Background: Alpha lipoic acid is a potent antioxidant that plays numerous roles in human health. This study examined the effect of ALA on rat sciatic nerve ischemia reperfusion damage. Aims: Protective effect of alpha lipoic acid (ALA) on sciatic nerve following ischemia-reperfusion in rats was investigated by using light microscopy and biochemical methods. Provided that the protective effect of ALA on sciatic nerve is proven, we think the damage to the sciatic nerve that has already occurred or might occur in patients for various reasons maybe prevented or stopped by giving ALA in convenient doses. Study Design: Animal experiment. Methods: Forty-two adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (250-300 grams) were used in this study. Rats were randomly divided into six groups including one control (Group 1), one sham (Group 2), two ischemia-reperfusion (Groups 3 and 4) and two treatment groups (Groups5 and 6). Doses of 60 and 100 mg/kg ALA were given (Group 5 and 6) intra peritoneally twice, 1 and 24 hours before the ischemia to each treatment group. Ischemia was carried out the abdominal aorta starting from the distal part of the renal vein for two hours followed by reperfusion for three hours. In immunohistochemical methods, fibronectin immunoreactivity was analyzed. For biochemical analyses, the tissues were taken in eppendorf microtubes and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) enzyme activities as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitricoxide (NO) levels were measured. Results: Fibronectin was observed to have increased significantly in the ischemia group; on the other hand, it was observed to have decreased in parallel to the doses in the ALA groups. Biochemical studies showed that SOD and GSHPx declined with ischemia-reperfusion, but the activities of these enzymes were increased in the treatment groups in parallel with the dose. It was found that increased MDA levels with ischemia-reperfusion were decreased in parallel with ALA dose. There were no statistically significant changes in NO. Conclusion: Increased fibronectin observed after ischemia/reperfusion of rat sciatic nerve is reduced after the administration of ALA. This indicates that the function of fibronectin, to reconnect cut nerve segments and regenerate nerves, is more prominent than its function in tissue healing after ischemia. ALA administered before ischemia decreases MDA and increases SOD and GSHPx. We think that ALA may protect against the pathological changes in ischemic nerve and may be used to devise more efficient treatments.

BACKGROUNDCarbon monoxide (CO) toxicity primarily results from cellular hypoxia caused by impedance of oxygen delivery. Studies show that CO may cause brain lipid peroxidation and leukocyte-mediated inflammatory changes in the brain.AIMThe aim of this study was to investigate whether magnesium sulphate could prevent or diminish brain lipid peroxidation caused by carbon monoxide toxicity in rats.MATERIALS AND METHODSFourty rats were divided into five groups of 8 rats each. Group l was not received any agent during the experiment. Group 2 was inhaled CO gas followed by intraperitoneally normal saline 30 minutes (min) later. Group 3 was inhaled CO gas followed by 100 mg/kg magnesium sulphate intraperitoneally 30 min later. Group 2 and Group 3 rats was undergone laparotomy and craniotomy while still under anesthesia at 6 hour, and tissue sample was obtained from the cerebrum. Group 4 was inhaled CO gas followed by intraperitoneally normal saline 30 min later. Group 5 was inhaled CO gas followed by 100 mg/kg magnesium sulphate intraperitoneally 30 min later. Group 4 and Group 5 rats was undergone laparotomy and craniotomy while still under anesthesia at 24 hour, and tissue sample was obtained from the cerebrum.RESULTSNitric oxide levels were no significantly different between all groups. Malonyldialdehyde levels increased in intoxication group (group 2) and decreased in treatment group (group 3). Activities of superoxide dismutase decreased in intoxication group (group 2) and increased in treatment group (group 3). Activities of catalase increased in intoxication group (group 2) and decreased in treatment group (group 3). Activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) decreased in intoxication group (group 4) and increased in treatment group (group 5).CONCLUSIONSCO poisoning caused significant damage, detected within the first 6 hours. Due to antioxidant enzymes, especially GSH-Px activity reaching the top level within 24th hours, significant oxidative damage was not observed. The protective effect against oxidative damage of magnesium sulfate has been identified within the first 6 hours.

Objective: We investigated the intervertebral discs in a rat electromagnetic radiation (EMR) model to demonstrate that electromagnetic radiation is a cause of degenerative intervertebral discs.Methods: Rats were randomly divided into four groups: group I consisted of control rats, and groups II-IV comprised electromagnetically irradiated with 900, 1800 and 2400 MHz. The rats were placed into a specially designed mechanism, and their heads were exposed to 900, 1800 and 2400 MHz microwaves irradiation for 1 h per day for 2 months. The control group rats were placed into same system. The same procedure was applied to the control group while the rats were not exposed to the electromagnetic waves.Results: The intervertebral disc Interleukin-1 beta levels as well as the total antioxidative capacity (TAC) and total oxidative capacity (TOS) values in the EMR groups ( 900, 1800, 2400 MHz) were higher than those in the control group (p<0.05). In the EMR groups, group II intervertebral disc Interleukin-1 beta levels and TAC were not significantly different from those in group III (P>0.05). Group II intervertebral disc TOS was significantly different from that in groups III and IV (P<0.05). In the Oxidative Stress Index (OSI) comparisons, group II was significantly different from groups I, III and IV (P<0.05).Conclusions: Electromagnetic radiation increased the intervertebral disc release of inflammatory cytokine IL-1 beta and oxidative radicals. This process can lead to degeneration of intervertebral disc.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the associations among depression, anxiety, aerobic exercise capacity, body fat percentage, sum of skinfolds, abdomen circumference, and waist to hip ratio on the basis of body mass index (BMI) in adults.Methods: The subjects of the study were 60 obese participants (30 women, 30 men) with BMIs over 30 kg/m(2) and 60 healthy controls (30 women, 30 men) with BMIs of 18-25 kg/m(2). Body fat percentage was calculated from the skinfold thicknesses using the formula. Body circumference measurements were performed using a tape measure. Maximal aerobic capacity (VO(2)max) was determined by Astrand submaximal exercise protocol. Two self-reported questionnaires, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), were administered to all participants.Results: BMI, body fat percentage, sum of skinfolds, abdomen circumference, and waist to hip ratio were found to be higher in obese groups as compared to the controls, while VO(2)max (ml/kg/min) values were lower in both genders. In males, BAI scores and mild-level anxiety percentage values were higher in the obese group than in the control group. There was no significant difference for BDI scores and levels between the obese and control groups in both genders. There was also no significant difference in BAI scores and levels between the obese and control groups in women.Conclusion: The fact that physical fitness being found poor in obese shows the existence of a condition that might constitute an increased tendency for obesity-related disorders. In addition, it was suggested that, in Turkey, attitudes toward obesity change depending on gender.

The aim of this study were to investigate the physical activity levels in Afyon Kocatepe University Medical Faculty students and to determine the relationships between the physical activity and the parameters of grade, age, gender, and body mass index (BMI). A questionnaire, short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, was applied to a total of 256 (118 female, 138 male) volunteer students for vigorous and moderate physical activity, walking and sitting times, grade, age, gender, height and weight of the participants. Questionnaire findings were grouped on the basis of student grades. BMI was calculated with formula using height and weight. Total physical activity times of participants were calculated and then classified as low, moderate and high. BMI was in normal limits and total physical activity time (MET-min/week) was in moderate level in students for each grade (1st graders: 1706.8±1640.4; 2nd graders: 1873.5±1495.6; 3rd graders: 2049.7±1963.8; 4th graders: 2899.7±1877.5; 5th graders: 2441.7±1513.7; 6th graders: 1833.6±1055.7). However, the value for total physical activity time of the 4th graders was higher than that value for the 1st graders and the 2nd graders. The value for daily sitting time (min) of 1st graders (572.3±274.0) was higher than that of the 3rd (427.3±176.0), the 4th (371.1±145.7) and the 6th graders (320.6±179.2). There was no correlation among the values in all students excepting the moderate correlation between age and BMI. It was determined that out of 256 students, a total of 47 students had a low level physical activity, whereas a total of 105 students claimed that they did not perform any moderate to vigorous physical activity. It suggests that the 4th graders performed the best physical fitness level among all graders due to having most total physical activity and less sitting time. No association was found between BMI and physical activity times probably because of other factors. Students with low physical activity can be determined and efforts and policies for interventions should be done accordingly.

ABSTRACT Bile which is produced by hepatocytes is not only a digestive secretion but also a fluid contain metabolic products. Vagal stimulus, and hormones as secretin, glucagon, cholecystokinin and gastrin affects bile secretion in to intestinal lumen. Gallbladder functions are bile concentration and storage for using in case of necessity. Gallbaladder secretes 2/3 parts of its content in firs one hour of digestion and contracts during digestion. Bile includes the bile salts and bile pigments (biluribin, biliverdin), cholesterol, phospholipid (lesitine) and plasma electrolytes. An half amount of dry bile weight is the bile salts weight. Emulsion of lipid particles is achieved by the bile salts. Also the bile salts and lipids constitute a complex named micelle which contribute lipid transport through intestine wall. Cholesterol is secreted 1-2 gr/day by way of bile. Concentrated cholesterol in gallbladder may collapse by some abnormal conditions, and this situation may cause grow up gallstone formation. Destruction of eritrocytes produces bilirubin which is resource for urobilin (dash out via urine) and stercobilin (dash out via feces). Plasma bilirubin levels were elevated by some clinical disturbances as hemolytic and obstructive jaundice. OZET Hepatositler tarafindan yapilan safra bir sindirim salgisi olmasinin yani sira ayni zamanda metabolik son urunlerin atildigi bir sividir. Vagal uyariyla beraber sekretin, glukagon, kolesistokinin ve gastrin hormonlari da barsak lumenine safra salgilanmasinda etkilidir. Safra kesesinin gorevi, gerektiginde kullanilmak uzere safrayi konsantre edip depolamaktir. Sindirimin ilk bir saati icinde safra kesesi, icindeki safranin 2/3’unu bosaltir ve sindirim boyunca kasili kalir. Safra icinde baslica safra tuzlari, safra pigmentleri (bilirubin, biliverdin), kolesterol, fosfolipid (lesitin) ve plazma elektrolitleri yer alir. Safra tuzlari kuru safra agirliginin %50’sini olusturur. Safra tuzlari yag partikullerini emulsifiye etmenin yani sira lipidlerle micel adi verilen kompleksler olusturup yaglarin transportuna da katkida bulunur. Safrayla gunluk 1-2 gram kolesterol salgilanir. Safra kesesinde konsantre edilen kolesterol bazi anormal durumlarda cokerek safra tasi olusturabilir. Eritrosit yikim urunu olan bilirubin, idrarla atilan urobilin ve gaytayla atilan sterkobilin’in kaynagini olusturur. Hemolitik ya da obstruktif sariliklar plazma bilirubin duzeyinin yukseldigi klinik tablolardir.

Object. We investigated the protective effects of avocado/soybean unsaponifiables (ASU) on the prefrontal cortex (PFC) after global brain ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats.Methods. Rats were randomly divided into three experimental groups as follows: Group I was control rats, Group II was ischemia rats, Group III was Isch+ASU rats. Brain ischemia was produced via four-vessel occlusion model. These processes followed by reperfusion for 30 min for both II and III groups. Rats were sacrificed and their brains were removed immediately. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured in left PFC, levels of TNF-alpha concentration were measured in the plasma. The number of apoptotic neurons was assayed in histological samples of the right PFC.Results. MDA and TNF-alpha levels as well as the number of apoptotic neurons were observed to have decreased significantly in Group III compared to Group II, while SOD activities have been found to have increased significantly in Group III in comparison to Group II, significantly.Conclusions. We think that ASU might have an antioxidant and neuroprotective effects in brain I/R injured rats.

Objective: To date, there is no effective treatment of contrast medium (CM)-induced nephropathy. Multiple Studies documented a protective role of hydration and N-acetylcystein (NAC) as prophylactic agents against CM-induced nephropathy in a high-risk population. In the present Study, we investigated a new antioxidant agent, caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), and compare with NAC against contrast nephropathy.Methods: Forty-two adult male rats were divided into six experimental groups, which were control, injected with intravenous (i.v.) CM, injected with i.p. CAPE, injected with i.p. NAC, injected with i.v. CM pretreated with i.p. CAPE, injected with i.v. CM pretreated with i.p. NAC. CAPE and NAC were given daily throughout the Study. All rats were deprived of water for 24 h at the third day of the study and then contrast medium was administered to CM, CAPECM and NACCM groups. The rats were sacrificed at the fifth day. Oxidant-antioxidant status was determined in renal tissues. The severity of injury was scored with a light microscope in renal tissue. Plasma creatinine levels were measured.Results: Renal injury scores were higher In CAPECM and NACCM groups than in control, CAPE and NAC groups, but lower than the CM group. Likewise, creatinine levels of CAPECM and NACCM groups Were higher than the control groups but they were significantly lower than the level of the CM group. Creatinine levels or the NACCM group were significantly higher than the CAPECM group. Malondialdehyde levels were significantly lower in CAPECM and NACCM groups than the CM group.Conclusion: CAPE might protect renal structure and functions as well as NAC against CM Injury. (C) 2009 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Aim: This study was aimed to investigate the respiratory variables during wakefulness, otorhinolaryngologic and anthropometric differences, and to clarify their possible associations in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Method: Apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was established by overnight polysomnography. Otorhinolaryngologic examination, anthropometric measurements and questionnaire, were performed. Respiratory variables were measured with a cardio-breathing analysis system. Body fat percentages were calculated from the skinfold thicknesses. Result: Among a total of 83 patients, 43 (32 male and 11 female) patients having an AHI score equal or above 10 were diagnosed as OSA, and 40 (27 male and 13 female) patients having an AHI score under 10 were diagnosed as simple snorers. Apnea with witness, flat soft palate, pharyngeal collapse with Muller maneuver, neck antero-posterior and lateral diameters, thorax antero-posterior diameter, and O2 pulse values were found significantly higher in OSAS patients than those in simple snorers. Conclusion: This study suggests that neck antero-posterior and lateral diameters, thorax antero-posterior diameter and O2 pulse might be predicting factors for OSAS. It also emphasizes that pharyngeal collapse with Muller maneuver can be routine diagnostic procedure in evaluating OSAS patients.

Objective: The relations among body structure, function and psychological status have been investigated in many studies. The aim of this study is to investigate relations among hand, food and eye preferences, anthropometric measurements, aerobic and anaerobic exercise capacities, pulmonary function tests, and anxiety, depression questionnaire scores in young adults. Method: 32 women and 38 men between 19-26 ages were enrolled into the study. Aerobic capacity was determined by Astrand test on a cycle ergometer, peak and mean power were determined by Wingate anaerobic test. Pulmonary function tests were performed by spirometer. Body fat percentage and lean body mass were determined by bioelectric impedance analysis method. The biceps, triceps, chest, subscapular, midaxillary, abdominal, suprailiac, thigh and medial calf skinfold thicknesses were measured by skinfold caliper. The circumferences were measured by tape measure. Hand preference was determined by modified Oldfield questionnaire, eye preference was determined by modified Miles test, foot preference was asked. Beck Anxiety Inventory and Beck Depression Inventory were applied. Results: The anxiety and depression scores were not significantly different between right (40) and left hand (30) preferred subjects, right (46) and left foot (24) preferred subjects, right (41) and left eye (29) preferred subjects. The aerobic and anaerobic exercise test results, pulmonary function tests, body mass index (BMI), body fat percentages, lean body mass, skinfold and circumference measurements were not significantly correlated with anxiety and depression scores in males and females. The skin fold thicknesses were strongly correlated with the same area's circumference measurements in males and females. Only peak power among exercise test results demonstrated moderate correlations with thigh's and calf's circumference in males. The aerobic capacity, peak and mean power demonstrated moderate or strong correlations with BMI and all or most of the circumference measurements in females. Conclusion: We suggest that hand, foot, and eye preferences were not associated with psychological status in Young adults. Numerous moderate to strong correlations between the exercise capacities and the circumference measurements were found in females but not in males. This might be a good indicator for biological differences between male and female.

SuleymanDemirel Universitesi TIP FAKULTESI DERGISI: 2003 Haziran; 10(2) Chlorpiriphos-ethil'in rat plazmasinda in vivo lipoperoksidatif etkisi ile melatonin ve vitamin C +vitamin E'nin koruyucu etkilerinin arastirilmasi Ibrahim Kilinc, Irfan Altuntas, Mahiye Kaptanagasi, Duygu Kumbul Doguc , Hakan Mollaoglu, Suleyman Kaleli Ozet Chlorpiriphos-ethil'e (CE) maruz kalan ratlarin plazmalarinda melatonin ile vitamin C ve vitamin E kombi- nasionunun koruyucu etkileri arastirildi. Denei gruplari su sekilde organize edildi: Kontrol grubu (C), CE verilen grup (CE), vitamin E + vitamin C verilen grup (Vit), melatonin verilen grup (Mel), vitamin E + vitamin E + CE verilen grup (Vit+CE) ve melatonin + CE verilen grup (Mel+CE). Ilgili gruplara alti gun vitaminler ve melatonin verilirken besinci ve altinci gun CE verildi. Uigun teknikle biyokimiasal calismalar icin kan ornekleri alindi. Plazmada Tiobarbiturik Asitle Reaksiyon Veren Substratlar (TBARS) ve Antioksidan Potansiiel (AOP) duzeileri olculdu. TBARS CE grubunda kontrol grubuna gore iuksek iken, CE grubu ile karsilastirildiginda Mel+CE ve Vit+CE gruplarinda anlamli olarak dusuk bulundu. AOP ise TBARS'in tersine kontrol grubu ile karsilastirildiginda CE grubunda dusuk bulunurken, CE grubu ile karsilastirildiginda Mel+CE ve Vit+CE gruplarinda anlamli olarak iuksek bulundu (p<0.05). Sonucta, CE'nin rat plazmasinda oksidatif stresi artirmak suretiyle lipid peroksidasionunu artirdigi ve AOP'ii dusurdugu, melatoninin ile vitamin C + vitamin E kombinasyonunun CE'nin bu lipoperoksidatif etkisini dusurebilecegi kanaatine varildi. Anahtar kelimeler: chlorpirifos-ethil, plazma, lipid peroksidasionu, melatonin, vitamin E, vitamin C Abstract Investigation of the in vivo lipoperoxidative effect of chlorpiriphos-ethil in plasma of rats and ameliorating effects of melatonin and the combination of vitamin C + vitamin E on this effect The lipoperoxidative effect of chlorpiriphos-ethil (CE) and ameliorating effect of melatonin and the combina- tion of vitamin C + vitamin E in plasma of CE exposed rats were investigated. The experimental groups were as follows: Control, CE treated group (CE), vitamin E + vitamin C treated group (Vit), melatonin treated group (Mel), vitamin E + vitamin C + CE treated group (Vit+CE), and melatonin + CE treated group (Mel+CE). While vitamins and melatonin were administered 6 consecutive dais, CE was administered onli 5th and 6th dais to the appropriate groups. The blood samples were taken bi appropriate techniques for biochemical examinations. The levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and antioxidant potential (AOP) were determined in plasma.TBARS was found to be increased in CE Group com- pared to Control Group , whereas it was found to be decreased in Vit+CE Group and Mel+CE Group com- pared to CE Group (p<0.05). Converseli, AOP was found to be decreased in CE Group compared to Control Group, whereas it was found to be increased in Vit+CE Group and Mel+CE Group compared to CE Group (p<0.05). These results suggested that treating CE increases lipid peroxidation and decreases AOP bi increas- ing oxidative stress in plasma of rats, and melatonin and the combination of vitamin C + vitamin E can reduce this lipoperoxidative effect of CE. Key words: Chlorpirifos-ethil, plasma, lipid peroxidation, melatonin, vitamin E, vitamin C

Widespread use of mobile phones which are a major source of electromagnetic fields might affect living organisms. However, there has been no investigation concerning prenatal exposure to electromagnetic fields or their roles in the development of the pyramidal cells of the cornu ammonis in postnatal life. Two groups of pregnant rats, a control group and an experimental group, that were exposed to an electromagnetic field were used. For obtaining electromagnetic field offspring, the pregnant rats were exposed to 900 megahertz electromagnetic fields during the 1–19th gestation days. There were no actions performed on the control group during the same period. The offspring rats were spontaneously delivered—control group ( n = 6) and electromagnetic field group ( n = 6). Offspring were sacrificed for stereological analyses at the end of the 4th week. Pyramidal cell number in rat cornu ammonis was estimated using the optical fractionator technique. It was found that 900 megahertz of electromagnetic field significantly reduced the total pyramidal cell number in the cornu ammonis of the electromagnetic field group ( P < 0.001). Therefore, although its exact mechanism is not clear, it is suggested that pyramidal cell loss in the cornu ammonis could be due to the 900 megahertz electromagnetic field exposure in the prenatal period.

Aim: Noise is described as disturbing and unwanted sound. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of noise on oxidative stress parameters in rat. Methods: Twenty male Sprague-Dawley rats were used in the study. Noise group (n=10) was exposed to noise for 20 days / 4 hour 100 dB. Control group (n=10) that was not exposed to any noise and was kept from any stress source, was hold in the same conditions. Baseline and after 20th day of the experiment, blood samples of rats were collected and their sera were separated. Malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO) levels and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity were analyzed in rat sera. Results: MDA and NO levels and GSH-Px activities were found to be increased significantly at the end of experiment in the group exposed to noise. No parameters were significantly differed between at baseline and at the end of experiment in the control group. Conclusion: The present study showing an elevation in MDA level, an indicator of lipid peroxidation, as well as NO level and GSH-Px activity by noise exposure suggests the presence of oxidative stress which may lead to various degrees of damages in the cells, mainly via lipid peroxidation pathway.in the noise group. Therefore, these results appear to support the fact that noise might cause damage not only in the ears but also in whole body leading to oxidative stress.

Noise, defined as disturbing and unwanted sound, is perceived as an environmental stressor and nuisance. Noise is a pervasive aspect of many modern communities, work environments. Its damaging effects particularly the productions of free radicals are not limited to the auditory organ. The response to noise may depend on characteristics of the sound, including intensity, frequency, complexity of sound, duration and the meaning of the noise (1-4). Exposure to noise causes many health problems such as hearing loss, sleep disturbance, and impairs performance as well as effecting cognitive performance. It also increases aggression and reduce the processing of social cues seen as irrelevant to task performance as well as leading to coronary heart disease, hypertension, higher blood pressure, increased mortality risk, serious psychological effects, headache, anxiety, and nausea (1-4). Children chronically exposed Noise Induces Oxidative Stress in Rat

Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most prevalent musculoskeletal disorders. Studies have shown certain relations between physical fitness and LBP by examining some measures of physical fitness. The aim of this study was to measure maximal anaerobic power and anaerobic capacity using Wingate anaerobic test in patients with chronic LBP versus healthy controls. Fifty four patients with chronic LBP (32 women, 22 men) and sixty healthy controls (30 women, 30 men) were enrolled in the study. The Wingate test was performed on a Monark 839E cycle ergometer. The peak power, the mean power and the fatigue index were calculated. The values of peak power (305.7 +/- 100.4 and 519.9 +/- 102.5 watt) and mean power (226.7 +/- 50.7 and 408.9 +/- 76.5 watt) in patients with chronic LBP were significantly lower than the values of peak power (367.1 +/- 103.7 and 634.7 +/- 109.7 watt) and mean power (273.6 +/- 56.2 and 462.4 +/- 49.5 watt) in healthy controls in women and men respectively. In males, the values of fatigue index in patients (38.6 +/- 15.2%) were lower significantly than the fatigue index values in controls (49.5 +/- 9.3%). In females, the values of fatigue index were not different significantly between patients and controls (37.7 +/- 15.3% and 42.6 +/- 16.0% respectively). Maximal anaerobic power and anaerobic capacity in patients with chronic LBP were lower than healthy controls. These findings contribute to clarify different aspects of physical fitness of patients with chronic LBP.

Low back pain (LBP) is an important clinical, social, and public health problem. Balneotherapy is a type of therapy by hot or warm waters containing minerals. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of balneotherapy with exercise on pulmonary functions, aerobic exercise capacity, resting metabolic rate, body fat %, psychosocial condition and its efficiency on therapy in patients with LBP. Balneotherapy and exercise program were applied to group 1 (14 female, 9 male). Only an exercise program was applied to group 2 (13 female, 8 male). The measurements of maximal oxygen consumption, resting metabolic rate, pulmonary function tests, body fat %, Oswestry disability index, visual analog scale, quality of life measure, symptom checklist-90-revised, the hospital anxiety and depression scale, spine joint mobility tests from all participants were performed before and after the treatment. An improvement was found in pulmonary function test (maximal volunteer ventilation), aerobic exercise capacity, pain and disability scores, spine mobility (extension distance), quality of life, and all psychiatric symptoms (except anxiety) in group 1 following therapy period. Also some improvements were observed in body fat percentage, pulmonary function tests (forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, forced expiratory flow at 25% to 75% vital capacity and peak expiratory flow), and other spine joint mobility tests before and after therapy in group 1, though they were not statistically significant. Balneotherapy with exercise could be alternative therapy methods in patients with LBP.

In our study, we evaluated the neuroprotective effects of dexmedetomidine on oxidantantioxidant systems, pro -inflammatory cytokine TNF-a and number of apoptotic neurons on hippocampus and dentate gyrus after transient global cerebral I/R injury. Eighteen rats divided into 3 groups, equally. Group I rats were used as shams. For group II and III rats, they were prepared for transient global cerebral ischemia using a four-vessel- occlusion model. 5 mL/kg/h 0.9% sodium chloride was infused to the Group II and 3 Pg/kg/h/5 ml dexmedetomidine was infused to the Group III for 2 h after I/R injury. The levels of MDA and NO and activities of SOD and CAT were measured in the left hippocampus tissue. The levels of TNF-a concentration were measured in the plasma. The number of apoptotic neurons was counted by TUNNEL method in histological samples of right hippocampus tissue. MDA and NO levels increased in Group II compared with Group I rats (p=0.002, p=0.002, respectively). In group III, MDA and NO levels decreased as compared to Group 11 (p=0.015, p=0.002, respectively). SOD and CAT activities increased in Group III as compared to Group II rats (p = 0.002, p = 0.002, respectively). The decrease in TNF-a levels of group III was significant as compared to group II (p=0.016). The number of apoptotic neurons in group III was lower than Group II rats. Our study showed that dexinedetomidine has a neuroprotective effect on hippocampus and dentate gyrus of rats after transient global cerebral I/R injury. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.