Genistein was shown to promote recovery in experimental peripheral neuropathy and chronic peripheral nerve injury (23,24). However, the effect of genistein in animal models of acute crush injury or complete transection of peripheral nerve has not yet been investigated.The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of genistein after experimental sciatic nerve crush injury and complete sciatic nerve transection in rats and to compare its effects with those of gabapentin. █ INTRODUCTIONA lthough microsurgical techniques have been developed and positive effects of clinically and experimentally different neurotrophic drugs, steroids, hormones, and even low-dose radiation have been reported, desirable motor and sensory recovery after peripheral nerve injury is a clinical challenge (6,16,18,20,25). Methylprednisolone and gabapentin are considered as reference agents, against which the medical treatment of traumatic peripheral nerve injury is evaluated. However, their adverse effects are a major limitation associated with their clinical use (16). AIM:To investigate the effects of genistein in a rat model of sciatic nerve crush injury and complete sciatic nerve transection. The effects of genistein were compared with those of gabapentin, which is widely used in clinical practice for peripheral nerve injury. MATERIAL and METHODS:Forty-eight rats were randomly divided into six groups (8 rats in each group): group 1 (sham); group 2, sciatic nerve crush injury (control); group 3, sciatic nerve crush injury+genistein 20 mg/kg; group 4, sciatic nerve crush injury+gabapentin 90 mg/kg; group 5, sciatic nerve transection+genistein 20 mg/kg; group 6, sciatic nerve transection+gabapentin 90 mg/kg. The effects of genistein and gabapentin were assessed with immunohistochemical staining for growth associated protein-43 (GAP-43) and myelin basic protein (MBP). Interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor α levels in the injured nerve specimens were assessed as a measure of inflammatory response; walking track analysis and sciatic function index for neurological recovery and the paw mechanical withdrawal threshold were examined for neuropathic pain. RESULTS:On histopathological examination, genistein use was associated with a greater immunoreactivity for GAP-43 and MBP compared with that associated with gabapentin. Genistein and gabapentin had similar effects on anti-inflammatory activity, functional recovery, and neuropathic pain. CONCLUSION:Genistein and gabapentin exhibit positive effects on histopathology, inflammation, and clinical findings of peripheral nerve injury. When the systemic side effects of gabapentin are considered, genistein (a basic soy isoflavone that has no side effects) can be used as an alternative to medical treatment in peripheral nerve injury.

spread neurodegeneration and is still a major worldwide health problem (2,33,44,50,51). TBI causes not only direct mechanical damage to the brain, but it also induces biochemical changes that lead to delayed neural cell loss. These biochemical changes are called secondary injury. The primary █ INTRODUCTION O ne common form of acute brain injury, traumatic brain injury (TBI), is the result of an outside force causing immediate mechanical disruption of brain tissue and delayed pathogenic events that collectively mediate wideAIm: To determine whether the serum level of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), an important indicator of neuron damage, correlates with the extent of tissue damage in the rat with induced head trauma and to obtain data in order to avoid unnecessary cranial computed tomography analyses. mATERIAl and mEThODS: Three-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were used. Rats were divided into 5 groups. The experimental head trauma model was examined in five groups (n=8) as follows: The control group had no intervention; Group 1: Head trauma was induced by dropping a 25 mg ball from a height of 20 cm; Group 2: Head trauma was induced by dropping a 50 mg ball from a height of 20 cm; Group 3: Head trauma was induced by dropping a 50 mg ball from a height of 80 cm; Group 4: Head trauma was induced by dropping a 100 mg ball from a height of 80 cm. Thus, according to the Newton's Law, respectively 0.05, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 N trauma was created. Serum GFAP levels were analyzed and the damage to cerebral tissues was evaluated in all groups. RESUlTS:We determined that number of apoptotic cells and particularly the number of GFAP (+) protoplasmic astrocytes at the perilesional region of the cortex increased in association with the increased serum GFAP level as long as the severity of the trauma increased.CONClUSION: Serum GFAP concentration can be used as a marker of the severity of head trauma and traumatic brain injury. However, more animal studies are required to reflect this result in clinical practice.

Objectives. Antioxidant effects of lithium chloride (LiCl) and methylprednisolone were investigated in an experimental spinal cord injury. Methods. Spinal cord injury was performed by cerebral vascular clip with a closing force of 40 g; the duration of epidural compression was 30 seconds after T9-11 total laminectomy in the rat spine. The study was conducted in 4 groups. Group 1: sham (n=8), group 2: 0.9% saline (n=8), group 3: LiCl (n=8), group 4: methylprednisolone (n=8). Ketamine (60 mg/kg) and 2% xylazine (5 mg/kg) were used intraperitoneally as anesthesia protocol for the groups. The rats were sacrificed 24 hours after the injury and blood samples were taken. Total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), malondialdehyde (MDA) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) level were analyzed. Results. Median (q1-q3) levels of TAS, TOS, MDA and TNF-α were statistically analyzed for the study groups. The TAS values of LiCl yielded statistically significant differences compared with group 1, 2 and 4 (p<0.05). The MDA values of LiCl and methylprednisolone groups were found to significantly differ between the sham and saline groups (p<0.05). There were no statistical differences between the study groups for the TNF-α and TOS values (p>0.05). Conclusions. LiCl seems to be an effective drug for experimental spinal cord injuries.Eur Res J 2016;2(3):165-169

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AIm: This study was conducted with aim of determining prevalence of headache and evaluating its effects on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in Beylikova town of Eskisehir city in the west of Turkey. mAterIAl and methOds: This study was conducted on adults aged 20 years and over aged between May11 and June04 2009 in Beylikova town of Eskisehir city in the west of Turkey. A total of 587 people were selected by simple randomized method. The International Headache Society criteria were used for the determination of severity of headache. The 36-item short-form (SF-36) was used for the assessment of healthrelated quality of life. results:The number of men and women was 302 (51.4%), and 285 (48.6%), respectively. The mean age was 46.70±15.26 years (range, 20-87 years). Headache prevalence was found to be 78.2% (n=459). Decreased headache prevalence was found in the ages older than 30-44 age group (p <0.05). All domains of SF-36, the mean scores were higher in individuals without headache than those with headache (for each, p<0.05). Migraine prevalence was found to be 7.2% (n=33). COnClusIOn:In accordance with the literature, this study found the presence of headache in adults at high frequency (78.2%). Particularly the presence of migraine and increased severity of headache were found to decrease the quality of life.

Superficial temporal artery (STA) aneurysms are very infrequent. Moreover, true aneurysms, which are not pseudoaneurysms associated with trauma or previous surgery are even rarer. With this manuscript, authors present a case of a 79-year-old woman suffering from subarachnoid hemorrhage whose radiological examinations revealed multiple intracranial aneurysms along with an STA aneurysm. This very rare case, to the best of our knowledge, the second case reported so far, might contribute to the literature and lead further investigations toward the rare association between intracranial aneurysms and STA aneurysms.

Study design: 2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (APV) is an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor blocker and has neuroprotective properties. This study is aimed at evaluating the effect of APV treatment on oxidative status after spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods: The experiment was carried out on the following five groups: Group1: sham operated, non-traumatized; Group2: with injured spinal cord, no treatment; Group3: with SCI, injected with 100 mg kg À1 APV; Group4: with SCI, injected with 200 mg kg À1 APV; and Group5: with SCI, injected with 400 mg kg À1 APV. SCI was inflicted by epidural compression with a cerebral vascular clip after T9-11 laminectomy. The experiments were completed after 12 h of trauma. Spinal cords were excised for evaluation of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, reduced glutathione (GSH) and malonyldialdehyde (MDA) levels. Results: After SCI, SOD and GSH levels decreased and the MDA level increased significantly. APV treatment decreased the MDA level and increased SOD, catalase and GSH levels. The maximum decrease in MDA was detected in the group treated with 100 mg kg À1 APV compared with the other groups. The GSH level was significantly increased in the group treated with 200 mg kg À1 APV. The SOD level was significantly increased in the group treated with 200 mg kg À1 APV. Conclusion:The results of this study have shown that APV treatment creates a dose-dependent antioxidant effect in rats with SCI and may be used for the treatment of SCIs.

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