BackgroundTo explore if stimulus–response (S-R) characteristics of the silent period (SP) after transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) are affected by changing the SP definition and by changing data presentation in healthy individuals. This information would be clinically relevant to predict motor recovery in patients with stroke using stimulus–response curves.MethodsDifferent landmarks to define the SP onset and offset were used to construct S-R curves from the biceps brachii (BB) and abductor digiti minimi (ADM) muscles in 15 healthy participants using rectified versus non-rectified surface electromyography (EMG). A non-linear mixed model fit to a sigmoid Boltzmann function described the S-R characteristics. Differences between S-R characteristics were compared using paired sample t-tests. The Bonferroni correction was used to adjust for multiple testing.ResultsFor the BB, no differences in S-R characteristics were observed between different SP onset and offset markers, while there was no influence of data presentation either. For the ADM, no differences were observed between different SP onset markers, whereas both the SP offset marker “the first return of any EMG-activity” and presenting non-rectified data showed lower active motor thresholds and less steep slopes.ConclusionsThe use of different landmarks to define the SP offset as well as data presentation affect SP S-R characteristics of the ADM in healthy individuals.

Oxidative modification of low density lipoprotein (LDL) has been implicated as a factor in the generation of macrophage-derived foam cells, the hallmark of atherosclerotic plaques. Because LDL consists of discrete subtractions with different physicochemical characteristics, the question arises as to whether these LDL subtractions differ in their susceptibility to oxidative modification. To answer this question, three LDL subtractions, LDL,, LDL 2 , and LDL 3 , were isolated from the plasmas of 11 healthy volunteers by density gradient ultracentrifugation. The LDL subtractions were oxidatively modified by incubation with copper ions. Differences in the subtractions' susceptibilities to lipid peroxidation were studied by measuring the formation of the 234-nm-absorbing oxidation products every 3 minutes on an ultraviolet spectrophotometer. are positively correlated with the incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD). 1 In the last decade, evidence has accumulated that human plasma LDL comprises discrete subtractions, varying in size, density, and lipid content.2 -6 Two to three LDL subtractions can be detected and isolated from normolipidemic plasma by density gradient ultracentrifugation.7 These LDL subtractions have been found to differ in chemical composition and molecular size.7 Several lines of evidence suggest that the

These results suggest that determination of serum levels of glial and neuronal proteins may add to the clinical assessment of the primary damage and prediction of outcome after severe traumatic brain injury.

No abstract

No abstract

This study provides Class III evidence that, in patients with FSHD type 1 and severe chronic fatigue, AET or CBT reduces the severity of chronic fatigue.

This study showed that the clinical diagnosis of diverticulitis is difficult to make but can be improved using a clinical scoring system. In case of a high chance of ALCD based on the nomogram, additional imaging may not be needed.

No abstract