Ergonomics in the OR: An Electromyographic Evaluation of Common Muscle Groups Used During Simulated Flexible Ureteroscopy - a Pilot Study.

Objective: To assess the effects of different surgeon positions and ureteroscope types on muscle activation as measured by surface electromyography (sEMG) during simulated ureteroscopy in an endourology box-trainer model and the kidney phantom.

Methods: For this exploratory study, sEMG was used to quantify muscle activation of 3 endourology fellows during various ureteroscopic tasks. Electrodes were placed on the ureteroscope-holding side of the following muscles: thenar, forearm flexor, forearm extensor, biceps, triceps, deltoid, and trapezius.

Genetic neutrophil deficiency ameliorates cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Neutrophils respond rapidly to cerebral ischemia and are thought to contribute to inflammation-mediated injury during stroke. Using myeloid Mcl1 knockout mice as a model of genetic neutrophil deficiency, we investigated the contribution of neutrophils to stroke pathophysiology. Myeloid Mcl1 knockout mice were subjected to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion and infarct size was assessed by MRI after 24h reperfusion.