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Biomedical subjects

R Taylor

Publications and source records attributed to R Taylor.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2005

The effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of parent training/education programmes for the treatment of conduct disorder, including oppositional defiant disorder, in children.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the clinical and cost-effectiveness of parent training programmes for the treatment of children with conduct disorder (CD) up to the age of 18 years. DATA SOURCES: Electronic databases. REVIEW METHODS: For the effectiveness review, relevant studies were identified and evaluated. A quantitative synthesis of behavioural outcomes across trials was also undertaken using two approaches: vote counting and meta-analysis. The economic analysis consisted of reviewing previous economic/cost evaluations of parent training/education programmes and the economic information within sponsor's submissions; carrying out a detailed exploration of costs of parent training/education programmes; and a de novo modelling assessment of the cost-effectiveness of parent training/education programmes. The potential budget impact to the health service of implementing such programmes was also considered. RESULTS: Many of the 37 randomised controlled trials that met the review inclusion and exclusion criteria were assessed as being of poor methodological quality. Studies were clinically heterogeneous in terms of the population, type of parent training/education programme and content, setting, delivery, length and child behaviour outcomes used. Both vote counting and meta-analysis revealed a consistent trend across all studies towards short-term effectiveness (up to 4 months) of parent training/education programmes (compared with control) as measured by a change in child behaviour. Pooled estimates showed a statistically significant improvement on the Eyberg Child Behaviour Inventory frequency and intensity scales, the Dyadic Parent-Child Interaction Coding System and the Child Behaviour Checklist. No studies reported a statistically significant result favouring control over parent training/education programmes. There were few statistically significant differences between different parent training/education programmes, although there was a trend towards more intensive interventions (e.g. longer contact hours, additional child involvement) being more effective. The cost of treating CD is high, with costs incurred by many agencies. A recent study suggested that by age 28, costs for individuals with CD were around 10 times higher than for those with no problems, with a mean cost of 70,019 pounds sterling. Criminality incurs the greatest cost, followed by educational provision, foster and residential care and state benefits. Only a small proportion of these costs fall on health services. Using a 'bottom-up' costing approach, the costs per family of providing parent training/education programmes range from 629 pounds sterling to 3839 pounds sterling depending on the type and style of delivery. Using the conservative assumption that there are no cost savings from treatment, a total lifetime quality of life gain of 0.1 would give a cost per quality-adjusted life-year of between 38,393 pounds sterling and 6288 pounds sterling depending on the type of programme delivery and setting. CONCLUSIONS: Parent training/education programmes appear to be an effective and potentially cost-effective therapy for children with CD. However, the relative effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of different models (such as therapy intensity and setting) require further investigation. Further research is required on the impact of parent training/education programmes on the quality of life of children with CD and their parents/carers, as well as on longer term child outcomes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Forensic facial approximation: an overview of current methods used at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine/Victoria Police Criminal Identification Squad.

Forensic facial approximation involves building a likeness of the head and face on the skull of an unidentified individual, with the aim that public broadcast of the likeness will trigger recognition in those who knew the person in life. This paper presents an overview of the collaborative practice between Ronn Taylor (Forensic Sculptor to the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine) and Detective Sergeant Adrian Paterson (Victoria Police Criminal Identification Squad). This collaboration involves clay modelling to determine an approximation of the person's head shape and feature location, with surface texture and more speculative elements being rendered digitally onto an image of the model. The advantages of this approach are that through clay modelling anatomical contouring is present, digital enhancement resolves some of the problems of visual perception of a representation, such as edge and shape determination, and the approximation can be easily modified as and when new information is received.

Aluminum Silicates↗
PubMed2004

Real-time assessment of postprandial fat storage in liver and skeletal muscle in health and type 2 diabetes.

Liver and skeletal muscle triglyceride stores are elevated in type 2 diabetes and correlate with insulin resistance. As postprandial handling of dietary fat may be a critical determinant of tissue triglyceride levels, we quantified postprandial fat storage in normal and type 2 diabetes subjects. Healthy volunteers (n = 8) and diet-controlled type 2 diabetes subjects (n = 12) were studied using a novel 13C magnetic resonance spectroscopy protocol to measure the postprandial increment in liver and skeletal muscle triglyceride following ingestion of 13C-labeled fatty acids given with a standard mixed meal. The postprandial increment in hepatic triglyceride was rapid in both groups (peak increment controls: +7.3 +/- 1.5 mmol/l at 6 h, P = 0.002; peak increment diabetics: +10.8 +/- 3.4 mmol/l at 4 h, P = 0.009). The mean postprandial incremental AUC of hepatic 13C enrichment between the first and second meals (0 and 4 h) was significantly higher in the diabetes group (6.1 +/- 1.4 vs. 1.7 +/- 0.6 mmol x l(-1) x h(-1), P = 0.019). Postprandial increment in skeletal muscle triglyceride in the control group was small compared with the diabetic group, the mean 24-h postprandial incremental AUC being 0.2 +/- 0.3 vs. 1.7 +/- 0.4 mmol x l(-1) x h(-1) (P = 0.009). We conclude that the postprandial uptake of fatty acids by liver and skeletal muscle is increased in type 2 diabetes and may underlie the elevated tissue triglyceride stores and consequent insulin resistance.

3-Hydroxybutyric Acid↗
PubMed2004

Long-term progression of retinopathy after initiation of insulin therapy in Type 2 diabetes: an observational study.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Universal worsening of retinopathy after starting insulin therapy in Type 2 diabetes has been suggested in previous work. METHODS: We studied 294 such patients for up to 5 years to evaluate retinal changes and define the factors affecting progression of retinopathy. Yearly retinal photographs were graded using the EURODIAB system. RESULTS: Prior to insulin therapy, 26.2% (77/294) of the patients had minimal non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), 3.7% (n=11) had moderate NPDR and 1% (n=3) had severe NPDR. Over the first 3 years of insulin therapy, significant progression occurred in 36 subjects (12.6%). This comprised 5/193 (2.6%) without any retinopathy at baseline, 22/77 (28.5%) with minimal NPDR and 6/11 with moderate NPDR (54.5%) (chi2=56.1, p<0.001). In a control group of 70 patients who remained on oral hypoglycaemic agents, nine patients had significant worsening of retinopathy over 3 years. Over 5 years, 22/127 (17.3%) of patients (9/95 without and 13/32 with retinopathy at baseline [chi2=16.2, p<0.001]) had significant progression of retinopathy. Higher baseline HbA1c (p=0.002) and lower initial decrease in HbA1c (p=0.007) were each independent predictors of greater retinopathy progression over this period. There was no significant worsening of visual acuity in patients whose retinopathy progressed. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: After initiation of insulin treatment in Type 2 diabetes, clinically significant worsening of retinopathy over a 3-year period was uncommon in those with no retinopathy (2.6%) but occurred in 31.8% of patients with any retinopathy at baseline. The risk of serious worsening of retinopathy after insulin therapy is started in all patients with Type 2 diabetes may have been previously overestimated.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2004

Dual chamber versus single chamber ventricular pacemakers for sick sinus syndrome and atrioventricular block.

BACKGROUND: Dual chamber pacing or single chamber atrial pacing ('physiologic' pacing) is believed to have an advantage over single chamber ventricular pacing in that it resembles cardiac physiology more closely by maintaining atrioventricular (AV) synchrony and dominance of the sinus node, which in turn may reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality thus contributing to patient survival and quality of life. However, a significant proportion of pacemakers currently implanted are single chamber ventricular pacemakers. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this review was to assess the short- and long-term clinical effectiveness of dual chamber pacemakers compared to single chamber ventricular pacemakers in adults with AV block, sick sinus syndrome or both. An additional objective was to assess separately any potential differences in effectiveness between dual chamber pacing and single chamber atrial pacing. The clinical effectiveness of single chamber atrial pacing versus single chamber ventricular pacing was not examined. SEARCH STRATEGY: The Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (The Cochrane Library Issue 3, 2002), MEDLINE (1966 to 2002), EMBASE (1980 to 2002) and the Science Citation Index (1980 to 2002) were searched on 19th August 2002. Citation lists and web sites were checked and researchers in the field contacted. SELECTION CRITERIA: Parallel group or crossover randomised controlled trials of at least 48 hours duration comparing dual chamber pacing and single chamber ventricular pacing, and investigating cardiovascular morbidity, mortality, patient related quality of life, exercise capacity and complication rates. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Data was extracted onto pre-piloted data extraction forms. Quality assessment was undertaken using a checklist, with a sub-sample of quality data independently extracted by a second reviewer. Where appropriate data was available, meta-analysis was performed. Where meta-analysis was not possible, the number of studies showing a positive, neutral or negative direction of effect and statistical significance were simply counted. MAIN RESULTS: Five parallel and 26 crossover randomised controlled trials were identified. The quality of reporting was found to be poor. Pooled data from parallel studies shows a statistically non-significant preference for physiologic pacing (primarily dual chamber pacing) for the prevention of stroke, heart failure and mortality, and a statistically significant beneficial effect regarding the prevention of atrial fibrillation (odds ratio (OR) 0.79, 95% CI 0.68 to 0.93). Both parallel and crossover studies favour dual chamber pacing with regard to pacemaker syndrome (parallel: Peto OR 0.11, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.14; crossover: standardised mean difference (SMD) -0.74, 95% CI - 0.95 to -0.52). Pooled data from crossover studies shows a statistically significant trend towards dual chamber pacing being more favourable in terms of exercise capacity (SMD -0.24, 95% CI -0.03 to -0.45). No individual studies reported a significantly more favourable outcome with single chamber ventricular pacing. REVIEWERS' CONCLUSIONS: This review shows a trend towards greater effectiveness with dual chamber pacing compared to single chamber ventricular pacing, which supports the current British Pacing and Electrophysiology Group's Guidelines regarding atrioventricular block. Additional randomised controlled trial evidence from ongoing trials in this area will further inform the debate.

Cardiac Pacing, Artificial↗
PubMed2004

Spinal cord stimulation for chronic pain.

BACKGROUND: Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a form of therapy used to treat certain types of chronic pain. It involves an electrical generator that delivers pulses to a targeted spinal cord area. The leads can be implanted by laminectomy or percutaneously and the source of power is supplied by an implanted battery or by an external radio-frequency transmitter. The exact mechanism of action of SCS is poorly understood. OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficacy and effectiveness of spinal cord stimulation in relieving certain kinds of pain, as well as the complications and adverse effects of this procedure. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE to September 2003; the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (Issue 3, 2003); textbooks and reference lists in retrieved articles. We also contacted experts in the field of pain and the main manufacturer of the stimulators. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included trials with a control group, either randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or non-randomized controlled clinical trials (CCTs), that assessed spinal cord stimulation for chronic pain. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two independent reviewers selected the studies, assessed study quality and extracted the data. One of the assessors of methodological quality was blinded to authors, dates and journals. The data were analysed using qualitative methods (best evidence synthesis). MAIN RESULTS: Two RCTs (81 patients in total) met our inclusion criteria. One was judged as being of high quality (score of 3 on Jadad scale) and the other of low quality (score of 1 on Jadad scale). One trial included patients with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type I (reflex sympathetic dystrophy) and the other patients with Failed Back Surgery Syndrome. The follow-up periods varied from 6 to 12 months. Both studies reported that SCS was effective, however, meta-analysis was not undertaken because of the small number of patients and the heterogeneity of the study population. REVIEWERS' CONCLUSIONS: Although there is limited evidence in favour of SCS for Failed Back Surgery Syndrome and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type I, more trials are needed to confirm whether SCS is an effective treatment for certain types of chronic pain. In addition, there needs to be a debate about trial designs that will provide the best evidence for assessing this type of intervention.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed2004

Pediatric organ transplantation and the hispanic population: approaching families and obtaining their consent.

BACKGROUND: While the number of children on waiting lists for organ donation continues to increase, little data exists concerning Hispanic children and organ donation. For physicians who care for Hispanic children, it is important to understand the factors that may influence organ donation in this population. METHODS: This retrospective chart review included 88 cases of brain death that occurred between 1990 and 1999 in 3 pediatric intensive care units. The data set included brain death determination, age, ethnicity, whether the family was approached for organ donation, and rate of consent. RESULTS: Compared with non-Hispanic/Caucasian (NH/C) families, fewer Hispanic/Caucasian (H/C) families consented to organ donation (P < or = .03). H/C families were approached less often for organ donation than NH/C families, although the difference was not significant (P < or = .08). Even once approached, H/C families were probably less likely to consent to organ donation (P < or = .087). CONCLUSION: H/C families of children with brain death show a lower organ donation consent rate than do NH/C families. However, H/C families are less likely to be approached for organ donation and this may possibly explain the reason that fewer H/C families consent to organ donation.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed2004

Increased rates of ENT surgery among young children: have clinical guidelines made a difference?

OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between introduction of paediatric ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgery guidelines and population procedure rates. To determine changes in children's risk of undergoing ENT surgery. METHODS: Trend analysis of incidence of myringotomy, tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy among New South Wales (NSW) children aged 0-14 between 1981 and mid 1999. Poisson regression models were used to estimate annual rates of change pre and postguidelines introduction and age/gender specific rates, and lifetable methods to determine risk of undergoing an ENT procedure by age 15. RESULTS: ENT surgery rates increased by 21% over the study period. Children's risk of surgery increased from 17.9% in 1981 to 20.2% in 1998/99. Guideline introduction was associated with moderate short-term decreases in rates. For tonsillectomy, rates decreased between 1981 and 1983, but then rose continually until the introduction of myringotomy guidelines in 1993, when they fell, only to recommence rising until the end of the study period. For myringotomy, rates rose annually from 1981 to 1992/93 and fell in the 3 years following guideline introduction, after which they rose again. Increases were almost exclusively restricted to children aged 0-4 and correspond with increased use of formal childcare. The prevalence of myringotomy by the age of 5 years rose from 5.6% of children born in 1988/89 to 6.4% of those born in 1994/95, and the prevalence of tonsillectomy from 2.4% to 2.7%. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of young Australian children undergoing ENT surgery increased significantly over the last two decades despite the introduction of guidelines and no evidence of an increase in otitis media, one condition prompting surgery. Surgery increased most among the very young. We hypothesize this is related to increasing use of childcare.

Adenoidectomy↗
PubMed2004

Age-specific interval breast cancers in New South Wales and meta-analysis of studies of women aged 40-49 years.

OBJECTIVE: To compare interval cancers in the 40-49 year age group with other age groups in New South Wales and with published trials and service studies. SETTING: New South Wales data were derived from the population-based biennial mammography screening program, which achieved state-wide coverage in 1995. Women aged 40-49 years screened during 1995-1998 were included. METHODS: Bilateral two-view mammography with reading by two radiologists was employed for biennial screening examinations. Interval cancers were detected by the screening program and by linkage with the state-wide cancer registry. Incidence of interval cancer based on the date of diagnosis was estimated as a proportion of the expected underlying breast cancer incidence for first- and second-year interval cancers. Sensitivity estimates were also calculated. Comparative data for the 40-49 year age group were derived from the published literature for meta-analyses of trial and service studies. RESULTS: Interval cancer rates for New South Wales decreased with increasing age, with the highest proportional incidence in the 40-49 year age group for first year (56%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 50-62%) and second-year (86%, 95% CI 82-90%) interval cancers. Proportional incidence for women aged 50-69 years for first- and second-year interval cancers was 31% (95%CI 29-33%) and 50% (95% CI 47-52%) respectively. Sensitivity estimates for the program increased significantly with age, with lowest sensitivity estimates evident for women 40-49 years. In women aged 40-49 years the meta-analysed proportional incidence rate for randomised trials of screening for first- and second-year interval cancers was 42% (95% CI 21-62%) and 63% (95% CI 55-71%) respectively, while for service studies it was 44% (95% CI 31-58%) and 72% (95% CI 51-92%). Proportional incidence in the New South Wales program for women aged 40-49 years was not significantly different to the meta-analysed proportional incidences for trial and service studies in the first year, or for service studies in the second year. CONCLUSION: Proportional incidence of interval cancer was significantly higher in women aged 40-49 years in New South Wales relative to older age groups, but did not differ significantly from service studies of women in a similar age group. The effectiveness of mammography screening for this age group needs to be examined in view of the comparatively high rate of interval cancers.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

The Upf-dependent decay of wild-type PPR1 mRNA depends on its 5'-UTR and first 92 ORF nucleotides.

mRNAs containing premature translation termination codons (nonsense mRNAs) are targeted for deadenylation-independent degradation in a mechanism that depends on Upf1p, Upf2p and Upf3p. This decay pathway is often called nonsense- mediated mRNA decay (NMD). Nonsense mRNAs are decapped by Dcp1p and then degraded 5' to 3' by Xrn1p. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a significant number of wild-type mRNAs accumulate in upf mutants. Wild-type PPR1 mRNA is one of these mRNAs. Here we show that PPR1 mRNA degradation depends on the Upf proteins, Dcp1p, Xrn1p and Hrp1p. We have mapped an Upf1p-dependent destabilizing element to a region located within the 5'-UTR and the first 92 bases of the PPR1 ORF. This element targets PPR1 mRNA for Upf-dependent decay by a novel mechanism.

5' Untranslated Regions↗
PubMed2003

Efficacy and safety of caudal injection of levobupivacaine, 0.25%, in children under 2 years of age undergoing inguinal hernia repair, circumcision or orchidopexy.

BACKGROUND: Levobupivacaine is the S(-)-enantiomer of racemic bupivacaine. Evidence suggests that it is less cardiotoxic than racemic bupivacaine and the R(+)-enantiomer, dexbupivacaine, while retaining similar local anaesthetic properties and potency to racemic bupivacaine. METHODS: This was an open study designed to assess the efficacy and safety of 0.25% levobupivacaine administered as a caudal injection at a dose of 2 mg.kg(-1) to 49 paediatric patients aged less than 2 years old undergoing circumcision (group 1), or hernia repair or orchidopexy (group 2). RESULTS: Adequate analgesia (an increase of <20% in pulse or respiratory rate compared with baseline and an absence of gross movement on application of surgical stimulus) was achieved in 43/48 patients evaluable for efficacy (89.6%). All 22 patients in the circumcision group had adequate analgesia, and two of these patients did not require additional analgesia. The mean time to the use of additional analgesia was 7.3 h. Only one event (a mild rash) was considered possibly related to study medication. CONCLUSIONS: Levobupivacaine is a promising new local anaesthetic agent for pain management in paediatric patients and appears to offer similar anaesthetic efficacy to racemic bupivacaine with a potentially improved tolerability profile.

Anesthesia, Caudal↗
PubMed2003

Effectiveness of screening in preventing blindness due to diabetic retinopathy.

AIMS: Diabetes remains the commonest cause of blindness in the working age population of the UK, but little information exists about the individuals who are currently losing sight from this cause. We determined the current blindness incidence (1998-2000) in Newcastle Health District and the clinical characteristics of these patients. METHODS: Data were collected for 1998-2000 from the Royal National Institute for the Blind Liaison Office of the Newcastle Ophthalmology Department. The Ophthalmology Clinic notes on each individual were retrieved to verify clinical details, including previous eye diagnosis, dates of previous laser photocoagulation and eye surgery. The diabetes clinical records were studied to obtain information on type and duration of diabetes, blood pressure, HbA1c and other biochemical parameters. To ensure completeness of data, details of all patients registered blind attending the Newcastle Diabetic Centre were examined. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients were registered blind due to diabetes and 26 partially sighted during this period. The annual incidence of blindness and partial sightedness due to diabetes in the Newcastle district were 0.35 and 0.56 per 1000, respectively. The average ages in the two groups were 65.9 +/- 12.5 and 67.2 +/- 12.3 years and duration of diabetes 15.5 +/- 13.9 and 15.3 +/- 10.6 years, respectively. Proliferative retinopathy accounted for 30 and maculopathy for 24 registrations. The times from ophthalmology referral to registration were 6.2 +/- 3.5 and 4.4 +/- 3.3 years in these groups, respectively. No cases resulted from false-negative screening. CONCLUSIONS: In Newcastle district, where the retinal screening programme has been running since 1986, the rates of blindness and partial sightedness are less than one-third of those reported in the surveys prior to 1997, confirming that objectives of the St Vincent's declarations are being achieved.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Effect of insulin therapy on plasma leptin and body weight in patients with type 2 diabetes.

AIMS: This study set out to define relationships between changes in plasma leptin and changes in body weight, plasma insulin and blood glucose control during a 12-month crossover study of once-daily Ultratard or twice-daily Insulatard insulin. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fasting plasma leptin and insulin were measured during a multicentre cross-over study involving 60 subjects with type 2 diabetes (fasting glucose > 8 mM). After a 2-month run-in, there were two 6-month periods of treatment with Insulatard or Ultratard insulin. RESULTS: Mean plasma leptin increased significantly in both groups after insulin therapy was instigated (12.8 +/- 8.1 to 22.9 +/- 13.1 ng/ml in the Insulatard group; 12.1 +/- 7.2 to 19.2 +/- 12.3 ng/ml in the Ultratard group). Weight also increased significantly in both groups (82.4 +/- 14.3 kg to 88.8 +/- 14.3 kg and 82.2 +/- 15.3 kg to 85.3 +/- 15.2 kg respectively). The increase in plasma leptin correlated well with the increase in weight (R = 0.416, p = 0.001), and this correlation continued after the crossover point. Plasma leptin correlated with BMI throughout the study (R = 0.540, p = 0.000). CONCLUSION: The sustained rise in body weight despite a substantial increase in plasma leptin suggests that either resistance to the hypothalamic action of leptin develops when insulin therapy is begun in type 2 diabetes, or that resetting of the set point for body weight occurs such that a larger body mass is tolerated for a given level of plasma leptin.

Body Mass Index↗
PubMed2003

Grading and disease management in national screening for diabetic retinopathy in England and Wales.

AIMS: A National Screening Programme for diabetic eye disease in the UK is in development. We propose a grading and early disease management protocol to detect sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy and any retinopathy, which will allow precise quality assurance at all steps while minimizing false-positive referral to the hospital eye service. METHODS: Expert panel structured discussions between 2000 and 2002 with review of existing evidence and grading classifications. PROPOSALS: Principles of the protocol include: separate grading of retinopathy and maculopathy, minimum number of steps, compatible with central monitoring, expandable for established more complex systems and for research, no lesion counting, no 'questionable' lesions, attempt to detect focal exudative, diffuse and ischaemic maculopathy and fast track referral from primary or secondary graders. Sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy is defined as: preproliferative retinopathy or worse, sight-threatening maculopathy and/or the presence of photocoagulation. In the centrally reported minimum data set retinopathy is graded into four levels: none (R0), background (R1), preproliferative (R2), proliferative (R3). Maculopathy and photocoagulation are graded as absent (M0, P0) or present (M1, P1). DISCUSSION: The protocol developed by the Diabetic Retinopathy Grading and Disease Management Working Party represents a new consensus upon which national guidelines can be based leading to the introduction of quality-assured screening for people with diabetes.

Clinical Protocols↗
PubMed2003

Static fusimotor action during locomotion in the decerebrated cat revealed by cross-correlation of spindle afferent activity.

Cross-correlation of the discharges of muscle spindle afferents in ankle extensor and flexor muscles has been used to reveal the activity of static gamma (gammaS) motoneurones innervating chain intrafusal muscle fibres during locomotion. In the anaesthetised cat, the cross-correlation of spindle afferents, jointly innervated by a gammaS-efferent with chain fibre contacts, showed short duration synchrony (2-8 ms) when the efferent was stimulated repetitively. In pre-mammillary decerebrated cats, the cross-correlograms of discharges of some pairs of spindle afferents showed similar short duration peaks of synchronisation and these were interpreted as being due to a common gammaS drive to chain intrafusal muscle fibres. The incidence of synchrony was low, and was similar at rest (5 % of pairs) and during treadmill locomotion (7 % of pairs). Phase dependence of synchrony was evident during locomotion in the flexor muscle. The synchrony of muscle spindle afferent discharge is discussed in relation to estimates of the numbers of spindles contacted by individual gammaS-efferents.

Animals↗