sodium-ethylxanthate and Muscular-Diseases

In this study, 145 healthy adults (20 to 94 years old, 69 women) were examined using ultrasound (US) imaging to obtain reference values of muscle parameters that were previously not available. We measured biceps and quadriceps sizes and subcutaneous fat thickness. To quantify muscle aspect, we defined and calculated the muscle aspect parameters muscle density, inhomogeneity and white-area index by digital image analysis. All muscle aspect parameters were found to increase with age, which may be due to age-related muscle replacement by fatty tissue and collagen. Other age-, weight- and gender-dependencies are also discussed. The complete set of muscle parameters was used to differentiate between typical myopathies and neuropathies in a group of 32 patients (24 to 79 years old, 18 women). We were successful in almost completely separating the two types of disorders based on abnormality of muscle aspect parameters alone. These preliminary results show that this set of normal muscle parameters can be used to help diagnose neuromuscular disorders. It will also facilitate follow-up in disease progression and therapy.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Arm; Body Mass Index; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Muscle, Skeletal; Muscular Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Reference Values; Sex; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; Thigh; Ultrasonography

To examine the occurrence of signs and symptoms of Reiter's syndrome (RS) in female sexual partners of males with RS we have investigated 43 female consorts of 42 males, originating from 72 consecutive patients suffering from RS or suspicion of RS (SRS). Anamnestic mono-, oligo- or polyarthritis occurred in 14 of the 43 females (32,6%) as compared to 28 out of 311 randomly selected interviewed controls (9,0%). Five of the 43 females had RS and 7 had SRS, (27,9%). However, the diagnosis could have been possible with only anamnestic information in 6 (14%) as compared to 7 out of 311 controls (2,3%). Taking into consideration the 30 males whose sexual partners were not investigated, the theoretically counted values still differ significantly from those of the controls (p less than 0.01). A history of urogenital and, on the other hand, nasopharyngeal or pulmonary infections involvements preceded equally frequently the first or further joint attacks. Evidence of chlamydial infection was found in 53,5% (32/43) of the partners while Yersinia antibodies measured by ELISA occurred with the same frequency as among healthy blood donors. We would like to stress the importance of various infectious involvements, especially sexually transmitted diseases, as etiological agents in joint attacks in females who are sexual partners of males with RS.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Antibodies, Bacterial; Arthritis, Reactive; Bone Diseases; Chlamydia Infections; Chlamydia trachomatis; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Humans; Immunoglobulins; Male; Middle Aged; Muscular Diseases; Sex; Yersinia

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aging; Birth Weight; Child; Child, Preschool; Diabetes Complications; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Intellectual Disability; Limb Deformities, Congenital; Male; Muscular Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Obesity; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Sex

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aging; Bronchopneumonia; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mortality; Muscular Diseases; Neoplasms; Parkinson Disease; Sex; Tremor; Urinary Tract Infections

Topics: Accidents; Accidents, Traffic; Adolescent; Brain Injuries; Child; Finland; Fractures, Bone; Geriatrics; Humans; Infant; Muscular Diseases; Sex; Statistics as Topic; Wounds and Injuries

Topics: Congenital Abnormalities; Electromyography; Humans; Hypertrophy; Muscles; Muscular Diseases; Pectoralis Muscles; Radiography, Thoracic; Ribs; Sex; Thoracic Diseases