Effect of Pilates Training on People With Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A Pilot Study

Altan L, Korkmaz N, Bingol Ü, Gunay B. Effect of Pilates training on people with fibromyalgia syndrome: a pilot study.ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of Pilates on pain, functional status, and quality of life in fibromyalgia, which is known to be a chronic musculoskeletal disorder.DesignRandomized, prospective, controlled, and single-blind trial.SettingPhysical medicine and rehabilitation department.ParticipantsWomen (N=50) who had a diagnosis of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) according to the American College of Rheumatology criteria.InterventionThe participants were randomly assigned into 2 groups. In group 1, a Pilates exercise program of 1 hour was given by a certified trainer to 25 participants 3 times a week for 12 weeks. In group 2, which was designed as the control group, 25 participants were given a home exercise (relaxation/stretching) program. In both groups, pre- (week 0) and posttreatment (week 12 and week 24) evaluation was performed by one of the authors, who was blind to the group allocation.Main Outcome MeasuresPrimary outcome measures were pain (visual analog scale) and Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ). Exploratory outcome measures were number of tender points, algometric score, chair test, and Nottingham Health Profile.ResultsTwenty-five Pilates exercise and 24 relaxation/stretching exercise participants completed the study. In group 1, significant improvement was observed in both pain and FIQ at week 12 but only in FIQ at 24 weeks. In group 2, no significant improvement was obtained in pain and FIQ at week 12 and week 24. Comparison of the 2 groups showed significantly superior improvement in pain and FIQ in group 1 at week 12 but no difference between the 2 groups at week 24.ConclusionsWe suggest Pilates as an effective and safe method for people with FMS. Our study is the first clinical study designed to investigate the role of the Pilates method in FMS treatment. We believe that further research with more participants and longer follow-up periods could help assess the therapeutic value of this popular physical exercise method.     

Effect of methimazole on warfarin anticoagulation in a case of Graves' disease.

The article describes a case of Graves' disease treated with methimazole and examines the influence of methimazole-induced alterations of thyroid hormone concentrations during warfarin therapy. A 22-year-old woman presented at our endocrinology outpatient clinic with palpitations, sweating, fatigue, tremors, and diarrhea. She had a pain in her right leg and had difficulty walking. Her thyroid profile was consistent with hyperthyroidism. The patient was treated with warfarin 5 mg once a day for deep vein thrombosis for 2 days. Since a therapeutic range of International Normalized Ratio levels could not be achieved, methimazole was stopped due to drug-drug interaction. Lithium was started instead. A euthyroid state was obtained in 2 weeks together with a therapeutic International Normalized Ratio level. Interactions between warfarin and drugs that alter thyroid hormone concentrations have been reported; however, the extent and significance of the interaction between methimazole and warfarin have been inadequately described. Concomitant therapy with warfarin and antithyroid drugs should be managed by frequent monitoring of both thyroid function and the International Normalized Ratio. Lithium is employed only to provide temporary control of thyrotoxicosis in patients who cannot take thionamide and iodide. The administration of lithium alone or in combination with other drugs is shown to be an effective method of controlling hyperthyroidism when conventional antithyroid drugs show adverse effects or become insufficient. When warfarins are used together with antithyroid medications, adequate anticoagulation may not be obtained due to drug-drug interactions. Lithium can be an alternative drug for antithyroid medication in patients on warfarin therapy.     

Two-year interferon therapy with or without ribavirin in chronic delta hepatitis

The only beneficial agent for the treatment of chronic delta hepatitis (CDH) is interferon (IFN). However, there is no consensus on the best dosage or duration of IFN therapy. As ribavirin (RBV) increases the sustained response when added to IFN in chronic hepatitis C, probably because of its immunomodulatory effect, we aimed to investigate the efficacy of 2-year IFN treatment and whether RBV had any additive effect to IFN in CDH. METHODS: Patients (n = 31) with CDH were randomized with a 1:2 ratio as 10 patients (3 females/7 males, age 39 +/- 9) receiving IFN monotherapy (9 MU IFN-alpha2a three times weekly) and 21 patients (8 females/13 males, age 38 +/- 11) receiving IFN plus RBV for 2 years (IFN at the same dosage and RBV at 1000-1200 mg/day). Alanine transferase normalization and hepatitis delta virus (HDV) RNA negativity at the end of treatment and at the end of the follow-up period (at least 6 months following 2-year treatment) were primary endpoints of the study. In addition, virological response and biochemical response were determined separately. RESULTS: Eight of 31 patients (25%) had cirrhosis in liver biopsies. Six patients from the IFN monotherapy group and 12 patients from the combination group had biochemical response. Five patients from the IFN monotherapy group and 11 patients from the combination group had virological response at the end of therapy. Two patients from the IFN group and five patients from the combination group had sustained biochemical response at the end of the follow-up period. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) activations with HBV DNA positivity were observed in two patients (one from the IFN monotherapy group, one from the combination group). Two patients (20%) in the IFN group and five patients (23.5%) in IFN plus RBV group remained as virological responders at the end of the follow-up period (P > 0.05). None of the patients with liver cirrhosis were responsive at the end of the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Almost 20% of the patients with CDH were responsive to 2-year IFN treatment at the end of the follow-up period and no additional effect of RBV was observed. Patients with advanced liver disease failed to respond to treatment.     

Clinical outcome of rhabdomyosarcoma in adolescent and adult patients: single center experience from Turkey

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is rare disease in adults (age >or= 16 years). The data from randomized prospective trials are scarce; the clinical outcome of these patients seems poor with the currently available treatment strategies. In this study, we report a single institution's experience in the treatment of adult RMS. We reviewed the medical records of patients with RMS who were >or= 16 years and have been treated in our institution between 1988 and 2003 retrospectively. We analyzed the survival outcome of these patients and the prognostic impact of clinical/pathological factors on their survival. In total, 23 patients with RMS were identified. Median age was 26 years (range, 16-72 years). Majority of patients were male (n: 17, 73.9%), and had large tumors (>or= 5 cm, n: 13, 56.5%), localized disease (N0, M0, n: 12, 52.2%), and embryonal histology (n: 10, 43.5%). Median overall survival was 31.3 months, and the 3-year progression-free survival and overall survival rates were 19.9% and 34.94%, respectively. Patients with smaller tumors (< 5 cm) (p < 0.04), local disease (p < 0.01), and normal lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) level (p < 0.01) at the time of diagnosis were found to have better survival outcome. The tumor size, serum LDH level, and metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis are potential predictors of outcome in patients with adult RMS. Adult RMS is an aggressive disease with poor survival despite treatment. The data from prospective, randomized multicenter trials are necessary in order to improve the clinical outcome of adult RMS patients.     

Relationship between impulsivity and obsession types in obsessive-compulsive disorder

Objective: Impulsivity is an important aspect of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) which is classified under a new heading in DSM-5 with other impulsivity related disorders like trichotillomania. Due to its heterogeneous nature, different obsessions may be linked to varying impulsivity profiles. Aim of this study was to investigate the impulsivity traits and their relationship with obsession types by comparing OCD subjects who display sexual, religious and aggressive obsessions or other obsessions to healthy controls.

Methods: Outpatients with OCD (n?=?146) and healthy controls (n?=?80) were evaluated with Sociodemographic Data Form, SCID-I, SCID non-patient version, Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) and Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11).

Results: BIS-11 attention scores of the OCD group were significantly higher than healthy subjects. In patients with sexual, aggressive, religious obsessions, BIS-11 attention scores were significantly higher than those who have other obsession types and that of controls.

Conclusions: Higher levels of attentional impulsivity, particularly in patients suffering from sexual, aggressive or religious obsessions suggest a common diathesis for a dysfunction in neural correlates corresponding to these symptoms. The results of our study may promote further studies conducted with more advanced and objective neuropsychometric tests evaluating features of the clinical course, neurobiology and the response to OCD treatment.     

Leptin might be a regulator of serum uric acid concentrations in humans

Increased serum urate concentration is a frequent finding in patients with hypertension. Since hyperuricemia is associated with obesity, renal disease, hyperlipidemia, and atherosclerosis, whether or not serum urate is a cardiovascular risk factor per se has remained elusive. The subjects were 210 Turkish male and 210 female adults over 20 years of age. None had diabetes mellitus, endocrine diseases, or renal or hepatic disease, and those receiving antihypertensive drugs, systemic corticosteroids, or lipid-lowering drugs were excluded. Height, weight, blood pressure, serum glucose, lipid profiles, serum insulin, DHEA-SO4, and leptin were measured in the morning after an overnight fast. Women had significantly higher mean leptin (20.3 +/- 0.88 ng/mL vs 5.78 +/- 0.39 ng/mL, P < 0.001) and lower mean uric acid (248.03 +/- 4.76 micromol/L vs 311.6 +/- 5.35 micromol/L, P < 0.001), triglyceride (1.42 +/- 0.06 mmol/L vs 1.61 +/- 0.06 mmol/L, P < 0.001), and DHEA-SO4 (3.02 +/- 0.17 micromol/L vs 4.43 +/- 0.19 micromol/L, P < 0.001) concentrations than men, even when adjusted for BMI. On univariate correlation analysis, leptin showed the strongest association with BMI in both sexes and also correlated significantly with BMI, insulin, uric acid, glucose, total cholesterol, and triglycerides in males and BMI, insulin, uric acid, total cholesterol, apo B, and creatinine in females after adjustment for age and BMI. A statistical model containing creatinine, leptin, insulin, and triglycerides accounted for 34% of the variance in serum uric acid levels in men, whereas another consisting of creatinine, triglycerides, leptin, SBP, and insulin explained 42% of the variance in serum uric acid in women. The present study suggests that leptin could be one of the possible candidates for the missing link between obesity and hyperuricemia. Our study may also suggest that hyperuricemia is not only a metabolic end product but also a marker of a major pressor or pathogenic mechanism underlying the hypertension in obesity.     

Spinal osteochondroma: a report on six patients and a review of the literature

Introduction  

Osteochondromas are the most common benign tumour of the bone. They occur in two forms as solitary and hereditary multiple form. Osteochondromas are generally located on the metaphysis of the long bones. From 1 to 4% of osteochondromas occur in the spine. Spinal osteochondromas can cause cord and root compression and also be asymptomatic. In the diagnosis of osteochondromas, radiological methods are very important.     

Posterior Auricular Muscle Flap as an Adjunct To Otoplasty

Prominent ear deformity is a common congenital ear deformity. Prominent ear deformity includes components such as valgus of concha, failure of scaphal folding, conchal hypertrophy, and prominent lobule. The deformity and the elastic properties of the ear cartilage determine the method of surgical correction in each case. Concha-mastoid suture, conchal excision, and posterior auricular muscle excision are different treatment options for mild to severe cases of conchal hypertrophy and valgus deformity. In this article we present a method of conchal excision, combined with a posterior auricular muscle flap, to repair severe conchal hypertrophy or valgus deformity. Six patients (11 ears) were operated on using this method. The results obtained were satisfactory. Postoperative results at 6 months were satisfactory in all patients. The smoothness and the natural appearance of the conchal bowls were notable in all patients. In contrast to the early methods of utilizing the posterior auricular muscle by transposing to the scapha or excising, its usage as a muscle flap for conchal hypertrophy and valgus deformity may be a promising option for the future.