The Datex Relaxograph is a recently introduced electromyographic monitor of neuromuscular transmission. It has been assessed in patients requiring neuromuscular blockade and the results compared with those obtained simultaneously with a force transducer. There was a good correlation between the two methods of measurement for both twitch height and train-of-four ratio (correlation coefficients 0...

T H E increasing understanding of the mechanism of action of the muscle relaxants has led to a high degree of safety in their use. Nevertheless, the occasional patient is still encountered in whom the response to the drug is greater than anticipated. There are already a number of reports in the literature outlining the almost unlimited number of causes for this prolonged response (Paton, 1958; ...

Closed-loop control of neuromuscular blockade, using a semi-continuous infusion of vecuronium, is described. In 28 patients, the average neuromuscular transmission was between 13 and 17% of control. Requirements for vecuronium averaged 1.1 micrograms kg-1 min-1 (0.8-1.5 micrograms kg-1 min-1), being in the same range as for repeated bolus injections. No side effects were observed. After the inf...

Fluoroquinolones has been rarely associated with exacerbation of myasthenia gravis (MG). We present a case of MG following a treatment with prulifloxacin, a new broad-spectrum oral fluoroquinolone. Fluoroquinolones of any generation may interfere with neuromuscular transmission and should be avoided in patients with MG.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The action mechanism of local anesthetics (LA) on neuromuscular junction motivated several studies. When administered at low doses, they do not interfere on neuromuscular transmission. But high doses may compromise neuromuscular transmission and increase the effects of neuromuscular blockers. The objective of this study was to evaluate lidocaine interaction with rocuro...

The Delphinium alkaloids methyllycaconitine (MLA), nudicauline, 14-deacetylnudicauline (14-DN), barbinine, and deltaline were investigated for their effects on neuromuscular transmission in lizards. The substituent at C14 provides the only structural difference among the alkaloids MLA, nudicauline, 14-DN, and barbinine. Deltaline lacks the N-(methylsuccinyl)anthranilic acid at C18 common to the...

Neuromuscular blocking agents are used to facilitate tracheal intubation in patients undergoing ambulatory surgery. The use of high-dose neuromuscular blocking agents to achieve muscle paralysis throughout the case carries an increased risk of residual post-operative neuromuscular blockade, which is associated with increased respiratory morbidity. Visually monitoring the train-of-four (TOF) fad...

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly progressing, fatal disorder with no effective treatment. We used simple genetic models of ALS to screen phenotypically for potential therapeutic compounds. We screened libraries of compounds in C. elegans, validated hits in zebrafish, and tested the most potent molecule in mice and in a small clinical trial. We identified a class of neuroleptics ...

The effects of corticosteroid (CS) treatment (prednisolone continuously administered subcutaneously at a flow rate of 2.5 microl/h, daily dose 5.6 mg/kg, for 3 wk) on neuromuscular junction (NMJ) morphology and neuromuscular transmission in rat diaphragm muscle (Dimus) were compared with weight-matched (Sham) and ad libitum fed control (Ctl) groups. Fibers were classified on the basis of myosin...

The function of the neuromuscular junction in children is amenable to electrophysiological testing. Of the two tests available, repetitive nerve stimulation is uncomfortable and has a reduced sensitivity compared with single-fibre methodology. The latter is the method of choice, recording the variability in neuromuscular transmission as a value called jitter. It can be performed by voluntary ac...