The larval neuromuscular synapse of Drosophila serves as an important model for genetic and molecular analysis of synaptic development and function. Further functional characterization of this synapse, as well as adult neuromuscular synapses, will greatly enhance the impact of this model system on our understanding of synaptic transmission. Here we describe a form of short-term synaptic depress...

We compared the extent and origin of muscle fatigue induced by short-pulse-low-frequency [conventional (CONV)] and wide-pulse-high-frequency (WPHF) neuromuscular electrical stimulation. We expected CONV contractions to mainly originate from depolarization of axonal terminal branches (spatially determined muscle fiber recruitment) and WPHF contractions to be partly produced via a central pathway...

BACKGROUND To investigate the effect of pelvic floor Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) Therapy in improving endometrial thickness in women with thin endometrium. METHODS 41 patients undergoing assisted reproduction with a thin endometrium (less than or equal to7 mm) were recruited and advised to go for a pelvic floor NMES in frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycle. PHENIX Neuromuscular ...

Background: Prolonged inhibition of acetylcholine esterase may lead to the intermediate syndrome. Neuromuscular junction (NMJ) dysfunction has been shown with repetitive nerve stimulation (RNS). Subclinical NMJ dysfunction may also occur. We aimed to examine the NMJ function following acute organophosphorus (OP) poisoning by using exercise modified slow RNS. Methods: A cohort study was conducte...

The relationship between the time of onset of neuromuscular blockade and the time at which laryngoscopy was attempted was studied in patients presenting for emergency obstetric or emergency general surgical procedures. "Train-of-four" stimulation and visual observation of the evoked twitch response in the hand were used as a measure of the degree of neuromuscular blockade. The attendant anaesth...

The suxamethonium infusion requirements to maintain a 100% neuromuscular block in patients undergoing microlaryngeal surgery were determined. Anaesthesia was maintained with halothane and the neuromuscular block monitored with a peripheral nerve stimulator delivering train-of-four stimuli. Suxamethonium requirements varied directly with time in a linear manner and the onset and recovery time of...

OBJECTIVE To investigate the synergic effects of mirror therapy and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) for hand function in stroke patients. METHOD Sixty patients with hemiparesis after stroke were included (41 males and 19 females, average age 63.3 years). Twenty patients had NMES applied and simultaneously underwent mirror therapy. Twenty patients had NMES applied only, and twenty ...

congenital myasthenic syndromes (cms) are a group of diseases caused by genetic defects affecting neuromuscular transmission and are heterogeneous in inheritance and pathophysiology. these are classified as: 1. presynaptic defects: including choline acetyl transferase deficiency, paucity of synaptic vesicles, lambert-eaton like cms 2. synaptic defect: endplate ach esterase deficiency 3. postsyn...

Muscle fatigue can be defined as a decrease in the force-generating ability of a muscle that resulted from recent activity. Recent studies of muscle fatigue are reviewed that are relevant to two areas of interest to physical therapists: clinical assessment of muscle fatigue and neuromuscular electrical stimulation. Volitional and electrical tests have been used to quantify muscle fatigue. Sever...

We have compared the effects of two different frequencies of train-of-four stimulation of the ulnar nerve (2-Hz stimulation once every 10 or 20 s) on onset time and potency of atracurium, vecuronium and mivacurium during balanced anaesthesia. The adductor pollicis EMG was recorded simultaneously in both hands of 24 children aged 2-12 yr. After administration of an ED50 dose of each blocker, ons...