Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). COVID-19 outbreak has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 2020. The pandemic has affected the management of psoriasis not only for those who are under treatment but also for those who are about to begin a new therapy to control their disease. An increasing number of studies in the current literature have focused on the relationship between psoriasis and COVID-19 from different perspectives. This narrative review includes searching the PubMed and Web of Science databases using the keywords "psoriasis," "psoriatic arthritis," "coronavirus," "COVID-19," and "SARS-CoV-2."
Objectives: This study aims to determine the fall risk in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with an objective computerized technique and to evaluate the potential related risk factors for falls in these patients. Patients and methods: A total of 48 female patients (mean age 37.8±12.6 years; range 18 to 65 years) with SLE and 30 female controls (mean age 39.1±15.7 years; range 19 to 66 years) were included. Age, disease duration, anamnesis of falls, fear of falling, and drugs used were recorded. Disease activity (measured with SLE disease activity index Safety of Estrogens in Lupus Erythematosus National Assessment modification) and damage (measured with Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index) were evaluated. For the evaluation of fall efficacy, we used the Falls Efficacy Scale International. Fall risk analysis was performed by using a computerized posturography device. Results: Seven patients (15%) had anamnesis of falls during the last 12 months, whereas only one control (3%) had this anamnesis (p=0.042). Fear of falling was reported by 40% of the patients and 30% of the controls (p=0.042). Falls Efficacy Scale International scores were found to be higher in patients than in controls (p=0.042). With the computerized system used, higher fall risk results were recorded in patients than in controls (59.3±29.5 and 35.8±26.9, respectively; p<0.001). Low, moderate, and high fall risks were recorded as 31%, 15%, and 54% in the patients, respectively, and as 53%, 23%, and 23% in the controls, respectively. Low, moderate and high fall risk distribution was also worse in patients than in the controls (p=0.030). No significant correlation was found between fall risk and the other factors evaluated, except Falls Efficacy Scale International, which was significantly correlated with both fall risk assessment and fall risk category in the patients (r=0.311, p=0.031). Conclusion: Fall risk was found to be higher in SLE patients than in controls. The higher fall risk in these patients seems to be affected by the disease itself rather than its other characteristics. Future studies investigating the possible coexisting balance problems in SLE may contribute to the management of the disease.
Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the intra-and inter-rater reliability coefficients of the supraspinatus tendon thickness, acromiohumeral distance, and occupation ratio in patients with shoulder impingement syndrome. Patients and methods: The study included 83 patients (21 males, 62 females; mean age 51.6±11.0 years; range, 26 to 70 years) with shoulder impingement syndrome. The supraspinatus tendon thickness, acromiohumeral distance, and occupation ratio values were obtained one week apart by two observers. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), minimum detectable change, and standard error of measurement were calculated. Results: The first observer had excellent intra-rater reliability in all measurements (ICC >0.90) with minimum detectable change of 0.740-0.047 mm and standard error of measurement of 0.017-0.26 mm. The second observer had excellent intra-rater reliability in supraspinatus tendon thickness and acromiohumeral distance measurements (ICC >0.90) with minimum detectable change of 0.498-0.770 mm and standard error of measurement of 0.18-0.28 mm and good intra-rater reliability in the occupation ratio measurement (ICC; 0.75-0.90) with minimum detectable change of 0.060 mm and standard error of measurement of 0.022 mm. Inter-rater reliability coefficients were 0.916 (95% confidence interval [CI]; 0.873-0.945) for supraspinatus tendon thickness, 0.943 (95% CI; 0.914-0.963) for acromiohumeral distance with minimum detectable change of 0.673 mm and standard error of measurement of 0.243 mm and 0.790 (%95 CI; 0.693-0.853) for occupation ratio with minimum detectable change of 0.077 mm and standard error of measurement of 0.028 mm. Conclusion: These findings suggest that ultrasonographic measurements of the supraspinatus tendon thickness, acromiohumeral distance and occupation ratio can be reliable and consistent for clinical evaluation of patients with shoulder impingement syndrome in terms of supporting diagnosis and monitoring the treatment effect.
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) and dry needling (DN) combination to the trigger points in the forearm extensor muscles on pain, grip strength and functionality in patients diagnosed with lateral epicondylitis. Materials and Methods: Forty patients who were clinically diagnosed with lateral epicondylitis were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups as ESWT and ESWT + DN. Patients in the ESWT and exercise group were applied 2.000 pulses, once a week, three sessions; in addition to that three sessions of DN therapy was applied to the other group. Also, stretching and eccentric strengthening exercises were applied to the patients in both groups. The pain severity of the patients which occured with palpation and grip was measured by Visual Analog Scale (VAS), lateral epicondyle sensitivity by an algometer, grip strength by dynamometer and functionality level by the patient-rated tennis elbow evaluation (PRTEE) pre-treatment and at the end of treatment (first month). Results: In both groups; there were statistically significant improvements in first month VAS scores of the pre-and post-treatment (morning, activity, and rest) (p<0.001); in the comparison of the intergroup, the improvement in pain scores, except for night pain, was found to be superior in the ESWT + DN group (p<0.001). The evaluation of the most sensitive region of the lateral epicondylitis pre-and post-treatment with algometer were compared, there was a significant improvement in both groups (p<0.001), whereas the improvement in ESWT + DN group was observed to be superior (p<0.001). While the maximum grip strength values measured in the elbow flexion and extension position increased significantly in both groups after the treatment, the increase in the extension position in the ESWT + DN group was outstanding (p<0.05). When the pre-and post-treatment changes seen in the PRTEE scale of the patients were examined; a statistically significant decrease was observed in all groups in favor of improvement post-treatment (p<0.05). In ESWT + DN group, pain score and function score change were more effective than ESWT group (p<0.001). Conclusion: These results suggest that ESWT and DN combination therapy in lateral epicondylitis provide better clinical outcomes than ESWT treatment alone.
COVID‐19 is a multisystem disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. It has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020 and the outbreak still keeps its impacts worldwide. Behçet disease (BD) is a multi‐systemic vasculitis involving the skin, mucosa, eyes, joints, nervous system, cardiovascular system, and gastrointestinal system. The precise etiopathogenesis of the disorder is unknown but autoimmunity is believed to play a key role. A considerable part of patients with BD are susceptible to immunosuppression and are more predisposed to infections than healthy individuals. Hence, the protection and control measures for patients with BD against the COVID‐19 are of the utmost significance. Given the requirement to balance proper treatment of BD with the smallest risk of COVID‐19 associated mortality and morbidity, we aimed to review the management of BD in the era of the pandemic with a special focus on treatment considerations. According to current expert recommendations, there is no reason to discontinue topical treatments, colchicine, and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs. Systemic steroids can be used at the lowest possible dose if needed. Ongoing treatments can be continued unchanged in patients with no suspected or confirmed COVID‐19. In cases with COVID‐19 symptoms, immunosuppressive and biological agents can be temporarily stopped but the decision should be made on a case by case basis. Considering their potential beneficial effects on the course of COVID‐19, colchicine, pentoxifylline, and dapsone can be considered as safe treatment options in BD.
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