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BACKGROUND: 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25OHD) deficiency is associated with cardiovascular disease and poor physical performance. OBJECTIVE: To assign the effect of 25OHD level on cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: One-hundred-thirty-five patients with CAD who underwent a CR programme were enrolled in this retrospective study. Patients were divided into two-group according to 25OHD level (Group 1: < 20 ng/dl; Group 2: ≥ 20 ng/dl). All patients received CR for 30 sessions. Each participant performed 40 minutes of aerobic exercise with a cycloergometer followed by muscle strengthening exercises. The patients were evaluated before and after CR by a pulmonary function test (PFT) and a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET). RESULTS: There were 77 (57%) patients in Group 1 and 58 patients (43%) in Group 2. Demographic characteristics between the groups were similar. Pre- and post-rehabilitation CPET parameters were lower in Group 1 (p < 0.05). Both groups had significant improvement in CPET (p < 0.05). Post-rehabilitation PFT parameters (FEV1, FVC) were higher in Group 2 (p < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between the 25OHD-level and the CPET-PFT parameters (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: 25OHD deficiency in patients with CAD reduces the response to CR. It also affects respiratory function according to the FEV1, FVC parameters. In patients scheduled for CR, 25OHD-levels should be evaluated, and any deficiency corrected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a non-articular rheumatic disorder of unclear etiology, characterized by widespread body pain, fatigue and, psychological complaints OBJECTIVES: To investigate the serum levels of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in patients with FMS and to evaluate the relationship between cognitive function, quality of life and psychological state. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-five female patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria, and 40 healthy female subjects were enrolled in the study. Life quality scale [(Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ)], psychological state (Beck Depression Scale), and cognitive dysfunction (mini mental test, clock drawing test) scales were used for patients and control subjects. Serum NSE levels were studied using the ECLIA method. RESULTS: No significant differences were found in the serum NSE levels between the FMS patients and the control subjects (p> 0.05). Life quality and psychological state scores were found to be higher in FMS patients relative to the control group (p< 0.001). However, no significant differences were detected in cognitive function (p> 0.05). Significant correlations were not found between the serum NSE levels and quality of life, psychological state and cognitive functions (p> 0.05). CONCLUSION: No significant difference was determined between the groups in terms of NSE levels. Further studies, including larger series, should be carried out to clarify this relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this trial is to search effectiveness of specifically adapted exercise programs on its own and with low back school on pain, disability, trunk and quadriceps muscle strength, walking performance, spinal mobility, quality of life (QOL), and depression in the patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). MATERIAL AND METHOD: A total of 121 patients with definite CLBP were included in this study. The patients were randomized into two groups. Group 1 (n = 60) was given exercises only and accepted as the control group. Group 2 (n = 61) received back school program and exercises. The exercise treatment was performed 3 days a week, for 3 months. The pain (visual analog scale, VAS), disability (Oswestry Disability Questionnaire, ODQ), walking performance (6 minute walking test, 6MWT), depression (Beck Depression Inventory scores, BDI), and QOL (Short Form 36, SF-36) of all participants were evaluated. The trunk and knee muscle strength were measured with a handheld dynamometer. Patients were assessed at baseline (BT), at the end of treatment (AT), and at the six month follow-up (F). RESULTS: Statistically significant improvements were found between groups regarding all of the clinical parameters over time. Pain, disability, muscle strength, endurance, 6MWT, mobility, QOL, and depression of both groups also showed improvements AT. These improvements persisted at 6-months follow-ups (P <0.05). There were statistically significant differences between the groups for pain, disability, muscle strength, endurance, 6MWT, QOL, and depression regarding the change scores between AT–BT test and F–BT test (P <0.05). Group 2 improved more than group 1 except for mobility. CONCLUSION: Exercise programs can be modified and used successfully in CLBP and this effect can be increased with addition of back school further. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic study Level-I-I (prospective study). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this trial was to investigate the effect of therapeutic microwave diathermy (MD) on pain, disability, trunk muscle strength, walking performance, mobility, quality of life (QOL), and depression in the patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). METHODS: A total of 39 patients were included in this study. The patients were randomized into two groups. Group 1 (n = 19) received MD treatment and exercises. Group 2 (n = 20) was given only exercises. The pain (visual analog scale), disability (Oswestry Disability Questionnaire and pain disability index), walking performance (6 minute walking test, 6MWT), depression and QOL (Short Form 36) of all participants were evaluated. Patients were assessed before treatment (BT), after treatment (AT), and at a 1-month follow-up (F). RESULTS: The patients with CLBP in each group had significant improvements in pain, disability, muscle strength, endurance, 6MWT, mobility, QOL, and depression AT and F when compared with their initial status. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups regarding the change scores between AT–BT test and F–BT test. CONCLUSION: Since a 2,450-MHz MD showed no beneficial effects on clinical parameters, exercise program could be preferable for the treatment of patients with CLBP alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the point prevalence of low back pain (LBP) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA); and to compare radiological and clinical aspects, as well as impact of LBP on health related quality of life (QoL), depression and disability in control patients with mechanical LBP (mLBP). METHODS: Patients with RA and patients with mLBP of at least 3 months duration were consecutively recruited. All patients were examined and underwent lumbar X-ray and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Disc intensity, annulus fibrosis rupture, herniated nucleus pulposus (bulging, protrusion, extrusion or sequestration), stenosis, Schmorl nodes, hemangiomas, Tarlov cysts, Type I or II degeneration, ligamentum flavum hypertrophy and loss of lordosis were assessed on MR. Assessments included QoL and disability scales like RAQoL, Short Form-36, Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and depression and anxiety scales as well. RESULTS: Chronic LBP coexisted in 64.5% of patients with RA. Patients with LBP had higher scores on VAS-LBP compared to patients with RA+LBP. Additionally, patients with RA+LBP had the poorest scores on quality of life, functional disability and depression. Patients with mLBP had more frequent clinical manifestations and neurologic deficits. Patients with RA+LBP had more frequent Schmorl nodes compared to patients with mLBP. CONCLUSION: The association of RA with LBP leads to a significant decrease in the functional capacity and QoL as well as increase in depression risk. Appropriate diagnostic procedures and treatments should be administered to avoid further deterioration in functional disability and QoL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Segmental stabilization training and electrical stimulation are used as a treatment for patients with low back pain. There is limited information on the efficacy of two interventions in the literature. In this study, the efficacy of the two interventions on the multifidus muscle activation and fatigue, segmental stabilization training and electrical stimulation, were examined and compared. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Our sample consists of 30 asymptomatic individuals, randomly assigned to one of three groups: the group that was given segmental stabilization training, the group that was given electrical stimulation and the control group that received no treatment. The muscle activity and fatigability of the multifidus were recorded by the surface electromyography before and after the intervention.RESULTS: No difference is detected for any of the multifidus muscle activation and fatigue characteristics either within or between groups. CONCLUSION: Both techniques did not improve multifidus activation capacity. An effort at submaximal and maximal level affects and increases the activity of multifidus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Most women are unaware of the risk factors for osteoporosis (OP). In an effort to prevent the development of OP, women need to have a raised awareness on this issue. The aims of this study were to determine any differences in the level of awareness and knowledge about OP between pre- and postmenopausal women. METHODS: Three hundred and six women who presented to the outpatient clinic of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department were included into the study. Demographic characteristics of the subjects were recorded. The participants were interviewed via an OP awareness questionnaire, which was designed to determine their knowledge of OP and risk factors. RESULTS: The mean ages of the 126 pre- and 180 postmenopausal women were 41.3 ± 5.9 and 58.9 ± 8.1 years, respectively. Thirty-two percent of premenopausal and 51% of postmenopausal women had heard about OP (p< 0.001), but the mean scores of OP knowledge according to the OP questionnaire were not different between the groups (p> 0.05). Both pre- and postmenopausal women with a higher level of education demonstrated better knowledge of OP based on their awareness questionnaire score (p< 0.001).CONCLUSION: Although half of the pre- and postmenopausal women reported having some awareness of OP, their level of knowledge was poor, particularly with regard to the risk factors associated with the condition and its complications. Having information about the risks of OP and a better understanding of the health beliefs of those at risk are important, as both may play a major role in influencing an individual's OP-preventing behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]