Background/aim: This study's aim was to investigate the effects of thymoquinone, which is the essential bioactive component of the volatile oil of Nigella sativa on the peridural fibrosis in rats following laminectomy. Materials and methods: Twenty female Wistar Albino rats were used in our study. The rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: Sham and Surgery + Thymoquinone. Both groups underwent laminectomy at L1 under general anesthesia. The Sham group was not subjected to any drug application. The 2nd group was treated with intraperitoneal 10-mg/kg thymoquinone once per day for a period of 28 days, following the same surgical procedure. All of the group specimens were sacrificed after 4 weeks, and the laminectomy area was examined in terms of new bone volume, capillary volume, and fibrosis volume using stereological approaches. Results: Statistically significant differences were found between the Sham and Surgery + Thymoquinone groups in terms of new bone volume (P = 0.01), capillary volume (P = 0.01), and fibrosis volume (P < 0.001). It was noted that Thymoquinone caused a significant increase in new bone volume, vascular volume and, a significant decrease in fibrosis volume. Conclusion: The results of our study indicate that thymoquinone is effective in decreasing peridural fibrosis when applied to a laminectomy model.

Background/aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the possible toxicity of the Ankaferd Blood Stopper (ABS) on the neural system. Materials and methods: Thirty Sprague Dawley rats were randomized into ABS (n: 15) and control (n: 15) groups. Following the anaesthetic induction, total laminectomy was performed to the lower thoracic, and upper lumbar areas in both groups and medulla spinalis was exposed. Two myelotomies were performed on the medulla spinalis. One millilitre ABS was applied to the incision site in the ABS group, and one millilitre 0.9% saline solution was applied in the control group. Rats were observed for 15 days regarding general behaviour, neurological signs, mobility, and signs of infection. Sixteen days later, all rats were decapitated under anaesthesia. Medulla spinalis was removed en bloc from all rats and was stained with Heamatoxylin & Eosin and luxol fast blue. Results: There was no significant difference between the ABS group and the control group regarding oedema, gliosis, the intensity of inflammatory cells, the presence of neuronal degeneration, neuron counts, and myelin degeneration. Conclusion: No clinical or histopathological evidence for the neurotoxic effect of the ABS was observed in the present study. Our findings might precipitate the use of ABS on human subjects regarding medulla spinalis surgery.

This study aimed to compare two synthetic graft materials, TachoComb®, a fibrin sealant composed of collagen, fibrinogen, thrombin and aprotinin and TissuDura®, a collagen-based biomatrix. Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups with 10 animals in each group. A dural defect was created on the left parietal bone of each animal, and the dural defect was repaired using either TachoComb® (TachoComb group) or TissuDura® (TissuDura group). Sham animals did not receive any dural graft. After 21 days of follow-up, the brain was dissected, and inflammation, oedema, gliosis and foreign body reaction in the bone and parenchymal tissue were investigated histopathologically. The TachoComb group showed significantly greater inflammation, gliosis and parenchymal foreign body reaction compared with the sham group. By contrast, the TissuDura group significantly had lower lesser gliosis and insignificantly lesser inflammation in the bone and parenchymal foreign body reaction compared with the TachoComb group. In conclusion, our results suggest that TissuDura® may be considered more biocompatible than TachoComb® in duraplasty.

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of sacral epidural laser discectomy (SELD) on clinical parameters in patients with chronic low back and/or leg pain (CLBLP) resistant to conservative treatment. Methods: A total of 75 patients with CLBLP who received SELD treatment were retrospectively included in this study. Patients were assessed for pain (numeric rating scale—NRS) and disability (Oswestry Disability Index—ODI). NRS and ODI scores were recorded before the operation and 1, 6, and 12 months after the operation. Results: Of the 75 patients, with a mean age of 52 ± 11 years (range: 30–78 years), 45 (60.0%) were female and 35 (40.0%) were male. The baseline pain intensity (7.43 ± 0.774) and pain intensities obtained at three time points following the surgeries (1 month [3.93 ± 1.571], 6 months [4.36 ± 1.591], 12 months [5.00 ± 1.716]) showed statistically significant differences (p < 0.001). The baseline pain-related disability (2.92 ± 0.539) and the data obtained at three subsequent time points (1 month [1.76 ± 0.883], 6 months [1.85 ± 0.896], and 12 months [2.01 ± 0.923]) showed a statistically significant difference in pain-related disability (p < 0.001). The most common complications were headache (five patients) and incisional pain (five patients). Conclusions: As a result of this study, we found that SELD reduces pain and disability in patients with conservative-treatment-resistant CLBLP. Although serious complications may rarely occur, the procedure is generally associated with an acceptable and low complication rate.

AIM: To investigate the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the brain, and its soluble forms, namely sVEGFR1 and sVEGFR2, levels in the plasma of rats after cerebral ischemia. MATERIAL and METHODS: Rats were divided into three groups as follows: Group 1: Sham-operated group, Group 2: Complete occlusion of the right carotid artery, Group 3: Complete occlusion of the right carotid artery and temporary occlusion of the left carotid artery for 10 min. Blood samples were collected on days 0 and 10 prior to the sacrification to measure the sVEGFR1 and sVEGFR2 levels. On day 10, animals were sacrificed, and brain tissue was collected to analyze VEGF expression. RESULTS: Postoperative sVEGFR1 levels reduced significantly in Group 3, while it remained stable in other groups. sVEGFR2 levels did not change in any group. Although VEGF staining scores in the groups that underwent ischemia procedures increased compared to group 1, no significant differences were observed. CONCLUSION: Decreased levels of sVEGFR1 can be a mechanism contributing to angiogenesis in arteriovenous malformations by increasing the levels of VEGF available to bind membrane-bound VEGFRs.

Serebral herniasyon, kafa içi basıncın artması sonucu beyin dokusunun patolojik olarak yer değiştirmesidir ve yüksek mortalite riski taşıyan acil bir klinik tablodur. Travma, tümör, kanama veya ödem gibi nedenlerle gelişen bu durum, beyin sapı ve kraniyal sinirler üzerinde baskı oluşturarak hayati fonksiyonları bozar. Herniasyonlar, tentoryum serebelli referans alınarak supratentoryal (unkal, santral, singulat, transkalvaryal, tektal) ve infratentoryal (tonsiller, yukarı serebellar) olmak üzere iki ana grupta sınıflandırılır. Klinik seyirde pupillerde dilatasyon, bilinç kaybı, motor bozukluklar ve solunum düzensizlikleri gibi ciddi belirtiler görülür. Tanı aşamasında radyolojik bulgular ve orta hat kayması kritik öneme sahiptir. Tedavi yönetimi, Monro-Kellie doktrinine dayanarak kafa içi basıncını düşürmeye odaklanır. Bu kapsamda cerrahi olarak hematom boşaltılması veya dekompresif kraniektomi uygulanırken; medikal olarak baş elevasyonu, sedasyon, hipertonik salin, mannitol ve kontrollü hiperventilasyon gibi yöntemlere başvurulur. Erken müdahaleye rağmen, etkilenen bölgeye bağlı olarak kalıcı sekel veya ölüm riski oldukça yüksektir. Cerebral herniation is a clinical emergency involving the pathological displacement of brain tissue due to increased intracranial pressure, carrying a high risk of mortality. This condition, caused by factors such as trauma, tumors, hemorrhage, or edema, impairs vital functions by exerting pressure on the brainstem and cranial nerves. Herniations are classified into two main categories based on the tentorium cerebelli: supratentorial (uncal, central, cingulate, transcalvarial, tectal) and infratentorial (tonsillar, upward cerebellar). The clinical course presents severe symptoms such as pupil dilation, loss of consciousness, motor deficits, and respiratory irregularities. Radiological findings and midline shift are critical during the diagnostic phase. Treatment management focuses on reducing intracranial pressure based on the Monro-Kellie doctrine. In this context, surgical interventions include hematoma evacuation or decompressive craniectomy, while medical management involves head elevation, sedation, hypertonic saline, mannitol, and controlled hyperventilation. Despite early intervention, there remains a high risk of permanent sequelae or death depending on the affected region.