Meltem Uzun

The aim of the study was to analyze pain, posture and trunk stabilization in postmenopausal women with chronic low back pain (LBP). A total of 59 volunteer women with chronic LBP were divided into 2 groups as non-menopausal women in Group 1 and post-menopausal women in Group 2. Pain was assessed using the McGill Pain Scale Short Form and Visual Anologue Score(VAS), static posture using the New York Posture Rating Scale and trunk stabilization using the McGill and plank tests. There was no difference between the groups on the McGill pain score (p = 0.143) but the VAS scores were significantly higher in group 2 than in group 1 (p = 0.018). Group 2 had worse posture (p < 0.001). When comparing of the trunk stabilization tests, the results of the trunk extension, trunk flexion, side plank and plank tests were less in Group 2 (p = 0.014, p = 0.003, p = 0.007, p = 0.003). The results of this study show that pain and postural deviations increase and trunk stabilization decreases in women with chronic LBP in the postmenopausal period. There is a need to focus on solutions to reduce additional musculoskeletal problems caused by the postmenopausal period.

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, ankilozan spondilitli bireylerde servikal eklem pozisyon hissi ve servikal kasların mekanik özelliklerini sağlıklı bireylerle karşılaştırmaktır.Yöntem: Çalışmaya 30 ankilozan spondilitli ve 32 sağlıklı birey dahil edildi. Servikal eklem pozisyon hissi Cervical Range Of Motion (C-ROM) cihazı ile, kasların mekanik özellikleri Myoton Pro cihazı ile ve boyun ağrısı Northwick Park Boyun Ağrısı Anketi (NPBAA) ile değerlendirildi.Bulgular: Sol üst trapez kasının tonusu ve sertliği ankilozan spondilit grubunda sağlıklı bireylere göre anlamlı düzeyde daha yüksekti (p=0,027; p=0,032). Servikal ekstansiyon, lateral fleksiyon ve rotasyon hareket açıklıkları ankilozan spondilit grubunda anlamlı şekilde daha düşük bulundu (p

Objectives: To investigate the effects of Cervical Mobilization (CM) and Clinical Pilates Exercises (CPE) in Cervigogenic Headache (CHA). Methods: The 37 patients were randomized into the 3 groups. The CM for 1st group, CPE for 2nd group and CM+CPE for 3rd group were applied 3 days/a week for 6 weeks. Pain frequency, pain intensity, number of analgesic, were recorded. The posture was measured by Posture Screen application, the cervical range of motion by the CROM device, deep neck flexor muscle endurance by the pressurized biofeedback device. Evaluations were applied 2 times as pre-post treatment. Results: In within-group comparison a decrease in pain parameters, neck-shoulder postural deviation and an increase DNFE and CROM were observed in all groups (ppp=0,001, p=0,018). Head and shoulder angulation were significant in the CPE and CM+CPE groups according to CM (respectively p=0.009, p=0,011). It was determined that the cervical right lateral flexion range of motion and right rotation were significant changes in the CM and CM+CPE groups according to CPE (respectively p=0,026, p=0,040). DNFE were significantly increased in CM+CPE according to CM and CPE (p=0.001). Conclusion: This study suggests that it would be beneficial to add CM and CPE to the treatment plans of patients with CHA.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between head-neck muscle stiffness, head-shoulder posture and blood flow in cervicogenic headache (CH). A total of 37 patients who met the inclusion criteria participated in this study. Suboccipital, upper trapezius(UT) and sternecleidomastoid (SCM) muscle stiffness were assessed with Myoton Pro device, head-shoulder posture with PostureScreen application, internal carotid (ICA), vertebral artery (VA) blood flow with Doppler US. The relationship between the variables was analysed by Spearman test. Head-shoulder posture deviations increased with increasing right and left suboccipital muscle stiffness and head posture deviations increased with increasing left SCM muscle stiffness. As the UT muscle stiffness increased, VA blood flow and as the left SCM muscle stiffness increased, ICA-VA blood flow decreased. As head posture deviation increased, ICA-VA blood flow decreased. In conclusion, muscle stiffness and head-shoulder posture deviations negatively affect blood flow in CH.

Background and Objectives: Physiotherapy approaches are used to eliminate the problems caused by cervicogenic headache (CHA), known as secondary headache associated with the structures of the upper cervical region. This study aimed to investigate the effects of cervical mobilization (CM) with clinical Pilates exercises (CPE) on pain, muscle stiffness and head–neck blood flow in CGH. Materials and Methods: A total of 25 patients participated in this randomized controlled study and were randomized into either the CM group or the CM+CPE group. All treatment methods were applied 3 days a week for 6 weeks. The outcome measure was headache intensity and frequency, the number of analgesics, muscle stiffness and vertebral artery (VA) and internal carotid artery (ICA) blood flow. Headache intensity was measured by a visual analogue scale, muscle stiffness by a myotonometer and blood flow by Doppler US. Evaluations were repeated after 6 weeks of treatment. Within-group comparisons were made by the Wilcoxon signed rank test, and between-group comparisons were made by the Mann–Whitney U test. Results: After treatments in the two groups, headache intensity and frequency and the number of analgesics decreased, the muscle stiffness of the suboccipital, upper trapezius and sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscles decreased, and the blood flow of the ICA and VA increased (p < 0.05). There was a significant difference between the groups in terms of headache intensity (p = 0.025) and muscle stiffness in SKM (p = 0.044) in favor of the CM+CPE group. Conclusions: Non-pharmacological treatment approaches have an important role in CHA related to the upper cervical region. This study suggests that it would be beneficial to add CM in combination with CPE to the non-pharmacological treatment of patients with CHA.

Tuberculosis is a public health problem that still remains significant. For prevention, diagnosis and treatment on tuberculosis more effective novel biomarkers are needed. MicroRNAs can regulate innate and adaptive immune responses, alter host-pathogen interactions and affect progression of diseases. The relationship between microRNA expression and active pulmonary tuberculosis (APT) has not been investigated in Turkish population yet. We aimed to test the potential diagnostic value of some microRNAs whose levels were previously reported to be altered in APT patients. Using two different references (U6 and miR-93), we compared the expression levels of potentially important microRNAs in serum of APT patients with healthy individuals using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). miR-144 expression level was down-regulated in APT patients when either U6 or miR-93 was used for normalization. When data was normalized with miR-93, a statistically significant decrease in miR-125b (0.8 fold) and miR-146a (0.7 fold) expression levels were observed, while no differences were detected for U6. Receiver operating characteristic suggested that miR-144 may be a candidate biomarker for discriminating APT patients and controls (p <0.05) both for U6 and miR-93. These findings suggest that miR-144 can have potential as a biomarker for APT. Using a single reference may be misleading in evaluation of microRNA expression. U6 and miR-93 can be used in combination as reference for normalization of serum microRNA expression data.