早期联用MEP和大剂量rhGH对严重烫伤大鼠肠源性感染的影响

目的探讨早期联用美罗培南(MEP)和大剂量重组人生长激素(rhGH)对严重烫伤免疫抑制大鼠肠源性感染的影响。方法Wistar大鼠54只随机分为对照组、烧伤组和治疗组(C1组、C2组、C3组),后两大组制成25%总体表面积(TBSA)Ⅲ°烫伤免疫抑制模型,伤后2h给予rhGH1.33IU/kg、MEP20mg/kg,伤后8、24h检测门静脉血清内毒素(LPS)、腔静脉血清肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)含量,肝功能变化和肠道细菌移位率。结果C3(MEP+rhGH治疗)组LPS和TNF-α含量均显著低于其他组(P<0.01),与对照组差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),C3组未发现肠道细菌移位且肝功能检测指标显著低于其他组(P<0.01),与对照组差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论早期联用MEP和rhGH治疗严重烫伤免疫抑制大鼠能显著减轻或防止肠道细菌/内毒素移位,减少炎症介质释放,保护脏器功能。     

足筋膜间隙综合征相关肌肉磁刺激运动诱发电位的临床研究

目的:探讨足筋膜间隙综合征患者相关肌肉的磁刺激运动诱发电位(MEP)的特征及其临床意义.方法:对21例确诊为单侧足筋膜间隙综合征患者,在双侧腘窝上缘用磁刺激坐骨神经,同心圆针电极插入双侧足部各筋膜间隙内相应的肌肉中,记录各自MEP的潜伏期及波幅变化,并计算其比值,分析该比值与足筋膜间隙综合征发生的相关性.结果:正常足部各筋膜间隙内相应的肌肉磁刺激MEP先正后负,潜伏期相对恒定,但波幅不够稳定;当间隙内压大于30mmHg时,间隙内相应肌肉MEP潜伏期明显延长,为健侧的(1.9l±0.23)倍.统计学分析显示,筋膜间隙综合征的发生与磁刺激MEP波幅比值降低之间无相关性(P＞0.05),而与相应肌肉MEP潜伏期比值的变化之间存在着明显相关性(P＜0.01).结论:磁刺激MEP作为诊断足筋膜间隙综合征的客观指标具有重要的价值.     

Further evidence for excitability changes in human primary motor cortex during ipsilateral voluntary contractions

The present study aimed to further investigate whether the intracortical neural circuits within the primary motor cortex (M1) are modulated during ipsilateral voluntary finger movements. Single- and paired-pulse (interstimulus intervals, ISIs; 3 ms and 12 ms) transcranial magnetic stimulations of the left M1 were applied to elicit motor evoked potential (MEP) in the right first dorsal interosseous (Rt-FDI) muscle during voluntary contractions (10% and 30% maximum voluntary contraction) of the left FDI (Lt-FDI) muscle. F-waves of Rt-FDI muscle were recorded under these left index-finger conditions for ensuring that the excitability changes occur at the supraspinal level. MEPs were also recorded during motor imagery of the left index-finger abduction instead of overt movement. The results showed that, in single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) paradigm, MEPs in Rt-FDI muscle were markedly enhanced during voluntary contractions of Lt-FDI muscle compared with the complete resting state. In paired-pulse TMS paradigm, the short intracortical inhibition was significantly reduced in proportion to increments of the ipsilateral muscle contraction, whereas the intracortical facilitation had no change. F-wave of Rt-FDI muscle was unchanged under these conditions, while MEP in Rt-FDI muscle was also enhanced during motor imagery of the left index-finger abduction. Based on the present results, it is suggested that the intracortical inhibitory neural circuits may be modulated in the transition from rest to activity of the ipsilateral homonymous muscle. The excitability changes in M1 might be induced by overflows of voluntary drive given to the ipsilateral limb, probably via the transcallosal pathway.     

Large-scale analysis of interindividual variability in single and paired-pulse TMS data

ObjectiveThis study brought together over 60 transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) researchers to create the largest known sample of individual participant single and paired-pulse TMS data to date, enabling a more comprehensive evaluation of factors driving response variability.MethodsAuthors of previously published studies were contacted and asked to share deidentified individual TMS data. Mixed-effects regression investigated a range of individual and study level variables for their contribution to variability in response to single and paired-pulse TMS data.Results687 healthy participant’s data were pooled across 35 studies. Target muscle, pulse waveform, neuronavigation use, and TMS machine significantly predicted an individual’s single-pulse TMS amplitude. Baseline motor evoked potential amplitude, motor cortex hemisphere, and motor threshold (MT) significantly predicted short-interval intracortical inhibition response. Baseline motor evoked potential amplitude, test stimulus intensity, interstimulus interval, and MT significantly predicted intracortical facilitation response. Age, hemisphere, and TMS machine significantly predicted MT.ConclusionsThis large-scale analysis has identified a number of factors influencing participants’ responses to single and paired-pulse TMS. We provide specific recommendations to minimise interindividual variability in single and paired-pulse TMS data.SignificanceThis study has used large-scale analyses to give clarity to factors driving variance in TMS data. We hope that this ongoing collaborative approach will increase standardisation of methods and thus the utility of single and paired-pulse TMS.     

The impact of individual electrical fields and anatomical factors on the neurophysiological outcomes of tDCS: A TMS-MEP and MRI study

BackgroundTranscranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a neuromodulatory non-invasive brain stimulation technique, has shown promising results in basic and clinical studies. The known interindividual variability of the effects, however, limits the efficacy of the technique. Recently we reported neurophysiological effects of tDCS applied over the primary motor cortex at the group level, based on data from twenty-nine participants who received 15min of either sham, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 or 2.0 mA anodal, or cathodal tDCS. The neurophysiological effects were evaluated via changes in: 1) transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)-induced motor evoked potentials (MEP), and 2) cerebral blood flow (CBF) measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) via arterial spin labeling (ASL). At the group level, dose-dependent effects of the intervention were obtained, which however displayed interindividual variability.MethodIn the present study, we investigated the cause of the observed inter-individual variability. To this end, for each participant, a MRI-based realistic head model was designed to 1) calculate anatomical factors and 2) simulate the tDCS- and TMS-induced electrical fields (EFs). We first investigated at the regional level which individual anatomical factors explained the simulated EFs (magnitude and normal component). Then, we explored which specific anatomical and/or EF factors predicted the neurophysiological outcomes of tDCS.ResultsThe results highlight a significant negative correlation between regional electrode-to-cortex distance (rECD) as well as regional CSF (rCSF) thickness, and the individual EF characteristics. In addition, while both rCSF thickness and rECD anticorrelated with tDCS-induced physiological changes, EFs positively correlated with the effects.ConclusionThese results provide novel insights into the dependency of the neuromodulatory effects of tDCS on individual physical factors.     

Controlled‐frequency breath swimming improves swimming performance and running economy

Respiratory muscle fatigue can negatively impact athletic performance, but swimming has beneficial effects on the respiratory system and may reduce susceptibility to fatigue. Limiting breath frequency during swimming further stresses the respiratory system through hypercapnia and mechanical loading and may lead to appreciable improvements in respiratory muscle strength. This study assessed the effects of controlled‐frequency breath (CFB) swimming on pulmonary function. Eighteen subjects (10 men), average (standard deviation) age 25 (6) years, body mass index 24.4 (3.7) kg/m², underwent baseline testing to assess pulmonary function, running economy, aerobic capacity, and swimming performance. Subjects were then randomized to either CFB or stroke‐matched (SM) condition. Subjects completed 12 training sessions, in which CFB subjects took two breaths per length and SM subjects took seven. Post‐training, maximum expiratory pressure improved by 11% (15) for all 18 subjects (P < 0.05) while maximum inspiratory pressure was unchanged. Running economy improved by 6 (9)% in CFB following training (P < 0.05). Forced vital capacity increased by 4% (4) in SM (P < 0.05) and was unchanged in CFB. These findings suggest that limiting breath frequency during swimming may improve muscular oxygen utilization during terrestrial exercise in novice swimmers.     

The use of somtaosensory evoked potential (SSEP) and motor evoked potential (MEP) monitoring in a patient with Brugada syndrome

IntroductionWe report on the use of Somastosensory Evoked Potential (SSEP) and Motor Evoked Potential (MEP) monitoring in a patient with Brugada syndrome.ObjectivesThe concern in this case was that the amount of current/voltage generated by SSEP/MEP might trigger arrhythmias in a patient with underlying Brugada syndrome.MethodsA 42 year-old male patient with Brugada syndrome underwent excision of an intramedullary tumour with the use of SSEP and MEP monitoring. Preoperatively, he was not on antiarrhythmic medication, nor had an Implantable Cardioverter Device (ICD) in-situ.ResultsThe patient remained stable & in sinus rhythm throughout the operation and was successfully extubated postoperatively.ConclusionThis case report indicates that SSEP/MEP monitoring may be used in patients with Brugada syndrome.     

Isolated pyramidal tract impairment in the central nervous system of adult-onset Krabbe disease with novel mutations in the GALC gene

This report describes a 60-year-old female patient with Krabbe disease who presented with slowly progressive gait disturbance due to mild spastic paraplegia. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed high-intensity lesions along the upper parts of the bilateral pyramidal tracts in fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images. Central motor conduction time was prolonged both in the upper and the lower extremities, while central sensory conduction time was normal. The reduced lymphocyte galactocerebrosidase (GALC) activity and two novel mutations in the GALC gene, p.G496S and p.G569S, proved the diagnosis of Krabbe disease. Our findings show that adult-onset Krabbe disease is characterized by isolated pyramidal tract impairment in the central nervous system, both neurophysiologically and radiologically.     

Effects of intermanual transfer induced by repetitive precision grip on input–output properties of untrained contralateral limb muscles

Although there were many reports relating to intermanual transfer of behavioral motor tasks in humans, it is still not well-known whether the transfer phenomenon between the trained and untrained hand is accompanied by corresponding changes in motor system. In the present study we applied transcranial magnetic stimulation to investigate the practice effects of unilateral fingertip precision grip on corticospinal excitability, regarding both the trained and untrained hand muscles. The results showed that after practice fingertip grip force became steady and safety margin dramatically decreased not only in the trained hand, but also in the untrained hand. Regarding MEP and background EMG (B.EMG) activities, the regression slope of MEP/B.EMG ratio in the first dorsal interosseous (FDI) muscle became significantly steeper after practice in both hands, but in the thenar (TH) muscle there were no clear modulations. These results indicated that through practice qualitative or functional changes of corticospinal systems related to the reorganization for a fingertip precision grip prominently reflect only on FDI muscle which plays a dominant role in the task. More importantly, such effects were simultaneously seen in the untrained hand correspondent to the trained hand, i.e., changes of input–output property in M1 occur not only in the trained hand, but also in the untrained hand. Based on the present results, we suggest that training-induced neural adaptations of the central nervous system may include improvement of its predicting fingertip grip force for self-lifting of the object in the untrained hand.     

1-脱氧-D-木酮糖醇-5-磷酸还原异构酶（DXR）作为新的药物靶点的研究进展

植物、藻类和细菌等可利用2C-甲基-D-赤藓糖醇．4．磷酸（MEP）途径生物合成类异戊二烯前体异戊酰焦磷酸（IPP）及其异构体二甲烯丙基焦磷酸（DMAPP）等生长所必须的前体,因此MEP途径作为除草剂、抗菌药物和抗疟疾药物的药物靶点可用于新药开发。其中MEP途径中的第二个酶1-脱氧-D-木酮糖醇-5-磷酸还原异构酶（DXR）是研究最为广泛的靶点,膦胺霉索即为该酶的抑制剂。本综述主要介绍MEP途径、DXR及其抑制剂的研究进展。