Behçets disease (BD) causes vascular inflammation and necrosis in a wide range of organs and tissues. In the thorax, it may cause vascular complications, affecting the aorta, brachiocephalic arteries, bronchial arteries, pulmonary arteries, pulmonary veins, capillaries, and mediastinal and thoracic inlet veins. In BD, chest radiograph is commonly used for the initial assessment of pulmonary symptoms and complications and for follow-up and establishment of the response to treatment. With the advancement of helical or multislice computed tomography (CT) technologies, such noninvasive imaging techniques have been employed for the diagnosis of vascular lesions, vascular complications, and pulmonary parenchymal manifestations of BD. CT scan (especially, CT angiography) has been used to determine the presence and severity of pulmonary complications without resorting to more invasive procedures, in conjunction with gadolinium-enhanced three-dimensional (3D) gradient-echo magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with the subtraction of arterial phase images. These radiologic methods have characteristics that are complementary to each other in diagnosis of the thoracic complications in BD. 3D ultrashort echo time (UTE) MR imaging (MRI) could potentially yield superior image quality for pulmonary vessels and lung parenchyma when compared with breath-hold 3D MR angiography.

Subclinical atherosclerosis may be seen at an early age of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Syndecan 1 (S1) expression is increased in response to proinflammatory cytokine and inflammation. High S1 may...

Objective: The aim of present study was to compare abdominal (transversus abdominis (TrA), internal oblique (IO) and external oblique (EO)) and lumbar multifidus muscles (LM) evaluated with ultrasonographic (US) imaging in patients with FM (Fibromyalgia) and asymptomatic individuals and to examine the relationship between these muscle thickness and endurance, pain, fatigue and functional mobility. Methods: Women with FM group (n: 53, age: 45.96 ± 9.96 years), and asymptomatic control group (n: 49, age: 45.12 ± 7.28), were included in this study. Pain severity, disease activity, physical activity level, fatique, thickness of TrA, IO, EO and LM muscles and endurance, and functional mobility were evaluated with the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), International Physical Activity Questionnaire- Short Form (IPAQ-SF), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), US imaging, McGill core endurance tests, and physical fitness tests, respectively. FM patients were classified according to the FSS score. Results: The thickness of the IO (right side) (p = 0.013) and LM (both sides) (p < 0.001) muscles, lumbopelvic muscle endurance (all p < 0.001) and physical fitness tests (all p < 0.001) were lower in FM group compared to the asymptomatic group. No statistically significant differences were found in TrA, IO (left side), EO muscles thickness between the two groups (all p > 0.05). LM muscle thickness was significantly correlated with lumbopelvic muscle endurance (all p < 0.05), physical fitness tests (all p < 0.001) and fatique (p = 0.001). Moreover, significant differences in LM muscle thickness (p = 0.007), trunk flexor muscle endurance (p = 0.016), left trunk lateral flexor muscle endurance (p = 0.045) and 30-s chair stand test (p = 0.025) in favor of the low-fatigue group were detected. Conclusion: The thickness of LM muscle, lumbopelvik endurance and functional mobility in FM patients have been affected negatively. These findings should be considered in management of FM.

Liver–spleen ratio,hepatosteatosis,epicardial adipose tissue,cardiovascular disease

Objective: To investigate neutrophil/lymphocyte (NLR), lymphocyte/monocyte (LMR), platelet/lymphocyte (PLR) ratios, and the value of these parameters in determining disease severity and progression in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Materials and Methods: Study was conducted retrospectively with 182 in-patients and 91 controls due to COVID-19 between April-September 2020 in the chest diseases clinic. Hematological parameters and rates were compared with controls’ parameters. Correlations and differences between hematological parameters and other parameters were investigated. Results: Lymphocyte, monocyte, eosinophil, basophil, hemoglobin, thrombocyte, and LMR were significantly lower. NLR and PLR were higher. There were significant increases in hematological parameters and PLR on discharge. A positive correlation existed between radiological pneumonia severity score, and NLR (r=0.234, p=0.001) and PLR (r=0.128, p=0.042), and significant inverse correlation with LMR (r=-0.206, p=0.003). Positive correlations were detected between NLR (r=0.140, p=0.030) and PLR (r=0.125, p=0.046), and symptom-discharge time, and inverse correlation between LMR, and both symptom-discharge (r=-0.137, p=0.032) and hospital stay time (r=-0.135, p=0.034). A positive correlation existed between CRP, and NLR and PLR on admission and discharge. Conclusion: NLR, LMR and PLR were found as hematological predictors to be used with CRP in following-up COVID-19, showing a significant correlation with disease severity, monitoring responses to treatment and predicting prognosis.