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A 46-year-old man with a history of well-controlled hypertension presented with a central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) in his right eye, which was complicated by cystoid macular edema. When the patient noted new visual symptoms, he was also experiencing muscle aches and easy fatiguability. A standard hypercoagulability panel failed to identify an etiology for his CRVO. However, the patient underwent COVID-19 antibody testing, which returned positive. The patient received a series of aflibercept injections for his macular edema, and his vision improved. Further study is warranted to determine if there is any association between mild infection with COVID-19 and the development of CRVO.

Purpose of review Skeletal muscle dysfunction contributes to exercise intolerance, which manifests as dyspnea and fatiguability in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). This review aims to summarize the current understanding of skeletal muscle dysfunction in HFpEF. Recent findings Animal and human studies in HFpEF provide insights into the pathophysiological alterations in skeletal muscle structure and function with the identification of several molecular mechanisms. Exercise training and novel pharmacological therapies that target skeletal muscle are proposed as therapeutic interventions to treat HFpEF. Summary There is evidence that skeletal muscle dysfunction plays a pathophysiological role in HFpEF. However, precise mechanistic insights are needed to understand the contribution of skeletal muscle dysfunction in HFpEF.

Background: Acute fatigue is hypothesized to alter lower extremity injury risk profiles by affecting intrinsic risk factors (i.e. single leg postural control, hamstring strength). However, no systematic overview exists that merges the insights into prospective lower extremity injury risk profiling with the effect of acute fatigue on functional test performance. Objective: The objective of this review is to identify the influence of acute fatigue on prospectively determined modifiable intrinsic risk factors for lower extremity injuries. Design: Systematic review. Methods: PubMed (MEDLINE), Web of Science, PEDro, and Cochrane Library were searched until 29 May 2019. Studies were eligible when the study outcomes encompassed intrinsic modifiable risk factors for lower extremity injury, an acute fatigue intervention, and included healthy athletes or physically active people. Intrinsic modifiable risk factors were identified through recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses, and the referenced original research papers were used to determine outcome measures associated with increased injury risk. Results: Forty-three studies reported acute fatigue effects on modifiable risk factors, with eight studies matching all criteria for data-extraction. Acute fatigue can decrease single leg postural control, decrease ankle joint position sense, decrease isokinetic strength of hamstring and quadriceps muscles and can affect isokinetic hamstring:quadriceps ratios. Conclusion: Acute fatigue affects prospective intrinsic modifiable risk factors for lower extremity injury, indicating an altered injury risk profile for lateral ankle sprain, patellofemoral pain syndrome and hamstring injuries. Future research should allow for individual fatiguability as a relevant outcome, and merge insights from athlete-centred injury risk profiling and fatigue.

Introduction Respiratory muscle performance has been theorized to contribute to sleep quality in obese patients. However, the results from previous studies investigating are conflicting but have primarily utilized static measurements of respiratory muscle performance. We hypothesized that dynamic measurements of respiratory muscle performance obtained from the Test of Incremental Respiratory Endurance (TIRE) may elucidate significant differences in performance between obese individuals with good sleep quality and poor sleep quality. Subjects 30 anonymized medical records from patients enrolled in a bariatric rehabilitation program between June 2018 and May 2019. Methods A retrospective chart review was used to obtain the following data: Maximal Inspiratory Pressure (MIP), Sustained Maximal Inspiratory Pressure (SMIP), Inspiratory Duration (ID), Slope of the SMIP Plot (SMIP Slope), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), age, height, weight, and BMI. Patients were sorted into groups according to their PSQI total score (PS: poor sleep quality ≥ 5, and GS: good sleep quality l5). Independent T-Tests were used to compare means between groups. Results 15 patients had a PSQI total score of ≥ 5, and 15 patients had a PSQI total score l5. No significant differences between groups were observed for Age, Height, Weight, BMI, MIP, SMIP, and ID. A significant between groups difference was observed for SMIP Slope (PS: 11.17 ± 4.77; GS: 9.58 ± 2.3; p = 0.027). Conclusion Individuals with poorer sleep quality demonstrated a significantly higher slope of the SMIP plot reflecting a reduced ability of the respiratory muscles to sustain force output and greater fatiguability.

Introduction. What is well known: Myasthenia gravis presents with ocular, bulbar and proximal limb weakness. What is less known: Myasthenia gravis can rarely present with predominant distal weakness of hand muscles. Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an immune mediated, post-synaptic neuromuscular transmission disorder, presenting with predominant ocular, bulbar and/or proximal fluctuating weakness and fatiguability. Distal and asymmetric onset of symptoms in MG is rare and could lead to delay in diagnosis especially when fatiguability or fluctuation is not clearly reported as a prominent initial symptom - as seen in our patients. Results. We report 3 cases of distal MG who presented with predominant distal asymmetric hand weakness. Their clinically diagnoses for referral to the electrodiagnostic (EDx) laboratory were chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, C8T1 motor radiculopathy and multifocal motor neuropathy. It was in the EDx laboratory that the diagnosis of MG was suspected in these patients. Since the routine EDx tests were normal in all 3 patients - a repetitive nerve stimulation test (RNST) was done - which was positive in the affected muscles and hence a diagnosis of distal MG made (This is the protocol followed in our laboratory). These patients were then found to have high serum levels of antibodies to acetylcholine receptors - confirming the diagnosis of MG. RNST is not routinely done in all patients sent for electrodiagnostic testing and none of these patients had a reference for the same – however using a protocol based method of EDx testing, leading to the diagnosis of a treatable condition. Conclusion. Electrodiagnosticians need to be aware of this presentation of MG and follow protocols or else the diagnosis could be missed.

Background Hamstring injuries remain a major burden in football while the effective prevention exercise the Nordic Hamstring is poorly adopted, despite the added positive effects on performance. Better understanding of hamstring function during Nordic Hamstring compared to other exercises may provide better insight to the physiological adaptations of different types of hamstring curls. Purpose This cross-sectional study therefore aimed to compare the Nordic Hamstring curl with a conventional prone Leg Curl at different loads, and novel high velocity Hamstring Catches; in terms of peak normalized electromyographical activity (nEMG) and rate of electromyographic rise (RER) of Biceps Femoris long head, and angular velocity of the knee. Study design Cross-sectional study. Methods Out of 28 participants enrolled, the final sample included 23 recreationally active male participants who attended a session for determining RM (repetition maximum) to establish loading (8 and 16RM for Hamstring Catches, and 8, 16 and 24RM for Leg Curl) and to familiarize themselves with the three different exercises (Nordic Hamstring, Leg Curl and Hamstring Catch), and a testing session >4 days after during which EMG data were collected during 3 repetitions of each exercise performed in a random order. Results The Nordic Hamstring evoked higher RER (1091.8 nEMG/s) than Hamstring Catches (mean difference: 421 nEMG/s, p Conclusion The Nordic Hamstring displayed the highest level muscle activity and most explosive recruitment characteristics with early and high rate of electromyographic rise, compared to even high velocity exercises, thus providing a possible mechanism by which it may increase performance and reduce injuries. Levels of evidence 3 What is known about the subject Early phase force and muscle recruitment have been linked to both performance and hamstring-related inhibition and fatiguability. However, the potential for different hamstring exercises to elicit explosive recruitment is unknown. What this study adds to existing knowledge Early phase recruitment was higher and faster during the Nordic Hamstring exercise compared with conventional hamstring Leg Curl exercises with different loads and a high-velocity hamstring exercise. Clinical Relevance The surprisingly fast and explosive recruitment characteristics during the Nordic Hamstring exercise suggests the possibility that this exercise have the potential to improve the rate of force development and perhaps counter the effects of hamstring-related inhibition and fatigue.

A 54-year-old man presented with easy fatiguability, dyspnoea on exertion and dyspeptic symptoms. On evaluation, he was found to have an ulcero-proliferative growth in the gastric fundus, the biopsy of which was malignant melanoma of the stomach. Further evaluation with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (18F-FDG PET-CT) scan showed operable disease with no focus of disease elsewhere. He was diagnosed as primary gastric melanoma and underwent radical total gastrectomy with adequate margins. His postoperative period was uneventful. Further adjuvant therapy was refused by the patient. At 6-month follow-up, an 18F-FDG PET-CT scan was done, which showed no evidence of disease. On follow-up at 1-year, he was alive and asymptomatic.

A 34-year-old woman was admitted with symptoms of easy fatiguability, decreased urine output and jaundice for 1 week. She had similar history of weakness and jaundice 3 months ago that lasted for a week for which she consumed herbal medicines. Laboratory evaluation revealed anaemia with

Exercise intolerance and early fatiguability are hallmark symptoms of chronic heart failure. While the malfunction of the heart is certainly the leading cause of chronic heart failure, the patho-physiological mechanisms of exercise intolerance in these patients are more complex, multifactorial and only partially understood. Some evidence points towards a potential role of an exaggerated afferent feedback from group III/IV muscle afferents in the genesis of these symptoms. Overactivity of feedback from these muscle afferents may cause exercise intolerance with a double action: by inducing cardiovascular dysregulation, by reducing motor output and by facilitating the development of central and peripheral fatigue during exercise. Importantly, physical inactivity appears to affect the progression of the syndrome negatively, while physical training can partially counteract this condition. In the present review, the role played by group III/IV afferent feedback in cardiovascular regulation during exercise and exercise-induced muscle fatigue of healthy people and their potential role in inducing exercise intolerance in chronic heart failure patients will be summarised.

Reduced muscle mass and increased fatiguability are major complications after spinal cord injury (SCI), and often hinder the rehabilitation efforts of patients. Such detriments to the musculoskeletal system, and the concomitant reduction in level of activity, contribute to secondary complications such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, bladder dysfunction and liver damage. As a result of decreased weight-bearing capacity after SCI, muscles undergo morphological, metabolic, and contractile changes. Recent studies have shown that exercise after SCI decreases muscle wasting and reduces the burden of secondary complications. Here, we describe RNA sequencing data for detecting chronic transcriptomic changes in the rat soleus after SCI at two levels of injury severity, under conditions of restricted in-cage activity and two methods of applied exercise, swimming or shallow water walking. We demonstrate that the sequenced data are of good quality and show a high alignment rate to the Rattus norvegicus reference assembly (Rn6). The raw data, along with UCSC Genome Browser tracks created to facilitate exploration of gene expression, are available in the NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO; GSE129694).

Background: Impairment of peripheral skeletal muscle function is a common phenomenon in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) in addition to great clinical connotations, such as lack of exercise tolerance and decrease of health-related quality of life. There is very limited data on the effects of maximal exercise on muscle fatiguability and exercise capacity in children with cystic fibrosis. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of progressive maximal exercise training of the lower extremities on exercise capacity and muscle fatiguability in children with cystic fibrosis.Study design: Between June and September 2017, eighteen children aged 8-12 years were recruited in this study. This study had two groups of children; the CF group consisted of nine children (6 males and 3 females) with cystic fibrosis and the control group consisted of nine healthy age matched children (6 males and 3 females). The children underwent a progressive maximal cardiopulmonary exercise cycling test (CPET), muscle fatigue test, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure a muscle cross-section area (CSA). Also, pulmonary functions were assessed.Results: The findings of this study showed that the CF children had less pulmonary functions, had a less exercise capacity, and had a higher breathing reserve index and oxygen desaturation when compared with healthy children (p0.05). Conclusion: This study indicates that progressive maximal exercise doesn’t affect muscle fatiguability, muscle cross-section area, and maximal voluntary contraction in CF children with moderate respiratory diseases but includes lower exercise capacity. CF children and healthy age matched children have similar responses to maximal exercise in muscle fatiguability, muscle cross-section area, and maximal voluntary contractions but lower exercise capacity in the CF group.Keywords: Cystic fibrosis, children, lower extremities, exercise capacity, muscle fatiguability.

A 32-year-old male presented with shortness of breath and easy fatiguability for the past six months. There was no history of chest pain, fever, or palpitations. His renal function parameters were ...

A 42-year-old man presented with easy fatiguability, pain and swelling in the upper limbs of 6-month duration associated with progressive difficulty in bearing weights ([figure 1][1]). Imaging revealed extensive ill-defined osteolytic lesions of both humerus which are permeative, with a wide zone of

A 57-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with melena, easy fatiguability and dizziness for 2 days. She did not have haematemesis, abdominal pain, ascites or jaundice. Her routine master health check-up done 4 years previously revealed a diagnosis of Bernard-Soulier syndrome (BSS

Non-compaction cardiomyopathy (NCC), also called spongiform cardiomyopathy, is a rare congenital cardiomyopathy that affects both children and adults. It results from the failure of myocardial development during embryogenesis. In this case report we present a 70 year old male patient presenting with history of dyspnea on exertion and easy fatiguability of 1 year duration. Echocardiography revealed a biventricular non compaction associated with a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Search through medline showed 8 case reports LV non-compaction associated with PDA in younger patients and this is the first case report of biventricular non compaction associated with PDA in an elderly patient. Key words: Cardiomyopathy, Heart Failure, Non Compaction, PDA, Spongiform.

This report describes the story of a young female, diagnosed with the rare combination dermatomyositis and myasthenia gravis (MG). The patient presented with progressive muscle weakness without typical skin manifestations of dermatomyositis, except for an early mechanic's hand. In addition, the patient had fatiguability and mild ptosis which raised the suspicion of MG which was later confirmed by the presence of anti-acetyl choline receptor antibodies and clinical response to pyridostigmine. On evaluation, she was found to be seropositive for Mi-2Beta antibody, which is a myositis-specific antigen for classical steroid responsive dermatomyositis. The following core competencies are addressed in this article: Medical knowledge, Patient care, Practice based learning and improvement.

Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder affecting the neuromuscular junction, resulting in muscle fatiguability and weakness. The pathological characteristics of the disorder include ocular weakness resulting in diplopia and/or ptosis. More generally, the disease can result in fluctuant weakness of skeletal muscle, predominantly affecting ocular, bulbar and respiratory muscles. Autoimmunity in this instance is mediated by IgG anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies that results in an impaired structure of postsynaptic neurotransmission. Approximately 15% of patients with myasthenia gravis present with bulbar symptoms, of which isolated bulbar symptoms are seen only on occasion. As with our patient, this presentation is most commonly seen in men with late-onset myasthenia gravis. We present a case of an 83-year-old male who presented with a 1 year history of dysphagia for solids and fatigable dysarthria. Following a diagnosis of myasthenia gravis, he was initiated on corticosteroid treatment. He later descended into myasthenic crisis, requiring invasive ventilation measures due to a failure of both non-invasive ventilation and intravenous immunoglobulin G (IVIG) to achieve therapeutic goals. LEARNING POINTS Isolated bulbar symptoms in an elderly man warrants consideration of myasthenia gravis to be included in the differential diagnosis. There is possibly an increased risk of myasthenic crisis in late-onset isolated bulbar myasthenia gravis. Empirical treatment for myasthenia gravis must be administered within a hospital setting, paying attention to respiratory tract infection and corticosteroid treatment as triggers for myasthenic crisis.

Introduction/Hypothesis The purpose of this study is to determine the mid/long term shoulder function in patients with complete deltoid paralysis and intact rotator cuff. 27 patients with at least 2-years FU were included. Materials and methods Outcome measures included pain, range of motion (including the swallowtail test STT), deltoid extension lag test DELT and Bertelli test), subjective fatigability using the injured shoulder and postoperative modified Neer ratings. Results At an average 68 months FU, mean shoulder abduction was 131°, flexion 153°, external rotation with the arm at the side 58° and 58° with the arm abducted. All patients reported quick fatiguability with repetitive use of the injured arm which did not change over time. Average pain score was 2. Eighteen patients had positive STT and DELT tests and all patients had positive Bertelli test. Discussion This study demonstrates that patients with deltoid paralysis and intact rotator cuff do maintain most of their shoulder function and this is sustained over time. Level of evidence Level IV; prognostic Study: case series.

Pediatric neuromuscular junction disorders are less common in children compared to adults, but both autoimmune and inherited subtypes of this disease category occur in the pediatric age group. Neuroanatomically, these can either be classified into presynaptic, synaptic or postsynaptic disorders. Symptoms occur when there is a disruption in the normal synthesis, storage, or release of acetylcholine, the microanatomy of the synapse, the acetylcholinesterase enzyme, or the function of the acetylcholine receptor complex. The specific clinical manifestations are dependent on the pathophysiology and severity of the disorder. The hallmarks of neuromuscular junction disorders are weakness and fatiguability, especially with extraocular muscles and bulbar muscles. However, due to the rarity of the condition and the overlap of the major symptoms with other neuromuscular or metabolic disorders, making the diagnosis can be quite challenging, from first conception of the possibility to confirmatory testing, especially as several of the classic diagnostic tests have limitations with regard to sensitivity. It is also frequently difficult to differentiate these disorders from one another, especially in children. Electrodiagnostic studies can be a valuable tool in not only detecting the presence of a disorder involving the neuromuscular junction, but also differentiating the type of neuromuscular disorders using a combination of nerve conduction studies, repetitive stimulation studies, exercise testing and needle EMG. Single fiber EMG and stimulated single fiber EMG are techniques that are also valuable in these evaluations. The results can then aid the pediatric neurologist in selecting the appropriate serologies or genetic tests to help confirm a definitive diagnosis in these patients.

Examination of the oral cavity provides valuable clues to a large number of systemic disorders. Gum hypertrophy is usually associated with myelomonocytic and monocytic subtypes of acute myeloid leukaemia.1 Its occurrence in a case of acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) is unusual.1 We describe a 28-year-old man from India who presented to our hospital with a 2-week history of easy fatiguability and gum bleeding. Examination revealed pallor and marked gum hypertrophy (figure 1). Blood investigations showed haemoglobin 50 g/L, white cell count 5.4×109/L, differential counts 95% promyelocytes, 3% myelocytes, 1% metamyelocytes and 1% …

IntroductionFatigue is common in patients with primary mitochondrial disease (PMD). There has been little prospective research into sleep pathology in these patients and assessment of scontributory factors to fatigue.MethodsPatients with PMD were prospectively assessed with overnight polysomnography in addition to measures of fatigue, muscle fatiguability, disease severity, sleep propensity and depression.Results16 patients participated, 15 completing inpatient polysomnography. Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) was common (53%), affecting 5/9 females (56%) and 3/6 males (50%), although most cases were mild in severity. There was a trend to higher incidence of OSA in older patients but not other traditional risk factors, nor presence of myopathy. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) was the best predictor of OSA, although not reaching significance.Fatigue was common, with 81% of patients having significant fatigue on the Fatigue Severity score and 69% on the Fatigue Impact Scale. The two scores correlated well (r =0.85, p 0.01).The mean 5 times sit to stand time of 16 seconds was significantly higher than community normals (p 0.04), demonstrating muscle fatiguability, not isolated to patients with myopathy.ConclusionOSA is common in patients with PMD, although mostly mild in severity. ESS likely remains a relevant tool in screening patients when considering overnight polysomnography to investigate fatigue in these patients. OSA does not explain the high prevalence of fatigue, with other factors including depressive symptoms, important considerations.

A 14-year-old boy of Asian origin presented with a history of bluish discolouration of the finger and toenail bed with associated mild fatiguability on exertion since early childhood. Clinical examination revealed bilaterally symmetric uniform central cyanosis with no associated clubbing. Cardiovascular and respiratory system examination was normal. Pulse oximetry revealed an oxygen saturation of 87% in all four limbs. Transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography showed no evidence of shunt lesions. In view of the past diagnosis of pulmonary arteriovenous fistulae made at 4 years of age, a repeat cardiac catheterisation study was done, which revealed no shunt at any level. Interestingly, arterial oxygen tension of the chocolate-brown blood was normal in all the samples, suggesting the possibility of methaemoglobinaemia. Co-oximetry revealed methaemoglobin levels of 36%, confirming the diagnosis. Secondary causes were ruled out. The family was counselled about the hereditary nature of the condition.

A total of 85201 sheep (71001 local bred and 14200 imported bred) were slaughtered and examined for hydatosis during the period 2010 – 2012, at Al Taif, Saudi Arabia. The obtained data indicated that 10957 of sheep were suffering from hydatosis with 9.60 % for local bred and 29.15 % for imported bred. In human, the first case for hydatosis in Taif was recorded in one female twenty four years old, well educated suffering from gastrointestinal tract-related symptoms, fatiguability and chronic ill-health. The patient had no contact to dogs or animals and live in Taif governorate. The medical records department provided detected cystic echinococcosis with different Size in spleen.

Background/aims: Biomechanical properties of the skin are evaluated in vivo by torsion or extension methods. We assessed their modifications as function of age, probe diameter and regional body site. Methods: For measuring skin extensibility (or traction), we used a non-invasive suction device on a total of 37 volunteers, consisting of (A) 14 younger women (30.1±7.6 years) and (B) 23 older women (60.2±6.5 years). Measurements were performed on three different areas with 4 different probe diameters. The parameters used were (UE) extensibility; (UV) plasticity; (UR) tonicity; (URUE) elasticity; the difference between the lowest point of the last curve (5th) and that of the 1st is the fatiguability. Concurrently, we measured on each volunteer the microdepressionary network (mDN) length. Results: Generally, tonicity, extensibility and elasticity decreased; fatiguability increased and plasticity stayed the same; all of these factors apply regardless of age. Results are more homogenous on the volar face of the forearm and with 2, 4 and 6 mm probe diameters. As a general trend, mDN length decreases with age. Conclusions: The knowledge of this variation is important in interpreting the results obtained after product application. Standardisation of measures with the 2-mm probe will allow product efficacy determination and the comparison of different products.

This systematic literature review aimed at examining the validity and applicability in everyday clinical rehabilitation practise of methods for the assessment of back muscle fatiguability in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain (CNSLBP).Extensive research was performed in MEDLINE, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Embase, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) databases from their inception to September 2014. Potentially relevant articles were also manually looked for in the reference lists of the identified publications. Studies examining lumbar muscle fatigue in people with CNSLBP were selected. Two reviewers independently selected the articles, carried out the study quality assessment and extracted the results. A modified Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) scale was used to evaluate the scientific rigour of the selected works.Twenty-four studies fulfilled the selection criteria and were included in the systematic review. We found conflicting data regarding the validity of methods used to examine back muscle fatigue. The Biering-Sorensen test, performed in conjunction with surface electromyography spectral analysis, turned out to be the most widely used and comparatively, the most optimal modality currently available to assess objective back muscle fatigue in daily clinical practise, even though critical limitations are discussed.Future research should address the identification of an advanced method for lower back fatigue assessment in patients with CNSLBP which, eventually, might provide physical therapists with an objective and reliable test usable in everyday clinical practise. Implications for Rehabilitation Despite its limitations, the Biering-Sorensen test is currently the most used, convenient and easily available fatiguing test for lumbar muscles. To increase validity and reliability of the Biering-Sorensen test, concomitant activation of synergistic muscles should be taken into account. Pooled mean frequency and half-width of the spectrum are currently the most valid electromyographic parameters to assess fatigue in chronic non-specific low back pain. Body mass index, grading of pain and level of disability of the study population should be reported to enhance research quality.

Recumbent cycling exercise achieved by functional electrical stimulation (FES) of the paralyzed leg muscles is effective for cardiopulmonary and musculoskeletal conditioning after spinal cord injury, but its full potential has not yet been realized. Mechanical power output and efficiency is very low and endurance is limited due to early onset of muscle fatigue. The aim of this work was to compare stochastic modulation of the inter-pulse interval (IPI) to constant-frequency stimulation during an isokinetic leg extension task similar to FES-cycling. Seven able-bodied subjects participated: both quadriceps muscles were stimulated (n = 14) with two activation patterns (P1-constant frequency, P2-stochastic IPI). There was significantly higher power output with P2 during the first 30 s (p = 0.0092), the last 30 s (p = 0.018) and overall (p = 0.0057), but there was no overall effect on fatiguability when stimulation frequency was randomly modulated., European Journal of Translational Myology, 26 (3), ISSN:2037-7452, ISSN:2037-7460

Introduction. Premenstrual syndrome presents with vague psychological, somatic, or biological symptoms. It may be seen more commonly in a specific profile of patients. We try to evaluate the patterns and predictors of premenstrual symptoms among females working in a tertiary care psychiatry hospital.Methodology. We recruited working females at a tertiary care psychiatry hospital in India, through purposive sampling, and assessed them cross-sectionally. Premenstrual Symptom Checklist was used to assess the frequency and distribution of premenstrual symptoms, which were correlated with various sociodemographic variables to evaluate the predictors for premenstrual symptoms.Results. 150 working females were included, belonging to different sociodemographic profile. Somatic symptoms (backache, joint and muscles pain, and fatiguability) were most commonly reported followed by psychological (irritability and losing temper easily) and biological symptoms (increased micturition). Premenstrual symptoms were seen more commonly in women with higher educational status and nursing profession and residing in nuclear families (p<0.05), while age and marital status did not correlate significantly.Discussion. Premenstrual symptoms are common and distressing, especially for working females. Somatic symptoms such as backache and joint pains predominate over psychobiological symptoms. Women with higher educational status and professions like nursing belonging to nuclear families are more prone to these symptoms. Attention needs to be given to premenstrual symptoms in such population of working females.

The purpose of this study was to identify potential gender discrepancies in adaptation to low-volume high-intensity interval training (HIT). Active, young men (n = 11, age = 25.3 ± 5.5 years) and women (n = 9, age = 25.2 ± 3.1 years) matched for age, physical activity, and VO(2max) completed six sessions of HIT separated by 48 h over a 2-3 week period. Subjects completed four Wingate tests on days 1 and 2, five on days 3 and 4, and six on days 5 and 6. A control group of five men and four women (age = 22.8 ± 2.8 years) completed all testing, but did not perform HIT. Changes in VO(2max), oxygen (O(2)) pulse, peak/mean power output, fatiguability, substrate oxidation, and voluntary force production of the knee flexors and extensors were examined pre- and post-training with repeated measures ANOVA, with gender and group as between-subjects variables. Results showed significant (p0.05) improvements in VCO(2max) and peak/mean power output in response to HIT, as well as reduced respiratory exchange ratio and heart rate during submaximal exercise. The magnitude of change in VO(2max) (5.9 vs. 6.8%), power output (10.4-14.9% vs. 9.1-10.9%), and substrate oxidation was similar (p0.05) between men and women. Data show that adaptations to 6 days of low-volume HIT are similar in men and women matched for VO(2max) and physical activity.

Background and objective: Empirical research on the influence of smoking on musculoske letal health in athletes is sparse. The objective of this study was to compare back extensor muscles' strength (BEMS) before and after a fatigue indu ction protocol among smoking and non smoking male athletes. A pretest-posttest design was used to determine the difference in BEMS between smoking (N = 52) and non smoking (N = 52) athletes aged 18 and 30. A back and leg dynamometer was used to quantify BEMS while repetitive prone chest raise test was used to induce fatigue of the back extensor muscles. The smoking (23.1± 2.9 years) and non-smoking athletes (23.2± 2.37 years) were comparable in age (p = 0.855). Smoking athletes exhibited a significantly higher rating of perceived exertion ( p = 0.007) and fatigue index (10.76% vs. 5.07%); and significant reduction in BEMS following fatigue induction (p < 0.05) compared with their non smoking counterparts. Smoking athletes have higher rates of muscular fatiguability and decreased back strengt h following back extensors tasks. Smoking is associated with increased muscle fatiguability and impairment of back strength in athletes.

The American Geriatrics Society, with support from the National Institute on Aging and the John A. Hartford Foundation, held its fifth Bedside-to-Bench research conference, “Idiopathic Fatigue and Aging,” to provide participants with opportunities to learn about cutting-edge research developments, draft recommendations for future research, and network with colleagues and leaders in the field. Fatigue is a symptom that older persons, especially by those with chronic diseases, frequently experience. Definitions and prevalence of fatigue may vary across studies, across diseases, and even between investigators and patients. The focus of this review is on physical fatigue, recognizing that there are other related domains of fatigue (such as cognitive fatigue). Many definitions of fatigue involve a sensation of “low” energy, suggesting that fatigue could be a disorder of energy balance. Poor energy utilization efficiency has not been considered in previous studies but is likely to be one of the most important determinants of fatigue in older individuals. Relationships between activity level, capacity for activity, a tolerable rate of activity, and a tolerable fatigue threshold or ceiling underlie a notion of fatiguability. Mechanisms probably contributing to fatigue in older adults include decline in mitochondrial function, alterations in brain neurotransmitters, oxidative stress, and inflammation. The relationships between muscle function and fatigue are complex. A number of diseases (such as cancer) are known to cause fatigue and may serve as models for how underlying impaired physiological processes contribute to fatigue, particularly those in which energy utilization may be an important factor. A further understanding of fatigue will require two key strategies: to develop and refine fatigue definitions and measurement tools and to explore underlying mechanisms using animal and human models.

Background: Hoarseness is a quality of voice that is rough, grating, harsh, more or less discordant and lower than normal in pitch for the individual. Besides affecting useful communication leading to tremendous alterations in daily living, voice problem may also signify the presence of more serious medical illnesses; such as malignancy or airway compromise. Hence this study is undertaken to determine the relative incidence of cases presented at a tertiary hospital, to analyse the hoarseness population based on age, sex, occupation etc, to find out the pathogenesis of hoarseness in the cases and to postulate the risk factors implicated in each. Methods: Descriptive cross sectional study was conducted on patients with hoarseness reported at Government Medical College, Trivandrum for a period of twelve months. Detailed history regarding duration, onset, nature of hoarseness, aggravating and relieving factors, voice fatiguability, diurnal variation, associated symptoms and history of upper respiratory infection were taken. Results: Being the tertiary hospital, the incidence was noted to be 0.7%. Majority of patients are in 4th to 7th decades and the most commonly affected age group was 50-59 years. Male preponderance with 4:1 ratio was observed in which manual labourers constitute the single largest group. Smoking, alcohol intake and vocal abuse are found to be the major etiological factors. Majority of lesions were malignant in nature, commonest being Carcinoma Glottis. In benign lesions, majority was vocal cord polyp. Conclusions: Early detection of pathology and awareness is very important in the management of hoarseness.

Two previously healthy men, aged 54 and 41 years, fell ill with headaches and increased fatiguability, one also with vomiting, the other with fever, transitory visual disturbances and slight weakness of the left hand. Both of them had a stiff neck and clouded consciousness. The EEG had moderate to severe dysrhythmia, predominantly over the temporal area, CSF showed an increased cell count of 1000/3, predominantly lymphocytes, and increased protein. The younger patient also had global aphasia and the computed tomography indicated an area of decreased density in the left temporal region. In the CSF there were locally produced IgG. The clinical findings were similar to those of herpes encephalitis, but were milder and regressed more quickly. Severe months later only a few minor organic behavioural changes were present. Antibody findings in CSF and serum suggest varicella-zoster virus as the causative agent, although in both instances no rash was observed throughout the entire period of observation.

Dysphagia is a risk factor for pneumonia in patients with neuromuscular disease (NMD). The management of dysphagia influences respiratory complications and prognosis in NMD. Early symptoms of dysphagia are often discrete. There may be symptoms like change of voice ("wet voice") or dyspnea following a meal, or weight loss. Fiberoptic flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) and videofluoroscopy are important diagnostic tools in the work-up of dysphagia. FEES should be performed with different nourishments like fluid (water), pulp, normal meal and dry cookies. The therapy for swallowing dysfunction in patients with NMD should be performed by experienced speech therapists in an interdisciplinary setting with regard to the fatiguability of the orophyryngeal muscles. Therapy should focus on adaptive procedures and safe, adapted nourishment.

Objective This study was aimed to evaluate the electrophysiologic findings in patients with untreated primary hypothyroidism. Methods Twelve patients with newly diagnosed primary hypothyroidism and 10 healthy control subjects were included in the study. Neuromuscular symptoms, and neurological examination and electrophysiological findings were obtained from the patient records. Results Four male and 8 female patients with a mean age of 52.8 ± 11.8 year was enrolled. Nine patients (75%) had complaints suggestive of muscle dysfunction including weakness (53%), fatiguability, muscle pain, stiffness, or cramps (42%). Only one patients (8.3%) had muscle complaints as the presenting symptom or the main reason for consulting a doctor. In this group, there were 2 cases (16.5%) with neuropathy, including 1 sensory and 1 sensorimotor, and 1 case (8.5%) with myopathy, and 5 of the cases (41.3%) with carpal tunnel syndrome. There was no significant relation between gender, duration of the disease, serum TSH levels, and the presence of clinical muscle weakness with the occurrence of neuropathy or myopathy. (P Conclusions In patients with untreated primary hypothyroidism, majority had the carpal tunnel syndrome. Neuropathy and myopathy were uncommon and rare findings, respectively. Key words Hypothyroidism, electromyography, neuropathy.

Background Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients frequently complain of muscle fatigue and abnormally slow recovery, especially of the upper limb muscles during and after activities of daily living. Furthermore, disease heterogeneity has not yet been studied in relation to recovery of muscle function in CFS. Here, we examine recovery of upper limb muscle function from a fatiguing exercise in CFS patients with (CFS+FM) and without (CFS-only) comorbid fibromyalgia and compare their results with a matched inactive control group. Design In this case–control study, 18 CFS-only patients, 30 CFS+FM patients and 30 healthy inactive controls performed a fatiguing upper limb exercise test with subsequent recovery measures. Results There was no significant difference among the three groups for maximal handgrip strength of the non-dominant hand. A significant worse recovery of upper limb muscle function was found in the CFS+FM, but not in de CFS-only group compared with the controls (P

Objective Myofascial trigger points contribute significantly to musculoskeletal pain and motor dysfunction and may be associated with accelerated muscle fatiguability. The aim of this study was to investigate the electrically induced force and fatigue characteristics of muscle taut bands in rats. Methods Muscle taut bands were dissected out and subjected to trains of electrical stimulation. The electrical threshold intensity for muscle contraction and maximum contraction force (MCF), electrical intensity dependent fatigue and electrical frequency dependent fatigue characteristics were assessed in three different sessions (n=10 each) and compared with non-taut bands in the biceps femoris muscle. Results The threshold intensity for muscle contraction and MCF at the 10th, 15th and 20th intensity dependent fatigue stimuli of taut bands were significantly lower than those of non-taut bands (all pConclusions The present study demonstrates that the muscle taut band itself was more excitable to electrical stimulation and significantly less fatigue resistant than normal muscle fibres.

We have recently shown that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) develop contractile fatigue of their quadriceps muscle following endurance exercise. Pulmonary rehabilitation can produce physiological adaptations in patients with COPD. We hypothesized that if pulmonary rehabilitation induces physiological adaptations in the exercising muscle, it should become more fatigue resistant. Twenty one patients with COPD, mean age 69.9 +/- 1.9 yr, FEV(1) 45 +/- 4% predicted, participated in an 8-wk outpatient, supervised pulmonary rehabilitation exercise program. Quadriceps contractile fatigue was detected by a fall in quadriceps twitch force postexercise. Twitch force was measured during magnetic stimulation of the femoral nerve. Because potentiated twitches may be more sensitive at detecting fatigue, both unpotentiated (TwQu) and potentiated (TwQp) twitches were obtained before and 10, 30, and 60 min after constant load cycle exercise. Prerehabilitation, during constant load exercise, patients exercised at 37 +/- 4 W for 11.2 +/- 1.8 min. Prerehabilitation, TwQu fell significantly postexercise down to a minimum value of 82.5 +/- 3.1% of the baseline preexercise value (p < 0.001). Similarly, prerehabilitation, TwQp fell significantly postexercise down to a minimum value of 73.9 +/- 3.9% of baseline (p < 0.001). Postrehabilitation, for the same intensity and duration of exercise, TwQu was not significantly different from baseline at any time postexercise. Postrehabilitation, TwQp fell significantly postexercise but the fall in TwQp with exercise was significantly less postrehabilitation compared with prerehabilitation (p < 0.001). In conclusion, pulmonary rehabilitation resulted in increased fatigue resistance of the quadriceps muscle in patients with COPD.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a major cause of morbidity, disability and mortality in old age. The disease is characterized by shortness of breath, impaired ventilatory function and easy fatiguability. These are the most distressing and disabling symptoms of COPD, limiting exercise tolerance, interfering with basic activities of daily living and often, in turn, impairing quality of life.

To search for a possible relationship between brain energy metabolism and mental fatiguability, 10 normal volunteers were examined by 31P-MRS (phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy) in the occipital cortex during photic stimulation (PS), and Uchida-Kraepelin test (UKT), a standardized serial calculation task, was used for measurement of intraindividual characteristics of mental fatigue in these subjects. More decrease of phosphocreatine measured by 31P-MRS during the PS was significantly associated with more effects of rest assessed by UKT (r = –0.86, p

This patient presented with progressive eating difficulties, having been originally investigated for mechanical gastroenterological problems. Fruitless examinations led to referral to a tertiary oral medicine unit and a detailed review of his history, where the significance of progressive fatiguability during and after mastication became apparent in his dysphagia. The insidious onset contrasted with his more rapid decline in function between the initial examination and specialist electromyographic investigations, neurological admission and management. The dangers of fatigue and pharyngeal incompetence are of particular relevance to oral and maxillofacial clinicians.

Introduction Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS) is a variant of Guillain–Barre syndrome (GBS). MFS is clinically defined by trias – ophthalmoplegia, ataxia, areflexia. Antibodies against ganglioside GQ1b are bound on the nodal and paranodal sections of oculomotor nerves, sensory nerves (including spinal ganglia) and cerebellum. Ophthalmoparesis is usually severe with prominent fatiguability. In these patients neuromuscular transmission disorders are suspected. Case report A 52-year man was admitted to neurological department for progressive external ophthalmoparesis with generalized ataxia. The neurological signs and symptoms developer during 5 days with preceding upper respiratory tract infection. The first diagnosis was MFS. There was very prominent especially oculomotor fatiguability with worsening during the day and after rehabilitation, that neuromuscular transmission was suspected too. Neurophysiological investigation Motor conduction studies (including F-waves) were normal, sensory conduction studies with very low amplitude of sensory nerve action potentials. H-reflex was not elicitable. Needle EMG of biceps brachii was normal (14 days after disease onset). Repetitive stimulation (3 Hz) with recording from trapezius with 7% decrement (4th response) and from nasalis 5.8%. Axonal stimulated SF EMG with recording by concentric needle electrode from frontalis muscle presented an increased jitter −32.91 μs and 9% blocking - with the stimulation rate 3 Hz. With stimulation rate 10 Hz the jitter decreased to 26.26 μs and without blocking, with 20 Hz stimulation rate was the jitter normal (21.83 μs) and without blocking. Other investigations GQ1b antibody level was prominent – 315.7% (norm – up to 9%), antibodies against acetylcholine receptors were not found. MR of brain and thorax were normal. The patient was treated with a series of plasma exchange. After 14 days he began to walk with crutches and ptosis and diplopia significantly decreased. 6 weeks later he was able to walk without support and oculomotor function normalized. Neurophysiological findings in MFS are discussed. Conclusion In our patient with MFS we diagnosed presynaptic type (axonal) disorder of neuromuscular transmission.

We previously reported that patients with spinal muscular atrophy do not lose muscle strength over time as measured quantitatively. However, we noted that many patients with spinal muscular atrophy suffer from what they called fatigue. We wondered if we could measure fatigue during a single maximal voluntary contraction, whether fatigue might increase with time, independent of muscle strength, and whether increasing fatigue might correlate with loss of function in some patients. We measured fatigue during a single maximal voluntary contraction in a cohort of patients having spinal muscular atrophy using quantitative strength testing. We included only patients with spinal muscular atrophy aged 5 years or older, so they could follow instructions regarding muscle contraction, and who were followed for at least 2 years. Seventy-six children with spinal muscular atrophy and 24 untrained individuals, aged 5 to 57 years (mean, 16.8 years), were studied. There was no discernible abnormal fatigue in patients with spinal muscular atrophy compared to untrained controls using our methodology. Thus, spinal muscular atrophy may not be associated with fatiguability. Moreover, spinal muscular atrophy does not appear to cause progressive muscle fatigue with age or loss of function. It is possible that fatigue was undetectable by our methods. An alternative explanation is that what patients describe as fatigue may be caused by factors outside the neuromuscular system. Such factors may include chronic respiratory insufficiency with hypoventilation and carbon dioxide retention as well as chronic malnutrition and negative nitrogen balance. ( J Child Neurol 1997;12:321-326).

The hair-on-end sign is a finding seen in the diploic space on skull radiographs and has the appearance of long, thin vertical striations of calcified spicules perpendicular to bone surface that look like hair standing on end. It is classically seen in children/adolescents with haemolytic anaemias, in particular, thalassemia major. A 24-year-oldman, born out of consanguinous marriage with history of splenectomy done at the age of four and history of requiring frequent blood transfusions, that is, every 5–6 months, came with complaints of breathlessness on exertion, generalised fatiguability and weakness. …

The purpose of this study is to determine whether dystrophin-deficient mdx mice are more susceptible to muscle injury and functional impairment than normal C57 mice when allowed to exercise voluntarily on mouse wheels. The mdx mice were significantly impaired when compared to controls as shown by functional, contractile and morphometric responses. The distance young mdx mice ran was 67-78% of young C57 mice, while adult mdx mice ran 31-48% of adult controls. After exercise the slow, oxidative soleus of young and adult mdx mice exhibited hypertrophy with no changes in strength or fatiguability, while the young C57 mice increased strength and the adults became less fatiguable. In the adult mdx mice the fast EDL, which is primarily glycolytic, exhibits slight hypertrophy with a loss of strength, while the young exhibit no changes. These results indicate that the mdx mouse adapts differently than the C57 mouse to even moderate exercise.

Fibromyalgia is common in hospital practice. It is rarely reported in children, and most patients are in their 40s or 50s. In all settings there is a strong female preponderance (about 90%). It is well reported in the United States, Canada, and Europe, but racial and social predisposition have not been adequately addressed. Symptoms are variable. Pain and fatiguability are usually prominent and associated with considerable disability and handicap. Although patients can usually dress and wash independently, they cannot cope with a job or ordinary household activities. Pain is predominently axial and diffuse but can affect any region and may at times be felt all over. Characteristically, analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and local physical treatments are ineffective and may even worsen symptoms. Patients often have a poor sleep pattern with considerable latency and frequent arousal. Typically they awake exhausted and feel more tired in the morning than later in the day. Unexplained headache, urinary frequency, and abdominal symptoms are common and may have been extensively investigated with no cause found. Patients usually score highly on measures of anxiety and depression. Although the term fibromyalgia syndrome is not ideal, it does not imply causation and describes the commonest symptom. Idiopathic diffuse pain syndrome, generalised rheumatism, and non-restorative sleep disorder are terms that are increasingly preferred by some. Typical hyperalgesic withdrawal response by patient with fibromyalgia. (Picture reproduced with patient's permission.) View this table: Prevalence of fibromyalgia Principal symptoms of fibromyalgia Pain Predominantly axial (neck and back), but may be all over Often aggravated by stress, cold, and activity Often associated with generalised morning stiffness Often with subjective swelling of extremities Paraesthesiae and dysaesthesiae of hands and feet Fatiguability Often extreme, occurring after minimal exertion Non-restorative sleep Waking unrefreshed Poor concentration and forgetfulness Low affect, irritable, and weepy Headache …

Disabling generalized fatigue and muscle fatiguability are common features of post-poliomyelitis syndrome (PPS). In 17 fatigued PPS patients, we measured jitter on stimulation single-fiber electromyography (S-SFEMG) for at least 3.5 min before and after i.v. injection of 10 mg edrophonium. We observed reduction in jitter (defined as a significant difference in jitter means before and after edrophonium, unpaired t-test P < 0.05) in 7 patients, no change in 8, and a significant increase in 2 patients. Blinded to their edrophonium results, the 17 patients were treated with pyridostigmine 180 mg/day for 1 month, with a subjective improvement of fatigue in 9 patients, and with a significant reduction in mean Hare fatigue scores in the entire group of 17 patients (pre = 2.71, and post = 1.71; Wilcoxan signed rank sum test, P < 0.05). Edrophonium-induced reduction of jitter on S-SFEMG was significantly associated with pyridostigmine-induced subjective improvement of fatigue (Fisher's exact test, P < 0.04). A significant reduction in fatigue with pyridostigmine was observed only in the 7 patients who experienced a significant reduction in jitter with edrophonium (Wilcoxan signed rank sum test, P = 0.03). In addition, the 9 pyridostigmine responders experienced a significant reduction in jitter means pre- and post-edrophonium (100% vs. 88%, Bonferroni corrected, P < 0.01). We conclude that neuromuscular transmission as measured by jitter on S-SFEMG can improve with edrophonium in a proportion of PPS patients, and that generalized fatigue and muscle fatiguability in some patients with PPS may be due to anticholinesterase-responsive NMJ transmission defects.