Preliminaries to the body-cover theory of pitch control

Preliminary theoretical and empirical work suggest that increased thyroarytenoid muscle activity may either increase or decrease fundamental frequency, depending on cricothyroid muscle activity and a new cross-sectional area parameter. This parameter is defined as the ratio of muscular tissue in vibration to total tissue in vibration. Canine laryngeal nerves were stimulated to measure vocal-fold length changes. These data, combined with previously reported tissue density, passive stress, and passive frequency data, were used to construct a set of curves predicting canine fundamental frequency from thyroarytenoid and cricothyroid muscle activity and the area ratio. The results suggest that high cricothyroid muscle activity and small area ratios tend to cause fundamental frequency lowering with increased thyroarytenoid muscle activity.     

An effective skeletal muscle prefractionation method to remove abundant structural proteins for optimized two-dimensional gel electrophoresis

Proteomic analysis of biological samples in disease models or therapeutic intervention studies requires the ability to detect and identify biologically relevant proteins present in relatively low concentrations. The detection and analysis of these low-level proteins is hindered by the presence of a few proteins that are expressed in relatively high concentrations. In the case of muscle tissue, highly abundant structural proteins, such as actin, myosin, and tropomyosin, compromise the detection and analysis of more biologically relevant proteins. We have developed a practical protocol which exploits high-pH extraction to reduce or remove abundant structural proteins from skeletal muscle crude membrane preparations in a manner suitable for two dimensional gel electrophoresis. An initial whole-cell muscle lysate is generated by homogenization of powdered tissue in Tris-base. This lysate is subsequently partitioned into a supernatant and pellet containing the majority of structural proteins. Treatment of the pellet with high-pH conditions effectively releases structural proteins from membrane compartments which are then removed through ultracentrifugation. Mass spectrometric identification shows that the majority of protein spots reduced or removed by high-pH treatment were contractile proteins or contractile-related proteins. Removal of these proteins enabled successful detection and identification of minor proteins. Structural protein removal also results in significant improvement of gel quality and the ability to load higher amounts of total protein for the detection of lower abundant protein classes.     

Characterization and comparison of soluble and immobilized pig muscle aldolases

Pig muscle aldolase was insolubilized by covalent attachment to a polyacrylamide matrix containing carboxylic functional groups. The catalytic activity of the Akrilex C-aldolase was 2014 units/g solid, i.e., an activity loss of only about 5% relative to the initial activity. The pH optimum for catalytic activity shifted form 7.25 to 7.5 and the apparent temperature optimum from 313 to 318 K. The Michaelis constant of the insolubilized enzyme was significantly higher than that of the soluble aldolase. Heat- and urea-inactivation experiments revealed that the immobilization increased the stability of the enzyme.     

用近红外无损肌氧及运动心率检测技术评定100m极量强度运动对心脏冲击影响

利用连续双波长近红外光技术测量肌肉中血红蛋白含氧量的变化情况,同时应用运动心率无线实时采集设备,设计了检测实时肌肉组织血氧含量和瞬时心率实验方案,对6名健康男性进行了100 m跑同步实测实验。实验表明,肌肉组织氧合血红蛋白浓度在100 m跑结束后继续降低,达到最低值的时刻滞后于运动结束时刻的时间为(6.65±1.10)s;心率则在运动结束后继续上升,达到最高值的时刻滞后于运动结束时刻的时间为(8.00±1.57)s。这些结果显示了双波长近红外光组织氧测试技术和运动心率无线实时采集系统能够正确检测极量强度运动时的血氧参数和心率,揭示了极量强度运动过程中肌肉中氧运输与消耗的过程及其与心率之间的动力学特征。     

Cross-country skiing motion equations,locomotive forces and mass scaling laws

This article presents differential equations for locomotive force and velocity during cross-country skiing. A muscle's work power is modelled. Thereafter, a locomotive force that depends on the skier's velocity is constructed. The external forces aerodynamic drag, friction forces and the force of gravity are incorporated in order to provide the equation of motion. Some allometric mass scaling relations are established and used to analyse the effect of a skier's mass on velocity. The model is tested by using a GPS instrument. We compare analytically and experimentally determined skiing distances and velocities as functions of time, and under different conditions. The article provides tools useful for practising athletes and coaches.     

Characterization and optimization of a positively charged poly (ethylene glycol)diacrylate hydrogel as an actuating muscle tissue engineering scaffold

Hydrogels have been used for many applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine due to their versatile material properties and similarities to the native extracellular matrix. Poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) is an ionic electroactive polymer (EAP), a material that responds to an electric field with a change in size or shape while in an ionic solution, that may be used in the development of hydrogels. In this study, we have investigated a positively charged EAP that can bend without the need of external ions. PEGDA was modified with the positively charged molecule 2‐(methacryloyloxy)ethyl‐trimethylammonium chloride (MAETAC) to provide its own positive ions. This hydrogel was then characterized and optimized for bending and cellular biocompatibility with C2C12 mouse myoblast cells. Studies show that the polymer responds to an electric field and supports C2C12 viability.     

Effect of unilateral extraction of molar teeth on suprahyoid muscles: macroscopic and ultrastructural aspects

Anatomical and physiologic components are parts of the stomatognathic system and their interaction results in integrated functional activities. Important alterations in the masticatory system originated by dental loss affect the bone, oral mucosa and muscular function. Dental arch structures specifically designed to receive and expose teeth allow performance of their functions. But the distinction between bony and soft tissues is lost when teeth are removed since there is not a specific function to be completed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the macroscopic and ultrastructural effects of the unilateral extraction of molar teeth on the suprahyoid muscles function, using twenty young male gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) as the experimental animal model. They were divided in experimental malocclusion (n=10) and control (n=10) groups. The experimental malocclusion group was submitted to exodontia of the left upper molars and the control group was not submitted to this procedure and served as sham-operated. For macroscopic analysis of the suprahyoid muscle, the skin was uplifted and the muscles dissected individually and removed for weight analysis according to Scherle method. The electron microscopy analysis was made in ultra thin sections of small suprahyoid muscle fragments from the experimental and control groups, examined in a Jeol 1010, 880Kv transmission electron microscope. Several micrographs at magnifications of 3000x, 6000x, 30,000x were randomly selected for the qualitative analysis of the muscle fiber ultrastructures. Sixty days after the induced unilateral occlusal alteration no macroscopic morphologic changes was detected in the suprahyoid muscles and the muscle volume differences between the right and left sides and between groups were not significant. However, in the ultrastructural analysis suprahyoid muscles showed characteristics of specific adaptation to the unilateral occlusal alteration, by the reduced density of subsarcolemmal mitochondria and the shorter and less numerous ramifications in intermyofibrilar mitochondria localized between electronlucid myofibrils. It is concluded that unilateral exodontia of all the upper left molars affect the ultrastructural morphology of suprahyoid muscle fibers.     

MALDI MSI Reveals the Spatial Distribution of Protein Markers in Tracheobronchial Lymph Nodes and Lung of Pigs after Respiratory Infection

Respiratory infections are a real threat for humans, and therefore the pig model is of interest for studies. As one of a case for studies, Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (APP) caused infections and still worries many pig breeders around the world. To better understand the influence of pathogenic effect of APP on a respiratory system—lungs and tracheobronchial lymph nodes (TBLN), we aimed to employ matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-TOF MSI). In this study, six pigs were intranasally infected by APP and two were used as non-infected control, and 48 cryosections have been obtained. MALDI-TOF MSI and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were used to study spatial distribution of infectious markers, especially interleukins, in cryosections of porcine tissues of lungs (necrotic area, marginal zone) and tracheobronchial lymph nodes (TBLN) from pigs infected by APP. CD163, interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and a protegrin-4 precursor were successfully detected based on their tryptic fragments. CD163 and IL-1β were confirmed also by IHC. The protegrin-4 precursor was identified by MALDI-TOF/TOF directly on the tissue cryosections. CD163, IL-1β and protegrin-4 precursor were all significantly (p < 0.001) more expressed in necrotic areas of lungs infected by APP than in marginal zone, TBLN and in control lungs.     

Essential oil from the leaves of Xylopia langsdorfiana (Annonaceae) as a possible spasmolytic agent

Xylopia langsdorfiana A. St.-Hil. &Tul. (Annonaceae) is popularly known in the northeast of Brazil as ‘pimenteira da terra’, and an essential oil (XL-OE) was extracted from its leaves. Since Xylopia species are cited in folk medicine and diterpenes from X. langsdorfiana have spasmolytic activity, this study aimed to investigate a possible spasmolytic action of XL-OE on smooth muscle models. XL-OE (243 and 729 μg/mL) showed low pharmacologic efficacy on guinea pig trachea and rat aorta and uterus. However, in guinea pig ileum, XL-OE (27–729 μg/mL) inhibited carbachol or histamine-induced phasic contractions (1 μM) in a significant and concentration-dependent manner. In addition, XL-OE (81 μg/mL) reduced fluorescence intensity in ileal myocytes stimulated by histamine, indicating a decrease in cytosolic calcium concentration, which could explain the spasmolytic activity. Thus, XL-OE proved to be a promising natural product to be used in gastrointestinal diseases acting by modulating the cytosolic calcium concentration.     

Change in motor cortex activation for muscle release by motor learning

For central nervous system disorders'' rehabilitation, it is important to accurately understand motor control and implement an appropriate motor learning process to induce neuroplastic changes. The neurophysiological studies have revealed that neural control mechanisms are crucial during both the onset of muscular activities and muscle release after contraction. When performing various movements during daily activities, muscle relaxation control enables precise force output and timing control. Moreover, surround inhibition is a functional mechanism in the motor system. Surround inhibition of the motor system may be involved in the selective execution of desired movements. This review demonstrates cortical excitability resulting from motor learning, movement control mechanisms including muscle relaxation and the suppression of nontarget muscle groups, and the voluntary drive''s importance that is required for movement.