Intramuscular compared with subcutaneous transposition for surgery in cubital tunnel syndrome.

Background There is no consensus on the most effective surgical technique in the treatment of cubital tunnel syndrome. Anterior subcutaneous transposition (AST) and anterior intramuscular transposition (AIT) are common surgical treatments in this regard. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of these two surgeries for cubital tunnel syndrome. Methods In a retrospective study, we compared surgical outcomes (pain, sensation, motor recovery, atrophy, and total satisfaction) in 40 patients undergoing AIT and 43 undergoing AST of the ulnar nerve. Results The patients undergoing AIT showed a significant improvement in all the outcomes after the surgery (P = 0); however, those undergoing AST only experienced an improvement in pain and sensation after the surgery (P = 0). Comparing the two surgeries, we found that there was a high total satisfaction with AIT compared with AST (P = 0). When we independently compared each outcome in the two groups, we found that the muscle force recovery was significantly improved in the AIT group compared with the AST group (P = 0). Conclusions AIT is preferable to AST for the surgical treatment of cubital tunnel syndrome. In particular, AIT achieves a better motor recovery of the ulnar nerve compared with AST.

Maternal SSRI exposure increases the risk of autistic offspring: A meta-analysis and systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most common antidepressants used to preclude maternal pregnancy depression. There is a growing body of literature assessing the association of prenatal exposure to SSRIs with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The present systematic review and meta-analysis reviewed the medical literature and pooled the results of the association of prenatal exposure to SSRIs with ASD. METHODS: Published investigations in English by June 2016 with keywords of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, SSRI, autism spectrum disorder, ASD, pregnancy, childhood, children, neurodevelopment were identified using databases PubMed and PMC, MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCOPUS, and Google Scholar. Cochran's Q statistic-value (Q), degree of freedom (df), and I2 indices (variation in odds ratio [OR] attributable to heterogeneity) were calculated to analyze the risk of heterogeneity of the within- and between-study variability. Pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were reported by a Mantel-Haenszel test. RESULTS: There was a non-significant heterogeneity for the included studies ([Q=3.61, df=6, P=0.730], I2=0%). The pooled results showed a significant association between prenatal SSRI exposure and ASD (OR=1.82, 95% CI=1.59-2.10, Z=8.49, P=0.00). CONCLUSION: The evidence from the present study suggests that prenatal exposure to SSRIs is associated with a higher risk of ASD.

Mitochondrial DNA G13708A variation and multiple sclerosis: Is there an association?

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is considered a pathogenetic enigma. Recently, efforts to implicate genetics in human susceptibility to MS have identified an important role of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). G13708A is a common mtDNA variation associated with MS in specific populations. This study tested the hypothesis that the mtDNA G13708A variation is associated with MS in an Iranian population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 100 MS patients and 100 unrelated healthy controls. DNA was extracted using a salting-out method, followed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. For assessment of restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), PCR products were restricted by restriction enzyme Mva I. Thereafter, the restriction products were assessed by means of an ultraviolet (UV) transilluminator following electrophoresis with 3% agarose gel. Accuracy of the genotyping procedure was assessed by direct sequencing. RESULTS: The mtDNA G13708A variation was found in 17 cases (17%) and 19 controls (19%) (P=0.7, OR: 0.8, 95% CI: 0.3-1.9). CONCLUSION: The findings of the present study fail to support the hypothesis that the G13708A mtDNA variation is associated with MS in the selected Iranian population.