Biomaterial Database

A longitudinal study comparing thenar motor unit number estimates to other quantitative tests in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. 1997

K J Felice

Department of Neurology, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, USA.

The following data were obtained on 21 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients, aged 36-76 years (mean: 58 years), at baseline and months 4, 8, and 12: thenar motor unit number estimate (MUNE) using multiple point stimulation, mean thenar surface-recorded motor unit action potential negative-peak area, thenar compound muscle action potential amplitude, isometric hand grip strength, total Medical Research Council (MRC) manual muscle testing score, Appel ALS rating scale, and forced vital capacity (FVC). The absolute mean rate of change per month was significantly greater (P < 0.01) for MUNE values than for MRC and FVC values in the 21 ALS patients. In a subset of patients (n = 6) with slowly progressive disease, the absolute mean rate of change per month was significantly greater (P < 0.01) for MUNE values than for all other test values. In addition, MUNE values were the most sensitive index for documenting changes in disease progression over time.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007537	Isometric Contraction	Muscular contractions characterized by increase in tension without change in length.	Contraction, Isometric,Contractions, Isometric,Isometric Contractions
D008137	Longitudinal Studies	Studies in which variables relating to an individual or group of individuals are assessed over a period of time.	Bogalusa Heart Study,California Teachers Study,Framingham Heart Study,Jackson Heart Study,Longitudinal Survey,Tuskegee Syphilis Study,Bogalusa Heart Studies,California Teachers Studies,Framingham Heart Studies,Heart Studies, Bogalusa,Heart Studies, Framingham,Heart Studies, Jackson,Heart Study, Bogalusa,Heart Study, Framingham,Heart Study, Jackson,Jackson Heart Studies,Longitudinal Study,Longitudinal Surveys,Studies, Bogalusa Heart,Studies, California Teachers,Studies, Jackson Heart,Studies, Longitudinal,Study, Bogalusa Heart,Study, California Teachers,Study, Longitudinal,Survey, Longitudinal,Surveys, Longitudinal,Syphilis Studies, Tuskegee,Syphilis Study, Tuskegee,Teachers Studies, California,Teachers Study, California,Tuskegee Syphilis Studies
D008297	Male		Males
D008475	Median Nerve	A major nerve of the upper extremity. In humans, the fibers of the median nerve originate in the lower cervical and upper thoracic spinal cord (usually C6 to T1), travel via the brachial plexus, and supply sensory and motor innervation to parts of the forearm and hand.	Median Nerves,Nerve, Median,Nerves, Median
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D009046	Motor Neurons	Neurons which activate MUSCLE CELLS.	Neurons, Motor,Alpha Motorneurons,Motoneurons,Motor Neurons, Alpha,Neurons, Alpha Motor,Alpha Motor Neuron,Alpha Motor Neurons,Alpha Motorneuron,Motoneuron,Motor Neuron,Motor Neuron, Alpha,Motorneuron, Alpha,Motorneurons, Alpha,Neuron, Alpha Motor,Neuron, Motor
D002452	Cell Count	The number of CELLS of a specific kind, usually measured per unit volume or area of sample.	Cell Density,Cell Number,Cell Counts,Cell Densities,Cell Numbers,Count, Cell,Counts, Cell,Densities, Cell,Density, Cell,Number, Cell,Numbers, Cell
D004576	Electromyography	Recording of the changes in electric potential of muscle by means of surface or needle electrodes.	Electromyogram,Surface Electromyography,Electromyograms,Electromyographies,Electromyographies, Surface,Electromyography, Surface,Surface Electromyographies
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man