European Journal of Translational Myology最新文献

Upper limb impairment occurs in approximately 80% of stroke survivors, with altered scapular kinematics playing a key role in dysfunction. Serratus anterior weakness post-stroke contributes to abnormal scapular motion, limiting shoulder and arm function. This study explored whether Electrical Stimulation (ES) could immediately enhance serratus anterior activity in individuals with post-stroke hemiplegia. A pre-post intervention design was used involving 19 individuals within three months post-stroke. Surface Electromyography (sEMG) recorded serratus anterior activity during a forward reach task. The Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) was also administered. Participants received 20 minutes of ES targeting the serratus anterior, after which sEMG and FMA were reassessed. Wilcoxon signed rank test compared pre- and post-intervention sEMG values. Statistical analysis showed a significant change in the area under the curve value(p < 0.01) but no significant change in RMS value. There was no change in FMA scale. Electrical stimulation showed significant changes in the muscle activity of the serratus anterior, indicating a reduction in the cost of the muscle work done during the forward reach task.

Ligament and tendon injuries are one of the major health concerns that affect over 1.71 billion people around the world. They cause functional limitations and affect the quality of life of people. As conventional methods have their limitations, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is becoming a potential solution for the improvement and acceleration of the healing process in ligament and tendon injuries. This systematic review aims to evaluate efficacy and safety of HBOT for ligament and tendon injuries. This systematic review provides a comprehensive analysis by following PRISMA guidelines. We looked for articles published between March 1999 and May 2024 across 6 databases. The articles included investigated the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy to treat ligament or tendon injuries. Animal studies, as well as human studies, were included in this review. Studies were evaluated for HBOT, and if they were not related or with insufficient data, they were excluded. Risk of bias has been assessed using the ROBINS-I tool. The studies measured outcomes across functional, histological, biomechanical, physicochemical, and even radiological aspects. A total of 13 studies were included in the review, with 693 participants. This study has analyzed the effectiveness of HBOT in two ways, namely, standalone treatment and combined methods like HBOT and other methods like platelet growth factor, steroid injections, intermittent oxygen therapy, or platelet-rich plasma. The pressure observed in this study is between 1.3 to 2.8 atmospheres absolute. The findings suggest that HBOT, whether used alone or as a complementary treatment, enhanced healing compared to controls. The ROBINS-I tool suggested low risk of bias for the majority of studies. Positive impacts in mechanical and histological outcomes were observed in both animal and human studies, such as increased collagen density, fiber alignment, and synthesis. The review highlights the potential of HBOT to especially reduce graft rejection post-ACL reconstruction, enhance functional recovery, and accelerate tendon healing. HBOT seems to be a safe and effective method for speeding up the healing process of tendons and ligaments. But, there is a need for more studies with more number of population for analyzing the effect of HBOT in a long run. It is necessary to make a standard protocol for the HBOT treatment method.

Inflammatory Myopathies (IM) encompass a diverse group of systemic autoimmune muscle disorders, not easy to diagnose. Concentric-macro EMG is supposed to reflect electrical activity of the entire motor unit. It could help in electrophysiological characterization of inflammatory myopathies and recognizing earlier myopathic changes. Conventional EMG in our IM patients showed myopathic changes in all the cases, so it could be a golden tool for diagnosis. The degree of abnormalities was variable in different muscles in concentric macro EMG. Myopathic changes using concentric macro EMG was not so advanced as those seen in chronic stable relapsing phase. Pooling up the results of the conventional EMG, muscle enzyme tests, muscle ultrasound , and Con-Mac will give optimal results for diagnosis and could help in follow up of patients with IM.

The application of implantable biomaterials in reconstructive grafting is a common practice in surgical fields such as orthopedics, maxillary and plastic surgery. This study explores the regenerative response of skeletal muscle to a porous bovine collagen-based matrix (Osteovit®) in a volumetric muscle loss injury model. Forty male Wistar rats were divided into four groups. Normal control underwent no procedure and regenerative control had mepivacaine injected in the tibialis anterior muscle to provoke a standard regenerative response. In the other two groups, a volumetric defect was created in the tibialis anterior muscle; the fibrosis control had no treatment, while the collagen-scaffolding group had a bone substitution matrix implanted. Animals were sacrificed at 21, 28, and 60 days post-procedure for histological, histochemical, immunohistochemical and histomorphometry analysis to evaluate muscle architecture and myogenic regenerative response. Significant changes in tissue architecture among groups, with a notable emphasis on the integration of the collagen scaffold, were demonstrated. This was also confirmed at the histomorphometry analysis, which found differences at the cross-sectional area, minor diameter and form factor values between groups The bone substitution matrix did not inhibit regeneration but promoted an abnormal one. This can be explained by the excessive formation of connective tissue, which led to the genesis of intramuscular tendons that may have interfered with the normal development of regenerative muscle fibers. The findings highlight the need for further investigation into the cellular mechanisms underlying skeletal muscle regeneration in response to implantable biomaterials.

In recent decades, ultrasound-guided percutaneous infiltrative procedures have gained prominence in treating musculoskeletal disorders, providing enhanced accuracy over traditional "blind" techniques. This study examines the utility of the Power Doppler ultrasound technique, specifically the "Jet sign," in identifying needle placement during infiltrative treatments. A retrospective analysis was conducted involving 5,376 patients where procedures were performed under ultrasound guidance from January 2014 to January 2022. While the needle tip was successfully visualized in 7% of cases, the Jet sign facilitated accurate localization in 368 instances. This technique capitalizes on the creation of a high-pressure fluid flow, enabling real-time monitoring and precise targeting of the therapeutic agent while minimizing complications. The findings underscore the effectiveness of the Jet sign in enhancing procedural accuracy and suggest its incorporation into clinical practice to optimize outcomes in ultrasound-assisted infiltrative therapies.

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a novel combination therapy, AVC (Anti-Vitiligo Cream), compared to common treatments for vitiligo. A randomized interventional study was conducted on 1,000 patients with confirmed vitiligo, aged 7-70 years. Participants were divided into five groups (200 patients each): oral prednisolone, Tofacitinib, Ruxolitinib, AVC (Anti-Vitiligo Cream), and AVC combined with Tofacitinib. Outcomes were assessed over two years using the Vitiligo Area Scoring Index (VASI), patient satisfaction scores, and clinical observations. AVC-based therapies (Groups 4 and 5) demonstrated superior efficacy and patient satisfaction compared to other treatments. Group 5 (AVC + Tofacitinib) achieved the highest outcomes, with a mean satisfaction score of 90 (IQR: 85-95) and treatment efficacy significantly higher than Group 1 (p < 0.001). Regression analysis identified treatment outcomes and therapy type as significant predictors of satisfaction. AVC (Anti-Vitiligo Cream), particularly in combination with Tofacitinib, represents a groundbreaking approach for managing vitiligo, providing enhanced efficacy and patient satisfaction. These findings support the potential of AVC-based therapies as a standard treatment option.

Moyamoya Disease (MMD) is a rare cerebrovascular disorder characterized by stenosis of the internal carotid arteries. To date, no studies have specifically described the characteristics of Moyamoya among Iranian populations. This study aims to examine the clinical characteristics of a case series of Iranian patients with MMD. This study prospectively identified all patients diagnosed with MMD at an institutional tertiary hospital in Tehran from 2010 to 2020. Data on demographic characteristics, disease presentations, past medical history, type of vascular lesion, treatment approaches, and outcomes during follow-up were collected. A total of 15 patients with MMD were included. Of these, 9 (60%) were female. Age distribution at diagnosis showed 6 patients were younger than 40 years. No familial patterns of MMD were observed. All patients experienced Cerebrovascular Accidents (CVA) at disease onset. A notable prevalence of comorbid conditions was observed, including hypertension (33.3%), diabetes mellitus (20%), and seizure disorders (20%). Vascular lesions were unilateral in 46.6% of patients and bilateral in 53.4%. Direct bypass surgery was performed in 40% of cases. The mean follow-up period was 16.3±1.2 months. During this time, 2 patients died and 1 experienced a new CVA. Residual symptoms were present in 13.3% of patients. This study shows distinct characteristics of MMD in an Iranian cohort, including a female predominance, frequent ischemic symptoms, and a high rate of bilateral occlusions. Further prospective studies are warranted to assess the efficacy of medical and surgical interventions in preventing recurrent symptoms in this population.

The Padova Muscle Days (PMD), an international congress on skeletal muscle, was founded in 1985 to provide consultancy on Translational Myology. Its goal has always been to translate the results of basic research into clinical trials. Indeed, function and mass of skeletal striated muscle are influenced by and affect central and peripheral neural pathologies, cardiac, pulmonary, hepatic, metabolic, and endocrine disorders, as well as lifestyle, aging, not to mention cancer. Over the years, PMD has led to innovative multidisciplinary results, so much so that it became natural to emphasize this with a neologism now included in the title of the congress series: "Padua Days on Muscle and Mobility Medicine (Pd3m)". Mobility Medicine is used to bring together knowledge currently dispersed across too many subspecialties. Medium-sized scientific conferences, held in hotels large enough to accommodate all participants, increase opportunities for constructive discussions during breaks and evenings, bringing together young and senior experts in basic sciences and clinical specialties. Extra-sessional discussions offer young scientists good opportunities for new collaborations and job offers. Since its inception, the PMD has offered these opportunities, leading to innovative multidisciplinary results published in high-level scientific journals. We hope that many more speakers will share our dreams and make them come true during the next conference in March 2026.

Adaptability is an important aspect of human behavior that determines the successful accomplishment of a task. The objective to study was to compare the patterns of adaptive behavior (AB) in older adults of both sexes according to age range and schooling. A cross-sectional descriptive (comparative) study was designed on 65 older adults (30 males and 35 females) of the Maule region (Chile). The sample was non-probabilistic. The age range was 70 to 85 years. Weight and height were evaluated and Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated. A scale of self-perception of AB in older adults was applied. BMI in males was 29.5±3.9kg/m2 and in females was 28.4±5.0kg/m2. The AB values in males were 150.0±13.0 points and in females 57.0±15.0 points (p<0.05). The values of AB by schooling were: In males: High School Education 142.3± 11.5 points and Secondary Education 151.6± 14.6 points (p<0.05). In females: High School 149.6± 15.2 points and Secondary Education 159.8± 15.1 points (p<0.05). This study found that females performed better in AB, specifically in self-care, home life, self-direction, and socialization than their male counterparts; in addition, older adults of both sexes with higher education had better scores in AB than those with secondary education.

Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) is a three-dimensional spinal deformity that, if untreated, can impair posture, biomechanics, and quality of life. This case report aims to present the clinical outcomes of an innovative conservative treatment approach that combines the PosturalSpine® D'Amanti Method with the Chêneau brace, in an 8-year-old patient with thoracolumbar rotoscoliosis. This integrative method may represent a novel alternative to conventional bracing or physiotherapy-only protocols. An 8-year-old girl diagnosed with a 32° thoracolumbar rotoscoliosis likely of hereditary origin underwent a 36-month treatment program at Studio Kinesis in Ragusa. The intervention combined a Chêneau brace with the PosturalSpine® D'Amanti Method, which includes proprioceptive and biomechanical exercises. The protocol involved eight 30-minute sessions per month, focusing on spinal alignment, posture, breathing, and body awareness. Radiographic evaluations were conducted at baseline and 10th, 24th, and 35th months. The Cobb angle improved from 32° to 12°, with the most notable reduction occurring within the first 12 months. A slight increase was observed, which may correspond with a 12.5 cm growth spurt, suggesting the influence of rapid growth on treatment outcomes. The integration of PosturalSpine® D'Amanti Method with the Chêneau brace showed encouraging results in reducing spinal curvature and enhancing postural alignment with a noticeable reduction of rib hump in a pediatric patient. This case highlights the potential of combining kinesiotherapy and bracing in scoliosis management. However, broader studies are necessary to validate these findings and optimize protocols for long-term care, particularly during growth phases.