This randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study was designed to investigate the short-term efficacy of ultrasound therapy in 90 patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Patients were randomly assigned to three groups: group 1 received continuous ultrasound, group 2 received pulsed ultrasound, and group 3 received a 'sham' (placebo) ultrasound for 5 min each session. All treatments were applied once a day for 5 days a week for 2 weeks, i.e. a total treatment duration of 10 days. Compared with baseline, significant improvements were observed in the visual analogue scale pain scores and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) scores in all three groups. The reductions in pain and WOMAC scores were significantly higher in patients treated with pulsed ultrasound than in the placebo group. In conclusion, pulsed ultrasound therapy is a safe and effective treatment modality in patients with knee OA. Further research is required to investigate the long-term efficacy of pulsed ultrasound therapy in knee OA.

We introduce a "double direct templating" method for obtaining hollow microspheres with periodically nanostructured walls. Silica or polystyrene colloids are dispersed in a self-assembled hexagonal lyotropic liquid crystal containing precursors for ZnS. The semiconductor ZnS mineralizes on the surface of the colloid, expressing a pore morphology that is a copy of the structure of the liquid crystal. After etching of the sacrificial colloids, hollow capsules with templated and uniform mesoporous shells are obtained.

Our study demonstrates the potential benefits of EMG biofeedback in conjunction with neurophysiologic rehabilitation technique to maximize the hand function in hemiplegic patients.

Objective: The aim of this randomized controlled study was to evaluate the efficacy of oral native type II collagen treatment on the symptoms and biological markers of cartilage degradation, when given concomitantly with acetaminophen in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Materials and Methods:Thirty-nine patients diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis were included and randomly distributed into two groups: one treated with 1500 mg/day of acetaminophen (group AC; n=19) and the other treated with 1500 mg/day of acetaminophen plus 10 mg/day of native type II collagen (group AC+CII; n=20) for 3 months. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at rest and during walking, Western Ontario McMaster (WOMAC) pain, WOMAC function, and Short Form-36 (SF-36) scores, were recorded. Coll2-1, Coll2-1NO2 and Fibulin-3 levels were quantified in urine as biomarkers of disease progression. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02237989.Results: After 3 months of treatment, significant improvements compared to baseline were reported in joint pain (VAS walking), function (WOMAC) and quality of life (SF-36) in the AC+CII group, while only improvements in some subscales of the SF-36 survey and VAS walking were detected in the AC group. Comparisons between the groups revealed a significant difference in VAS walking score in favour of the AC+CII group as compared to AC group. Biochemical markers of cartilage degradation in urine did not significantly improve in any of the groups. Conclusion:All in all, these results suggest that native type II collagen treatment combined with acetaminophen is superior to only acetaminophen for symptomatic treatment of patients with knee osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE:The aim of this placebo-controlled study was to evaluate the effects of pulsed and continuous ultrasound treatments combined with splint therapy on patients with mild and moderate idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome.METHODS:The study included 46 carpal tunnel syndrome patients who were randomly divided into 3 groups. The first group (n = 15) received a 0 W/cm2 ultrasound treatment (placebo); the second group (n = 16) received a 1.0 W/cm2 continuous ultrasound treatment and the third group (n = 15) received a 1.0 W/cm2 1:4 pulsed ultrasound treatment 5 days a week for a total of 15 sessions. All patients also wore night splints during treatment period. Pre-treatment and post-treatment Visual Analogue Scale, Symptom Severity Scale and Functional Status Scale scores, median nerve motor conduction velocity and distal latency and sensory conduction velocities of the median nerve in the 2nd finger and palm were compared. Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT02054247.RESULTS:There were significant improvements in all groups in terms of the post-treatment Functional Status Scale score (p<0.05 for all groups), Symptom Severity Scale score (first group: p<0.05, second group: p<0.01, third group: p<0.001) and Visual Analogue Scale score (first and third groups: p<0.01, second group: p<0.001). Sensory conduction velocities improved in the second and third groups (p<0.01). Distal latency in the 2nd finger showed improvement only in the third group (p<0.01) and action potential latency in the palm improved only in the second group (p<0.05).CONCLUSION:The results of this study suggest that splinting therapy combined with placebo and pulsed or continuous ultrasound have similar effects on clinical improvement. Patients treated with continuous and pulsed ultrasound showed electrophysiological improvement; however, the results were not superior to those of the placebo.

AIM:The aim of this randomized study was to compare exercise program to control group regarding pain, back disability, behavioural outcomes, global health measures and back mobility who underwent microdiscectomy operation. MATErIAL and METHods:Thirty patients who underwent lumbar microdiscectomy were randomized into exercıse and control groups. After surgery, patients in the exercıse group undertook a 12-week home based exercise program, started immediately postsurgery and concentrated on improving strength and endurance of the back, abdominal muscles, lower extremities and mobility of the spine and hips. Outcome measures were: Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Beck Depression scale, lumbar schober, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), return to work (return-to-work status), generic functional status (SF-36).rEsuLTs: Treatment compliance was high in both groups. Surgery improved pain, disability, general health status, lumbar mobility and behavioural status. After the exercise program, the exercise group showed further improvements in these measures at 12 week after surgery. CoNCLusIoN:A 12-week postoperative exercise program starting immediately after surgery can improve pain, disability, and spinal function in patients who have undergone microdiscectomy.KEywords: Exercise therapy, Lumbosacral radicular syndrome, Microdiscectomy ÖZ AMAÇ: Çalışma, mikrodiskektomi ameliyatı sonrası egzersiz verilen grup ile verilmeyen kontrol grubunun ağrı, disabilite, duygu durumu, genel sağlık durumu ve bel mobilitesinin karşılaştırmasını amaçlamaktadır. yÖNTEM ve GErEÇLEr: 30 hasta çalışmaya alındı. Egzersiz grubuna ameliyat sonrası erken dönemde başlanılan, 12 hafta süren, ev tabanlı, bel, bacak, abdominal kasları kuvvetlendirici, enduransı arttırıcı ve bel mobilizasyonu artıran egzersiz tedavisi verildi. Ölçüm sonuçlarımız: Oswestry Disability Indeksi (ODI), Beck Depresyon Skalası, Lomber Schober, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), işe dönüş zamanı, genel fonksiyonel durum (SF-36).BuLGuLAr: Her iki grupta da tedaviye iyi yanıt alındı. Cerrahi girişim ile ağrı, disablite, genel sağlık durumu, duygu durum ve bel mobilitesinde iyileşme gözlemlendi. Egzersiz programından sonra, egzersiz grubu, kontrol grubuna kıyasla 12 hafta sonra ağrı, disabilte ve genel sağlık durumunda anlamlı iyileşme gösterdi. soNuÇ: Operasyon sonrası erken dönemde başlanılan 12 haftalık egzersiz tedavisi, mikrodiskektomi geçiren hastalarda ağrının, disabiltenin azalması ve genel sağlık durumunun iyileşmesinde etkili olabilir.ANAHTAr sÖZCÜKLEr: Egzersiz tedavisi, Lumbosakral radiküler sendrom, Mikrodiskektomi

Aim: To investigate the efficacy of low level laser therapy (LLLT) in fibromyalgia patients. Materials and Methods: Thirty-four fibromyalgia patients were randomly assigned to LLLT (n = 16) and placebo laser groups (n = 16). Outcome measures included number of tender points (NTP), Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), morning stiffness, global improvement as reported on a verbal scale (VSGI), and total myalgia score. Clinical evaluations were performed before, immediately after, and six months after the treatment. Results: In the LLLT group, significant improvement was observed in clinical parameters at the end of the treatment (p < 0.01). On the other hand, significant improvements were observed only in the number of tender points and morning stiffness in the placebo group (p < 0.05). In comparing the groups, significant improvements were detected in scores of FIQ, VSGI, and total myalgia in the active laser group (p < 0.05). The clinical evaluations performed after six months demonstrated improvements in the clinical parameters only in the LLLT group (p < 0.05). When the groups were compared with each other, significant improvements were found in the LLLT group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Our results suggest that LLLT has both short-and long-term effectiveness in the treatment of fibromyalgia.

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