Subtypes of anhedonia and facial electromyography response to negative affective pictures in non-psychiatric adults

Introduction. Flat/constricted affect and anhedonia are symptoms found in several psychiatric disorders such as depression and schizophrenia. However, there are very few studies on the relationships between specific anhedonia subtypes and objectively assessed flat affect, and it appears that none of the existing studies examined potential moderation by sex.

Methods. Forty-seven undergraduate students (60% male) completed self-report questionnaires assessing three subtypes of anhedonia – non-social consummatory (CON) and anticipatory (ANT) anhedonia, and overall social anhedonia. Participants viewed 15 pictures (5 neutral and 10 negative) from the International Affective Picture System, whereas facial muscle reaction was recorded using electromyography (EMG).

Results. Male participants reporting a greater level of overall social or non-social CON anhedonia showed a greater EMG activity increase in the corrugator supercilii muscle to negative (vs. neutral) pictures. In females, the relationship was only found with social anhedonia and was opposite in direction, as increased social anhedonia related to less EMG activity change in the corrugator muscle.

Conclusions. The relationship between anhedonia and flat affect varied as a function of sex and anhedonia subtype. These findings may help explain discrepancies in the sparse existing literature examining this relationship in psychiatric populations and have implications for assessment and treatment of these symptoms across psychiatric disorders.     

站立桌辅助作业训练在脑梗死偏瘫患者上肢功能训练中的应用

目的 探讨站立桌辅助站立位下作业治疗对偏瘫上肢功能活动、偏瘫侧肢体躯干肌肉肌电活动的影响。 方法 纳入60例脑梗死偏瘫患者按随机数字表法分为训练组和对照组,每组30例,训练组采用站立桌辅助站立体位进行上肢作业治疗训练,对照组则取坐位行上肢作业治疗。分别于患者初评时（治疗前）及治疗2周和治疗4周后,对2组患者的上肢运动功能活动、偏瘫侧肢体躯干肌肉表面肌电活动恢复情况进行对比,并进行统计学分析。 结果 ①治疗前,对照组和训练组患者的Fugl-Meyer运动功能评定量表(FMA)评分分别为（19.27±6.24）和（19.23±6.22）分,组间差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）;治疗2周和治疗4周后,2组FMA评分［对照组（20.87±9.36）和（25.47±6.33）分;训练组（24.37±6.31）和（29.43±6.42）分］较治疗前有所提高,且训练组与组内治疗前比较,差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05）,而对照组治疗2周后的组内比较差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）,治疗4周后的组内比较差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;2组患者治疗后同时间点组间比较,训练组患者FMA评分的改善较对照组改善更为明显（P<0.05）。②治疗前,2组患者患侧肱二头肌、肱三头肌、腹直肌、竖脊肌、股二头肌、股四头肌、腓肠肌、胫骨前肌之间的表面肌电数值比较,差异均无统计学意义（P>0.05）;治疗2周后,对照组和训练组的股二头肌、腓肠肌与组内治疗前比较,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）,其余各肌群的表面肌电数值与组内治疗前比较,差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）;治疗4周后,对照组除胫骨前肌的表面肌电数值较组内治疗前差异不明显（P>0.05）外,其余各肌群的表面肌电数值以及训练组所测上述各肌群的表面肌电数值均较组内治疗前明显提高（P<0.05）;治疗2周后,2组患者股二头肌、股四头肌、腓肠肌、胫骨前肌的表面肌电数值组间比较,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;治疗4周后,2组所测所有肌肉的表面肌电数值组间比较,差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05）。 结论 与传统坐位下相比,站立状态下的上肢作业治疗能有效改善脑卒中偏瘫患者腹直肌及竖脊肌肌肉活动,明显促进偏瘫上肢的运动恢复。     

非手术脊柱减压系统对腰椎间盘突出症患者腰椎旁肌表面肌电信号的影响

目的 探讨非手术脊柱减压系统（SDS）对腰椎间盘突出症（LDH）患者腰椎旁肌表面肌电信号的影响。 方法 选取12例磁共振检查诊断为L4-5椎间盘突出症的患者,依入院顺序按随机数字表法分为SDS组和对照组,每组6例,分别行单次SDS治疗和腰椎牵引治疗。分别于治疗前、治疗中和治疗后,采用表面肌电记录2组患者椎旁肌的平均肌电（AEMG）值并进行统计学分析比较。 结果 治疗前,SDS组患者右竖脊肌、左竖脊肌、右多裂肌和左多裂肌的AEMG值分别为（2.222±0.194）μV、（1.802±0.138）μV、（1.893±0.196）μV和（1.925±0.152）μV,对照组的AEMG值依次为（7.128±1.476）μV、（7.559±2.119）μV、（6.375±1.728）μV和（5.163±1.011）μV,组间差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。治疗过程中,SDS组右竖脊肌、右多裂肌的AEMG值分别为（2.343±0.286）μV和（1.792±0.165）μV,对照组依次为（8.779±1.680）μV和（11.921±5.490）μV,组间差异有统计学意义（P<0.01）。治疗后,SDS组右竖脊肌和右多裂肌的AEMG值分别为（2.242±0.276）μV和（1.840±0.142）μV,对照组依次为（9.168±2.266）μV和（9.091±3.413）μV,组间差异有统计学意义（P<0.01）。 结论 与单次腰椎牵引相比,单次SDS治疗能明显降低患者腰椎旁肌的紧张度,减轻肌肉疲劳。     

举臂拧螺丝作业肩腕部肌电特征与工具重量的相关性

目的应用表面肌电(s EMG)描记技术分析汽车装配作业工人手臂用不同重量工具拧螺丝作业过程中肩部、腕部肌肉的肌电信号特征,初步探讨其与重量负荷的相关性。方法选择某汽车厂总装线7名男性工人为研究对象,采用Biovision表面肌电仪采集受试者进行正常装配活动时右侧三角肌和前臂腕屈肌群的表面肌电信号;应用DASYLab10.0数据处理软件和SPSS16.0统计分析软件,对肌电时域指标RMS和频域指标MF与工具重量的相关性进行统计分析。结果研究对象使用的工具涉及3个重量,分别为0.2 kg、1 kg和1.35 kg。在前臂腕屈肌群工具重量与最大自主收缩百分比(MVE%)和MF均呈负相关,相关系数分别为-0.430和-0.569(P0.01);在三角肌与MVE%和MF分别呈正相关和负相关,相关系数分别为0.598和-0.376(P0.01)。结论在举臂拧螺丝作业中,肩腕部局部肌肉MVE%和MF的变化可反映工具重量的大小。     

悬吊训练治疗脑卒中患者平衡功能障碍的临床研究

目的: 观察悬吊训练（SET）对脑卒中患者平衡功能恢复的影响。方法: 脑卒中平衡功能障碍患者40例,随机分为对照组和观察组各20例,2组均接受常规康复训练,在此基础上,观察组加以悬吊训练。治疗前和治疗4周后采用Berg平衡量表（BBS）、Barthel指数（BI）以及采集竖脊肌表面肌电平均肌电值（AEMG）和中位频率值（MF）对2组患者进行评定。结果: 治疗4周后,2组BBS、BI评分均明显高于治疗前（均P<0.01）,且观察组以上评分均明显高于对照组（均P<0.05）。治疗前,2组患者AEMG、MF值组内比较健侧均明显高于患侧（均P<0.05）;治疗４周后,2组患者健患侧竖脊肌AEMG、MF值均较治疗前明显提高（均P<0.05）,观察组健患侧AEMG、MF值均较对照组明显提高（均P<0.05）,但观察组健患侧AEMG、MF值之间无统计学差异。结论: SET能够改善脑卒中患者的竖脊肌AEMG、MF值及BBS和BI评分,提高脑卒中患者躯干肌肉运动功能,从而提高平衡功能以及日常生活活动能力,值得在临床推广应用。     

不同头位吞咽不同黏度液体食物对健康成人舌骨上肌群表面肌电的影响

目的 探讨不同头位吞咽不同黏度液体食物对健康成人舌骨上肌群表面肌电的影响。 方法 随机选取健康受试者20例,按随机数字表法设置的顺序,依次采用3种头位吞咽5种浓度的食物,每口量均为5 ml,实时记录每次吞咽时左、右侧舌骨上肌群的表面肌电信号。对原始肌电信号进行处理后,分析不同黏度和头位对舌骨上肌群激活水平影响的主效应,再采用简单效应分析确定黏度、头位和舌骨上肌群激活水平的交互效应。 结果 不同头位或不同黏度的主效应均存在差异,差异均有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。右转头位和右侧屈头位吞咽同黏度液体食物时,左侧舌骨上肌群净振幅值均高于右侧舌骨上肌群,差异均有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。吞咽同黏度液体食物时,在中立位、右转头位、右侧屈头位,左侧舌骨上肌群的净振幅值依次增高,差异均有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。在吞咽同黏度（0～3级）的液体食物时,右转头位右侧舌骨上肌群的净振幅值低于中立位和右侧屈头位,差异均有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。在吞咽4级的液体食物时,右侧屈头位右侧舌骨上肌群的净振幅值高于中立位和右转头位,差异均有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。右转头位吞咽0级液体食物时,左侧舌骨上肌群净振幅值显著低于吞咽1～4级的液体食物,差异均有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。右侧屈头位吞咽0级液体食物时,左侧舌骨上肌群净振幅值显著低于吞咽2～4级液体食物,吞咽1级液体食物时,左侧舌骨上肌群净振幅值显著低于吞咽3～4级的液体食物,差异均有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。右侧屈头位吞咽4级的液体食物时,右侧舌骨上肌群净振幅值高于吞咽0～1级的液体食物,吞咽3级液体食物时,右侧舌骨上肌群净振幅值高于吞咽1级的液体食物,差异均有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。 结论 吞咽时采用不同的头位和黏度,可不同程度地影响舌骨上肌群的收缩。     

髂腰肌针极肌电图在诊断多发性肌炎中的应用价值

 目的 探讨髂腰肌肌电图在诊断多发性肌炎中的应用价值。方法 回顾性收集2018-01至2019-02于首都医科大学附属北京天坛医院就诊并确诊为多发性肌炎的28例患者(多发性肌炎组)的临床资料,以及年龄、性别相匹配的健康人20名(对照组),就其髂腰肌、股四头肌、三角肌肌电图自发电位和小力收缩运动单位电位(motor unit action potential, MUAP)进行分析。结果 对照组髂腰肌未检测出自发电位,多发性肌炎组髂腰肌自发电位阳性率为57.14%(16/28),显著高于对照组(P<0.001);另外其MUAP波幅显著低于对照组[(424.20±82.41)μV vs. (593.93±65.49 )μV,P<0.001],MUAP时限也显著短于对照组[(9.73±2.05)vs. (11.26±0.42) ms,P<0.01]。在肌肉病患者中,股四头肌自发电位阳性率为35.71%(10/28),三角肌自发电位阳性率为25.00%(7/28),三角肌自发电位显著低于髂腰肌(P<0.05)。结论 髂腰肌在多发性肌炎患者中有明显的肌源性损害的表现,可为临床提供更加敏感、客观的诊断依据。     

Change in Electromyographic Activity of Wrist Extensor by Cylindrical Brace

Purpose

To verify the effect of a newly-developed cylindrical type forearm brace, which was designed to give focal counterforce perpendicularly on the muscle belly of the wrist extensor.

Materials and Methods

The dominant hands of 24 (12 males, 12 females) healthy subjects were tested. Two types of forearm braces (focal cylindrical type and broad pneumatic type) were examined. The braces were applied at the extensor carpi radialis brevis, 5 to 7 cm distal to the lateral epicondyle. Two surface electrodes were attached to the proximal and distal parts of the brace. By quantitative electromyography, the mean amplitudes of voluntary extensor carpi radialis brevis contraction before and after applying each brace were recorded and analyzed.

Results

The mean amplitudes of the focal cylindrical brace and broad pneumatic brace were reduced significantly compared to no brace (p<0.05), with a larger reduction for the cylindrical brace than the pneumatic brace (p<0.05). There was no significant difference between the proximal and distal mean amplitudes with each brace.

Conclusion

A cylindrical type brace decreased electromyographic activity in the wrist extensor more effectively than did the pneumatic type brace.     

Nerve stimulator for regional anaesthesia procedures with automatic interactive closed-loop control

Abstract

Peripheral nerve stimulators have widespread among anaesthesiologists and remain a popular technique. However, in commercial devices, the user has to manually adjust stimulus intensity. Thus, the aim of this study is to propose a method that allows automating the current intensity control. An earlier nerve stimulator prototype was modified to add an accelerometer and an sEMG module. The choice of these two sensors is aimed at the possibility of observing the mechanical and electrical responses of the muscle contraction evoked by the stimulation. The tests were performed in two steps. The first step was to observe how the sensors behave during stimulation and muscle contraction. The second step was to implement a control algorithm and to validate the automation technique. Comparing the two methods, no significant differences were found on procedure time (manual: 12.5?±?2.3; automatic: 11.6?±?1.9; ρ?=0.380) and blockade latency time (manual: 11.6?±?1.1; automatic: 11.9?±?1.2; ρ?=0.524). Comparing needle-nerve distance in manual or automatic mode, no significant differences were found for 1.0?mA, 0.8?mA, 0.5?mA and 0.3?mA. We conclude that the technique for automating the current intensity update, using accelerometer and/or electromyography, is satisfactory. Furthermore, we conclude that the use of the accelerometer alone is sufficient for detection of muscle contraction.     

Chronic fatigue syndrome: Abnormally fast muscle fiber conduction in the membranes of motor units at low static force load

ObjectiveChronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and fibromyalgia (FM) are disorders of unknown etiology and unclear pathophysiology, with overlapping symptoms of – especially muscular –fatigue and pain. Studies have shown increased muscle fiber conduction velocity (CV) in the non-painful muscles of FM patients. We investigated whether CFS patients also show CV abnormalities.MethodsFemales with CFS (n = 25), with FM (n = 22), and healthy controls (n = 21) underwent surface electromyography of the biceps brachii, loaded up to 20% of maximum strength, during short static contractions. The mean CV and motor unit potential (MUP) velocities with their statistical distribution were measured.ResultsThe CV changes with force differed between CFS-group and both FM-group and controls (P = 0.01). The CV of the CFS-group increased excessively with force (P < 0.001), whereas that of the controls increased only slightly and non-significantly, and that of the FM-group did not increase at all. In the CFS-group, the number of MUPs conveying very high conduction velocities increased abundantly with force and the MUPs narrowed.ConclusionOur results suggest disturbed muscle membrane function in CFS patients, in their motor units involved in low force generation. Central neural deregulation may contribute to this disturbance.SignificanceThese findings help to detangle the underlying mechanisms of CFS.