ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The ulnar tunnel syndrome is the second compressive neuropathy, followed by the carpal tunnel, making it a frequent reference in hand surgery. There are few published studies about endoscopic technique. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied 26 patients with ulnar tunnel syndrome diagnosis, were operated by endoscopic release of the ulnar tunnel. Nine women (35%) and 17 (65%) male patients. We used the modified McGowan, and the Wilson and Krout classification to analyze preoperative and postoperative variables. RESULTS: After endoscopic decompression we obtained 18 patients (69%) with excellent evolution, 6 (24%) with good evolution, and 2 (7%) with acceptable outcome. We obtained a significant p of 0.05. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic decompression of the ulnar tunnel is a safe technique, less invasive and with good outcome.
INTRODUCCIÓN: El síndrome del túnel cubital es la segunda neuropatía por compresión de la extremidad superior, seguido del síndrome del túnel del carpo, por lo que es un motivo de consulta frecuente dentro de la cirugía de mano. Existen pocos estudios publicados acerca de la técnica endoscópica. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se incluyeron 26 pacientes con el diagnóstico clínico y electromiográfico de síndrome de túnel cubital, en quienes se realizó liberación endoscópica del túnel cubital. Nueve (35%) fueron mujeres y 17 (65%) hombres. Se utilizó la clasificación de McGowan modificada y la clasificación de Wilson y Krout para analizar las características de las variables en su estado prequirúrgico y postquirúrgico. RESULTADOS: Posterior a la intervención, obtuvimos 18 pacientes (69%) con resultado excelente, seis (24%) con un buen resultado y dos (7%) con resultados regulares o aceptables, obteniendo una p significativa con un valor 0.05. CONCLUSIÓN: La liberación endoscópica del túnel cubital se considera una técnica segura, con buenos resultados.
Subject(s)
Cubital Tunnel Syndrome , Decompression, Surgical , Cubital Tunnel Syndrome/surgery , Female , Humans , Lumbar Vertebrae , Male , Treatment Outcome , Ulnar NerveABSTRACT
An immunoenzymatic test (DIG-ELISA) was serologically evaluated for the serodiagnosis of onchocerciasis. Control and infected sera from the onchocerciasis endemic area of Mexico was collected and the donors assessed for onchocerciasis according to parasitological, clinical, and epidemiological data. The sera were submitted to the DIG-ELISA test using a crude extract prepared from O. volvulus adult worms which had been preserved in nodules in 67% glycerol. The test showed a 100% sensitivity with sera from 38 microfilariae carriers and 96% specificity with sera from 133 non-infected people living outside the endemic zone. In addition, seropositivity was 52.9% with samples from non-onchocercotic people living inside the endemic area, while 82.5 and 90.5% of sera from patients with clinical symptoms and subcutaneous nodules, respectively, were positive. A high rate (30%) of cross-reactivity with serum samples from people infected with Wuchereria bancrofti or Brugia timori was obtained, which is in contrast with the low seropositivity rates (7.4%) obtained with sera from patients infected with other parasites. These results suggest that DIG-ELISA test may be a useful serological test for antibody detection in onchocerciasis, especially for epidemiological surveillance of disease, but because of the high cross-reactivity observed, its use must be limited to areas where this parasitic infection does not coexist with other human filariasis. Finally, the arrangement of sera in groups according to the relative likelihood to have onchocerciasis seems to be a useful procedure for evaluation of serological tests.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Helminth/blood , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay/methods , Onchocerciasis/diagnosis , Cross Reactions , Evaluation Studies as Topic , Female , Humans , Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/diagnosis , Male , Mexico/epidemiology , Nematode Infections/diagnosis , Onchocerciasis/epidemiology , Onchocerciasis/immunology , Reproducibility of Results , Sensitivity and Specificity , Serologic TestsABSTRACT
The present work reports the concentrations of aluminum in whole blood and dialysis solutions of 27 patients with chronic renal failure and under hemodialysis treatment at Miguel Pérez Carreño and University Hospitals, both from Caracas city. Aluminum levels of the water used to prepare the dialysates were also monitored and the metal mobilization during dialysis studied. Patients' mean blood aluminum concentrations (ca. 34 micrograms AI/L) were lower than those of renal individuals from Maracaibo (ca. 58 micrograms AI/L), situation related to the low metal contents of the dialysate water (ca. 14 micrograms AI/L). In addition, Caracas drinking water showed up very high aluminum concentrations, above 475 micrograms/L. There was a relationship between the renal patients' blood aluminum concentrations and (1) the metal contents of the dialysis solutions and (2) the ingestion of aluminum hydroxide-based antacids. Aluminum transfer incorporation processes toward the patients' blood were observed in both dialysis units. This was due to the favorable concentration gradients (blood aluminum concentration/dialysate aluminum concentration) established at the start of every hemodialysis treatment.
