Comparison between Intramuscular Multichannel Electrodes and Supramysial Multichannel Electrodes via EMG Measurements for Potential Use as Larynx Stimulation Electrodes: In Vivo Animal Analysis.

One of the most common causes for larynx paralysis is the injury of the recurrent laryngeal nerve which, among others, causes the paralysis of the posterior cricoarytenoideus muscle (PCA). Electrical stimulation of PCA offers an approach to retaining the function of the paralyzed larynx muscle. The study aim was to test the applicability of an intramuscular multichannel array electrode as a measuring electrode for myoelectrical potentials and as a possible electrode for stimulation, e.

Interpersonal problem behavior and low back pain.

Objective: The theory of interpersonal problem behaviour (IPB) provides a more fundamental framework for understanding the psychosocial aspects of pain. The present study focused on the IPB, based on the Interpersonal Problem Circumplex (IPC), in persons with low back pain and its association with pain, psychological characteristics, and health care utilisation.

Methods: In a cross-sectional design, individuals with back pain (N = 88) and healthy control persons who matched by age, gender, and educational level (N = 88) were compared with regard to IPB.

Application of a graded Sorensen test evokes spatially organized lumbar muscle fatigue.

Background: The Sorensen test is commonly used to assess back muscle endurance capacity. However, the clinical value of this test, requiring compensation of the entire upper body mass, is limited if pain occurs. Therefore, a test variant using only portions of upper body mass could be an alternative.

Method to test the long-term stability of functional electrical stimulation via multichannel electrodes (e.g., applicable for laryngeal pacing) and to define best points for stimulation: in vivo animal analysis.

The study aim was to identify and analyze intramuscular electrically sensitive points. Electrically sensitive points are herein defined as positions, which allow muscles stimulation with a minimum possible fatigue for a maximum amount of time. A multichannel array electrode was used which could be interesting to retain the function of larynx muscle after paralysis.

Pre-clinical evaluation of a minimally invasive laryngeal pacemaker system in mini-pig.

Microlaryngoscopic enlargement techniques have been the standard treatment for bilateral vocal fold paralysis (BVFP) for decades. Laryngeal pacing is a promising alternative treatment based on the electrostimulation of the posterior cricoarytenoid (PCA) muscle. This paper reports on the results of a pre-clinical study aiming to evaluate this method.

Development of a novel larynx pacemaker multichannel array electrode: In vivo animal analysis.

Objectives/hypothesis: Electrical stimulation of posterior cricoarytenoid muscle offers a physiological approach to retain the function of the paralyzed larynx muscle after paralysis. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate a durable, biocompatible, and atraumatic array electrode for inclusion in a larynx pacemaker. In addition to developing the electrode array, an evaluation methodology using in vivo multichannel electromyography was assessed.

Re-evaluation of the amplitude-force relationship of trunk muscles.

Amplitude-force relationships of major trunk muscles are established in terms of curve characteristics, but up to now were not normalized with respect to maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) force levels. The study therefore aims at a re-evaluation of trunk muscle amplitude-force relationship data according to MVC. Surface EMG of five major trunk muscles was taken from 50 healthy subjects of both sexes (age 20-40 years).

Age-related structural and functional changes of low back muscles.

During aging declining maximum force capacity with more or less unchanged fatigability is observed with the underlying mechanisms still not fully understood. Therefore, we compared morphology and function of skeletal muscles between different age groups. Changes in high-energy phosphate turnover (PCr, Pi and pH) and muscle functional MRI (mfMRI) parameters, including proton transverse relaxation time (T2), diffusion (D) and vascular volume fraction (f), were investigated in moderately exercised low back muscles of young and late-middle-aged healthy subjects with (31)P-MR spectroscopy, T2- and diffusion-weighted MRI at 3T.

Alteration of Surface EMG amplitude levels of five major trunk muscles by defined electrode location displacement.

Exact electrode positioning is vital for obtaining reliable results in Surface EMG. This study aimed at systematically assessing the influence of defined electrode shifts on measured Surface EMG amplitudes of trunk muscles in a group of 15 middle aged healthy male subjects. The following leftsided muscles were investigated: rectus abdominis muscle, internal and external oblique abdominal muscles, lumbar multifidus muscle, and longissimus muscle.

Force capacity of back extensor muscles in healthy males: effects of age and recovery time.

To judge a person's maximum trunk extension performance as either age-appropriate or deconditioned is challenging. The current study aimed at determining age and anthropometrically adjusted maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) of back extensors considering the number and recovery time between trials. Thirty-one younger (20-30 years) and 33 older (50-60 years) healthy males performed five repetitions of maximal isometric trunk extensions in an upright standing position with randomized recovery times ranging between one to five minutes at one minute intervals.

Leg movements and periodic leg movements during sleep in the development across childhood and adolescence from 1 to 18 years.

Objective: Age specific reference values of leg movements (LMS) and periodic leg movements (PLMS) in sleep considering their true periodicity to evaluate sleep pathologies, especially possible childhood RLS or PLMD.

Methods: In a prospective first night study of 52 healthy children/adolescents divided into six age groups from 1 to 18 years, polysomnographies were conducted and scored considering AASM rules. The frequency of LMS and PLMS were evaluated for NREM, REM, total sleep time (TST), including attention to time structure (inter-leg movement intervals, time distribution during the night) and periodicity of LMS.

Interrelations of muscle functional MRI, diffusion-weighted MRI and (31) P-MRS in exercised lower back muscles.

Exercise-induced changes of transverse proton relaxation time (T2 ), tissue perfusion and metabolic turnover were investigated in the lower back muscles of volunteers by applying muscle functional MRI (mfMRI) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) before and after as well as dynamic (31) P-MRS during the exercise. Inner (M. multifidus, MF) and outer lower back muscles (M.

Laryngeal pacing in minipigs: in vivo test of a new minimal invasive transcricoidal electrode insertion method for functional electrical stimulation of the PCA.

Functional electrical stimulation (FES) of the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle (PCA) to restore respiratory function of the larynx may become an option for the treatment of bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis (RLNP) in the near future. The feasibility of this has been shown in several animal trials and in a human pilot study. The common open surgical inferolateral approach for electrode insertion into the PCA for FES has a risk of damaging the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) and may result in postoperative swelling and scaring of the larynx.

Normative values of polysomnographic parameters in childhood and adolescence: arousal events.

Objective: This study focused on differences in arousals during sleep, using the arousal rules of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, by gender, age, and maturity in healthy children.

Methods: One-night polysomnography was performed on 209 healthy German children (age 1-18 years) at their habitual bedtimes in 16 laboratories. Subjects were grouped by gender (112 females, 97 males), age, and Tanner stage.

Functional gait asymmetry of unilateral transfemoral amputees.

The aim of prosthetic devices is to mimic the function of biological systems. Numerous investigations have demonstrated significant asymmetries in unilateral amputee gait. The underlying interactions of prosthetic and intact leg are not widely discussed, so far.

Normative values of polysomnographic parameters in childhood and adolescence: cardiorespiratory parameters.

Objective: To provide normative values for pediatric sleep cardiorespiratory parameters following AASM rules, assessing effects of gender, age, and Tanner stage.

Methods: One-night polysomnograhy was performed at subjects' habitual bedtimes in 16 laboratories on 209 healthy German children, 1-18 years old.

Results: Normative values of cardiorespiratory parameters in pediatric sleep are presented.

Normative values of polysomnographic parameters in childhood and adolescence: quantitative sleep parameters.

Objective: To provide normative values for sleep macroarchitecture of healthy children aged 1-18 years using the AASM sleep scoring criteria, assessing the effects of gender, age, and Tanner pubertal stage.

Methods: One-night polysomnography was performed at subjects' habitual bedtimes in 16 laboratories on 209 healthy German children.

Results: Normal values of sleep macrostructure show significant age dependencies (p<0.

WITHDRAWN: Erratum to "1H-MR spectroscopic detection of metabolic changes in pain processing brain regions in the presence of non-specific chronic low back pain" [NeuroImage 54/2 (2011) 1315-1323].

The Publisher regrets that this article is an accidental duplication of an article that has already been published, http://dx.doi.org/10.

1H-MR spectroscopic detection of metabolic changes in pain processing brain regions in the presence of non-specific chronic low back pain.

Reliable detection of metabolic changes in the brain in vivo induced by chronic low back pain may provide improved understanding of neurophysiological mechanisms underlying the manifestation of chronic pain. In the present study, absolute concentrations of N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA), creatine (Cr), total choline (tCho), myo-inositol (mI), glutamate (Glu) and glutamine (Gln) were measured in three different pain processing cortical regions (anterior insula, anterior cingulate cortex, and thalamus) of ten patients with non-specific chronic low back pain by means of proton MR spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) and compared to matched healthy controls. Significant decrease of Glu was observed in the anterior cingulate cortex of patients.

Facial muscle activation patterns in healthy male humans: a multi-channel surface EMG study.

In order to accurately characterize essential muscle activity during facial movements a new surface EMG (SEMG) technique was introduced and applied. Results represent reference data of healthy persons for future diagnostic purposes. In 30 healthy males monopolar electromyograms of the facial muscles were simultaneously recorded from 48 bilateral-symmetrically applied small surface electrodes while performing 29 facial movements of high clinical relevance.

Evaluation of the EMG-force relationship of trunk muscles during whole body tilt.

The study was aimed at the identification of the electromyography (EMG)-force relationship of five different trunk muscles. EMG-force relationships differ depending on changes in firing rate and the concurrent recruitment of motor units, which are linear and S-shaped, respectively. Trunk muscles are viewed as belonging to either the local or global muscle systems.

Gender specific activation patterns of trunk muscles during whole body tilt.

Gender specific differences as evidenced in both anthropometric data and physical performance of healthy persons have been broadly demonstrated. Recently advancements in surface electromyography (SEMG) have shown possible differences in men's and women's muscle coordination patterns. However, quantitative information about gender related muscle co-ordination patterns are rare.

EMG analysis of the thenar muscles as a model for EMG-triggered larynx stimulation.

Paralysis of one or both sides of the larynx musculature compromises breathing and speech function. Currently there is no surgical remedy to restore adequate function of the larynx. A plausible alternative solution is triggered electrical stimulation of the paralysed larynx site using a laryngeal pacemaker.

Investigations of back muscle fatigue by simultaneous 31P MRS and surface EMG measurements.

Investigations of back muscle fatigue are important for understanding the role of muscle strain in the development of low back pain. The aim of this contribution is to review the two main techniques used for in vivo investigations of metabolic and electrophysiological changes, namely magnetic resonance phosphorous spectroscopy ((31)P MRS) and surface electromyography (SEMG), and to report some of our recent results on simultaneous measurements using these techniques during isometric back-muscle contraction in volunteers. Since it appears that electrophysiological and metabolic factors are simultaneously involved in the processes of fatigue and muscle recovery during load application, simultaneous acquisition of complete information is quite promising for obtaining new insights into the metabolic origin of electrophysiological changes or vice versa.

Treadmill locomotion in normal mice-Step related multi-channel EMG profiles of thigh muscles.

Mouse models are increasingly used in current research on motor disorders. In mice, the myoelectrical activation of thigh muscles during locomotion has not yet, however, been investigated in depth. Especially intramuscular coordination has hardly been clarified.