Overactivation of calcium-activated neutral protease (calpain) has been implicated in the pathophysiology of several degenerative conditions, including stroke, myocardial ischemia, neuromuscular degeneration, and cataract formation. Alpha-mercaptoacrylate derivatives (exemplified by PD150606), with potent and selective inhibitory actions against calpain, have been identified. PD150606 exhibits the following characteristics: (i) K; values for ,u-and m-calpains of 0.21 ,uM and 0.37 ,IM, respectively, (ii) high specificity for calpains relative to other proteases, (iii) uncompetitive inhibition with respect to substrate, and (iv) it does not shield calpain against inactivation by the active-site inhibitor trans-(epoxysuccinyl)-L-leucyl-amido-3-methylbutane, suggesting a nonactive site action for PD150606. The recombinant calcium-binding domain from each of the large or small subunits of ,u-calpain was found to interact with PD150606. In low micromolar range, PD150606 inhibited calpain activity in two intact cell systems. The neuroprotective effects of this class of compound were also demonstrated by the ability of PD150606 to attenuate hypoxic/hypoglycemic injury to cerebrocortical neurons in culture and excitotoxic injury to Purkinje cells in cerebellar slices.Calpain (EC 3.4.22.17) is a class of cytosolic cysteine protease that is activated by elevated intracellular calcium (1-3). Interest in this class of enzymes has grown substantially in recent years because it has been implicated in the pathophysiology of several degenerative conditions; including cerebral ischemia, myocardial ischemia, and cataract (4-8). The unifying features of these pathological conditions are that calcium serves as a trigger for cellular injury and that calpain may represent a crucial mediator of the degenerative response. Uncontrolled activation of calpain leads to cytoskeletal protein (e.g., spectrin) breakdown, degradation of many receptor proteins (e.g., epidermal growth factor receptor), and enzyme systems (e.g., protein kinase C and calmodulin-dependent kinases) and consequently cell death (1,8). Several studies have shown that peptidic inhibitors of calpain protect cells in models of ischemic, hypoxic and/or excitotoxic neuronal injury (6, 9-13). However, a clear interpretation of the role of calpain in these studies has been hampered by the lack of selectivity of these peptidic inhibitors (8).The predominant forms of calpain in mammalian tissues are ,u-calpain and m-calpain, requiring low and high micromolar calcium, respectively, for in vitro activation. Both of these isoforms are heterodimers in which the large subunit (80 kDa) contains a distinct cysteine protease domain and a calcium-binding domain with four helix-loop-helix (EF-hand) structures (14 MATERIALS AND METHODSProtease Assays and Kinetic Studies. The calpain microplate assay was carried out as described (15). Briefly, a mixture containing 0.5 mg/ml casein, 20 mM DTT, 50 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.4), 0.01 unit purified ,u-calpain (human erythrocytes) or m-calpain (r...

Morbidity, mortality, and recurrence rates of hydatidosis uncovered by the cooperative study and the literature survey were not statistically significant.

Malformations of the human neocortex are commonly associated with developmental delays, mental retardation, and epilepsy. This study describes a novel neurologically mutant rat exhibiting a forebrain anomaly resembling the human neuronal migration disorder of double cortex. This mutant displays a telencephalic internal structural heterotopia (tish) that is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. The bilateral heterotopia is prominent below the frontal and parietal neocortices but is rarely observed in temporal neocortex. Neurons in the heterotopia exhibit neocortical-like morphologies and send typical projections to subcortical sites; however, characteristic lamination and radial orientation are disturbed in the heterotopia. The period of neurogenesis during which cells in the heterotopia are generated is the same as in the normotopic neocortex; however, the cells in the heterotopia exhibit a "rim-to-core" neurogenetic pattern rather than the characteristic "inside-out" pattern observed in normotopic neocortex. Similar to the human syndrome of double cortex, some of the animals with the tish phenotype exhibit spontaneous recurrent electrographic and behavioral seizures.The tish rat is a unique neurological mutant that shares several features with a human cortical malformation associated with epilepsy. On the basis of its regional connectivity, histological composition, and period of neurogenesis, the heterotopic region in the tish rat is neocortical in nature. This neurological mutant represents a novel model system for investigating mechanisms of aberrant neocortical development and is likely to provide insights into the cellular and molecular events contributing to seizure development in dysplastic neocortex.

AIm:The study was conducted to compare the clinical effectiveness of FJ injections (FJI) and FJ radiofrequency (FJRF) denervation in patients with chronic low back pain. mAterIAl and methOds:This study included 100 patients; 50 in FJI 50 in FJRF group. VNS, NASS and EQ-5D were used to evaluate the outcomes. All outcome assessments were performed at baseline, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months. results: FJI in early post-op but FJRF in 1st, 6th and 12th month VNS showed better results (p<0.001). There was no significant difference in the 1st (p=1) and 6th month (p=0.13) but in 12th month (p=0.04) in NASS. Increase in level number showed positive effect in NASS in FJRF group (p=0.018) but no effect in FJI group (p=0.823) in the 12th month follow-up. There was no significant difference with respect to 1st month (p=0.17), 6th month (p=0.22) and 12th month (p=0.11) post-procedure follow-ups in EQ-5D. At the short term FJI was more effective than FJRF however in midterm follow-up FJRF had more satisfying results than FJRF.COnClusIOn: To our knowledge, the first choice should be the FJI and if pain reoccurs after a period of time or injection is not effective, RF procedure should be used for the treatment of chronic lumbar pain.KeywOrds: Facet, Joint, Injection, Radiofrequency, Denervation, Low back pain ÖZ AmAÇ: Lomber faset eklem (FE) bozuklukları kronik bel ağrılarının en sık sebebidir. Bu çalışmada, kronik bel ağrılı hastalarda uygulanan FE enjeksiyonu (FEE) ve radyofrekans denervasyonunun (FER) klinik sonuçlarının karşılaştırılması amaçlamaktadır. yÖntem ve GereÇler: Bu çalışmaya 50 FEE ve 50 FER yapılan 100 hasta dahil edildi. VNS, NASS ve EQ-5D sonuçların değerlendirilmesi amacıyla kullanıldı. Sonuçlar başlangıç, 3. ay, 6. ay ve 12. aylarda elde edildi.BulGulAr: FEE işlem sonrası erken dönemde, FER ise 1., 6. ve 12. ayda daha etkiliydi (p<0,001). NASS sonuçlarında 1. (p=1) ve 6. ayda (p=0.13) anlamlı fark yokken 12. ayda (p=0,04) vardı. İşlem yapılan segment sayısı FER grubunun (p=0,018) 12. aydaki NASS sonucunu pozitif yönde etkilerken FEE grubunda (p=0,823) etkisi yoktu. EQ-5D sonuçları açısından 1. (p=0,17), 6. (p=0,22) ve 12. ayda (p=0,11) iki grup arasında anlamlı fark saptanmadı. Kısa dönemde FEE daha etkiliyken orta dönemde FER'in sonuçları daha başarılıydı. sOnuÇ: Faset eklemden kaynaklanan bel ağrılarında, FEE ve FER birer tedavi seçenekleridir. Sonuçlarımıza göre, kronik bel ağrısının tedavisinde FEE ilk seçenek olarak düşünülmeli ve bir süre sonra tekrarlayan veya FEE etkili olmadığı durumlarda FER tedavi amacıyla kullanılmalıdır.

In this study we aimed to evaluate the role of closed-suction drainage on the extent of epidural fibrosis (EF) after lumbar disc surgery and to define a new grading system of epidural fibrosis in these patients, based on magnetic resonance imaging. Seventy-nine patients (34 women, 45 men) with a unilateral, single-level lumbar disc herniation were included in this study. Forty-one patients in whom closed-suction drainage was implanted were compared with 38 patients in whom the drain was not implanted. We have used a new grading system for the extent of epidural fibrosis, on the basis of follow-up magnetic resonance imaging findings. Pain intensity was evaluated by visual analog scale (VAS), and the patients' function and working ability were measured according to the Prolo functional-economic scale. We conclude that, in patients operated on for unilateral, single-level lumbar disc hernias, implantation of closed-suction drainage into the operation site results in less formation of EF radiologically and yields better clinical outcome.

If the patients experience severe or mild back pain with higher preoperative KA, especially in the first 2 months, then they deserve detailed radiologic examination. To avoid subsequent fracture in the same or adjacent level, vertebral body should be filled adequately and sagittal balance should be obtained with KA correction. BK alone did not influence the incidence of subsequent VCF.

AIm: Surgeons make up a unique group that is at risk for developing work-related musculoskeletal symptoms. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of Kinesiotape technique on pain and functional performance in surgeons who have musculoskeletal system pain after performing surgery. mAterIAl and methOds: 32 surgeons between the ages of 27 and 44 yrs working in a university hospital were included. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the surgeons' neck and low back pain and the Oswestry Low Back and Neck Disability Indexes were used to determine the impact of pain on daily living activities. First, surgeons were evaluated without Kinesiotape application, then evaluated again on the first day and fourth day of Kinesiotape application. results:The results showed that surgeons had a significant reduction in neck and low back pain (p<0.05). There were improvements in both Oswestry Low Back Disability Index and Neck Disability Index scores when compared with their initial status (p<0.05). After Kinesiotape application, neck and low back range of motions' scores showed an increase (p<0.05).COnClusIOn: Findings demonstrated that Kinesio taping would be an effective method for reducing neck and low back pain and improving functional performance.KeywOrds: Surgeons, Musculoskeletal pain, Kinesiotaping, Performance ÖZ AmAÇ: Bu çalışmanın amacı, ameliyatlardan sonra kas iskelet sistemi ağrısı olan cerrahlarda, yaşam kalitesi ile ilişkili fonksiyonel performans ve ağrı üzerinde Kinesio bantlamanın etkisini değerlendirmektir. yÖntem ve GereÇ: 27-44 yaşları arasında değişen 32 cerrah çalışmaya katılmıştır. Cerrahlar bel ve boyun ağrısı değerlendirmesi için Görsel Analog Skalası ile bel ve boyun ağrısının cerrahın günlük yaşantısını ne derecede etkilediğini görmek için ise Oswestry Bel ve Boyun Özür Skalaları ile değerlendirilmişlerdir. Cerrahların bel ve boyun eklem hareket açıklıkları ise gonyometre kullanılarak ölçülmüştür. Cerrahlar ilk olarak, Kinesio bantlama uygulanmadan önce değerlendirilmiş, değerlendirmeler Kinesio bantlama uygulamasının 1. ve 4 gününde tekrarlanmıştır.BulGulAr: Bel ve boyun ağrısında anlamlı bir azalma gözlenmiştir (p<0.05). Oswestry Bel Özür Skalası ve Boyun Özür Skalası sonuçlarında da başlangıç skorları ile karşılaştırıldığında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı azalma gözlenmiştir (p<0.05). Kinesio bantlama uygulamasından sonra hem boyun hem de bel eklem hareket açıklıklarında artış gözlenmiştir (p<0.05).sOnuÇ: Kinesio bantlama bel ve boyun ağrısını azaltmada ve fonksiyonel performansı artırmada etkili bir yöntem olabilir. Bu teknik ameliyatlardan sonra iş kaynaklı kas iskelet sistemi problemleri yaşayan cerrahlarda kullanılabilir bir tekniktir.AnAhtAr sÖZCÜKler: Cerrahlar, Kas-iskelet sistemi ağrıları, Kinesio bantlama, Performans

The vasodilatory effect of SC was observed to be significant on normal cerebral vessels and after SAH-induced vasospasm. SC did not prevent apoptosis of the endothelium in our study, which suggests that prevention of apoptosis is not necessary in the treatment of cerebral vasospasm.