The effect of chest wall configuration on the diaphragm electromyogram (EMGdi) was evaluated in five healthy subjects with an esophageal electrode for both interference pattern EMGdi (voluntary contractions) and electrically evoked diaphragm compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs). Diaphragm CMAPs (both unilateral and bilateral) were evaluated for the baseline-to-peak amplitude (Ampl), the ti...

De Troyer A. The action of the canine diaphragm on the lower ribs depends on activation. J Appl Physiol 111: 1266–1271, 2011. First published July 14, 2011; doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00402.2011.— Conventional wisdom maintains that the diaphragm lifts the lower ribs during isolated contraction. Recent studies in dogs have shown, however, that supramaximal, tetanic stimulation of the phrenic nerve...

Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in conjunction with synchronized spirometry we analyzed and compared diaphragm movement during tidal breathing and voluntary movement of the diaphragm while breath holding. Breathing cycles of 16 healthy subjects were examined using a dynamic sequence (77 slices in sagittal plane during 20 s, 1NSA, 240x256, TR4.48, TE2.24, FA90, TSE1, FOV 328). The amplitu...

Chronic hypoxia reduces aerobic capacity (mitochondrial content) in limb skeletal muscles, and one of the causes seems to be decreased physical activity. Diaphragm and other respiratory muscles, however, may have a different pattern of adaptation as hypoxia increases the work of breathing. Thus, we hypothesized that chronic hypoxia would not reduce mitochondrial content in mouse diaphragm. Adul...

Spontaneous rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is sometimes encountered clinically. We experienced a case of spontaneous rupture of a HCC, which was surgically resected along with the diaphragm. A 74-year old woman presented with anemia. Preoperative imaging suggested a tumor arising on the diaphragm. After thoracotomy and laparotomy, the intraoperative diagnosis was changed to spontaneo...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the natural healing of the rat diaphragm that suffered an extensive right penetrating injury. METHODS Animals were submitted to an extensive penetrating injury in right diaphragm. The sample consisted of 40 animals. The variables studied were initial weight, weight 21 days after surgery; healing of the diaphragm, non-healing of the diaphragm, and herniated abdominal cont...

BACKGROUND Diaphragm motion during spontaneous or mechanical respiration hinders image-guided percutaneous interventions of tumours in lung and upper abdomen. Motion-tracking methods can be applied but increase procedure complexity and procedure time. One-lung flooding (OLF) generates a suitable acoustic pathway to lung tumours and likely suppress diaphragm motion. The aim of this study was to ...

To test the hypothesis that diaphragm fatigue leads to an increase in neural respiratory drive, we measured the esophageal diaphragm electromyogram (EMG) during CO(2) rebreathing before and after diaphragm fatigue in six normal subjects. The electrode catheter was positioned on the basis of the amplitude and polarity of the diaphragm compound muscle action potential recorded simultaneously from...

A reduction in diaphragm mobility has been identified in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and has been associated with a decline in pulmonary function parameters. However, little information exists regarding the potential role of diaphragm mobility on hypercapnia in COPD. A new method of assessing the mobility of the diaphragm, using ultrasound, has recently been valid...

We previously demonstrated that diaphragm muscle weakness is present in experimental pulmonary arterial hypertension (PH). However, the nature of this diaphragm weakness is still unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate whether changes at the sarcomeric level contribute to diaphragm weakness in PH. For this purpose, in control rats and rats with monocrotaline-induced PH, con...