Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0026850 (muscular dystrophy)
 5,870 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

A regional technique for the study of curare sensitivity has been applied to patients with Duchenne type muscular dystrophy, myotonic disorders, certain lower motor neurone disorders, to patients with weakness in the arm after hemiplegia, to patients with hyper-reflexia and hypertonia without weakness, and to Parkinsonism. In the dystrophy patients, sensitivity to curare differs from normal controls in that the neuromuscular block persists. The possibilities that this latent defect of neuromuscular transmission is the result of acetylcholine deficiency due to a prejunctional defect or the result of alterations in the property of the postjunctional membrane are discussed. In the myotonic and lower motor neurone disorders, curare sensitivity was similar to that of normal controls. After hemiplegia, the affected side shows resistance to curare when compared with the unaffected side. In states of hyper-reflexia and hypertonia, however, the sensitivity to curare is greater than in normal controls. In Parkinsonism, sensitivity is similar to that of the controls. The results in upper motor neurone lesions are discussed in relation to the dependence of neuromuscular transmission upon the motor neurone, which, in turn, is dependent upon descending impulses.
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PMID:Study of sensitivity to curare in certain neurological disorders using a regional technique. 16 92

The sport of snow skiing by the physically disabled, which originated in Europe in 1935 and first received attention in the United States in the 1940s, is reviewed in terms of opportunities available, instructions, adaptive equipment necessary, and benefits provided. Persons with a wide variety of disabilities (such as cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, hemiplegia, amputation, blindness, spina bifida, and muscular dystrophy) can participate. Accordingly, a wide range of adaptive equipment is available--including outrigger skis, flip-skis, canting wedges, ski bras, "toe spreaders," sit-skis, and mono-skis--to allow safe enjoyment of the sport. Programs for instruction of the disabled skier are increasing in number and popularity, and numerous opportunities are available to enter competitive events sponsored by National Handicapped Sports. Both the participants and the instructors relate the numerous physical and psychologic benefits that can be derived from skiing; the sport provides an almost universal enjoyment of the sense of freedom and independence. Snow skiing is an enjoyable, beneficial, outdoor cold-weather activity that the disabled population can safely learn with proper instruction.
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PMID:Snow skiing for the physically disabled. 182 30