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At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

PubMed1994

A comparison of muscular mechanical energy expenditure and internal work in cycling.

The hypothesis that the sum of the absolute changes in mechanical energy (internal work) is correlated with the muscular mechanical energy expenditure (MMEE) was tested using two elliptical chainrings, one that reduced and one that increased the internal work (compared to circular). Upper and lower bounds were put on the extra MMEE (work done by net joint torques in excess of the external work) with respect to the effect of intercompensation between joint torques due to biarticular muscles. This was done by having two measures of MMEE, one that allowed no intercompensation and one that allowed complete intercompensation between joints spanned by biarticular muscles. Energy analysis showed no correlation between internal work and the two measures of MMEE. When compared to circular, the chainring that reduced internal work increased MMEE, and phases of increased crank velocity associated with the elliptical shape resulted in increased power absorbed by the upstroke leg as it was accelerated against gravity. The resulting negative work necessitated additional positive work. Thus, the hypothesis that the internal work is correlated with MMEE was found to be invalid, and the total mechanical work done cannot be estimated by summing the internal and external work. Changes in the dynamics of cycling caused by a non-circular chainring may affect performance and must be considered during the non-circular chainring design process.

Absorption↗

PubMed1985

Effects of methapyrilene on rat hepatic xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes and liver morphology.

Short-term treatment of rats with hepatocarcinogens elicits a consistent pattern of phenotypic changes in hepatic drug metabolizing enzymes, the most striking of which is a marked increase in microsomal epoxide hydrolase (EH) activity. The antihistaminic drug methapyrilene induces a high incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in F-344 rats. The studies reported here were designed to assess the effects of methapyrilene on hepatic EH activity, cytochrome P-450-dependent mixed-function oxidase activities, liver morphology, and liver-derived serum enzymes. Male F-344 rats were treated with three daily oral doses of methapyrilene-HCl, up to 300 mg/kg/day, and were sacrificed 48 hr after the last dose. Hepatic microsomal EH and cytosolic DT-diaphorase activities were increased in a dose-related fashion, to 420 and 230% of control, respectively. Cytochrome P-450 content and benzphetamine-N-demethylase and ethoxycoumarin-O-deethylase activities were concomitantly decreased to 35-50% of control. Serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and alanine aminotransferase activities were elevated 22- to 27-fold, and serum bile acids to 36-fold by treatment with methapyrilene. Periportal lesions, characterized by inflammation, nuclear and nucleolar enlargement, bile duct hyperplasia, and hepatocellular necrosis, were observed following methapyrilene administration. The severity of the periportal lesion correlated with elevations in the serum chemistry parameters. The increases noted in microsomal EH activity supports the suggestion that this enzyme may be a useful biochemical marker for exposure to hepatocarcinogens.

Alanine Transaminase↗

PubMed1985

Effect of sampling site and collection method on variations in baseline clinical pathology parameters in Fischer-344 rats. 1. Clinical chemistry.

An analysis of the influence of blood sampling site and collection method on clinical chemistry parameters was conducted in male Fischer-344 rats. Sampling sites compared included the right ventricle, aorta, vena cava, retroorbital sinus, and tail. Methods of collection included Vacutainer (3 ml sample), syringe (exsanguination), and capillary tube. Nineteen frequently measured clinical chemistry procedures were determined, including serum enzymes, cholesterol, and triglycerides. Significant differences were noted for almost every parameter as a function of sampling site. Samples collected from the right ventricle with a Vacutainer produced the most representative results for most but not all procedures when compared to the overall mean (for all methods). The largest differences were encountered in samples obtained from tail and retroorbital plexus. Exanguination also resulted in significant differences for some parameters when compared to smaller sample volumes obtained from the same site. It was concluded that sampling site and collection method can be a major source of variation in clinical chemistry measurements, and in selection of an appropriate method, one should consider which parameters are likely to be of major interest.

Animals↗

PubMed1986

Effect of sampling site and collection method on variations in baseline clinical pathology parameters in Fischer-344 rats. II. Clinical hematology.

An analysis of the influence of blood-sampling site and collection method on peripheral hematology parameters was conducted in age-matched male Fischer-344 rats. Sites examined for blood collection were the right ventricle, abdominal aorta, abdominal vena cava, retroorbital plexus, and tail. Collection methods used included syringe (10 ml), Vacutainer(s) (3 ml or 3 ml X 2), and capillary tube. Blood collected from the tail exhibited leukocyte counts approximately twice those of samples samples from other sites. Blood collected from the retroorbital plexus and tail exhibited significant variations in white blood cell count, red blood cell count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit, and differences in leukocyte differential counts of lymphocytes and neutrophils when compared with other sites. Blood collected from the abdominal aorta and in a second Vacutainer from the right ventricle exhibited lower erythrocyte, leukocyte, and platelet counts than that collected from other sites with the exception of the platelet count from tail blood which was lower than that from all other sites. Although parameter values vary with sample site selection, those obtained from right ventricle blood were the least variable and the most consistent when compared with all other methods.

Animals↗

PubMed1984

Chemical evolution on the giant planets and Titan.

We summarize the current status of atmospheric chemistry in the atmospheres of the outer solar system with special emphasis on the question of HCN formation on Jupiter, differences between polar and equatorial compositions on Jupiter, the coloration of the Great Red Spot, and the unique environment of Titan.

Ammonia↗

PubMed1986

Search for organic molecules in the outer solar system.

Recent developments of millimeter astronomy have led to the discovery of more and more complex molecules in the interstellar medium. In a similar way, attempts have been made to detect complex molecules in the atmospheres of the most primitive bodies of the Solar System, i.e. outer planets and comets, as well as in Titan's atmosphere. An important progress has been achieved thanks to the continuous development of infrared astronomy, from the ground and from space vehicles. In particular, an important contribution has come from the IRIS-Voyager infrared spectrometer with the detection of prebiotic molecules on Titan, and some complex organic molecules on Jupiter and Saturn. Another important result has been the observation of carbonaceous material in the immediate surroundings of Comet Halley's nucleus. In the near future, the search for organic molecules in the outer Solar System should benefit from the developments of large millimeter antennae, and in the next decade, from the operation of infrared Earth-orbiting spacecrafts (ISO, SIRTF).

Astronomy↗

PubMed1995

Effects of polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG 400) following 13 weeks of gavage treatment in Fischer-344 rats.

Fischer-344 rats (10/group/sex) were administered polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG 400) by gavage at 1.0, 2.5 or 5.0 ml/kg (1.1, 2.8 and 5.6 g/kg, respectively) body weight/day 5 days/wk for 13 wk. Animals in the control group received water by gavage (5.0 ml/kg body weight/treatment day). An additional 10 rats/sex/group were assigned to the control and high-dose groups for a 6-wk recovery period. Evaluation of potential renal toxicity was identified as a primary objective. There was no mortality or changes in haematology or clinical chemistry measurements attributed to PEG 400 toxicity. Loose faeces in the mid- and/or high-dose group of both sexes were attributed to bulk cathartic effects of PEG 400. Slight decreases in food consumption and body weights in the mid- and/or high-dose group of male rats and female rats were attributed to the physical presence of PEG 400 in the intestinal tract. However, a direct effect of PEG 400 on the intestinal tract was not ruled out. Increased water consumption was attributed to a possible increase in serum osmolality due to the absorption of the PEG 400 or a reflection of the water dosing received by the control animals. Increased urinary concentration and decreased urinary pH were at least partially attributed to absorption, possible metabolism, and urinary excretion of PEG 400. Small increases in absolute and/or relative kidney weights observed in many dose groups, were attributed to the osmotic effect of the test substance and/or metabolites in the urine. The significance of a slight increase in relative kidney weights in female rats following the recovery period was unknown. Although no microscopic changes were observed in the kidneys or urinary bladder, a slight, reversible renal toxicity may have resulted in male rats treated by gavage with 2.5 ml/kg/day and rats of both sexes treated by gavage with 5.0 ml PEG 400 kg/day. This was based on the increased concentration of protein and bilirubin, urinary vascular cell findings and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase activity.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗

PubMed2006

The effect of foot and ankle prosthetic components on braking and propulsive impulses during transtibial amputee gait.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the influence of energy storage and return (ESAR) prosthetic feet and multi-axis ankles on ground reaction forces and loading asymmetry between lower limbs in transtibial amputees. DESIGN: Subjects wore 2 different prosthetic feet with and without a multi-axis ankle and were analyzed using a blind repeated-measures multivariate analysis-of-variance design. SETTING: Gait analysis laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Fifteen healthy unilateral transtibial amputees (>55 y) who had an amputation at least 1 year before testing because of vascular disorders. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The anteroposterior ground reaction force impulse, peak ground reaction forces, and braking and propulsion impulse duration were analyzed as subjects walked at a self-selected speed while wearing each of the 4 foot-ankle prosthesis combinations. Statistical analyses were used to determine if there was a significant foot, ankle, or foot-ankle interaction effect on the outcome measures for each foot (P<.05). RESULTS: Amputees generated a significantly greater propulsive impulse with the residual leg when wearing a multi-axis ankle with the ESAR and non-ESAR foot, which improved the propulsive symmetry between the residual and intact legs. There was no prosthetic foot effect on these measures. There were no significant differences in the peak residual-leg braking or propulsive ground reaction forces or the impulse durations due to the prosthetic foot, ankle, or foot-ankle interactions, although an increase in the propulsive impulse duration approached significance (P=.062) with a multi-axis ankle. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that amputee gait may improve with the prescription of multi-axis ankles that allow for greater propulsive impulses by the residual leg, which improve the loading symmetry between legs.

Amputation, Surgical↗

PubMed2007

Relationship between step length asymmetry and walking performance in subjects with chronic hemiparesis.

OBJECTIVE: To understand the relationship between step length asymmetry and hemiparetic walking performance. DESIGN: Descriptive. SETTING: Gait analysis laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Convenience sample of 49 subjects with chronic hemiparesis. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Subjects walked at their self-selected walking speed over both an instrumented mat and forceplates to collect spatiotemporal parameters and ground reaction forces, respectively. Step length asymmetry was quantified by using a step length ratio (SLR) defined as paretic step length divided by nonparetic step length. Paretic leg propulsion, self-selected walking speed, hemiparetic severity (assessed by Brunnstrom stages of motor recovery), and some spatiotemporal walking parameters quantified the hemiparetic walking performance. Paretic leg propulsion was quantified by the paretic propulsion (P(P)) ratio, calculated as the percentage contribution of paretic leg to the total propulsive impulse. RESULTS: Significant negative correlation (r=-.78) was revealed between SLR and P(P), indicating that subjects generating less propulsive force with the paretic leg walked asymmetrically with longer paretic steps than nonparetic steps. SLR and self-selected walking speed revealed a weaker correlation (r=-.35), whereas hemiparetic severity correlated strongly with SLR (rho=-.53). CONCLUSIONS: Step length asymmetry is related to propulsive force generation during hemiparetic walking. Subjects generating least paretic propulsion walk with relatively longer paretic steps. This suggests that one of the mechanisms for the longer paretic step may be the relatively greater compensatory nonparetic leg propulsion. Further, those with more severe hemiparesis (those dependent on abnormal flexor and extensor synergies) walk with the longest paretic steps relative to nonparetic. Finally, our results indicated that asymmetrical step lengths may not necessarily limit the self-selected walking speed, likely due to other compensatory mechanisms.

Acceleration↗

PubMed2005

Effect of equinus foot placement and intrinsic muscle response on knee extension during stance.

Equinus gait, a common movement abnormality among individuals with stroke and cerebral palsy, is often associated with knee hyperextension during stance. Whether there exists a causal mechanism linking equinus foot placement with knee hyperextension remains unknown. To investigate the response of the musculoskeletal system to equinus foot placement, a forward dynamic simulation of normal walking was perturbed by augmenting ankle plantarflexion by 10 degrees at initial contact. The subsequent effect on knee extension was assessed when the muscle forces were allowed, or not allowed, to change in response to altered kinematics and intrinsic force-length-velocity properties. We found that an increase in ankle plantarflexion at initial contact without concomitant changes in muscle forces caused the knee to hyperextend. The intrinsic force-length-velocity properties of muscle, particularly in gastrocnemius and vastus, diminished the effect of equinus posture alone, causing the abnormal knee extension to be less pronounced. We conclude that the effect of ankle position at initial contact on knee motion should be considered in the analysis of equinus gait.

Ankle↗

PubMed2005

Muscle mechanical work and elastic energy utilization during walking and running near the preferred gait transition speed.

Mechanical and metabolic energy conservation is considered to be a defining characteristic in many common motor tasks. During human gait, the storage and return of elastic energy in compliant structures is an important energy saving mechanism that may reduce the necessary muscle fiber work and be an important determinant of the preferred gait mode (i.e., walk or run) at a given speed. In the present study, the mechanical work done by individual muscle fibers and series-elastic elements (SEE) was quantified using a musculoskeletal model and forward dynamical simulations that emulated a group of young healthy adults walking and running above and below the preferred walk-run transition speed (PTS), and potential advantages associated with the muscle fiber-SEE interactions during these gait modes at each speed were assessed. The simulations revealed that: (1) running below the PTS required more muscle fiber work than walking, and inversely, walking above the PTS required more muscle fiber work than running, and (2) SEE utilization in running was greater above than below the PTS. These results support previous suggestions that muscle mechanical energy expenditure is an important determinant for the preferred gait mode at a given speed.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Compensatory strategies during normal walking in response to muscle weakness and increased hip joint stiffness.

Compared to young adults, older adults exhibit a slower walking speed, smaller step length, shorter swing phase time and decreased range of motion in their lower extremity joints. The underlying mechanisms causing these gait adaptations is not well understood, with various musculoskeletal parameters being put forth as contributing factors, including increased joint stiffness and decreased isometric muscle strength. The objective of this study was to identify the necessary compensatory mechanisms to overcome such musculoskeletal deficits and regain a normal walking pattern. Understanding these mechanisms has important implications for designing effective rehabilitation interventions for older adults that target specific muscle groups and properties (e.g., isometric strength versus joint stiffness) to improve gait performance. Muscle-actuated forward dynamics simulations of normal walking were analyzed to quantify compensatory mechanisms in the presence of muscle weakness in specific muscle groups and increased hip joint stiffness. Of particular importance were the compensatory mechanisms provided by the plantar flexors, which were shown to be able to compensate for many musculoskeletal deficits, including diminished muscle strength in the hip and knee flexors and extensors and increased hip joint stiffness. This importance was further highlighted when a normal walking pattern could not be achieved through compensatory action of other muscle groups when the uniarticular and biarticular plantar flexor strength was decreased as a group. Thus, rehabilitation or preventative exercise programs may consider focusing on increasing or maintaining plantar flexor strength, which appears critical to maintaining normal walking mechanics.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMed2005

Is lead considered as a risk factor for high blood pressure during menopause period among Saudi women?

This case-control study was designed to examine the association between blood lead levels and high blood pressure in a restricted subpopulation, Saudi women who were 45-93-year old, during or after menopausal period and not occupationally exposed to lead. Blood lead levels were assessed in 100 women with hypertension and 85 control subjects. Lead concentrations were measured in the whole blood using flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Blood pressure measurements were performed according to the World Health Organization recommendations. Results revealed that the mean blood lead levels for hypertensive were 47.52+/-39.26 and 45.59+/-28.55 microg/l for controls. Participants were classified according to the median of blood lead levels in order to compute odds ratios. After controlling a number of potential confounding variables, the multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that women with blood lead levels of > or = 38.6 microg/l were 5.27 times more likely to be hypertensive than those with blood lead levels of < 38.6 microg/l, but of borderline significance (p = 0.06). Although such observation might support the hypothesis that the depletion of lead from bones during menopause increases blood lead levels placing women at increased risk for high blood pressure, there is a need for further studies with larger number of subjects. A number of risk factors, which were suspected to influence blood lead levels, were also investigated. Use of Kohl, duration of its use, osteoporosis disease and intake of calcium supplements were significantly associated with blood lead levels.

Aged↗

PubMed2004

Muscle mechanical work requirements during normal walking: the energetic cost of raising the body's center-of-mass is significant.

Inverted pendulum models of walking predict that little muscle work is required for the exchange of body potential and kinetic energy in single-limb support. External power during walking (product of the measured ground reaction force and body center-of-mass (COM) velocity) is often analyzed to deduce net work output or mechanical energetic cost by muscles. Based on external power analyses and inverted pendulum theory, it has been suggested that a primary mechanical energetic cost may be associated with the mechanical work required to redirect the COM motion at the step-to-step transition. However, these models do not capture the multi-muscle, multi-segmental properties of walking, co-excitation of muscles to coordinate segmental energetic flow, and simultaneous production of positive and negative muscle work. In this study, a muscle-actuated forward dynamic simulation of walking was used to assess whether: (1). potential and kinetic energy of the body are exchanged with little muscle work; (2). external mechanical power can estimate the mechanical energetic cost for muscles; and (3.) the net work output and the mechanical energetic cost for muscles occurs mostly in double support. We found that the net work output by muscles cannot be estimated from external power and was the highest when the COM moved upward in early single-limb support even though kinetic and potential energy were exchanged, and muscle mechanical (and most likely metabolic) energetic cost is dominated not only by the need to redirect the COM in double support but also by the need to raise the COM in single support.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗

PubMed2005

Simulated parallel annealing within a neighborhood for optimization of biomechanical systems.

Optimization problems for biomechanical systems have become extremely complex. Simulated annealing (SA) algorithms have performed well in a variety of test problems and biomechanical applications; however, despite advances in computer speed, convergence to optimal solutions for systems of even moderate complexity has remained prohibitive. The objective of this study was to develop a portable parallel version of a SA algorithm for solving optimization problems in biomechanics. The algorithm for simulated parallel annealing within a neighborhood (SPAN) was designed to minimize interprocessor communication time and closely retain the heuristics of the serial SA algorithm. The computational speed of the SPAN algorithm scaled linearly with the number of processors on different computer platforms for a simple quadratic test problem and for a more complex forward dynamic simulation of human pedaling.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2005

Muscle contributions to support during gait in an individual with post-stroke hemiparesis.

Walking requires coordination of muscles to support the body during single stance. Impaired ability to coordinate muscles following stroke frequently compromises walking performance and results in extremely low walking speeds. Slow gait in post-stroke hemiparesis is further complicated by asymmetries in lower limb muscle excitations. The objectives of the current study were: (1) to compare the muscle coordination patterns of an individual with flexed stance limb posture secondary to post-stroke hemiparesis with that of healthy adults walking very slowly, and (2) to identify how paretic and non-paretic muscles provide support of the body center of mass in this individual. Simulations were generated based on the kinematics and kinetics of a stroke survivor walking at his self-selected speed (0.3 m/s) and of three speed-matched, healthy older individuals. For each simulation, muscle forces were perturbed to determine the muscles contributing most to body weight support (i.e., height of the center of mass during midstance). Differences in muscle excitations and midstance body configuration caused paretic and non-paretic ankle plantarflexors to contribute less to midstance support than in healthy slow gait. Excitation of paretic ankle dorsiflexors and knee flexors during stance opposed support and necessitated compensation by knee and hip extensors. During gait for an individual with post-stroke hemiparesis, adequate body weight support is provided via reorganized muscle coordination patterns of the paretic and non-paretic lower limbs relative to healthy slow gait.

Aged↗

PubMed2005

Differences in muscle function during walking and running at the same speed.

Individual muscle contributions to body segment mechanical energetics and the functional tasks of body support and forward propulsion in walking and running at the same speed were quantified using forward dynamical simulations to elucidate differences in muscle function between the two different gait modes. Simulations that emulated experimentally measured kinesiological data of young adults walking and running at the preferred walk-to-run transition speed revealed that muscles use similar biomechanical mechanisms to provide support and forward propulsion during the two tasks. The primary exception was a decreased contribution of the soleus to forward propulsion in running, which was previously found to be significant in walking. In addition, the soleus distributed its mechanical power differently to individual body segments between the two gait modes from mid- to late stance. In walking, the soleus transferred mechanical energy from the leg to the trunk to provide support, but in running it delivered energy to both the leg and trunk. In running, earlier soleus excitation resulted in it working in synergy with the hip and knee extensors near mid-stance to provide the vertical acceleration for the subsequent flight phase in running. In addition, greater power output was produced by the soleus and hip and knee extensors in running. All other muscle groups distributed mechanical power among the body segments and provided support and forward propulsion in a qualitatively similar manner in both walking and running.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗

PubMed2006

The neuromuscular demands of toe walking: a forward dynamics simulation analysis.

Toe walking is a gait deviation with multiple etiologies and often associated with premature and prolonged ankle plantar flexor electromyographic activity. The goal of this study was to use a detailed musculoskeletal model and forward dynamical simulations that emulate able-bodied toe and heel-toe walking to understand why, despite an increase in muscle activity in the ankle plantar flexors during toe walking, the internal ankle joint moment decreases relative to heel-toe walking. The simulations were analyzed to assess the force generating capacity of the plantar flexors by examining each muscle's contractile state (i.e., the muscle fiber length, velocity and activation). Consistent with experimental measurements, the simulation data showed that despite a 122% increase in soleus muscle activity and a 76% increase in gastrocnemius activity, the peak internal ankle moment in late stance decreased. The decrease was attributed to non-optimal contractile conditions for the plantar flexors (primarily the force-length relationship) that reduced their ability to generate force. As a result, greater muscle activity is needed during toe walking to produce a given muscle force level. In addition, toe walking requires greater sustained plantar flexor force and moment generation during stance. Thus, even though toe walking requires lower peak plantar flexor forces that might suggest a compensatory advantage for those with plantar flexor weakness, greater neuromuscular demand is placed on those muscles. Therefore, medical decisions concerning whether to reduce equinus should consider not only the impact on the ankle moment, but also the expected change to the plantar flexor's force generating capacity.

Adult↗