Electrophysiological Assessment of Injury to the Infra-patellar Branch(es) of the Saphenous Nerve during Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Using Medial Hamstring Auto-grafts: Vertical versus Oblique Harvest Site Incisions

Background: It was suggested that the direction of incision for medial hamstring tendons harvesting\n influences the incidence of injury to the infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve\n (IPBSN), a common complication following arthroscopically-assisted anterior cruciate\n ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Objectives: The main purpose of current study was to compare the incidence of IPBSN injury between\n vertical and oblique incisions utilizing electrophysiological evaluation. Patients and Methods: There were 60 patients underwent arthroscopically-assisted ACLR assigned to two equal\n vertical or oblique incision groups, randomly. One year postoperatively, the patients\n were electrophysiologically examined to detect whether IPBSN is injured. The Lysholm\n score was completed. The patients' satisfaction with surgical outcomes determined\n utilizing visual analogue scale (VAS). Finally, two groups were compared and the effect\n of IPBSN injury on function and satisfaction was investigated. Results: The incidence of IPBSN injury was higher in the vertical group (4 patients vs. 10\n patients), but the difference was not statistically significant. The mean of Lysholm and\n VAS scores were the same. Also, the mean of Lysholm score was the same in patients with\n and without IPBSN injury. However, patients without IPBSN injury were more satisfied\n (8.9 ± 9 vs. 7.4 ± 1.1; P < 0.001). Conclusions: IPBSN injury is a common complication following arthroscopically-assisted ACLR and, if\n not significant, oblique direction of the incision is associated with decreased\n incidence of the injury. IPBSN injury has no effect on the function but because of the\n disturbance with patients' satisfaction, authors believe the oblique incision is\n preferable to avoid the nerve injury during medial hamstring tendons harvesting

Study of biological characteristics of jack knife clam Solen dactylus (Coscl, 1989) in Bandar Abbas coast

In this study, 945 Specimens of bivalve Solen dactylus were biometrically assessed from April 2007 to March 2008 in two transects of Golshahr coast in Bandar Abbas, Persian Gulf. Physical and chemical factors of water like temperature, pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen, coast's sediment, diversity and abundance of phytoplankton were studied monthly during the clam sampling. The mean clam length and total weight were 67.5 plus or minus 17.13mm and 6.3 plus or minus 4.04g, respectively. The relationship between clam length-width, total weight-dry weight and clam length-dry weight were significant (r^(2) = 0.91, r^(2) = 0.83 and r^(2) = 0.86, P0.05). The maximum value of Gonadosomatic Index (GSI) in the first and second transect were 11% and 16%, respectively in January (reproductive cycle). The minimum value of GSI in both transects was zero from April to September. Gonado Condition Index (GCI) was synchronous with the GSI during the year of study. GSI and GCI showed a negative relationship with temperature and a positive relationship with dissolved oxygen