Biomedical subjects

D F Stegeman

Publications and source records attributed to D F Stegeman.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Strength, size and activation of knee extensors followed during 8 weeks of horizontal bed rest and the influence of a countermeasure.

Changes in the quadriceps femoris muscle with respect to anatomical cross sectional area (CSA), neural activation level and muscle strength were determined in 18 healthy men subjected to 8 weeks of horizontal bed rest (BR) with (n = 9) and without (n = 9) resistive vibration exercise (RVE). CSA of the knee extensor muscle group was measured with magnetic resonance imaging every 2 weeks during bed rest. In the control subjects (Ctrl), quadriceps femoris CSA decreased linearly over the 8 weeks of bed rest to -14.1 +/- 5.2% (P < 0.05). This reduction was significantly (P < 0.001) mitigated by the exercise paradigm (-3.5 +/- 4.2%; P < 0.05). Prior to and seven times during bed rest, maximal unilateral voluntary torque (MVT) values of the right leg were measured together with neural activation levels by means of a superimposed stimulation technique. For Ctrl, MVT decreased also linearly over time to -16.8 +/- 7.4% after 8 weeks of bed rest (P < 0.01), whereas the exercise paradigm fully maintained MVT during bed rest. In contrast to previous reports, the maximal voluntary activation remained unaltered for both groups throughout the study. For Ctrl, the absence of deterioration of the activation level might have been related to the repeated testing of muscle function during the bed rest. This notion was supported by the observation that for a subset of Ctrl subjects (n = 5) the MVT of the left leg, which was not tested during BR, was reduced by 20.5 +/- 10.1%, (P < 0.01) which was for those five subjects significantly (P < 0.05) more than the 11.1 +/- 9.2% (P < 0.01) reduction for the right, regularly tested leg.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Relation between muscle fiber conduction velocity and fiber size in neuromuscular disorders.

To determine the relation between muscle fiber conduction velocity (MFCV) and muscle fiber diameter (MFD) in pathological conditions, we correlated invasively measured MFCV values with MFD data obtained from muscle needle biopsies in 96 patients with various neuromuscular disorders. MFCV was significantly correlated with MFD and independent of the underlying disorder. Pathological diameter changes were fiber-type dependent, with corresponding MFCVs. A linear equation expresses the relation well: MFCV (m/s)=0.043.MFD (microm)+0.83. We conclude that fiber diameter determines MFCV largely independent of the underlying neuromuscular disorders studied.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Highly demanding resistive vibration exercise program is tolerated during 56 days of strict bed-rest.

Several studies have tried to find countermeasures against musculoskeletal de-conditioning during bed-rest, but none of them yielded decisive results. We hypothesised that resistive vibration exercise (RVE) might be a suitable training modality. We have therefore carried out a bed-rest study to evaluate its feasibility and efficacy during 56 days of bed-rest. Twenty healthy male volunteers aged 24 to 43 years were recruited and, after medical check-ups, randomised to a non-exercising control (Ctrl) group or a group that performed RVE 11 times per week. Strict bed-rest was controlled by video surveillance. The diet was controlled. RVE was performed in supine position, with a static force component of about twice the body weight and a smaller dynamic force component. RVE comprised four different units (squats, heel raises, toe raises, kicks), each of which lasted 60 - 100 seconds. Pre and post exercise levels of lactate were measured once weekly. Body weight was measured daily on a bed scale. Pain questionnaires were obtained in regular intervals during and after the bed-rest. Vibration frequency was set to 19 Hz at the beginning and progressed to 25.9 Hz (SD 1.9) at the end of the study, suggesting that the dynamic force component increased by 90 %. The maximum sustainable exercise time for squat exercise increased from 86 s (SD 21) on day 11 of the BR to 176 s (SD 73) on day 53 (p = 0.006). On the same days, post-exercise lactate levels increased from 6.9 mmol/l (SD2.3) to 9.2 mmol/l (SD 3.5, p = 0.01). On average, body weight was unchanged in both groups during bed-rest, but single individuals in both groups depicted significant weight changes ranging from - 10 % to + 10 % (p < 0.001). Lower limb pain was more frequent during bed-rest in the RVE subjects than in Ctrl (p = 0.035). During early recovery, subjects of both groups suffered from muscle pain to a comparable extent, but foot pain was more common in Ctrl than in RVE (p = 0.013 for plantar pain, p = 0.074 for dorsal foot pain). Our results indicate that RVE is feasible twice daily during bed-rest in young healthy males, provided that one afternoon and one entire day per week are free. Exercise progression, mainly by progression of vibration frequency, yielded increases in maximum sustainable exercise time and blood lactate. In conclusion, RVE as performed in this study, appears to be safe.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Improved evaluation of back muscle SEMG characteristics by modelling.

Surface EMG (SEMG) as non-invasive method is a valuable tool in functional studies of movement co-ordination. The interpolation of the SEMG power (EMG mapping) gives information about intra- and inter-muscular co-ordination. It has been shown that SEMG maps of low back pain patients and healthy subjects differ. The only major drawback to SEMG is that volume conduction of muscle tissue, fat, and skin decreases the spatial and temporal resolution of signals. To improve the interpretation of SEMG signals, we have applied high pass filtering of cross covariance functions, which has proved to be useful in increasing the spatial resolution, to SEMG data of the back region. Experimental data demonstrate that SEMG signals from the back extensors show only rarely signs of action potential propagation. This behaviour, also described in the literature, can be explained by a model assuming short, deep muscle fibres, having bipolar end effects, with overlapping positions parallel to the fibre direction. This condition is fulfilled by the mm. multifidii et rotatores which are part of the m. erector spinae. Although the model is simplistic, the agreement between simulations and experiments is good.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2005

Discrimination of speech sound contrasts determined with behavioral tests and event-related potentials in cochlear implant recipients.

Cortical potentials evoked with speech stimuli were investigated in ten experienced cochlear implant (CI, type Nucleus 24M) users using three different speech-coding strategies and two different speech contrasts, one vowel (/i/-/a/) and one consonant (/ba/-/da/) contrast. On average, results showed that, compared to subjects with normal hearing, P300 amplitudes were smaller; however, most latencies were within the normal range. Next, individual P300 measures in response to the two speech contrasts were compared to behavioral discrimination scores. Significant within-subject differences in P300 amplitudes and latencies were found for the three speech coding strategies. These differences were in agreement with the behavioral, strategy-dependent discrimination of the speech contrasts.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

PubMed2004

The effects of bipolar electrode montage on conduction velocity estimation from the surface electromyogram.

This study examines the influence of the bipolar electrode montage on conduction velocity (CV) estimation. Electrode montage refers to the combination of two parameters, the inter-electrode distance (IED), the distance between the two electrodes of a bipolar pair, and the inter-signal distance (ISD), the distance between two bipolar signals used to calculate CV. Data from the biceps brachii (BB) and tibialis anterior (TA) of healthy subjects are analysed. Two approaches are used for CV estimation. The first returns a single value per epoch. The second is based on finding velocity values from individual peaks in the signal and results in a peak velocity (PV) distribution being generated per epoch. It is concluded that CV estimation is significantly dependent on the choice of the (IED, ISD) electrode montage. The main results are that the electrode montage affects (1) the mean PV and CV estimates, (typically P < 0.001), (2) the degree of spatial variability, and (3) the width of the PV distributions. The combination of a small IED and large an ISD is recommended.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed2003

A thin, flexible multielectrode grid for high-density surface EMG.

Although the value of high-density surface electromyography (sEMG) has already been proven in fundamental research and for specific diagnostic questions, there is as yet no broad clinical application. This is partly due to limitations of construction principles and application techniques of conventional electrode array systems. We developed a thin, highly flexible, two-dimensional multielectrode sEMG grid, which is manufactured by using flexprint techniques. The material used as electrode carrier (Polyimid, 50 microm thick) allows grids to be cut out in any required shape or size. One universal grid version can therefore be used for many applications, thereby reducing costs. The reusable electrode grid is attached to the skin by using specially prepared double-sided adhesive tape, which allows the selective application of conductive cream only directly below the detection surfaces. To explore the practical possibilities, this technique was applied in single motor unit analysis of the facial musculature. The high mechanical flexibility allowed the electrode grid to follow the skin surface even in areas with very uneven contours, resulting in good electrical connections in the whole recording area. The silverchloride surfaces of the electrodes and their low electrode-to-skin impedances guaranteed high baseline stability and a low signal noise level. The electrode-to-skin attachment proved to withstand saliva and great tensile forces due to mimic contractions. The inexpensive, universally adaptable and minimally obstructive sensor allows the principal advantages of high-density sEMG to be extended to all skeletal muscles accessible from the skin surface and may lay the foundation for more broad clinical application of this noninvasive, two-dimensional sEMG technique.

Electrodes↗

PubMed2003

Changes in muscle fiber conduction velocity indicate recruitment of distinct motor unit populations.

To obtain more insight into the changes in mean muscle fiber conduction velocity (MFCV) during sustained isometric exercise at relatively low contraction levels, we performed an in-depth study of the human tibialis anterior muscle by using multichannel surface electromyogram. The results show an increase in MFCV after an initial decrease of MFCV at 30 or 40% maximum voluntary contraction in all of the five subjects studied. With a peak velocity analysis, we calculated the distribution of conduction velocities of action potentials in the bipolar electromyogram signal. It shows two populations of peak velocities occurring simultaneously halfway through the exercise. The MFCV pattern implies the recruitment of two different populations of motor units. Because of the lowering of MFCV of the first activated population of motor units, the newly recruited second population of motor units becomes visible. It is most likely that the MFCV pattern can be ascribed to the fatiguing of already recruited predominantly type I motor units, followed by the recruitment of fresh, predominantly type II, motor units.

Action Potentials↗

PubMed2003

A surface EMG electrode for the simultaneous observation of multiple facial muscles.

With previous surface electromyography (sEMG) electrodes it has been difficult to combine small outer dimensions and secure skin attachment. We resolved this problem by developing a new skin attachment technique that yields firm electrode fixation without requiring an acrylic housing. Consequently, we could reduce the outer electrode dimensions to 4-mm diameter and only 1.5-mm thickness. In a bipolar montage, this electrode allows an inter-electrode distance of 8 mm. This improves measurement selectivity and, because of the small dimensions, makes possible the non-invasive observation of multiple facial muscles with a minimum of obstruction. Our new technique was tested on a group of 11 professional trumpeters. They were instructed to perform a series of muscle-specific facial poses and to play exercises on their instruments while EMG signals were recorded simultaneously from seven different perioral muscles. Although the skin attachment was subjected to high stress during trumpet playing, more than 98% of electrode placements yielded a secure mechanical and electrical connection. Muscle selectivity of the signals recorded during the facial poses was similar to that obtained in a previous investigation using intra-muscular fine-wire electrodes. Crosstalk in the perioral area was estimated to be lower than 25%. The availability of an unobstructive sEMG electrode for simultaneously observing multiple facial muscles opens up a wide range of applications (e.g. in speech research, psychophysiology and orthodontics).

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Selective spatial information from surface EMG after temporal filtering: the application to interference EMG using cross-covariance analysis.

OBJECTIVE: An increased spatial resolution in multichannel surface EMG recordings would provide new possibilities for the investigation of intermuscular and intramuscular coordination. A known analytical solution for volume conduction allows the conclusion that a high pass filtered surface electromyography (SEMG) signal contains information from a smaller environment near the recording electrode and therefore provides a higher spatial resolution. METHODS: The present paper concerns experiments on 9 subjects to measure, from the human biceps brachii muscle during static isometric contraction, using multichannel surface EMG. Cross-correlation functions between bipolar SEMG channels were calculated and high pass filtered. RESULTS: The correlation peaks showed the signs of propagating action potentials. The spatial width in the direction perpendicular to the muscle fibres decreased with increasing cut-off frequency. There exists an optimal cut-off frequency, which provides the best spatial resolution. It correlates with the thickness of the subcutaneous fat layer which causes a minimum depth of the active muscle fibres measured. CONCLUSIONS: High pass filtered cross-covariance functions of bipolar SEMG channels have an increased spatial resolution perpendicular to the muscle fibre direction and the frequency content of the signals can potentially give an indication of the depth of the active muscle fibres.

Action Potentials↗

PubMed2003

Pyridostigmine in postpolio syndrome: no decline in fatigue and limited functional improvement.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of pyridostigmine on fatigue, physical performance, and muscle function in subjects with postpoliomyelitis syndrome. METHODS: 67 subjects with increased fatigue and new weakness in one quadriceps muscle showing neuromuscular transmission defects, were included in a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial of 60 mg pyridostigmine four times a day for 14 weeks. Primary outcome was fatigue (on the "energy" category of the Nottingham health profile). Secondary outcomes included two minute walking distance and quadriceps strength and jitter. Motor unit size of the quadriceps was studied as a potential effect modifier. The primary data analysis compared the changes from baseline in the outcomes in the last week of treatment between groups. RESULTS: 31 subjects treated with pyridostigmine and 31 subjects treated with placebo completed the trial. No significant effect of pyridostigmine was found on fatigue. The walking distance improved more in the pyridostigmine group than in the placebo group (by 7.2 m (6.0%); p<0.01). Subgroup analysis showed that a significant improvement in walking performance was only found in subjects with normal sized motor units. Quadriceps strength improved more in the pyridostigmine group than in the placebo group (by 6.7 Nm (7.2%); p = 0.15). No effect of pyridostigmine was found on jitter. CONCLUSIONS: Pyridostigmine in the prescribed dose did not reduce fatigue in subjects with postpoliomyelitis syndrome. However, it may have a limited beneficial effect on physical performance, especially in subjects with neuromuscular transmission defects in normal sized motor units.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Repeated ischaemic isometric exercise increases muscle fibre conduction velocity in humans: involvement of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase.

This study was performed to test two hypotheses: (1) ischaemic preconditioning (development of tolerance to ischaemia) influences muscle fibre conduction velocity (MFCV) during repeated ischaemic isometric exercise and (2) the increase in MFCV to supranormal levels during recovery from ischaemic exercise is caused by activation of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase. For this purpose, MFCV was measured with surface electromyography (sEMG) during repeated ischaemic isometric exercise of the brachioradial muscle (2 min at 30 % of maximal voluntary contraction). The involvement of ischaemic preconditioning was tested by changing the duration of ischaemia and by intra-arterial infusion of adenosine (brachial artery, 50 microg min(-1) dl(-1)). The role of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase was explored using ouabain (0.2 microg min(-1) dl(-1)). During the exercise, MFCV decreased from 4.4 +/- 0.2 m s(-1) to 3.7 +/- 0.2 m s(-1) (P < 0.01, n = 13). Similar reductions in MFCV were observed during repeated exercise, irrespective of the reperfusion time (10 min vs. 18 min) or duration of the ischaemia (2 vs. 10 min). However, initial MFCV gradually increased for each subsequent contraction when contractions were repeated at 10 min intervals (4.4 +/- 0.2 m s(-1) vs. 4.9 +/- 0.2 m s(-1) for the first and fourth contraction respectively; P < 0.01; n = 13). This increase was not observed when contractions were performed at 18 min intervals, nor when additional ischaemia was applied. Intra-arterial adenosine did not affect MFCV. Intra-arterial ouabain did not affect the reduction in MFCV during exercise but completely prevented the increase in MFCV during recovery: from 4.7 +/- 0.2 m s(-1) to 5.2 +/- 0.2 m s(-1) vs. 4.5 +/- 0.1 m s(-1) to 4.5 +/- 0.1 m s(-1) in the absence and presence of ouabain respectively (P < 0.05 for ouabain effect; n = 6). In conclusion, ischaemic preconditioning is not involved in changes in MFCV during repeated ischaemic isometric exercise. The increase in MFCV during recovery from repeated ischaemic isometric exercise is caused by rapid activation of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

An additional phase in PCr use during sustained isometric exercise at 30% MVC in the tibialis anterior muscle.

The occurrence of an abrupt acceleration in phosphocreatine hydrolysis in the tibial anterior muscle during the last part of a sustained isometric exercise at 30% maximal voluntary contraction until fatigue is demonstrated in seven out of eight healthy subjects by applying in vivo 31P NMR spectroscopy at 1.5 T field strength. This additional third phase in PCr hydrolysis, is preceded by a common biphasic pattern (first fast then slow) in PCr use. The NMR spectra, as localized by a surface coil and improved by proton irradiation, were collected at a time resolution of 16 s. Mean rates of PCr hydrolysis during exercise were -0.44 +/- 0.19% s(-1), -0.07 +/- 0.04% s(-1), and -0.29 +/- 0.10% s(-1) for the three successive phases. The increased rate of PCr hydrolysis, and also the loss of fine force control evident in the force records are consistent with increased involvement of large, fast-fatiguable units later in the contraction.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Three-layer volume conductor model and software package for applications in surface electromyography.

On comparing multichannel surface electromyographic measurements of the m. biceps brachii with simulations performed with a previously developed two-layer volume conduction model, we found substantial discrepancies. To incorporate an apparent distorting effect of the skin tissue, the model was extended to three layers. This new model describes the potential resulting from an eccentric bioelectric source in a finite, cylindrical, and anisotropic volume conductor consisting of three layers, representing muscle, subcutaneous fat, and skin tissue. This contribution presents the governing mathematical equations of the three-layer volume conductor model as well as our approach to their solution. A comparison of various models shows that the three-layer model best describes measured potential distributions. Furthermore, we present the "ANVOLCON" (analytical volume conductor) software package. This package has been developed to facilitate the use of the model for scientific and educational purposes and is freely available from http://www.mbfys.kun.nl/knf

Action Potentials↗

PubMed2001

Spatiotemporal surface EMG characteristics from rat triceps brachii muscle during treadmill locomotion indicate selective recruitment of functionally distinct muscle regions.

Multichannel surface EMG recordings of a multiheaded skeletal muscle during cyclic locomotion combined with cineradiography were analysed in a chronic experiment. The resulting detailed two-dimensional activation pattern from the long and lateral triceps brachii heads of the rat during treadmill locomotion were combined with gait characteristics and fibre typing of the muscle. Shortly before ground contact of the forelimb, maximum muscle activity was found in the proximal part of the long head of the muscle. During the stance phase maximum activity was observed in the proximal part of the lateral head. The frequency dependent behaviour of cross-covariance functions over both muscle heads confirmed this selective shift in activation. In the lateral triceps brachii head of the investigated rats, exclusively type II fibres were found. In the long head the frequency of type I fibres was the highest in the deep muscle layers, proximally more than distally, whereas type II fibres were dominant in more superficial muscle layers. A combination of physiological and histological findings supports an anticipating mechanism whereby fine-tuning of the vertical foot down manoeuvre is mainly achieved by the (type I fibre dominated) proximal deep compartment of the biarticular long triceps brachii head and force generation is predominantly executed by the monoarticular lateral triceps brachii head.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Impaired motor cortical inhibition in Parkinson's disease: motor unit responses to transcranial magnetic stimulation.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)-induced corticospinal volleys can be investigated in detail by analysing the firing pattern modulation of active motor units (MUs) at close to threshold stimulation strengths. In amyotropic lateral sclerosis (ALS) these volleys are dispersed and prolonged, attributed to altered motor cortical excitability. Impaired intracortical inhibition, as found in ALS, is not unique to this disease, but is also a well-established finding in Parkinson's disease (PD). The present study explored whether reduced inhibition in the motor cortex in PD is accompanied by similar changes in motor unit firing modulation by TMS as are found in ALS. TMS was applied to the contralateral motor cortex during a low-force voluntary elbow flexion while 126-channel surface electromyography (SEMG) was recorded from the brachial biceps muscle. A recently developed method for SEMG decomposition was used to extract the firing pattern of up to five simultaneously active MUs. Sixteen MUs in 7 PD patients and 17 MUs in 5 healthy control subjects were analysed and peristimulus time histograms (PSTHs) and interspike interval change functions (IICFs) were calculated. The IICF provides an estimate of the modulation of the postsynaptic membrane potential at the spinal motoneuron, evoked by the stimulus. In PD the duration of the PSTH peak was significantly increased and the synchrony was decreased. The excitatory phase at 20-50 ms of the IICF was broader in PD, reflecting a longer duration of the TMS-evoked excitatory postsynaptic potential. It is proposed that these results are due to prolonged corticospinal volleys resulting from impaired intracortical inhibition.

Action Potentials↗

PubMed2001

Overlap of attention and movement-related activity in lateralized event-related brain potentials.

OBJECTIVE: In tasks that involve lateralized visuospatial attention and a lateralized motor response, the associated brain electrical potentials, i.e. the attention-related N2pc and the lateralized readiness potential, typically overlap at central scalp sites. The manifestation of the N2pc at central electrode sites is commonly attributed to electric volume conduction effects, assuming the N2pc to be generated in occipito-temporal brain areas. We evaluated this explanation in a simulation study. METHODS: Using a forward modeling approach with a realistically shaped volume conduction model, we calculated the range of amplitude ratios between occipital and central electrode sites when a single source is assumed in area V4 or in area TO, at the temporo-occipital convexity. RESULTS: A comparison of the simulated amplitude ratios with reported data indicates that volume conduction effects from the investigated source origins in the occipito-temporal region are insufficient to explain the experimental data. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the anterior spread of the N2pc from its occipito-temporal maximum to central electrode sites is probably due to simultaneous attention-related activity in posterior and central brain areas.

Attention↗

PubMed2001

Propagation disturbance of motor unit action potentials during transient paresis in generalized myotonia: a high-density surface EMG study.

Patients with autosomal recessive generalized myotonia, or Becker's disease, often suffer from a peculiar transient paresis. As yet, the relationship between this transient paresis and the defect in the gene encoding for a voltage gated Cl- channel protein in the muscle membrane of these patients is unclear. In order to gain a better understanding of the electrophysiological properties of the muscle fibre membrane in these generalized myotonia patients, we have studied transient paresis with a novel high-density surface EMG (sEMG) technique. We conclude that the transient paresis is explained by a deteriorating muscle membrane function, ending in conduction block and paresis. Multi-channel sEMG during the period of force decline in transient paresis shows a decrease in peak-peak amplitude of the motor unit action potentials from endplate towards tendon. This disturbance increases with time and place, indicating a deteriorating membrane function, and ends in a complete blocking of propagation within seconds. Spatiotemporally, this leads to a V-shaped sEMG pattern. In a more general sense, this contribution shows how spatiotemporal information, available through non-invasive high-density sEMG, may provide novel insights into electrophysiological aspects of membrane dysfunction.

Action Potentials↗