Selective Muscle Involvement in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Evidence Inferred from the Point of Motor Unit Firing Rates.

Introduction: The aim of the study is to determine the role of upper motor neuron (UMN) or lower motor neuron (LMN) dysfunction as the primary initiator of distal-proximal and lateral-medial gradients of muscle involvement in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Methods: Concentric needle electromyography recordings were performed in deltoid, abductor digiti minimi, and first dorsal interosseous (FDI) muscles in patients with ALS and controls during slight voluntary contraction needed to activate two motor units (MU). Five motor unit potential (MUP) pairs were recorded from each muscle.

Investigation of Ongoing Denervation and Reinnervation in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis by Using Concentric Needle Electrode with Single Fiber Electromyography Method.

Introduction: The aim of this study is to demonstrate the conduction disturbance at the neuromuscular junction in a cranial muscle by measuring jitter with a concentric needle (CN) electrode in the diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and to investigate the utility of evaluating the peak number as an ongoing reinnervation marker.

Method: Twelve patients diagnosed with ALS were included in this study. Single fiber electromyography (SFEMG) was performed using a CN electrode during the voluntary contraction of the right extensor digitorum communis (EDC) and left frontalis muscles.

Long-Term Evaluation of Ulnar Nerve Function in Patients with Distal Humerus Fractures Treated with Open Reduction and Internal Fixation: A Nerve Conduction Study.

Objectives: To investigate the long-term evaluation with electromyography of ulnar nerve function in patients with distal humerus fractures (DHFs) treated with open reduction and internal fixation.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Level 1 trauma center.

MYO1H is a novel candidate gene for autosomal dominant pure hereditary spastic paraplegia.

In this study, we aimed to determine the genetic basis of a Turkish family related to hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) by exome sequencing. HSP is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder and displays genetic and clinical heterogeneity. The major symptoms are muscle weakness and spasticity, especially in the lower extremities.

Near-tendon single-fiber electromyography in patients with myopathy.

We investigated how properties of single-fiber action potentials (SFAP) and jitter changed in different recording sites in patients with myopathy and controls. SFAP and jitter were recorded using a disposable single-fiber electrode in the biceps brachii muscle of three patients and controls in two sites: i) near the end-plate zone (EPZ), ii) near the tendon. SFAP and spike duration were longer in patients than in controls.

Automatic detection of F waves and F-MUNE in two types of motor neuron diseases.

Introduction/aims: Motor unit number estimation by F waves (F-MUNE) is an uncommonly used MUNE technique. Our aim in this study was to assess the sensitivity of F-MUNE values elicited with newly developed software in motor neuron diseases.

Methods: F waves were recorded by 300 submaximal stimuli from abductor digiti minimi and abductor pollicis brevis muscles of 35 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, 18 with previous poliomyelitis, and 20 controls.

Does transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation affect pain, neuropathic pain, and sympathetic skin responses in the treatment of chronic low back pain? A randomized, placebo-controlled study.

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in chronic low back pain and neuropathic pain.

Methods: Seventy-four patients aged 18-65 with chronic low back pain were included in the study. Baseline measurements were performed, and patients were randomized into three groups.

Corticomotor Excitability in Two Kinds of Motor Neuron Diseases: A Study on the Patients With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Poliomyelitis Survivors.

Purpose: To examine upper motor neuron functions comparatively in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and poliomyelitis survivors using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) methods.

Methods: Single- and paired-pulse TMS with conventional methods and the triple-stimulation technique were performed by recording from the abductor digiti minimi and abductor pollicis brevis muscles in 31 patients with ALS, 18 patients with poliomyelitis survivors, and 21 controls. Nine patients were diagnosed as having postpoliomyelitis syndrome after a 6-month follow-up.

Compound muscle action potential scan and MScanFit motor unit number estimation during Wallerian degeneration after nerve transections.

Background: Compound muscle action potential (CMAP) scan and MScanFit have been used to understand the consequences of denervation and reinnervation. This study aimed to monitor these parameters during Wallerian degeneration (WD) after acute nerve transections (ANT).

Methods: Beginning after urgent surgery, CMAP scans were recorded at 1-2 day intervals in 12 patients with ANT of the ulnar or median nerves, by stimulating the distal stump (DS).

Repeater F-waves in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Electrophysiologic indicators of upper or lower motor neuron involvement?

Objective: To extract insight about the mechanism of repeater F-waves (Frep) by exploring their correlation with electrophysiologic markers of upper and lower motor neuron dysfunction in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Methods: The correlations of Frep parameters with clinical scores and the results of neurophysiological index (NI), MScanfit MUNE, F/M amplitude ratio (F/M%), single and paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and triple stimulation technique (TST) studies, recorded from abductor digiti minimi (ADM) and abductor pollicis brevis (APB) muscles of 35 patients with ALS were investigated.

Results: Frep parameters were correlated with NI and MScanfit MUNE in ADM muscle and F/M% in both muscles.

Another brick in the wall: is hexane neuropathy a 'nodo-paranodopathy'?

n-Hexane gives cause to one of the most common toxic polyneuropathies seen in poorly ventilated factories. It is a sensory-motor polyneuropathy ending up with axonal degeneration. Nerve biopsy reveals paranodal axonal swelling and secondary myelin retraction in early stages.

Repetitive nerve stimulation and jitter measurement with disposable concentric needle electrode in newly diagnosed myasthenia gravis patients.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to define the diagnostic accuracy of concentric needle (CN)-jitter in newly diagnosed myasthenia gravis (MG) patients and to compare CN-jitter with repetitive nerve stimulation.

Methods: In 30 MG patients, repetitive nerve stimulation in 4 muscles (orbicularis oculi, nasalis, trapezius and abductor digiti minimi) and CN-jitter of extensor digitorum (ED) and frontalis muscles were evaluated.

Results: Twenty-eight of 30 patients (93%) had high jitter in at least one muscle.

Jitter Values on Voluntary Active Periocular Muscles of Healthy Subjects with Conventional (37 mm) Concentric Needle Electrode.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to re-evaluate jitter values of healthy subjects in whom pairs of single-fiber-like potentials were recorded from voluntary activated periocular muscles using a disposable 37-mm concentric needle electrode (CNE) with 2-kHz low-cut filtering.

Methods: We reviewed the recordings of 129 subjects (85 women; 44 men; mean age, 43.8±15.

Jitter analysis with concentric needle electrode in the masseter muscle for the diagnosis of generalised myasthenia gravis.

Objectives: The purpose of our study was to show neuromuscular transmission abnormality in the masseter muscle of generalised myasthenia gravis (MG) patients and to compare motor end-plate failure of the masseter with the extensor digitorum communis (EDC) and periocular muscles.

Methods: Motor end-plate function was evaluated during voluntary contraction of the masseter muscle of 20 generalised MG patients aged between 16 and 63 years, as well as 20 age-matched healthy volunteers. The mean jitter value was calculated for each group and compared.

Prediction of externally applied forces to human hands using frequency content of surface EMG signals.

In this work, a new signal processing method was proposed in order to predict externally applied forces to human hands by deriving a relationship between the surface electromyographic (SEMG) signals and experimentally known forces. This relationship was investigated by analyzing the spectral features of the SEMG signals. SEMG signals were recorded from three subjects during isometric contraction and from another three subjects during anisometric contraction.

Possible reflex pathway between medial meniscus and semimembranosus muscle: an experimental study in rabbits.

Meniscus is a well innervated tissue with four types of receptors. These receptors are mainly concentrated at the anterior and posterior horns. Although they are intended to be a part in reflex arc, this function has not been thoroughly evaluated.