Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “MYOGRAPHY”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 379 records · Page 21Linked to original sources

Fibrous myopathy. A rheumatic complication of drug abuse.

A progressive fibrous myopathy may result from chronic intramuscular drug abuse. This complication may mimic other rheumatic disorders and early recognition may prevent disability. The patient described here presented with fixed flexion and extension contracture of hips and knees, respectively, after abusing meperidine and other agents for 3 years. Soft tissues of thighs and buttocks were "wood hard," EMG showed absence of action potentials in affected muscles, and biopsy revealed extensive replacement of muscle with dense, acellular fibrous tissue. Possible mechanisms are discussed.

Biopsy↗

Method for assessment of vascular reactivity in bone: in vitro studies on resistance arteries isolated from porcine cancellous bone.

Knowledge about vascular regulation in bone is central to the understanding of both normal and pathological bone physiology. This article describes a new method for direct assessment of the reactivity of bone blood vessels. Resistance arteries (diameter approximately 250 microns) were isolated from epiphyseal cancellous bone (porcine femoral condyle). Arterial segments (2 mm long) were mounted as ring preparations on a myograph, and isometric force development was measured continuously. Fifty-nine vessels from 31 pigs were investigated. The active force development was maximal at 0.9 x L100 in nine of 12 investigated arteries (L100 corresponds to the circumference the vessel would have if relaxed and exposed to a luminal pressure of 100 mm Hg [13.3 kPa]). In all subsequent experiments, the vessels were stretched to 0.9 x L100. Noradrenaline (2 x 10(-8) to 10(-5) M) induced a concentration-dependent vasoconstriction; mean maximal tension development was 3.69 N/m. This force development would enable the arteries to contract against a pressure of more than 22 kPa (165 mm Hg), indicating preserved function of the media smooth muscle. Response to acetylcholine (10(-7) to 10(-5) M) was observed in only two of 12 arteries. Bradykinin (10(-11) to 10(-6) M) induced a concentration-dependent and reproducible relaxation in all vessels; the relaxation was endothelium-dependent, since no effect of bradykinin was detected after mechanical removal of the endothelium. Sodium nitroprusside (10(-4) M) induced a reproducible and endothelium-independent vasorelaxation. The results demonstrate preserved function of both smooth muscle and endothelium in this preparation. The model allows pharmacological investigations of bone arteries under well defined conditions and enables studies on focal bone lesions and human bone tissue.

Animals↗

Mechanomyographic and electromyographic responses to eccentric muscle contractions.

Little is known regarding the modulation of torque during eccentric muscle actions. Mechanomyographic (MMG) and electromyographic (EMG) signals have been used to examine motor control strategies. The purpose of this study was to examine the MMG and EMG amplitude and frequency in relation to torque during eccentric muscle contractions. Eight women performed eccentric leg extension muscle contractions at 10-100% of peak torque (PT). A piezoelectric crystal contact sensor and bipolar surface electrodes were placed on the vastus medialis to detect the MMG and EMG signals. Polynomial regression analyses indicated that EMG amplitude (r(2)=0.994) and MMG wavelet center frequency (CF) (r(2)=0.846) increased linearly to 100% eccentric PT, whereas there were no significant relationships for EMG wavelet CF or MMG amplitude and eccentric torque. These results suggested that eccentric torque is primarily modulated through changes in motor unit firing rate.

Adult↗

Cortical versus spinal dysfunction in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Little is known about the possible link between cortical and spinal motor neuron dysfunction in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We correlated the characteristics of the responses to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) with the electromechanical properties and firing pattern of single motor units (MUs) tested in nine ALS patients, three patients with Kennedy's disease, and 15 healthy subjects. In Kennedy's disease, 19 of 22 MUs were markedly enlarged with good electromechanical coupling and discharged with great variability. Their excitatory responses increased with MU size. In ALS, 17 of 34 MUs with excitatory responses behaved as in Kennedy's disease. By contrast, 28 MUs with nonsignificant responses showed poor electromechanical coupling and high firing rates, whereas 28 MUs with inhibitory responses showed moderate functional alterations. This result indicates that in ALS as in Kennedy's disease, sprouting of corticospinal axons may occur on surviving motoneurons. A clear relationship exists between the responsiveness of MUs to TMS and their functional state.

Adolescent↗

Comparison of acoustic and electrical signals from erectores spinae muscles.

Comparison was made between simultaneous recordings of the electromyogram (EMG) and acoustic myogram (AMG) signals and the torque produced by the lumbar erectores spinae muscles of three healthy subjects while they performed isometric contractions. Repeatability of each signal was studied. The AMG had a relationship to the torque which was more quadratic than linear, whereas that of the EMG was more linear. The coefficient of variability of residuals about a "best-fit" line was 8.55% for torque-increasing EMG recordings and 19.2% for torque-increasing AMG recordings. At the same torque, the EMG was on average about 10% greater for increasing-torque recordings than for decreasing-torque parts of the recordings, but the magnitude of the AMG signal was about 10% less. With repeated testing on the same day, the coefficient of variability of the signal/torque relationship (torque-increasing) was 9% for EMG and 23% for AMG signals. With long-term testing over 2 weeks these coefficients were 23 and 39%, respectively. Correlation analysis showed that the two signal/torque relationships varied independently of each other.

Electromyography↗

Assessment of muscular fatigue using vibromyography.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the behavior of electromyographical (EMG) and vibromyographical (VMG) signals in the time and frequency domains during a fatigue protocol. EMG and VMG records were obtained from the rectus femoris (RF) and vastus lateralis (VL) muscles of 11 adult male subjects during sustained, isometric knee extensor contractions performed at 70% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). The average median frequencies of the power density spectra decreased during the fatigue protocol for the EMG (from 73 to 54 Hz for RF, and from 75 to 57 Hz for VL) and the VMG signals (from 40 to 19 Hz for RF, and from 25 to 12 Hz for VL). Raw EMG signals remained the same qualitatively throughout the fatigue protocol, whereas corresponding VMG records appeared to become "smoother." The results of this study indicate that the pronounced decrease in the high-frequency content of the VMG signal may be observed in the time domain as a "smoothing" of the signal, and thus, that the raw VMG records (which may be displayed readily online) can be used to assess qualitatively the onset and progression of muscular fatigue.

Adult↗

Phonomyogram of the diaphragm during unilateral and bilateral phrenic nerve stimulation and changes with fatigue.

As previously demonstrated in humans, contracting skeletal muscles vibrate laterally and generate sound. The amplitude of this acoustic signal, called the phonomyogram (PMG), is related to muscle force production. As in limb muscles, the diaphragm might produce mechanical tissue vibrations and a PMG. We recorded diaphragm twitches during phrenic nerve stimulation in normal subjects at FRC. Diaphragmatic compound motor action potentials (CMAP) were recorded on each side of the chest by surface electrodes over the eighth intercostal space. Condenser microphones were fixed to the skin close to the electrodes, and esophageal and gastric balloons employed to measure transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdi). For unilateral and bilateral supramaximal single shocks (0.1 ms), PMG onset latencies from either side (12.4 +/- 0.6 ms) were intermediate between those of CMAP (7.3 +/- 0.7 ms) and of Pdi (20.3 +/- 2.8 ms). By varying stimulation intensity, significant linear relationships were obtained between CMAP and PMG amplitudes on each side. A significant linear relationship was also found between PMG for each side and Pdi peak values. PMG and Pdi both decreased with fatigue of the diaphragm. We conclude that PMG in response to single phrenic nerve shocks is a noninvasive index of electromechanical coupling, recruitment, and transdiaphragmatic pressure generation by the diaphragm.

Action Potentials↗

Nonspecific inhibition of myogenic tone by PD98059, a MEK1 inhibitor, in rat middle cerebral arteries.

Activation of MAP kinase kinase, also called ERK kinase (MEK), may lead to desinhibition of thin filament regulatory proteins and we therefore investigated the acute effects of the potent MEK inhibitor, PD98059 on the contractile properties of pressurized rat middle cerebral arteries. Cerebral arteries (diameter 100-150 microm) were mounted on a pressure myograph and PD98059 (10 microM, 40 microM) significantly inhibited (15% and 64%) myogenic tone (P < 0.001). At these concentrations, PD98059 also significantly reduced the vasopressin (0.1 microM)- and KCl (60 mM)-induced tone. Cumulative addition of exogenous Ca2+ (0.4-1.6 mM) increased myogenic tone to approximately 50% of constriction at 80 mmHg. This effect was inhibited by PD98059 (P < 0.001). These results demonstrate that pressure-induced myogenic tone is inhibited by PD98059 at the concentrations that have been reported to be selective for inhibition of MEK and the MAP kinase cascade. However, our results also demonstrate that PD98059 may have nonspecific effects on voltage-sensitive Ca2+ entry in vascular smooth muscle.

Animals↗

Contraction frequency dependence of twitch and diastolic tension in human dilated cardiomyopathy (tension-frequency relation in cardiomyopathy).

We studied isometric twitch tension and diastolic tension at 37 degrees C as a function of stimulation frequency (12-240 min-1) in very thin (.07-.5 mm2), parallel fibered strips of left-ventricular myocardium. Non-failing control tissue (C) was obtained from epicardial biopsies taken during myocardial revascularization surgery on patients with normal ventricular function. End-stage failing tissue was obtained from endocardial and epicardial biopsies from explanted hearts with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). The methods and apparatus for biopsy and dissection of myocardium are described. Maximal peak twitch tension at optimal stimulation frequency of 163 +/- 5 min-1 was 41.8 +/- 10 mN/mm2 in non-failing myocardium and it was reduced by 70% (p less than .02) to 12.9 +/- 1.6 mN/mm2 at an optimal frequency of 72 +/- 17 min-1 in DCM. The peaks of the tension-frequency curves occurred at frequencies between 12 and 60 min-1 in most DCM strips (5/9), while in C most of the peaks (8/9) fell between 156 and 180 min-1. The peaks from four DCM hearts fell in an intermediate range of frequencies (96-144 min-1) which also included one non-failing peak at 132 min-1. Diastolic tension declined in both groups as stimulation frequency increased above 12 min-1 and it began increasing when stimulation frequency rose above optimal frequency by 19 +/- 5% and 110 +/- 50% in C and DCM, respectively. Total duration of the isometric twitch diminished with tachycardia remaining shorter than stimulation intervals up to 140 +/- 16 min-1 (3.1 +/- 1 times optimal frequency) in DCM and up to 161 +/- 14 min-1 (not different than optimal frequency) in C. Decline in peak twitch tension above optimal stimulation frequency was 4 to 6 times larger than the accompanying rise in diastolic tension in both groups. The premature decline in tension at lower than normal degrees of tachycardia in DCM does not arise from incomplete relaxation of the twitch response. The 70% deficit in tension generating ability of DCM may be a major contributor to heart failure. Moderate shift in the peak of the tension-frequency curves to lower frequencies (130 min-1) in C does not appear to predispose end-stage failure, but it may make the ventricle more susceptible to dilation.

Adult↗

Contractile properties of aneurally regenerated compared with denervated muscles of rat.

The time course of aneural regeneration in slow-twitch soleus muscles of young adult rats was studied and compared with the changes following denervation in soleus and fast extensor digitorum longus muscles. Regeneration was induced by auto-grafting after treatment with bupivacaine; isometric contractions were recorded from 5 to 70 days later. Force was detected at 5 days; at 12 days force was maximal (at least 20% of original) and thereafter fell exponentially. Force varied normally with total fibre area, except at 5 and 71 days when force generating capacity was low. Contraction and relaxation in the twitch were longer than normal (maximally at 5 days), and were closer to denervated soleus than EDL; in contrast, the maximal rate of rise of force was as high as that of denervated EDL and much higher than in denervated soleus. It is suggested that the muscle was fundamentally fast contracting, but the twitches were probably slow because of greater than normal activation following a single stimulus--a hypothesis supported by twitch:tetanus ratios that were higher than in denervated muscles. Tetanic force was much more sensitive than normal to changes of muscle length from optimum, despite the fact that the lengths of regenerated muscles were similar to those of contralateral muscles. The properties of denervated soleus gradually approached those of regenerated soleus, probably because of replacement of original fibres by regenerated ones.

Animals↗

Direct mechanomyographic measurement of the myorelaxant action of baclofen and diazepam in normal and reserpinized rats.

A pathologically increased muscle tone is frequently observed. Objective methods for measuring directly the muscle-relaxant action of drugs in laboratory animals are scarce. This study shows that a computerized mechanomyographic method allows the assessment of myorelaxant drugs. The method consists of the successive bending and straightening of the rat's foot in the ankle joint and the separate measurement of resistance of extensors and flexors of the hind foot to passive movements. The two well-known antispastic drugs diazepam and baclofen reduced the normal muscle tone in both groups of muscles in non-treated animals as well as the muscle tone increased by reserpine (10 mg/kg i.p.). The results obtained show that the mechanomyographic method directly and reliably reveals the myorelaxant action of drugs.

Analysis of Variance↗

Characteristics of dynamic postural reactions in the locust hindleg.

The use of the locust (Schistocerca americana) hindleg in postural control was examined in animals that stood on a repeatedly swayed vertical substrate. Myograms were recorded from leg muscles and the angle of the femoro-tibial joint was monitored photographically. Two discrete strategies were observed; in compensatory reactions the hindleg was held in place, while in "flexion" reactions, the leg was moved, most often to complete flexion of the femoro-tibial joint. Tightly coupled, rhythmic bursting occurred in the flexor and levator muscles of the leg during compensatory reactions. Bursting was initiated repeatedly when the substrate was being pulled away from the animal. Bursting was correlated with subsequent decreases in the rate of change of the femoro-tibial joint angle. Compensatory and "flexion" reactions occurred preferentially in different ranges of joint angles: most often, compensatory reactions occurred in the mid-range, while "flexion" reactions were elicited in the extremes of joint angle. These differences may be due to the mechanical advantages of the tibial muscles and the leg may be moved to full flexion because of a locking mechanism of the flexor muscle tendon. These reactions are compared with known reflexes of hindleg proprioceptors and contrasted with similar responses of vertebrates.

Animals↗

Limitations of the surface electromyography technique for estimating motor unit synchronization.

Motor unit synchronization was estimated from the surface electromyograms (EMG) of the first dorsal interosseus muscle of human volunteers by a simplified surface-EMG technique (Milner-Brown et al. 1973, 1975). Single motor units were identified from intramuscular recordings and were used to obtain a spike-triggered average of the surface-EMG. The discharge rate of a reference motor unit was controlled at two levels (high and low), and the effect of motor unit activity on the surface-EMG estimate of synchronization was studied in 56 motor units. The surface-EMG estimate of motor unit synchronization was significantly higher when the reference motor unit discharged at the high rate than when it discharged at the low rate. A regression analysis indicated that the synchronization ratio calculated from the surface EMG was significantly correlated with the level of EMG activity in the muscle. Motor unit synchronization was also estimated from surface-EMG measurements that were derived by computer simulation. The simulation permitted manipulation of motor unit activity (discharge rate and recruitment) with a complete absence of synchrony among the units in the pool. The stimulated surface-EMG index was influenced by an artifact associated with signal rectification, and this effect changed non-monotonically with motor unit activity. Furthermore, the increase in the motor unit activity reduced the signal-to-noise ratio of the spike-triggered surface EMG average, and consequently decreased the sensitivity of the surface-EMG index as an estimate of motor unit synchronization. We conclude that the simplified surface-EMG method (Milner-Brown et al. 1973, 1975) does not provide a useful index of motor unit synchronization due to its inability to accurately distinguish the synchronization from methodological effects related to a rectification artifact and variation in the signal-to-noise ratio.

Computer Simulation↗