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At least 505 records · Page 28Linked to original sources

One-stage reconstruction of large midline abdominal wall defects using a composite free anterolateral thigh flap with vascularized fascia lata.

OBJECTIVE: Large midline abdominal wall defects are continuously a challenge for reconstructive surgeons. Adequate skin coverage and fascia repair of the abdominal wall is necessary for achieving acceptable results. The purpose of this paper is to present a new approach to abdominal wall reconstruction using a free vascularized composite anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap with fascia lata. METHODS: Seven patients with large full-thickness abdominal wall defects were successfully reconstructed by means of a composite ALT flap combined with vascularized fascia lata. The size of the skin islands ranged from 20 to 32 cm in length and 10 to 22 cm in width, and the vascularized fascia lata sheath measured 14 to 28 cm and 8 to 18 cm, respectively. Functional outcome of the abdominal wall strength and donor thigh morbidity were investigated by using a Cybex kinetic dynamometer. RESULTS: All flaps survived. No postoperative ventral hernia occurred except for one mild inguinal incision hernia. Subjectively there were no significant donor site problems. Objective assessment was performed in 4 patients 2 years postoperatively. In the reconstructed abdomen, isokinetic concentric and eccentric measurements of extension/flexion ratios of the abdominal wall strength showed no apparent decrease compared with other references. Functional evaluation of quadriceps femoris muscle contraction forces after free ALT composite flap harvest showed an averaged deficit of 30% as compared with the contralateral legs. However, no difficulties in daily ambulating were reported by the patients. CONCLUSION: The free composite ALT myocutaneous flap with vascularized fascia lata provides an alternative option for a stable repair in complex abdominal wall defects.

Abdominal Wall↗

Painful intramuscular lipoma of the thigh.

Intramuscular lipomas of the extremities are most often found in the thighs and shoulders. They are usually painless, but described herein is a case of extreme leg pain that was relieved when a lipoma in the thigh was identified and surgically resected.

Aged↗

Central blood pooling as an explanation for lowered FRC during anaesthesia? Thigh volume measurements by plethysmography.

Segmental volumes of the thigh and the upper arm were measured by means of an air-filled plethysmograph before and during various anaesthesias. A small but significant fall in segmental volume was seen with the induction of anaesthesia with thiopentone. A further fall was observed during neurolept anaesthesia but not with halothane. Epidural and spinal anaesthesias caused no change in segmental thigh volume. The results suggest a redistribution of 50-150 ml blood from the extremities to the trunk during general anaesthesia. This redistribution may contribute to the well-known fall in FRC with general anaesthesia.

Abdomen↗

A case of low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma of the thigh.

A case of low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma in the thigh of a 21 year old female is described. The patient had a fist-sized well-defined mass in her left thigh that enlarged over a 6 month period. Histologically, the neoplasm showed contrasting fibrous and myxoid areas with a swirling growth pattern. Cellularity was low to moderate, and the stromal cells were benign looking without mitoses or nuclear pleomorphism. The tissue was not noticeably vascular. Some stromal cells were aggregated around the blood vessels. The stromal cells were immunoreactive to vimentin, but were negative to keratin, desmin, alpha-smooth muscle actin, actin HHF35, S-100 protein, neuron-specific enolase, and epithelial membrane antigen. Ultrastructural examinations of the stromal cells revealed well-developed rough endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, pinocytotic vesicles, and numerous intermediate-sized filaments in the cytoplasm. These findings seem to indicate that the stromal cells were fibroblastic in origin. The occurrence of the tumor in a young adult, its location and its large, well defined borders together with the characteristics revealed through histological investigation, indicated that it was in fact what has been termed by Evans as a low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma.

Adult↗

Cortical control of spinal pathways mediating group II excitation to human thigh motoneurones.

1. The possibility was investigated that cortical excitation to human thigh motoneurones is relayed via lumbar premotoneurones. 2. Test responses were evoked by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in voluntarily contracting quadriceps (Q) and semitendinosus (ST) muscles: either a motor evoked potential (MEP) in surface recordings or a peak of cortical excitation in the post-stimulus time histogram (PSTH) of single motor units was used. These test responses were conditioned by stimuli to the common peroneal (CP) or gastrocnemius medialis (GM) nerves. 3. CP stimulation evoked a large biphasic facilitation of the Q MEP, with early, short-lasting, low-threshold (0.6-0.8 x motor threshold (MT)) and late, longer lasting and higher threshold (1.2-1.5 x MT) peaks separated by a period of depression. GM nerve stimulation evoked a similar early depression and late facilitation in the ST MEP. 4. CP-induced effects in the Q H reflex were different (smaller late facilitation not preceded by any depression), suggesting that CP and cortical volleys interact at a premotoneuronal level to modify the Q MEP. 5. Peaks of cortical excitation evoked by TMS in single motor unit PSTHs were modulated by the conditioning volley like the MEPs with, in Q motor units, early and late CP-induced facilitations separated by a depression, and in ST motor units a late GM-induced facilitation. Facilitations on combined stimulation (i) were greater than the sum of effects by separate stimuli and (ii) never affected the initial part of the cortical peak. 6. It is concluded that the features of the reported facilitatory interactions between cortical and peripheral volleys are consistent with interactions in a population of lumbar excitatory premotoneurones co-activated by group I and group II afferents. The potency of the effects suggests that a significant part of the cortical excitation to motoneurones of thigh muscles is relayed via these interneurones. 7. It is argued that the early depression in ST motoneurones and the separation of the two peaks of facilitation in Q motoneurones reflect a cortical facilitation of spinal inhibitory interneurones projecting on excitatory premotoneurones.

Adult↗

Analysis of calculated electrical activation of denervated muscle fibers in the human thigh.

Finite difference models of the human thigh are used to analyze the excitation process in the fibers of denervated skeletal muscles in conjunction with functional electrical stimulation (FES) via surface electrodes. The Matlab tool "FES-Analyze" was developed to simulate and analyze the super-threshold regions in a human thigh. Action potential is simulated with a muscle fiber model of the Hodgkin Huxley type and with a generalized form of the activating function. With FES-Analyze it is possible to compare the stimulation at the end of the muscle fiber and the stimulation at the central part of the muscle fiber, both in cross- and longitudinal-section, as well as to observe the effect of different impulse intensities and lengths during FES. Simulating with "Standard Values" of the pulse duration (20 ms) and the amplitude (80 V) one discovers that the main part of the activation takes place at the end of the muscle fiber. To obtain activation at the central part of the muscle fiber, higher amplitudes and longer pulse durations are needed.

Electric Stimulation↗

Exercise-induced inhibition of angiotensin II vasoconstriction in human thigh muscle.

It is well established that metabolic inhibition of adrenergic vasoconstriction contributes to the maintenance of adequate perfusion to exercising skeletal muscle. However, little is known regarding nonadrenergic vasoconstriction during exercise. We tested the hypothesis that a non-adrenergic vasoconstrictor, angiotensin II (AngII), would be less sensitive to metabolic inhibition than an alpha1-agonist, phenylephrine (PE), in the exercising human thigh. In 11 healthy men, femoral blood flow (FBF, ultrasound Doppler and thermodilution) and blood pressure were evaluated during wide-ranging doses of intra-arterial (femoral) infusions of PE and AngII at rest and during two workloads of steady-state knee-extensor exercise (7 W and 27 W). At rest, the maximal decrease in femoral artery diameter (FAD) during AngII (9.0+/-0.2 to 8.4+/-0.4 mm) was markedly less than during PE (9.0+/-0.3 to 5.7+/-0.5 mm), whereas maximal reductions in FBF and femoral vascular conductance (FVC) were similar during AngII (FBF: -65+/-6 and FVC: -66+/-6%) and PE (-57+/-5 and -59+/-4%). During exercise, FAD was not changed by AngII, but moderately decreased by PE. The maximal reductions in FBF and FVC were blunted during exercise compared to rest for both AngII (7 W: -28+/-5 and -40+/-5%; 27 W: -15+/-4% and -29+/-5%) and PE (7 W: -30+/-4 and -37+/-6%; 27 W: -15+/-2 and -24+/-6%), with no significant differences between drugs. The major new findings are (1) an exercise-induced intensity-dependent metabolic attenuation of non-adrenergic vasoconstriction in the human leg; and (2) functional evidence that AngII-vasoconstriction is predominantly distal, whereas alpha1-vasoconstriction is proximal and distal within the muscle vascular bed of the human thigh.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗

Using mass distribution information to model the human thigh for body segment parameter estimation.

Accurate estimations of body segment inertial parameters (BSPs) are required to calculate the kinetics of motion. The purpose of this study was to develop a geometric model of the human thigh segment based on mass distribution properties determined from dual energy x ray absorptiometry (DEXA). One hundred subjects from four populations underwent a DEXA scan and anthropometric measurements were taken. The mass distribution properties of the thigh segment were determined for 20 subjects, a geometric model was developed, and the model was applied to the remaining 80 subjects. The model was validated by comparing to benchmark DEXA measurements. Four other popular models in the literature were also evaluated in the same manner No one set of predictors performed best for a particular group or BSP, however modeling the mass distribution properties of the segment allows the assumption of constant density while still accurately representing the inertial properties of the segment and provides promise for future development of BSP models.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

Pharmacodynamics of a novel des-F(6)-quinolone, BMS-284756, against Streptococcus pneumoniae in the thigh infection model.

BMS-284756 is a novel quinolone that lacks the six-position fluorine typical of existing compounds. Despite this structural change, BMS-284756 maintains potent antibacterial activity against gram-negative and gram-positive aerobic and anaerobic pathogens. The objective of this study was to define the pharmacodynamic profile of BMS-284756 against Streptococcus pneumoniae. Protein binding in mice was assessed by the ultrafiltration method. For pharmacodynamic studies, neutropenic ICR mice were used, as well as an immunocompetent mouse species, CBA/J, in order to evaluate the impact of white blood cells on infection outcome. Mice were infected with 10(5) to 10(6) CFU per thigh, and therapy was initiated after 2 h. Animals received BMS-284756 orally over a range of 1.25 to 100 mg/kg/day divided into one to four doses. At 0 and 24 h postinfection, thighs were harvested for bacterial density measurement. Survival was assessed during 96 h of therapy and again at 3 days after therapy. Pharmacokinetic studies were also conducted with infected mice. Protein binding was determined to be 80%. The MICs for clinical isolates (n = 8) ranged from 0.03 to 2 micro g/ml. The change in bacterial density and survival was correlated with the pharmacodynamic parameters percentage of time that the drug concentration in serum remains above the MIC, AUC (area under the concentration-time curve)/MIC ratio, and peak/MIC ratio, and the best predictor of response was the AUC/MIC ratio for both outcome measures. Total AUC/MIC ratios of 100 to 200 appear to result in maximal bactericidal effects. While a total AUC/MIC ratio exposure value of 100 (free AUC/MIC ratio, approximately 20) resulted in nearly 100% survival at the conclusion of therapy, a total AUC/MIC ratio of 200 (free AUC/MIC ratio, approximately 40) was required to ensure survival at 3 days posttherapy. These data demonstrate (i) the in vivo bactericidal activity of BMS-284756 against S. pneumoniae, (ii) that protein binding has a profound impact on the in vivo pharmacodynamic assessment of BMS-284756, and (iii) that an AUC/MIC ratio of 200 (free AUC/MIC ratio, approximately 40) appears to best characterize the required dynamic exposure for optimization of bactericidal activity and maximal survival.

Animals↗

Real-time monitoring of bacterial infection in vivo: development of bioluminescent staphylococcal foreign-body and deep-thigh-wound mouse infection models.

Staphylococcal infections associated with catheter and prosthetic implants are difficult to eradicate and often lead to chronic infections. Development of novel antibacterial therapies requires simple, reliable, and relevant models for infection. Using bioluminescent Staphylococcus aureus, we have adapted the existing foreign-body and deep-wound mouse models of staphylococcal infection to allow real-time monitoring of the bacterial colonization of catheters or tissues. This approach also enables kinetic measurements of bacterial growth and clearance in each infected animal. Persistence of infection was observed throughout the course of the study until termination of the experiment at day 16 in a deep-wound model and day 21 in the foreign-body model, providing sufficient time to test the effects of antibacterial compounds. The usefulness of both animal models was assessed by using linezolid as a test compound and comparing bioluminescent measurements to bacterial counts. In the foreign-body model, a three-dose antibiotic regimen (2, 5, and 24 h after infection) resulted in a decrease in both luminescence and bacterial counts recovered from the implant compared to those of the mock-treated infected mice. In addition, linezolid treatment prevented the formation of subcutaneous abscesses, although it did not completely resolve the infection. In the thigh model, the same treatment regimen resulted in complete resolution of the luminescent signal, which correlated with clearance of the bacteria from the thighs.

Abscess↗

Pharmacodynamics of a new streptogramin, XRP 2868, in murine thigh and lung infection models.

XRP 2868 is a new streptogramin antibiotic with broad-spectrum activity against gram-positive cocci. We used the neutropenic murine thigh and lung infection models to characterize the time course of antimicrobial activity of XRP 2868 and determine which pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) parameter and magnitude best correlated with efficacy. Serum levels following four two- to fourfold-escalating single-dose levels of XRP 2868 were measured by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry assay. In vivo postantibiotic effects (PAEs) were determined after doses of 2.5, 10, and 40 mg/kg. Mice had 10(6.8) to 10(8.4) CFU/thigh of strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae ATCC 10813 or Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 at the start of therapy when treated for 24 h with 2.5 to 640 mg/kg/day of XRP 2868 fractionated for 3-, 6-, 12-, and 24-h dosing regimens. Nonlinear regression analysis was used to determine which PK/PD parameter best correlated with CFU/thigh at 24 h. Pharmacokinetic studies exhibited peak dose values of 0.03 to 0.07, area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) dose values of 0.02 to 0.07, and half-lives of 0.35 to 1.27 h. XRP 2868 produced in vivo PAEs of 0.5 to 3.4 h with S. pneumoniae strain ATCC 10813 and -1.5 to 10.7 h with S. aureus strain ATCC 29213. The 24-h AUC/MIC was the PK/PD parameter that best correlated with efficacy. In subsequent studies, we used the neutropenic murine thigh infection model to determine if the magnitude of the AUC/MIC needed for the efficacy of XRP 2868 varied among pathogens (including resistant strains). Mice had 10(6.1) to 10(7.8) CFU/thigh of four isolates of S. aureus (three methicillin-susceptible and one methicillin-resistant strain) and nine isolates of S. pneumoniae (one penicillin-susceptible, four penicillin-intermediate, and four penicillin-resistant strains) when treated for 24 h with 0.16 to 640 mg/kg of XRP 2868 every 6 h. A sigmoid dose-response model was used to estimate the doses (mg/kg/24 h) required to achieve a net bacteriostatic affect over 24 h. MICs ranged from 0.06 to 0.25 microg/ml. The 24-h AUC/MICs for each static dose (20.7 to 252 mg/kg/day) varied from 3 to 70. Mean 24-h AUC/MICs +/- standard deviations (SDs) for S. pneumoniae and S. aureus isolates were 14 +/- 10 and 31 +/- 16, respectively. Beta-lactam and macrolide resistance did not alter the magnitude of AUC/MIC required for efficacy.

Animals↗

Mucor ramosissimus Samutsevitsch isolated from a thigh lesion.

Mucor ramosissimus Samutsevitsch is presented for the first time as an etiologic agent of cutaneous zygomycosis in a patient with aplastic anemia on immunosuppressive therapy. This report also represents the third case caused by this species reported in the literature. A biopsy taken from a lesion on the patient's thigh revealed broad, nonseptate, nonbranching hyphae compatible in morphology with a Zygomycete; M. ramosissimus was cultured twice from the thigh lesion. The patient was treated successfully with amphotericin B. Identifying features of M. ramosissimus include the following: numerous sporangia lacking columellae and resembling those of Mortierella spp., short, erect sporangiophores repeatedly branching sympodially; tough, persistent, and diffluent sporangial walls; numerous oidia in chains; extremely low colonies; and restricted growth at 36 degrees C. This paper describes the isolate and strives to alert the clinical microbiologist to this rarely reported pathogen.

Adult↗

Acute compartment syndrome of the thigh after weight training.

Compartment syndrome of the thigh is a rare but serious condition that is normally associated with closed trauma or compressive injury. A case of acute compartment syndrome of the thigh occurred in a 16 year old boy after intensive weight training. There was no evidence of muscle tear or focal haemorrhage during subsequent fasciotomy.

Acute Disease↗

Adaptive control for backward quadrupedal walking V. Mutable activation of bifunctional thigh muscles.

1. In this, the fifth article in a series to assess changes in posture, hindlimb dynamics, and muscle synergies associated with backward (BWD) quadrupedal walking, we compared the recruitment of three biarticular muscles of the cat's anterior thigh (anterior sartorius, SAa; medial sartorius, SAm; rectus femoris, RF) for forward (FWD) and BWD treadmill walking. Electromyography (EMG) records from these muscles, along with those of two muscles (semitendinosus, ST; anterior biceps femoris, ABF) studied previously in this series, were synchronized with kinematic data digitized from high-speed ciné film for unperturbed steps and steps in which a stumbling corrective reaction was elicited during swing. 2. During swing, the relative timing of EMG activity for the unifunctional SAm (hip and knee flexor) was similar for unperturbed steps of FWD and BWD walking. The SAm was active before paw lift off and remained active during most of swing (75%) for both forms of walking, but there was a marked decrease in EMG amplitude after paw off during BWD and not FWD swing. In contrast, the relative timing of EMG activity for the SAa and RF, two bifunctional muscles (hip flexors, knee extensors), was different for FWD and BWD swing. During FWD swing, the SAa and the RF (to a lesser extent) were coactive with the SAm; however, during BWD swing, the SAa and RF were active just before paw lift off and then inactive for the rest of swing until just before paw contact (see 3). Thus the swing-phase activity of the SAa and RF was markedly shorter for BWD than FWD swing. 3. Activity in SAa and RF was also different during FWD and BWD stance. The RF was consistently active from mid-to-late stance of FWD walking, and the SAa was also active during this period in some FWD steps. During the stance phase of BWD walking, however, the onset of activity in both muscles consistently shifted to early stance as both muscles became active just before paw contact (the E1 phase). Activity in RF consistently persisted through most of BWD stance. The duration of SAa recruitment during BWD stance was more variable across cats with offsets ranging from mid- to late stance. 4. The activation patterns of the biarticular anterior thigh muscles during stumbling corrective reactions were, in general, similar to their different activations during FWD and BWD swing. The initial response to a mechanical stimulus applied to the dorsum of the paw that obstructed FWD swing was an augmentation of knee flexion and increased activity in ST and SAm. A mechanical stimulus applied to the ventral surface of the paw to obstruct BWD swing resulted in an initial conversion of hip extension to flexion and a slowing of knee flexion. There was a corresponding recruitment of SAa and RF and an enhancement of background activity in SAm. 5. The two forms of walking are differentiated by posture and limb dynamics, yet muscles participating in the basic flexor and extensor synergies are unchanged. Although central pattern generating (CPG) circuits determine the basic timing of these synergies, changes in the duration and waveform of muscle activity may depend on unique interactions among the CPG, supraspinal inputs that set posture and the animal's goal (to walk BWD or FWD) and motion-related feedback from the hindlimb. Output mutability to each muscle may depend on the balance of this tripartite input; muscles with immutable patterns may rely heavily on input from CPG circuits, whereas muscles with mutable patterns may rely more on form-specific proprioceptive and supraspinal inputs.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Mutability of bifunctional thigh muscle activity in pedaling due to contralateral leg force generation.

Locomotion requires uninterrupted transitions between limb extension and flexion. The role of contralateral sensorimotor signals in executing smooth transitions is little understood even though their participation is crucial to bipedal walking. However, elucidating neural interlimb coordinating mechanisms in human walking is difficult because changes to contralateral sensorimotor activity also affect the ipsilateral mechanics. Pedaling, conversely, is ideal for studying bilateral coordination because ipsilateral mechanics can be independently controlled. In pedaling, the anterior and posterior bifunctional thigh muscles develop needed anterior and posterior crank forces, respectively, to dominate the flexion-to-extension and extension-to-flexion transitions. We hypothesized that contralateral sensorimotor activity substantially contributes to the appropriate activation of these bifunctional muscles during the limb transitions. Bilateral pedal forces and surface electromyograms (EMGs) from four thigh muscles were collected from 15 subjects who pedaled with their right leg against a right-crank servomotor, which emulated the mechanical load experienced in conventional two-legged coupled-crank pedaling. In one pedaling session, the contralateral (left) leg pseudo-pedaled (i.e., EMG activity and pedal forces were pedaling-like, but pedal force was not allowed to affect crank rotation). In other sessions, the mechanically decoupled contralateral leg was first relaxed and then produced rhythmic isometric force trajectories during either leg flexion or one of the two limb transitions of the pedaling leg. With contralateral force production in the extension-to-flexion transition (predominantly by the hamstrings), rectus femoris activity and work output increased in the pedaling leg during its flexion-to-extension transition, which occurs simultaneously with contralateral extension-to-flexion in conventional pedaling. Similarly, with contralateral force production in the other transition (i.e., flexion-to-extension; predominantly by rectus femoris), hamstrings activity and work output increased in the pedaling leg during its extension-to-flexion transition. Therefore rhythmic isometric force generation in the contralateral leg supported the ongoing bifunctional muscle activity and resulting work output in the pedaling leg. The results suggest that neural interlimb coordinating mechanisms fine-tune bifunctional muscle activity in rhythmic lower-limb tasks to ensure limb flexion/extension transitions are executed successfully.

Adult↗

Determination of the pharmacodynamic profile of daptomycin against Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates with varying susceptibility to penicillin in a murine thigh infection model.

BACKGROUND: Daptomycin has demonstrated in vitro activity against gram-positive organisms, including Streptococcus pneumoniae. However, the pharmacodynamic (PD) profile of daptomycin is needed to relate the activity of the drug to biologically achievable concentrations. METHODS: The PD profile of daptomycin against four S. pneumoniae isolates was determined using the immunocompromised murine thigh model. Due to the high protein binding of this agent, PD parameters were calculated based on free drug exposures. Efficacy was assessed by the change in log colony-forming units (CFU) in thighs after 24 h of drug treatment. RESULTS: Daptomycin produced a 7.1 (95% confidence interval 7.0-7.2) log(10) CFU kill. The ratio between overall drug exposure and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) (AUC/MIC) was the most predictive of the PD parameters. The S. pneumoniae AUC/MIC required for static effects was 12 (95% confidence interval 10-14). Eighty percent and 99% of maximal kill was achieved at ratios of 35 (95% confidence interval 32-39) and 184 (95% confidence interval 160-208), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Clinically achievable serum drug exposures produced by the lowest dose of daptomycin currently studied in humans (4 mg/kg/day) should result in a potent in vivo bactericidal effect against infections due to S. pneumoniae such as bacteremia, where serum drug concentrations adequately reflect the concentration at the site of infection.

Animals↗

Transepidermal water loss dynamics of human vulvar and thigh skin.

Refinement in procedures to assess skin surface water loss (SSWL) dynamics of the vulvar skin on a large sample of subjects (60) is described and compared to another semi-occluded skin site, the inner thigh. Vulvar SSWL significantly decreased over a 30-min period from 46.2 +/- 2.6 (SE) to 24.7 +/- 1.6 g m(-2) h (p < 0.001). The inner thigh, another semi-occluded region, showed no similar pattern for SSWL (6.2 +/- 0.3 to 6.6 +/- 0.5 g m(-2) h), and the values were significantly less than those for vulvar skin. There was no significant effect of age, body mass index or atopic status on vulvar SSWL.

Adolescent↗