Assessment of relationship between pain, psychological status, quality of life and body mass index

Objective: The purpose of the study is to evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQL), pain, the number of painful areas, and depression level; both to compare obesity level and these parameters, and to compare between obese and non-obese participants. Materials (Subjects) and Methods: 1875 voluntary patients were evaluated. Patients were grouped into 5 according to body mass index (BMI) values: Group 1:17-24.99kg/m2, Group 2:25-29.99kg/m2, Group 3:30-34.99kg/m2, Group 4:35-35.99kg/m2, Group 5: BMI more than 40kg/m2. Patients were asked to fulfill a questionnaire about demographic data and a number of painful areas (neck, shoulder, elbow, wrist, back, low back, knee, ankle, and temporomandibular joint). All patients were evaluated with visual analog scale (VAS), for pain, short form-36 (SF-36) for HRQL, Beck Depression Scale (BDS) for depression level. Results:We have included 1832 patients (460 male, and 1372 female) in the study: Group 1: 285(16%), Group 2: 623(34%), Group 3: 653(36%), Group 4: 190(10%), Group 5: 81(4%). When the groups was compared according to VAS scores during activity; all other groups was higher than group 1 (p<0.01). When the BDS scores were compared; depression levels were higher in group 5 than the other groups. When a number of painful areas were compared; groups 3,4,5 had higher values than groups 1,2, and group 2 had higher values than group 1 (p<0.001). Conclusion: This study evaluates pain level, the number of painful areas, physical HRQL, and depression levels of pre-obese and obese patients using VAS, BDS, and SF-36 scores and proves negative effects when compared to the healthy population. But this effect does not correlate with BMI levels.Objective: The purpose of the study is to evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQL), pain, the number of painful areas, and depression level; both to compare obesity level and these parameters, and to compare between obese and non-obese participants. Materials (Subjects) and Methods: 1875 voluntary patients were evaluated. Patients were grouped into 5 according to body mass index (BMI) values: Group 1:17-24.99kg/m2, Group 2:25-29.99kg/m2, Group 3:30-34.99kg/m2, Group 4:35-35.99kg/m2, Group 5: BMI more than 40kg/m2. Patients were asked to fulfill a questionnaire about demographic data and a number of painful areas (neck, shoulder, elbow, wrist, back, low back, knee, ankle, and temporomandibular joint). All patients were evaluated with visual analog scale (VAS), for pain, short form-36 (SF-36) for HRQL, Beck Depression Scale (BDS) for depression level. Results:We have included 1832 patients (460 male, and 1372 female) in the study: Group 1: 285(16%), Group 2: 623(34%), Group 3: 653(36%), Group 4: 190(10%), Group 5: 81(4%). When the groups was compared according to VAS scores during activity; all other groups was higher than group 1 (p<0.01). When the BDS scores were compared; depression levels were higher in group 5 than the other groups. When a number of painful areas were compared; groups 3,4,5 had higher values than groups 1,2, and group 2 had higher values than group 1 (p<0.001). Conclusion: This study evaluates pain level, the number of painful areas, physical HRQL, and depression levels of pre-obese and obese patients using VAS, BDS, and SF-36 scores and proves negative effects when compared to the healthy population. But this effect does not correlate with BMI levels

Isokinetic evaluation of knee extensor/flexor muscle strength in patients with hypermobility syndrome

Benign joint hypermobility syndrome (BJHS) is a syndrome with musculoskeletal pain originating from the increased laxity of the joints and the ligaments. The study was to compare the isokinetic strength of knee extensor/flexor muscles of BJHS patients with healthy controls. Forty patients diagnosed as having BJHS with Brighton criteria and 45 years of age, height and weight-matched healthy controls were recruited for the study. Isokinetic testing was performed with isokinetic dynamometry of Biodex System 3Pro and measurements were recorded at knee extension/flexion pattern concentrically at 60, 180, and 240/s angular velocities. The study group was also evaluated for functional impairment and pain by HAQ and VAS respectively. Knee extensor muscle strength was significantly lower in the patient group compared with the controls. It was hypothesized that the muscle weakness in the study group was related to lengthening of the quadriceps muscle and pain-related inactivity as well as joint instability and proprioception defect

The effect of two exercise programs on various functional outcome measures in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee: A randomized controlled clinical trial

We aimed to investigate the effects of isometric and combined concentric-eccentric (C-E) isokinetic types of exercise applied to the knee muscles in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) in an attempt to identify which type of exercise would be most effective in terms of pain relief, functional status, quality of life, and muscular strength. This was a controlled trial in which 71 patients were randomized into three groups. The first group was assigned to C-E, the second group to isometric isokinetic exercises, while the third, control group, was only given paracetamol. A visual analog scale for pain, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and Short From-36 (SF-36) for functional status and quality of life, and the isokinetic test for muscular strength were evaluated. Significant improvements were recorded in all groups for pre and post-treatment pain, the WOMAC and the SF-36 (P < 0.001). Among the exercise groups, improvement was significantly better in the C-E, isokinetic exercise group as compared with the isometric exercise group (P < 0.001). Isokinetic exercises are recommended as a treatment modality. However, the long-term effects of these exercises on pain and osteoarthritis progression need to be investigated

Evaluation of knee proprioception and effects of proprioception exercise in patients with benign joint hypermobility syndrome

The first aim is to show if there is a disorder in proprioception in cases with benign joint hypermobility syndrome (BJHS) when compared to healthy subjects. The second aim is to evaluate the effect of proprioception exercise in BJHS cases. To evaluate the proprioceptive sensibility of the knee joint with 40 BJHS and 30 healthy subjects enrolled in the study. Then, cases with BJHS were randomized into two groups; proprioceptive exercises were applied to 15 patients for 8 weeks in clinic and 25 patients were taken as controls. Outcome measures included proprioceptive sensation, AIMS2 and VAS. Proprioception is significantly impaired in cases with BJHS. In BJHS group, significant decreases in VAS levels were detected in cases who did exercise compared with cases who did not, and statistically significant improvements were detected in occupational activity. For this reason proprioception exercises cause decrease in pain and improvement of functional status in BJHS group

A rare case of an NLRP12-associated autoinflammatory disease

Pathogenic variants in nucleotide-binding oligomerization-like receptor protein 12 (NLRP12) have been recently suggested as possible causes of autoinflammatory syndromes and should be considered for the differential diagnosis in the patients presenting with symptoms of autoinflammatory diseases. Here we report a very rare case of NLRP12-associated autoinflammatory disease patient who initially presented with polyarthritis and was diagnosed as FMF. Later, the genetic analysis excluded many autoinflammatory conditions including FMF and revealed a c.1206C>G; p.(Phe402Leu) variant in the NLRP12 gene. Awareness of rare autoinflammatory conditions is important to have the best approach to the patients presenting with common symptoms of autoinflammatory diseases

A Placebo-Controlled, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Flexible-Dose, Two-Way Crossover Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Sildenafil in Men With Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury and Erectile Dysfunction

Background/Objective: To show the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of sildenafil in men with erectile dysfunction (ED) associated with complete or incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI) and to assess its effects on quality of life (QoL) using the Life-Satisfaction Check List. Methods: This was a placebo-controlled, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, flexible-dose, 2-way crossover study with a 2-week washout period between each phase. Patients with ED attributable to SCI (Sexual Health Inventory-Male score <= 21) received 50 to 100 mg sildenafil (n = 24) or placebo (n = 26). Results: Compared with placebo, sildenafil produced higher levels of successful sexual stimulation, intercourse success, satisfaction with sexual life and sexual relationship, erectile function, overall sexual satisfaction, and an improved Erectile Dysfunction Inventory of Treatment Satisfaction score, with no clinically relevant effects on vital signs. Sildenafil seemed more effective in patients with incomplete SCI than in those with complete SCI, producing significant improvements, compared with placebo, in a number of measures only in patients with incomplete SCI. All patients who expressed a preference selected sildenafil over placebo, although the drug had no effect on patient QoL. Sildenafil was well tolerated, with a profile comparable to that of placebo. Conclusions: Compared with placebo, treatment with oral sildenafil safely and effectively improved erectile function in patients with ED attributable to SCI, especially in those with incomplete injury, and was the agent of choice in those who expressed a preference

Bilateral Native Kidney Papillary Renal Cell Carcinomas in a 11-Year-Old Renal Transplant Patient

Renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) are the most common renal tumors in adults and are usually sporadic and unilateral. Renal transplant recipients have an increased risk of developing RCC. RCC development after kidney transplantation is very rarely reported in children. We present a 11-year-old boy who had cadaveric kidney transplantation for kidney failure 2 years ago. He was under immunosuppressive therapy and presented with microscopic hematuria. An ultrasound (US) revealed bilateral solid renal masses. Further cross-sectional imaging showed a 60 × 70 × 60-mm right renal mass with claw sign and a 5 × 6 × 6-mm mass in the left renal lower pole. A bilateral radical nephroureterectomy of native kidneys was performed. The pathology revealed bilateral papillary RCC without TFE3 upregulation. The patient was kept on low-dose immunosuppressive therapy in the perioperative period. He received no chemotherapy but a close radiological surveillance was undertaken. He is tumor-free 2 years after the operation. RCC is a rare tumor for children and bilateralism is even rarer. The child had a history of chronic kidney disease, peritoneal dialysis, and immunosuppressive therapy. As there are no standardized protocols regarding imaging in transplanted kidneys routine surveillance, US follow-up should also focus on detecting malignancy

The ATR inhibition by Elimusertib enhances the radiosensitivity of MDA-MB-231 triple negative breast cancer in vitro

DNA damage response (DDR) is the principal mechanism regulating genomic stability and cell cycle checkpoint activation by coordinating DNA repair and apoptotic pathways. Ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related protein (ATR) play a significant role in the DDR due to its capability to detect a wide spectrum of DNA damage. Therefore, targeting DDR, specifically ATR, is a promising therapeutic strategy in cancer treatment. Furthermore, the inhibition of ATR sensitizes cancer cells to radiotherapy (RT). Herein, we, for the first time, investigated the synergistic effects of Elimusertib (BAY-1895344) as a highly potent selective ATR inhibitor with RT combination in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), in vitro. MDA-MB-231 TNBC cells were firstly treated with different concentrations of Elimusertib for 24 h and then exposed to 4 and 8 Gy of X-ray irradiation. After post-irradiation for 72 h, WST-1, Annexin V, cell cycle, acridine orange/propidium iodide, mitochondria staining and western blot analysis were conducted. Our findings showed that 4 Gy irradiation and lower doses (especially 2 and 4 nM) of Elimusertib combination exerted a considerable anticancer activity at 72 h post-irradiation through apoptotic cell death, marked nuclear and mitochondrial damages and the suppression of ATR-Chk1 based DDR mechanism. ATR inhibition by Elimusertib in combination with RT may be a promising new treatment strategy in the treatment of TNBC. However, further experiments should be performed to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms of the therapeutic efficacy of this combination treatment and its association with DNS repair mechanisms in TNBC, in vitro and in vivo.</p