use of M - latency in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome

To study the use of M-latency [ML] as an electrodiagnostic parameter for diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome [CTS]. One hundred and one consecutive patients [77 females, mean age 42 years and 24 males, mean age 46 years] referred with a clinical diagnosis of CTS to the Neurodiagnostic laboratories at the King Fahd Hospital of the University, Al-Khobar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were evaluated between November 1999 and October 2000. Standardized nerve conduction studies on 191 hands, including 191 median and 108 normal ulnar nerves were performed. The results were categorized into 3 groups based on using [A] distal sensory peak latencies [DSL] >=3.5 ms, [B] DSL <3.5 ms and [C] DSL <3.5 ms and ML <4.0 ms. The ML was significantly longer than the distal motor latency [DML] for the median nerves in groups [A] and [B] but not in group [C]. There was no significant difference between ML and DML for the normal ulnar nerves in all 3 groups. By using the combined DSL <3.5 ms and ML >=4.0 ms parameters, the diagnostic yield of 147 [77%] from group [A] increased by an additional 10 patients [5%] to reach 157 [82%]. The M-latency may be utilized as a more sensitive parameter than DML, in combination with DSL, for confirmation of CTS in symptomatic patients with borderline distal sensory latencies

Are we ready for arabization in medical education?

To obtain the views of faculty members of the College of Medicine, King Faisal University on Arabization of medical education. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Dammam, between January and June 2001 using a standardized 41-item questionnaire to obtain the views of faculty members in both basic science and clinical departments on issues relating mainly to scientific research. The responses were recorded on a 5-point scale: strongly agree, agree, undecided, disagree and strongly disagree. A couple of questions were used to probe the issue of publications in Arabic and translations into Arabic. The response rate of faculty was 67% [74 of a total of 110 faculty members]. The participating faculty members included 22 professors, 27 associate professors, 23 assistant professors and 2 lecturers belonging to 24 departments [6 basic sciences, 18 clinical]. Thirty- four members [45.9%] were in favor of Arabization and 40 [54%] were against. Conclusions: Faculty members form the backbone for the implementation of Arabization in medical education. The opinions obtained in this preliminary survey of the faculty of the College of Medicine at King Faisal University indicate that we are still far from achieving this goal in our medical education

Carpal tunnel syndrome: a clinical and electrophysiological study of 220 consecutive cases at King Fahd hospital of the university, Al-Khobar

To study the clinical and electrophysiological profile of patients with clinically diagnosed carpal tunnel syndrome [CTS] in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Neurology service at the King Fahd Hospital of the University [KFHU], Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia. Two hundred and twenty consecutive patients [181 female, 39 male, mean age 37 and 44 years respectively], referred with a clinical diagnosis of CTS to the neurodiagnostic laboratories of KFHU between August 1991 and August 1995, formed the study group. They all had clinical evaluation and standardized nerve conduction studies [390 hands] performed by the same examiner. A control group of 64 normal subjects [31 females, 33 males, mean age 37 and 43 years respectively] were concurrently studied. Carpal tunnel syndrome was confirmed in 265 hands [68%]. The mean distal sensory peak latency [DSL] in milliseconds [ms +/- standard deviation [SD] was 4.61 +/- 1.54 ms [227 hands, 58.2%]. The mean distal motor latency [DML] was 5.87 +/- 1.5 ms [195 hands, 50%]. In 38 hands [9.7%] no sensory responses were recordable. Of these 4 hands [1%] had no motor responses as well. Seventy four percent of the patients were below 45 years of age. The main presenting symptoms were numbness [88.7%], pain in the hands [69.8%] and weakness [35.5%]. Sixty percent of the patients presented to hospital within one year of onset of symptoms. The frequency of associated conditions was highest for diabetes mellitus in 13.1% of the patients. The clinical and electrophysiological patterns of CTS in Saudi Arabia are similar to those reported from developed countries

Electrophysiological findings in newly diagnosed non-insulin-dependent diabetics: a prospective study

This study reports the electrophysiological findings in patients with newly diagnosed non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus [NIDDM] studied in the Neurodiagnostic Laboratory of the King Fahd Hospital of the University [KFHU], Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia. Twenty-nine patients [22 males, 7 females, mean ages 47 and 37 years, respectively] were studied within four weeks of establishing the diagnosis. They were all given nerve conduction studies by the same examiner. Comparison was made with data from a group of 64 normal control subjects. In the study patients, the mean distal sensory peak latency in milliseconds [ms] +/- standard deviation [SD] was 3.5 +/- 0.41 ms in 35 median nerves, 3.2 +/- 0.72 ms in 35 ulnar nerves, 1.9 +/- 0.34 ms in 23 superficial radial nerves and 3.5 +/- 0.61 in 36 sural nerves. The mean distal motor latency +/- SD was 4.6 +/- 0.95 ms in 39 median nerves, 3.5 +/- 0.58 ms in 38 ulnar nerves, 4.8 +/- 1.02 ms in 44 tibial nerves and 6.0 +/- 1.08 ms in 36 peroneal nerves. The electromyogram examination was performed on 24 patients and showed evidence of denervation and/or chronic reinnervation in seven [29%]. The frequency of abnormalities in the studied peripheral nerves was 60% for median, 63% ulnar, 33% peroneal, 16% tibial and 8% sural

Abdominal epilepsy

To study the clinical profile of patients diagnosed as having abdominal epilepsy. Neurology Service at the King Fahd Hospital of the University [KFHU], Alkhobar, Saudi Arabia. Review of all records of patients diagnosed as having epilepsy at the KFHU between January 1985 and December 1992. Abdominal epilepsy was diagnosed in four Saudi males, three children and one adult. They all presented with recurrent abdominal pain and vomiting. The diagnosis was made on the basis of abdominal pain of non-gastrointestinal origin, EEG abnormalities and good response to antiepileptic drugs. Although abdominal epilepsy is uncommon it is important for physicians to be aware of the condition since the symptoms are readily responsive to anticonvulsants

Stroke and electrical injury

We report a case of an acute haemorrhagic stroke following accidental contact with domestic 220V alternating current of a healthy 22 year old female. She did not sustain a head injury and had no history of any underlying conditions that predisposed to bleeding. The underlying mechanism of bleeding in such cases is not certain. The possible mechanisms are revised and discussed. Further studies are needed to elucidate the exact mechanism