neuromuscular,

Team sports involve various sprinting actions, including curvilinear sprints, yet their neuromuscular factors have been understudied. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the relationship between lower limb muscle strength, strength asymmetries, linear sprint and curvilinear sprint performance. At two visits 12 male (age: 24.8 ± 4.7 years, height: 1.82 ± 0.06 m, body mass: 80 ± 6.58 kg) and 6 female (age: 20.8 ± 1...

Pediatric swallowing disorders are common yet often overlooked neuro-muscular system diseases that significantly impact the quality of life and development of affected children. This study aims to explore the effect of combined application of oral rehabilitation training and neuromuscular electrical stimulation on improving pediatric swallowing disorders. Children meeting the inclusion criteria for swallowing disorders were divided into control and experimental groups based on different intervention protocols...

INTRODUCTION: Rhinophonia aperta may result from velopharyngeal insufficiency. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) has been discussed in the context of muscle strengthening. The aim of this study was to evaluate in healthy subjects whether NMES can change the velopharyngeal closure pattern during phonation and increase muscle strength. METHOD: Eleven healthy adult volunteers (21-57 years) were included. Pressure profiles were measured by high resolution manometry (HRM): isolated sustained articulation of /a/ over 5 s (protocol 1), isolated NMES applied to soft palate above motor threshold (protocol 2) and combined articulation with NMES (protocol 3)...

Muscle-specific kinase myasthenia gravis (MuSK MG) is caused by autoantibodies against MuSK in the neuromuscular junction (NMJ). MuSK MG patients have fluctuating, fatigable skeletal muscle weakness, in particular of bulbar muscles. Severity differs greatly between patients, in spite of comparable autoantibody levels. One explanation for inter-patient and inter-muscle variability in sensitivity might be variations in compensatory muscle responses. Previously, we developed a passive transfer mouse model for MuSK MG...

BACKGROUND: Zolgensma is a gene-replacement therapy that has led to a promising treatment for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). However, clinical trials of Zolgensma have raised two major concerns: insufficient therapeutic effects and adverse events. In a recent clinical trial, 30% of patients failed to achieve motor milestones despite pre-symptomatic treatment. In addition, more than 20% of patients showed hepatotoxicity due to excessive virus dosage, even after the administration of an immunosuppressant...

BACKGROUND: Genetic testing can offer early diagnosis and subsequent treatment of rare neuromuscular diseases. Options for these tests could be improved by understanding the preferences of patients for the features of different genetic tests, especially features that increase information available to patients. METHODS: We developed an online discrete-choice experiment using key attributes of currently available tests for Pompe disease with six test attributes: number of rare muscle diseases tested for with corresponding probability of diagnosis, treatment availability, time from testing to results, inclusion of secondary findings, necessity of a muscle biopsy, and average time until final diagnosis if the first test is negative...

BACKGROUND: General anesthesia is often necessary for dental treatment of outpatients with mental disabilities. Rapid recovery and effective management of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) are critical for outpatients. This study aimed to investigate the effect of transitioning from propofol to remimazolam with flumazenil reversal administered toward the end of surgery during propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) on recovery. METHODS: Adults with mental disabilities scheduled to undergo dental treatment were randomly assigned to receive either propofol-based TIVA (Group P) or propofol-remimazolam-based TIVA with flumazenil reversal (Group PR)...

In Australia, neuromuscular blocking agents are the leading cause of perioperative anaphylaxis. Current investigation of suspected anaphylaxis includes tryptase levels, serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels, and skin testing, including intradermal testing and skin prick testing. The gold standard for the diagnosis of a hypersensitivity reaction is a challenge test, but this poses a risk to patient safety. An alternative test, known as the basophil activation test (BAT) is a form of cellular in vitro testing using flow cytometry to measure the degree of basophil degranulation within a sample of blood following exposure to an allergen...

The long length of axons makes them vulnerable to damage; hence, it is logical that nervous systems have evolved adaptive mechanisms for responding to axon damage. Studies in Drosophila melanogaster have identified evolutionarily conserved molecular pathways that enable axonal degeneration and regeneration of damaged axons and/or dendrites. This protocol describes a simple method for inducing nerve crush injury to motoneuron and sensory neuron axons in the peripheral (segmental) nerves in second- or early third-instar larvae...

The simple body plan and semitranslucent cuticle of the Drosophila larva allow for imaging of structures close to the body wall within intact animals. These include sensory neurons, muscles, neuromuscular junctions, and some regions of the segmental nerve. However, imaging within an intact larva requires a strategy to immobilize the animal in a position that presents the structures within the working distance of the microscope objective. Although various methods have been implemented for Drosophila larvae, this protocol describes a simple and noninvasive method that makes use of the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) larva chip...

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact of Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols on peri-operative course in adult cervical deformity (ACD) corrective surgery. METHODS: Patients ≥18 yrs with complete pre-(BL) and up to 2-year (2Y) radiographic and clinical outcome data were stratified by enrollment in an ERAS protocol that commenced in 2020. Differences in demographics, clinical outcomes, radiographic alignment targets, peri-operative factors and complication rates were assessed via means comparison analysis...

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) impairs cognitive functions and peripheral systems, including skeletal muscles. The PS19 mouse, expressing the human tau P301S mutation, shows cognitive and muscular pathologies, reflecting the central and peripheral atrophy seen in AD. METHODS: We analysed skeletal muscle morphology and neuromuscular junction (NMJ) through immunohistochemistry and advanced image quantification. A factorial Analysis of Variance assessed muscle weight, NCAM expression, NMJ, myofibre type distribution, cross-sectional areas, expression of single or multiple myosin heavy-chain isoforms, and myofibre grouping in PS19 and wild type (WT) mice over their lifespan (1-12 months)...

BACKGROUND: This study investigated morphological, cardiovascular and neuromuscular profiles among asymptomatic sedentary men performing the Islamic prayer (Salaah). This study emphasised the need for an inquiry into unique sedentary populations who perform Islamic prayer as physical activity. METHODS: An experimental study was conducted among male participants (n=20). Resting heart rate (RHR), resting systolic blood pressure (SBP), resting diastolic blood pressure (DBP), body mass index (BMI) and percentage body fat (BF%) were measured before a timed Salaah simulation activity...

BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether prolonged periods of training can be well tolerated. In Charcot-Marie Tooth disease (CMT). We report the effects of an 8-month, adapted motor activity (AMA) program in a 16-years-old CMT1A male patient. The program included strength, mobility, and balance training (two sessions per week, 1 h per session). MEASURES: Walking ability and walking velocity (Six-Minute Walking Test-6MWT, Ten Meters Walking Test-10 mW T), balance (Y-Balance Test-YBT, Berg Balance Scale-BBS), functional mobility (Short Physical Performance Battery-Short physical performance battery), fatigue (Checklist Individual strength questionnaire - CIS20R), health and quality of life (Short Form Health Survey 36 questionnaire-SF-36) were evaluated in three moments: before (T0), after 5 (T1) and 8 (T2) months of adapted motor activity...

UNLABELLED: The syncytial mammalian muscle fiber contains a heterogeneous population of (myo)nuclei. At the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), myonuclei have specialized positioning and gene expression. However, it remains unclear how myonuclei are recruited and what regulates myonuclear output at the NMJ. Here, we identify specific properties of myonuclei located near the Drosophila larval NMJ. These synaptic myonuclei have increased size in relation to their surrounding cytoplasmic domain (scaling), increased DNA content (ploidy), and increased levels of transcription factor pMad, a readout for BMP signaling activity...

Immobilization-induced skeletal unloading results in muscle atrophy and rapid bone loss, thereby increasing the risk of falling and the need for implant therapy in patients with extended bed rest or neuromuscular injuries. Skeletal unloading causes bone loss by altering bone growth and resorption, suggesting that implant performance might be affected. To test this, we focused on early events in implant osseointegration. We used the rat sciatic neurectomy-induced disuse model under two different settings. In Study 1, 16 Sprague Dawley rats (SD) were separated into control, sham operated+cast immobilization, and sciatic neurectomy+casting groups; titanium implants with multiscale microtextured topography and hydrophilic chemistry (modSLA) were inserted in the distal femoral metaphysis...

BACKGROUND: Individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI) may experience recurrent ankle sprains and symptoms during daily activities such as stair descent, where the associated proprioceptive deficit is largely unevaluated. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the reliability and validity of an ankle inversion discrimination apparatus for stair descent, and examine whether proprioceptive scores from this apparatus are associated with patient-reported symptoms. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study...

OBJECTIVES: The Neurophysiology of Pain Questionnaire (NPQ) is widely used to assess pain knowledge among clinicians and patients with pain, but an Italian version is not available. This study aimed to translate and cross-culturally adapt the NPQ into Italian, to test its psychometric properties, to assess the knowledge of Italian physical therapists (PTs) on pain, and to evaluate which characteristics are associated with pain knowledge. METHODS: The NPQ was translated into Italian, integrated with some additional questions (IT-NPQ-New), and sent by email via the Italian Association of Physiotherapy newsletter...

BACKGROUND: Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a rare, progressive, neuromuscular disorder. Recent advances in treatment require an updated assessment of burden to inform reimbursement decisions. OBJECTIVES: To quantify healthcare resource utilisation (HCRU) and cost of care for patients with SMA. METHODS: Cohort study of patients with SMA identified in the Swedish National Patient Registry (2007-2018), matched to a reference cohort grouped into four SMA types (1, 2, 3, unspecified adult onset [UAO])...

Serotonin syndrome is a potentially life-threatening condition caused by a toxic excess of serotonin leading to overstimulation of the nervous system. Because it is a diagnosis of exclusion, it can be underrecognized, making the true incidence unknown. The classic triad of serotonin syndrome includes neuromuscular excitation, autonomic instability and altered mental status. If left unrecognized and untreated, patients are at a high risk of mortality. The most common class of medication that carries an increased risk of serotonin syndrome, when used in combination, is selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs); however, medications that increase serotonin production, increase serotonin release, inhibit serotonin metabolism and stimulate serotonin receptors can increase the possibility of serotonin syndrome...