Uncommon causes of nerve compression in the distal forearm

IntroductionNerve compression by anomalous masses located at the wrist and distal forearm is an infrequent condition. They may compress underlying structures in the carpal tunnel region, causing pain and paresthesias, which leads to the wrong diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome.Clinical casesWe present three cases of patients with symptomatology and clinical tests compatible with compression of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel but whose physical examination showed a soft mass in the distal region of the forearm which was compressing the median nerve, as demonstrated by ultrasound evaluation.DiscussionThe reported cases of accessory muscles or lipomas described in the literature as causes of median nerve compression clinic are mainly described only after the surgical decompression of the carpal tunnel, due to the maintenance of residual symptoms.ConclusionCareful examination with an ultrasound evaluation prior to surgery may help to identify these cases and help planning surgical treatment.     

The influence of a diet based on flaxseed,an omega-3 source,during different developmental periods,on the blood pressure of rats submitted to stress

Objective: This study aimed to investigate a flaxseed diet during different developmental periods, and its effect on the blood pressure of rats submitted to stress.

Methods: Fifty-six male rats (F₁), born from 14 rats (F₀), were divided into seven groups (n?=?8): flaxseed group (FG); flaxseed group gestation and lactation (FG-GL); flaxseed group weaning (FG-W); flaxseed group weaning and stress (FG-WS); flaxseed group stress (FG-S); flaxseed group gestation lactation and weaning (FG-GLW), and control Group (CG). Stress protocol was undertaken for 1 month. Blood pressure was analysed before and after the stress protocol. The left adrenal glands and serum corticosterone levels were analysed.

Results: Systolic blood pressure before stress was lower in all groups with flaxseed diet compared with the CG (p?=?.00001). After stress, CG showed higher blood pressure compared with FG, FG-GL, and FG-GLW (p?=?.004). The levels of corticosterone were lower in the FG between all groups (p?p?Conclusions: Results suggest a possible factor from a flaxseed diet against the effects of stress on a blood pressure in all periods of life but especially in the gestation and lactation periods.