The greater capacity for PAP at the short length is reflected by greater NME. Compared with evoked responses, the relatively small change in NME suggests a different and more modest role of PAP during voluntary submaximal contractions.

Aromatase inhibitors (AIs), such as anastrozole, letrozole, and exemestane, are commonly used as adjuvant endocrine therapy in hormone-receptive breast cancer in postmenopausal women. Their adverse effects are well documented, except for visual disturbances. The purpose of this study was to review the current literature on ocular disease linked to AI use. Due to the scarcity of published data, any suggested ophthalmic adverse events were included to increase awareness of these drugs. The ocular side effects of tamoxifen use are well documented and were not included. Cases of rare side effects such as papilloedema, macular oedema, and uveitis associated with anastrozole and letrozole have been reported. Studies demonstrating retinopathy, in the form of crystalline retinopathy, hemicentral retinal artery occlusion, and retinal haemorrhages, are also noted. All three third-generation AIs can also lead to ocular surface diseases such as corneal epithelial changes, blepharitis, and keratitis. There is slightly more literature available regarding anastrozole-related ocular diseases. Although these are likely rare side effects, we recommend a high level of clinical suspicion when assessing patients with visual symptoms and on AIs. Larger prospective studies are necessary to further investigate these complications.

Ultrasound imaging has facilitated the reliable measure of the architectural variables fascicle length (L F ) and pennation angle (PA), at rest and during static and dynamic contractions in many human skeletal muscles in vivo. Despite its small size and very modest contribution to elbow extension torque, the anconeus muscle has proven a useful model for the study of neuromuscular function in health and disease. Recent single motor unit (MU) studies in the anconeus have reported discrete and identifiable individual trains of MU potentials from intramuscular electromyography (EMG) recordings during dynamic elbow extensions. It is unknown whether the anconeus has unique architectural features related to alterations in L F and PA throughout the elbow joint range of motion that may help explain these high-quality recordings. Previous anatomical studies have investigated this muscle in cadavers and at mainly one elbow joint angle. The purpose of this study was to measure in vivo PA and L F of the anconeus muscle in a relaxed state at different degrees of elbow flexion using ultrasonography. Ultrasound images were collected from 10 healthy males (25 AE 3 years) at 135°, 120°, 90°, 45°, and 0°of elbow flexion. Average values of L F decreased by 6 mm (10%), 6 mm (12%), and 4 mm (9%) from 135-120°, 120-90°, and 90-45°of elbow flexion, respectively, whereas average PA values increased by 1°(9%), 1°(8%), and 2°(14%) from 135-120°, 120-90°, and 45-0°, respectively. The results indicate that anconeus muscle architecture is dynamic, undergoing moderate changes with elbow joint excursion that are similar to other limb muscles reported elsewhere. The data obtained here are more comprehensive and representative of architectural changes at various elbow joint positions than those data reported in cadaveric studies. Furthermore, the results of this study indicate that despite experiencing similar relative changes in muscle architecture to other skeletal muscles about the elbow joint, the minimal absolute changes in L F of the anconeus likely contribute to the clarity of intramuscular EMG previously reported in this muscle.

Twitch potentiation was similar between conditioning contraction types, but ballistic RTD was lower after post-tetanus than post-voluntary. The results indicate central inhibition or fatigue concurrent with peripheral potentiation.

In skeletal muscle, post-activation potentiation (PAP) is observed following a conditioning contraction (CC) as a large (2- to 3-fold) increase in evoked twitch force and rate of force development (RFD). However, this enhancement has not been observed to occur during potentiated voluntary contractions. The purpose of this study was to determine if the lack of voluntary potentiation may be related to the development of central (corticospinal) inhibition. Participants (N=10, all males) completed voluntary and evoked index finger abduction contractions and transcranial magnetic stimulated (TMS) motor evoked potentials (MEP) of the motor cortex were recorded from the first dorsal interosseous (FDI). Central inhibition was assessed by measuring the silent period following the MEP. The FDI was potentiated via 10s conditioning contractions at 60% of maximal index finger abduction strength, using both voluntary and evoked tetanic contractions. Immediately following CC and transcutaneous electrical twitches. Following both voluntary and tetanic CC, force and RFD of the twitch were similarly increased (~200% and ~160% respectively). The silent period was elongated by ~10% following both forms of CC. These results indicate that corticospinal inhibition does occur following CC, but that it is unrelated to the voluntary activation during the CC. These results also show that following CC, the positive contractile effects at the muscle are concurrently accompanied by inhibitory effects at the corticospinal level.