These results indicate for the first time in humans that cupping might be cardioprotective. In this study, cupping therapy restored sympathovagal imbalances by stimulating the peripheral nervous system.

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Effects of Ginkgo biloba extract on brain oxidative condition after cisplatin exposure Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761) on oxidative events of brain in cisplatin-administrated rats.Methods: Rats were divided into four experimental groups: 1) control (n=6); 2) cisplatin (8 mg/kg, intraperitoneally one dose, n=6); 3) EGb 761 (100 mg/kg intraperitoneally for 15 days, n=6); and 4) cisplatin + EGb 761 (n=6). After drug administration, rats were sacrificed and brain tissues were removed. Nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels were evaluated in brain tissues.Results: Single dose cisplatin administration significantly increased NO and GSH levels, but decreased MDA levels in brain tissue samples. EGb 761 treatment reversed the effects of cisplatin on NO and GSH levels, but did not affect the decreased MDA levels.Conclusion: Results of the study indicate that oxidative stress can be an important pathogenetic mechanism of cisplatin-induced neurotoxicity. EGb 761, an standardized extract of G. biloba leaves that has antioxidant properties, may improve the oxidative stress-related neurological side effects of cisplatin. SUPPLEMENT

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the melatonergic M1 and M2 receptor agonist and serotonergic 5-HT2C receptor antagonist agomelatine on the spike wave discharges (SWDs) seen in electrocorticographic (ECoG) recordings of WAG/ Rij rats with absence epilepsy. Twenty-one WAG/Rij male rats were used in this study. Tripolar electrodes were placed on skulls and control ECoG activities were recorded. Experimental groups received normal saline (Group I: 1 mL, intraperitoneally (i.p)), agomelatine (Group II: 40 mg/kg, i.p), and melatonin (Group III: 40 mg/kg, i.p) injections for 7 days. Following this period, 2-h ECoG recordings were repeated. The number of SWDs and their durations were calculated. The total number and duration of SWDs decreased in both the agomelatine and melatonin groups. The systemic administration of agomelatine and melatonin attenuated the genetic absence epilepsy seizures in WAG/Rij rats. The repressive effect of agomelatine on the absence seizures was similar to that of the melatonin used in this study.

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Since cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, the development of new anticancer drugs has become important. Phthalocyanines (Pcs) as anticancer agents have attracted particular attention in recent years. Especially water-soluble sulfonated phthalocyanines have been used consistently for both the diagnosis and treatment of many different types of cancer, such as small lung tumors. Motivated by these facts, since the anti-cancer activity of sulfonated water-soluble cobalt phthalocyanine in prostate and breast cancer without photoactivation is not known before, we aimed to investigate the in vitro anti-cancer effectiveness (cyto- and genotoxic effect) of alpha-substituted water-soluble cobalt phthalocyanine (WS-CoPc) complex on prostate and breast cancer cells for the first time. For this purpose ROS production, cell death, and DNA damage levels, changes in nuclear and cell morphology, and the expression of apoptosis and ROS-related genes were determined. WS-CoPc exhibited anti-cancer effects with cytotoxic and genotoxic features in both prostate and breast cancer cells also the anti-cancer efficacy is more prominent in prostate cancer cells. Therefore our results demonstrated that this Pc has high cytotoxic and genotoxic effects, especially in prostate cancer cells in vitro and further studies are needed to reveal the current anticancer potential of this Pc without photoactivation.

Purpose: Foot bathing therapy is a simple technique that induces sensations of comfort and relaxation. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of foot bathing therapy on heart rate variability (HRV) parameters in a healthy population.Methods: Participants were twenty healthy female subjects (median age=20.67 years, SD=1.04). The recording ECG was applied for 5 minutes before and for 5 minutes after foot bathing therapy of 10 minutes. Subjects rested for 10 minutes without recording ECG in order to stabilize autonomic parameters. The digital signals were then transferred to a laptop and analyzed using LabChart® software (MLS310/7 HRV Module).Results: Almost all HRV parameters increased and heart (pulse) rate and LF/HF ratio decreased after foot bathing therapy compared with before foot bathing therapy. Conclusions:These results indicate for the first time in humans that foot bathing might induce a state of balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic systems and might be helpful to prevent possible cardiac arrhythmias.SUPPLEMENT

Modafi nil, is a wake-promoting drug approved by Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) for narcolepsy and sleep-apnoe syndrome. Although the mechanism underlying its arousal action remains elusive, it is known to increase glutamatergic, histaminergic, noradrenergic and dopaminergic transmission and decrease GABA release in different regions of the brain, which are all known to be involved in pathophysiology of epilepsy. In the present study, the effects of modafi nil on pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) induced convulsive epilepsy were investigated in rats. Five experimental groups were formed for this purpose and each group was administered fi ve different doses of modafi nil (1, 2, 4, 45, 180 mg/kg, i.p) for seven days. All groups were administered PTZ (80 mg/kg, i.p) 2 hours after the fi nal dose and the epileptic seizure activity was evaluated. According to the results; we detected that modafi nil delayed the onset of the fi rst myoclonic jerk and decreased the total major seizure period between 2-180 mg/kg doses and did not affect the major seizure onset period at any of the doses administrated. These results imply that modafi nil exerts a dose dependent antiepileptic effect on PTZ induced convulsive epilepsy in rats (Tab.