OBJECTIVE:Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is defined as entrapment neuropathy of the median nerve at the wrist.Pain and disestesia that worsen at night are characteristic features of the disease.The aim of this study was to determine sleep quality of patients with CTS and also defining the association between symptom severity, functional impairment with existing sleep disturbance. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Twenty-nine patients with CTS according to electrodiagnostic evaluation and 25 healthy volunteers recruited from hospital staff were included into the study.Informed consent was obtained from all participants.Boston Questionnaire was used to evaluate symptom severity and functional impairment.Sleep quality of the participants was assessed with Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. RESULTS:Overall sleep quality of the CTS patients was significantly worse than control group (p=0.046).Detailed analysis of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality index components revealed that habitual sleep efficiency was significantly impaired in patients with CTS (p=0.001). CONCLUSION:Sleep quality was significantly disturbed in patients with CTS, and also the total time that patients were asleep was shortened.
Background: Indomethacin, commonly used in rheumatology practice, crosses blood brain barrier and has many effects on the central nervous system, some are undesirable and others are advantageous especially in patients with cognitive dysfunction. We aimed to test the hypothesis that a single dose of indomethacin would affect information processing speed in healthy subjects. Methods: Thirty healthy adult volunteers were enrolled in the study. Single dose of 25 mg indomethacin or placebo were administered to blinded healthy adults in a random, cross-over design. Premotor reaction and response times were measured electromyographically before and after the administration of preparations by a blinded researcher. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in mean values of premotor and response time measurements after indomethacin or placebo compared to baseline values. Mean difference values of premotor time measurements did not differ between indomethacin (-8.87 msec) and placebo (2.77 msec) groups (p = 0.073). Mean difference values of response time measurements for indomethacin and placebo groups were 14.23 and 15.30 msec, respectively (p = 0.946). Conclusions: A single dose of indomethacin did not change premotor reaction time and response time in healthy adults. It does not seem to deteriorate information processing speed in healthy adults.
Objective: To evaluate the role of intermittent pneumatic compression in the treatment of breast cancer–related lymphoedema. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Setting: Physical medicine and rehabilitation clinic at a university hospital. Subjects: Seventy-six patients with lymphoedema. Interventions: Patients were allocated into Group 1 (complex decongestive treatment, n = 38) and Group 2 (complex decongestive treatment + intermittent pneumatic compression, n = 38). The complex decongestive treatment involved skin care, manual lymphatic drainage, compression bandaging, and exercise for 20 sessions. Group 2 additionally received intermittent pneumatic compression. Main measures: Quantitative outcomes consisted of volumetric measures prior to and after the treatment. Clinical assessments included severity of pain, heaviness and tightness, disability, grip strength, and depression. Results: Lymphoedema was similar at baseline, but treatments significantly reduced the excess volume (from 373 mL to 203 mL in Group 1 and 379.5 mL to 189.5 mL in Group 2). Percentage excess volumes (PEVs) decreased in both groups. The percentage reduction of excess volume was better in Group 2 than Group 1, but the intergroup difference was not significant. The clinical scores reflected improvements, but the heaviness and tightness read significantly lower in Group 2 than Group 1. Conclusion: Intermittent pneumatic compression seems to add no benefit when combined with complex decongestive treatment of lymphoedema, but, may be functional in reducing the sensations of heaviness and tightness for the patients with pitting oedema.
Epidural lysis is known to be one of the therapy methods used following an unsuccessful low back surgery.Despite its proven effectiveness, several complications associated with epidural lysis procedure have been reported.The most common complications are dural perforation, breaking of the catheter and infections.Cauda equina syndrome is a rare complication seen after epidural lysis.A 51-year-old female complaining of lower back pain for six years underwent an epidural lysis procedure at the lumbar 3-4-5 level.Following the procedure, the patient was not able to walk due to weakness starting in both lower extremities, besides, she had fecal and urinary incontinence.After being diagnosed with cauda equina syndrome, a rehabilitation program was administered.After three months, the patient was ambulant with a bilateral dynamic carbon fiber ankle foot orthoses and a walker.It should be kept in mind that serious complications such as cauda equina syndrome, which may considerably affect the patients' quality of life in a negative way, might develop after an epidural lysis procedure.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common degenerative joint disease.OA affects millions of individuals each year and becoming the most important cause of pain in geriatric population.Progressive destruction of articular cartilage is one of the prominent features of the disease.The diagnosis of OA is generally based on clinical and radiographical findings, which are insufficient to determine early-stage OA and predict disease course.There is a need for biomarkers that help clinicians early diagnose, assess disease activity, predict prognosis and monitor response to therapy.There are a growing number of publications regarding candidate markers in this field.The aim of this paper was to review recent studies on biochemical markers that reflect cartilage, synovial and bone turnover and their clinical use in patients with OA. ÖzOsteoartrit (OA) en sık rastlanan dejeneratif eklem hastalığıdır.OA her yıl milyonlarca kişiyi etkileyerek, geriatrik yaş grubunun en önemli ağrı sebebi haline gelmektedir.Eklem kıkırdağının ilerleyici hasarı hastalığın en belirgin özelliklerinden biridir.Hastalığın tanısı daha çok klinik ve radyolojik olarak konmaktadır, ancak bu yöntemler erken dönemdeki olguları saptamada ve hastalık son durumunu tahmin etmede yetersiz kalmaktadır.OA hastalarında erken tanı konabilmesi, hastalık aktivitesinin değerlendirilmesi ve tedaviye yanıtın izlenebilmesi
