Clinical Effectiveness of Single Lumbar Periradicular Infiltration in Patients with Sciatica.

Periradicular therapy (PRT) is a minimally invasive radiological procedurein patients with chronic lumbar pain.The aim of the study is to identify clinical and radiological predictive factors for treatment success after a single PRT treatment in patients with sciatica.The study includes a prospective follow-up of 166 patients treated with PRT. The pain intensity is determined according to the VAS scale and the degree of improvement is presented as excellent (over 75%), good (50-70%), moderate (25-49%), and weak (less than 25%). The follow up of the treated patients was done at 2 weeks, 3 and 6 months. In patients with pain duration up to 3 months, the improvement was excellent in n=32 (58.18%) after 2 weeks, after 3 months n=41 (74.55%) and after 6 months n=41 (74.55%). This stands in contrast to patients with pain over 1 year. The percentage of improvement after 6 months, post-intervention, was highest in patients without nerve root compression (86.25±19.2),and the highest improvement after 6 months was in patients with localization of pain at the L4-L5 level (69.69±29.7), the greatest improvement after six months was in patients with extraforaminal hernia (62.82±34.3), and the lowest in patients with central stenosis (40.21±30.7).Our study results suggest that the shorter a pain duration, low-grade root compression, injection level and type of herniation area predictor the more favourable response patients have to transforaminal epidural steroid injection in patients with sciatica.

Role of Inflammation in the Pathogenesis of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) means the presence of symptoms and/or signs of peripheral nerve damage that occur to people with diabetes, excluding all other causes of neuropathy. Chronic hyperglycaemia leads to increased secretion of tumour necrotic factor-alpha (TNF-α), with the development of micro and macroangiopathy, damage to nerve fibres and local demyelination. AIM: To determine the role of inflammation in the peripheral nerve damage process concerning people suffering from type II diabetes mellitus. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included a total of 80 subjects, men and women, divided into two groups: an examined group (n = 50) consisting of subjects with DPN at the age from 30 to 80 years and a control group (n = 30) of healthy subjects aged from 18 to 45. In the investigated group, a neurological examination was performed using the Diabetic Neuropathy Symptoms (DNS) Score and Electroneurography. All the subjects had the blood plasma concentration of TNF-α by ELISA technique. RESULTS: The average value of TNF-α in the test group was 8.24 ± 2.899 pg/ml, while the control group was 4.36 ± 2.622 pg/ml (p < 0.0001). The average value of TNF-α was correlated with the achieved DNS score in the investigated group (p = 0.005). Concerning the linear association of the concentration of TNF-α with the peripheral nerve velocity in the investigated group, no statistical significance was detected. CONCLUSION: Inflammation can play a role in the pathogenesis of diabetic autonomic neuropathy and cranial neuritis.

Facing of Family Doctor with Hantavirus Infection.

BACKGROUND: Hantavirus infection is manifested as an urgent, severe and life-threatening disease caused by Hantavirus. The virus affects human endothelial cells. The natural reservoir of the Hantaviruses is chronically infected rodents. Human infection is accidental. Occurs by intake of contaminated food or inhalation of contaminated secretion from infected rodents' excretions have an increased risk of contamination. The most affected persons are people who work in nature. The virus causes haemorrhages, fever and acute renal failure. The disease appears more frequently in endemic regions with the lethality of 6-15%. The disease can surprise doctors with severity, urgency and undefined clinical picture. Fast clinical evaluation, proper and urgent diagnosis and treatment can improve the safe life of these patients. CASE REPORT: We report a case of 45 -year-old male patient worked as a shepherd on mountain Babuna near the city of Veles in the Republic of Macedonia at the end of the summer in the year 2017, presented with prolonged hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. The clinical presentation and lab findings support the diagnosis of Hantavirus infection with acute renal failure. CONCLUSION: It is necessary to raise the awareness of the family doctors for the hantavirus disease, especially in countries with sporadic cases, as in our country. It needs for prompt and timely diagnosis, timely hospitalisation and initiation of therapy.