Evaluation of Diuretic and Antioxidant Properties in Aqueous Bark and Fruit Extracts of Pine

Comparison of Effects of Ultrasound Therapy and Nerve-Gliding Techniques on Patients with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common neuropathy caused by pressure on the median nerve in the wrist, affecting 1% to 5% of the population. Treatment options include pharmacologic management, rest, splints, local steroid injections, and physical therapy. Conservative treatments, such as ultrasound therapy and nerve-gliding exercises, can also be effective.

Objectives

This study aimed to compare the effects of ultrasound therapy and nerve-gliding exercises on reducing symptoms, improving hand function, and electrodiagnostic tests in patients with CTS.

Methods

This randomized clinical trial was conducted on patients with CTS at the specialized physical medicine and rehabilitation clinic at Birjand University of Medical Sciences. The study included 48 patients with CTS, divided into two groups. The ultrasound group received therapy at a frequency of 1 MHz and a current intensity of 1 watt/cm², with each session lasting 5 minutes. The nerve-gliding group underwent 10 sessions of treatment, three times a week. Pain intensity was evaluated using VAS criteria, symptom intensity using the BOSTON Questionnaire, and median nerve latency with EMG-NCS.

Results

The study included 48 patients with CTS, divided into two groups. Both groups showed improved severity of symptoms and function scores at the end of the study (P < 0.001). The ultrasound group significantly reduced the sensory and motor median nerve latency scores (P < 0.001 and P = 0.001, respectively), and the pain score diminished significantly in both groups (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Ultrasound and neural-gliding techniques are effective in reducing patients' symptoms and pain intensity in the short term. Additionally, ultrasound can improve electrodiagnostic indicators.

Effect of Quamoclit angulata Extract Supplementation on Oxidative Stress and Inflammation on Hyperglycemia-Induced Renal Damage in Type 2 Diabetic Mice

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is caused by abnormalities of controlling blood glucose and insulin homeostasis. Especially, hyperglycemia causes hyper-inflammation through activation of NLRP3 inflammasome, which can lead to cell apoptosis, hypertrophy, and fibrosis. Quamoclit angulata (QA), one of the annual winders, has been shown ameliorative effects on diabetes. The current study investigated whether the QA extract (QAE) attenuated hyperglycemia-induced renal inflammation related to NLRP inflammasome and oxidative stress in high fat diet (HFD)-induced diabetic mice. After T2DM was induced, the mice were treated with QAE (5 or 10 mg/kg/day) by gavage for 12 weeks. The QAE supplementation reduced homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), kidney malfunction, and glomerular hypertrophy in T2DM. Moreover, the QAE treatment significantly attenuated renal NLRP3 inflammasome dependent hyper-inflammation and consequential renal damage caused by oxidative stress, apoptosis, and fibrosis in T2DM. Furthermore, QAE normalized aberrant energy metabolism (downregulation of p-AMPK, sirtuin (SIRT)-1, and PPARγ-coactivator α (PGC-1 α)) in T2DM mice. Taken together, the results suggested that QAE as a natural product has ameliorative effects on renal damage by regulation of oxidative stress and inflammation in T2DM.