Ayhan Kul

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare autoimmune disease characterized by widespread skin fibrosis, vascular abnormalities, and internal organ involvement [1,2]. The prevalence of the disease ranges f...

Objectives: This study aims to objectively assess the fall risk and postural balance status of systemic sclerosis (SS) patients and investigate its association with various clinical findings. Patients and methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted between July 2020 and September 2020. The study included 14 patients (12 females, 2 males; mean age: 48.4±12.3 years; range, 21 to 63 years) diagnosed with SS and a control group of 20 healthy volunteers (17 females, 3 males; mean age: 46.8±9.0 years; range, 25 to 60 years). Demographic and clinical data of the participants were noted. Results of anti-nuclear antibodies and anti-Scl-70 antibodies were recorded. The fall index, indicating fall risk, was determined using a posturography device, and postural stability measurements were performed. The Falls Efficacy Scale-International was used to evaluate fall activity. The modified Rodnan skin score was used to assess the degree of cutaneous involvement in SS. Results: Fall index results were higher in the SS group (pConclusion: This study revealed impaired postural balance and increased fall risk in SS patients compared to the normal population. Evaluation of postural balance and fall risk in SS patients should be done in the early period, and necessary treatments should be applied.

The correlation between Behçet's disease (BD) and apical periodontitis (AP) has not been investigated. The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between BD and AP using different variables. A total of 98 individuals (49 with BD and 49 controls) were recruited for the study. The presence of AP was confirmed through radiographic and clinical examination in all patients. The following data was evaluated in both the BD group and the control group: the presence of teeth with AP; the presence of root canal-treated (RCT) teeth; the presence of RCT teeth with AP; the severity of the disease; the types of medication taken; and the duration of the disease. The χ2 test and the logistic regression analysis were performed to ascertain the association between BD and AP. A total of 32 patients in the BD group and 12 patients in the control group presented with AP. The prevalence of teeth with AP was significantly higher in the BD group than in the control group (odds ratio = 5.804, p < 0.05). The χ2 analysis demonstrated a statistically significant association between AP and both gender and BD activity (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the logistic regression analysis indicated that the severity of the disease was a predictor of BD (p < 0.05). A significantly higher prevalence of AP was observed in patients with BD. However, the success rate of endodontic treatment in patients with BD was comparable to that observed in healthy individuals.

Objectives: The objective was to assess the serum levels of secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) and elafin in individuals diagnosed with axial spondyloarthritis (AxSpA) and analyze their diagnostic significance and correlation with disease activity. Patients and methods: The case-controlled, cross-sectional study was conducted between August 2021 and April 2023. Sixty patients diagnosed with AxSpA (n=60) were classified according to imaging results as nonradiographic AxSpA (nr-AxSpA [n=30]; 15 males, 15 females; median age: 30 years; range, 27.6 to 34.1 years) and radiographic AxSpA (r-AxSpA [n=30]; 19 males, 11 females; median age: 33 years; range, 30.6 to 38.1 years), forming two patient groups (the nr-axSpA and r-axSpA groups). A total of 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (16 females, 14 males; median age: 33 years; range, 29.2 to 37.1 years) were included. Demographic data, laboratory, and clinical characteristics of the participants were recorded. Results: There was no significant difference between SLPI and elafin serum levels in the disease groups. SLPI and elafin levels in AxSpA and nr-AxSpA groups were significantly higher compared to the control group (p

Angiogenic T (Tang) cells and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play a role in maintaining vascular integrity and repair. This study considers the association between them and Behçet disease (BD) and disease activity. Fifty patients with BD and forty-five age- and gender-matched healthy controls were included in the study. The participants’ demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics were recorded, and their blood Tang cell and EPC counts were determined. Fifty patients were diagnosed with BD, consisting of 24 females and 26 males. The blood Tang cell (3.5 ± 1.2 cells/μL in patients, 4 ± 0.9 cells/μL in controls, p = 0.046)) and EPC (2.9 ± 0.9 cells/μL in patients, 3.7 ± 1 cells/μL in controls, p = 0.001) counts were significantly lower for the patient group with BD than for the control group. The blood Tang cell (42.5 ± 4.9% in active patients, 48.9 ± 7.9% in inactive patients, p = 0.001) and EPC (35.5 ± 6.4% in active patients, 41.2 ± 6.3% in inactive patients, p = 0.004) levels were lower for the patient group with active BD than for the inactive patient group. A weak positive correlation was present between the blood Tang cell and EPC percentage values in BD (r: 0.318, p = 0.002). It was determined that Tang cell and EPC counts are lower in BD, and these reductions become more profound with increasing disease activity. This situation may prevent the development of a sufficient immune response against a disease with a course of chronic inflammation or may trigger the formation of autoreactive immunity. A reduction in Tang cells and EPCs may serve as a marker or predictor of vascular damage in BD patients and represents the progression of vascular injury.

Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of interferential current treatment on a range of motion of joint and shoulder pain, functional status, and quality of life in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome and to compare interferential current with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and sham interferential current. Materials and Methods: Patients complaining of shoulder discomfort participated in the present study. Diagnosis of subacromial impingement syndrome is based on anamnesis, clinical examinations, and shoulder magnetic resonance imaging. A total of 52 patients divided into 3 groups: Group 1 (17 patients, mean age 51.8 years) received interferential current, group 2 (18 patients, mean age 51.8 years) received transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, and group 3 (17 patients, mean age 49.1 years) received sham interferential current. Hot pack and exercise treatments were added to all groups. All groups were treated for 3 weeks, 5 times a week, for 15 sessions and 20 minutes for each session. Evaluations were made before treatment (T0), in the middle of treatment (T1; end of 8th session), and at the end of treatment (T2; end of 15th session) using active range of motion and visual analog scale for pain, the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Problems Questionnaire for functional status, and Short Form-36 for quality of life. Results: There were significant improvement effects on all of the range of motion, visual analog scale, and the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Problems Questionnaire scores at T2 and on the scores in some subparameters of Short Form-36 in all groups (P < .05). However, there was no statistically significant difference at T2 between the groups (P > .05). Conclusion: Interferential current and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation exhibited equivalent results regarding range of motion, pain, function, and quality of life of patients with subacromial impingement syndrome, with no significant difference between interferential current and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. Adding interferential current or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation treatments to hot pack +exercise therapy did not result in any extra benefits to the patients. Cite this article as: Tugay M, Kul A. Efficacy of interferential current therapy in patients diagnosed with subacromial impingement syndrome. Eurasian J Med., 2023;55(3):192-198.

Objective: Balance disorders and related falls can cause serious situations that affect the lives of a large number of people and may even be fatal. We have not found any studies about fall risk in Behçet’s disease in the literature before. In this trial, we aimed to investigate the fall risk in patients with Behçet’s disease using an objective computerized technique and evaluated the risk factors for falls in these patients. Materials and Methods: We have included 65 patients with Behçet’s disease and 50 controls in this study. Their vitamin D levels, vitamin B12 levels, and magnesium levels were also determined. The Behçet’s Current Activity Index was used for evaluating disease activity. We used the Falls Efficacy Scale International to evaluate fall efficiency. Tetrax Interactive Balance System was used for posturographic evaluation to objectively determine balance and fall risk. Results: The Behçet’s Current Activity Indices of the patients were 4.17 ± 1.99 (mean ± standard deviation). Fall anamnesis, fall risk assessment, Falls Efficacy Scale International, and visual analog scale levels in the patient group were higher than in the control group. There were also significant differences between the 2 groups for fall anamnesis, fall risk assessment, and visual analog scale values. We found a statistically significant correlation between fall risk with visual analog scale (r=0.437, P < .001) and the Behçet’s Current Activity Index (r=0.366, P=.003). Conclusion: Our study found that fall risk was higher in patients with Behçet’s disease than in the control group after evaluation by an objective computerized technique. An increase in the risk of falling seems to be related to the activity of the disease. Cite this article as: Uzkeser H, Kul A, Arslan Y. Fall risk in patient with Behcet’s disease and related factors. Eurasian J Med 2022;54(1):67-71.

Objectives: Our aim is to explain the relationship between Ang II and Scl in osteoporotic (OP) rats and the contribution of Scl in the antiosteoporotic effect mechanism of angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB). Methods: This study consists of two sub-studies conducted on 4th and 12th weeks after ovariectomy. In study 1, treatment was started immediately after bilateral ovariectomy (OVX), while, in study 2, treatment was started 2 months after OVX. Two different doses of telmisartan (5 and 10 mg/kg) were administered with the aid of gavage for 30 days in both sub-study groups. Results: Serum and tissue Scl, osteocalcin, osteopontin and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase mRNA expressions were higher and bone mineral densities (BMD) and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP) mRNA expressions were found to be lower in the OVX groups compared with the sham group. In OVX groups where two different doses of telmisartan were administered, BMD and BALP mRNA expressions increased and serum and tissue Scl decreased. Conclusion: There may be a close relationship between angiotensin II and sclerostin in the development of osteoporosis. In this study, telmisartan administration showed an antiosteoporotic effect and significantly decreased the level of sclerostin. These results strongly support this relationship.