Muscle cross-section measurement by magnetic resonance imaging

Summary Muscle cross-section areas were measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the thigh of a human cadaver,. the results being compared with those obtained by photography of corresponding anatomic macroslices. A close correlation was found between MRI and photographic evaluation, differences between the methods ranging from nil to 9.5%, depending on the scan position and the muscle groups. In vivo MRI measurements were performed on 12 female and 16 male students, the objectivity, the test-retest reliability and the variability of the MRI measurements being studied by fixing the scan position either manually or by coronary scan. The latter method appeared to be more objective and reliable. The coefficients of variation for muscle cross-section areas measured by MRI were in the range of those for the planimetry of given cross-section areas. Allowing for differentiation between several small muscle bundles in a given area, MRI proved to be a suitable method to quantify muscle cross-sections for intra- and interindividual analysis of muscle size.     

Effect of Psoas Training on Postmenopausal Lumbar Bone Loss: A 3-Year Follow-Up Study

The present study completed a previous randomized trial that demonstrated the protective effect of 1-year psoas training on lumbar bone loss in postmenopausal women. Computerized tomography had been carried out at the beginning (CT1) and at the end (CT2) of this trial. In the present study, 67 women having completed the first trial were asked to practice psoas exercises (60 hip flexions in sitting position with a 5 kg weight on the knee) for 2 additional years with a third CT control at the end of this period (CT3). The aim of this complementary study was to assess the compliance rate and long-term effect on bone of daily psoas muscle training over a longer period. Twenty-one women performed this daily psoas training for 3 years from CT1 to CT3, and 14 acted as controls during the same period. Fourteen women were controls during the first year (from CT1 to CT2) but practiced psoas training during the following 2 years (from CT2 to CT3). Four women were psoas trained during the first year (from CT1 to CT2) and subsequently crossed over to the control group for the last 2 years. The compliance rate was 42%, with an attendance rate of 88%. The lumbar bone loss was lower in the 21 women trained over the 3 years (−3.26 ± 28.45 mg/cm³) than in the 14 untrained women (−16.79 ± 8.51 mg/cm³) (P= 0.02). The bone loss was not significantly reduced between the two periods of the study in the 12 women having been controls from CT1 to CT2 and having crossed over to the active training group from CT2 to CT3. Psoas training may be effective against lumbar bone loss. We conclude that specific training may play a contributing role in the preventive strategy to avoid osteoporosis. Received: 23 February 1996 / Accepted: 25 October 1996     

Influence of muscle activation dynamics on reaction time in the elderly

The aim of this investigation was to determine whether age-related changes in the dynamics of muscle activation were, in part, responsible for longer reaction times (RT) in the elderly. A group of 12 young (mean age, 20.6 years) and 12 elderly (mean age, 64.3 years) women performed a series of ballistic forearm supination movements in response to an auditory stimulus while using a simple reaction time test. Surface electromyographic waveforms from biceps brachii (agonist) and pronator teres (antagonist) muscles were recorded, together with the angle-time curves representing the motion of the forearm, on to an IBM compatible microcomputer. The results showed that an age-related increase (P<0.05) in motor reaction time (MRT) contributed to longer RT in the elderly. In addition, the longer (P<0.05) MRTs in the elderly were associated with a significantly slower rate (P<0.05) of biceps brachii muscle activation and a significantly increased proportion (P<0.05) of the initial biceps brachii muscle burst required to initiate the movement. This data suggested that an important part of the slowing of motor behaviour, commonly observed with increasing age, may be due to either decreases in the ability of aged skeletal muscle to rapidly generate tension or to a reduction in motor drive.     

Bone Mass in Female Volleyball Players: A Comparison of Total and Regional Bone Mass in Female Volleyball Players and Nonactive Females

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate bone mass in female athletes participating in an impact loading sport (volleyball), and especially to investigate whether any changes in bone mass might be related to the type and magnitude of weightbearing loading and muscle strength. The volleyball group consisted of 13 first division players (age 20.9 ± 3.7 years) training for about 8 hours/week, and the reference group consisted of 13 nonactive females (age 25.0 ± 2.4 years) not participating in any kind of regular or organized sport activity. The groups were matched according to weight and height. Areal bone mineral density (BMD) was measured in total body, head, lumbar spine, femoral neck, Ward's triangle, trochanter, the whole femur, and humerus using dual-energy-X-ray absorptiometry. Isokinetic concentric peak torque of the quadricep and hamstring muscles was measured using an isokinetic dynamometer. Compared with the controls, the volleyball players had a significantly (P < 0.05–0.01) higher BMD of the total body (6.1%), lumbar spine (13.2%), femoral neck (15.8%), Ward's triangle (17.9%), trochanter (18.8%), nondominant femur (8.2%), and humerus (dominant 9.5%, nondominant 10.0%), but not of the head and the dominant whole femur. The dominant humerus showed significantly higher BMD than the nondominant humerus in both the volleyball and nonactive group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in muscle strength of the thigh between the two groups. In the nonactive group, muscle strength in the quadriceps, and especially hamstrings, was correlated to BMD of the adjacent bones (whole femur, hip sites) and also to distant sites (humerus). However, in the volleyball group there were no correlations between muscle strength and BMD of the adjacent bones, but quadricep strength correlated to BMD of the humerus. These results clearly show that young female volleyball players have a high bone mass. The demonstrated high bone mass seems to be related to the type of loading subjected to each BMD site. Muscle strength of the thigh seems to have little impact on BMD in female volleyball players. Received: 18 June 1996 / Accepted: 31 October 1996     

Predicted and Measured Muscle Forces after Recoveries of Differing Durations Following Fatigue in Functional Electrical Stimulation

Abstract: Using ³¹P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, the bioenergetics of paralyzed muscles activated by functional electrical stimulation (FES) were studied in vivo during fatigue and recovery on paraplegic subjects. During the activation phase of the muscle, the muscle force was also monitored. The phosphorus metabolites were found to vary systematically during fatigue and to recover slowly to their rest state values after cessation of FES. During fatigue, a good correlation was found between the decaying force and each of the profiles of phos-phocreatine, inorganic phosphorus, and intracellular pH. A musculotendon 5 element model was proposed for the activated muscle to predict its force generation capacity. A fatigue recovery function, based on the metabolic profiles, was introduced into the model. This model allowed us to predict the force expected to be developed as a function of the time after recovery of given time durations. Validation experimental measurements of force were carried out and included recurrent fatigue tests, both in the initially un-fatigued state and at various times in the postfatigue stage of the muscle. Comparison of the predicted and measured forces indicated satisfactory agreement of the results. The developed model of muscle dynamics should help to design a strategy for reducing muscle fatigue under FES.     

肌蒂移植术治疗陈旧性脊髓损伤(附56例报告)

作者采用肌蒂移植术治疗胸腰段陈旧性脊髓损伤56例.脊髓功能恢复率提高至Franke 1个等级以上者占76.8%(43/56).本文讨论了肌蒂移植术对陈旧性脊髓损伤的适应证.安徽省宿州市骨伤科医院淮北煤矿基建局医院     

细胞移植治疗心肌梗死的研究与展望

细胞移植是治疗心肌梗死的一种新策略,本文对目前应用于临床研究的骨骼肌卫星细胞移植及骨髓干细胞移植治疗心肌梗死的进展进行综述。上述两种细胞移植均具有来源丰富、无排斥反应的特点,而且通过研究观察表明,上述两种细胞移植后,心脏功能均能得到改善,故具有美好发展前景。但二者亦均具有不足之处和需要解决的问题,还需进一步研究与探索。     

选择性臂丛神经根切断治疗上肢痉挛脑瘫的远期疗效评价

目的评价选择性臂丛神经根切断治疗上肢痉挛性脑瘫的远期疗效。方法对1997年3月-2002年1月间施行选择性臂丛神经根切断术治疗上肢痉挛性脑瘫的患者，进行随访并对远期功能进行评价，采用Lazareg肌张力分级标准评定临床效果。结果16例17侧获得随访，随访时间为5．0～9．7年，平均8．6年。手术方式为选择性臂丛神经根全根切断10侧，部分切断2侧，高选择性分束切断5侧；其中切断神经根为颈63次，颈816次。术后远期疗效优3例，有效5例，无效8例9侧。结论选择性臂丛神经根切断治疗上肢痉挛性脑瘫远期大多数疗效下降和无效，但术前严格选择痉挛较局限的病例、术中进行高选择性臂丛神经根分束切断、术后坚持长期康复训练仍然能获得较好的疗效。     

血管平滑肌细胞凋亡及Bcl-2和Bax蛋白表达在自发性高血压大鼠颈动脉血管间质胶原重构及逆转中的意义

目的　探讨血管平滑肌细胞及Bcl 2和Bax蛋白表达在自发性高血压大鼠 (SHR)颈动脉血管间质胶原重构及逆转中的意义。方法　选择 16周龄雄性SHR各 12只分别为厄贝沙坦组 (30mg·kg- 1·d- 1 )和非厄贝沙坦组 ,另选同龄雄性Wistar大鼠 12只为正常对照组 ;颈总动脉切片采用HE染色、苦味酸一天狼星红 (PSR)染色、免疫组化法染色和末端脱氧核苷酸转移酶介导dUIP缺口末端标记法分别检测颈动脉壁厚 腔径比值、胶原面积百分比、Bcl 2和Bax蛋白表达和血管平滑肌细胞 (VSMC)凋亡率(APOI)。结果　非厄贝沙坦组颈动脉壁厚 腔径比值较正常对照组高 2 5 0 .11%± 15 .6 3% (P <0 .0 1) ,厄贝沙坦组治疗 2 0周后 ,较非厄贝沙坦组下降了 4 3.2 4 %± 8.6 2 % (P <0 .0 1) ;非厄贝沙坦组胶原面积百分比较正常对照组SBP高 2 0 1.6 7%± 16 .73% (P <0 .0 1) ,厄贝沙坦组治疗 2 0周后 ,较非厄贝沙坦组仅仅下降了 17.70 %± 6 .4 5 % (P <0 .0 1) ;非厄贝沙坦组的VSMC率APOI较正常对照组显著增高 ,经药物治疗后下降 ;非厄贝沙坦组的VSMCBcl 2蛋白表达阳性率明显高于正常对照组 ,用厄贝沙坦治疗后 ,VSMCBcl 2阳性率较非厄贝沙坦组明显减少 ;非厄贝沙坦组和正常对照组的VSMCBax蛋白表达阳性率无明显差别 ,用厄贝沙坦治疗后 ,VS