Ultrasonographic median nerve cross-section areas measured by 8-point "inching test" for idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome: a correlation of nerve conduction study severity and duration of clinical symptoms

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Incremental palmar stimulation of the median nerve sensory conduction at the wrist, the "inching test", provides an assessment with reference to segments proximal and distal to the entrapment. This study used high-resolution ultrasonography (US) to measure the median nerve's cross-section areas (CSAs) like the "inching test" and to correlate with the nerve conduction study (NCS) severity and duration of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Two hundred and twelve (212) "CTS-hands" from 135 CTS patients and 50 asymptomatic hands ("A-hands") from 25 control individuals were enrolled. The median nerve CSAs were measured at the 8-point marked as <it>i</it>4, <it>i</it>3, <it>i</it>2, <it>i</it>1, <it>w</it>, <it>o</it>1, <it>o</it>2, and <it>0</it>3 in inching test. The NCS severities were classified into six groups based on motor and sensory responses (i.e., negative, minimal, mild, moderate, severe, and extreme). Results of US studies were compared in terms of NCS severity and duration of clinical CTS symptoms.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There was significantly larger CSA of the NCS negative group of "CTS-hands" than of "A-hands". The cut-off values of the CSAs of the NCS negative CTS group were 12.5 mm², 11.5 mm²and 10.1 mm²at the inlet, wrist crease, and outlet, respectively. Of the 212 "CTS-hands", 32 were NCS negative while 40 had minimal, 43 mild, 85 moderate, 10 severe, and two extreme NCS severities. The CSAs of "CTS-hands" positively correlated with different NCS severities and with the duration of CTS symptoms. By duration of clinical symptoms, 12 of the 212 "CTS-hands" were in the 1 month group; 82 in >1 month and ≤12 months group, and 118 in >12 months group. In "inching test", segments <it>i</it>4-<it>i</it>3 and <it>i</it>3-<it>i</it>2 were the most common "positive-site". The corresponding CSAs measured at <it>i</it>4 and <it>i</it>3, but not at <it>i</it>2, were significantly larger than those measured at points that were not "positive-site".</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Using the 8-point measurement of the median nerve CSA from inlet to outlet similar to the "inching test" has positive correlations with NCS severity and duration of CTS clinical symptoms, and can provide more information on anatomic changes. Combined NCS and US studies using the 8-point measurement may have a higher positive rate than NCS alone for diagnosing CTS.</p

Reproducibility of endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia diagnosis is good, but influenced by the diagnostic style of pathologists

Endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia (EIN) applies specific diagnostic criteria to designate a monoclonal endometrial preinvasive glandular proliferation known from previous studies to confer a 45-fold increased risk for endometrial cancer. In this international study we estimate accuracy and precision of EIN diagnosis among 20 reviewing pathologists in different practice environments, and with differing levels of experience and training. Sixty-two endometrial biopsies diagnosed as benign, EIN, or adenocarcinoma by consensus of two expert subspecialty pathologists were used as a reference comparison to assess diagnostic accuracy of 20 reviewing pathologists. Interobserver reproducibility among the 20 reviewers provided a measure of diagnostic precision. Before evaluating cases, observers were self-trained by reviewing published textbook and/or online EIN diagnostic guidelines. Demographics of the reviewing pathologists, and their impressions regarding implementation of EIN terminology were recorded. Seventy-nine percent of the 20 reviewing pathologists' diagnoses were exactly concordant with the expert consensus (accuracy). The interobserver weighted kappa values of 3-class EIN scheme (benign, EIN, carcinoma) diagnoses between expert consensus and each of reviewing pathologists averaged 0.72 (reproducibility, or precision). Reviewing pathologists demonstrated one of three diagnostic styles, which varied in the repertoire of diagnoses commonly used, and their nonrandom response to potentially confounding diagnostic features such as endometrial polyp, altered differentiation, background hormonal effects, and technically poor preparations. EIN diagnostic strategies can be learned and implemented from standard teaching materials with a high degree of reproducibility, but is impacted by the personal diagnostic style of each pathologist in responding to potential diagnostic confounders

THE COMBINATION OF TIZANIDINE MARKEDLY IMPROVES THE TREATMENT WITH DEXTROMETHORPHAN OF HEROIN ADDICTED OUTPATIENTS

According to the hypothesis implying that the main mechanism underlying opiate addiction is the blockade by opiates of NMDA receptor functions and subsequent upregulation and supersensitivity of the receptors, noncompetitive NMDA receptor blocker dextromethorphan (DM) has been successfully used in the heroin addict treatment. As the stimulation of NMDA receptors modulates the release of neurotransmitters and hormones such as NE, D, ACh, GH, LH, LSH, ACTH etc., all of which have been found responsible for the manifestation of abstinence syndrome signs including craving and neuronal death by excessive stimulation of NMDA receptors, the incomplete blockade of the NMDA receptors minimizes the intensity of the abstinence syndrome and provides the downregulation of the receptors. In the present study, tizanidine (TIZ), which inhibits the release of endogenous excitatory aminoacids by the agonistic activity on alpha(2)-adrenoreceptors, was combined with DM to obtain further benefits. Forty-four male and three female heroin addicts were the subjects of the study. Their daily mean heroin intake was about 2.28 g street heroin. The main duration of heroin use was approximately 3.4 years. Two to three hours after abrupt withdrawal, the outpatients were given 15 mg DM every hour, 25 or 50 mg chlorpromazine (CPZ) + 4 mg TIZ every six hours and 10 mg diazepam + 10 mg hyoscine N-butyl Br + 250 mg dipyrone every six hours three hours following CPZ. The addicts were controlled twice a day. Yawning, rhinorrhea, perspiration, piloerection, restlessness, insomnia, emesis, diarrhea, craving, rejection of smoking and pupils were observed and/or questioned. Two of the 47 outpatients took heroin on the first days. The others were heroin-free at least throughout the treatment period of eight days. A shorter-lasting abstinence syndrome with considerably less intense signs was observed. Craving, insomnia, emesis, diarrhea, restlessness, rejection of smoking appeared markedly attenuated. Since TIZ binds to the imidazoline receptor with approximately 20 times higher affinity than the alpha(2)-adrenoreceptors, TIZ may attenuate intensity of opiate abstinence syndrome via I-1 imidazoline-receptors

PRENATAL EXPOSURE TO MORPHINE OR NALOXONE INTENSIFIES MORPHINE-DEPENDENCE AT MATURITY

Pregnant rats were SC injected with physiological saline (control) or 10 mg/kg morphine (morphine group) or 2 mg/kg naloxone (naloxone group) three times daily during the last 5 days of gestation. Three weeks after birth, male young rats of each group were taken and placed in separate cages. When their body weight reached 130-150 g, 10 rats from control, morphine, and naloxone groups were SC implanted with two pellets containing 75 mg morphine base (total 150 mg). Three days following implantation, rats were IP given 2 mg/kg naloxone for precipitated abstinence syndrome. Immediately after naloxone injection, rats were strictly observed for 15 min and jumping, wet-dog shakes, teeth-chattering, diarrhoea, defecation, and ptosis counted or rated. All abstinence syndrome signs were significantly higher in the morphine or naloxone group than in control. On the basis of the previous experimental findings supporting the idea that opiate physical dependence is related to the binding of opiate, possibly other than their own, to NMDA receptors and the upregulation and/or supersensitivity associated with the binding, the intensification of morphine dependence has been attributed to the long-lasting NMDA receptor upregulation and/or supersensitivity