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Background and Objective: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is one of the most common disease among the entrapment neuropathies. The purposes of this study was to compare the efficacy of a new dorsal wrist splinting versus common palmar splinting for CTS based on sensory nerve conduction measurements. Materials and Methods: This single blind randomized control trial study was carried out on 22 idiopathic CTS patients. Subjects were randomly divided in two groups: Dorsal splint group (n=12) and palmar splint group (n=10). Both groups used splints for 4 weeks. Sensory conduction study of median nerve were done initially for having baseline and after 4 weeks follow up. SPSS-16 and Kolmogorov–Smirnov, independent T, and paired T tests were used for analysis of Data Results: After four weeks median nerve sensory distal latency and conduction velocity improved significantly in both groups (P<0.05). There was significant difference between both groups due to electro-diagnostic improvement. Conclusion: This study showed that based on electro-diagnostic method, dorsal wrist splint is more effective than cockup splint in carpal tunnel syndrome.

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Background and Objective: Leishmaniasis is one of the main Zoonotic Vector-Born disease which is transmitted by sand flies to human and animals. This study was carried out to determine the ecological characteristics of sand flies in Golestan province, North of Iran. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, 3 villages in Aliabad Katul district in north of Iran were selected according to rural geography distribution and positive detected samples of human infection during 2010-02. Sand flies were collected by sticky traps. Three places were sampled in each village and in indoor and outdoor places 10 traps were installed. Sand flies were collected and their species was determined. Results: Totally 299 sand flies (160 from indoors and 139 from outdoors) were collected and consequently, 7 species of sandflies were identified including 4 species of phlebotomus genus and 3 species of Sergentomiya genus Ph.papatasi (55%) and S.sintoni (51%) were predominant species in indoor resting places and outdoor places, respectively. Sand flies seasonal activity extended from mid May through early October. Sand flies had one peak of activity in early August. Among the detected species, S.hodgsoni reported for first time from Golestan province. Conclusion: Ph.papatasi was recognized as predominant species in Aliabad Katul district, Golestan provincein northern Iran.