ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the electrophysiological characteristics of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and CTS-associated cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR),and to examine the relationship between CTS and CSR. Methods The clinical characteristics and electrodiagnostic features of 81 patients with CTS and 20 patients with both CTS and CSR (the double crush,DC) were analyzed and compared.The data were analyzed according to the severity of the deficit in median nerve conduction using electromyography. Results The 81 patients with CTS had 123 median nerves with abnormal conduction (39 cases with unilateral abnormalities and 42 cases with bilateral abnormalities).The 20 patients with DC had 31 median nerves with abnormal conduction (9 cases with unilateral abnormalities and 11 cases with bilateral abnormalities).The rate of abnormal sensory nerve conduction velocity (SCV) was 100％ in C6 and C7 level radiculopathies.The rate of abnormal distal motor latency (DML) was 92.31％ in C5 level radiculopathies.There was a statistically significant difference between CTS and DC in the rate of abnormal SCV from the middle finger to the wrist.The other electrodiagnostic data were not significantly different between the CTS and DC patients.Neurophysiological tests were used to grade CTS into categories according to the American Association of Electrodiagnostic Medicine's criteria,but there was no statistically significant difference between CTS and DC. Conclusions CSR lesions on a proximal nerve root may cause the nerve to be more susceptible to distal injury and increase the risk of CTS.The findings support the DC hypothesis,but DC on a median nerve did not result in more severe injury than a single crush.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the features of the memory function disturbance in patients of generalized seizures and the correlation between the memory function and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy(1H-MRS).Methods The clinical memory scale of 45 general seizures and 20 normal age and sex-matched controls wss measured and a1 H-MRs was performed in the bilateral hippoeampal.The levels of NAA.Cho.Cr and the ratios of NAA/Cr+Cho were compared between these two groups.Meanwhile,tHe correlation coefficients was calculated and the results of clinical memory scale scoreB and the level of NAA,Cho.Cr and the ratios of NAA/Cr+Cho in groups were compared.Results As compared with the controls.the scores of pointing memory(17.19±5.86),associational learning(20.00±6.77),image free memory(18.44±6.62),association memory of portrait(13.19±6.62)and memory quotient (MQ,79.07±20.20)excepts insignificant figure recognition wcrc significandy decreased in patients of seizures(t=4.794-10.224,all P<0.01);The scores of scale and MQ of both the group of patients who wok antiepileptic drugs(AEDs)and the group of patients whose frequency exceeded 3 per month were significantly lower than the group who didn't take AEDs and the group whose frequency was lower than 3 per month(t=3.267-6.537,all P<0.01).The volumes of hippocampal formations(2.45 ±0.25 on left and 2.56 ±0.31 on right),the level of NAA(12.93 ±1.73 on left and 11.88 ±1.69 on right),Cho(15.02 ±0.86 on left and 14.94 ±0.96 on right),Cr(11.86 ±0.71 on left and 10.71 ±0.42 on right)and the ratios of NAA/Cr+Cho(0.48 ±0.08 on left and 0.39 ±0.07 on riht)in the group of pailents of generalized seizures were significantly difference than those in the controls(t=4.103-5.768,all P<0.01).Patients with seizures showed significant correlation between tlle scores of all items.MQ in clinical memory scale and NAA,NAA/Cr+Cho ratio(r=0.489-0.727,all P<0.01),and inverse correlation between the scores and MQ and Cho of in the bilateral hippocampal(r=-0.604-0.484,all P<0.01).However,there was no correlation between the scores and MQ and Cr of in the bilateral hippocampal.Condusions The patients of the general seizures do have the problem of the disturbance of short-term memory including acoustic memory and some visual memory.Both the high frequency of seizure and AEDs could affect the short-term memory function.The correlation between the scores of all the items and MQ in clinical memory scale proved that lack of nerve cell and hyperplasia of gliocyte was one of the reasons of the short-term memory disorder in epileptic.