Association of vitamin D deficiency and subclinical diabetic peripheral neuropathy in type 2 diabetes patients

Background

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) contributes to disability and imposes heavy burdens, while subclinical DPN is lack of attention so far. We aimed to investigate the relationship between vitamin D and distinct subtypes of subclinical DPN in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 3629 T2DM inpatients who undertook nerve conduction study to detect subclinical DPN in Zhongshan Hospital between March 2012 and December 2019. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) level < 50 nmol/L.

Results

1620 (44.6%) patients had subclinical DPN and they were further divided into subgroups: distal symmetric polyneuropathy (DSPN) (n=685), mononeuropathy (n=679) and radiculopathy (n=256). Compared with non-DPN, DPN group had significantly lower level of 25(OH)D (P < 0.05). In DPN subtypes, only DSPN patients had significantly lower levels of 25(OH)D (36.18 ± 19.47 vs. 41.03 ± 18.47 nmol/L, P < 0.001) and higher proportion of vitamin D deficiency (78.54% vs. 72.18%, P < 0.001) than non-DPN. Vitamin D deficiency was associated with the increased prevalence of subclinical DPN [odds ratio (OR) 1.276, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.086-1.501, P = 0.003] and DSPN [OR 1. 646, 95% CI 1.31-2.078, P < 0.001], independent of sex, age, weight, blood pressure, glycosylated hemoglobin, T2DM duration, calcium, phosphorus, parathyroid hormone, lipids and renal function. The association between vitamin D deficiency and mononeuropathy or radiculopathy was not statistically significant. A negative linear association was observed between 25(OH)D and subclinical DSPN. Vitamin D deficiency maintained its significant association with subclinical DSPN in all age groups.

Conclusions

Vitamin D deficiency was independently associated with subclinical DSPN, rather than other DPN subtypes.

Quantitative parameters of diffusion tensor imaging in the evaluation of carpal tunnel syndrome

BACKGROUND

To explore the value of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)-derived metrics in quantitative evaluation of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).

METHODS

This prospective cross-sectional study included 39 wrists from 24 symptomatic CTS patients, who underwent clinical, electrophysiological, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluations. In addition, 10 wrists of 6 healthy participants were included as controls. Clinical and nerve conduction study (NCS) findings were evaluated and graded according to the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) and the American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM), respectively. We performed MRI using a 1.5 Tesla scanner. Mean diffusivity (MD), fractional anisotropy (FA), axial diffusivity (AD), and radial diffusivity (RD) of the median nerve at the distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) (d), the inlet of the carpal tunnel (CT) at the pisiform level (i), the middle of the CT (m) and the outlet of the CT at the level of the hook of hamate (o), cross-sectional area at the inlet of the CT (iCSA), and the difference between MD and FA of the DRUJ and the outlet of CT (Delta MD and Delta FA) were measured.

RESULTS

The CTS patients had significantly lower FA [for example, oFA: mean difference 0.09, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.05 to 0.12] and significantly higher MD than healthy participants (for example, iMD: mean difference 0.3, 95% CI: 0.03 to 0.57). There was a negative correlation between iCSA with iFA and between mFA and oFA (-0.5

CONCLUSIONS

The DTI-derived quantitative metrics add potential value to the evaluation of CTS. Alterations in the FA of the median nerve along the CT are the most significant features of CTS and reflect the degree of median nerve compression and clinical deficit. With a cutoff value of 0.45, FA at the carpal outlet has a sensitivity and specificity of 87.5% and 85.7% in the diagnosis of CTS, respectively.

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Key Words

• Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire
• Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS)
• apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC)
• diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)
• fraction anisotropy
• magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• nerve conduction study (NCS)

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Affiliation(s)

Nhu Quynh Vo Department of Radiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Hue, Vietnam
Ngoc Thanh Hoang Department of Radiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Hue, Vietnam
Duy Duan Nguyen Department of Internal Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Hue, Vietnam
Thi Hieu Dung Nguyen Department of Physiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Hue, Vietnam
Trong Binh Le Department of Radiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Hue, Vietnam
Nghi Thanh Nhan Le Department of Surgery, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Hue, Vietnam
Thanh Thao Nguyen Department of Radiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Hue, Vietnam

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Study on the Validity of Surface Electromyography as Assessment Tools for Facial Nerve Palsy

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to find out validity of Surface Electromyography(sEMG) compared with Nerve Conduction Study and clinical assessment scale as assessment factors for facial palsy.

Methods

We investigated 50 cases of patients with peripheral facial palsy who had records of sEMG and NCS to check. Then we analyzed the correlation between sEMG and NCS that carried out around 1 week after onset. And we analyzed the correlation between sEMG and clinical assessment scales that were measured three times around 1 week, 3–4 weeks and 5–6 weeks after onset. Clinical assessment scales used in this study were House-brackmann grade, Yanagihara unweighted grading scale and Sunnybrook facial grading system. We used Pearson’s correlation for statistical analysis.

Results

sEMG and NCS, measured at similar times, were statistically correlated. Especially, the correlation with the forehead region was high. And sEMG and clinical assessment scale, measured at same time, were statistically correlated, especially after 5 weeks from onset.

Conclusion

According to this study, sEMG is expected to be useful to assessment facial palsy.

Bulbocavernosus Reflex Test for Diagnosis of Pudendal Nerve Injury in Female Patients with Diabetic Neurogenic Bladder

The study was designed to investigate the clinical application and significance of the bulbocavernosus reflex (BCR) test for diagnosing diabetic neurogenic bladder (DNB) in female subjects. In this study, 68 female patients with DNB and 40 female normal controls were subjected to a nerve conduction study (NCS) of all four limbs and the BCR test. The data were analyzed and compared, and the corresponding diagnostic sensitivities were discussed. Mean BCR latency for female DNB patients was significantly prolonged, compared to that of the control group, suggesting pudendal nerve injuries in female DNB patients. Moreover, DNB patients were categorized according to the diabetes course. Compared to that of Group A (diabetes course < 5 y), the mean BCR latency was significantly prolonged in Group B (diabetes course between 5 and 10 y) and then further prolonged in Group C (diabetes course > 10 y), which were all longer than the control group. Furthermore, compared with that of the controls, the mean BCR latency was prolonged in DNB patients with or without NCS abnormalities in limbs. Nevertheless, no significant difference was observed in BCR latency between DNB patients with and without NCS abnormalities. Significantly increasing trends were also observed in the NCS and BCR abnormality rates along with increased diabetes course. Most importantly, compared with the NCS of limbs, the BCR test was more sensitive in diagnosing DNB in the female subjects. Overall, our findings suggest that the BCR test would help to assess the pudendal nerve injury in female DNB patients, which might be a potential diagnostic tool in the clinic.

Nerve conduction study among healthy malays. The influence of age, height and body mass index on median, ulnar, common peroneal and sural nerves

Nerve conduction study is essential in the diagnosis of focal neuropathies and diffuse polyneuropathies. Age, height and body mass index (BMI) can affect nerve velocities as reported by previous studies. We studied the effect of these factors on median, ulnar, common peroneal and sural nerves among healthy Malay subjects. We observed slowing of nerve conduction velocities (NCVs) with increasing age and BMI (except ulnar sensory velocities). No demonstrable trend can be seen across different height groups except in common peroneal nerve.