Neurofeedback Intervention in Fibromyalgia Syndrome; a Randomized,Controlled, Rater Blind Clinical Trial

We designed a randomized, rater blind study to assess the efficacy of EEG Biofeedback (Neurofeedback-NFB) in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). Eighteen patients received twenty sessions of NFB-sensory motor rhythm (SMR) treatment (NFB group) during 4 weeks, and eighteen patients were given 10 mg per day escitalopram treatment (control group) for 8 weeks. Visual Analog Scales for pain and fatigue, Hamilton and Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventory Scales, Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire and Short Form 36 were used as outcome measures which were applied at baseline and 2nd, 4th, 8th, 16th, 24th weeks. Mean amplitudes of EEG rhythms (delta, theta, alpha, SMR, beta1 and beta2) and theta/SMR ratio were also measured in NFB group. All post-treatment measurements showed significant improvements in both of the groups (for all parameters p < 0.05). NFB group displayed greater benefits than controls (for all parameters p < 0.05). Therapeutic efficacy of NFB was found to begin at 2nd week and reached to a maximum effect at 4th week. On the other hand, the improvements in SSRI treatment were also detected to begin at 2nd week but reached to a maximum effect at 8th week. No statistically significant changes were noted regarding mean amplitudes of EEG rhythms (p > 0.05 for all). However, theta/SMR ratio showed a significant decrease at 4th week compared to baseline in the NFB group (p < 0.05). These data support the efficacy of NFB as a treatment for pain, psychological symptoms and impaired quality of life associated with fibromyalgia.     

The effect of aminoguanidine against cholestatic liver injury in rats

We investigated the protective role of aminoguanidine (AG) in rat liver injury induced by chronic biliary obstruction. Secondary biliary cirrhosis was induced by bile duct ligation for 14 days. Swiss albino rats were divided into three groups: Common bile duct ligated (CBDL) rats; Group A, CBDL rats treated with AG as Group B and simple laparotomy group known as the Sham group; Group C. Group B received 200 mg/kg of AG intraperitoneally daily throughout 14 days. The present data showed decreased gama glutamyl transferase (GGT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), bilirubin and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in the AG treated rats, when compared with CBDL rats (p < 0.05). In the AG treated rats, tissue levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) were significantly lower than that in CBDL rats (p < 0.001). Although the levels of glutathione (GSH) in AG treated rats were higher and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were lower than that in CBDL rats, the difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). The levels of interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were significantly lower and although the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) were lower in AG treated rats than that in CBDL rats, the difference was not statistically significant. Administration of AG in the rats with biliary obstruction resulted in inhibition of ductular proliferation and portal inflammation. The present study demonstrates that intraperitoneal administration of AG in CBDL rats maintains antioxidant defenses, reduces liver oxidative and cytokine damage and ductular proliferation and portal inflammation. This effect of AG may be useful in the preservation of liver injury in cholestasis.     

Biogeographic distribution of rudists and benthic foraminifera: An approach to Campanian-Maastrichtian palaeobiogeography of Turkey

Transgressive sequences of Campanian-Maastrichtian Stages in Turkey generally begin with medium- to coarse-grained clastics and continue with shallow marine limestones, reefal limestones and then open marine rhythmic fine-grained clastics. These mixed siliciclastic-carbonate sequences are observed on three main platforms known as Rhodope-Pontide (RPP), Anatolide-Tauride (ATP) and Arabian (AP). New species of the rudist genera Gorjanovicia, Radiolites, Sauvagesia, Durania and Sabinia are observed on the RPP. Yvaniella and Ugarella are only found on this platform. Orbitoides gruenbachensis Papp is the most abundant species of benthic foraminifera on the RPP. Cideina soezerii (Sirel), Dizerina anatolica Meriç, Helicorbitoides boluensis Sirel, Ilgazina unilateralis Erdo?an, Nummofallotia kastamonica Özgen-Erdem, Selimina spinalis ?nan, Sirelina orduensis Meriç and ?nan, Smoutina cruysi Drooger are also observed on this platform. Rudist and benthic foraminifera on the ATP have both high diversity and abundance in comparison with RPP and AP faunas. Genus and species diversity of the rudist fauna is quite high: 17 genera and 36 species are described. New rudist genera such as Darendeella, Kurtinia and Balabania and many new species of Radiolitidae and Hippuritidae may be restricted to this platform. Characteristic larger benthic foraminifera contain 18 genera and 37 species. Among benthic foraminifera Loftusia ketini Meriç, L. turcica Meriç and Av?ar, Postomphalocyclus merici ?nan and Pseudoedomia hekimhanensis Görmü? are also likely restricted to this platform. Rudist diversity on the AP is poor. Four endemic genera (Vautrinia, Dictyoptychus, Paracaprinula and Hatayia) and two species (Hippurites syriaca Vautrin, Pironaea syriaca Vautrin) characterize the fauna on this platform. Loftusia diversity and abundance among the benthic foraminifera is quite high. Arnaudella grossouvreii Douvillé, Discyclina schlumbergeri Munier-Chalmas, Loftusia harrisoni Cox, L. elongata Cox, L. matsumaruii Meriç and Görmü? and Pseudorbitolina marthae Douvillé are only documented from southeastern Anatolia. Biogeographic distributions of rudist and benthic foraminifera show different faunal associations on the three main platforms (RPP, ATP and AP). Our data from both rudist and benthic foraminifera indicate that different faunal associations and existence of restricted genera and species may be associated with a deep marine barrier to circulation during the Campanian-Maastrichtian. Southern and northern branches of the Neotethyan Ocean are considered to be barriers in preventing migration of the species.     

Focus: Rare Disease: Sinonasal Glomangiopericytoma: Review of Imaging Appearance and Clinical Management Update for a Rare Sinonasal Neoplasm

Introduction: Glomangiopericytoma (GPC) is a rare tumor in the nasal cavity or paranasal sinuses with low malignant potential. Initially deemed a hemangiopericytoma, in 2005 it was classified as a distinct entity by the World Health Organization (WHO). Case Presentation: A male patient in his early 60s presented with new-onset right arm and leg weakness/numbness, who was incidentally found to have a left ethmoid sinus mass with extension in the olfactory fossa. On CT and MRI, the mass enhanced with well-defined borders and eroded the bone, but without dural enhancement. The mass was surgically excised, and pathology confirmed the diagnosis of glomangiopericytoma by microscopic appearance and staining. Discussion: Glomangiopericytoma has less than 0.5% incidence of all neoplasms of the sinonasal cavity, making it rare. Most diagnosed patients are in their 6th or 7th decade of age, with a slight female predominance. Treatment is complete surgical excision, with excellent prognosis, although there is up to 17% local recurrence. Despite the non-specific appearance on CT and MRI, imaging can help provide differential diagnosis, tumor extent, size, and reassuring non-aggressive characteristics of the tumor prior to surgery. GPC tumors are relatively resistant to radiation and chemotherapy. Conclusion: It is important to recognize glomangiopericytoma in the differential of masses of the nasal cavities or paranasal sinuses, as they rarely warrant aggressive treatment beyond local excision. Each reported case of glomangiopericytoma helps to build guidance for imaging and treatment since GPC is rare and not well-represented in the medical literature.     

Two new species of canaliculate rudists (Dictyoptychidae) from southeastern turkey

Two new species of canaliculate rudist genus Dictyoptychus Douvillé: Dictyoptychus quadrizonalis n. sp. and Dictyoptychus vanensis n. sp., are described from the Maastrichtian limestone block of the ophiolitic unit of the Geva?-Van area, southeastern Turkey. The new species are mainly characterized by the complex structure of the canal layer of the lower valve, and also they seem to be most primitive species of Dictyoptychus and transitional between Dictyoptychus Douvillé and its presumed ancestor, Eodictyoptychus Skelton and El-Asa'ad. Many specimens of the Dictyoptychus paronai (Kühn), allows us to first determination of the upper valve shape and to study also of the lower valve canal layer.     

Protective effect of melatonin against oxidative stress on adhesion formation in the rat cecum and uterine horn model

This experimental study was designed to evaluate the degree of adhesion formation and peritoneal tissue levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH) and nitric oxide (NO) and the effect of melatonin on these metabolites in a postoperative intraperitoneal adhesion formation model in rats. Thirty adult female Wistar albino rats were subjected to standardized lesions by cecal and uterine horn abrasion and were randomly divided into three groups. Control rats were treated with 5% ethanol. Melatonin treated rats received 4 mg/kg melatonin before closure and for 10 consecutive days intraperitoneally after surgery. Rats in the sham operation group underwent a surgical procedure similar to the other groups however the peritoneal abrasion was not performed. On postoperative day 10 relaparatomy was performed. After the assessment of the adhesions, the rats in each group were sacrificed and peritoneal tissues were harvested to determine the tissue levels of MDA, GSH and NO activity. Adhesion formation scores in the melatonin group were significantly lower than that of control and sham group (p<0.01 and p<0.02, respectively). Tissue levels of MDA and NO were significantly lower in the melatonin treated rats when compared with control and sham groups. The levels of GSH in the melatonin treated rats were significantly higher than those of control and sham groups (p<0.01). The results demonstrate that in this experimental model, intraperitoneal administration of melatonin decreases the extent of peritoneal adhesions and causes a decrease in MDA and NO and an increase in GSH levels.     

Zinc,copper, and magnesium concentrations in hair of children from Southeastern Turkey

Zinc, copper, and magnesium concentrations in hair were measured in groups of children varying in one condition—protein-energy malnutrition, ricketts, thalassemia, malignancy, cardiac failure, or after prolonged infection and in healthy controls. As compared with controls, copper and magnesium concentrations were low in all groups, whereas higher values were obtained for hair zinc. These results showed that a generalized copper and magnesium deficiency were observed in the southeastern part of Turkey. However, zinc deficiency couldn’t be detected as far as the hair zinc values were concerned, although all of the subjects fell within the 50 percentile limits for their age-appropriate weights and heights.