Search results for " Muscle"
showing 10 items of 1495 documents
Effect of one-year dextromethorphan/quinidine treatment on management of respiratory impairment in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
2021
Abstract Treatment with Dextromethorphan/Quinidine (DM/Q) has demonstrated benefit on pseudobulbar affect and bulbar function in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The aim of this study was to assess whether DM/Q could provide long-term improvement in bulbar function and thereby prolong noninvasive respiratory management in ALS. Materials and methods This prospective, case-cohort study, recruited ALS patients with bulbar dysfunction. Subjects included were compared with cross-matched historical controls. Cases received DM/Q (20/10 mg twice daily) during one-year follow-up; bulbar dysfunction was evaluated with the Norris scale bulbar subscore (NBS) and bulbar subscale of AlSFRS-R (ALSFRSb…
Predictors of Ineffective Cough during a Chest Infection in Patients with Stable Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
2007
In patients with neuromuscular diseases, a chest infection is associated with a reduction in respiratory muscle function that may result in decreased cough effectiveness.To determine if a clinical or functional parameter in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in a stable condition could predict spontaneous cough ineffectiveness during a respiratory tract infection.Forty consecutive patients with ALS referred to our Respiratory Care Unit were studied during a one-year follow-up.FEV(1), FVC, FEV(1)/FVC, peak cough flow (PCF), peak velocity time (PVT), maximum inspiratory and expiratory pressures, and bulbar dysfunction evaluation using the Norris scale bulbar subscore (NBS). A t…
Relocation of Papillary Muscles for Ischemic Mitral Valve Regurgitation
2014
Objective The assessment of the mitral valve apparatus (MVA) and its modifications during ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) is better performed by three-dimensional (3D) transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). The aim of our study was to carry out nonrestrictive mitral annuloplasty in addition to relocation of papillary muscles (PPMs) oriented by preoperative real-time 3D TEE through the mitral valve quantification dedicated software. Methods Since January 2008, a total of 70 patients with severe IMR were examined both before and after mitral valve repair. The mean (SD) coaptation depth and the mean (SD) tenting area were 1.4 (0.4) cm and 3.2 (0.5) cm2, respectively. Intraoperative 3D TEE…
Development of chronic hypoventilation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients
2006
SummaryEarly prediction of respiratory muscle involvement and chronic hypoventilation (CH) in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients can help to plan mechanical ventilatory aids and palliative care interventions well before respiratory failure occurs. To describe the natural history of the progressive pulmonary dysfunction leading to CH, and to identify potential parameters associated with its development in ALS, we prospectively followed 38 ALS patients up to 26 months, starting from their first presentation at our Clinic. At study entry, median FVC was 87% (interquartile range: 72–104%) and declined by 10% after 6 months (range: 2–49%), showing a very high inter-patient variability.…
Reconstruction with a pectoralis major myocutaneous flap after left first rib and clavicular chest wall resection for a metastasis from laryngeal can…
2016
We presented a case of recurrent metastasis from epidermoid cancer that occurred in the left clavicle of a patient with a history of laryngeal cancer treated on April 2005 with extended hemilaryngectomy, neck dissection and chemoradiation therapy. On September 2008, he developed a left clavicular metastasis. The disease was initially well controlled by chemoradiotherapy but it recurred 17 months later. The optimal treatment plan was established by several multidisciplinary meetings and the patient subsequently underwent an en bloc resection of the left clavicle, first rib and all the other involved structures. Coverage of the thoracic defect was achieved using pectoralis major myocutaneous …
Mechanical strain causes adaptive change in bronchial fibroblasts enhancing profibrotic and inflammatory responses
2016
Asthma is characterized by periodic episodes of bronchoconstriction and reversible airway obstruction; these symptoms are attributable to a number of factors including increased mass and reactivity of bronchial smooth muscle and extracellular matrix (ECM) in asthmatic airways. Literature has suggested changes in cell responses and signaling can be elicited via modulation of mechanical stress acting upon them, potentially affecting the microenvironment of the cell. In this study, we hypothesized that mechanical strain directly affects the (myo)fibroblast phenotype in asthma. Therefore, we characterized responses of bronchial fibroblasts, from 6 normal and 11 asthmatic non-smoking volunteers,…
Can guanine-based purines be considered modulators of intestinal motility in rodents?
2010
Adenine-based purines play a pivotal role in the control of gastrointestinal motility in rodents. Recently, guanine-based purines have been also shown to exert extracellular effects in the central nervous system raising the possibility of the existence of distinct receptors for guanine-based purines. Thus, it seems likely to speculate that also guanine-based purines may play a role in the modulation of the intestinal contractility. Spontaneous and neurally-evoked mechanical activity was recorded in vitro as changes in isometric tension in circular muscle strips from mouse distal colon. Guanosine up to 3 mM or guanine up to 1 mM failed to affect the spontaneous mechanical activity, but reduc…
Inhibition of the mechanical activity of mouse ileum by cactus pear (Opuntia Ficus Indica, L, Mill.) fruit extract and its pigment indicaxanthin.
2010
We investigated, using an organ bath technique, the effects of a hydrophilic extract from Opuntia ficus indica fruit pulp (cactus fruit extract, CFE) on the motility of mouse ileum, and researched the extract component(s) responsible for the observed responses. CFE (10-320 mg of fresh fruit pulp equivalents/mL of organ bath) reduced dose-dependently the spontaneous contractions. This effect was unaffected by tetrodotoxin, a neuronal blocker, N(omega)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester, a nitric oxide synthase blocker, tetraethylammonium, a potassium channel blocker, or atropine, a muscarinic receptor antagonist. CFE also reduced the contractions evoked by carbachol, without affecting the contrac…
Inspiratory Muscle Training and Functional Electrical Stimulation for Treatment of Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: The TRAINING-HF Tr…
2019
Introduction and objectives: Despite the prevalence of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), there is currently no evidence-based effective therapy for this disease. This study sought to evaluate whether inspiratory muscle training (IMT), functional electrical stimulation (FES), or a combination of both (IMT + FES) improves 12- and 24-week exercise capacity as well as left ventricular diastolic function, biomarker profile, and quality of life in HFpEF. Methods: A total of 61 stable symptomatic patients (New York Heart Association II-III) with HFpEF were randomized (1:1:1:1) to receive a 12-week program of IMT, FES, or IMT + FES vs usual care. The primary endpoint of the st…
Effect of segmental muscle vibration on upper extremity functional ability poststroke: A randomized controlled trial.
2019
Abstract Background: Upper extremity functional impairments are common consequences of stroke. Therefore, continuous investigation of effective interventions for upper extremity functions after stroke is a necessity. Segmental muscle vibration (SMV) is one of the interventions that incorporate sensory stimulation to improve motor cortical excitability. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of 5-minute SMV application along with supervised physical therapy (SPT) on improving activities of daily living and motor recovery on the hemiparetic upper extremity in patients with stroke. Methods: A sample of 37 patients poststroke (29 males) was randomly allocated to either SPT contr…