Association Between Rectus Abdominis Denervation and Ventilation Dysfunction in Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Background: Spontaneous potentials in electromyography (EMG) of paraspinal muscles are associated with diaphragm denervation and, therefore, poor respiratory function in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is understandable. EMG changes in the rectus abdominis (RA) display an effect similar to those in paraspinal muscles with respect to the function of lower motor neurons in the thoracic spinal cord. The RA denervation was examined to determine its association with ventilation dysfunction in ALS.

[Study on chemical constituents from crop pathogenic fungus active fraction of Wisteria sinensis tumor].

Objective: To study the chemical constituents from the crop pathogenic fungus active fraction of Wisteria sinensis tumor.

Methods: The chemical constituents were extracted of different concentrations and isolated by silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 column. The chemical structures of components were further elucidated by the physicochemical characters and MS, NMR spectral data.

[Phenolic derivatives from Wisteria sinensis sweet caulis].

Objective: To study the phenolic derivatives from Wisteria sinensis.

Methods: From the petroleum ether extraction of 95% alcohol permeating extraction, 12 compounds were isolated and purified with silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography. Their structures were determined on the basis of physicochemical properties and spectroscopic analysis.

[Clinical and neurophysiologic profiles of sensory neuron disease].

Objective: To explore the clinical and electrophysiological characteristics of sensory neuron disease (SND).

Methods: The clinical and electrophysiological characteristics were analyzed from November 2007 to November 2012 in 57 patients with sensory neuron disease and another 95 with sensory polyneuropathy. Nerve conduction studies of median nerve, ulnar nerve, tibial nerve, peroneal nerve and sural nerve and electromyogram (EMG) of bulbar, cervical, thoracic and lumbosacral region, somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) and contact heat evoked potential (CHEP) were performed.

[Clinical and neuro electrophysiologic study of flail arm syndrome].

Objective: To explore the clinical and neuroelectrophysiological characteristics of flail arm syndrome (FAS).

Methods: The clinical and neuroelectrophysiological characteristics were analyzed retrospectively from July 1, 2006 to July 1, 2012 in FAS patients (n = 56), those with upper limb onset amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) (n = 60) and those with upper brachial plexus neuropathy (n = 22) from our hospital. Nerve conduction study of musculocutaneous, axillary, median, ulnar, radial, tibial, peroneal and sural nerves and electromyogram (EMG) of bulbar, cervical, thoracic and lumbosacral regions were conducted.

[Study on triterpenoids from Wisteria sinensis].

Objective: To study the triterpenoids constituents from Wisteria sinensis Sweet Caulis.

Methods: The compounds were beta-solated and purified with silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography from the petroleum ether extract. Their structures were determined on the basis of physicochemical properties and spectroscopic analysis.

[Target points: a discussion on acupuncture treatment of primary trigeminal neuralgia].

In this paper, issues of acupuncture using target points and depth of needling were discussed based on the theory of traditional Chinese medicine acupoints and combined with anatomical and neurological research of Western medicine. The theoretical evidence of acupuncture on nerve foramen and ganglion and the reasons for being nonstandard operating on acupoints were analyzed. This study summarized the method of using acupuncture at Xiaguan (ST7), Cuanzhu (BL2), Sibai (ST2) and Jiachengjiang acupoints to align with the spheno-palatine ganglion and additional nerve foramen (supraorbital, infraorbital and mental foramina) to treat primary trigeminal neuralgia.

[A study of motor unit number estimation by multiple point stimulation in patients with Hirayama disease].

Objective: To explore the significance of motor unit number estimation (MUNE) by using multiple point stimulating technique to evaluate patients with Hirayama disease (HD).

Methods: Multiple point stimulating technique was used to estimate the motor unit number of abductor pollicis brevis and abductor digiti minimi in 35 normal subjects [14 - 33 years old, mean (20.9 ± 4.

Upper trapezius electromyography aids in the early diagnosis of bulbar involvement in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Electromyography (EMG), particularly measurements of the tongue or sternocleidomastoid, aids in the diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and may be used to identify lower motor neuron lesions in the bulbar region. Abnormal trapezius EMG recordings were recently shown to be useful in diagnosing ALS. Here, we investigated the role of upper trapezius EMG in assessing bulbar involvement in ALS.

[Role of fasciculation potentials in the diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis].

Objective: To explore the role of fasciculation potentials in the diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Methods: A total of 60 ALS patients were recruited from August 2009 to August 2010 at our hospital. Standard examinations of electromyography and nerve conduction were performed.

[Follow-up study of patients with chronic motor axonal neuropathy].

Objective: To study the characteristic of chronic motor axonal neuropathy and the prognosis of it.

Methods: 16 chronic motor axonal neuropathy (CMAN) patients were diagnosed by clinical manifestation and neurophysiologic manifestation. Follow-up study was done including living state, medicine they taken, change of physical sign and motor unit number estimation.

[Comparison of multiple point stimulation and incremental stimulation in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis].

Objective: To compare two common techniques for motor unit number estimation (MUNE), multiple point stimulation and incremental stimulation to determine which is preferable in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Methods: Surface recorded motor unit action potentials of median nerve or thenar muscle were measured in 60 ALS patients and 60 controls. The maximal baseline to negative peak compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude was recorded.

[Basic and clinical researches on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/motor neuron disease].

This study includes three aspects: (1) we have reported some novel or rare mutations of SOD1 (Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase) gene in Chinese families of ALS/MND, and found quite different features from Western patients in polymorphisms with some candidate genes such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in sporadic ALS/MND in China. Meanwhile, we have so for established a complete clinical database with more than 1 200 cases; (2) we have established some neurophysiologic techniques of diagnosis and differential diagnosis at early-stage for ALS/MND, which include trigemino-cervical response, sternocleidomastoid and rectus electromyography, contact heat evoked potentials, and motor unit number estimate; (3) we have attempted some experimental and clinical treatments for ALS/MND, which include gene and stem cell therapies in animal models, and a pilot clinical trial of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) for ALS/MND patients (NCT00397423).

Fully intact contact heat evoked potentials in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is typically considered to be a disease of motor, not sensory, neurons. However, reports exist of sensory system involvement in ALS. In this study we aimed to study the characteristic of contact heat-evoked potentials (CHEPs) in patients with ALS and to evaluate the nociceptive pathway in these patients.

Stratifying disease stages with different progression rates determined by electrophysiological tests in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

By determining the usefulness of motor unit number estimate (MUNE) and compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), we tried to find an effective way to stratify the disease stages. In all, 112 consecutive ALS patients were enrolled, among whom 73 were elicited in a longitudinal study. MUNE by the standard incremental technique, the average CMAP amplitude, total Medical Research Council (MRC) score, ALS-functional rating score (ALS-FRS), Appel ALS rating scale (AARS), and forced vital capacity (FVC) were performed at baseline and months 3, 6, and 12 after study entry.

[Test of sensory nerve in patients with Kennedy disease].

Objective: To study the electrophysiological and pathological features of Kennedy disease (KD) and to make sure the functional and anatomical change of the sensory nerve of KD patients.

Methods: Electrophysiological and pathological tests were performed in 14 KD patients, including electromyogram, conduction velocities of median, ulnar, peroneal, tibial, and sural nerves, trigemino-cervical reflex (TCR), contact heat evoked potential (CHEP), and biopsy of the sural nerves. During TCR, the patients lay on the back, holding the heads slightly raised to make the sternocleidomastoid muscles contract slightly.

[Establishment of a method of contact heat evoked potential and its application in carpal tunnel syndrome].

Objective: To establish a method to evoke cerebral potentials by stimulating nociceptive fibers, estimate the conduction velocities of nerve fibers mediating these responses, and assess the value of the potentials in carpal tunnel syndrome.

Methods: One hundred patients with carpal tunnel syndrome and 20 sex-, and aged-matched healthy persons underwent stimulation of contact heat delivered via a circular thermode to excite selectively nociceptors with a rapid rising time at 70 degrees C/s to elicit pain and contact heat evoked potential (CHEP). Thermal stimuli were sent at two intensity levels (49.