Objetivo: Este estudio tiene como objetivo comparar los efectos de la microdiscectomía microscópica y la discectomía microendoscó...

Background/aimThis study aims to examine the relationship between severity of stenosis, pain, functional limitation, disability, and quality of life in patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy.Materials and methodsPatients (45 female, 19 male) with radiculopathy due to spondylotic changes in the cervical spine were included in the study. Stenosis severity (thecal sac cross-sectional area (CSA)), numbness, neck, and arm pain severity, functional limitation (Cervical radiculopathy impact scale), disability, and quality of life (EuroQol (EQ) five-dimensions-3-level general quality of life scale) were evaluated. ClinicalTrial number: NCT06001359ResultsAccording to CSA, 28 (43.75%) patients had severe stenosis, 36 (56.25%) had moderate stenosis, and the average CSA was 81.65±10.08. A positive correlation was found between neck and arm pain with neck disability (r=0.597; r=0.359), and a negative correlation was found with the quality of life scale index score and EQ-Visual analog scale (r=-0.787; r=-0.518). There was a significant positive correlation between cervical radiculopathy impact subscales with severity of stenosis, neck and arm pain, numbness, and disability (p<0.05). A significant negative correlation was observed between cervical radiculopathy impact subscales and quality of life (p<0.01). Also, stenosis severity was correlated with pain, neck disability, and quality of life (p<0.01).ConclusionThere is a direct relationship between cervical spondylotic radiculopathy and neck and arm pain, numbness, disability, and quality of life. Additionally, an increase in the severity of cervical stenosis is associated with an increase in pain and disability.

This study examined whether levetiracetam contributes to improvements in the axon-nerve damage in an experimental rat model.Forty-eight Wistar albino adult male rats weighing 250–300 gr were random...

Background: Cognitive decline is a common challenge faced by older individuals with presbycusis; their performance on dual‐task (DT) activities is generally lower compared to those without hearing loss. However, the influence of hearing aids on nonauditory cognitive decline in this population remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the effect of hearing aids on nonauditory DT performance in older adults with presbycusis.Material and Methods: This study included older people with presbycusis who used hearing aids (P&HA group), those with presbycusis who did not use hearing aids (PoHA group), and a control group of healthy adults. Forward and backward digit span tests and timed up and go test (TUG) were administered to all individuals. TUG and motor and cognitive (forward and backward digit span) tasks were applied simultaneously to evaluate the participants' DT performance.Results: The study comprised 60 individuals with presbycusis (19 females, 41 males; mean age: 73.23 ± 6.49 years) and 30 healthy adults (15 females, 15 males; mean age: 35.93 ± 8.57 years). Healthy adults performed better than the P&HA and PoHA groups in all the administered tests (p < 0.05). There was a moderate negative relationship between the severity of hearing loss and the forward and backward digit span test performances (p < 0.05). The P&HA group performed better than the PoHA group on the DT cognitive forward and backward digit span tests.Conclusion: The use of hearing aids and their proper fitting are important not only for improving communication skills and reducing listening effort but also for supporting nonauditory cognitive functions, minimizing the risk of falls during DT activities, and enhancing the overall quality of life.

Background: Neurological damage from spinal cord injury (SCI) is a result of primary mechanical injury and secondary damage from oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. Although genistein has been shown to have potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in studies of brain injury, its effect on secondary damage in SCI has remained unknown. Objective: To determine effects of genistein in a model of SCI in rats. Methods: We divided 21 rats evenly into 3 groups, a control group, in which only a laminectomy was performed; a trauma group in which SCI was induced; and a genistein group in which genistein was administered subcutaneously after SCI. The rats were assessed using a Basso–Beattie and Bresnahan functional score at the 12th hour and on the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th days. Biochemical analyses were conducted at the same time points to determine the serum levels of catalase, ischemia-modified albumin (IMA), disulfide (SS), total thiol (TT), native thiol (NT), disulfide/total thiol (SS/TT), and native thiol/total thiol (NT/TT). Total oxidant and antioxidant capacity, and oxidative stress index were determined in spinal cord tissue obtained on the 7th day together with immunohistochemistry for cyclooxygenase-2 levels. Result: Catalase activity on the 7th day was significantly ( P = 0.001) higher in the genistein-treated rats than in other groups, and IMA levels became stable earlier (3rd day) in the genistein group. SS values were significantly ( P = 0.004) lower in the genistein group. NT/TT ratio were significantly ( P = 0.049) higher in the genistein-treated rats on the 7th day. Conclusion: Genistein has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and protective effects in a model of SCI in rats and warrants further study.