Pain patterns and descriptions in patients with radicular pain: Does the pain necessarily follow a specific dermatome?

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>It is commonly stated that nerve root pain should be expected to follow a specific dermatome and that this information is useful to make the diagnosis of radiculopathy. There is little evidence in the literature that confirms or denies this statement. The purpose of this study is to describe and discuss the diagnostic utility of the distribution of pain in patients with cervical and lumbar radicular pain.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Pain drawings and descriptions were assessed in consecutive patients diagnosed with cervical or lumbar nerve root pain. These findings were compared with accepted dermatome maps to determine whether they tended to follow along the involved nerve root's dermatome.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Two hundred twenty-six nerve roots in 169 patients were assessed. Overall, pain related to cervical nerve roots was non-dermatomal in over two-thirds (69.7%) of cases. In the lumbar spine, the pain was non-dermatomal in just under two-thirds (64.1%) of cases. The majority of nerve root levels involved non-dermatomal pain patterns except C4 (60.0% dermatomal) and S1 (64.9% dermatomal). The sensitivity (SE) and specificity (SP) for dermatomal pattern of pain are low for all nerve root levels with the exception of the C4 level (Se 0.60, Sp 0.72) and S1 level (Se 0.65, Sp 0.80), although in the case of the C4 level, the number of subjects was small (n = 5).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In most cases nerve root pain should not be expected to follow along a specific dermatome, and a dermatomal distribution of pain is not a useful historical factor in the diagnosis of radicular pain. The possible exception to this is the S1 nerve root, in which the pain does commonly follow the S1 dermatome.</p

Cabbage and fermented vegetables : From death rate heterogeneity in countries to candidates for mitigation strategies of severe COVID-19

Large differences in COVID-19 death rates exist between countries and between regions of the same country. Some very low death rate countries such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, or the Balkans have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods. Although biases exist when examining ecological studies, fermented vegetables or cabbage have been associated with low death rates in European countries. SARS-CoV-2 binds to its receptor, the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). As a result of SARS-CoV-2 binding, ACE2 downregulation enhances the angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT(1)R) axis associated with oxidative stress. This leads to insulin resistance as well as lung and endothelial damage, two severe outcomes of COVID-19. The nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) is the most potent antioxidant in humans and can block in particular the AT(1)R axis. Cabbage contains precursors of sulforaphane, the most active natural activator of Nrf2. Fermented vegetables contain many lactobacilli, which are also potent Nrf2 activators. Three examples are: kimchi in Korea, westernized foods, and the slum paradox. It is proposed that fermented cabbage is a proof-of-concept of dietary manipulations that may enhance Nrf2-associated antioxidant effects, helpful in mitigating COVID-19 severity.Peer reviewe

Nrf2-interacting nutrients and COVID-19 : time for research to develop adaptation strategies

There are large between- and within-country variations in COVID-19 death rates. Some very low death rate settings such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, the Balkans and Africa have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods whose intake is associated with the activation of the Nrf2 (Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2) anti-oxidant transcription factor. There are many Nrf2-interacting nutrients (berberine, curcumin, epigallocatechin gallate, genistein, quercetin, resveratrol, sulforaphane) that all act similarly to reduce insulin resistance, endothelial damage, lung injury and cytokine storm. They also act on the same mechanisms (mTOR: Mammalian target of rapamycin, PPAR gamma:Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, NF kappa B: Nuclear factor kappa B, ERK: Extracellular signal-regulated kinases and eIF2 alpha:Elongation initiation factor 2 alpha). They may as a result be important in mitigating the severity of COVID-19, acting through the endoplasmic reticulum stress or ACE-Angiotensin-II-AT(1)R axis (AT(1)R) pathway. Many Nrf2-interacting nutrients are also interacting with TRPA1 and/or TRPV1. Interestingly, geographical areas with very low COVID-19 mortality are those with the lowest prevalence of obesity (Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia). It is tempting to propose that Nrf2-interacting foods and nutrients can re-balance insulin resistance and have a significant effect on COVID-19 severity. It is therefore possible that the intake of these foods may restore an optimal natural balance for the Nrf2 pathway and may be of interest in the mitigation of COVID-19 severity

Salinity effects on plant tissue culture of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Salinity effects on seed germination and growth of Phaseolus vulgaris L. under in vitro conditions was determined. Mature embryos of five bean cultivars, Akman 98, Goynuk 98, Karacasehir 90, Sehirali 90 and Yunus 90, from Turkey, were exposed on MS medium with different concentrations of NaCl (0.0, 0.6, 1.0 % w/v). Rate of germination among each cultivar was significant and indicated that plant growth of some cultivars was strongly reduced by salinity. While Akman 98 cultivar showed high resistance to salinity (germination rate was 47 %), Goynuk 98 was selected as the most salt-sensitive cultivar (germination rate was 7 %) among used cultivars on MS medium containing 1 % NaCl. These two cultivars were used to determine effects of salinity on their total soluble proteins and peroxidase activity. It was shown that total soluble protein contents of Akman 98 and Goynuk 98 were reduced 63 %, 22 %, respectively. Different profiles of peroxidase activity were also observed among two cultivars and in comparison with controls

High percentage of regeneration and transformation in chickpea

Efficient tissue culture and gene transfer systems of Cicer arietinum L. cvs. Red chickpea, Canitez 87 and MB-10 varieties were established. The explants were taken from the shoot primordium part of the mature embryo. For callus induction MS+0.1 mg/l NAA+ 0.5 mg/l 2,4-D and for plant regeneration MS+0.2 mg/l IAA+ 0.5 mg/l Kn+ 0.2 mg/l 6-BAP containing media were used. Best regeneration response was for the MB-10 variety (85%). Young and wounded regenerated shoots were co-cultivated with A. tumefaciens 4404 and A. rhizogenes 9402 both containing pBI-121 plasmids. Explants cocultivated with A. tumefaciens produced crown gall and plantlets on selective media. However, applications with A. rhizogenes produced hairy roots. The existence of GUS and NPT II genes in the DNA isolated from plantlets and hairy roots was confirmed with Southern blot and digoxigenin labeling. The best transformation response was in Canitez 87 (12.7%) with A. tumefaciens and MB-10 variety (10.4%) with A. rhizogenes

Transformation of potato and tobacco via Agrobacterium rhizogenes

Efficient transformation systems for tuber discs of Solanum tuberosum, leaf discs of Nicotiana tabacum and internodes of both species were achieved with Agrobacterium rhizogenes 8196. Hairy root formation ratio per inoculated explant was 31.25 % for tubers and 60 % for internodes of potato. In the case of tobacco this ratio was, 55.6 % for leaf discs and 64 % for internodes in MS media supplemented with 1 mg/l NAA. Transformation was confirmed with Southern hybridization [gamma(32) P] CTP labeled Ri plasmid segments. Methods developed will be used for further gene transfer studies with the aim of molecular farming

High frequency plant regeneration from nodal explants of Paulownia elongata

High frequency of plant regeneration from Paulownia elongata was obtained on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium and Woody Plant Medium (WPM), with appropriate supplements of growth regulators. Leaves, leaves with petioles, internodes and nodes excised from 3-month-old non-aseptically grown P. elongata were used as explants. The highest shoot regeneration efficiency (93.7%) was obtained from the nodes of P. elongata on MS medium supplemented with 0.1 mg/ml naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 1 mg/ml 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP). The highest root formation efficiency (100%) from the regenerated shoots was obtained on WPM supplemented with 1 mg/ml indolebutyric acid (IBA). Rooted plantlets were transplanted to soil with a survival efficiency of almost 100%. The regeneration system reported here could be useful for rapid multiplication of elite genotypes of P. elongata in a short period of time

Direct plant regeneration from hypocotyl and cotyledon explants of five different sunflower genotypes (Helianthus annus L.) from Turkey

This study aims to establish plant tissue culture and regeneration systems of five different sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) genotypes: Trakya 259, Trakya 80, Trakya 129, Trakya 2098 and Viniimk 8931, which are commercially important for Turkey. Plant tissue culture systems were established on Murashige and Skoog (MS) media supplemented with various plant growth regulators using hypocotyl and cotyledon explants. The highest shoot regeneration was observed using hypocotyl explants with Trakya 259 genotype (40 %) on MS media supplemented with 1 mg/l BAP (6-benzylaminopurine) and 0.5 mg/l NAA (a-naphthalene acetic acid). Hypocotyl explants from other genotypes showed regeneration efficiencies as followed: Trakya 80, 33 %; Trakya 129, 29 %; Trakyu 2098, 22 % and Viniimk 8931, 19 %. Shoot regeneration efficiencies with the cotyledon explants on the same medium were lower in comparation with hypocotyl explants as followed: Trakya 129, 20 %; Trakya 2098, 10 % and Viniimk 8931, 9 %. In addition, two genotypes (Trakya 259 and Trakya 80) were non-responsive on the same media with cotyledon explants. All of the regenerated shoots were rooted on MS media supplemented with 1 mg/l IBA (indol-3-butiric acid). The results obtained in this study will be useful for the improvement of gene transfer systems to these commercially important sunflower genotypes