BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We determined the reliability of ultrasonography (US) measurements for diagnosing carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and their correlation with symptom duration and electrophysiology findings. We determined whether the ratio of the median-to-ulnar cross-sectional areas (CSAs) can support CTS diagnoses. METHODS: The pisiform CSA (CSA(pisiform)), swelling ratio (SR), palmar bowing, and CSA(pisiform)/ulnar CSA (CSA(ulnar)) measurements made in two subgroups of CTS patients (having sensory affection alone or having both sensory and motor affection) were compared with controls. CSA(ulnar) was measured in Guyon's canal at the level of most-protuberant portion of the pisiform bone. RESULTS: The values of all of the measured US parameters were higher in patients with CTS (n=50) than in controls (n=62). CSA(pisiform) could be used to diagnose CTS of mild severity. All of the parameters were positively correlated with the distal latency of the compound muscle action potential, and all of them except for SR were negatively correlated with the sensory nerve conduction velocity. A CSA(pisiform)/CSA(ulnar) ratio of ≥1.79 had a sensitivity of 70% and a specificity of 76% for diagnosing CTS. CONCLUSIONS: Only CSA(pisiform) measurements were reliable for diagnosing early stages of CTS, and CSA(pisiform)/CSA(ulnar) had a lower diagnostic value for diagnosing CTS.
Action Potentials ; Carpal Tunnel Syndrome* ; Diagnosis ; Electrophysiology ; Humans ; Neural Conduction* ; Pisiform Bone ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We determined the reliability of ultrasonography (US) measurements for diagnosing carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and their correlation with symptom duration and electrophysiology findings. We determined whether the ratio of the median-to-ulnar cross-sectional areas (CSAs) can support CTS diagnoses. METHODS: The pisiform CSA (CSA(pisiform)), swelling ratio (SR), palmar bowing, and CSA(pisiform)/ulnar CSA (CSA(ulnar)) measurements made in two subgroups of CTS patients (having sensory affection alone or having both sensory and motor affection) were compared with controls. CSA(ulnar) was measured in Guyon's canal at the level of most-protuberant portion of the pisiform bone. RESULTS: The values of all of the measured US parameters were higher in patients with CTS (n=50) than in controls (n=62). CSA(pisiform) could be used to diagnose CTS of mild severity. All of the parameters were positively correlated with the distal latency of the compound muscle action potential, and all of them except for SR were negatively correlated with the sensory nerve conduction velocity. A CSA(pisiform)/CSA(ulnar) ratio of ≥1.79 had a sensitivity of 70% and a specificity of 76% for diagnosing CTS. CONCLUSIONS: Only CSA(pisiform) measurements were reliable for diagnosing early stages of CTS, and CSA(pisiform)/CSA(ulnar) had a lower diagnostic value for diagnosing CTS.
Action Potentials ; Carpal Tunnel Syndrome* ; Diagnosis ; Electrophysiology ; Humans ; Neural Conduction* ; Pisiform Bone ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: Smoking, alcohol use, performing regular physical exercise, dietary habits, and anxiety level may cause platelet activation. We aimed to evaluate the anxiety levels, smoking status, alcohol intake, and sportive habits of donors, and determine their impact on the quality of apheresis-platelets.METHODS: State and Transient Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was used to determine the level of donors' anxiety. STAI has two subscales: S-anxiety scale (STAI-I) and T-anxiety scale (STAI-II), each comprising 20 questions rated on a 4-point Likert scale. Data on smoking, alcohol consumption, and performing regular physical exercise were obtained from a questionnaire filled out before donation. Flow cytometric analysis was used to quantify activated platelets.RESULTS: The STAI-I level of 86 participants was normal, while that of 12 was higher. No significant difference was found in the active platelet absolute count [1.8×10¹¹ (2.7) and 1.4×10¹¹ (1.3), respectively; P=0.665] between donors with normal STAI-I levels and those with higher STAI-I levels. Of 98 donors, 42 had normal STAI-II levels, while 56 had higher STAI-II levels. No significant difference was found in the active platelet absolute count [2.3×10¹¹ (3.1) and 1.5×10¹¹ (2.3), respectively; P=0.224] between donors with normal STAI-II levels and those with higher STAI-II levels. Platelet counts of individuals who perform regular physical exercise were significantly higher than those of individuals who did not perform regular physical exercise (6.3±1.4×10¹¹ vs. 5.5±1.4×10¹¹).CONCLUSION: The quality of apheresis platelets is not affected by anxiety levels and lifestyle characteristics of blood donors. There is no need to organize apheresis blood donor pool considering with these subjects.
Alcohol Drinking ; Anxiety ; Blood Component Removal ; Blood Donors ; Blood Platelets ; Exercise ; Food Habits ; Humans ; Life Style ; Platelet Activation ; Platelet Count ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Tissue Donors