Aim: In this study, the effects of the addiction level of smartphone use in university students on the range of motion and proprioception of the dominant hand, wrist range of motion (ROM), and thumb ROM were investigated. Material and Methods: Wrist and thumb ROMs were measured with a manual goniometer with a sensitivity of 1 degree, and hand grip strength was measured with a hand grip dynamometer in a total of 100 volunteer university students with a mean age of 18-25. Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Form (SAS-SF) and Patient Rated Wrist and Hand Evaluation (PRWHE) questionnaire were applied to the students. Statistical analyzes were made using the SPSS 25 program. Results: The students’ usage time of smartphones and addiction levels do not affect the hand grip strength; the increase in smartphone addiction statistically correlates with the right thumb flexion (0.016) and abduction ROMs (0.015), statistically correlated with increased pain level in daily life and statistically correlated with the decrease of the wrist radial deviation ROM (0.009). As the duration of smartphone use increases, the error rate in right thumb abduction proprioception statistically increases (0.027). In addition, we determined the statistically correlations in both thumb flexion and abduction movements. Conclusion: We determined that the excessive usage of smartphones affects the ROM of thumb flexion and abduction, the ROM of wrist radial deviation, and the proprioception of thumb abduction, and it does not affect the hand grip strength. The findings of our research will be a source for future studies.

The present study aims to explore the hepatoprotective potential of Lavandula stoechas (LS) against Bisphenol A (BPA)-induced liver toxicity. In this experiment, 32 male rats were utilized and categorized into control, LS, BPA, and BPA + LS groups for the study. Each group received 50 mg/kg of the respective substance. Throughout the 28-day experiment, the control group did not receive any applications. The LS oil was administered intraperitoneally, while BPA was given through oral gavage. At the end of the experiment, rats were anesthetized, and blood was taken from the heart. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and total bilirubin (TB) values were measured from serum samples. Malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), and oxidative stress index (OSI) measurements were performed in liver tissue. The histological structure was observed using hematoxylin and eosin staining methods. The BPA group showed higher AST levels compared to the control group, but the BPA + LS group exhibited a significant decrease in AST levels compared to the BPA group. Additionally, TB levels were lower in the BPA + LS group compared to the BPA group. MDA levels increased in BPA-treated groups compared to others. The LS-treated groups showed higher SOD levels compared to the control group. Furthermore, an evident increase was noted in the BPA + LS group in comparison to the BPA group. The BPA group exhibited a significant rise in OSI value compared to the control. It was concluded that LS has a protective impact against BPA-induced liver toxicity. The LS-treated groups showed higher SOD levels compared to the control group. Furthermore, a significant increase was noted in the BPA + LS group in comparison to the BPA group. The BPA group exhibited a significant rise in OSI value compared to the control. It was concluded that LS has a protective impact against BPA-induced liver toxicity.

Background/Objectives: Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a non-progressive clinical condition characterized by secondary issues, including speech impairments. Our study aims to evaluate the volumes of brain areas related to speech in patients diagnosed with CP between the ages of 0–17. Methods: this study includes the images of 84 children: 42 in the control group who applied to the hospital between the specified dates and were reported as healthy by MRI from the patient records, and 42 patients with CP. Results: in the CP group, white and gray matter, cerebrum, cerebellum, thalamus, lobus frontalis, lobus temporalis, lobus parietalis, lobus insularis, gyrus cinguli, and nuclei basales volumes were observed to decrease statistically significantly compared to the control group (p ˂ 0.001). Conclusions: we found a significant decrease in the volumes of speech-related brain areas in CP patients, indicating that CP can significantly impact the brain’s speech-related regions.

Objective: Lead has been reported to cause oxidative stress in liver tissues and cause histopathological changes. Studies have shown that pomegranate juice has antioxidant properties that prevent oxidative stress. In this study, the harmful effects of lead acetate on rat liver tissue and the efficacy of pomegranate juice against these effects were investigated. Methods: 28 male Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups: control, lead acetate (50 mL/kg), pomegranate juice (1 mL/kg), and lead acetate + pomegranate juice (50 mL/kg+1 mL/kg). Lead acetate and pomegranate juice were administered orally. Results: When compared with the control group, it was seen that the lead acetate had an increase in the malondialdehyde level and a decrease in reduced Glutathione, Glutathione S-transferase, and Carboxylesterases. Group lead acetate + pomegranate juice had a reduction in malondialdehyde level and an increase in Glutathione, Glutathione S-transferase, and Carboxylesterases compared with the group lead acetate. The lead level of group lead acetate + pomegranate juice decreased compared to the group lead acetate. Cellular degeneration and irregular hepatic cords were observed in group lead acetate's liver tissue, and the negative changes were lost in group lead acetate + pomegranate juice. Conclusion: It was observed that pomegranate juice had a protective effect against liver toxicity caused by lead acetate.

Background/Objectives: Epilepsy is a long-term condition marked by recurring seizures that greatly affect daily life. The thalamus, with its extensive connections to the cortex, plays a vital role in epileptic processes. Changes in the volume of the thalamic nuclei are believed to occur in epilepsy. Our study aimed to examine the volumetric characteristics of thalamic nuclei in individuals diagnosed with generalized epilepsy and to explore the potential role of changes in these nuclei in the process of epileptogenesis. Methods: In this retrospective study, a total of 232 participants were included in the study. 1.5T MRI images of epilepsy patients and age- and sex-matched healthy individuals were analyzed. Thalamus nucleus volumes were measured using the VolBrain automatic segmentation system. Right–left volumetric comparisons of homologous thalamic nuclei were performed within each study group to evaluate hemispheric lateralization patterns. Groups were compared based on sex. FDR correction and ANCOVA adjustment for ICV and age were applied; significance threshold was p < 0.05 after correction. Results: After applying false discovery rate (FDR) correction, significant differences were observed in multiple thalamic nuclei in the epilepsy group compared to controls. In women, volume increases were confirmed in the right VAN, bilateral VPLN, and left MGN, while bilateral MTN volumes were significantly reduced and right ISN volume was lower in the epilepsy group. In men, only bilateral MTN volumes remained significant after FDR correction; no nucleus survived after additional ANCOVA adjustment for intracranial volume and age. Right–left comparisons revealed consistent lateralization patterns, with AVN showing right-sided predominance and VAN showing left-sided predominance across both sexes after FDR correction. Conclusions: After correction for multiple comparisons and adjustment for intracranial volume and age, only a limited number of thalamic nuclei remained significantly altered, predominantly in female patients. These findings suggest that thalamic involvement in generalized epilepsy may be selective rather than widespread and may vary according to sex.