Effects of Progesterone on Total Brain Tissue Adenosine Deaminase Activity in Experimental Epilepsy

Single seizure and epilepsy is one of the most commonly encountered neurologic disorders in elderly individuals, arising as a result of complex and often multiple acquired underlying pathologies. Adenosine, acting at A1 receptors, exhibits anticonvulsant effects in experimental epilepsy and inhibits progression to status epilepticus. Adenosine deaminase is the enzyme for the regulation of adenosine levels. Therefore any change in adenosine deaminase levels will reflect to adenosine levels. Adenosine deaminase levels were decreased in the groups that were given progesterone. Progesterone may have an antiseizure effect with the additional finding decreased levels of adenosine deaminase that would have resulted in increased adenosine levels that exerts anticonvulsant effect via GABA-A receptors. Further studies are needed to evaluate the role of progesterone effects on adenosine deaminase levels and its mechanism(s) in the pathogenesis

Optimizing motor ımagery parameters for robotic arm control by brain-computer ınterface

Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) technology has been shown to provide new communication possibilities, conveying brain information externally. BCI-based robot control has started to play an important role, especially in medically assistive robots but not only there. For example, a BCI-controlled robotic arm can provide patients diagnosed with neurodegenerative diseases such as Locked-in syndrome (LIS), Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and others with the ability to manipulate different objects. This study presents the optimization of the configuration parameters of a three-class Motor Imagery (MI)-based BCI for controlling a six Degrees of Freedom (DOF) robotic arm in a plane. Electroencephalography (EEG) signals are recorded from 64 positions on the scalp according to the International 10-10 System. In terms of the resulting classification of error rates, we investigated twelve time windows for the spatial filter and classifier calculation and three time windows for the variance smoothing time. The lowest error rates were achieved when using a 3 s time window for creating the spatial filters and classifier, for a variance time window of 1.5 s. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Total brain tissue sialic acid levels due to glutathione effect in experimental epilepsy

Epilepsy can be described as a group of neurological disorders, characterized by recurrent episodes of convulsive seizures, loss of consciousness, sensory disturbances, abnormal behavior, or all of these. Altered glutathione metabolism in association with increased oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of many diseases such as seizures. It is therefore reasonable to propose that sialic acid levels can be affected by this pathological state or, alternately, by seizures. The present study showed that the sialic acid levels were significantly different between the experimental groups as well as in the subgroup analysis. The results suggest that glutathione may have a neuroprotective effect by decreasing sialic acid levels in mice brain

The Effects of Exogenous Melatonin on Peripheral Nerve Regeneration and Collagen Formation in Rats

Background. Peripheral nerve damage that requires surgical repair does not result in complete recovery because of collagen scar formation, ischemia, free oxygen radical damage, and other factors. To date, the best treatment method has not yet been determined. In this study, we designed an experimental peripheral nerve injury model, and researched the possible effects of melatonin hormone, based on evidence of its strong antioxidant and cell-protective effects via mimicking the effects of calcium channel blockers

Antiepileptogenic Effects of Glutathione Against Increased Brain ADA in PTZ-Induced Epilepsy

Adenosine has been shown to play a significant role as a modulator of neuronal activity in convulsive disorders, acting as an endogenous anticonvulsant agent. Any change in adenosine deaminase (ADA) levels will reflect to adenosine levels. In the present study, we have investigated the effect of glutathione on brain tissue ADA levels due to seizures induced by convulsive and subconvulsive dose of pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) in mice. ADA levels due to seizures induced by convulsive and subconvulsive pentylenetetrazol were measured using the Giusti method. ADA levels were higher in the experimental epilepsy groups than in the control and sham groups. ADA levels significantly decreased in the glutathione groups, which may have antiseizure effects. Decreased levels of ADA would be due to increased adenosine levels, protecting against oxidative stress

Early cyclosporin A treatment retards axonal degeneration in an experimental peripheral nerve injection injury model

Injury to peripheral nerves during injections of therapeutic agents such as penicillin G potassium is common in developing countries. It has been shown that cyclosporin A, a powerful immunosuppressive agent, can retard Wallerian degeneration after peripheral nerve crush injury. However, few studies are reported on the effects of cyclosporin A on peripheral nerve drug injection injury. This study aimed to assess the time-dependent efficacy of cyclosporine-A as an immunosuppressant therapy in an experimental rat nerve injection injury model established by penicillin G potassium injection. The rats were randomly divided into three groups based on the length of time after nerve injury induced by penicillin G potassium administration (30 minutes, 8 or 24 hours). The compound muscle action potentials were recorded pre-injury, early post-injury (within 1 hour) and 4 weeks after injury and compared statistically. Tissue samples were taken from each animal for histological analysis. Compared to the control group, a significant improvement of the compound muscle action potential amplitude value was observed only when cyclosporine-A was administered within 30 minutes of the injection injury (P < 0.05); at 8 or 24 hours after cyclosporine-A administration, compound muscle action potential amplitude was not changed compared with the control group. Thus, early immunosuppressant drug therapy may be a good alternative neuroprotective therapy option in experimental nerve injection injury induced by penicillin G potassium injection

Acute spontaneous spinal subdural haematoma presenting as paraplegia and complete recovery with non-operative treatment

Spontaneous spinal subdural haematoma (SSDH) with no underlying pathology is a very rare condition. Only 20 cases have been previously reported. It can be caused by abnormalities of coagulation, blood dyscrasia, or trauma, underlying neoplasm, and arteriovenous malformation. It occurs most commonly in the thoracic spine and presents with sudden back pain radiating to the arms, legs or trunk, and varying degrees of motor, sensory, and autonomic disturbances. Although the main approach to management is surgical decompression, conservative management is used as well. We report the case of a 57-year-old man who presented with sudden severe low back pain followed by rapid onset of complete paraplegia. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an anterior subdural haematoma from T9 to L1 with cord compression. Corticosteroid treatment was administered. The patient showed substantial clinical improvement after 7 days of bed rest and an intense rehabilitation programme. An MRI scan and a computed tomography angiogram did not reveal any underlying pathology to account for the subdural haematoma