Fatty infiltration in cervical flexors and extensors in patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy using a multi-muscle segmentation model.

BACKGROUND: In patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) that have spinal cord compression and sensorimotor deficits, surgical decompression is often performed. However, there is heterogeneity in clinical presentation and post-surgical functional recovery. OBJECTIVES: Primary: a) to assess differences in muscle fat infiltration (MFI) in patients with DCM versus controls, b) to assess association between MFI and clinical disability. Secondary: to assess association between MFI pre-surgery and post-surgical functional recovery. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional case control study. METHODS: Eighteen patients with DCM (58.6 ± 14.2 years, 10 M/8F) and 25 controls (52.6 ± 11.8 years, 13M/12 F) underwent 3D Dixon fat-water imaging. A convolutional neural network (CNN) was used to segment cervical muscles (MFSS- multifidus and semispinalis cervicis, LC- longus capitis/colli) and quantify MFI. Modified Japanese Orthopedic Association (mJOA) and Nurick were collected. RESULTS: Patients with DCM had significantly higher MFI in MFSS (20.63 ± 5.43 vs 17.04 ± 5.24, p = 0.043) and LC (18.74 ± 6.7 vs 13.66 ± 4.91, p = 0.021) than controls. Patients with increased MFI in LC and MFSS had higher disability (LC: Nurick (Spearman's ρ = 0.436, p = 0.003) and mJOA (ρ = -0.399, p = 0.008)). Increased MFI in LC pre-surgery was associated with post-surgical improvement in Nurick (ρ = -0.664, p = 0.026) and mJOA (ρ = -0.603, p = 0.049). CONCLUSION: In DCM, increased muscle adiposity is significantly associated with sensorimotor deficits, clinical disability, and functional recovery after surgery. Accurate and time efficient evaluation of fat infiltration in cervical muscles may be conducted through implementation of CNN models.

Thrombospondin-1 mediates muscle damage in brachio-cervical inflammatory myopathy and systemic sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical, serologic and histologic features of a cohort of patients with brachio-cervical inflammatory myopathy (BCIM) associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and unravel disease-specific pathophysiologic mechanisms occurring in these patients. METHODS: We reviewed clinical, immunologic, muscle MRI, nailfold videocapillaroscopy, muscle biopsy, and response to treatment data from 8 patients with BCIM-SSc. We compared cytokine profiles between patients with BCIM-SSc and SSc without muscle involvement and controls. We analyzed the effect of the deregulated cytokines in vitro (fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and muscle cells) and in vivo. RESULTS: All patients with BCIM-SSc presented with muscle weakness involving cervical and proximal muscles of the upper limbs plus Raynaud syndrome, telangiectasia and/or sclerodactilia, hypotonia of the esophagus, and interstitial lung disease. Immunosuppressive treatment stopped the progression of the disease. Muscle biopsy showed pathologic changes including the presence of necrotic fibers, fibrosis, and reduced capillary number and size. Cytokines involved in inflammation, angiogenesis, and fibrosis were deregulated. Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), which participates in all these 3 processes, was upregulated in patients with BCIM-SSc. In vitro, TSP-1 and serum of patients with BCIM-SSc promoted proliferation and upregulation of collagen, fibronectin, and transforming growth factor beta in fibroblasts. TSP-1 disrupted vascular network, decreased muscle differentiation, and promoted hypotrophic myotubes. In vivo, TSP-1 increased fibrotic tissue and profibrotic macrophage infiltration in the muscle. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with SSc may present with a clinically and pathologically distinct myopathy. A prompt and correct diagnosis has important implications for treatment. Finally, TSP-1 may participate in the pathologic changes observed in muscle.

Effects of physical training on sarcomere lengths and muscle-tendon interface of the cervical region in an experimental model of menopause.

The aim of this study was to describe the structural and ultrastructural aspects of the myotendinous junction (MTJ) and the proximal and distal sarcomeres of the sternomastoid of aged Wistar rats subjected to an experimental model of menopause and swimming training. A total of 20 female elderly rats were divided into the following four groups (n=5 in each group): sedentary/no-menopausal (SNM), trained/no-menopausal (TNM), sedentary/menopausal (SM), and trained/menopausal (TM). The MTJ samples were dissected and analyzed using transmission electron microscopy. We showed that the TNM Group rats exhibited changes in morphological characteristics as a consequence of physical exercise, which included an increase of 36.60% (P<0.001) in the evagination length of the MTJ and a reduction in the length of the distal (77.38%) (P<0.0001) and proximal (68.15%) (P<0.0001) sarcomeres. The SM Group exhibited a reduction of about 275.93% (P<0.001) in the muscle-tendon interface and in the lengths of distal sarcomeres (55.87%) (P<0.0001) compared with SNM Group. Our results suggest that the swimming training under experimental model of menopause promoted tissue reorganization and increased muscle-tendon interaction with a drastic development in the length and thickness of the sarcoplasmatic invaginations and evaginations. In addition, the sarcomeres exhibited different lengths and a reduction in both groups subjected to swimming training.

The Troponin-I fast skeletal muscle is reliable marker for the determination of vitality in the suicide hanging.

Troponin I (TnI) is the inhibitory subunit of the troponin complex in the sarcomeric thin filament of striated muscle and plays a central role in the calcium regulation of contraction and relaxation. Vertebrate TnI has evolved into three isoforms encoded by three homologous genes: TNNI1 for slow skeletal muscle TnI, TNNI2 for fast skeletal muscle TnI and TNNI3 for cardiac TnI, which are expressed under muscle type-specific and developmental regulations in both the atrium and ventricle of the heart. Skeletal muscle TnI (both sTnI iso-forms) have been proposed as a sensitive and fast fiber-specific serum marker of skeletal muscle damage; fsTnI concentration in increased peripheral blood when fast twitch fibers were damaged. In our study we investigate if the 'Troponin I, fast skeletal muscle' can also be used as a reliable diagnostic tool in forensic practice, to perform differential diagnosis about vitality in suicide by hanging and simulated hanging (suspension of the victim after murder). We selected 8 women and 13 men, mean age 52.2 years, who died from suicidal hanging. The ligature material used for hanging was soft material in 11 cases and hard material in 10 cases. We chose cases as a control group of adults (n = 10; six women, four men, mean age 47.3 years) that died from opioid overdose (n = 2), car accident (n = 3) and sudden cardiac death (n = 5). Those deaths were characterized by their rapidity. To test the Anti-Troponin I fast skeletal muscle Antibody (Abcam clone-134,838), we used a case of a subject who died of myocardial infarction (timing infarct dated to 24-36 h prior to death). The reactions to Troponin I (namely the amount and extent of marker depletion) was scored for each section from 0 to -3: 0 = no loss of staining; -1 = minimal decrease in staining, compared to normally stained tissue; -2 = clear decrease in staining with some positivity (brown color) remaining; and -3 = no positive (brown) staining. The set of results obtained leads us to believe that the use of this antibody (Anti-Troponin I fast skeletal muscle antibody) is very promising to be able to make a certain differential diagnosis between antemortem and postmortem hangings. It should be emphasized that the present study seems to open new and promising horizons in the possibility to discriminate between suicidal hanging and simulated hanging (suspension of the victim after murder).

Genioglossal response to mechanical vibrations of the mandible and the submandibular muscles.

The extrinsic tongue muscles are activated in coordination with pharyngeal muscles to dilate the airways as needed during breathing. The genioglossus (GG) activity is known to be modulated by several reflexes evoked via the mechanoreceptors of the upper airways. The primary objective of this paper was to investigate the effectiveness of activating these reflex pathways using mechanical stimulation of the mandible or the submandibular muscles. In eight healthy subjects, 3-s long, 5-mm vertical mechanical vibrations were delivered at 8 and 12 Hz to the lower jaw in a seated position, while the GG EMG was recorded using a custom-made sublingual electrode, along with the activity of the masseter (MS) and mylohyoid (MH). All three muscle activities were significantly higher during stimulation compared with the baseline (P < 0.02), and the increase was larger at 12 Hz versus 8 Hz (P < 0.02). All three muscle responses had components that synchronized with the mechanical stimuli, but those of MS were much more strongly phase-locked to the vibrational cycle. In 10 healthy subjects, we also applied mechanical vibrations to the submandibular muscles at three different stimulation intensities, while subjects were lying in a supine position. The GG activity increased significantly above the baseline (P = 0.026) in 9 out of 10 subjects, and the elevated activity persisted after termination of the stimulus for a few seconds. The results demonstrate that GG muscle responses can be evoked with mechanical vibrations applied to the lower jaw or the submandibular muscles in healthy subjects during wakefulness. NEW & NOTEWORTHY The evoked responses observed in the genioglossus (GG) activity during mechanical vibrations of the lower jaw or the submandibular muscles may lead to therapeutic applications for improving the patency of airways during sleep. The presence of these GG reflexes may also explain a mechanism by which the vibrations produced during snoring can help the airways stay open in individuals who may otherwise have obstructed airways in sleep.

Tooth extraction and subsequent dental implant placement in Sprague-Dawley rats induce differential changes in anterior digastric myofibre size and myosin heavy chain isoform expression.

OBJECTIVE: to determine if tooth loss and dental implant placement in rats induce changes in the morphological and histochemical features of the Anterior Digastric muscle. DESIGN: Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats had their right maxillary molar teeth extracted. 'Extraction-1' and 'Extraction-2 groups were sacrificed, respectively, 4 or 8 weeks later, and an Implant group had an implant placement 2 weeks after the molar extraction, and rats were sacrificed 3 weeks later (n = 4/group). Naive rats (n = 3) had no treatment. Morphometric and immunohistochemical techniques quantified Anterior Digastric muscle myofibres' cross-sectional area (CSA) and myosin heavy chain (MyHC) isoform proportions. Significant ANOVAs were followed by post-hoc tests; p < 0.05 and 0.1 were considered to reflect levels of statistical significance. RESULTS: In naïve rats, the peripheral regions of the Anterior Digastric muscle was dominated by MyHC-IIx/b isoform and there were no MyHC-I isoforms; the central regions dominated by MyHC-IIx/b and MyHC-IIa isoforms. Compared with naive rats, tooth extraction produced, 8 (but not 4) weeks later, a decreased proportion of fast-contracting fatigue-resistant MyHC-IIa isoform (p = 0.08), and increased proportion of fast and intermediate fatigue-resistance MyHC-IIa/x/b isoform (p = 0.03). Dental implant placement following tooth extraction attenuated the extraction effects but produced a decreased proportion of fast-contracting fatiguable MyHC-llx/b isoform (p = 0.03) in the peripheral region, and increased inter-animal variability in myofibre-CSAs. CONCLUSIONS: Given the crucial role that the Anterior Digastric muscle plays in many vital oral functions (e.g., chewing, swallowing), these changes may contribute to the changes in oral sensorimotor functions that occur in humans following such treatments.

Unique morphogenetic signatures define mammalian neck muscles and associated connective tissues.

In vertebrates, head and trunk muscles develop from different mesodermal populations and are regulated by distinct genetic networks. Neck muscles at the head-trunk interface remain poorly defined due to their complex morphogenesis and dual mesodermal origins. Here, we use genetically modified mice to establish a 3D model that integrates regulatory genes, cell populations and morphogenetic events that define this transition zone. We show that the evolutionary conserved cucullaris-derived muscles originate from posterior cardiopharyngeal mesoderm, not lateral plate mesoderm, and we define new boundaries for neural crest and mesodermal contributions to neck connective tissue. Furthermore, lineage studies and functional analysis of Tbx1- and Pax3-null mice reveal a unique developmental program for somitic neck muscles that is distinct from that of somitic trunk muscles. Our findings unveil the embryological and developmental requirements underlying tetrapod neck myogenesis and provide a blueprint to investigate how muscle subsets are selectively affected in some human myopathies.

Effect of ageing on the myosin heavy chain composition of the human sternocleidomastoid muscle.

The myosin heavy chain (MyHC) composition of ageing limb muscles is transformed into a slower phenotype and expresses fast-twitch fibre type atrophy, presumably due to age-related motor unit remodelling and a change in the patterns of physical activity. It is not known if ageing affects the sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM) in a similar way. The goal of the study was to analyze the MyHC composition and the size of muscle fibres in the ageing SCM by immunohistochemical methods and quantitative analysis and stereology using our own software for morphometry. We hypothesize that with ageing the MyHC composition of SCM transforms similarly as in ageing limb muscles, but the size of the muscle fibres is less effected as in limb muscles. The study was performed on the autopsy samples of the SCM in 12 older males. The results were compared with those published in our previous study on 15 young adult males. An ageing SCM transforms into a slower MyHC profile: the percentage of slow-twitch fibres is enhanced (numerical proportion 44.6 vs. 31.5%, P<0.05; area proportion 57.2 vs. 38.4%, P<0.05). The share of hybrid 2a/2x fibres is diminished (numerical proportion 14.1 vs. 26.8%, P<0.05), the area proportion of all fast-twitch fibres expressing MyHC-2a and 2x is smaller (50.6 vs. 63.5%, P<0.05), and the area proportion of fibres expressing the fastest myosin isoform MyHC-2x is smaller too (19.0 vs. 34.5%, P<0.05). The slower phenotype with the preferential reduction of the fibres expressing the fastest MyHC-2x provide circumstantial evidence for: (i) more fast-twitch than slow-twitch motor units being lost; and (ii) reinnervation by the surviving motor units. There appears to be no significant influence on muscle fibre size, which is congruent with relatively unchanged SCM activity during life.

The Effect of Functional Mandibular Shift on the Muscle Spindle Systems in Head-Neck Muscles and the Related Neurotransmitter Histamine.

The aim of this study is to explore the effects of abnormal occlusion and functional recovery caused by functional mandible deviation on the head and neck muscles and muscle spindle sensory-motor system by electrophysiological response and endogenous monoamine neurotransmitters' distribution in the nucleus of the spinal tract. Seven-week-old male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 7 groups: normal control group, 2W experimental control group, 2W functional mandible deviation group, 2W functional mandible deviation recovery group, 4W experimental control group, 4W functional mandible deviation group, 4W functional mandible deviation recovery group. Chewing muscles, digastric muscle, splenius, and trapezius muscle spindles electrophysiological response activities at the opening and closing state were recorded. And then the chewing muscles, digastric, splenius, trapezius, and neck trigeminal nucleus were taken for histidine decarboxylase (HDC) detection by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), immunofluorescence, and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Histamine receptor proteins in the neck nucleus of the spinal tract were also examined by immunofluorescence and RT-PCR. Electromyography activity of chewing muscles, digastric, and splenius muscle was significantly asymmetric; the abnormal muscle electromyography activity was mainly detected at the ipsilateral side. After functional mandibular deviation, muscle sensitivity on the ipsilateral sides of the chewing muscle and splenius decreased, muscle excitement weakened, modulation depth decreased, and the muscle spindle afferent impulses of excitation transmission speed slowed down. Changes for digastric muscle electrical activity were contrary. The functions recovered at different extents after removing the deflector. However, trapezius in all the experimental groups and recovery groups exhibited bilateral symmetry electrophysiological responses, and no significant difference compared with the control group. After functional mandibular deviation, HDC protein and messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels on the ipsilateral sides of the chewing muscle and splenius increased significantly. HDC level changes for digastric muscle were contrary. After the removal of the mandibular position deflector, HDC protein and mRNA levels decreased on the ipsilateral sides of the chewing muscle and splenius while they increased in the digastric muscle. The difference of histamine decarboxylase content in the bilateral trapezius in each experimental group was small. After functional mandibular deviation, the temporomandibular joint mechanical receptors not only caused the fusimotor fiber hypoallergenic fatigue slow response on the ipsilateral sides of splenius, but also increased the injury neurotransmitter histamine release. The authors' results further support the opinion that the temporomandibular joint receptors may be involved in the mechanical theory of the head and neck muscles nervous system regulation.

The second terminations of the suboccipital muscles: An assistant pivot for the To Be Named Ligament.

In the last two decades, many studies have focused on the muscles and dense connective tissues located in the suboccipital region. Our study investigated the existence of the second terminations originating from the suboccipital muscles, and the relationship between the variable types of the To Be Named Ligament (TBNL). Anatomical dissection was performed on 35 head-neck specimens. The existence of the second terminations of the suboccipital muscles was confirmed and various types of the TBNL were observed in this study. The second terminations originated from multiple suboccipital muscles including the rectus capitis posterior minor (RCPmi), rectus capitis posterior major (RCPma) and obliquus capitis inferior (OCI) muscles, merged and terminated at the TBNL. The overall incidence of the second terminations of the suboccipital muscles was 34.29% and it varied among the various suboccipital muscle origins. 28.57% of the second terminations originated from the RCPma; 11.43% was from the RCPmi and 8.57% was from the OCI. Furthermore, there was a significant relationship between the existence of second terminations and the particular type of the TBNL. 95% of the arcuate type of the TBNL was accompanied with the second terminations which attached to their turning part, whereas only 10% of all the radiate type of the TBNL was accompanied with the second terminations. This study for the first time described the second terminations originating from multiple suboccipital muscles and demonstrated the relationship with the various types of the TBNL. We speculated that the second terminations maintain the arcuate TBNL and transfer tensile forces to the Myodural Bridge (MDB), thereby modulating the physiological functions of the MDB.

The knockdown of αkap alters the postsynaptic apparatus of neuromuscular junctions in living mice.

A muscle-specific nonkinase anchoring protein (αkap), encoded within the calcium/calmodulin kinase II (camk2) α gene, was recently found to control the stability of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) clusters on the surface of cultured myotubes. However, it remains unknown whether this protein has any effect on receptor stability and the maintenance of the structural integrity of neuromuscular synapses in vivo. By knocking down the endogenous expression of αkap in mouse sternomastoid muscles with shRNA, we found that the postsynaptic receptor density was dramatically reduced, the turnover rate of receptors at synaptic sites was significantly increased, and the insertion rates of both newly synthesized and recycled receptors into the postsynaptic membrane were depressed. Moreover, we found that αkap shRNA knockdown impaired synaptic structure as postsynaptic AChR clusters and their associated postsynaptic scaffold proteins within the neuromuscular junction were completely eliminated. These results provide new mechanistic insight into the role of αkap in regulating the stability of the postsynaptic apparatus of neuromuscular synapses.

MRI analysis of chronological changes in free-flap volume in head and neck reconstruction by volumetry.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate changes in flap volumes for head and neck cancer patients by MRI. METHODS: MRI examinations of a total of 21 head and neck cancer patients (13 males and 8 females; average age, 67 years) were performed after surgery to monitor changes in flap volumes, including muscle and fat content, using volumetric analysis of T2-weighted images at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. RESULTS: Fat-to-muscle ratios of all flaps at 1 month varied (muscle/fat ratio, 0.04-0.96). Flap volumes in all patients decreased at 12 months after surgery. The average final volumes of overall, muscle, and fat volumes reached 76.9% ± 5.2%, 37.1% ± 3.7%, and 85.5% ± 5.7%, respectively. The average fat volume slightly increased between 6 and 12 months, whereas compared with the fat volume, the average muscle volume significantly decreased (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The final overall flap volume in all patients decreased to approximately 25% of the original volume after surgery, which primarily resulted from muscle atrophy. Therefore fat-rich flaps may maintain flap volumes after surgery. MRI is a useful method to evaluate the size and shape of flaps of the head and neck.

Reduced masticatory function is related to lower satellite cell numbers in masseter muscle.

The physiology of masseter muscles is known to change in response to functional demands, but the effect on the satellite cell (SC) population is not known. In this study, the hypothesis is tested that a decreased functional demand of the masseter muscle causes a reduction of SCs. To this end, twelve 5-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were put on a soft diet (SD, n = 6) or a hard diet (HD, n = 6) and sacrificed after 14 days. Paraffin sections of the superficial masseter and the m. digastricus (control muscle) were stained with haematoxylin and eosin for tissue survey and with anti-myosin heavy chain (MHC) for slow and fast fibres. Frozen sections of both muscles were double-stained for collagen type IV and Pax7. Slow MHC fibres were equally distributed in the m. digastricus but only localized in a small area of the m. masseter. No differences between HD or SD for the m. digastricus were found. The m. masseter had more SCs per fibre in HD than in SD (0.093 ± 0.007 and 0.081 ± 0.008, respectively; P = 0.027). The m. masseter had more fibres per surface area than the m. digastricus in rats with an SD group (758.1 ± 101.6 and 568.4 ± 85.6, P = 0.047) and a HD group (737.7 ± 32.6 and 592.2 ± 82.2; P = 0.007). The m. digastricus had more SCs per fibre than the m. masseter in the SD group (0.094 ± 0.01 and 0.081 ± 0.008; P = 0.039). These results suggest that reduced masseter muscle function is related to a lower number of SCs. Reduced muscle function might decrease microdamage and hence the requirement of SCs in the muscle fibres.

Effect of muscle load tasks with maximal isometric contractions on oxygenation of the trapezius muscle and sympathetic nervous activity in females with chronic neck and shoulder pain.

BACKGROUND: Sympathetic nervous activity contributes to the maintenance of muscle oxygenation. However, patients with chronic pain may suffer from autonomic dysfunction. Furthermore, insufficient muscle oxygenation is observed among workers with chronic neck and shoulder pain. The aim of our study was to investigate how muscle load tasks affect sympathetic nervous activity and changes in oxygenation of the trapezius muscles in subjects with chronic neck and shoulder pain. METHODS: Thirty females were assigned to two groups: a pain group consisting of subjects with chronic neck and shoulder pain and a control group consisting of asymptomatic subjects. The participants performed three sets of isometric exercise in an upright position; they contracted their trapezius muscles with maximum effort and let the muscles relax (Relax). Autonomic nervous activity and oxygenation of the trapezius muscles were measured by heart rate variability (HRV) and Near-Infrared Spectroscopy. RESULTS: Oxyhemoglobin and total hemoglobin of the trapezius muscles in the pain group were lower during the Relax period compared with the control group. In addition, the low frequency / high frequency (LF/HF) ratio of HRV significantly increased during isometric exercise in the control group, whereas there were no significant changes in the pain group. CONCLUSIONS: Subjects with neck and shoulder pain showed lower oxygenation and blood flow of the trapezius muscles responding to isometric exercise, compared with asymptomatic subjects. Subjects with neck and shoulder pain also showed no significant changes in the LF/HF ratio of HRV responding to isometric exercise, which would imply a reduction in sympathetic nervous activity.

Myosin heavy chain composition of the human sternocleidomastoid muscle.

The sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle is one of the neck muscles responsible for head posture and control of head movement. It functions in rotation, inclination, protraction, extension and flexion of the head, whilst chewing and in exerting increased respiratory efforts. This study is the first one describing the myosin heavy chain (MyHC) isoform composition of the SCM muscle of presumably healthy young males for the purpose of better understanding the contractile properties of the muscle as well as to help in evaluation of pathologically altered structure of the muscle. Autopsy samples were processed immunohistochemically to reveal the MyHC isoform composition. The muscle fibres expressed MyHC-1 (31.5%), -2a (29.7%) and -2x (4.3%) or co-expressed MyHC-2a with MyHC-2x (26.8%), MyHC-1 with MyHC-2a (4.1%) and/or MyHC-1, -2a with -2x (1.1%). In addition to the MyHC isoforms, characteristic of adult limb muscles, a very low percentage of muscle fibres (0.2-2.7%) expressed MyHC-neo, which is normally not found in adult limb muscles. Only two samples exhibited MyHC-neo at a rather higher percentage (6.3% and 7.5%) of muscle fibres. The high share of hybrid fibres and the presence of MyHC-neo in the SCM muscle differ from that of adult limb muscles where hybrid fibres are rare and the expression of immature MyHC isoforms occurs only in pathological or experimental conditions. Since the SCM muscle shares the same embryogenic potential as limb muscles, its distinct MyHC expression appears to be associated with twin innervation and with the intrinsic specialisation to perform multiple functions.

Strength training increases the size of the satellite cell pool in type I and II fibres of chronically painful trapezius muscle in females.

While strength training has been shown to be effective in mediating hypertrophy and reducing pain in trapezius myalgia, responses at the cellular level have not previously been studied. This study investigated the potential of strength training targeting the affected muscles (SST, n = 18) and general fitness training (GFT, n = 16) to augment the satellite cell (SC) and macrophage pools in the trapezius muscles of women diagnosed with trapezius myalgia. A group receiving general health information (REF, n = 8) served as a control. Muscle biopsies were collected from the trapezius muscles of the 42 women (age 44 ± 8 years; mean ± SD) before and after the 10 week intervention period and were analysed by immunohistochemistry for SCs, macrophages and myonuclei. The SC content of type I and II fibres was observed to increase significantly from baseline by 65% and 164%, respectively, with SST (P < 0.0001), together with a significant correlation between the baseline number of SCs and the extent of hypertrophy (r = -0.669, P = 0.005). SST also resulted in a 74% enhancement of the trapezius macrophage content (P < 0.01), accompanied by evidence for the presence of an increased number of actively dividing cells (Ki67(+)) post-SST (P < 0.001). GFT resulted in a significant 23% increase in the SC content of type II fibres, when expressed relative to myonuclear number only (P < 0.05). No changes in the number of myonuclei per fibre or myonuclear domain were detected in any group. These findings provide strong support at the cellular level for the potential of SST to induce a strong myogenic response in this population.

Protein differences between human trapezius and vastus lateralis muscles determined with a proteomic approach.

BACKGROUND: The trapezius muscle is a neck muscle that is susceptible to chronic pain conditions associated with repetitive tasks, commonly referred to as chronic work-related myalgia, hence making the trapezius a muscle of clinical interest. To provide a basis for further investigations of the proteomic traits of the trapezius muscle in disease, two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) was performed on the healthy trapezius using vastus lateralis as a reference. To obtain as much information as possible from the vast proteomic data set, both one-way ANOVA, with and without false discovery rate (FDR) correlation, and partial least square projection to latent structures with discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) were combined to compare the outcome of the analysis. RESULTS: The trapezius and vastus lateralis showed significant differences in metabolic, contractile and regulatory proteins, with different results depending on choice of statistical approach and pre-processing technique. Using the standard method, FDR correlated one-way ANOVA, 42 protein spots differed significantly in abundance between the two muscles. Complementary analysis using immunohistochemistry and western blot confirmed the results from the 2D-DIGE analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The proteomic approach used in the present study combining 2D-DIGE and multivariate modelling provided a more comprehensive comparison of the protein profiles of the human trapezius and vastus lateralis muscle, than previously possible to obtain with immunohistochemistry or SDS-PAGE alone. Although 2D-DIGE has inherent limitations it is particularly useful to comprehensively screen for important structural and metabolic proteins, and appears to be a promising tool for future studies of patients suffering from chronic work related myalgia or other muscle diseases.

Sternocleidomastoid muscle deoxygenation in response to incremental inspiratory threshold loading measured by near infrared spectroscopy.

This study investigated the pattern of changes in muscle oxygenation, deoxygenation and blood volume in the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) in comparison with the parasternal (PS) and intercostal (IC) muscles during a bout of incremental inspiratory threshold loading (ITL) in healthy subjects using near-infrared spectroscopy. During progressive loading, the PS and IC showed a significant increase in oxygenated hemoglobin (5.9 ± 2.3 and 6.8 ± 2.4 µM, P<0.05) and the SCM showed an increase in deoxygenated hemoglobin (17.3 ± 3.8 µM, P<0.05). Total hemoglobin also steadily increased in the SCM whereas it decreased in the quiescent vastus lateralis muscle (20.7 ± 6.1µM vs. -6.6 ± 2.4 µM, P<0.05), which was used as the control muscle during the ITL. Our data suggests that the SCM is recruited progressively during progressive ITL and is accompanied by an increased blood volume and maintenance of O(2)Hb. Blood redistribution away from the nonactive limb muscles during the ITL may provide one source of maintaining inspiratory muscle blood volume and oxygenation during high respiratory motor output.

Expression of utrophin at dystrophin-deficient neuromuscular synapses of mdx mice: a study of protected and affected muscles.

In mdx mice, intrinsic laryngeal muscles are spared and sternomastoid muscles are affected, showing cycles of muscle regeneration. We observed that utrophin and acetylcholine receptors are fragmented only in affected muscles, providing further evidence that changes in the overall distribution of molecules at dystrophic neuromuscular junctions may be correlated with muscle regeneration.

[Effects of compound danshen dripping pill on the structure and functions of sternohyoid muscle in metabolic syndrome rats].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of Compound Danshen Dripping Pill (CDDP) on the structure and functions of sternohyoid muscle in metabolic syndrome (MS) rats, and to study whether it has therapeutic effects on obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). METHODS: Twenty-one healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups, i.e., the normal control group (n = 6), the MS group (n = 8), and the CDDP group (n = 7). Rats in the normal control group were routinely fed. High lipid forage was given to rats in the rest two groups. Nine weeks later, CDDP (at the dose of 375 mg/kg) was additionally given to rats in the CDDP group by gastrogavage, and then rats in the CDDP group and the MS group were fed with the same high lipid forage for 12 successive weeks. The content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the sternohyoid muscle were detected in the three groups. The capillary density, capillary-to-fiber ratio (C/F), the section area of type I muscle fiber were detected using myosin-ATPase histochemical assay. The contractile changes of isometric stemohyoid muscles were determined under electric stimulation by different frequencies. RESULTS: The contents of MDA were obviously lower in the CDDP group than in the MS group, while the activities of SOD, the capillary density, C/F, the section area of type I muscle fiber, the tension of stemohyoid muscle at 10 -60 Hz, and the 1-5 min tension percentages of the stemohyoid muscle were higher in the CDDP group than in the MS group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: CDDP could improve oxidative stress induced intramuscularly microcirculation disturbance and changes of muscular fiber structures of the upper airway muscles, and elevate their contractile functions, thus possibly contributing to favorable effects on OSAHS.