)]A permission for the use of the DRX9000 (TM) spinal decompression device was granted by Akcil Health Equipment Marketing, Import, Export Industry, and Trade Limited Company which provided no contribution in the planning and implementation of the study, in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of the data, and in the preparation of this manuscript

Investigation of the relationship between anxiety and heart rate variability in fibromyalgia: A new quantitative approach to evaluate anxiety level in fibromyalgia syndrome

Conclusion: Doctor-rated or self-rated anxiety tests should be supported with quantitative and more objective methods. Our results show that the HRV parameters will be able to support the anxiety tests in the clinical evaluation of fibromyalgia. In other words, HRV parameters can potentially be used as an auxiliary diagnostic method in conjunction with anxiety tests. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Physiological parameters as a tool in the diagnosis of fibromyalgia syndrome in females: A preliminary study

Significance: Changes in hormonal factors, peripheral blood circulation, autonomous systemactivity disorders, inflammatory incidents, etc., may explain the increased TEMP in the FM patients. The high PLT level may signify a thromboproliferation or a possible compensation caused by a PLT functional disorder. ST depression in FM patients may interrelate with coronary pathology. Elucidating the pathophysiology underlying the increases in TEMP and PLT and the decreases in ST height may help to explain the etiology of FM. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Assessment of the Relationship Between Vitamin D Level and Non-specific Musculoskeletal System Pain: A Multicenter Retrospective Study (Stroke Study Group)

Objective: In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the relationship between vitamin D level and pain severity, localization and duration in patients with non-specific musculoskeletal pain