Sonographic evaluation of the median nerve in diabetic patients: comparison with nerve conduction studies.

Objective: Diabetes mellitus is becoming a major cause of premature disability in Japan, and peripheral neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the results of nerve conduction studies (NCS) and the size of the nerve determined by sonography in diabetic patients.

Methods: Twenty diabetic patients (mean age +/- SD, 57.

[Equipment for epiduroscopy and its clinical applications].

Equipments for epiduroscopy consist of an epidural endoscope, video camera system, video screen, recording system and C arm X-ray system. Epidural endoscope with a diameter of 0.9 mm is inserted from the hiatus sacralis, and has been used clinically for the observation of epidural space of a lumbar vertebrae level since 1996.

[Autonomic nerve function in patients with systemic scleroderma using heart rate variability analysis].

We examined autonomic nerve function in patients with systemic scleroderma (SSc) using power spectral analysis of heart rate variability. In the SSc group, both in nighttime (0:00a.m.

Health-related quality of life after thoracoscopic sympathectomy for palmar hyperhidrosis.

Background: Palmar hyperhidrosis is a benign functional disorder regarded as a psychological and social handicap. Improvement of the quality of life is a major goal of treatment. However, little attention has been given to quality of life after thoracoscopic sympathectomy, which is the first line of treatment for palmar hyperhidrosis.

Heart rate recovery after exercise and neural regulation of heart rate variability in 30-40 year old female marathon runners.

The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of endurance training on heart rate (HR) recovery after exercise and cardiac autonomic nervous system (ANS) modulation in female marathon runners by comparing with untrained controls. Six female marathon runners (M group) aged 32-40 years and eight age-matched untrained females (C group) performed a maximum-effort treadmill running exercise. Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) was measured during the exercise with a gas analyzer connected to subjects through a face mask.

[Significance of the cardiovascular function tests in patients with collagen diseases, especially for SSc (systemic scleroderma)].

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the cardiovascular function in patients with incomplete type of SSc (SSSD; Scleroderma Sjögren syndrome associated Spectrum Disorders), SSc (Systemic Scleroderma) and SLE (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) by using ECG and digital plethysmograph. We also preformed ambulatory ECG monitoring for cases of SSSD and SSc with QT interval prolongation. 1) In ECG findings, ischemic myocardial damage, left ventricular hypertrophy or QT interval prolongation was observed in 33% cases of SSSD and 32% cases of SSc, respectively.