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Introduction: Citicoline has therapeutic and beneficial effects in a variety of neurologic disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. The aim of this study was to examine the beneficial effects of low doses of citicoline for the early period of administration in rat sciatic nerve crush injury by using electrophysiological and biochemical approaches. Methods: Thirty-two adult male Wistar rats were divided into four groups (n = 8 in each) and treated as follows: sham-operated (intact, saline), control (crushed sciatic nerve, saline), 50C (crushed sciatic nerve, 50 mg/kg citicoline), and 250C (crushed sciatic nerve, 250 mg/kg citicoline). At the end of the 7-day experimental period, motor nerve conduction velocities (MNCVs) were determined using in vivo electrodes and fresh rat blood was collected for biochemical analysis. Results: MNCVs were significantly reduced in crushed sciatic nerve of rats but significantly increased after 7 days of citicoline administration. Improved electrophysiological recovery in the citicoline groups was significant when compared to the control group. In addition, citicoline exacerbated the decrease in total glutathione level and glutathione reductase and catalase activities but decreased malondialdehyde levels compared to the control group. Conclusion: Results presented in this paper suggest that low doses of citicoline for the early period of administration have a promotional effect on improving the electrical conduction function of the sciatic nerve.

Purpose: The consumption of caffeinated beverages has significantly increased among young people in recent years. The objective of the study is to investigate the acute effects of caffeinated beverages on electrocardiographic and hemodynamic parameters of young adults. Materials and Methods: Study was designed as a non-randomized, non-placebo controlled, three-arm parallel assignment. It was conducted on 56 individuals selected from a pool of students enrolled at Aydın Adnan Menderes University. Energy drink, coffee, cola and control groups were determined according to the results of the applicant acceptance questionnaire. Blood pressure and electrocardiogram were measured before and after consuming the drinks at 30 minutes and 60 minutes. Heart rate variability was detected from electrocardiogram signal and investigated by linear analysis. Results: All caffeinated drinks increased the blood pressure. Only, heart rate was increased by energy drink and cola. There was a small increment in root-mean square differences of successive R-R intervals and the number of times successive heartbeat intervals exceed 50ms (NN50) values in coffee group. High frequency (HF) values were increased some for coffee and cola groups. But, low frequency (LF) and LF/HF values were decreased. These alterations were statistically significant for coffee group. PR interval and QRS complex did not alter, however, QTc interval was lower in energy drink and cola groups. Conclusion: Caffeinated beverage consumption has the potential to induce adverse effects on cardiovascular system of young adults. Coffee appears to be more prominent than energy drink and cola.

Background : Development of methods to accelerate nerve regeneration in peripheral nerve damage is important. Electroacupuncture is a new therapeutic method that combines traditional acupuncture with modern electrotherapy. Melatonin has been shown to reduce nerve damage. Objectives: In this study, we aimed to determine and compare the therapeutic effects of electroacupuncture and melatonin on rat sciatic nerve injury. Methods : A total of 56 adult male Wistar Albino rats were divided into four study groups with 14 animals in each group: intact control (group I), subcutaneous saline (group II), subcutaneous melatonin (group III), and electroacupuncture (group IV). Surgical procedure including unilateral (right) sciatic nerve injury was applied to groups II, III, and IV. Saline and melatonin started immediately after surgery for six weeks, while electroacupuncture was given two weeks after surgery for 3 weeks. Functional and histological assessments were used as outcome measurements. Results : Sciatic nerve damage caused a significant decrease in nerve conduction velocity. Both electroacupuncture treatment and melatonin treatment significantly increased the nerve conduction velocity. Both sciatic functional recovery and histological regeneration were faster in these treatment groups compared to the saline. However, no significant difference was observed between the two treatment groups. Conclusion : Electroacupuncture and melatonin are promising alternative treatment strategies for peripheral nerve damage and can be examined in detail in future studies.

Background: The effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) on Toxoplasma gondii have not been explained yet. The aim of this study was to assess the possible effects of ELF-EMF on growth, survival time and viability of Toxoplasma gondii. In addition, the life span of Toxoplasma infected animals was investigated. Methods: Sixty adult male BALB/c mice were used for in vivo and in vivo experiments in Laboratory of Biopyhsics and Parasitology of Medical Faculty, Adnan Menderes University, Turkey, in 2010. During in vivo experiments, pulsed and continuous EMFs were applied for 5 d to the infected mice. During in vivo experiments, pulsed and continuous EMF was applied to the tachyzoites within peritoneal exudates for 8 h/d at 4 °C and the tachyzoites were then injected to mice. In both experiments, the number of T. gondii in peritoneal exudates was counted and T. gondii protein bands patterns were investigated with polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western Blotting. Results: Pulsed and continuous EMF exposure reduced the number of T. gondii tachyzoites in comparison to controls. However, no statistically significant differences were observed at the patterns of protein bands among the samples. Conclusion: EMF exposure induces a decrease in the number of T. gondii. Further studies are required to understand the mechanism of EMF on intracellular parasites.