Forearm

Abstract: A method was developed for the semiquantitative assessment of body hair growth, and suitable for use in the study of clinical problems associated with hirsuties in women. Five gradings based on densities and areas involved, were determined for each of 11 sites. Findings from application of the method to a control group of 430 women (ages, 15–74 years) are reported. Hair tended to increase on the face and disappear from all other sites with advancing years. In younger age groups a significant amount of hair was found on the forearm and leg in most subjects, but a zero grading was much the commonest finding at all other sites. It is suggested that 2 factors may be involved: one of protective nature with main expression on the forearm and leg, and the other related to hormone levels or sensitivity, with clearest expression elsewhere. An “hormonal” score obtained by adding the gradings obtained from 9 of the 11 sites (excluding the forearm and leg) is being employed in clinical studies.

Abstract: We studied thirty-three normal patients, eighteen women and fifteen men, for normal motion and the amount of elbow motion required for fifteen activities of daily living. The amounts of elbow flexion and forearm rotation (pronation and supination) were measured simultaneously by means of an electrogoniometer. Activities of dressing and hygiene require elbow positioning from about 140 degrees of flexion needed to reach the occiput to 15 degrees of flexion required to tie a shoe. Most of these activities are performed with the forearm in zero to 50 degrees of supination. Other activities of daily living (such as eating, using a telephone, or opening a door) are accomplished with arcs of motion of varying magnitudes. Most of the activities of daily living that were studied in this project can be accomplished with 100 degrees of elbow flexion (from 30 to 130 degrees) and 100 degrees of forearm rotation (50 degrees of pronation and 50 degrees of supination). Clinical Relevance: These data, not previously recorded, may be used to provide an objective basis for the determination of disability impairment, to determine the optimum position for elbow splinting or arthrodesis, and to assist in the design of elbow prostheses. The motion needed to perform essential daily activities is obtainable with a successful total elbow arthroplasty.

Abstract: The effect of hypercholesterolemia on vascular function was studied in humans. To eliminate the potential confounding effects of atherosclerosis, vascular reactivity was measured in the forearm resistance vessels of 11 normal subjects (serum LDL cholesterol = 111 +/- 7 mg/dl) and 13 patients with hypercholesterolemia (serum LDL cholesterol = 211 +/- 19 mg/dl, P less than 0.05). Each subject received intrabrachial artery infusions of methacholine, which releases endothelium-derived relaxant factor, and nitroprusside which directly stimulates guanylate cyclase in vascular smooth muscle. Maximal vasodilatory potential was determined during reactive hyperemia. Vasoconstrictive responsiveness was examined during intra-arterial phenylephrine infusion. Forearm blood flow was determined by venous occlusion plethysmography. Basal forearm blood flow in normal and hypercholesterolemic subjects was comparable. Similarly, reactive hyperemic blood flow did not differ between the two groups. In contrast, the maximal forearm blood flow response to methacholine in hypercholesterolemic subjects was less than that observed in normal subjects. In addition, the forearm blood flow response to nitroprusside was less in hypercholesterolemic subjects. There was no difference in the forearm vasoconstrictive response to phenylephrine in the two groups. Thus, the vasodilator responses to methacholine and nitroprusside were blunted in patients with hypercholesterolemia. We conclude that in humans with hypercholesterolemia, there is a decreased effect of nitrovasodilators, including endothelium-derived relaxing factor, on the vascular smooth muscle of resistance vessels.