Ultrasonographic Tinel Sign: two case reports.

Peripheral nerve sonography has been regarded as an important tool for evaluating anatomic changes within nerves and muscles. Over the last few years, the role of ultrasonographic Tinel (UST) in diagnostic sensitivity and its relationship to neurophysiologic findings has increased. Ultrasonographic Tinel sign helps to interpret the ultrasonographic and clinical findings and have proven useful in making a diagnosis.

Radiographic detection of artificially created horizontal root fracture using different cone beam CT units with small fields of view.

OBJECTIVES: To compare limited cone beam computerized tomography (CBCT) units with different field of views (FOVs) and voxel sizes in detecting artificially created horizontal root fracture (HRF) in extracted human teeth. METHODS: Artificial HRF was created in the horizontal plane in 40 teeth. Another 40 intact teeth served as a control group. 80 teeth were placed in the respective maxillary anterior sockets of a human dry skull in groups. Six image sets were obtained: (1) Accuitomo 170, 40 × 40 mm FOV (0.080 mm(3)); (2) Accuitomo 170, 60 × 60 mm FOV (0.125 mm(3)); (3) Kodak 9000, 50 × 37 mm FOV (0.076 mm(3)); (4) Kodak 9000, 50 × 37 mm FOV (0.100 mm(3)); (5) Vatech Pax-Duo3D 50 × 50 mm FOV (0.080 mm(3)) and (6) Vatech Pax-Duo3D 85 × 85 mm FOV (0.120 mm(3)). Images were evaluated twice by five observers. Kappa values were calculated for observer agreement. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves (Az values) were calculated, and the Az values for each image type were compared using t-tests (α = 0.05). RESULTS: Intraobserver kappa coefficients ranged from 0.81 to 0.95 for the Accuitomo 170 images, from 0.80 to 0.92 for the Kodak 9000 images and from 0.76 to 0.95 for Vatech PanX-Duo3D. The Az values for different image types and observers ranged from 0.93 to 0.97 for Accuitomo 170 images, from 0.93 to 0.98 for Kodak 9000 images and from 0.93 to 0.97 for the Vatech PanX-Duo3D images. No statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) were found between the Az values. CONCLUSIONS: Limited CBCT units performed similarly in detecting simulated HRF.

Incidence of acute hepatitis B in patients with spinal cord injury.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case survey. OBJECTIVE: To examine incidence and clinical characteristics of hepatitis B infection in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). SETTING: Inpatient clinic within a physical medicine and rehabilitation hospital specialized in rehabilitation. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 161 patients with SCI. INTERVENTIONS: Patients' records were investigated and the status of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV), anti-hepatitis B surface antigen positivity, alanine aminotransferase levels, duration of hospitalization and cost were recorded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incidence of acute hepatitis B. RESULTS: Six patients were diagnosed with acute hepatitis B on the first hospitalization for rehabilitation. A total of 11 patients (4.2%) were HBsAg positive with a previously established diagnosis of hepatitis B virus infection, 1 patient (0.4%) was anti-HCV positive. After a follow-up of 6 months, three of the acute hepatitis B patients progressed into chronic hepatitis B stage. In acute hepatitis B patients' initiation of the rehabilitation was delayed, duration of hospitalization was increased. CONCLUSIONS: After SCI, patients are at high risk of acute hepatitis B infection. A high rate of chronicity may be associated with impaired immune response, secondary to neurological deficit. Screening and vaccination protocols may prevent the spread of the hepatitis B infection, healthcare losses and financial loss.