title: The approximate entropy of the electromyographic signals of tremor correlates with the osmotic fragility of human erythrocytes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The main problem of tremor is the damage caused to the quality of the life of patients, especially those at more advanced ages. There is not a consensus yet about the origins of this disorder, but it can be examined in the correlations between the biological signs of aging and the tremor characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  This work sought correlations between the osmotic fragility of erythrocytes and features extracted from electromyographic (EMG) activity resulting from physiological tremor in healthy patients (N = 44) at different ages (24-87 years). The osmotic fragility was spectrophotometrically evaluated by the dependence of hemolysis, provided by the absorbance in 540 nm (A54o), on the concentration of NaCl. The data were adjusted to curves of sigmoidal regression and characterized by the half transition point (H50), amplitude of lysis transition (dx) and values of A540 in the curve regions that characterize the presence of lysed (A1) and preserved erythrocytes (A2). The approximate entropy was estimated from EMG signals detected from the extensor carpi ulnaris muscle during the movement of the hand of subjects holding up a laser pen towards an Archimedes spiral, fixed in a whiteboard. The evaluations were carried out with the laser pen at rest, at the center of the spiral, and in movement from the center to the outside and from outside to the center. The correlations among the parameters of osmotic fragility, tremor and age were tested.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Negative correlations with age were found for A1 and dx. With the hand at rest, a positive correlation with H50 was found for the approximate entropy. Negative correlations with H50 were found for the entropy with the hand in movement, as from the center to the outside or from the outside to the center of the spiral.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In healthy individuals, the increase in the erythrocyte osmotic fragility was associated with a decrease in the approximate entropy for rest tremor and with an increase of the entropy for movement tremor. This suggests that the neuromuscular degeneration associated with tremor entails also the mechanisms involved in the breakdown of structural homeostasis of the erythrocyte membrane.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Engineering Laboratory, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo H G
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Mansur
authors.forename: Lacordaire K P
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Cury
authors.forename: José O B
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Leite
authors.forename: Adriano A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Nilson
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Penha-Silva
authors.forename: Adriano O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Andrade
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods*; D019277:Entropy; D006225:Hand / Q000503:physiopathology; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D008938:Mitosis; D009068:Movement; D009996:Osmotic Fragility; D014202:Tremor / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult