• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.129-136
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• 2000

Background and Purpose: This study was undertaken to compare the sensitivity of the Repetitive Nerve Stimulation Test (RNST) between the upper and lower extremity muscles in myasthenia gravis(MG) patients. Material and Methods: The study population consisted of 20 normal persons(control group) and 10 MG patients(MG group). Using Stalberg's method. RNST was systemically performed in orbicularis oculi muscle. upper extremity muscles(flexor carpi ulnaris. abductor digiti quinti), and lower extremity muscles(tibialis anterior. extensor digitorum brevis. vastus medialis). Results: There were statistical differences of decremental response($mean{\pm}SD$) in orbicularis oculi and upper extremity muscles between the control and MG groups(p<0.05 or p<0.01). However, there was no statistical difference of decremental response($mean{\pm}SD$) to RNST in lower extremity muscles between the control and MG groups. There were highersensitivity in orbicularis oculi and upper extremity muscles than lower extremity muscles. Although positive reponse were detected in the lower extremity muscles, the positive response rates of lower extremity muscles were lower than o.oculi and upper extremity muscles. Conclusions: When the response rates of RNST in facial and upper extremity muscles are normal, may not be required RNST in lower extremity muscles.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.451-459
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• 1999

During the electromyographic evaluation for the diagnosis of neuropathy, presence for site of lesion could be predicted by a detection of denervation potentials such as fibrillation potentials or positive sharp waves in a group of muscles. Unfortunately, since denervation potentials are distinguished by examiner's experience, it is possible to make mistake identifying endplate spikes as a denervation potential. The aim of the study was to extract parameters to make an algorithm for quantitative distinction between denervation potentials and endplate spikes. It will help to minimize the examiner's bias and to localize the site of lesion thus increase the reliability on EMG diagnosis. There types of signals, endplate spike, fibrillation potential and positive sharp wave were obtained from the EDB(extensor digitorum brevis) muscle using then neuropathic patients. Eight parameters such as duration, area, slope, peak-to-peak amplitude, positive peak negative peak amplitude, ratio of positive to negative peak amplitude, and number of phase were extracted and compared. As a results, peak-to-peak amplitude, positive peak amplitude, ratio of positive to negative peak amplitude showed statistically significant differences between endplate spikes and denervation potentials. It was concluded that those parameters could be used to establish an algorithm which will improve the accuracies in automated quantitative EMG diagnosis.