The effectiveness of erector spinae plane block in patients with chronic low back pain.

OBJECTIVE: The erector spinae plane block (ESPB) has been widely used as a treatment strategy for a variety of acute and chronic painful conditions. The purpose of this study was to determine the analgesic efficacy of ESPB in patients with chronic low back pain and radicular symptoms who had lumbar disc herniation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients aged 18 to 80 years who had chronic low back pain with radicular symptoms associated with pain from lumbar disc herniation and had undergone ESPB were included in the study retrospectively. As part of a routine clinical procedure, the patient's age, gender, weight, height, body mass index, injection site, level of the injection, disc herniation level and visual analog scale score, Oswestry Disability Index, and five-point patient satisfaction questionnaire were recorded before and following the procedure. RESULTS: A total of 96 patients were included in this study. The mean age was 52.28±14.12 and 55 (57.3%) of the patients were female. The mean visual analog scale value and Oswestry Disability Index score were significantly decreased consecutively after the procedure (p<0.05). The mean patient satisfaction questionnaire score increased gradually compared to the baseline scores (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that ESPB is an effective strategy to reduce the intensity of chronic low back pain with radicular symptoms in patients with lumbar disc herniation.

Seroprevalence of coxiellosis in cattle, sheep and people in the east of Turkey.

Serum samples collected randomly from 416 cattle in 48 herds, and 411 sheep in 47 flocks, in eight different locations in the east of Turkey between June and December 1998, were examined by indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) to determine the prevalence of Q fever. The age, sex, breed, tick control and abortion history of the animals were also recorded. In addition, 102 serum samples were collected from apparently healthy people who were at risk of contracting the disease, such as farmers, veterinarians, abattoir and laboratory workers, and veterinary students. Seropositivity was observed in 5-8 per cent (24/416) of the cattle in 17 (35-4 per cent) of the herds and in 10-5 per cent (43/411) of the sheep in 21 (44-7 per cent) of the flocks. Eight of the 102 people were seropositive, with the highest prevalence (12-0 per cent) in farmers and abattoir workers. All the seropositive farmers had seropositive animals. None of the laboratory workers or veterinary students was seropositive.

Isolation of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli from the gall bladder samples of sheep and identification by polymerase chain reaction.

In this study, 100 gall bladder samples of sheep slaughtered at an abattoir in Elazig province were examined for Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli by culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Preston Campylobacter Agar supplemented with 7% horse blood and Preston Selective Supplement (Oxoid, Hampshire, UK) were used for isolation of the agents. Campylobacter spp. were isolated in 66 samples, and they were identified as 34% C. jejuni and 32% C. coli. A multiplex PCR based upon the use of ceuE gene-specific primers was applied on DNA samples extracted from C. jejuni and C. coli isolates. All C. jejuni and C. coli strains that were positive by culture were also detected to be positive by PCR. This study shows that PCR can be used an alternative, rapid and sensitive test for the identification of C. jejuni and C. coli which threaten human and animal health.