Shoulder Dysfunction Post Spinal Accessory Nerve Preserving Neck Dissections: Our Experience.

Apart from complete surgical clearance of the malignancy, reducing morbidity and improving quality of life of the patient is also considered. One of the morbidities linked with neck dissections is shoulder dysfunction. The aim of our study is to analyse the functional outcomes in patients operated for various neck dissections with preservation of the Spinal accessory nerve. A single centre prospective observational study was conducted in a total of 45 patients with oral cancers. These patients underwent Wide local excision of the primary tumour along with neck dissection. Tests for assessing spinal accessory nerve function was elicited in all these patients preoperatively and postoperatively. Patients were examined for shoulder pain and shoulder disability using Arm abduction test. All 45 patients underwent spinal accessory nerve preserving neck dissection. On post operative day 10, 89% of patients showed arm abduction test score of 1 and 47% of patients had a pain score of 6 whereas 13% had a pain score of 8. After 6 months of rehabilitation and regular follow up, 62% of the patients had improved arm abduction test score of 4 and above and all 45 patients had pain score improved to score of 4 and less. Variable amount of shoulder dysfunction is seen even in spinal accessory nerve preserving neck dissections. But active rehabilitation and regular follow up of these patients reduces the morbidity associated with shoulder syndrome.

3,4 Dihydroxycinnamic acid stimulates immune system function by modifying the humoral antibody response - An in vivo study.

The immunomodulatory property of 3,4-Dihydroxy-cinnamic acid (DCA) was studied under the normal and cyclophosphamide induced immunosuppressive conditions in animal models. The immunomodulatory activity was evaluated by studying the haematological parameters, humoral antibody, based on the plaque forming cell count, the bone marrow cellularity, the α-esterase's producing active cells, delayed type hypersensitive assay, phagocytic index assays. The chemopreventive effect of DCA was determined by cyclophosphamide induced immunosuppression in animals. From the response, DCA exhibits significant immunomodulatory activity by enhancing the humoral immune response. The histopathological investigation revealed the protective effect of DCA against cyclophosphamide induced immunosuppression. From the result it is observed that the DCA boosts up the immune system activity in a positive manner.

The Advances in Neurobiology.

Neurological disorders are diseases of the brain, the spine, and the nerves that connect them. There are more than 600 diseases of the nervous system, such as brain tumors, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, and stroke as well as less familiar ones such as frontotemporal dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and other dementias; cerebrovascular diseases including stroke, migraine, and other headache disorders; multiple sclerosis; neuroinfections; brain tumors; traumatic disorders of the nervous system such as brain trauma; and neurological disorders as a result of malnutrition. More than a decade of research worldwide has shown that berries support cognitive health by protecting nerves and help brain cells communicate with each other and improve the flexibility of nerve structures. Berries help nerves tolerate stress, including the stress of toxic exposure. They also support the healthy function of glial cells in the brain, essential for optimum brain function. Polyphenols, namely, anthocyanins, found in berries may slow cognitive decline through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in experimental animals. Based on the previous reports, this review explains the beneficial effects of the phytochemicals present in nine varieties of berries on neurodegenerative diseases.