Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is one of common peripheral nerve disorder which involves an entrapment neuropathy of the median nerve at the wrist which occurs either due to primary idiopathic cause or secondary to systemic causes. The diagnosis of CTS is clinical and supported by neurophysiological analysis. Surgical intervention is the main treatment modality.
Objective: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effectiveness of low level laser therapy (LLLT) to treat mild – moderate CTS cases.
Pateients and methods: The study involves 60 symptomatic patients complaining of CTS were divided into two groups. Group A was subjected to real LLLT by Gallium – Arsenide (Ga-As) laser (904 nm), whereas group B was subjected to sham laser. Thirty asymptomatic normal individuals as group C were subjected to real LLLT in the same protocol as that applied to CTS cases. The individuals were evaluated clinically and by nerve conduction studies (NCSs) at early time as baseline reading and immediately after the treatment and later on after two weeks from stopping the treatment sessions.
Results: LLLT showed significant pain reduction (70.9%) and improved latency and amplitude studies for sensory (16.7% and 29%, respectively) and motor (18% and 26%, respectively) median nerve fibers in patients group who were exposed to real laser therapy in comparison to sham group but normal individuals showed significant increment in motor amplitude (12%) after completing therapy sessions. Conduction velocity and minimal F wave latency studies did not show significant changes in all study groups.
Conclusion: LLLT is proved to be an effective, easy, handy, relatively safe, and noninvasive treatment modality for idiopathic CTS of mild – moderate severity. Broadening the spectrum of wavelengths and changing the power density and energy doses and enrolment of cases which has already been treated surgically still a hopeful view of using LLLT in CTS treatment for further investigations.
This paper demonstrates the spatial response uniformity (SRU) of two types of heterojunctions (CdS, PbS /Si) laser detectors. The spatial response nonuniformity of these heterojunctions is not significant and it is negligible in comparison with p+- n silicon photodiode. Experimental results show that the uniformity of CdS /Si is better than that of PbS /Si heterojunction
In this work, the copper metal was treated using Nd:YAG laser with energy 1Joul to enhance corrosion resistance and improve surface properties. The copper metal has many applications in industry as well as water, oil and gas pipes. The same conditions, (laser power density, scan speed, distance between paths, medium gas-air) were applied in the laser surface treatment, After laser treatment, the samples microstructures were investigated using optical microscope (OM) to examine micro structural changes due to laser irradiation. Specimen surfaces were investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), macro hardness, and corrosion test before and after laser treatment to
... Show MoreBackground: Acne is a common disorder experienced by adolescents and persists into adulthood in approximately 12%–14% of cases with psychological and social implications of high gravity. Fractional resurfacing employs a unique mechanism of action that repairs a fraction of skin at a time. The untreated healthy skin remains intact and actually aids the repair process, promoting rapid healing with only a day or two of downtime. Aims: This study, was designed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of fractional photothermolysis (fractionated Er: YAG laser 2940nm) in treating atrophic acne scars. Methods: 7 females and 3 males with moderate to severe atrophic acne scarring were enrolled in this study that attained private clinic for Derm
... Show MoreFour photosensitizers were used to test inhibitory effect of Helicobacter pylori bacteria using
low power helium: neon red laser radiation. Biopsies were collected from 176 patients and H. pylori were
isolated, identified and bacterial suspension was prepared. Samples of this suspension were mixed with
various low concentrations of the test sensitizer. The mixture samples were exposed to different laser
radiation doses. The samples were then inoculated and the inhibition zones were studied and compared
with their analogues of control samples. The most effective sensitizer with optimum concentration and
irradiation dose was determined. Statistical analysis of results was performed. The sensitizers' toluidine
blue and
Low grade crude palm oil (LGCPO) presents as an attractive option as feedstock for biodiesel production due to its low cost and non-competition with food resources. Typically, LGCPO contains high contents of free fatty acids (FFA), rendering it impossible in direct trans-esterification processes due to the saponification reaction. Esterification is the typical pre-treatment process to reduce the FFA content and to produce fatty acid methyl ester (FAME). The pre-treatment of LGCPO using two different acid catalysts, such as titanium oxysulphate sulphuric acid complex hydrate (TiOSH) and 5-sulfosalicylic acid dihydrate (5-SOCAH) was investigated for the first time in this study. The optimum conditions for the homogenous catalyst (5-SOCAH) wer
... Show MoreAim: surface modification of titanium using fiber laser 1064 nm to enhance the bond strength to resin cement. Material and Methods: thirty titanium discs of 0.6 cm x 0.3 cm (diameter and thickness respectively) were categorized after preparation into three groups (n=10) as follows: control group with no surface treatment and two test groups were treated with fiber laser after estimation the appropriate parameters in the pilot study which are 81 ns pulse duration, 30,000 Hz frequency, 50 µm spot size and 10,000 mm/s scanning speed and different average power values (10 W and 20 W) depending on the tested group. Titanium discs surface characterization was performed by scanning electron microscope (SEM), a
... Show MoreBackground: The combined pill includes a combination of an estrogen and a progestin. Users of these pills have an increased risk of developing thrombotic disorders compared to the non-users. Obesity is an independent risk factor for venous thromboembolism. Obesity with oral contraceptive use increases the risk of thrombosis furthermore.
Objectives: To assess the effects of these pills in obese and healthy non-obese women on factor VII activity and D-dimer level. Also to compare the thrombophilic effects of combined pills in women with control group of normal healthy non-users women.
Patients and Methods: This study was started on November 2014 and completed on March 2015, and included 50 females attended at Baghdad Teaching Hospita
In the present work, the feasibility of formation near-ideal ohmic behavior of In/n-Si contact efficiently by 300 s duration Nd:YAG pulsed laser processing has been recognized. Several laser pulses energy densities have been used, and the optimal energy density that gives best results is obtained. Topography of the irradiated region was extensively discussed and supported with micrographic illustrations to determine the surface condition that can play the important role in the ohmic contact quality. I-V characteristics in the forward and reverse bias and barrier height measurements have been studied for different irradiated samples to determine the laser energy density that gives best ohmic behavior. Comparing the current results with
... Show MoreThe goal of present study was to investigate the benefits of broccoli (as antiandrogenic plant) in protection and treatment for reproductive hormonal and metabolic disturbance, which combined with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). The PCOS model was introduced by injecting subcutaneously prepubertal female rats at 21 days old with Letrozole for 39 days, and divided into 6 groups (8 rats each ) as follows:
Group 1: Female rats were injected with 0.1 ml of normal saline. Group 2: Female rats were injected with 0.1 ml of 400 µg Letrozole Group 3: Female rats were injected with 0.1 ml of 400 µg L with orally gavaged of broccoli juice. Group 4: Female rats were injected with 0.1 ml of normal saline and at the end of the last