Conduction Velocity of Peripheral Motor Nerves in Mental Retardation, Diabetes and Various Neurological Diseases in Childhood

We have examined the role of innervation in directing embryonic myogenesis, using a mutant (prospero), which delays the pioneering of peripheral motor nerves of the Drosophila embryo. In the absence of motor nerves, myoblasts fuse normally to form syncytial myotubes, myotubes form normal attachments to the epidermis, and a larval musculature comparable to the wild-type pattern is generated and maintained. Likewise, the twist-expressing myoblasts that prefigure the adult musculature segregate normally in the absence of motor nerves, migrate to their final embryonic positions and continue to express twist until the end of embryonic development. In the absence of motor nerves, myotubes uncouple at the correct developmental stage to form single cells. Subsequently, uninnervated myotubes develop the mature electrical and contractile properties of larval muscles with a time course indistinguishable from normally innervated myotubes. We conclude that innervation plays no role in the patterning, morphogenesis, maintenance or physiological development of the somatic muscles in the Drosophila embryo.

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ELECTRODIAGNOSIS OF NEUROMUSCULAR DISEASE

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.34.5.599 ◽

1964 ◽

Vol 34 (5) ◽

pp. 599-600

Author(s):

EDWARD H. LAMBERT

Keyword(s):

Conduction Velocity ◽

Peripheral Nerves ◽

Neuromuscular Disease ◽

Clinical Neurophysiology ◽

Clinical Investigation ◽

Neuromuscular Disorders ◽

Simple Method ◽

The Past ◽

Objective Evidence ◽

Motor Nerves

THE past decade has seen a number of the techniques of clinical neurophysiology come into common use in the diagnosis of neuromuscular disease. One of these is the measurement of conduction velocity of motor nerves. Conduction velocity of nerves was only of academic interest until 1948 when a simple method for making reliable measurements in man was described and proved useful as a test of nerve function. It is now a frequent subject of clinical investigation and in many laboratories measurement of conduction velocity has become a routine diagnostic procedure. A review and extension of this work by Dunn and his associates, published in this issue of Pediatrics, emphasizes the importance of such measurements to pediatrics wherein objective evidence of functional impairment of nerves is of particular importance because the clinical examination may be so unsatisfactory. Conduction velocity of peripheral nerves, measurable quickly and simply, should be standard practice in the study of neuromuscular disorders in infants and children.

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Association of arthrogryposis in neonates with microcephaly due to Zika virus - a case serie

Revista Brasileira de Saúde Materno Infantil ◽

10.1590/1806-9304201600s100007 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 16 (suppl 1) ◽

pp. S83-S88 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Ana Catarina Matos Ishigami Alvino ◽

Luísa Rocha Medeiros de Mello ◽

Jucille do Amaral Meneses Meira de Oliveira

Keyword(s):

Zika Virus ◽

Joint Stiffness ◽

The Body ◽

Maternal Infection ◽

Infection Period ◽

Vaginal Deliveries ◽

Congenital Zika Syndrome ◽

Motor Nerves ◽

Congenital Microcephaly ◽

Peripheral Motor

Abstract Introduction: in 2015 an increasing number of congenital microcephaly cases were associated to maternal infection due to Zika virus. Some of these patients presented other alterations and arthrogryposis was the most frequently found. Arthrogryposis is defined as congenital joint contractures involving at least two different areas of the body. Description: arthrogryposis was found in 18 patients with congenital microcephaly due to Zika virus. 67% of the cases were vaginal deliveries. 50% of resuscitation performed in the delivery room was necessary. The mean birth weight was 2.371g, gestational age was 39 weeks and the head circumference was 28.3cm, 15 (83%) of these patients presented severe microcephaly. All the neonates resulted in concomitant hip joints and some also had knees, ankles and wrists affected. Nine neonates (50%) presented an early respiratory distress and four (22%) died due to respiratory failure. Discussion: the neurological result found in patients with Congenital Zika Syndrome seems to be associated to the maternal infection period. During the early stages of embryogenesis, in addition to microcephaly, could be related to the peripheral motor nerves leading to fetal akinesia, joint stiffness and arthrogryposis. These neonates tend to present greater morbimortality with the worst prognosis.

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