Active clinical trials for "Muscle Weakness"

Mechanical ventilation may be necessary to save the life of a patient due to an accident, pneumonia or surgery. The ventilator then temporarily takes over the function of the respiratory muscles. During treatment in the Intensive Care, the amount of support provided by the ventilator is usually lowered gradually, until the point that the patient can breathe unassisted once again. However, in a large fraction of patients (up to 40%) it takes days to weeks before the patient is able to breathe unassisted, even after the initial disease has been treated. This is called prolonged weaning. A possible cause of prolonged weaning is weakness of the respiratory muscles. The diaphragm, the largest respiratory muscle, can become weakened if it is used too little, much like all other muscles in the body. Additionally, damage and weakness of the diaphragm can occur when the diaphragm has to work excessively. Therefore, it is important that the diaphragm works enough; not so little that it becomes weakened, but not too much either. Measurements of pressure generated by the diaphragm are needed to determine the current level of diaphragm activity in a patient on mechanical ventilation. However, these measurements are rarely performed, because they are time-consuming and require placement of two additional nasogastric catheters. This is a shame, as adequate loading of the diaphragm might prevent development of weakness, leading to shorter duration of mechanical ventilation. Finding alternative measurements of diaphragm effort might be a solution to this problem. It has been hypothesized that the electrical activity of the diaphragm provides a reliable indication of diaphragm effort. This study aims to determine whether there is a correlation between pressure generation by the diaphragm and electrical activity of the diaphragm over a wide range of respiratory activity, from low effort to extreme effort, in healthy volunteers.

In the present study, the investigators compare intermediate and deep NMB i.e. the two extreme regimes of muscle paralysis (neuromuscular block; NMB), (I) patients receiving intermediate muscle paralysis (''control, conventional NMB'') versus (II) patients with a deep neuromuscular blockade with rocuronium (''Deep NMB''), will be compared during a surgical procedure which is considered to be very sensitive for inadequate muscle relaxation, elective minimally invasive spinal surgery. The primary objective of this trial is to compare the operation time reduction with the help of the decreased stiffness of targeted back muscle surrounding the surgical field. The changed back muscle stiffness also measured as secondary objective goal by a mechanical tension weighing scale and also taking ultrasonography using shear wave elastography (SWE). Other observational objectives are divided into the following categories of stakeholders: patients, surgeons and anesthesiologists', done by collecting the variety of clinical parameters. The following will be collected and compared. For patients Intraoperative radiation amount, post-anesthetic care unit(PACU) stay, transfer rate to SICU for post-op. care, post-operative respiratory complication rate, and total hospital costs. For surgeons Post-operative complications in regard to operation field, and evaluate surgical conditions using a Visual Analogue Scale(VAS score) in surgeon's side. For anesthesiologists Intraoperative ventilation parameters of patients, and evaluate surgical conditions using a Visual Analogue Scale(VAS score) in anesthesiologist's side.

When choosing outcomes to assess rehabilitation's effect or progress, it is essential to consider the constructs being measured and their value to the patient and the psychometric properties. Choosing an outcome that reflects all aspects of International Classification levels of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) is challenging, especially in heterogeneous groups. However, it is important to know the psychometric properties as this gives important knowledge on how to interpret results and, consequently, how this can inform the patient's care. The Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment (SMFA) questionnaire can reflect differences in patients' functional status with a broad range of disorders, like for elderly citizens undergoing municipality-based rehabilitation. Nevertheless, since there is no golden standard to measure rehabilitation outcomes, construct validity needs to be established to investigate how scores of SMFA can be related to measures on all levels of ICF. Therefore, this study has three main objectives: To investigate how scores of the SMFA questionnaire are related to measures on different ICF levels To describe the characteristics of older citizens starting municipality-based rehabilitation on all ICF levels To investigate predictor variables of upper- and lower extremity strength

The investigators aim to investigate the factors affecting cardiorespiratory fitness in individuals with systemic hypertension.

Although the Covid-19 infection mainly manifests itself with respiratory symptoms, as early as two months after the onset of the pandemic, the presence of other symptoms, including muscle ones, became clear. With the disappearance of the emergency and the advancement of knowledge, medium- and long-term effects have been reported at the level of different organs and systems. Many patients, after several months from infection, report intolerance to exercise and many suffer from pain and muscle weakness. No studies has been carried out on the muscular consequences of the infection and on their possible contribution to intolerance to exercise. Since skeletal muscle possesses the ACE2 receptor (Angiotensin converting enzyme 2) to which SARS-Cov-2 binds, it follows that the involvement of the skeletal muscle could be due not only to the secondary effects of the infection (e.g. reduced oxygen supply from persistent lung disease, perfusion defects from cardiovascular defects and vascular damage), but also to the direct action of virus (SARS-Cov-2 myositis). The general purpose of the research is to quantify the spread of symptoms and signs of muscle weakness and pain among the patient population welcomed at the Cardiorespiratory Rehabilitation Department of the Alexandria Hospital which have been suffering from SARS-CoV-2, being discharged and healed for more than two months, and define the possible contribution of muscular modifications to exercise intolerance.

We intend to measure evoked EMG at two sites in subjects who are chronically taking pyridostigmine.

The note re-introduces the external lid loading with the help of a lead weight for the temporary treatment of lagophthalmos. Although simple and effective, the technique is rarely used.Instead of wearing a monoculus, the patient uses an individually tailored lead weight (0.8 mm thickness, 1.0 -2.0 g) sticked on the lid, it enables its closure. A spontaneous ptosis indicates a too heavy weight. With the M. levator palpebrae intact, lid lifting is possible. The effect is gravity dependent, so that the patient has to wear the monoculus at night. To minimize the risk of lead intoxication, the surface of the weight is varnished. In case of a persistent paresis of the M. orbicularis oculi an internal lid loading can follow. A total of 152 lagophthalmos cases have been treated since 1997.All patients could close the lid immediately. Almost half of the patients had to re-adjust the weight several times per day due to hooded eyelids. The compliance was high, and a partial or complete restoration of the function of the M. orbicularis oculi occurred in 60% of the cases. In some subjects, the restoration of the M. orbicularis oculi was faster than of the M. orbicularis orbis. The external lid loading for the temporary treatment of lagophthalmos is simple and effective. Compared to a monoculus, the vision is unimpaired and the aesthetic is more appropriate for most patients. The faster restoration of the M. orbicularis oculi hints at a potentially facilitatory effect of the weight.

This project will mainly focus on Middle and old-aged adults, and examine whether Cardiovascular and metabolic risks can be reduced. In the meanwhile, this project will develop strategies for improving muscle loss , muscle strength decline, and the quality life of the elderly.

Certain clinical syndromes eg frailty, sarcopenia, dementia, depression, cognitive impairment, vision impairment and falls in older adults carry an increased risk for poor health outcomes and if identified early, can be prevented, delayed or reversible. There is evidence to suggest that exercise and dietary intervention can help delay or prevent sarcopenia, frailty and dementia. The current hypothesis is older adults do not consume enough protein in their diet. Local delicacies enhanced with protein content, in addition to physical activity will improve muscle strength, function, perceived health status and possibly may even reverse frailty and sarcopenia. Additionally, it is hypothesized that combination of multi component group exercise activities and high protein nutrition will be effective in improving participants' social, mental and physical status.

The aim of this study is to characterize the relation between skeletal muscle mitochondrial metabolism and muscle health in elderly, physically compromised humans. To study this relation, a cross-sectional study will be performed in well-defined, distinct subject groups. Thus, to obtain insight in the relation between mitochondrial health and muscle function, not only subjects that differ in mitochondrial function (based on physical activity) will be compared but also subjects with high- versus low muscle function will be selected.