The aim of this study was to compare health related quality of life (HRQoL) and assess functional and psychological status in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), fibromyalgia syndrome (FS) patients and controls (each 30 subjects). Demographic characteristics, pain and sleep disturbance by Visual Analog Scale, depression by Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), disease impact by fibromyalgia impact questionnaire, DAS-28, and HRQoL by SF-36 were gathered. The FS group scored significantly worser than the RA group with respect to physical role, social functioning and bodily pain subscales of SF-36. The scores of all SF-36 subscales were significantly lower in FS and RA patients than controls except mental health score. All of the subscales of SF-36 were negatively correlated with BDI scores in FS patients. In RA group, the DAS-28 scores were inversely correlated with all of SF-36 subscales. In conclusion, presence of comorbid depression must be taken into account when determining HRQoL in FS and RA. Essentials improving the HRQoL are management of depression in FS and control of disease activity in RA.

We suggest that clinicians be aware that neuromuscular toxicity can occur in patients with mild renal dysfunction with combined use of colchicine and pravastatin.

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There are no specific diagnostic tests or a gold standard method for measuring disease activity and outcome in spondyloarthropathies (SpA). Many different methods have been developed to assess the signs and symptoms in SpA. The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of scintigraphy, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and Bath Ankilosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) in the evaluation of disease activity in early axial SpA diagnosed with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Thirty early MRI-positive axial SpA patients (23 males, 7 females) with a median age of 35 (18-55) years and a median duration of inflammatory low back pain of 24 (8-60) months were included in the study. In the patients with sacroiliitis, the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of disease activity parameters were determined regarding MRI as the gold standard method. The sensitivities of quantitative scintigraphy, visual scintigraphy, ESR, CRP, and BASDAI were 32, 82, 35, 71, and 60%, respectively. The specificities of quantitative scintigraphy, ESR, CRP, and BASDAI were 100, 100, 50, and 100%, respectively. The positive predictive values of quantitative scintigraphy, visual scintigraphy, ESR, CRP, and BASDAI were 100, 92, 100, 95, and 100%, respectively. The negative predictive values of quantitative scintigraphy, ESR, CRP, and BASDAI were 9, 10, 11, and 15%, respectively. Regarding MRI as the gold standard in the evaluation of disease activity, combined visual and quantitative bone scintigraphy can be valuable in patients with MRI-incompatible implants. Additionally, use of cheaper, simple, and readily reproducible tests such as CRP and BASDAI together could be valuable and practical in detecting disease activity in long-term follow-up of these patients.

No abstract

Objective: Sedentary lifestyle, depression and lack of physical activity may lead to a decrease in bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of FMS in the development of osteoporosis and the impact of depression on the BMD. Materials and Methods: Fifty premenopausal women with a diagnosis of FMS according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria and 40 premenopausal healthy controls were included in the study. A structured form was prepared covering demographic characteristics of the subjects. The severity of pain, disease activity and depression level were evaluated by Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), respectively. Lumbar spine and left femoral neck BMD values were determined by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Results: There was no difference between patients and controls according to age, body mass index and duration of education (p>0.05). BMD values in the lumbar vertebrae were significantly lower in the FMS group than in the controls (p<0.05). The BMD score was not different between the patients with a depression score higher or lower than the cut-off point (p>0.05). There were no correlations among BMD, age, and BDI, VAS, and FIQ scores (p>0.05). Conclusion:We found that BMD of the lumbar vertebrae was lower in FMS patients than in the control group. We detected that depression has no significant impact on BMD. (Turk J Rheumatol 2010; 25: 105-9

Kim YS. Expression of a carbohydrate differentiation antigen, stage specific embryonic antigen, in human colonic adenocarcinoma.

Objectives: This study investigated whether coins of the new European currency (J) corrode when they are exposed to gastric acid, and whether this change can be detected radiographically. Methods: The eight different denominations of J coins were immersed for seven days in 0.15 N hydrochloride acid (HCl), which corresponds to the level of post-prandial gastric acid. A Swedish crown coin and three different Austrian schilling coins were used as controls. The coins were weighed and radiographed daily to evaluate visible corrosions and HCl was analysed daily for possible dissolved substances. Results: All coins lost weight within 24 hours after exposure to HCl. The 1, 2, and 5 J cent coins developed changes that were visible on radiographs. The weights of all coins decreased by 0.43% to 11.30% during one week. The dissolved substances measured in the HCl corresponded to the different metals and alloys of the coins, except for copper, which does not dissolve in HCl. The highest absolute weight loss was observed in the Swedish crown coin (0.67 g), and the highest relative weight loss in the 1 Austrian schilling coin (11.30%). The two J coins that showed the highest absolute and relative weight losses were the 2 J (0.54 g or 6.35%) and the 1 J (0.48 g or 6.39%) coin. Conclusions: A higher rate of toxicity for the new European coins compared with coins of other currencies is not expected, unless a massive coin ingestion occurs.