THE INFLUENCE OF DIFFERENT TESTING CONDITIONS ON EMG-ACTIVITY AND KINEMATICS OF THE LOWER EXTREMITY IN RUNNING

Different testing conditions such as treadmill running or over ground running on laboratory tracks with different path lengths can be used to investigate running mechanics. Data gained in treadmill running or short laboratory track running is only transferable to longer distance over ground running if the testing condition does not influence the analyzed parameters. Although there is already information about the changes in kinematics concerning this matter there is just little information about the possible changes in EMGactivity (Nigg et al., 1995, Wank et al., 1998). Therefore the purpose of this study was to investigate if (a) EMG- and kinematic data recorded in running on a treadmill and running over a long and short laboratory track show intra-condition variability (b) there are differences between the conditions in analyzed parameters

A WAVELET-BASED ANALYSIS OF GENDER DEPENDENT EMG PATTERNS WITHIN DIFFERENT TESTING CONDITIONS IN RUNNING

It has been found that women and men demonstrate different running mechanics (Ferber et al., 2003). To investigate running mechanics, different testing conditions (e.g. treadmill / overground running) are used in laboratory. EMG-signals and kinematics are considered to be different between overground and treadmill running, while the influence of gender on altered kinematics or EMG-signals remains unclear (Nigg et al., 1994; Wank et al., 1998). Therefore the purpose of this study was to get information about muscle activity and kinematics of female and male runners while running in different testing conditions in order to examine a) if there are gender dependent differences in muscle activation or kinematics and b) if the muscular / kinematical response to changes in testing conditions is gender specific

Preoperative radiological characterization of hepatic angiomyolipoma using magnetic resonance imaging and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>A hepatic angiomyolipoma is a rare benign tumor of the liver composed of a mixture of smooth muscle cells, blood vessels and a variable amount of adipose tissue. Differentiating them from malignant liver tumors can often be very difficult.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We report the case of a 43-year-old Caucasian man presenting with a large liver mass in the right lobe. The results of magnetic resonance imaging and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography were consistent with a well-demarcated adipose tissue- containing tumor, showing prolonged hyperperfusion in comparison with the surrounding liver tissue. Surgery was performed and the diagnosis of hepatic angiomyolipoma was made with histopathology.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Preoperative radiological characterization using magnetic resonance imaging and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography may improve diagnostic accuracy of hepatic angiomyolipoma. Identification of smooth muscle cells, blood vessels and adipose tissue with a positive immunohistochemical reaction for HMB-45 is the final evidence for an angiomyolipoma.</p

Phase II trial of weekly 24-hour infusion of gemcitabine in patients with advanced gallbladder and biliary tract carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Patients with advanced gallbladder and biliary tract carcinoma face a dismal prognosis, as no effective palliative chemotherapy exists. The antitumor effect of gemcitabine is schedule-dependent rather than dose-dependent. We evaluated the activity of a prolonged infusion of gemcitabine in advanced gallbladder and biliary tract carcinomas. METHODS: Nineteen consecutive eligible patients were enrolled. All patients were required to have histologically confirmed diagnosis and measurable disease. Gemcitabine was infused over 24 hours at a dose of 100 mg/m(2 )on days 1, 8, and 15. Treatment was repeated every 28 days until progression of disease or limiting toxicity. Tumor response was evaluated every second course by computed tomography (CT) scans. RESULTS: Eighteen patients were evaluable for response. A total of 89 cycles of therapy were administered. One partial response was observed (6%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0–27%) and ten additional patients had stable disease for at least two months (disease control rate 61%; 95% CI: 36–83%). The therapy was well tolerated, with moderate myelosuppression as the main toxicity. The median time to tumor progression and median overall survival was 3.6 months (95% CI 2.6–4.6 months) and 7.5 months (95% CI 6.5–8.5 months), respectively. CONCLUSION: Weekly 24-hour gemcitabine at a dose of 100 mg/m(2 )is well tolerated. There was a relatively high rate of disease control for a median duration of 5.3 months (range 2.8–18.8 months). However, the objective response rate of this regimen in gallbladder and biliary tract carcinomas was limited

The Crowdsourced Replication Initiative: Investigating Immigration and Social Policy Preferences. Executive Report.

In an era of mass migration, social scientists, populist parties and social movements raise concerns over the future of immigration-destination societies. What impacts does this have on policy and social solidarity? Comparative cross-national research, relying mostly on secondary data, has findings in different directions. There is a threat of selective model reporting and lack of replicability. The heterogeneity of countries obscures attempts to clearly define data-generating models. P-hacking and HARKing lurk among standard research practices in this area.This project employs crowdsourcing to address these issues. It draws on replication, deliberation, meta-analysis and harnessing the power of many minds at once. The Crowdsourced Replication Initiative carries two main goals, (a) to better investigate the linkage between immigration and social policy preferences across countries, and (b) to develop crowdsourcing as a social science method. The Executive Report provides short reviews of the area of social policy preferences and immigration, and the methods and impetus behind crowdsourcing plus a description of the entire project. Three main areas of findings will appear in three papers, that are registered as PAPs or in process

Electromyography based functional neuromuscular diagnosis and biofeedback-training in musicians´ health

Rationale: Biomechanical analyses are capable of capturing and evaluating human motions. In addition to the major biomechanical fields of kinetics and kinematics, electromyography (EMG) provides a reliable way to analyse neuromuscular activities, e.g. inter- and intramuscular coordination, fatigue behavior or timing. Based on these parameters it is possible to conclude to clinically relevant parameters such as motor control, muscular coordination or compensation strategies with different loads. In addition to this, EMG can be used in treatment itself, e.g. biofeedback-training with an EMG is an effective and evidenced based tool to improve neuromuscular control. Purpose: To show the importance of EMG in musicians´ health and to demonstrate additional therapy and diagnostic options. Educational Objectives: At the end of the workshop, the participants will be able to… 1. understand and describe the basic principles of EMG 2. understand and describe the importance of EMG in the context of musicians´ health, physical therapy and the clinical reasoning process 3. use EMG on musicians in the performance process Content of Presentation: This workshop briefly introduces the theoretical principles of EMG and the clinical applications in the context of musicians´ health. It explains why EMG provides an additional value in the clinical reasoning process and supports the therapist, but decision making in the clinical reasoning process should never be based on EMG solely. In the further course of the workshop the use of EMG in diagnostics and therapy (biofeedback) with musicians is practically demonstrated and discussed with the participants. Approach of Presentation: 1. Short presentation: introduction and understanding of EMG (educational objective 1) 2. Short case presentation of a musician to introduce EMG in the field of musicians´ health and the clinical reasoning process (educational objective 2) 3. Interactive practical demonstration (diagnosis and biofeedback-training) as the central part of the workshop. Questions and comments will be discussed directly throughout the group (educational objective 3) Clinical Significance: EMG based functional neuromuscular diagnostics and biofeedback-training provides both the therapist as well as the musician with additional value in their clinical work

Clinical implementation of electromyography in neuromuscular diagnosis and biofeedback-training in performing artists´ health

Rationale: Biomechanical analyses are capable of capturing and evaluating human motions. In addition to the major biomechanical fields of kinetics and kinematics, electromyography (EMG) provides a reliable way to analyse neuromuscular activities, e.g. inter- and intramuscular coordination or fatigue behavior. Based on these parameters it is possible to conclude to clinically relevant parameters such as motor control, muscular coordination or compensation strategies with different loads. In addition to this, EMG can be used in treatment itself, e.g. biofeedback-training with an EMG is an effective and evidenced based tool to improve neuromuscular control. Purpose: To show the advantages of implementing EMG in performing artists´ health and to demonstrate additional therapy and diagnostic options. Educational Objectives: At the end of the workshop, the participants will be able to… 1.understand and describe the basic principles of EMG 2.understand and describe the importance of EMG in the context of performing artists´ health, physical therapy and clinical reasoning 3.use EMG on performing artists in the performance process Content of Presentation: This workshop briefly introduces the theoretical principles of EMG and the clinical applications in the context of performing artists´ health. It explains why EMG provides an additional value in the clinical reasoning process and supports the therapist, but decision making in the clinical reasoning process should never be based on EMG solely. In the further course of the workshop the use of EMG in diagnostics and therapy (biofeedback) with performing artists is practically demonstrated and discussed with the participants. Approach of Presentation: 1.Short presentation: introduction and understanding of EMG (educational objective 1) 2.Short case presentation of a performing artist to introduce EMG in the field of performing artists´ health and clinical reasoning (educational objective 2) 3.Interactive practical demonstration (diagnosis and biofeedback-training) as the central part of the workshop. Questions and comments will be discussed directly throughout the group (educational objective 3) Clinical Significance: EMG based functional neuromuscular diagnostics and biofeedback-training provides both the therapist as well as the performing artist with additional value in their clinical work