title: Reduced skeletal muscle quantity and quality in patients with diabetic polyneuropathy assessed by magnetic resonance imaging.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to determine whether diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) is associated with reduced muscle quality using MRI.
  
  
  METHODS
  MRIs of the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle were recorded from 9 individuals (5 men) with DPN (∼65 years) and 8 (4 men) age- and gender-matched controls. A magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) and T2 relaxation times of the TA were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Despite equal voluntary activation, the DPN group was ∼37% weaker than controls, with a significantly lower proportion (∼8%) of contractile tissue and lower MTR (0.28 ± 0.03 vs. 0.32 ± 0.02 percent units). T2 relaxation time was significantly longer in the DPN group (77 ± 16 ms) compared with controls (63 ± 6 ms).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings indicate a reduction in the structural integrity and myocellular protein density in the TA of those with DPN. Thus, muscle weakness in DPN is likely due to both a loss of muscle mass and a reduction in contractile quality.
authors.affiliation: School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6G 1H1, Canada.
authors.forename: Colin W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6G 1H1, Canada.|School of Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Matti D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.affiliation: School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6G 1H1, Canada.|Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kimpinski
authors.affiliation: School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6G 1H1, Canada.|Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.|Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Doherty
authors.affiliation: School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6G 1H1, Canada.|Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Charles L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Rice
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000473:pathology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology*; D009929:Organ Size
keywords: T2 relaxation time; diabetes mellitus; diabetic neuropathy; magnetization transfer imaging; muscle composition; tibialis anterior; weakness