Objective. To simultaneously measure the isokinetic muscle strength of the trunk, knees, and ankles in both groups.
Summary of Background Data. Coordination between the trunk and lower extremity muscles is important for normal physical activity. Reduced trunk and knee muscle strength have been reported in patients with lower level LDH; however, ankle performance in these patients is still unknown.
Methods. We recruited 43 normal subjects as
controls and 33 patients with lower level LDH with sciatica. The isokinetic strength of the trunk, knees, and ankles was measured at 2 velocities in random order: 60 degrees/s and 120 degrees/s, and 60 degrees/s and 180 degrees/s for trunk and ankle strength and for knee strength, respectively.
Results. The isokinetic trunk strength was significantly lower in the LDH group irrespective
of test PD98059 modes or velocity. Despite unilateral sciatica or test modes and velocity, the unilateral knee strength was significantly lower in the LDH group than that in the control group. Knee extension torque was also found to be significantly lower in the limbs with sciatica than in those without sciatica Taselisib mouse at the testing velocity of 180 degrees/s (80.25 +/- 24.88 vs. 95.42 +/- 26.29 Nm, P < 0.05). Irrespective of unilateral sciatica or test velocity, ankle plantar flexion torque revealed to be significantly lower in the LDH group than the control group; however, dorsiflexion torque was not different. Significant correlations
were demonstrated among the total muscle strength of the trunk, knees, and ankles in both groups.
Conclusion. Besides the lower trunk strength, concurrent lower unilateral knee and ankle plantar flexion but not dorsiflexion strength was demonstrated in the LDH subjects with unilateral sciatica, regardless of its location. As compared to the limbs without sciatica, an additional 14% reduction of knee extension torque at 180 degrees/s was found in the limbs with sciatica in the LDH patients.”
“There have been many attempts to increase concentrations of the nutritionally MEK inhibitor essential sulphur amino acids by modifying their biosynthetic pathway in leaves of transgenic plants. This report describes the first modification of cysteine biosyntheis in developing seeds; those of the grain legume, narrow leaf lupin (Lupinus angustifolius, L.). Expression in developing lupin embryos of a serine acetyltransferase (SAT) from Arabidopsis thaliana (AtSAT1 or AtSerat 2;1) was associated with increases of up to 5-fold in the concentrations of O-acetylserine (OAS), the immediate product of SAT, and up to 26-fold in free cysteine, resulting in some of the highest in vivo concentrations of these metabolites yet reported.