An electrodiagnostic study on carpal tunnel syndrome

OBJECTIVE: To study the changes occurring in electrophysiological parameters such as nerve conduction velocity [NCV], conduction time [CT] and amplitude of median [sensory and motor] nerve action potential inpatients with carpal tunnel syndrome [CTS]

DESIGN: Experimental observational study

SETTING: This study was carried out in Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi

DURATION: August 2009 to September 2010

METHODOLOGY: Subjects were patients of carpal tunnel syndrome [n=30] and normal healthy persons [n=20] were examined during the course of present study. The electro-diagnostic recording of effected 33 wrists [17 unilateral and 8 bilateral] were obtained by electromyography, using "surface electrodes" for determination of median motor nerve conduction velocity [M-MNCV] and "ring-electrodes" for determination of median sensory nerve conduction velocity [M-SNCV]

The recordings of 5 patients were out of range of electromyography, therefore excluded from the study. Besides the NCV, other parameters such as, median motor conduction time [M-MCT], amplitude of motor action potential [MAP], amplitude of sensory action potential [SAP] and median sensory latency [M-SL] were also recorded in patients and healthy subjects for comparison of our results. Data was analyzed statistically on SPSS version 17.0

RESULTS: Among 30 patients with suspected CTS, 5 patients has unobtainable electro-diagnostic results

In 33 wrists of 25 patients M-MCT significantly increased [5.26 +/- 0.36 m sec] as compared with normal subjects [4.12 +/- 0.12 m sec P<0.01]. Highly significant slower M-MNCV found in patients of CTS [46.50 +/-1.26 m/sec] than normal subjects [58.30 +/- 0.73 m/sec P<0.01]

The amplitude of M-MAP was low [less than 4.29 mv in CTS], 2.25 +/-0.40 vs. 6.55 +/- 0.45, P<0.01

Finger III median sensory digital nerve of CTS showed significantly increased value of M.-SL [2.48 +/- 0.16] when compared with normal [1.89 +/- 0.03 msec P<0.01]

The significant decreased values of M-MSNCV recorded in CTS patients [42.14 +/- 2.22] as compared to the normal subjects [54.20 +/- 1.11 P<0.01]

The significant decrease amplitude of SAP also recorded in patients [7.25 +/- 2.42 mv] as compared to normal subjects [27.90 +/- 2.40, P<0.01]

CONCLUSION: This study confirmed that nerve conduction study is a sensitive and helpful test for early detection of abnormal functions of nerve which direct the physician towards the appropriate line of treatment

Frequency of dominant blood groups in medical students of Karachi

1. To assess the different blood groups, in students of DUHS. 2. To determine the dominant blood group in the students of DUHS. 3. To compare the results of present study with other cities of Pakistan and countries of the world. Cross-sectional study. This study was carried out on medical students of Sindh and Dow medical Colleges, [DUHS] Karachi from September 2000-2004. Sample size of 2300 was drawn by using convenient sampling method. Blood samples were collected by finger prick method. Data was collected and analyzed on SPSS version 16. Out of 2300 students group B was found to be the commonest [40%], group O [32%], group A [20%], group AB [08%].Rh positive [85%].The dominant being B+ in karachi as well in Pakistan, compared to O blood group in different countries of world. The study showed very little%[08] of blood [AB] groups among the medical students of Karachi; it generated an authentic data, which may serve a useful purpose for high transfusion demand to very emergent situations

Phytoconstituents isolated from phoenixsylvestris roxb

Five compounds were isolated from the chloroform and butanol extracts of the male flower inflorescence of Phoenix sylvestris Roxb. The structures of isolated compounds were established as cholesterol [1], beta-sitosterol [2], beta-amyrin [3], quercetin [4] and quercitrin [5] by modern spectroscopic techniques. This is the first report of occurrence of these compounds from Phoenix sylvestris

Changes in haemoglobin, red cell count, red cell indices and reticulocyte count in response to daily versus intermittent oral iron supplementation during pregnancy in local population

To assess and compare the relative effectiveness of different oral iron supplementation regimens on hematological parameters in pregnant anemic women. This study was carried out in the Department of Physiology, Basic Medical Sciences Institute with collaboration of Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre Karachi. Subjects were pregnant women [n=90] showing clinical anemia [Hb<11g /dl] in their 20-24 weeks of gestation. All selected women were randomly assigned to one of the three treatment groups at the time of registration [30 in daily, 30 in TW, 30 in WS] 75 out of 90 enrolled women successfully completed 12 weeks trial. Group-I received 60 mg oral iron daily, Group-2 received 60 mg TW and Group-3 received 120mg once weekly. Haemoglobin, red cell count, red cell indices and reticulocyte count were evaluated by routine methods initially at baseline before iron therapy then at four weeks interval for 12 weeks following iron therapy. There was no significant difference existed in the mean haemoglobin level, RBC count, Red cell indices and Reticulocyte count between three treatment groups at the end of 12 weeks therapy. The increase in reticulocyte count showed effective erythropoiesis following iron therapy. The results within the group were compared from baseline to twelve weeks and all the groups were compared with each other. Intermittent iron supplementation is an equally effective mode of treatment of anemia as it has similar effect on hematological status to those of standard daily supplements

Biological activity and phytochernistry of Phoenix Species

Phoenix species are considered as important plants in traditional system of medicine and are used extensively as remedy for various ailments. Exploitation of Phoenix species by the researchers, focused the scientific facts behind their usage in traditional system of medicine. The authors present a comprehensive review of their utility in the light of contemporary research