Motor nerve conduction study parameters in healthy individuals: effect of limb dominance

Background: Nerve conduction study (NCS) is useful for evaluation of nerve, muscle, and/or neuromuscular function. Neurophysiologist interprets NCS with consideration of various anthropometric and technical parameters viz. age, gender, height, temperature etc. apart from the underlying pathology. Fewer studies have reported the effect of limb dominance on NCS. Moreover, the findings are controversial. Therefore, author aimed to investigate the effect of limb dominance on motor nerve conduction study parameters.Methods: This cross-sectional comparative study included sixty healthy individuals (44 right and 16 left handed) of either sex with age 18 to 30 years. The NCS parameters of median and ulnar nerves were assessed by stimulating it and recording from the muscle and skin overlying the nerve respectively using Digital Nihon Kohden machine. The obtained data were analyzed using independent sample t-test.Results: Right ulnar nerve onset latency was significantly longer in left-handed individuals (1.85±0.508 ms vs 1.62±0.195 ms, p=0.012). The left ulnar nerve F wave minimum latency (25.88±0.74 ms vs 24.46±2.64 ms, p=0.002) was significantly longer in left-handed individuals. Likewise, right ulnar nerve distal latency (2.45±0.76 ms vs 2.14±0.39 ms, p=0.044), and right ulnar nerve F wave minimum (25.9±1.21 ms vs 24.85 ms±1.74, p=0.030) were significantly high in left-handed individuals.Conclusions: NCS parameters in terms of latencies were longer in left-handed individuals. Therefore, limb dominance seems to be an important factor one should pay attention during bilateral comparison of obtained data in neurophysiological reporting of referred cases

Adverse events following Pfizer-BioNTec vaccine against COVID-19 in population more than 12 years of age, Nepal: Adverse events following Pfizer-BioNTec vaccine

Introduction: Pfizer-BioNTec vaccine was started in Nepal for the age group of more than 12 years. This study was conducted to find out the adverse event following immunization with Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine against COVID-19 at Patan Academy of Health Sciences (PAHS). Method: This is a descriptive study conducted at PAHS from November to December 2021. The vaccine recipients were called over the phone after 72 hours of receiving the vaccine to find out adverse events following immunization (AEFI). They were inquired about the list of pre-defined AEFI. Result: A total of 1377(27.4%) individuals among 5014receivingthe first dose and 983(71.4%) of 1377 receiving the second dose were enrolled in the study. Vaccine recipients who had minor AEFI in the first dose were 462(33.6%) and in the second dose were 205(20.9%). The most commonly reported AEFI in both first and second dose was pain which was reported by 377(27.4%) and 97(9.9%) respectively, while fever was the second most common AEFI in both first and second dose reported by 65(4.8%) and 91(9.3%) respectively. There were no severe AEFI reported in both doses of vaccination. Most of the AEFI started within 24 h and subsided within 72 h. Conclusion: Minor AEFI was reported with the first and second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. There were no severe and serious AEFI reported in this study population