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Background Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVD) is a main underlying cause for low back pain (LBP). Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) is a valuable tool used to measure patient’s low back functional outcome. Our aim is to evaluate the relation between clinical assessment of LBP and health related quality of life with the use of ODI and magnetic resonance image (MRI) findings in patients with degenerative prolapsed IVD disease. Result There was a significant correlation between Pfirrmann grades and ODI ( p < 0.0001) and with type of disc morphology mostly protrusion ( p < 0.0001) but insignificant correlation with visual analogue scale (VAS) ( p = 0.198) and most of the clinical parameters ( p > 0.05). There was a significant correlation between ODI and VAS ( p = 0.003). Higher Pfirrmann grades were found at lower lumbosacral levels L4-5 and L5-S1. Conclusion Higher Pfirrmann grades correlated with the increased ODI. No association was found between MRI grading in lumbosacral spine with pain intensity and most of the clinical parameters among persons with discogenic LBP. Chronic LBP is widely accepted to be a multifactorial disorder that could not be contained within a single lumbar compartment. Clinician should not depend on MRI findings only in the diagnosis. History from the patient and clinical examination is particularly important to reach the final diagnosis. ODI might be convenient in achieving patient’s confidence and decreasing unnecessary investigations.

Background Plantar fasciitis due to calcaneal spur is a common cause of heel pain and functional disability, and its management presents a huge challenge for clinicians which results sometimes in unpleasant clinical outcomes. The efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) as an alternative therapeutic option to surgical management after failure of conservative treatment has been addressed. Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy of ESWT in the treatment of plantar fasciitis in calcaneal spur patients using ultrasonography. Results The mean plantar fascia (PF) thickness was statistically significantly higher in the calcaneal spur patient group (5.66 ± 1.14 mm) than in the healthy control group (2.40 ± 0.35 mm), ( P = 0.001). Significant PF thickness reduction, visual analog scale (VAS), and Roles and Maudsley score (RMS) improvement were observed ( P < 0.001) after 4 sessions of ESWT. Conclusion PF thickness increases significantly in calcaneal spur patients and responds to treatment. ESWT decreases the thickness of the PF and improves pain and function significantly.

Background The association between carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and ulnar nerve entrapment is unclear, and the extra-median paresthesia in the ulnar nerve territory innervation in CTS is unexplained. Our purpose is to evaluate the neurophysiologic changes in ulnar nerve sensory fibers secondary to idiopathic CTS in comparison to normal subjects, and their relation to the severity of CTS. Results The difference between CTS and control hands regarding all parameters of ulnar motor nerve conduction studies (MNCS) was not statistically significant ( p > 0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in all parameters of median sensory conduction study (SCS) and MNCS between CTS and control hands ( p < 0.0001) except for conduction velocity and in all parameters of median and ulnar SCS recording digit 4 (D4) ( p < 0.05). The mean value of abnormalities of ulnar SCS recording D4 and digit 5 (D5) was significantly higher in moderate and severe CTS hands ( p < 0.05). There were significant negative correlations between median motor and sensory latency and ulnar sensory amplitude recording D4 and D5. Conclusion Ulnar sensory nerve abnormalities exist among CTS patients, which were more in moderate and severe grades. The drop in amplitude of ulnar nerve sensory response argues in favor of the possible impact of CTS on the ulnar nerve and did not indicate axonal deterioration of the ulnar nerve.

Europium (III) with different concentrations (0.2, 0.4 and 0.8 %)-TiO2 doped silica composite systems were sensitized by sol–gel method. Different spectroscopic and microscopic tools characterized the composites. The Europium ion incorporated into the liquid silica–titania solution acts as red light emission center in the luminescent materials. This luminescent nano composite pigment has great potential of application in preparing luminescent ink. Inkjet printer loaded with the prepared ink to show its potential usage as tagging material performed the printing test on a white paper.