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De Wel B, Huysmans L, Peeters R, Ghysels S, Byloos K, Putzeys G, Maes F, Dupont P, Claeys KG. Test-retest reliability and follow-up of muscle magnetic resonance elastography in adults with and without muscle diseases. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 2024. [PMID: 38923326 DOI: 10.1002/jcsm.13528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We investigated the potential of magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) stiffness measurements in skeletal muscles as an outcome measure, by determining its test-retest reliability, as well as its sensitivity to change in a longitudinal follow-up study. METHODS We assessed test-retest reliability of muscle MRE in 20 subjects with (n = 5) and without (n = 15) muscle diseases and compared this to Dixon proton density fat fraction (PDFF) and volume measurements. Next, we measured MRE muscle stiffness in 21 adults with Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) and 21 age-matched healthy controls at baseline, and after 9 and 18 months. We compared two different methods of analysing MRE data in this study: 'Method A' used the stiffness maps generated by the Philips MRE software, and 'Method B' applied a custom-made procedure based on wavelength measurements on the MRE images. RESULTS Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) of muscle stiffness ranged from good (0.83 for left vastus medialis, P < 0.001) to poor (0.19 for right rectus femoris, P = 0.212) for the examined thigh muscles with Method A, but we did not find a significant test-retest reliability with Method B (P > 0.050 for all). The ICC of muscle PDFF and volume measurements was excellent (>0.90; P < 0.001) for all muscles. At baseline, the average stiffness of all thigh muscles was significantly lower in adults with BMD than in controls for both Method A (-0.2 kPa, P = 0.025) and Method B (-0.6 kPa, P < 0.001). Regardless of which method was used, there was no significant difference in the evolution of muscle stiffness in patients and controls over 18 months. CONCLUSIONS Test-retest reliability of muscle MRE using a simple 2D technique was suboptimal, and did not reliably measure muscle stiffness changes in adults with BMD as compared with controls over 18 months. While the results provide motivation for testing more advanced 3D MRE methods, we conclude that the simple 2D MRE implementation used in this study is not suitable as an outcome measure for characterizing thigh muscle in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bram De Wel
- Department of Neurology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Neurosciences, Laboratory for Muscle Diseases and Neuropathies, KU Leuven, and Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lotte Huysmans
- Medical Imaging Research Centre, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department ESAT, PSI, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ronald Peeters
- Department of Radiology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Stefan Ghysels
- Department of Radiology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kris Byloos
- Department of Radiology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Guido Putzeys
- Department of Radiology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Frederik Maes
- Medical Imaging Research Centre, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department ESAT, PSI, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Patrick Dupont
- Department of Neurosciences, Laboratory for Cognitive Neurology, KU Leuven, and Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kristl G Claeys
- Department of Neurology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Neurosciences, Laboratory for Muscle Diseases and Neuropathies, KU Leuven, and Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), Leuven, Belgium
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Lubin P, Zidi M. Mechanical properties change of immobilized skeletal muscle in short position measured by shear wave elastography and pure shearing test. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2024; 150:106317. [PMID: 38118374 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2023.106317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/22/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of immobilization on mechanical properties of skeletal muscle over the time. An in vivo rat model was used to investigate the shear modulus change of the flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU) in a short position. Measurements were performed by shear wave elastography (SWE) to compare contralateral and immobilized cases. The results showed a significant increase of 18.1% (p = 3.86. 10-7) in the shear modulus of immobilized skeletal muscle after two weeks (D14) when compared with the contralateral case. For the purposes of comparison, in vitro mechanical pure shearing tests were performed on samples collected from the skeletal muscles of the same rats. Although the difference between contralateral and immobilized cases was 17.6% (p = 0.32) at D14, the shear modulus difference was 35.7% (p = 0.0126 and p = 1.57.10-5 for immobilization and contralateral respectively) between in vivo and in vitro approaches. The mechanical properties changes were then correlated with the density of collagen from histological analysis, and it was shown that the contralateral collagen surface density was 25.4% higher than the immobilized density at D14 (p = 0.001). Thus, the results showed the feasibility of the comparison between the two approaches, which can surely be improved by optimizing the experimental protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pénélope Lubin
- Bioengineering, Tissues and Neuroplasticity, UR 7377, Université Paris-Est Créteil, Faculté de Santé /EPISEN, 8 rue du Général Sarrail, 94010, Créteil, France
| | - Mustapha Zidi
- Bioengineering, Tissues and Neuroplasticity, UR 7377, Université Paris-Est Créteil, Faculté de Santé /EPISEN, 8 rue du Général Sarrail, 94010, Créteil, France.
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McDonald C, Camino E, Escandon R, Finkel RS, Fischer R, Flanigan K, Furlong P, Juhasz R, Martin AS, Villa C, Sweeney HL. Draft Guidance for Industry Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Becker Muscular Dystrophy, and Related Dystrophinopathies - Developing Potential Treatments for the Entire Spectrum of Disease. J Neuromuscul Dis 2024; 11:499-523. [PMID: 38363616 DOI: 10.3233/jnd-230219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Background Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and related dystrophinopathies are neuromuscular conditions with great unmet medical needs that require the development of effective medical treatments. Objective To aid sponsors in clinical development of drugs and therapeutic biological products for treating DMD across the disease spectrum by integrating advancements, patient registries, natural history studies, and more into a comprehensive guidance. Methods This guidance emerged from collaboration between the FDA, the Duchenne community, and industry stakeholders. It entailed a structured approach, involving multiple committees and boards. From its inception in 2014, the guidance underwent revisions incorporating insights from gene therapy studies, cardiac function research, and innovative clinical trial designs. Results The guidance provides a deeper understanding of DMD and its variants, focusing on patient engagement, diagnostic criteria, natural history, biomarkers, and clinical trials. It underscores patient-focused drug development, the significance of dystrophin as a biomarker, and the pivotal role of magnetic resonance imaging in assessing disease progression. Additionally, the guidance addresses cardiomyopathy's prominence in DMD and the burgeoning field of gene therapy. Conclusions The updated guidance offers a comprehensive understanding of DMD, emphasizing patient-centric approaches, innovative trial designs, and the importance of biomarkers. The focus on cardiomyopathy and gene therapy signifies the evolving realm of DMD research. It acts as a crucial roadmap for sponsors, potentially leading to improved treatments for DMD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eric Camino
- Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Rafael Escandon
- DGBI Consulting, LLC, Bainbridge Island, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Ryan Fischer
- Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Kevin Flanigan
- Center for Experimental Neurotherapeutics, Department of Pediatric Medicine, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Pat Furlong
- Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Rose Juhasz
- Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Ann S Martin
- Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Chet Villa
- Trinity Health Michigan, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - H Lee Sweeney
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center within the UC Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati, OH, USA
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Wolfram S, Lipps DB. The in vivo passive stretch response of the pectoralis major is region-specific. J Biomech 2023; 161:111856. [PMID: 37939425 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2023.111856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
The pectoralis major (PM) is a broad muscle commonly divided into three regions, which contribute uniquely to shoulder stability and movement. The PM muscle regions likely respond differently to stretch, but this has never been shown in vivo. We used shear wave elastography to assess the stretch response of different PM muscle regions during shoulder abduction and external rotation in 20 healthy male participants. Participants' shoulder was passively rotated through their range of motion in 5.7° increments and shear wave velocities (SWV) were obtained for each muscle region. A piece-wise model was fitted to the SWV-joint angle data, from which slack angle, slack stiffness and elasticity coefficient were determined. For shoulder abduction, we found that the sternocostal region had a significantly smaller slack angle (p = 0.049) and greater slack stiffness (p = 0.005) than the abdominal region, but there was no difference for elasticity coefficient (p = 0.074). For external rotation, only slack stiffness was greater for the sternocostal than the abdominal region (p < 0.001) with no differences found for slack angle (p = 0.18) and elasticity coefficient (p = 0.74). However, our data indicates that neither region was slack in this condition. These findings indicate that the sternocostal and abdominal regions respond differently to passive stretch, highlighting the PM's functional differentiation. This differentiation should be considered during treatment interventions such as PM muscle harvesting or treatments for breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susann Wolfram
- School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
| | - David B Lipps
- School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States.
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Reyngoudt H, Baudin PY, Carlier PG, Lopez Kolkovsky AL, de Almeida Araujo EC, Marty B. New Insights into the Spread of MRS-Based Water T2 Values Observed in Highly Fatty Replaced Muscles. J Magn Reson Imaging 2023; 58:1557-1568. [PMID: 36877200 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.28669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The reference standard for assessing water T2 (T2,H2O ) at high fat fraction (FF) is 1 H MRS. T2,H2O (T2,H2O,MRS ) dependence on FF (FFMRS ) has recently been demonstrated in muscle at high FF (i.e. ≥60%). PURPOSE To investigate the relationship between T2,H2O,MRS and FFMRS in the thigh/leg muscles of patients with neuromuscular diseases and to compare with quantitative MRI. STUDY TYPE Retrospective case-control study. POPULATION A total of 151 patients with neuromuscular disorders (mean age ± standard deviation = 52.5 ± 22.6 years, 54% male), 44 healthy volunteers (26.5 ± 13.0 years, 57% male). FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE A 3-T; single-voxel stimulated echo acquisition mode (STEAM) MRS, multispin echo (MSE) imaging (for T2 mapping, T2,H2O,MRI ), three-point Dixon imaging (for FFMRI andR 2 * mapping). ASSESSMENT Mono-exponential and bi-exponential models were fitted to water T2 decay curves to extract T2,H2O,MRS and FFMRS . Water resonance full-width-at-half-maximum (FWHM) and B0 spread (∆B0 ) values were calculated. T2,H2O,MRI (mean), FFMRI (mean, kurtosis, and skewness), andR 2 * (mean) values were estimated in the MRS voxel. STATISTICAL TESTS Mann-Whitney U tests, Kruskal-Wallis tests. A P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS Normal T2,H2O,MRS threshold was defined as the 90th percentile in healthy controls: 30.3 msec. T2,H2O,MRS was significantly higher in all patients with FFMRS < 60% compared to healthy controls. We discovered two subgroups in patients with FFMRS ≥ 60%: one with T2,H2O,MRS ≥ 30.3 msec and one with T2,H2O,MRS < 30.3 msec including abnormally low T2,H2O,MRS . The latter subgroup had significantly higher water resonance FWHM, ∆B0 , FFMRI kurtosis, and skewness values but nonsignificantly differentR 2 * (P = 1.00) and long T2,H2O,MRS component and its fraction (P > 0.11) based on the bi-exponential analysis. DATA CONCLUSION The findings suggest that the cause for (abnormally) T2,H2O,MRS at high FFMRS is biophysical, due to differences in susceptibility between muscle and fat (increased FWHM and ∆B0 ), rather than pathophysiological such as compartmentation changes, which would be reflected by the bi-exponential analysis. EVIDENCE LEVEL 3 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harmen Reyngoudt
- NMR Laboratory, Neuromuscular Investigation Center, Institute of Myology, Paris, France
| | - Pierre-Yves Baudin
- NMR Laboratory, Neuromuscular Investigation Center, Institute of Myology, Paris, France
| | - Pierre G Carlier
- Université Paris Saclay, CEA, Service Hospitalier Frédéric Joliot, Orsay, France
| | | | | | - Benjamin Marty
- NMR Laboratory, Neuromuscular Investigation Center, Institute of Myology, Paris, France
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Lambi AG, Popoff SN, Benhaim P, Barbe MF. Pharmacotherapies in Dupuytren Disease: Current and Novel Strategies. J Hand Surg Am 2023; 48:810-821. [PMID: 36935324 PMCID: PMC10440226 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2023.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/21/2023]
Abstract
Dupuytren disease is a benign, progressive fibroproliferative disorder of the hands. To date, only one pharmacotherapy (clostridial collagenase) has been approved for use in Dupuytren disease. There is a great need for additional nonsurgical methods that can be used to either avoid the risks of invasive treatments or help minimize recurrence rates following treatment. A number of nonsurgical modalities have been discussed in the past and continue to appear in discussions among hand surgeons, despite highly variable and often poor or no long-term clinical data. This article reviews many of the pharmacotherapies discussed in the treatment of Dupuytren disease and novel therapies used in inflammation and fibrosis that offer potential treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex G Lambi
- Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM.
| | - Steven N Popoff
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA; Department of Biomedical Education and Data Science, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Prosper Benhaim
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Mary F Barbe
- Department of Biomedical Education and Data Science, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA; Center for Translational Medicine, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
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Wang F, Zhou CX, Zheng Z, Li DJ, Li W, Zhou Y. Metformin reduces myogenic contracture and myofibrosis induced by rat knee joint immobilization via AMPK-mediated inhibition of TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway. Connect Tissue Res 2023; 64:26-39. [PMID: 35723580 DOI: 10.1080/03008207.2022.2088365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The two structural components contributing to joint contracture formation are myogenic and arthrogenic contracture, and myofibrosis is an important part of myogenic contracture. Myofibrosis is a response to long-time immobilization and is described as a condition with excessive deposition of endomysial and perimysial connective tissue components in skeletal muscle. The purpose of this study was to confirm whether metformin can attenuate the formation of myogenic contracture and myofibrosis through the phosphorylation level of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and inhabitation of subsequent transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) 1/Smad signaling pathway. MATERIALS AND METHODS An immobilized rat model was used to determine whether metformin could inhibit myogenic contracture and myofibrosis. The contents of myogenic contracture of knee joint was calculated by measuring instrument of range of motion (ROM), and myofibrosis of rectus femoris were determined by ultrasound shear wave elastography and Masson staining. Protein expression of AMPK and subsequent TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway were determined by western blot. Subsequently, Compound C, a specific AMPK inhibitor, was used to further clarify the role of the AMPK-mediated inhibition of TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway. RESULTS We revealed that the levels of myogenic contracture and myofibrosis were gradually increased during immobilization, and overexpression of TGF-β1-induced formation of myofibrosis by activating Smad2/3 phosphorylation. Activation of AMPK by metformin suppressed overexpression of TGF-β1 and TGF-β1-induced Smad2/3 phosphorylation, further reducing myogenic contracture and myofibrosis during immobilization. In contrast, inhibition of AMPK by Compound C partially counteracted the inhibitory effect of TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway by metformin. CONCLUSION Notably, we first illustrated the therapeutic effect of metformin through AMPK-mediated inhibition of TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway in myofibrosis, which may provide a new therapeutic strategy for myogenic contracture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Wang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China.,Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Chen Xu Zhou
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Zhi Zheng
- Department of Ultrasound Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China
| | - Du Juan Li
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China
| | - Wen Li
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China
| | - Yun Zhou
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
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Monforte M, Attarian S, Vissing J, Diaz-Manera J, Tasca G. 265th ENMC International Workshop: Muscle imaging in Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSHD): relevance for clinical trials. 22-24 April 2022, Hoofddorp, The Netherlands. Neuromuscul Disord 2023; 33:65-75. [PMID: 36369218 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2022.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mauro Monforte
- Unità Operativa Complessa di Neurologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Shahram Attarian
- Reference Center for Neuromuscular Disorders and ALS, CHU La Timone Aix-Marseille Hospital University Marseille, France
| | - John Vissing
- Copenhagen Neuromuscular Center, Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jordi Diaz-Manera
- John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Center, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Giorgio Tasca
- Unità Operativa Complessa di Neurologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Largo A. Gemelli 8, Rome 00168, Italy.
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Xu GX, Chen PY, Jiang X, Huang CC. Visualization of Human Skeletal Muscle Anisotropy by Using Dual-Direction Shear Wave Imaging. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 2022; 69:2745-2754. [PMID: 35192460 DOI: 10.1109/tbme.2022.3152896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Ultrasound (US) shear wave elasticity imaging (SWEI) is a mature technique for diagnosing the elasticity of isotropic tissues. However, the elasticity of anisotropic tissues, such as muscle and tendon, cannot be diagnosed correctly using SWEI because the shear wave velocity (SWV) varies with tissue fiber orientations. Recently, SWEI has been studied for measuring the anisotropic properties of muscles by rotating the transducer; however, this is difficult for clinical practice. METHODS In this study, a novel dual-direction shear wave imaging (DDSWI) technique was proposed for visualizing the mechanical anisotropy of muscles without rotation. Longitudinal and transverse shear waves were created by a specially designed external vibrator and supersonic pushing beam, respectively; the SWVs were then tracked using ultrafast US imaging. Subsequently, the SWV maps of two directions were obtained at the same scanning cross section, and the mechanical anisotropy was represented as the ratio between them at each pixel. RESULTS The performance of DDSWI was verified using a standard phantom, and human experiments were performed on the gastrocnemius and biceps brachii. Experimental results of phantom revealed DDSWI exhibited a high precision of <0.81 % and a low bias of <3.88 % in SWV measurements. The distribution of anisotropic properties in muscle was visualized with the anisotropic ratios of 1.54 and 2.27 for the gastrocnemius and biceps brachii, respectively. CONCLUSION The results highlight the potential of this novel anisotropic imaging in clinical applications because the conditions of musculoskeletal fiber orientation can be easily and accurately evaluated in real time by DDSWI.
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Maeda A, Yamagishi M, Otsuka Y, Izumo T, Rogi T, Shibata H, Fukuda M, Arimitsu T, Yamada Y, Miyamoto N, Hashimoto T. Characteristics of the Passive Muscle Stiffness of the Vastus Lateralis: A Feasibility Study to Assess Muscle Fibrosis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18178947. [PMID: 34501539 PMCID: PMC8430484 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18178947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Skeletal muscle fibrosis occurs with aging and has been suggested to impair muscle performance, thereby decreasing quality of life. Recently, muscle stiffness, a surrogate measure of muscle fibrosis, was noninvasively quantified as the shear modulus using ultrasound shear wave elastography (SWE) in humans. We aimed to investigate thigh muscle stiffness in females and males, respectively, across a broad range of ages by using SWE. Eighty-six community-dwelling Japanese people who were aged 30 to 79 years and did not regularly exercise participated in this study. The vastus lateralis (VL) shear modulus was measured at three different knee joint angles: full extension, 90° of flexion, and full flexion. There were no significant main effects of sex or age on the VL shear modulus in full extension or 90° of flexion of the knee. However, the VL shear modulus in knee full flexion was significantly smaller in females than in males and increased with age from 47.9 years. The results suggest that the accelerated increase in VL stiffness that occurs after an individual passes their late 40s may be an important therapeutic target for developing effective treatments and programs that preserve and improve quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akifumi Maeda
- Faculty of Sport and Health Science, Ritsumeikan University, Shiga 525-8577, Japan; (A.M.); (M.Y.); (T.A.)
- Suntory Global Innovation Center Ltd., Research Institute, Kyoto 619-0284, Japan
| | - Maito Yamagishi
- Faculty of Sport and Health Science, Ritsumeikan University, Shiga 525-8577, Japan; (A.M.); (M.Y.); (T.A.)
| | - Yuta Otsuka
- Institute for Health Care Science, Suntory Wellness Ltd., Kyoto 619-0284, Japan; (Y.O.); (T.I.); (T.R.); (H.S.)
| | - Takayuki Izumo
- Institute for Health Care Science, Suntory Wellness Ltd., Kyoto 619-0284, Japan; (Y.O.); (T.I.); (T.R.); (H.S.)
| | - Tomohiro Rogi
- Institute for Health Care Science, Suntory Wellness Ltd., Kyoto 619-0284, Japan; (Y.O.); (T.I.); (T.R.); (H.S.)
| | - Hiroshi Shibata
- Institute for Health Care Science, Suntory Wellness Ltd., Kyoto 619-0284, Japan; (Y.O.); (T.I.); (T.R.); (H.S.)
| | | | - Takuma Arimitsu
- Faculty of Sport and Health Science, Ritsumeikan University, Shiga 525-8577, Japan; (A.M.); (M.Y.); (T.A.)
- Undergraduate Department of Human Health, Faculty of Health Care, Hachinohe Gakuin University, Aomori 031-8588, Japan
| | - Yosuke Yamada
- National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Tokyo 162-8636, Japan;
| | - Naokazu Miyamoto
- Graduate School of Health and Sports Science, Juntendo University, Chiba 270-1695, Japan;
| | - Takeshi Hashimoto
- Faculty of Sport and Health Science, Ritsumeikan University, Shiga 525-8577, Japan; (A.M.); (M.Y.); (T.A.)
- Correspondence:
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