Epaxial Research Articles

Effects of a Bio-Electromagnetic Energy Regulation Blanket on Thoracolumbar Epaxial Muscle Pain in Horses

Back pain and inflammation of the epaxial musculature is a significant problem in all equine athletes. Treatment of back pain can be challenging and often requires a multimodal approach. In humans, bio-electromagnetic energy regulation therapy (BEMER) has been reported to be effective in pain modulation. With its increased use in people comes a similar robust application in veterinary medicine unfortunately, there is unsubstantiated evidence for this type of therapy in horses.Objectives of this study were to assess analgesic responses and biomechanical outcome variables using a bio-electromagnetic energy regulation therapy blanket, and to evaluate serum biomarkers as a method to monitor the treatment effects in horses with thoracolumbar epaxial muscle pain.Cohort study of 8 horses treated for 3 consecutive days.Horses with naturally-occurring thoracolumbar epaxial muscle pain were used in this study. Objective outcome variables were recorded daily for 5 days, which included spinal evaluation, mechanical nociceptive thresholds, electromyography, kinematics, kinetics, and serum biomarkers.BEMER blanket therapy significantly improved thoracolumbar epaxial muscle nociceptive thresholds. Center of pressure displacement as a measure of postural stability was significantly improved as well as significant gains in spinal flexibility were demonstrated at study completion. A significant treatment effect was not appreciated in measures of muscle tone, ground reaction forces or serum biomarkers.Limitations include the lack of a control group and a definitive structural diagnosis of thoracolumbar epaxial muscle pain.The BEMER blanket produced significant clinical and biomechanical effects in horses with back pain.

Long‐term outcome of a dog with surgically resected thoracic intramedullary haemangioblastoma and concurrent lumbosacral disease

AbstractA 5‐year‐old male, neutered, English Bulldog presented for acute progressive paraparesis. Neurological examination revealed a weak withdrawal reflex in the left pelvic limb and lumbosacral pain, suggestive of a L4–S3 myelopathy. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an incidental intramedullary mass at the T9 vertebra and L7–S1 intervertebral disc protrusion with bilateral foraminal stenosis. The dog was treated with epidural methylprednisolone. Repeat neurological examination postepidural revealed normal withdrawal reflexes and resolution of lumbosacral spinal pain. However, progressive paraparesis, thoracolumbar pain and epaxial muscle atrophy were evident. A T3–L3 myelopathy was suspected secondary to the intramedullary mass. The mass was surgically resected, and histology revealed haemangioblastoma. Neurological status improved initially, but deteriorated later due to the lumbosacral disease. The dog improved following repeat methylprednisolone epidural injection, but remained paraparetic. This case report is consistent with previous literature and provides additional information on the treatment and prognosis of spinal cord haemangioblastoma with concurrent lumbosacral disease.

Evaluation of High-Volume Injections Using a Modified Dorsal Quadratus Lumborum Block Approach in Canine Cadavers.

Simple SummaryThe quadratus lumborum (QL) block is an ultrasound-guided locoregional anesthesia technique. Its objective is to promote both visceral and somatic analgesia for abdominal procedures. Previous spread studies carried out in canine cadavers demonstrated its viability in this species but failed in consistently reach the spinal nerves responsible for the cranial abdominal wall innervation. Therefore, we hypothesize that a modified QL block technique, based on the administration of a higher volume of solution (0.6 mL kg−1) in a dorso-medial position compared to the interfascial injection point between the QL and psoas minor muscles, could enhance its cranial spread, and promote a consistent distribution spread through the ventral branches of the spinal nerves and sympathetic trunk. For this purpose, a solution of dye/contrast was ultrasound-guide injected into six canine cadavers. The results were assessed through computed tomography and dissection, showing that the proposed technique is viable, safe, and stained the median and caudal abdominal nerves and the sympathetic trunk up to T13 consistently. However, our modified technique of QL block did not increase the cranial distribution of dye/contrast to the thoracic spinal nerves, and may not provide adequate somatic analgesia of the cranial abdominal wall.The quadratus lumborum (QL) block targets the fascial plane surrounding the QL muscle providing abdominal somatic and visceral analgesia. The extension of its analgesic effects is a subject of research, as it could not cover areas of the cranial abdomen in dogs. This study assesses in eight thawed canine cadavers, the distribution of high-volume injections (0.6 mL kg−1 of a mixture of methylene blue and iopromide) injected between the psoas minor muscle and the vertebral body of L1. Anatomical features of the area of interest were studied in two cadavers. In another six dogs, QL blocks were performed bilaterally under ultrasound-guidance. The distribution of contrast was evaluated by computed tomography (CT). Hypaxial abdominal muscles were dissected to visualize the dye spread (spinal nerves and sympathetic trunk) in 5 cadavers. The remaining cadaver was refrozen and cross-sectioned. CT studies showed a maximum distribution of contrast from T10 to L7. The methylene blue stained T13 (10%), L1 (100%), L2 (100%), L3 (100%), L4 (60%) and the sympathetic trunk T10 (10%), T11 (20%), T12 (30%), T13 (70%), L1 (80%), L2 (80%), L3 (60%) and L4 (30%). These findings may suggest that despite the high volume of injectate administered, this modified QL block could not produce somatic analgesia of the cranial abdomen, although it could provide visceral analgesia in dogs.

Motor control in the epaxial musculature of bluegill sunfish in feeding and locomotion.

Fishes possess an impressive repertoire of feeding and locomotor behaviors that in many cases rely on the same power source: the axial musculature. As both functions employ different skeletal systems, head versus body, integrating these functions would likely require modular motor control. Although there have been many studies of motor control in feeding or locomotion in fishes, only one study to date has examined both functions in the same individuals. To characterize bilateral motor control of the epaxial musculature in feeding and locomotion, we measured muscle activity and shortening in bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) using electromyography and sonomicrometry. We found that sunfish recruit epaxial regions in a dorsal-to-ventral manner to increase feeding performance, such that high-performance feeding activates all the epaxial musculature. In comparison, sunfish seemed to activate all three epaxial regions irrespective of locomotor performance. Muscle activity was present on both sides of the body in nearly all feeding and locomotor behaviors. Feeding behaviors used similar activation intensities on the two sides of the body, whereas locomotor behaviors consistently used higher intensities on the side undergoing muscle shortening. In all epaxial regions, fast-starts used the highest activation intensities, although high-performance suction feeding occasionally showed near-maximal intensity. Finally, active muscle volume was positively correlated with the peak rate of body flexion in feeding and locomotion, indicating a continuous relationship between recruitment and performance. A comparison of these results with recent work on largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) suggests that centrarchid fishes use similar motor control strategies for feeding, but interspecific differences in peak suction-feeding performance are determined by active muscle volume.

Developmental Evolution of Hypaxial Muscles: Insights From Cyclostomes and Chondrichthyans.

Jawed vertebrates possess two distinct groups of muscles in the trunk (epaxial and hypaxial muscles) primarily defined by the pattern of motor innervation from the spinal cord. Of these, the hypaxial group includes muscles with highly differentiated morphology and function, such as the muscles associated with paired limbs, shoulder girdles and tongue/infrahyoid (hypobranchial) muscles. Here we summarize the latest findings on the evolutionary mechanisms underlying the morphological variety of hypaxial musculature, with special reference to the molecular insights obtained from several living species that diverged early in vertebrate evolution. Lampreys, extant jawless vertebrates, lack many of derived traits characteristic of the gnathostomes, such as jaws, paired fins and epaxial/hypaxial distinction of the trunk skeletal musculatures. However, these animals possess the primitive form of the hypobranchial muscle. Of the gnathostomes, the elasmobranchs exhibit developmental mode of hypaxial muscles that is not identical to that of other gnathostomes in that the muscle primordia relocate as coherent cell aggregates. Comparison of expression of developmental genes, including Lbx genes, has delineated the temporal order of differentiation of various skeletal muscles, such as the hypobranchial, posterior pharyngeal and cucullaris (trapezius) muscles. We have proposed that the sequential addition of distal muscles, associated with expression of duplicated Lbx genes, promoted the elaboration of skeletal musculature. These analyses have revealed the framework of an evolutionary pathway that gave rise to the morphological complexity and diversity of vertebrate body patterns.

The Effect of Ground Poles and Elastic Resistance Bands on Longissimus Dorsi and Rectus Abdominus Muscle Activity During Equine Walk and Trot

Core strengthening and postural stability are desired outcomes of certain therapeutic exercises performed in horses. This study aimed to quantify changes in muscle activation at a walk and trot in horses traveling over eight consecutive ground poles evenly spaced (at 30 inches for walk and 48 inches for trot) in parallel fashion in a straight line, and with hindquarter and abdominal elastic resistance bands applied at 25% stretch. Surface electromyography (sEMG) data were collected for the longissimus dorsi and rectus abdominus muscles in six horses. A 2 × 2 repeated measures ANOVA was performed for each muscle to test for significant differences in differences in normalized average rectified values and maximum low pass signals. Within subject effects were reported, followed by post–hoc pairwise comparisons to evaluate differences between the conditions of with or without ground poles or elastic resistance bands. The use of ground poles at a walk resulted in a significant (p < .05) increase in the maximum low pass value bilaterally in the longissimus dorsi and rectus abdominus muscles, with an increase in the average rectified value bilaterally in the rectus abdominus muscles and right longissimus dorsi muscle. The use of ground poles at a trot resulted in a significant increase in the maximum low pass value bilaterally in the rectus abdominus muscles. The hindquarter and abdominal elastic resistance bands resulted in a respective 27% and 27.2% increase in the mean average rectified value of the left and right RA muscles; however this only reached statistical significance in the left RA (p < .05). These findings provide support regarding changes in muscle activation when using ground poles to increase core and epaxial muscle engagement. While a significant effect on core muscle activation was identified with the elastic resistance bands at a trot, further research is needed in this area to further characterize their effects on muscle activation.

MRI assessment of epaxial myosteatosis in dogs with intervertebral disc extrusions and associations with patient factors and outcome.

Fat infiltration of skeletal muscle (myosteatosis) is a characteristic of reduced muscle quality. Objectives of this retrospective, observer agreement, methods comparison, cross-sectional study were to compare epaxial myosteatosis of dogs with surgically confirmed intervertebral disc extrusion (IVDE) using a visual semi-quantitative method and quantitative 2-point Dixon fat-water chemical-shift separation MRI method. Thoracolumbar MRI studies of 86 dogs were reviewed. Assessed locations were the site of extrusion and the adjacent intervertebral disc space immediately cranial. A visual fat score (VFS) was assigned to fat infiltration of the epaxial muscles. Quantitative assessment of fat infiltration was determined by calculating a muscle-fat fraction (MFF). There was moderate agreement between the two reviewers for VFS assessment (weighted Kappa 0.60, 95%CI 0.53-0.66) with moderate to strong correlation between scoring methods (P≤.001). Both VFS (P=.023, P=.02) and MFF (P=.041, P=.043) were significantly correlated with neurologic grade at presentation for the erector spinae muscle group at both sites. Higher VFS in the multifidus muscle increased the odds of a successful outcome when assessed at the extrusion site (odds ratio and 95%CI 4.3 (1.02-78.7), P=.0461). In summary, the visual and Dixon method of epaxial muscle-fat assessment are feasible in dogs with IVDE with moderate to strong correlation. Increased VFS of myosteatosis in the multifidus muscle at the extrusion site significantly increased the odds of a successful outcome. Further studies are indicated to assess the utility of myosteatosis as an MRI imaging biomarker in the preoperative imaging assessment of dogs with IVDE.

Body condition index in beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) carcasses derived from morphometric measurements

AbstractConservation efforts of the beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) of the St. Lawrence estuary include a mortality surveillance program which has the objective of documenting the causes of mortality. The evaluation of the animal's body condition is a key component in the diagnostic process. There is currently no consensual method to measure or calculate body condition indices in beluga whales. Morphological measurements recorded during necropsy were used to design a scaled mass body condition index that was compared to currently used visual evaluation, and to alternative morphological indices. Beluga whales were separated into two size‐based groups. The scaled mass index was well correlated with analog‐visual‐scale derived scores in beluga whale &gt;290 cm, but not in animals &lt;290 cm. Both methods showed almost perfect agreement regarding the categorization of carcasses belonging to the first quartiles. The alternative indices that were best correlated with the scaled mass index were those calculated using the sacral circumference and the ventral adipose thickness in animals &lt;290 cm and the epaxial muscle mass and maximum circumference in beluga whales &gt;290 cm. These scaled indices could provide objective tools to evaluate body condition of stranded beluga whales.

Sound production in piranhas is associated with modifications of the spinal locomotor pattern.

ABSTRACTIn piranhas, sounds are produced through the vibration of the swim bladder wall caused by the contraction of bilateral sonic muscles. Because they are solely innervated by spinal nerves, these muscles likely evolved from the locomotor hypaxial musculature. The transition from a neuromuscular system initially shaped for slow movements (locomotion) to a system that requires a high contraction rate (sound production) was accompanied with major peripheral structural modifications, yet the associated neural adjustments remain to this date unclear. To close this gap, we investigated the activity of both the locomotor and the sonic musculature using electromyography. The comparison between the activation patterns of both systems highlighted modifications of the neural motor pathway: (1) a transition from a bilateral alternating pattern to a synchronous activation pattern, (2) a switch from a slow- to a high-frequency regime, and (3) an increase in the synchrony of motor neuron activation. Furthermore, our results demonstrate that sound features correspond to the activity of the sonic muscles, as both the variation patterns of periods and amplitudes of sounds highly correspond to those seen in the sonic muscle electromyograms (EMGsonic). Assuming that the premotor network for sound production in piranhas is of spinal origin, our results show that the neural circuit associated with spinal motor neurons transitioned from the slow alternating pattern originally used for locomotion to a much faster simultaneous activation pattern to generate vocal signals.

Functional Myology of the Neck in Primates

The neck is often used to study postural and locomotor behaviors across primates. Partially due to the complexity of this 3D system, there has not yet been a quantitative study of comparative nuchal muscle function. In this study, we applied innovative methods to visualize, quantify, and compare the epaxial muscles among primate taxa to characterize the relationship between trunk posture, extreme head turning behaviors, and forelimb-dominated below branch suspensory locomotion and muscle function. DiceCT imaging, 3D muscle fascicle-tracking, and 3D muscle visualization were all used to compare the attachment sites, orientations, and estimates of force for 19 muscles across five species that displayed contrasting postural and locomotor behaviors. To explore estimates of muscle force and 3D orientation of muscle bellies, ternary diagrams were used. Results show that most muscle forces scale with isometry, but musculature varies according to positional behavior and function. Semisuspensory species have a more dorsoventrally oriented cranial bellies of the trapezius muscle than closely related, but non-suspensory taxa. Pronograde primates have more powerful longissimus capitis muscles compared to orthograde primates. Carlito, noted for its pronounced head turning behaviors, has a more transversely oriented and more powerful sternocleidomastoid in addition to more powerful obliquus capitis superior muscle. The latter is also seen in Propithecus. These findings support the hypothesis that estimates of muscle force for certain key neck muscles are related to positional behaviors in primates. Therefore, the bony attachment sites of the muscles that were observed to vary among taxa could aid in understanding locomotor behaviors in extinct primates.

Muscle and biomechanical response time in patrol horses submitted to functional training

Physical activities frequency and intensity performed by equine, athletes or workers, have been growing significantly enabling appearance of musculoskeletal disorders. Thus, the objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of a functional training program to measure short-, medium- and long-term response on epaxial musculature development, as well in linear kinematics of patrol horses. Eight 14±3.5 years-old horses, weighing 418±50 kg, were evaluated over a 90 days period to divided in short (30 days), medium (60 days) and long (90 days) responses. All horses were submitted to the same FTP consisting of passive stretching exercises, dynamic mobilization, reflexive mobilization and dynamic imbalance. The monitored traits were the Longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle thickness; the Musculus multifidus (MM) total cross-sectional muscle area; linear kinematic analysis through the stride length at walk (LSW) and trot (LST). The thickness of the right and left side-LD showed increase at 90-day of the training period. The MM total cross-sectional area increased progressively after 30 days on both sides of the body, and at end of the 90-day evaluation. LSW and LST increased after 60 days of training. It is concluded for short-term; exercises promoted the hypertrophy of Musculus multifidus; for medium-term, increased the stride length and, and for long-term, hypertrophy of the Longissimus dorsi was observed.

Genetic variation and phylogenetic analysis of Indonesian indigenous catfish (baung fish) based on mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene.

Background and Aim:Baung fish is an essential commodity in Indonesia; however, few studies have explored the genetic diversity of Indonesian catfish. Thus, this study aimed to analyze the genetic variation and phylogenetic relationships among Indonesian catfish based on the mitochondrial 12S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene.Materials and Methods:In total, 28 catfish were collected from nine rivers in seven provinces and from the Indian Ocean. Catfish genomes were obtained from epaxial and hepaxial muscle samples. The mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction using a pair of primers (Baung12SF and Baung12SR). The 12S rRNA sequences were analyzed using MEGA X to determine genetic variation and phylogenetic relationships.Results:In total, 178 variation sites in the 12S rRNA gene were substituted among Indonesian catfish. The genetic distance between all Indonesian catfish samples was 0.1-16.0%. The closest genetic distance was between MP and PM catfish, whereas the farthest genetic distances were between BF and EM and PD and EM. For the entire population, based on mean diversity calculations, the number of base substitutions per site was 0.08.Conclusion:Indonesian catfish were divided into four clades based on the 12S rRNA gene. The catfish MP, KR, PM, MS, BB, and KS were grouped with Hemibagrus nemurus, the catfish EM was grouped with Mystus vittatus, the catfish BSBJ was grouped with Pangasius pangasius, and the catfish PD and BF were grouped with Netuma thalassina.

HOXA5 Participates in Brown Adipose Tissue and Epaxial Skeletal Muscle Patterning and in Brown Adipocyte Differentiation.

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) plays critical thermogenic, metabolic and endocrine roles in mammals, and aberrant BAT function is associated with metabolic disorders including obesity and diabetes. The major BAT depots are clustered at the neck and forelimb levels, and arise largely within the dermomyotome of somites, from a common progenitor with skeletal muscle. However, many aspects of BAT embryonic development are not well understood. Hoxa5 patterns other tissues at the cervical and brachial levels, including skeletal, neural and respiratory structures. Here, we show that Hoxa5 also positively regulates BAT development, while negatively regulating formation of epaxial skeletal muscle. HOXA5 protein is expressed in embryonic preadipocytes and adipocytes as early as embryonic day 12.5. Hoxa5 null mutant embryos and rare, surviving adults show subtly reduced iBAT and sBAT formation, as well as aberrant marker expression, lower adipocyte density and altered lipid droplet morphology. Conversely, the epaxial muscles that arise from a common dermomyotome progenitor are expanded in Hoxa5 mutants. Conditional deletion of Hoxa5 with Myf5/Cre can reproduce both BAT and epaxial muscle phenotypes, indicating that HOXA5 is necessary within Myf5-positive cells for proper BAT and epaxial muscle development. However, recombinase-based lineage tracing shows that Hoxa5 does not act cell-autonomously to repress skeletal muscle fate. Interestingly, Hoxa5-dependent regulation of adipose-associated transcripts is conserved in lung and diaphragm, suggesting a shared molecular role for Hoxa5 in multiple tissues. Together, these findings establish a role for Hoxa5 in embryonic BAT development.

Sexual trait may simultaneously indicate sperm production and nutritional fitness in uniparental nest‐guarding fish: a case study on Amur sleeper

AbstractThe reproductive success of uniparental males depends much on their nutritional stage (i.e. body condition). Therefore, secondary sexual traits should convey information not only on fecundity but also on nutritional stage. To test this hypothesis, we evaluate relationships between head crest height (HCH), as a secondary sexual trait, relative testes mass (an indicator of sperm production), body condition (an indicator of nutritional status) and body mass of males of uniparental Amur sleeper Perccottus glenii in two contrasting habitats. Furthermore, we examined whether head crest is only a pure investment to advertise male fitness – either to females, rival males or other fish approaching the nest – or it comprises some regainable energy as well. We found that HCH is closely related to relative testes mass, and body condition especially at the beginning of the reproductive period. The head crest consisted of a swollen connective tissue in the supraorbital region of the head, and an oedematous epaxial muscle in the nuchal region. Furthermore, the head crest also comprised of adipose tissue, although not as much as assumed. Therefore, we argue that HCH represents a reliable signal of multiple aspects of male quality; it indicates readiness to spawn and could potentially effectively facilitate female choice towards large males with high fecundity and great nutritional stage, which is essential to good guarding performance. Moreover, the head crest itself also could contribute to nest‐guarding performance by virtually enlarging body size and by representing a minor fat reserve.

Implications of the neuroanatomy of the equine thoracolumbar vertebral column with regional anaesthesia and complications following desmotomy of the interspinous ligament.

Impinging/overriding dorsal spinous processes (DSPs) of the thoracolumbar vertebrae are a common cause of poor performance in horses. In the last five decades, numerous surgical treatments have been reported on, from transverse transection of the affected DSPs, and endoscopic resection of the affected DSPs, to transection of the interspinous ligament. Until recently, cosmetic outcomes have been reported as good to excellent in studies. However, a previously unreported complication of neurogenic atrophy of the contralateral epaxial muscle following desmotomy of the interspinous ligament has been recently reported. The authors hypothesised that this was because of a more lateral approach than previously described, resulting in the scissors being too far across midline and transecting a nerve in the region. Considering this finding, we have reviewed the literature on the neuroanatomy of the thoracolumbar region in the horse. Literature on the neuroanatomy of the horse is lacking when compared with that of humans and companion animals, with most of the work extrapolated from companion animals. Based on the current literature, we hypothesise that transection of an intermediate branch of the dorsal spinal nerve supplying the m. longissimus is potentially the cause of the post-operative neurogenic atrophy. The lack of detailed knowledge of the neural anatomy of the equine back has resulted in the role of local anaesthesia in localising pain in the equine back being poorly understood. The wide variation in techniques used for localising back pain may explain why some horses suffering from poor performance or an abnormal gait because of back pain improve to local anaesthesia of the back while others do not. This review article highlights a lack of anatomical knowledge regarding the equine thoracolumbar region in the literature despite diagnostic local anaesthesia, medication, and surgery in this area being relatively common.

An investigation into the relationship between equine behaviour when tacked‐up and mounted and epaxial muscle hypertonicity or pain, girth region hypersensitivity, saddle‐fit, rider position and balance, and lameness

SummaryBackgroundReasons for abnormal behaviour during tacking‐up and mounting are poorly documented.ObjectivesTo relate behavioural abnormalities during tacking‐up or mounting to epaxial muscle hypertonicity or pain, girth region hypersensitivity, ill‐fitting tack, rider position and balance, or equine musculoskeletal pain.Study designProspective observational study; convenience sample of 193 horses.MethodsThe behaviour of horses in a stable or tied up was observed for ≥8 min before systematic palpation of the thoracolumbosacral and girth regions. Owners were asked to tack‐up and mount using their normal regime. A purpose‐designed protocol for assessment of behaviour during tacking‐up and mounting was applied. Lameness was evaluated in‐hand and during ridden exercise. Static and dynamic saddle‐fit were assessed. A static saddle‐fit score was the sum of any saddle‐fit abnormality. Rider position in the saddle, balance and size relative to the saddle were evaluated during ridden exercise. Multivariable negative binomial regression modelling was used to assess the relationship between the sum of tacking‐up and mounting behaviours and horse, rider and tack‐fit variables.ResultsRiding School horses comprised only 12% of the sample population, but had higher rates of abnormal behaviours during both tacking‐up (P&lt;0.0001) and mounting (P = 0.007) compared with General Purpose horses. The rate of abnormal behaviour during tacking‐up for horses with moderate or severe lameness was 1.4 times higher (P = 0.02) than for nonlame horses. Horses with lameness in‐hand or ridden had 1.5 times higher rates of abnormal behaviour during mounting than nonlame horses. Tight tree points (P = 0.03) and epaxial muscle pain (P&lt;0.001) were associated with higher behaviour scores during tacking‐up. Higher static saddle‐fit scores were associated with higher behaviour scores during mounting.Main limitationsOral examination was not performed.ConclusionsThe display of many behaviours during tacking‐up or mounting is likely to reflect lameness or tack‐associated discomfort. Owners must be better educated to recognise these behaviours.

Influence of peri-incisional epaxial muscle infiltration with bupivacaine pre- or post-surgery on opioid administration in dogs undergoing thoraco-lumbar hemilaminectomy

This study investigated the influence of bupivacaine infiltration before or after hemilaminectomy on peri-operative opioid requirement in dogs. Thirty dogs undergoing T3-L3 hemilaminectomy were randomly assigned to receive peri-incisional infiltration of bupivacaine 2 mg/kg into the epaxial muscles before surgery (Group A), at wound closure (Group B), or no infiltration (Group C). Anaesthesia comprised dexmedetomidine 4 mcg/kg and methadone 0.3 mg/kg IV (premedication), alfaxalone IV (induction), and isoflurane in oxygen (maintenance). All dogs received meloxicam SC/PO prior to induction of general anaesthesia. Response to surgery, defined as a change in autonomic physiological variables >20% above baseline, was treated with fentanyl 2.5 mcg/kg boluses, followed by a continuous rate infusion of fentanyl at 5 mcg/kg/h. The Glasgow Composite Pain Score–Short Form (GCPS-SF) was performed before premedication and at regular intervals until 24 h postoperatively. Methadone 0.2 mg/kg analgesia was given IV if GCPS-SF was ≥5/20. Number of intraoperative, postoperative and total analgesic interventions were recorded. Analgesic interventions were analysed using a chi–squared test using a Pocock approach and statistical significance was set at P < 0.029.The number of intra-operative analgesic interventions in Group A (median, 0; range, 0–2), was significantly lower than in Group B (median, 3; range, 0–5) and Group C (median, 3; range, 0–5; P = 0.019). Regarding postoperative interventions, there were significantly fewer in Group A (median, 0; range, 0–1) and Group B (median, 0; range, 0–1) than in Group C (median, 1; range, 0–2; P = 0.047). Group A (median, 0; range, 0–3), had significantly fewer total analgesic interventions than Group B (median, 3; range, 0–6) and Group C (median, 4; range, 1–7; P = 0.014). Bupivacaine reduced peri-operative opioid administration and pre-surgical peri-incisional infiltration yielded the greatest benefit.

Fetal development of the thoracolumbar fascia with special reference to the fascial connection with the transversus abdominis, latissimus dorsi, and serratus posterior inferior muscles.

The three-layered thoracolumbar fascia (TLF) encapsulates the erector spinae and the quadratus lumborum and has been a major concern for physical therapists. However, knowledge of its prenatal development and growth is limited. Histological examination of 25 embryos and fetuses at 6-37weeks (CRLs, 15-310mm). At the posterior end, the abdominal muscles continued toward an initial posterior layer of the TLF (pTLF) at 6weeks, but the connection became narrow and limited to the obliquus externus aponeurosis until near term. The middle layer of the TLF (mTLF) appeared as a posterior continuation of the transversalis fascia at 9weeks and, depending on a mechanical demand for the vertebral column extension near term, it grew as a thick intermuscular septum between the iliocostalis and quadratus lumborum. Thus, the mTLF lateral end changed from the abdominal wall to the back or pTLF. The serratus posterior inferior originated from the pTLF after 9weeks, but a connection of the latissimus dorsi with the fascia was established much later. Near term, the gluteus maximus was attached to an aponeurosis covering the multifidus behind the sacrum. Therefore, the pTLF extended to cover the gluteal muscles. We rejected the hypothesis that the mTLF develops as a marginal tissue between the primitive epaxial and hypaxial muscles. This study seemed to be the first report showing a fact that, within prenatal life, a drastic change is likely to occur in interfascial connections and their topographical relation to muscles; the TLF might be the best sample.

Essays: A tale of two domains: breathing movement and gas-exchange/lung science - A personal history and the significance of breathing in the respiratory medicine No 12-3: Paired-signaling physiology, a novel frontier of human physiology: Basic medical science and clinical apprication: (3) The body-trunk engine system (basal ganglia and central pattern generators of the spine) controls the locomotion movement of the

Essays: A tale of two domains: breathing movement and gas-exchange/lung science - A personal history and the significance of breathing in the respiratory medicine No 12-3: Paired-signaling physiology, a novel frontier of human physiology: Basic medical science and clinical apprication: (3) The body-trunk engine system (basal ganglia and central pattern generators of the spine) controls the locomotion movement of the

Effects of a Bio-Electromagnetic Energy Regulation Blanket on Thoracolumbar Epaxial Muscle Pain in Horses

Effects of a Bio-Electromagnetic Energy Regulation Blanket on Thoracolumbar Epaxial Muscle Pain in Horses