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.

Background: Smoking adversely affects pulmonary function and systemic health; however, its impact on diaphragm muscle morphology and its relationship with functional capacity and psychosocial outcomes in individuals without clinically diagnosed respiratory disease remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate diaphragm muscle thickness in smokers and to investigate its associations with pulmonary function, functional capacity, sleep quality, and depression. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study included 20 smokers and 20 age-matched never-smokers. Pulmonary function was assessed using spirometry. Functional capacity was evaluated with the 6-Minute Walk Test (6 MWT) and the 30 s sit-to-stand test (30 s STST). Sleep quality and depression were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Inspiratory and expiratory diaphragm muscle thicknesses were measured by ultrasonography. Between-group comparisons and correlation analyses were performed. Results: Smokers exhibited significant impairments in all assessed parameters except expiratory diaphragm thickness compared with controls (p < 0.05). Large to very large effect sizes were observed for FEV₁, FEF_25–75%, functional capacity, and inspiratory diaphragm thickness. Inspiratory diaphragm thickness showed moderate to strong positive correlations with pulmonary function parameters and a very strong positive correlation with functional capacity, while strong negative correlations were observed with sleep quality and depression (p < 0.05). Smoking duration was strongly associated with poorer functional and psychosocial outcomes. Conclusions: Smoking is associated with early and multidimensional impairments in diaphragm muscle morphology, pulmonary function, functional capacity, and psychosocial status, even in individuals without overt respiratory disease. Reduced inspiratory diaphragm thickness may represent an early and clinically meaningful marker of smoking-related respiratory muscle dysfunction.

This study aimed to produce and characterize nanofiber membranes (PLGA/HA@LMWH) containing Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)/Hyaluronic Acid (PLGA/HA) immobilized with low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH), and to investigate their physical and chemical effects in preventing intraabdominal adhesions in a rat model using multidisciplinary methods. Forty female Wistar Albino rats were divided into four groups (n = 10). Cecal abrasions were induced in three groups: treated with PLGA/HA membrane, PLGA/HA@LMWH membrane, and 0.9% NaCl (SS). The fourth group underwent laparotomy only. On day 21, rats were sacrificed and evaluated macroscopically, histopathologically, immunohistochemically, and biochemically. Macroscopic adhesion, inflammation, fibrosis, neovascularization, collagen scores, and TGF-β1 expression were found to be high in the SS and PLGA/HA groups, while a significant decrease (p < 0.05–0.01) was detected in all of these values in the PLGA/HA@LMWH group. NF-κB activation was significantly decreased in the PLGA/HA and especially the PLGA/HA@LMWH groups compared to the SS group (p < 0.05). In addition, apoptosis was suppressed in the PLGA/HA@LMWH group, with increased Bcl-2 and decreased cleaved caspase-3. The PLGA/HA@LMWH membrane reduced peritoneal adhesions by suppressing inflammation, fibrosis, neovascularization, and collagen deposition, lowering TGF-β1 expression and NF-κB and p-NF-κB levels, and suppressing apoptosis. However, large-scale studies are needed for clinical use.

Objective: This study aimed to produce and characterize nanofiber membranes (PLGA/HA@LMWH) containing Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)/Hyaluronic Acid (PLGA/HA) immobilized with low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), and to investigate their physical and chemical effects in preventing intraabdominal adhesions in a rat model using multidisciplinary methods. Materials and Methods: Forty female Wistar Albino rats were divided into four groups (n=10). Cecal abrasions were induced in three groups: treated with PLGA/HA membrane (NFM), PLGA/HA@LMWH membrane (NFM+H), and 0.9% NaCl (SS). The fourth group underwent laparotomy only. On day 21, rats were sacrificed and evaluated macroscopically, histopathologically, immunohistochemically, and biochemically. Results: Macroscopic adhesion, inflammation, fibrosis, neovascularization, collagen scores, and TGF-β1 expression were found to be high in the SS and NFM groups; while a significant decrease (p < 0.05–0.01) was detected in all of these values in the NFM+H group. NF-κB activation was significantly decreased in the NFM and especially the NFM+H groups compared to the SS group (p < 0.05). In addition, apoptosis was suppressed in the NFM+H group with increased Bcl-2 and decreased cleaved caspase-3. Conclusion: PLGA/HA@LMWH membrane reduced peritoneal adhesions by suppressing inflammation, fibrosis, neovascularization, and collagen deposition, lowering TGF-β1 expression and NF-κB and p-NF-κB levels, and suppressing apoptosis. However, large-scale studies are needed for clinical use.