effect of renal transplantation on uremic peripheral neuropathy

Six uremic patients were electrophysiologically assessed in regard to some of their peripheral nerves before and two times after they had undergone renal transplantation, in addition to eleven normal subjects as control. The latency, conduction velocity and amplitude of the compound sensory and motor action potential were tested for the ulnar and common peroneal nerves of unilateral limbs. The results of the tests done before the transplantation were similar to other studies showing mixed sensory and motor neuropathies of both axonal degeneration and demyelination types, while these results significantly improved two months after the transplantation, yet some of the parameters were still below normal ranges, and this improvement continued in the second assessment six months after surgery. These results indicate that successful renal transplatntation will improve the peripheral nerve function in those patients

Hearing loss in Iraqi divers

Ear problems, particularly hearing loss, in divers are well known and documented all over the world. Studies showed that they form the most common health problems among divers. However, it seems that this problem has never been investigated in the Iraqi divers population. This cross-sectional comparative study is an attempt aims to contribute to the better understanding of the extent and impact of the problem among the local divers and to relate certain risk factors associated with diving. One hundred and eleven divers and 222 non-divers were interviewed regarding this problem and examined audiometerically. Results showed that 45% of the studied divers complained of some sort of ear problems. In a considerable number of them the problem is serious. Audiometer ically, about 50.5% of divers have some degree of hearing loss. There was a significant difference in the prevalence of hearing loss in divers as compared to non-divers. Furthermore, hearing loss problem among divers was more severe than in non-divers and it was mostly bilateral. High frequencies are the ones affected more. The role of certain proposed risk factors was studied with few conclusive findings; these are the association between hearing loss and underwater blast, maximum depth, duration of profession and underwater diving accidents. Further studies and regular check-ups are strongly recommended