Objective : To assess the effectiveness of conservative therapy in carpal tunnel syndrome.
Data sources : A computer-aided search of MEDLINE and the Cochrane Collaboration was conducted for ...randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from January 1985 to May 2006.
Review methods : RCTs were included if: (1) the patients, with clinically and electrophysiologically confirmed carpal tunnel syndrome, had not previously undergone surgical release, (2) the efficacy of one or more conservative treatment options was evaluated, (3) the study was designed as a randomized controlled trial. Two reviewers independently selected the studies and performed data extraction using a standardized form. In order to assess the methodological quality, the criteria list of the Cochrane Back Review Group for systematic reviews was applied. The different treatment methods were grouped (local injections, oral therapies, physical therapies, therapeutic exercises and splints).
Results : Thirty-three RCTs were included in the review. The studies were analysed to determine the strength of the available evidence for the efficacy of the treatment. Our review shows that: (1) locally injected steroids produce a significant but temporary improvement, (2) vitamin B6 is ineffective, (3) steroids are better than non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and diuretics, but they can produce side-effects, (4) ultrasound is effective while laser therapy shows variable results, (5) exercise therapy is not effective, (6) splints are effective, especially if used full-time.
Conclusion : There is: (1) strong evidence (level 1) on efficacy of local and oral steroids; (2) moderate evidence (level 2) that vitamin B6 is ineffective and splints are effective and (3) limited or conflicting evidence (level 3) that NSAIDs, diuretics, yoga, laser and ultrasound are effective whereas exercise therapy and botulinum toxin B injection are ineffective.
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NUK, ODKLJ, OILJ, SAZU, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The FAZIA apparatus exploits Pulse Shape Analysis (PSA) to identify nuclear fragments stopped in the first layer of a Silicon-Silicon-CsI(Tl) detector telescope. In this work, for the first time, we ...show that the isotopes of fragments having atomic number as high as Z∼20 can be identified. Such a remarkable result has been obtained thanks to a careful construction of the Si detectors and to the use of low noise and high performance digitizing electronics. Moreover, optimized PSA algorithms are needed. This work deals with the choice of the best algorithm for PSA of current signals. A smoothing spline algorithm is demonstrated to give optimal results without requiring too much computational resources.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
The energy loss profiles of different ion beams (6Li, 27Al and 50Ti) impinging on CF4, isobutane and P10 have been measured with the active target ACTAR TPC demonstrator. The pressure of the gas, ...monitored during the experiment, has been chosen in order to stop the ions inside the active zone. Starting from the energy loss calculation produced by the SRIM code, the experimental ion tracks have been simulated, taking into account the effect of the thermal diffusion of electrons during their drift towards the pad plane under the effect of a uniform electric field. The uncertainty in the geometry, mainly due to the thickness and deformation of the mylar interface window between the gas volume and the high vacuum line, has been taken into account. A good agreement is obtained between the experimental and simulated energy loss profiles.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Abstract
The onset of Multifragmentation phenomenon is investigated at low excitation energies. A detailed study on the origin of Intermediate Mass Fragment (IMF, Z>=3) produced in central collisions ...in the
58
Ni+
40
Ca reaction at 25 AMeV is presented. The experimental campaign was performed with CHIMERA multi-detector at INFN Laboratori Nazionali del Sud in Catania (Italy). The multiple identification techniques of the 4p apparatus, together with low detection thresholds, enable the performance of a careful selection of Fusion-evaporation residues, Multifragmentation sources and their decay products. Comparisons with dynamical approach based on Boltzmann-Langevin-One-Body (BLOB) model predictions coupled with sequential emission code, were used as useful tools to depict and understand the characteristics of fragments emitted from an equilibrated compound nucleus or formed simultaneously in the multifragmenting source. A comparison with the preliminary results obtained for fragment production in central collisions of the same system,
58
Ni+
40
Ca, at higher incident energies E
beam
=35AMeV, allows to study and characterize the evolution of multifragmentation phenomenon at the lower end of Fermi energies.
Abstract
The recently coupled INDRA-FAZIA apparatus offers unique opportunities to investigate heavy ion collisions at Fermi energies by combining the optimal identification capabilities of FAZIA and ...the large angular coverage of INDRA. We present a selection of the results of the analysis of the first experimental campaign performed with INDRA-FAZIA, in which the four reactions
58,64
Ni+
58,64
Ni have been studied at two different beam energies (32 and 52 MeV/nucleon) in the intermediate energy regime. The present work is focused on the isospin diffusion effects in semiperipheral and peripheral collisions. A stronger isospin equilibration is found at 32 MeV/nucleon than at 52 MeV/nucleon, as expected due to a shorter projectile-target interaction time in the latter case.
By using freeze-out properties of multifragmenting hot nuclei produced in quasifusion central
129
Xe
+
nat
Sn
collisions at different beam energies (32, 39, 45 and 50 AMeV) which were estimated by ...means of a simulation based on experimental data collected by the
4
π
INDRA multidetector, heat capacity in the thermal excitation energy range 4–12.5 AMeV was calculated from total kinetic energies and multiplicities at freeze-out. The microcanonical formulation was employed. Negative heat capacity which signs a first order phase transition for finite systems is observed and confirms previous results using a different method.
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DOBA, EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OBVAL, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
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