Electrodiagnostic evaluation of radicular LBP is one of the valuable measures in detecting lumbosacral root lesion and it is comparable to CT-Myelography. This study were carried out on over 151 patients including 114 male and 37 female between 16 to 60 year old of age from August 1996 to August 1997 in Military Hospital No: 501 of Medical 5cience University for the Army of Islamic Republic of Iran. The study included nerve conduction studies and needle electromyography and following results obtained all sensory NC5 were Normal Amplitude of tibial and deep peroneal nerves were decreased in 4 and 9 cases, respectively. H-reflex was impaired in 33 patients. Needle electromyography studies recorded from L1 to 53 myotomes revealed33% involvement and involved roots in order of increasing frequency which were S3,S4<L3,L2<L4<51 <L5. Finally according to this study we recommend that increased insertional activities and early polyphasic motor units action potentia Is be regarded as root irritation and fibrillation potentials, positive sharp waves, long duration high amplitude and polyphasic motor unit action potentials as roots lesion.

Background: Angioaccess is one of the main treatment procedures for surgeons considering dialysis patients. End stage renal disease patients have to spend most of their lives under dialysis; therefore, given the high expenditure of angioaccess surgeries, this study was conducted to evaluate the patency rate and complications of arteriovenous access operations.Methods: In this prospective study, 169 patients underwent 311 access surgeries for hemodialysis. Data was collected through questionnaires and analyzed by SPSS.Findings: Life table analysis showed that of 169 patients with fistulas, 84.9% of cases were patent after 2 months, and 80.5% and 73% were patent after 4 and 6 months, respectively. There was no significant difference between diabetic and non-diabetic patients patency rate in cubital access, but the patency rate in distal fistulas was significantly lower in diabetics. Different complications were recorded in 48.6% of patients, mainly heart failure and mild edema.Conclusion: Diabetes was higher among our cases than normal population which can be due to poor screening programs and low information on risks and correct follow-up of patients. In diabetic patients, cubital fistulas should be considered prior to distal accesses. Complication rate in our study was higher than those reported. Since complications are significantly surgeon dependent, more attention to residential education and participating in related workshops can be helpful.

Lumbosacral radicular pain (LRP) is usually caused by herniation of intervertebral discs and is characterized by pain arising in the back and radiating to the lower extremities. The current study evaluated the efficacy of gray ramus communicans nerve block (GRCNB) in decreasing LRP in patients with intervertebral disc herniation who underwent transforaminal epidural block. Thirty patients with magnetic resonance imaging indicating a disc herniation on the L4-L5 level participated in this study. All patients were randomly divided into two groups: one whose members underwent GRCNB (n=15) after transforaminal epidural block, and a second group (n=15) whose members underwent only transforaminal epidural block on L4-L5 on the affected side. Follow-up after the procedure ran for a period ranging from 6 to 10 months (mean=8.2±2.1 months) for radicular pain score and the need for analgesics. The mean age of the patients was 54.8±18.4 years (range: 30-65 years). LRP duration in all patients before the procedure was 6-24 months (mean: 12±10.9 months), and there was no significant difference between the two groups. A greater reduction in the numerical rating scale (NRS) one week, 1, and 6 months after the procedure was observed in the group with GRCNB compared to the other group. The reduction in need for analgesics one week, 1, and 6 months after the procedure was statistically significant in the group with GRCNB compared to the group without GRCNB. No major complications were observed in any of the patients in either group. GRCNB is effective in reducing radicular pain and the need for analgesics in patients with lumbosacral radicular pain.

Up to now, no complete study was carried out about the prevalence and location of periapical granuloma and radicular cysts from the point of view of clinical symptoms (e.g. pain and swelling fistula) in Iran. The data was collected from the files available in the Department of Pathology, faculty of Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences. With a consideration on different therapeutic methods, a proper method was selected. Radicular cyst occurred in 59.3 percent of 324 cases while 45.7 percent were granuloma. The most common incidence of these lesions was in the range of 24-25 years old. The most common location of lesions was the maxillary anterior. Sinus tracts occurred in 74 of all cases. 47.3 percent of these patients have been previously received root canal therapy. It is noticeable that 24 percent of all patients were treated endodontically before surgery. Higher incidence of granuloma occurred in small lesions while cysts were more common in large lesions. 232 of all cases showed one of the clinical symptoms, 16% pain, 35.8% swelling and 22.8% fistula. No symptoms were found in 92 cases.

Background: While considering the rise in the mean age of the chronic renal failure (CRF) patients and increasing frequency of those who need constant hemodialysis, the creation of a native arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is not possible, which could be due to the inaccessibility of the superficial veins. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of the vascular access, using cryopreserved jugular vein.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 15 sheep (Wt.= 30-40 kg) were selected between the year 2001 and 2002. The external jugular vein of each sheep was excised and after cryopreservation was put in liquid nitrogen (-196°C). Twenty-eight days later, the sample veins were used as allograft (in another sheep), and autograft (in the same sheep) and were placed between carotid artery and external jugular vein as bridge AVF. The efficacy, function, and patency were evaluated using doppler sonography and pathologic report.Results: Patency rate of sample was 100% after 3 months in both allografts and autografts. Thrombosis, hematoma, and infection were not seen. No inflammation was detected in pathologic report.Conclusion: This study showed that using allograft vein for vascular access is feasible and suitable, and it is recommended specially for those with previously infected fistula.