Motor nerve conduction study parameters in healthy individuals: effect of limb dominance

Background: Nerve conduction study (NCS) is useful for evaluation of nerve, muscle, and/or neuromuscular function. Neurophysiologist interprets NCS with consideration of various anthropometric and technical parameters viz. age, gender, height, temperature etc. apart from the underlying pathology. Fewer studies have reported the effect of limb dominance on NCS. Moreover, the findings are controversial. Therefore, author aimed to investigate the effect of limb dominance on motor nerve conduction study parameters.Methods: This cross-sectional comparative study included sixty healthy individuals (44 right and 16 left handed) of either sex with age 18 to 30 years. The NCS parameters of median and ulnar nerves were assessed by stimulating it and recording from the muscle and skin overlying the nerve respectively using Digital Nihon Kohden machine. The obtained data were analyzed using independent sample t-test.Results: Right ulnar nerve onset latency was significantly longer in left-handed individuals (1.85±0.508 ms vs 1.62±0.195 ms, p=0.012). The left ulnar nerve F wave minimum latency (25.88±0.74 ms vs 24.46±2.64 ms, p=0.002) was significantly longer in left-handed individuals. Likewise, right ulnar nerve distal latency (2.45±0.76 ms vs 2.14±0.39 ms, p=0.044), and right ulnar nerve F wave minimum (25.9±1.21 ms vs 24.85 ms±1.74, p=0.030) were significantly high in left-handed individuals.Conclusions: NCS parameters in terms of latencies were longer in left-handed individuals. Therefore, limb dominance seems to be an important factor one should pay attention during bilateral comparison of obtained data in neurophysiological reporting of referred cases.

Taser technology: medical, legal, ethical & social implications of introduction of taser gun in India.

A person struck by a taser gun experiences stimulation of his sensory and motor nerves, resulting in strong involuntary muscle contractions. This may lead to physiological changes similar to a moderate intensity exercise. The mechanism of action of Taser gun is Electro-Muscular Disruption (EMD) technology. Though Tasers are considerably safe, some incidents of injury and deaths have been reported. The primary cause of such deaths is found to be influenced by some underlying pathology or some external factor, rather than Taser itself. Recent introduction Taser gun as weapon in Indian police has raised various medico legal, social and ethical issues regarding the safety of using taser guns. In this article we have reviewed all the medical, Legal, Ethical and Social aspects of introduction of taser gun in India as weapon. It has been concluded that Taser is a proportionate, low risk weapon can be used to resolving incidents where the public or officers face severe violence or the threat of such violence which cannot safely be dealt with by other means.

Los nervios del globo ocular en la historia / Eyeball nerves through history

El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar una visión de los elementos estructurales y conceptos funcionales relacionados con la inervación del globo ocular a lo largo de la historia de la humanidad. Se presenta, al tiempo, una argumentación crítica sobre algunos de los conceptos presentados de los diversos autores en sus momentos históricos, con base en la bibliografía consultada de artículos originales y libros clave de la historia de la Neurociencia y de la historia de la Medicina, resaltando inicialmente que la realidad histórica hará más trascendente el horizonte pragmático de los profesionales que velan por la salud ocular.

The purpose of this work is to present a general view of structural elements and functional conceptsrelated to eyeball nerves through history. At the sametime present a critic argumentation to differentauthors’ concepts in their historic moment, basedon original articles and key books in the history ofneurosciences and medicine, highlighting thathistoric reality will make more transcendental thepragmatic horizon of professionals who care abouteye health.