Objectives - We aimed to evaluate nerve conduction studies and gastrocnemius H reflex responses in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and compared to the healthy adult subjects. Materials and methods - Twenty-six RA patients and twenty-two healthy adult subjects were included in the study. The nerve conduction study (NCS) findings and bilateral gastrocnemius H reflex responses were evaluated in all the groups. Age, gender, subcutaneous nodules, joint deformities, laboratory parameters, duration of disease, anti-rheumatic drug and steroid usage were recorded. Activity of disease was assessed using a 28-joint disease activity score (DAS28).The functional status was measured using the health assessment questionnaire (HAQ), pain intensity measured using a visual analog scale (VAS). Results - The rate of electroneuromyographic (ENMG) abnormalities was 73% in RA patients. The most common diagnosis was carpal tunnel syndrome (61.4%). There were no significant correlations between ENMG findings and clinical and laboratory features evaluated. Right H reflex latencies were statistically longer in RA patients (p=0.03). According to calculated cut-off levels, there were more subjects with longer H reflex latencies in RA patients. Conclusions - In this study, entrapment neuropathies were found common as independent identity from duration and severity of disease in RA patients. For H reflex latencies, cut-off values were longer in RA patients. It may provide information about the early neuropathic involvement of long peripheral nerves in RA patients. But this findings are needed to be supported by larger population study.

[INTRODUCTION - The joints have been secured from rheumatoid arthritis by diminution of biomechanical effeciency. This effect was analyzed and named articular protective phenomenon three decades ago. CASE REPORT - A case of bilateral rheumatoid arthritis associated with unilateral developmental abnormality hand and bronchial asthma in a 35 year old female patient is presented. Her left 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th metacarpal bones moreover her fingers had not evolved. The patient has been treated by antiasthmatic steroid drugs for five years. Rheumatoid disorders of the affected left hand were more severe, than the abnormality of the normal upper limb. Eight years later the most severe bony lesions (ankylosis and mutilation) appeared on this side, only. CONCLUSION - The patient's hand was not saved by inborn bone defect in rheumatoid arthritis. The absence of articular protective phenomenon can be explained by the undisturbed innervation of limb, the motility of hypotrophic carpus besides to steroid-induced suppression.]

[The authors review the orthopaedic surgical treatment possibilities of the hip joint affected by rheumatoid arthritis. In the first part, they draw the attention to the characteristic features of the disease. They describe a possible pathological interpretation of rheumatoid arthritis and emphasize the specific features of the rheumatoid hip joint. Different surgical interventions and treatment possibilities are analyzed. Because of the multiple joint involvement in these patients, the possibility of sequential operations has to be considered. The importance of close cooperation between rheumatologists and orthopaedic surgeons is emphasized. According to the authors, one of the most effective long term treatment possibility of the rheumatoid hip is the total hip arthroplasty.]

[Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, lifelong disease that causes severe joint deformity, reduces quality of life, and, if not treated appopriately, leads to disability and substantial premature mortality. Its treatment is a multistep procedure, where different grades of treatment options follow each other. Besides traditional, diseasemodifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and biological therapies inhibiting TNF, a new therapautic option is the use of a chimeric antibody, rituximab, which inhibits B lymphocyte function. This drug is an effective and safe choice for those patients who have received various anti- TNF therapies or do not tolerate TNF inhibition.]

[In the European Union, the lowest incidence of osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis has been reported in the Mediterranean area. However, for a long time only a few nutrients’ effects have been studied on BMD. Of these, the favourable effects of wine, fermented cheese and fruit and vegetable consumption have been demonstrated in the alleviation of both osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis. A number of promising studies are being conducted with analogues of antioxidant components of the mediterranean diet. Some of these components decrease the levels of pathological factors, such as interleukin-1, -6, -17, TNF-α, JAK2/STAT3, which are the targets of a number of efficient drugs. These findings demonstrate the significance of diet in the development of musculoskeletal diseases. In our review article, we present the above mentioned data, illustrated by some of our own recipes.]