The aim of this study was to translate the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) into Korean and to evaluate its reliability and validity for use with Korean-speaking patients with fibromyalgia (FM). After translating the FIQ into Korean, we administered it to 55 patients with FM (28 patients filled out the questionnaire again 7 days later) together with a Korean version of the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and the Symptom Checklist-90-Revision (SCL-90-R). The tender-point count (TPC) was calculated from tender points identified by thumb palpation. In addition to sociodemographic characteristics, the severity of relevant current clinical symptoms, e.g., pain intensity, fatigue, and morning stiffness, were assessed by 10-cm visual analog scales (VAS). The test-retest reliability was between 0.466 and 0.780 (total 0.778). Cronbach's alpha was 0.800 for FIQ1 (the first assessment) and 0.857 for FIQ2 (the second assessment), indicating acceptable levels of internal consistency for both assessments. Significant correlations were obtained between the FIQ items, the HAQ, the severity of clinical symptoms, and the subscales of the SCL-90-R. In conclusion, the Korean version of the FIQ is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring health status and physical functioning in Korean patients with FM.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Fibromyalgia/*diagnosis/physiopathology ; Humans ; Korea ; Middle Aged ; Questionnaires/*standards

OBJECTIVETo study clinically on acupoints by probing the correlativity between Goldenberg's tender points in the patient of fibromyalgia syndrome and acupoints.

METHODSLocal hyaluronidase injection and other methods were adopted.

RESULTSThe tender points were increased by more than 50 groups according to the standard of Goldenberg's tender points. The Goldenberg's tender points and acupoints both have tender character, radiating pain character by palpation, local cord and lump fibrous harden change.

CONCLUSIONBoth the Goldenberg's tender point and the acupoint are inflammatory reactive points of the body diseases with diagnosis and treatment significance. Most of the parts in relatively healthy people are at bone joints where myofasciae adhere with rich nerves and vessels distribution and good reactivity to internal and external circumstances.

Acupuncture Points ; Fibromyalgia ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Pain Measurement ; methods ; Pain Threshold ; Severity of Illness Index

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Nailfold capillaroscopy (NFC) has been used to examine morphological and functional microcirculation changes in connective tissue diseases. It has been demonstrated that NFC patterns reflect abnormal microvascular dynamics, which may play a role in fibromyalgia (FM) syndrome. The aim of this study was to determine NFC patterns in FM, and their association with clinical features of FM. METHODS: A total of 67 patients with FM, and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls, were included. Nailfold capillary patterns were quantitatively analyzed using computerized NFC. The parameters of interest were as follows: number of capillaries within the central 3 mm, deletion score, apical limb width, capillary width, and capillary dimension. Capillary dimension was determined by calculating the number of capillaries using the Adobe Photoshop version 7.0. RESULTS: FM patients had a lower number of capillaries and higher deletion scores on NFC compared to healthy controls (17.3 +/- 1.7 vs. 21.8 +/- 2.9, p < 0.05; 2.2 +/- 0.9 vs. 0.7 +/- 0.6, p < 0.05, respectively). Both apical limb width (microm) and capillary width (microm) were significantly decreased in FM patients (1.1 +/- 0.2 vs. 3.7 +/- 0.6; 5.4 +/- 0.5 vs. 7.5 +/- 1.4, respectively), indicating that FM patients have abnormally decreased digital capillary diameter and density. Interestingly, there was no difference in capillary dimension between the two groups, suggesting that the length or tortuosity of capillaries in FM patients is increased to compensate for diminished microcirculation. CONCLUSIONS: FM patients had altered capillary density and diameter in the digits. Diminished microcirculation on NFC may alter capillary density and increase tortuosity.
Adult ; Capillaries/*pathology/physiopathology ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Fibromyalgia/*diagnosis/pathology/physiopathology ; Humans ; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted ; Male ; Microcirculation ; *Microscopic Angioscopy ; Nails/*blood supply ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Regional Blood Flow