Ultrasound therapy adds no benefit to splinting in carpal tunnel syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: Therapeutic ultrasound has been suggested as a treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), but existing trial evidence is of poor quality and inconclusive. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, controlled trial of therapeutic ultrasound in mild to moderate CTS. Forty patients were treated with wrist splints plus either real or sham therapeutic ultrasound and followed for 1 year posttreatment. The primary outcome was change in symptom severity scale score. Secondary outcomes were functional status scale score, nerve conduction studies, and ultrasound imaging of the median nerve. RESULTS: Both groups showed significant clinical and neurophysiological improvement at 6 and 12 months compared with baseline. There were no significant differences between groups at any time. In a multivariate analysis, the only independently significant predictors of the primary outcome were pretreatment symptom severity and additional treatments during follow-up. DISCUSSION: We found no clinically significant benefit from ultrasound treatment for CTS.

Anti-inflammatory effect of certain dihydroxy flavones and the mechanisms involved.

This study was designed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory action of four dihydroxy flavone derivatives; 3,3'- dihydroxy flavone, 5,6-dihydroxy flavone, 3,7-dihydroxy flavone and 6,3'-dihydroxy flavone and to further investigate the multiple cellular mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory effect of these compounds. The effect of dihydroxy flavones on acute inflammation was studied in rats employing carrageenan induced hind paw edema method. Further, the role of proinflammatory cytokines like TNF-α and IL-1ß, cyclooxygenases (COX-1 and COX-2), and free radicals in the action of flavone derivatives was investigated using in vitro assays. All the four dihydroxy flavone derivatives exhibited time and dose dependent inhibition of carrageenan induced paw edema. In addition, the investigated compounds inhibited both the isoforms of cyclooxygenase and cytokines in a concentration dependent manner and also suppressed the release of reactive oxygen species. The anti-inflammatory effect of dihydroxy flavones may be through mechanisms that involve an interaction with cyclooxygenases, cytokines and reactive oxygen species.

Antinociceptive effect of certain dihydroxy flavones in mice.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to evaluate the antinociceptive action of four dihydroxy flavone derivatives; 3,3'-dihydroxy flavone, 5,6-dihydroxy flavone, 3,7-dihydroxy flavone and 6,3'-dihydroxy flavone and to investigate the mechanisms involved. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The antinociceptive effect of dihydroxy flavones was investigated in mice employing acetic acid induced abdominal constrictions, formalin-induced nociception, and hot plate assay procedures. The effects following pretreatment with naloxone, yohimbine, ondansetron, haloperidol, bicuculline and glibenclamide were also studied by acetic acid assay to reveal the involvement of opioid, adrenergic, tryptaminergic, dopaminergic, GABAergic or potassium channels respectively in the antinociceptive action of these compounds. RESULTS: Dihydroxy flavone derivatives significantly reduced the number of abdominal constrictions in acetic acid assay. The paw licking response time during both the early and late phases of formalin-induced nociception was reduced in a dose dependent manner by dihydroxy flavones treatment. A significant increase in reaction time was also evident in hot plate assay after dihydroxy flavones treatment. The antinociceptive effect of dihydroxy flavones in the acetic acid assay was significantly attenuated by pretreatment with either naloxone or bicuculline. However, pretreatment of animals with yohimbine, ondansetron, haloperidol, or glibenclamide did not alter the response. CONCLUSION: All the four investigated dihydroxy flavones produced dose related antinociception through mechanisms that involve an interaction with opioid and GABAergic pathways.

Synthesis and characterization of cobalt and nickel chelates of 5-dimethylaminomethyl-2-thiouracil and their evaluation as antimicrobial and anticancer agents.

A new antimetabolite of adenine, viz. 5-dimethylaminomethyl-2-thiouracil, was synthesized using the Mannich reaction. Owing to the biological importance of metalloelements in many biological processes, especially metabolic processes, cobalt(II) and nickel(II) complexes were also synthesized and examined for their antimicrobial and anticancer activities. These new compounds were characterized structurally by various techniques ranging from micro-elemental analyses to spectral analyses. Cobalt(II) complexes were found to be four coordinate, among which the bromo, iodo, and nitrato complexes were polymeric. The nickel(II) isothiocyanato complex exhibited four-coordinate geometry and the remaining nickel(II) complexes were six coordinate. Thermodynamic and kinetic parameters evaluated based on TG/DSC suggested that the initial stage of thermal decomposition follows a diffusion-controlled mechanism and the final stage a chemically controlled mechanism. Antibacterial, antifungal, and antitumor studies undertaken for the above compounds indicated structure-activity relationships. These metalloderivatives were more active than the parent compound. The order of activity was influenced by the chelate geometry and thermal stability. Activity increased with a decrease in coordination number and increase in thermal lability.