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Purpose: Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is one of the common complications in stroke patients. Sympathetic dysfunction is usually considered underlying pathology. The evidence for contrast bath (CB) used in the treatment of CRPS is limited. The aim of the study is to investigate the possible effects of CB on the sympathetic activity in poststroke CRPS., Materials and Methods: Stroke patients with CRPS (CRPS group) and without CRPS (control group) were included in the study. Age, gender, duration of stroke, aetiology, plegic side, dominant hand, spasticity level, Brunnstrom stages, and comorbidities were recorded. CB was performed for one session to the plegic side of the CRPS and control groups. Sympathetic skin responses (SSR) was recorded from the plegic and healthy hands of participants at pre-CB and post-CB., Results: Each group consisted of 20 participants. No significant difference was detected in stroke duration, aetiology, and Brunnstrom stages between groups. Elbow spasticity level was significantly higher in CRPS group (p = .034). SSR amplitudes of plegic hands were significantly decreased after CB in CRPS and control groups (p = .0002, p = .013 respectively). Also, CB reduced the SSR amplitude of healty side in CRPS group (p = .003). There was no statistically significant change in SSR latency or percentage changes of SSR amplitude and latency after CB in both groups., Conclusion: CB leads to a significant reduction in sympathetic activity of plegic side of stroke patients. Also, CB to the plegic side has an inhibitory effect on sympathetic activity of healty side in poststroke CRPS. ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT04198532.

Background/aim: β1-selective beta-blockers (BBs) are sympatholytic agents, and discerning their effects on bone health would be of great importance. This study aimed to investigate the influence of β1-selective BBs on bone mineral density (BMD) and fracture risk., Materials and Methods: This study included postmenopausal women who used β1-selective BBs (BB group) and control group. Sociodemographic characteristics, BMD and previous fragility fractures were recorded. Additionally, the 10-year probability of a major osteoporotic and hip fracture was calculated using the fracture risk assessment tool (FRAX)., Results: A total of 60 participants were included in the study. L1-4 and L2-4 BMD values were significantly higher in BB group than control group (P = 0.015 and P = 0.025, respectively). Moreover, T-scores of lumbar and femur total were significantly higher in the BB group. Two patients in BB and 6 patients in control group had previous fragility fracture. No statistically significant intergroup difference was noted regarding FRAX., Conclusion: Based on our results, β1-selective BB usage was associated with higher BMD at the lumbar region in postmenopausal women., Competing Interests: The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article., (This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.)

Antibodies to cyclic citrullinated peptides (anti-CCP) are highly specific for the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with a marginal increased prediction of the disease. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relation of the presence of anti-CCP with clinical manifestations and disease activity in a cohort of RA patients. A total of 61 RA patients were included in this study. Data of disease-related parameters such as duration of disease, medications, degree of pain (visual analog scale, VAS), disease activity score 28 (DAS-28) and health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) were recorded. Laboratory workup included erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), plasma C-reactive protein (CRP), rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-CCP, complete blood count and anemia parameters. Anti-CCP positivity was associated with higher scores of DAS-28, longer duration of morning stiffness, serum RF positivity and low levels of serum ferritin, while it was not associated with disease duration, VAS, HAQ, ESR, CRP and hemoglobin.