Availability of multi-frequency impedance method for evaluating of intramuscular fat : Echo intensity calculated from skeletal muscle images as a comparative control / 体力科学

In this study, we performed echo intensity obtained from ultrasonographic images was used as a reference for intramuscular fat mass to determine whether intramuscular fat can be estimated non-invasively using the bioelectrical impedance method. The subjects were 45 healthy male university students (mean age 20.2±1.4 years) of the athletic club. An ultrasound images were taken from vastus lateralis, and the echo intensity was calculated from the obtained image using image analysis software. The impedance corresponding to each of the 17 points from 4to 700 kHz were collected using a multi-frequency impedance measuring device. In addition, intracellular resistance and extracellular resistance were calculated using Cole-Cole distribution model. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used for the relationship between echo intensity and impedance. As a result, when using a frequency of 50 kHz or more, we observed a moderate correlation (r=0.529 ~ 0.597, p<0.001) between an impedance of 2cm at the distance between the sensing (V) and current (I) electrodes and echo intensity at 2cm from the skin surface. A moderate correlation (r=0.551, p<0.001) was observed between the intracellular resistance at the V-I electrode spacing of 2cm and echo intensity at 2cm form the skin surface. However, there was only a weak correlation between extracellular resistance and echo intensity. This suggests that the impedance and intracellular resistance measured at a frequency of 50 kHz or higher and with a V-I electrode spacing of 2cm reflect intramuscular fat.

Muscle Thickness and Echo Intensity of the Abdominal and Lower Extremity Muscles in Stroke Survivors

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This study compared the muscle thickness (MT) and echo intensity (EI) of the abdominal, thigh, and lower leg muscles between the paretic and nonparetic sides in chronic stroke survivors. METHODS: Thirty-two stroke survivors living in the community participated in this study. The MT and EI, which are indicators of muscle mass and intramuscular fat or connective tissue, were assessed in the rectus abdominis, external oblique, internal oblique, transversus abdominis, rectus femoris, vastus intermedius, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius, and soleus via transverse ultrasound imaging. In addition, a possible indicator of physical activity—the frequency of going out per week—was evaluated. RESULTS: All quadriceps muscles and the tibialis anterior were significantly thinner and the EI values of the vastus intermedius, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, and soleus were significantly higher in the paretic limb than the nonparetic limb. The MT and EI values of abdominal muscles did not differ significantly between the two sides. The MT values of the paretic rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, and vastus medialis were significantly associated with the frequency of going out after adjusting confounding factors. The MT of the nonparetic vastus lateralis was significantly associated with latency from stroke onset after adjusting confounding factors. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that quantitative and qualitative changes on the paretic side in stroke survivors were the most robust in the thigh muscles, whereas such changes might not occur in the abdominal muscles.

Quantitative Muscle Ultrasonography in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

OBJECTIVE: To assess the reliability of quantitative muscle ultrasonography (US) in healthy subjects and to evaluate the correlation between quantitative muscle US findings and electrodiagnostic study results in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). The clinical significance of quantitative muscle US in CTS was also assessed. METHODS: Twenty patients with CTS and 20 age-matched healthy volunteers were recruited. All control and CTS subjects underwent a bilateral median and ulnar nerve conduction study (NCS) and quantitative muscle US. Transverse US images of the abductor pollicis brevis (APB) and abductor digiti minimi (ADM) were obtained to measure muscle cross-sectional area (CSA), thickness, and echo intensity (EI). EI was determined using computer-assisted, grayscale analysis. Inter-rater and intra-rater reliability for quantitative muscle US in control subjects, and differences in muscle thickness, CSA, and EI between the CTS patient and control groups were analyzed. Relationships between quantitative US parameters and electrodiagnostic study results were evaluated. RESULTS: Quantitative muscle US had high inter-rater and intra-rater reliability in the control group. Muscle thickness and CSA were significantly decreased, and EI was significantly increased in the APB of the CTS group (all p<0.05). EI demonstrated a significant positive correlation with latency of the median motor and sensory NCS in CTS patients (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that quantitative muscle US parameters may be useful for detecting muscle changes in CTS. Further study involving patients with other neuromuscular diseases is needed to evaluate peripheral muscle change using quantitative muscle US.