Needle electromyography

Physiologic assessment of diseases of the motor unit from the anterior horn cells to the muscles relies on a combination of needle electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies (NCS). Both require a unique combination of knowledge of peripheral nervous system anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, diseases, techniques, and electricity is necessary. Successful, high‐quality, reproducible EMG depends on the skills of a clinician in patient interaction during the physical insertion and movement of the needle while recording the electrical signals. These must be combined with the skill of analyzing electric signals recorded from muscle by auditory pattern recognition and semiquantitation. 10 , 52 This monograph reviews the techniques of needle EMG and waveform analysis and describes the types of EMG waveforms recorded during needle EMG. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Muscle Nerve 39: 244–270, 2009     

Le traitement du signal en électromyographie: mise au point

Automatic analysis of electromyography (EMG) signals, first operated in 1950 with analogic machines, steeply expanded from 1980 when fast computers and worthwhile programs became available. On-line measurement of response area and latency, averaging of low amplitude waves, fast sorting of motor unit potential shape parameters, computation of the “jitter” between two muscle fibers, turns/amplitude and spectral analysis of interferential pattern records, are some examples of programs currently offered in modern EMG machines. Other techniques are still reserved for research purposes: scanning EMG, decomposition of nerve and muscle compound potentials, measurement of the threshold and firing rate of motor units, trace analysis using tracking models. Finally, the credit for artificial intelligence systems (knowledge based systems, fuzzy logic, neuronal networks) is still not clearly stated.     

近端/远端复合肌肉动作电位振幅比率在术后面神经功能评估上的价值

目的 探讨近端/远端复合肌肉动作电位振幅比率在术后面神经肿瘤侵犯段功能评估上的价值和对早期面神经修复的指导意义。方法 比较术末面神经近端/远端复合肌肉动作电位振幅比率和术后2周、6个月患侧面神经功能的H-B分级之间的关系。结果 术后6个月面神经H-B分级恢复到Ⅰ-Ⅱ级者,术末近端/远端复合肌肉动作电位振幅比率均>0.3。结论 术末面神经近端/远端复合肌肉动作电位振幅比率是判断术后面神经远期功能,特别是肿瘤侵犯段功能的重要指标,为术中直接修复面神经提供了指导依据。     

多发性肌炎与皮肌炎(附25例报告)

多发性肌炎与皮肌炎25例,其中多发性肌炎21例,皮肌炎2例,多发性肌炎或皮肌炎伴发恶性肿瘤2例。从临床表现、生化检查、肌电图及肌肉活检等方面进行分析,提出多发性肌炎与皮肌炎的诊断条件。本组均采用皮质类固醇治疗,5例合并免疫抑制剂治疗,其中临床治愈4例,显著好转10例,好转5例,无效2例,死亡4例。     

Pathophysiology of idiopathic dystonia: findings from genetic animal models

Dystonia is a common movement disorder which is thought to represent a disease of the basal ganglia. However, the pathogenesis of the idiopathic dystonias, i.e. the neuroanatomic and neurochemical basis, is still a mystery. Research in dystonia is complicated by the existence of various phenotypic and genotypic subtypes of idiopathic dystonia, probably related to heterogeneous dysfunctions.In neurological diseases in which no obvious neuronal degeneration can be found, such as in idiopathic dystonia, the identification of a primary defect is difficult, because of the large number of chemically distinct, but functionally interrelated, neurotransmitter systems in the brain.The variable response to pharmacological agents in patients with idiopathic dystonia supports the notion that the underlying biochemical dysfunctions vary in the subtypes of idiopathic dystonia. Hence, in basic research it is important to clearly define the involved type of dystonia.Animal models of dystonias were described as limited. However, over the last years, there has been considerable progress in the evaluation of animal models for different types of dystonia.Apart from animal models of symptomatic dystonia, genetic animal models with inherited dystonia which occurs in the absence of pathomorphological alterations in brain and spinal cord are described.This review will focus mainly on genetic animal models of different idiopathic dystonias and pathophysiological findings. In particular, in the case of the mutant dystonic (dt) rat, a model of generalized dystonia, and in the case of the genetically dystonic hamster (dt^sz), a model of paroxysmal dystonic choreoathetosis has been used, as these show great promise in contributing to the identification of underlying mechanisms in idiopathic dystonias, although even a proper animal model will probably never be equivalent to a human disease.Several pathophysiological findings from animal models are in line with clinical observations in dystonic patients, indicating abnormalities not only in the basal ganglia and thalamic nuclei, but also in the cerebellum and brainstem. Through clinical studies and neurochemical data several similarities were found in the genetic animal models, although the current data indicates different defects in dystonic animals which is consistent with the notion that dystonia is a heterogenous disorder.Different supraspinal dysfunctions appear to lead to manifestation of dystonic movements and postures. In addition to increasing our understanding of the pathophysiology of idiopathic dystonia, animal models may help to improve therapeutic strategies for this movement disorder.     

骨骼肌钝挫伤后愈合质量的肌电评价

目的 :观察大鼠骨骼肌钝挫伤后 ,不同干预方法对骨骼肌修复过程中肌电信号的影响 ,研究肌电图在骨骼肌损伤愈合过程中的评价作用。方法 :10 8只雄性SD大鼠 ,利用自制的重物坠落打击装置造成右侧腓肠肌钝挫伤。随机分成 3组 ,即胰岛素样生长因子 - 1(IGF - 1)组、中药组和自然愈合组 ,分别于损伤局部注射IGF - 1、黄芪丹参注射液、不作处理。于伤后第 2、5、7、10、14、2 1、2 8、35、5 6天观察并比较双侧腓肠肌的肌电图变化 ,记录纤颤电位和正尖波等自发活动 ,分析复合肌肉动作电位 (CMAP)并测量其潜伏期和波幅 ,观察伤后CMAP的变化。结果 :(1)各组大鼠均于伤后第 2～ 5天出现纤颤电位和正尖波 ,约至第 7～ 10天达到高峰 ,然后逐渐减少。以IGF - 1组最早消失 ,中药组次之。 (2 )各组大鼠的伤侧肌电图CMAP中的潜伏期逐渐缩短 ,波幅逐渐增高。以IGF - 1组最快 ,中药组次之 ,自然愈合组最慢。 (3)伤后第 8周 ,IGF - 1组和中药组大鼠损伤侧CMAP波幅接近正常 ,自然愈合组则显著低于其它两组。结论 :(1)肌电图检测证实 ,IGF - 1和黄芪丹参注射液均具有促进骨骼肌损伤愈合的作用 ,但以IGF - 1的作用更明显。 (2 )损伤肌肉局部肌电信号的变化 ,可以用来评价损伤骨骼肌的修复进程和愈合质量     

Neurogenic muscle hypertrophy in radiculopathy

The course of radiculopathy is sometimes associated with weakness and wasting of muscles. Very rarely in such cases, however, is hypertrophy of muscle fibres observed. Three cases are presented of sciatica with enlarged calves caused by hypertrophy of type 1 or types 1 and 2 muscle fibres. In light of the literature and the results obtained, an attempt is made to explain the cause of rare clinical symptoms and draw attention to diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties.     

Proximal myotonic myopathy

Three Swedish patients with proximal muscle weakness, myotonia and lack of CTG expansion on genetical analysis are presented. Clinical neurological and neurophysiological examination and muscle biopsy were performed. There was an indication of autosomal dominant inheritance in 2 of the 3 patients. The main symptoms and clinical findings in the 3 patients were weakness of the proximal muscles, myotonia, muscle stiffness, muscle pain and muscle atrophy. Neurophysiological examination showed myotonic bursts and muscle biopsy snowed a variation of fibre sizes, an increased number of muscle fibres with centralized nuclei and scattered atrophic muscle fibres. Laboratory data showed elevated CK, GT and LD in 1 patient. Before genetical analysis was performed, all 3 patients had been diagnosed as atypical cases of myotonic dystrophy. However, the symptoms, clinical signs, laboratory data, electrophysiological and muscle biopsy findings were compatible with proximal myotonic myopathy (PROMM).     

Motor unit potential contribution to surface electromyography

The background of the bioelectric activity of muscle recorded from the surface of the skin (surface electromyography) in terms of the representation of single motor units of the underlying muscle(s) is not very well documented or understood. An insight into the composition of an electromyogram is essential for the proper interpretation of one of the most widely applied electrophysiological techniques. In the present paper, a study of the contribution of single motor unit potentials to the surface electromyogram is presented. To this end, the decline of different components of the motor unit potential with depth of the motor unit is quantified. Experimentally, the action potentials from motor units at several positions in the muscle were recorded by 30 skin surface electrodes. Simultaneous use of scanning electromyography provided information about the actual position and size of the motor unit. Observed linear log–log relationships between motor unit potential magnitudes and distance indicated the usefulness of a power function to describe the motor unit potential's dependence on recording distance. It is shown that different specific surface motor unit potential characteristics fall off differently with depth. The magnitude–distance relationship is shown to be dependent on the recording configuration (unipolar vs. bipolar recording, including the inter-electrode distance) and the chosen motor unit potential parameter (negative peak amplitude, positive peak amplitude and area).