Nerve Conduction Studies in Patients with Lumbosacral Radiculopathy Caused by Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Herniation

Background. Nerve conduction studies (NCS) are electrodiagnostic tests used to evaluate peripheral nerves functions and aid in the assessment of patients with neuromuscular complaints. There is contrasting evidence concerning the use of NCS in the assessment of patients with lumbosacral radiculopathy. Objectives. This study was conducted to evaluate nerve conduction studies abnormalities in patients with lumbosacral radiculopathy and to find out their relation to abnormal physical examination findings. Materials and Methods. Twenty-seven patients with lumbosacral radiculopathy caused by L4/5 or L5/S1 intervertebral disc prolapse confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were recruited in the study. Twenty-five healthy subjects matched in age and sex served as control. Motor nerve conduction study bilaterally for both common peroneal and tibial nerves, F-wave for both nerves, and H-reflex had been conducted. Results. No significant difference was found in the motor nerve conduction study parameters (latency, amplitude, and conduction velocity) between the patients group and the control group. There was significant prolongation in H-reflex latency of both symptomatic and asymptomatic side in the patients group compared to the control group (P<0.05). Also, F-wave latencies (F minimum, F maximum, and F mean) of the tibial nerve were significantly prolonged (P<0.05) compared to control. Conclusion. Prolonged H-reflex latency was the commonest encountered abnormality in our study followed by F-wave latencies of the tibial nerve

Correlation between Findings in Physical Examination, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, and Nerve Conduction Studies in Lumbosacral Radiculopathy Caused by Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Herniation

Purpose. The aim of this study was to find out the correlation between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and nerve conduction studies’ (NCS) findings in patients with lumbosacral radiculopathy caused by lumbar intervertebral disc herniation. In addition, the study aimed at finding the correlation between the clinical manifestations of lumbosacral radiculopathy and both MRI and NCS. Patients and Methods. The study was a cross-sectional analytic study which included thirty patients with a history suggestive of lumbosacral radiculopathy. Inclusion criteria were as follows: patients who had an MRI confirmed L4/5 and/or L5/S1 intervertebral disc prolapse in addition to one or more of the following (dermatomal distribution of symptoms appropriate with MRI level, presence of motor weakness, sensory impairment, absent ankle jerk, or positive straight leg raising test). All patients underwent clinical assessment and NCS, and their MRI examination was reviewed. The Chi-Squared/Fisher’s exact test was used to test the correlation. Results. There was a statistically significant correlation between abnormal physical findings and nerve root compression in MRI. Statistically significant correlation was neither found between abnormal physical examination findings and abnormal NCS nor between nerve root compression in MRI and abnormal NCS findings. Conclusion. Abnormal neurological examination findings can be used to predict nerve root compression in MRI examination. On the contrary, positive findings of physical examination do not predict abnormal NCS, as well as negative findings do not exclude abnormal NCS; therefore, it is useful to add NCS when MRI findings do not match clinical examination findings or when no neuroimaging abnormalities can be identified

Green Synthesis, Characterization, and Evaluation of the Antimicrobial Activity of Camellia sinensis Silver Nanoparticles

An extremely worrying and alarming increase in the level of multiple drug resistance is reported in Sudan, in which bacterial strains are becoming resistant to many commonly available antibiotics. Eventually, it is becoming extremely difficult to treat debilitating infections. In search of promising solutions to this arising crisis, Camellia sinensis silver nanoparticles were synthesized using the green synthesis method. The synthesis of the Camellia sinensis silver nanoparticles is confirmed using analytical methods as ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometer, and scanning electron microscopy. Using the ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, an absorption band of 412 nm was observed. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy revealed the presence of silver nanoparticles which fell within the range of 1–100 nm, and X-ray diffractometer analysis showed three intense peaks with a maximum intense peak at 24.3 theta. Nanoparticles distribution between 12 nm and 64 nm was observed with an average diameter of 18.115 nm. It also revealed orthorhombic-shaped nanoparticles. The synthesized nanoparticles showed antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus with a zone of inhibition of 7 mm, but none was detected against Escherichia coli. The obtained physicochemical properties were correlated with the antibacterial activity of the silver nanoparticles