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Anti-IL-1 treatment is an effective alternative for controlling attacks and decreasing proteinuria in colchicine-resistant FMF patients.

Herein, we reported our experience in colchicine-resistant familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) patients who are treated with anti-interleukin-1 (IL-1) drugs. A retrospective review of medical records of anti-IL-1 recipients was performed. The main clinical characteristics of these patients and the evolution after anti-IL-1 were recorded. There were 20 patients (11 male [M] and 9 female [F]). Despite regular colchicine treatment, median number of attacks per month and per year was 1 (1-4) and 12 (4-50), respectively. Twelve patients were receiving anakinra, and eight patients were treated with canakinumab. The number of monthly and yearly attacks after IL-1 treatment was significantly decreased after the biologic agent (p < 0.05). One patient did not respond to the treatment, and one patient developed serious infection during anti-IL-1. We also observed a significant decrease in proteinuria in the amyloidosis complicated FMF patients. Anti-IL-1 targeting drugs seem safe and effective therapies in colchicine-resistant FMF.

Encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) is a clinical syndrome associated with ileus symptoms and irreversible sclerosis of the peritoneal membrane. Inflammation, fibrosis, and neoangiogenesis are the main features of the pathophysiology. No evidence-based therapy is currently available for EPS. In recent years, anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive (IS) treatment modalities have become more popular. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of various IS treatment strategies—glucocorticosteroid (GC), azathiopurine (AZT), and cyclosporin (CsA)—on regression of EPS. We divided 52 nonuremic Wistar albino rats into six groups: Control group—2 mL isotonic saline injected intraperitoneally (IP) daily for 3 weeks; CG group—2 mL/200 g 0.1% chlorhexidine gluconate (CG) and 15% ethanol dissolved in saline injected IP daily for 3 weeks; Resting group—CG (weeks 1 – 3), plus peritoneal rest (weeks 4 – 6); Corticosteroid (GC) group—CG (weeks 1 – 3), plus 10 mg/L prednisolone in drinking water (weeks 4 – 6); AZT group—CG (weeks 1 – 3), plus 100 mg/L azathioprine in drinking water (weeks 4 – 6); and CsA group—CG (weeks 1 – 3), plus cyclosporin 7.5 mg/kg by subcutaneous injection daily (weeks 4 – 6). At the end of the study, under ketamine HCl anesthesia, the rats were humanely killed by bleeding. Parietal peritoneal samples were then taken from same location (away from the injection site) and changes of parietal peritoneum morphology were examined by a single pathologist. The CG severely disturbed parameters of peritoneal morphology, increasing peritoneal thickness, inflammatory activity, vascularity, and fibrosis score as compared with the Control group ( p < 0.05). No benefit was observed for any parameter in the Resting group as compared withthose parameters in the CG group ( p < 0.05). We observed a lower fibrosis score and less peritoneal thickness in the GC group as compared with the Resting group ( p < 0.05). No beneficial effects of AZT on peritoneal morphology were observed as compared with the effects of peritoneal rest or corticosteroid therapy. Treatment with cyclosporin resulted in more fibrosis, vascularity, and inflammation than was seen with corticosteroid therapy ( p < 0.05). Immunosuppressive therapies, especially those that are corticosteroid-based, may have therapeutic value in the management of EPS. Patients treated with cyclosporin may have a risk for developing EPS.

In this study, we employed a new instructional model that helps students develop scientific writing and presentation skills. Argument-driven inquiry (ADI) is one of the most novel instructional models that emphasizes the role of argumentation and inquiry in science education equally. This is an exploratory study where five ADI lab activities take place with a group of students guided by their classroom teacher. The main aim of this study was to investigate the effect of laboratory instruction that was designed based on ADI on students’ ability to write and present scientifically. For this purpose, three sets of instruments were used: argumentative writing assessment, poster evaluation checklist, and student assessment of their learning gains (SALG) survey. The results showed that students developed their writing skills in all three aspects: argument structure, argument content, and writing mechanism. However, the highest score in terms of these improvements was obtained in the quality of students’ argument content. Also, the current study findings explicitly showed that ADI activities could help students improve their scientific presentation skills. At the end of the ADI activities, each group got higher than 50 points out of 65 points, while their scores were nearly 30 points at the beginning of activities.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a highly heritable immune-mediated arthritis common in Turkish and Iranian populations. Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive autoinflammatory disease most common in people of Mediterranean origin. MEFV , an FMF-associated gene, is also a candidate gene for AS. We aimed to identify AS susceptibility loci and also examine the association between MEFV and AS in Turkish and Iranian cohorts. We performed genome-wide association studies in 1001 Turkish AS patients and 1011 Turkish controls, and 479 Iranian AS patients and 830 Iranian controls. Serum IL-1β, IL-17 and IL-23 cytokine levels were quantified in Turkish samples. An association of major effect was observed with a novel rare coding variant in MEFV in the Turkish cohort (rs61752717, M694V, OR = 5.3, P = 7.63×10 −12 ), Iranian cohort (OR = 2.9, P = 0.042), and combined dataset (OR = 5.1, P = 1.65×10 −13 ). 99.6% of Turkish AS cases, and 96% of those carrying MEFV rs61752717 variants, did not have FMF. In Turkish subjects, the association of rs61752717 was particularly strong in HLA-B27 -negative cases (OR = 7.8, P = 8.93×10 −15 ), but also positive in HLA-B27 -positive cases (OR = 4.3, P = 7.69×10 −8 ). Serum IL-1β, IL-17 and IL-23 levels were higher in AS cases than controls. Among AS cases, serum IL-1β and IL-23 levels were increased in MEFV 694V carriers compared with non-carriers. Our data suggest that FMF and AS have overlapping aetiopathogenic mechanisms. Functionally important MEFV mutations, such as M694V, lead to dysregulated inflammasome function and excessive IL-1β function. As IL-1 inhibition is effective in FMF, AS cases carrying FMF-associated MEFV variants may benefit from such therapy.

[Purpose] This study describes the cultural adaptation, validation, and reliability of the Turkish version of the Pain Catastrophizing Scale in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. [Methods] The validity of the Turkish version of the Pain Catastrophizing Scale was assessed by evaluating data quality (missing data and floor and ceiling effects), principal components analysis, internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha), and construct validity (Spearman’s rho). Reproducibility analyses included standard measurement error, minimum detectable change, limits of agreement, and intraclass correlation coefficients. [Results] Sixty-four adult patients with ankylosing spondylitis with a mean age of 42.2 years completed the study. Factor analysis revealed that all questionnaire items could be grouped into two factors. Excellent internal consistency was found, with a Chronbach’s alpha value of 0.95. Reliability analyses showed an intraclass correlation coefficient (95% confidence interval) of 0.96 for the total score. There was a low correlation coefficient between the Turkish version of the Pain Catastrophizing Scale and body mass index, pain levels at rest and during activity, health-related quality of life, and fear and avoidance behaviors. [Conclusion] The results of this study indicate that the Turkish version of the Pain Catastrophizing Scale is a valid and reliable clinical and research tool for patients with ankylosing spondylitis.