Correlation of thermal deficit with clinical parameters and functional status in patients with unilateral lumbosacral radiculopathy.

INTRODUCTION: Lumbosacral radiculopathy is a pathological process that refers to the dysfunction of one or more spinal nerve roots in the lumbosacral region of the spine. Some studies have shown that infrared thermography can estimate the severity of the clinical manifestation of unilateral lumbosacral radiculopathy. This study aimed to examine the correlation of the regional thermal deficit of the affected lower extremity with pain intensity, mobility of the lumbar spine, and functional status in patients with unilateral lumbosacral radiculopathy. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Clinic for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of the Clinical Center Nis, Serbia. A total of 69 patients with unilateral lumbosacral radiculopathy of discogenic origin were recruited, with the following clinical parameters evaluated: (1) pain intensity by using a visual analogue scale, separately at rest and during active movement; (2) mobility of the lumbar spine by Schober test and the fingertip-to-floor test; and (3) functional status by the Oswestry Disability Index. Temperature differences between the symmetrical regions of the lower extremities were detected by infrared thermography. A quantitative analysis of thermograms determined the regions of interest with maximum thermal deficit. Correlation of maximum thermal deficit with each tested parameter was then determined. RESULTS: A significant and strong positive correlation was found between the regional thermal deficit and pain intensity at rest, as well as pain during active movements (rVAS - rest=0.887, rVAS - activity=0.890; P<0.001). The regional thermal deficit significantly and strongly correlated with the Oswestry Disability Index score and limited mobility of the lumbar spine (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with unilateral lumbosacral radiculopathy, the values of regional thermal deficit of the affected lower extremity are correlated with pain intensity, mobility of the lumbar spine, and functional status of the patient.

Correlation of mono and combined amitriptyline/lithium therapy with therapeutic and side effects.

The role of lithium in combination with tricyclic antidepressants (TCA) used in the treatment of unipolar depression has been much less studied than in the case of bipolar disorders. The aim of this study was to compare the therapeutic and side effects with doses and plasma concentrations in the patients with major (unipolar) depression (DSM-III-R criteria) treated by amitriptyline combine (At+Li) and mono-therapy. All three, of these regimens, were therapeutically effective, but after 6 weeks combined (At+Li) therapy showed the absence of the increased number of side effects.

Lithium ion influence on N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase isoenzymes serum level.

N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase (NAG) is a lysosomal enzyme found in most human cells, including those from the nervous system and kidneys. There are several different NAG forms in human tissues and fluids, but isoenzymes A and B are the most abundant, presenting about 98% of the whole NAG activity in normal serum. The paper is dealing with the total NAG serum level, main isoenzymes (A and B) activity, their ratio and possible lithium ion influence in affectively disordered patients. The sample consisted of thirteen bipolar-euthymic patients who had been receiving lithium for more than two years. The results pointed out reduction in total serum NAG activity, the lithium ion influence absence on total serum NAG activity, but at the same time the important modifying effects on isoenzyme NAG activities.