European Journal of Translational Myology最新文献

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is a critical outcome measure in oncology research and clinical care. This study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and psychometrically validate the Bulgarian versions of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G), focusing on Internal Consistency (IC), Test-Retest Reliability (TRR), and Construct Validity (CV) in Cancer Survivors (CS) diagnosed with breast, lung, or colorectal cancer. A total of 235 Bulgarian CS (mean age 62.3 ± 11.2 years; 118 males, 117 females) were recruited from five tertiary care hospitals in a cross-sectional study design. The EORTC QLQ-C30 and FACT-G were translated and culturally adapted according to the official EORTC and FACIT guidelines. Psychometric evaluation included data quality (floor and ceiling effects, missing responses), IC, TRR, and CV assessed via convergent and Discriminant Validity (DV). A subsample of 78 study participants (33.2%) completed both questionnaires twice over a 14-day interval for TRR assessment. CV was supported by strong item-scale and cross-instrument correlations (r = 0.62-0.81). IC was excellent across all domains (Cronbach's α = 0.88-0.95), and TRR demonstrated high stability (ICC = 0.75-0.89). Bland-Altman analysis showed acceptable agreement, with a mean difference of 23.20 (95% CI: 21.87-24.53) and limits of agreement ranging from +3.77 to +42.63. Minimal Floor Effects (FE) were observed, while Ceiling Effects (CE) were noted in specific domains (e.g., Social Functioning (SF) and Global Health (GH) in the EORTC QLQ-C30; Social Well-Being (SWB) and Emotional Well-Being (EWB) in the FACT-G). The findings support that the Bulgarian versions of the EORTC QLQ-C30 and FACT-G are valid, reliable, and culturally appropriate instruments for evaluating HRQoL in Bulgarian CS. Their use is recommended in both clinical practice and research contexts.

Children are not fully able to associate severity and injury probability with cognitive, emotional, and social factors. This study focused on physical risk-taking by exploring the associations between risk propensity and physical balance during the developmental age. Specifically, sixteen girls aged 58 to 108 months (≈ 5 to 9 years), of whom 43.75% normal-weighted and all were active in rhythmic gymnastics, were subjected to a combination of physical tests (i.e., static and dynamic) and questionnaires to evaluate balance, sensation seeking, and risk propensity, respectively. Our results showed that the better the static balance, the higher the sensation seeking and risk propensity, while age had a negligible effect on these associations. Our study suggested that balance affects propensity towards risky behaviors in children.

The Eustachian tube has played a surprisingly central role in the development of modern otology. Although often overshadowed by the clinical study of the inner ear and tympanic cavity, it was the Eustachian tube, and its treatment, that led to the establishment of Otology as an independent medical discipline in the early 19th century. This article aims to retrace this evolution, beginning with the historical, anatomical, and physiological background of catheterization techniques, continuing with the functional anatomy of the peritubal muscles, and concluding with a discussion of the most common middle ear pathologies. It also highlights the modern rediscovery of thermal therapy as a potential ally in the management of Eustachian tube dysfunction.

This study aimed to identify key cell cycle-related genes involved in cervical cancer progression using comprehensive bioinformatics analyses and to explore their potential implications in neuromuscular complications associated with cancer pathology or treatment. Gene expression profiles related to cervical cancer (GSE63514, GSE6791, GSE52903, and GSE9750) were retrieved from the GEO database. Differentially Expressed Genes (DEGs) distinguishing tumor tissues from normal tissues were determined through Venn diagram analysis. Functional enrichment was conducted via Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway analyses. A Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) network was constructed using the STRING database, and core hub genes were screened through Cytoscape. Validation of selected genes was performed using GEPIA. A total of 117 DEGs were identified, with 89 upregulated and 28 downregulated genes. In this case, five hub genes-CDK1, CCNA2, CDC20, TOP2A, and EXO1-displayed significant overexpression in cervical cancer tissues with p values lower than 0.05. It is noteworthy that CCNA2 was associated with increased tumor stage and worse Disease-Free Survival (DFS), and CDK1 with worse Overall Survival (OS). These genes play crucial roles in the regulatory circuits of the cell cycle, and their altered expression may impact a range of cellular processes beyond cancer, such as the neuromuscular signalling abnormalities seen in some patients with cervical cancer. The specific genes associated with the cell cycle can act as prognostic biomarkers and may also have an influence in mediating neuromuscular complications due to their impact on mitotic control and molecular signaling pathways throughout the body. This latter aspect is helpful for the prognosis of cancer, including cervical cancer, as well as for the multidisciplinary treatment of neuromuscular symptoms that some cervical cancer patients may have.

Dear Editor, We read with interest the article by Tramonti et al. about a 54-year-old man with severe Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) following a flu-like infection in April 2022, which required long-term intubation and mechanical ventilation.1 Despite immediate treatment with steroids, Intravenous Immunoglobulins (IVIG), and Plasma Exchange (PE), the patient was discharged to a rehabilitation facility after 9 months with severe quadruparesis and weakness of the axial, respiratory, and pharyngeal muscles.1 After intensive rehabilitation with conventional and robot-assisted approaches, the patient's condition improved significantly after another two months.1 The study is noteworthy, but some points require discussion. [...].

Beyond respiration, the diaphragm contributes to trunk stability and posture. Rehabilitative Ultrasound Imaging (RUSI) assesses Diaphragm Thickness (DT) and Excursion (DE), but evidence on reliability across novice examiners is limited. This study investigated intra- and inter-tester reliability of diaphragmatic RUSI across novice examiners in healthy women and compared DT and DE between parous and nulliparous participants. Healthy parous and nulliparous women participated. Exclusion criteria included pregnancy, chronic conditions, and BMI > 30 kg/m2. Two physiotherapists, novices in RUSI, measured DT during full inspiration and expiration and DE during quiet breathing. An independent examiner calculated the Thickening Fraction (TF). Three within-session measurements were taken for intra-tester reliability, whereas, for inter-tester reliability, agreement between mean measurements was analyzed via Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC) and 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs). Independent samples t-tests assessed DT and DE differences between groups. Twenty women (33±14.3 years, BMI: 23.4±3.3) participated. Intra-tester reliability was moderate to good for DT (ICC:0.511-0.691) and very good for DE (ICC:0.700-0.756). Inter-tester reliability was very good for DE (ICC=0.748), and moderate for DT (ICC: 0.573-0.706). TF reliability was poor. Only one tester found higher inspiratory DT in parous women (p<0.01). Novice examiners can reliably measure DT and DE using RUSI, supporting its use in rehabilitation. Further standardization is required to enhance RUSI practices and additional research to clarify parity-related diaphragm changes.

Dysphagia, a sensorimotor disorder impairing swallowing, affects millions globally, compromising quality of life and increasing risks of malnutrition, aspiration pneumonia, and healthcare costs. Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) is an emerging adjunctive therapy delivering low-frequency electrical impulses to stimulate swallowing muscles, enhancing strength, coordination, and neuroplasticity. This narrative review synthesizes evidence on NMES efficacy in dysphagia treatment across pediatric and adult populations, emphasizing muscle-specific outcomes and translational myology applications. In pediatric patients with primary or neurological dysphagia, NMES improves suprahyoid, facial, and tongue muscle activation, enhances swallowing efficiency and reduces tube-feeding dependency In adults, particularly post-stroke, NMES improves laryngeal elevation, Upper Esophageal Sphincter (UES) opening, and quality of life, though efficacy in head and neck cancer patients is limited. Methodological limitations, including small sample sizes, protocol heterogeneity, and lack of assessor blinding, hinder generalizability. NMES is safe, with minor adverse effects such as erythema and holds promise as a valuable adjunct in dysphagia rehabilitation, but requires standardized protocols and robust trials to optimize its role in clinical myology.

Warm-up is a fundamental preparatory phase for optimizing performance, yet its acute effects may depend on the specificity of the protocol to the target task. This pilot study compared a General, mobility-based Warm-Up (GWU) with a low-intensity, bodyweight Movement-Specific Warm-Up (MSWU) replicating squat biomechanics on maximal isometric force and neuromuscular activation during isometric squat. Eight resistance-trained men (age 23.5 ± 1.2 years; height 182.9 ± 5.9 cm; body mass 84.3 ± 9.1 kg; 1RM back squat 146 ± 19 kg) completed two randomized, counterbalanced sessions. Each session included a standardized preliminary warm-up, baseline maximal isometric high-bar back squat at 90° knee flexion, and either the GWU or the MSWU, followed by a 2-min rest and reassessment. Peak force and surface EMG of vastus medialis (VM), vastus lateralis (VL), rectus femoris (RF), gluteus maximus (GMax), and biceps femoris (BF) were measured. Completion time did not differ between protocols (~6-7 min; p = 0.806). Peak force significantly decreased after the GWU (-3.8%; p = 0.004; d = 1.47) but was maintained following the MSWU (-1.9%; p = 0.138; d = 0.59). Between-protocol differences in peak force were not significant (p = 0.186; d = 0.52). No significant changes were observed in normalized GMax activity or total integrated EMG. These results indicate that, for isometric, task-specific performance, a brief movement-specific warm-up better preserves force-generating capacity than a general mobility routine of similar duration, emphasizing the importance of biomechanical specificity in warm-up design.

The objective of this study was to analyze the effects of Dapagliflozin on cardiac myocyte injury markers and left ventricular diastolic function in patients with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HF-PEF) after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI). The study included 120 HF-PEF patients post-PCI treated at our hospital between May 2021 and May 2024. Patients were divided into two groups: conventional therapy (n=49) and Dapagliflozin plus conventional therapy (n=71). Serum Cardiac Troponin I (cTnI) and Serum Amyloid A (SAA) were measured. Left ventricular function was assessed by Ejection Fraction (EF) and the E/e' ratio. The incidence of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events (MACE) was also recorded. After treatment, the Dapagliflozin group showed significantly lower cTnI and SAA levels compared to the conventional group (p<0.05). EF was higher and E/e' ratio was lower in the Dapagliflozin group (p<0.05). The incidence of MACE was reduced to 1.41% versus 12.24% in the conventional group (p<0.05). In conclusion, Dapagliflozin effectively reduces cardiac myocyte injury markers, improves left ventricular diastolic function, and lowers the incidence of MACE in HF-PEF patients after PCI, demonstrating significant translational benefits for cardiac muscle function.

Irisin, a myokine released by skeletal muscle during physical activity, has emerged as a key regulator of energy metabolism, cellular stress responses, and longevity pathways. While previous studies have focused on aged animal-models or pathological states, the long-term impact of early-life interventions on molecular aging pathways remains poorly understood. This study investigated whether early-life irisin administration and physical exercise could modulate the renal-expression of Klotho and HSP70-two hallmark genes of cellular protection and anti-aging in young adult NMRI mice. Animals underwent 8 weeks of resistance training, endurance training, or irisin injection. Plasma irisin was quantified via ELISA, and renal Klotho and HSP70 expression levels were assessed using qPCR and Western-blotting. All interventions significantly increased circulating irisin and upregulated Klotho and HSP70 at both transcriptional and protein levels, with resistance training inducing the most pronounced effects. A 20-month survival analysis showed a trend toward improved longevity in all intervention groups. These findings suggest that early-life exercise and irisin exposure may activate renoprotective and longevity-associated pathways before the onset of molecular aging, supporting their potential as preventive strategies in translational geroscience.