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Comparison of nerve conduction velocities of lower extremities between runners and controls

Peripheral nerve injuries can occur in runners, but large numbers of nerve injuries remain subclinical. Identification of nerve injuries needs an understanding of common sites of entrapment in running. Fourteen asymptomatic male middle-distance runners and 14 non-active subjects participated in this study. The neurophysiologic study consisted of motor and sensory nerve conduction of medial and lateral plantar nerves, sensory nerve conduction of sural and superficial peroneal nerves, and motor nerve conduction of common peroneal nerve. Active range of motion and muscle strength assessment (dorsi flexion/plantar flexion; inversion/eversion) as measured using a Biodex System3 Dynamometer were observed to be within normal limits for both groups. The medial plantar (sensory) nerve and sural nerve distal latencies were significantly prolonged and sensory conduction velocities were significantly delayed in the runners compared with the control subjects. Many of the asymptomatic runners with abnormal nerve conduction tests in this study may represent presymptomatic or asymptomatic neuropathy similar to the type of subclinical entrapment neuropathy.

Influence of the long term use of a computer on median, ulnar and radial sensory nerves in the wrist region

ObjectivesRepetitive microtrauma or overuse injuries may often affect upper extremities of the long term computer users. The aim of this study was to compare sensory nerve conduction velocities (SNCV) for median, radial and ulnar nerves in the wrist of computer users with the same parameters in controls who do not use computers regularly.Material and MethodsTwenty one male computer users (age: mean (M) = 28.3 years ± standard deviation (SD) = 7.5 years) and 21 male control subjects (age: M±SD = 24.1±4.6 years) were recruited for the study. Limb length and the perimeters of the dominant arm and forearm were measured for each subject. The neurophysiological study consisted of measuring sensory nerve conduction of the median, ulnar and radial nerves.ResultsThe sensory conduction velocities of both median and ulnar nerves were significantly delayed in the dominant arm of the computer users compared to the controls. In addition, sensory conduction velocity of the median nerve was significantly delayed in the dominant extremity of the computer users compared to their non-dominant extremity.ConclusionsThis study shows that computer users have a tendency toward developing median and ulnar sensory nerve damage in the wrist region. Mechanism of delayed SNCV in the median and ulnar nerves may be due to sustained extension and ulnar deviation of the wrist during computer mouse use and typing. Reduced SNCV changes were more apparent on the dominant side of the median nerve. This may indicate the increased neural deficits related to an increased use of the dominant side. Further investigation is needed to determine how to reduce potential risk factors at this stage in order to prevent development of median or ulnar neuropathy in the long term computer users.

Profesyonel futbolcularda egzersiz öncesi ve sonrası iskemi modifiye albumin düzeyleri

Objectives: The ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) test is a promising indicator of myocardial ischemia in the early diagnosis of the acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Recent studies examining alterations in IMA levels caused by myocardial ischemia that develops during exercise have shown contradictory results. There has been an increase in severe exercise-related cardiac events in football. We therefore, assessed IMA levels before and after exercise in professional soccer players in order to examine the effect of the exercise on IMA levels. Methods: Blood was collected from professional soccer players before and after exercise. IMA levels were measured by using spectrophotometric methods, and the albumin levels were measured in an autoanalyzer. Results: The average pre- and post exercise IMA levels of 16 soccer players were found to be 0.438±0.071 and 0.386±0.069, respectively. The pre- and post exercise albumin levels of the same group were 4.08±0.20 g/dL and 4.21±0.19 g/dL, respectively. There was a strong negative correlation between post exercise IMA and albumin levels, which was statistically significant (r = -0.535. p = 0.033).Conclusion: IMA levels should be examined not only in noncardiac pathologies, but also in specific serum albumin concentrations and in individuals practicing vigorous sport activities

Evaluation of attitudes and knowledge of Kocaeli University medical students on dissection, brain death and organ donation

Considering organ donation, cadaver supply routes and procurement rates, it seems that resources are limited. It is discussed from a broad perspective that the evaluation of ethical approaches in terms of cadaver needs in anatomy education and research areas, and the use of bodies obtained through donation are more appropriate. Healthcare workers’ knowledge and attitudes on organ donation and transplantation are the main factors for making a positive impact on the society and raising the donation rate. In this study, the questions directed to the students were designed to assess their views on cadaveric and organ donation, their awareness of the issue, and their attitudes in case the person or his/her relatives need organ donation. When the obtained data were evaluated, statistically significant changes were observed between medical students’ attitudes before and after the anatomy laboratory education (p<0.05). Although many of the students stated that their ideas did not change, this study shows that medical school students change their attitudes towards cadaver and organ donation issues after anatomy laboratory training.

Biochemical parameters in professional male footballers before and after training

ABSTRACT The goal of this study is exploring serum alterations related to acute coronary sendrom, muscle deterioration, hypoglysemia and the other variables in the serum of the fifteen footballers. Fifteen professional male footballers (mean (SD) age: 24 (4.4) years) were gathered from a 3rd league team. Blood samples were collected from them before and after exercise. Blood samples were analyzed by standard methods and the results were corrected in the biochemistry laboratory. The average pre- and post-exercise biochemical values of 15 footballers are found below. The glucose in the serum is 62.3 ± 3.9(before) and 69.5 ± 7.8(after) (P<0.05) for pre- and post-exercise, respectively. The urea in the serum is 36 ± 9.5(before) and 34.4 ± 9.2(after) (p>0.05). The creatine in the serum is 0.9 ± 0.l(before) and 0.8 ± 0.9(after) (p>0.05). The CK in the serum is 309.9 ± 200.9(before) and 253 ± 149.7(after) (p>0.05). The CK-MB in the serum is 17.9 ± 6.3(before) and 14.5 ± 5.4(after)(p>0.05). The total bilirubin in the serum is 0.8 ± 0.4(before) and 0.8 ± 0.5(after) (p>0.05). The albumin in the serum is 4.1 ± 0.3(before) and 4.1 ± 0.2(after) (p>0.05). The BUN (blood urea nitrogen) in the serum is 16.7 ± 4.4(before) and 16.3 ± 4.5(after) (p>0.05). Although broad variety of biochemical perturbations is present during acute physical stress, many parameters remain within regular limits.