Background Duchenne (DMD) and Becker (BMD) muscular dystrophies ( MD) are inherited X-linked diseases characterized by absence or decrease of dystrophin, a sarcolemal protein that is essential for maintenance of the muscular membrane integrity during muscular contraction. Cardiac involvement is as high, it can be clinically silent, but is often complicated by severe heart failure and high morta...

Incipient cardiac failure was detected in 56 per cent of cases of pseudohypertrophic muscular dystrophy, 50per cent oflimb girdle type ofmyopathies, and2 of the 3 cases with 'unclassifled' variety. 'Myopathic pattern' in the electrocardiogram was seen in 82 per cent of the cases of pseudohypertrophic muscular dystrophy who showed abnormal haemodynamics. This suggests that this pattern is due to...

Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) integrates dystrophy occurring due to genetic mutations that express the dystrophin protein in chromosome X. The onset of neuromuscular symptoms usually precedes the impairment of cardiac function, and may conversely happen by heart failure (HF). Physical training is well established in HF, however, when combined with BMD, it is controversial and without any scie...

We report the history of a diabetic man presenting with hyperkalaemia and rapidly progressing muscular paralysis with severe respiratory embarrassment. His symptoms resolved rapidly with reduction of the serum potassium concentration. Similar cases have been reported previously but this is a problem that few will have encountered and is a diagnosis which should not be overlooked before artifici...

INTRODUCTION We present a case of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) with a diaphragm paralysis as the primary cause of ventilatory failure. FSHD is an autosomal dominant inherited disorder with a restricted pattern of weakness. Although respiratory weakness is a relatively unknown in FSHD, it is not uncommon. METHODS We report on the clinical findings of a 68-year old male who pre...

Apathetic hyperthyroidism, as its name implies, presents itself in an insidious manner so that the diagnosis may be oliscure until a near-terminal situation. Such was the situation in two elderly women manifesting lethargy, muscular weakness, and anasarca associated with severe Mcnspid regurgitation. Both had been unresponsive to the usual medical regimen consisting of digitalis and diuretics f...

The syndrome of chronic heart failure is characterized by exercise limitation usually associated with breathlessness or fatigue. The mechanism by which this exercise intolerance is generated remains unclear. Although muscular atrophy has been recognised as a part of the chronic heart failure syndrome for many years'" only recently has skeletal muscle been studied in any detail. Widespread abnor...

Physical fitness assessments for tactical occupations (e.g., military, law enforcement, and emergency services) can include predictive tests of anaerobic power, cardiovascular fitness, muscular endurance, strength, agility, and/or simulated occupational tasks. Not only these be used to assess the ability someone undertake job role but they determine injury risk, training failure, general health...