A sural nerve biopsy may be useful to enable the clinician to diagnose the etiology and underlying pathology of patients presenting with symptoms of a peripheral neuropathy, when no clear underlying cause has been determined with conventional assessment such as electrophysiology or quantitative sensory testing.
The Best Wildflower Hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains The Great Smoky Mountains are home to more than 1600 species of flowering plants. During each month of the year, some forb, tree or vine is blooming in the Smokies. During the spring, wildflowers explode during the brief window just prior to trees leafing out and shading the forest floor (from about mid-April thru mid-May).
Bigleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) have changed significantly in the past few years. While the big, blowsy flowers have always stolen the show in May and June, gardeners intent on having hydrangeas in their gardens can now select types that bloom throughout the summer. (Editor's Note: This article was originally published on July 30, 2009.