In vitro effects of some herbs used in Egyptian traditional medicine on viability of protoscolices of hydatid cysts.

The present work evaluated the effects of alcoholic extracts of salvia (Salvia officinalis), thyme (Thymus vulgaris), and 2 pure compounds (thymol and menthol) on the viability of Echinococcus granulosus protoscolices in vitro. Four different concentrations of each extract (2,500, 1,500, 1,000, and 500 µg/ml) and 3 different concentrations each of thymol and menthol (50, 10, and 1 µg/ml) were used. Concentration of 2,500 µg/ml of both extracts showed a significant protoscolicidal activity on the 6th day.

Diagnostic value of electrophysiological tests in patients with sciatica.

Objectives: To assess the diagnostic value of electrophysiological tests in patients with sciatica.

Materials And Methods: The diagnostic value of electrophysiological tests were evaluated in 25 patients with monoradicular sciatica. The electrophysiological study included dermatomal somatosensory evoked potentials, electromyography, F-wave latencies, H-reflexes and motor and sensory nerve conduction determinations.

Somatosensory evoked potentials from cervical and lumbosacral dermatomes.

A method for recording the somatosensory evoked potentials after stimulation of the cervical and lumbosacral dermatomes is described. Normative values and their ranges are given for each dermatome including left-right differences. A significant correlation was found between latencies and conduction distance.