Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common upper limb entrapment neuropathy caused by compression of the median nerve as it traverses the wrist at the carpal tunnel. Objectives: To compare the effect of single dose of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injected locally with that of corticosteroid in patients with CTS. Subjects and methods: A total of 60 patients with very mild to moderate unilateral CTS were recruited to the study. PRP was prepared via two centrifugation procedures. The patients were randomly divided into three groups PRP [i] group, PRP [ii] group, and a third group that received local corticosteroid injection (CS). The patients were followed up at 1.5 and 3 months by visual analog scale (VAS) for pain assessment. The severity and functional outcomes were evaluated through Boston CTS, and neurophysiological analyses were carried out. Results: On comparing the PRP [i], PRP [ii], and CS groups, a statistically significant enhancement of all outcome variables was observed in both PRP groups at follow-up except VAS at 3 and 6 months (P = 0.073 and P = 0.068, respectively) in PRP [ii] group. Conclusion: In CTS, PRP was a better treatment alternative with respect to pain and functional outcome. In addition, it was associated well with improved neurophysiological values than those observed after corticosteroid injection.

BackgroundGuillain-Barre' syndrome (GBS) is a serious autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks healthy nerve cells of the peripheral nervous system causing polyradiculoneuropathy which leads to weakness, numbness, and tingling, and can eventually cause paralysis. Autoimmune conditions like GBS can induce a high level of inflammation resulting in an increase in the C-reactive protein( CRP) production. The aim of this study is to assess the relationship between CRP level and the clinical severity as well as the electrophysiological findings of nerve conduction studies in patients with GBS.MethodsTwenty- four patients (10 males &14 females) with ages ranged from 14 to 50 years and a mean age of 33.46 ±12.25 years who fulfilled the clinical criteria for diagnosing GBS were recruited within the first 2 weeks of onset of illness, in a cross- section study. They underwent general and neurological examination. Nerve conduction studies as well as assessment of serum CRP level were done.ResultsThere was a statistically significant positive correlation between clinical severity assessed by (Hughes disability scale) and serum CRP level in GBS patients. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that both gastroenteritis, cranio-bulbar affection, need for mechanical ventilation (MV), disability score >4, and absent motor and sensory responses were significantly associated with high serum CRP level >6mg/dl.ConclusionsThe results of this study support the hypothesis that in GBS patients, gastroenteritis, craniobulbar affection, need for MV, disability score >4, and absent motor and sensory nerve responses were significantly related to high serum CRP level. This reflects the negative impact of the inflammatory response elicited by high CRP level on clinical severity in GBS patients, and so it may be used as a prognostic marker of clinical severity of GBS and this can help in therapeutic decision making.

Lack of active sorption sites in sandy soils renders metals added by irrigation water more labile and increases their soil-to-plant transfer. Thus, this study investigated the long-term impacts of irrigation using sewage effluents and contaminated groundwater on metal accumulations in TypicTorripsamment soils, and edible parts of food crops. Nine sites in El-Gabal El-Asfar farm, south-eastern to the Nile Delta of Egypt, were selected. At each site, irrigation water, soil (0–30 cm), and the crop’s edible part were sampled in triplicates and analyzed for Mn, Pb, and Zn. Results revealed significant (p < 0.05) differences in metal concentrations among water sources. Thus, constant irrigation caused significant spatial variations in total and available metal contents in soils. Total contents of Pb (in four sites) and Zn (in all sites) exceed the lithosphere range, while the available contents of the three metals exceeded the safe limits in all soils. The index of geo-accumulation indicated no Mn pollution but showed elevated pollution risks for Pb and Zn. The three metals showed high availability ratios, proving the effect of light soil texture. The multivariate statistical analysis indicated that Mn and Zn had similar geochemical behaviors in soils. Metal contents in all crop’s edible parts surpassed the safe limits. The bioaccumulation factor (BAF) was less than 1.0 for Mn and Zn but higher than 1.0 for Pb. The highest BAFs occurred in cabbage leaves, indicating the phytoextraction potential of this species. Sufficient water treatment and proper remediation techniques are recommended to alleviate metal accumulation in food crops and their transfer via the food chain.

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Interferon (IFN)-b is one of the disease modifying drugs used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. A predictive marker that indicates good or poor response to the treatment is highly desirable. We aimed to investigate the relation between the immune response genes receptors (IFNAR1, IFNAR2, and CCR5) expression and their polymorhic variants and multiple sclerosis (MS) susceptibility as well as the response to IFN-b therapy. The immune response genes receptors expression and genotyping were analyzed in 80 patients with MS, treated with IFN-b and in 110 healthy controls. There was a significant decrease of IFNAR1 and IFNAR2 mRNA expression and a significant increase of CCR5 mRNA expression in MS patients compared with the control group. Also, the level of IFNAR1, IFNAR2, and CCR5 mRNA expression was found to be significantly lower in the responders than nonresponders. Carriers of IFNAR1 18417 C/C genotype and C allele had an increased risk of developing MS. There was a significant relation between CCR5 D32 allele and IFN-b treatment response in MS patients. Our results highlighted the significance of IFNAR and CCR5 genes in multiple sclerosis risk and the response to IFNb therapy. V C 2016 IUBMB Life, 68(9): [727][728][729][730][731][732][733][734] 2016