Investigation of Human Muscle Function in vivo

在过去的30年里，成像(磁共振成像、正电子发射断层扫描、超声)、光谱(磁共振光谱、近红外光谱)和电生理(肌电)方法的技术和应用取得了重大进展。使用这些非侵入性和微创方法的研究显著增强了，在某些情况下甚至根本改变了我们的 了解肌肉在健康和疾病状态下的功能。科学会议可能在确保这一进展将继续并在未来得到加强方面发挥重要作用，但很少有机会讨论肌肉生理学的相关方面以及这些方法带来的机会和限制。因此，我们正在组织一次国际科学研讨会，以便： 1.讨论骨骼肌在健康和疾病方面的当前和未来研究； 2.采用正在或有望应用于相关人类群体的非侵入性和微创技术，严格评估其潜在贡献和缺陷； 3.强调研究肌肉功能的综合性方法； 4.促进有前途的年轻科学家与知名研究人员的互动；以及 5.向科学界和非科学界传播会议的结果。 会议将于2005年10月20日至23日在田纳西州纳什维尔举行。初步计划整合了神经肌肉生理学和技术，包括研讨会、海报会议、全体讲座和社会功能；科学主题包括肌肉力学、肌肉新陈代谢、大脑激活和运动控制，以及心血管和肌肉系统之间的相互作用。预计将有200-250名学生、研究员、住院医生、临床医生和主要研究人员在他们的神经肌肉系统研究中使用成像、光谱和电生理学方法。在这份申请中，我们请求为学员参加讲习班并从中受益提供部分支持；我们还请求为少数族裔学员的旅行津贴方案提供支持。

In the past 30 years, there has been significant progress in the technology and applications of imaging (magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography, ultrasound), spectroscopic (magnetic resonance spectroscopy, near-infrared spectroscopy), and electrophysiological (electromyography) methods. Studies employing these non- and minimally invasive approaches have significantly enhanced, and in some cases even fundamentally altered, our understanding of how muscles function in both the healthy and diseased states. Scientific meetings can potentially play an important role in ensuring that this progress will continue and be enhanced in the future, but there are few opportunities to discuss both the relevant aspects of muscle physiology and the opportunities and limitations presented by these methods. We are therefore organizing an international scientific workshop in order to: 1. Discuss current and future research on skeletal muscle, in health and disease; 2. Feature non- and minimally invasive technologies that are being or have the promise to be applied to relevant human populations, critically evaluating their potential contributions and pitfalls; 3. Emphasize an integrative approach to studying muscle function; 4. Promote the interaction of promising young scientists with established investigators; and 5. Disseminate the findings of the meeting to the scientific and lay communities. The meeting will be held in Nashville, TN on October 20-23, 2005. The preliminary program integrates neuromuscular physiology and technology and includes symposia, poster sessions, plenary lectures, and social functions; the scientific topics include muscle mechanics, muscle metabolism, brain activation and motor control, and the interactions between the cardiovascular and muscular systems. An international audience of 200-250 students, fellows, residents, clinicians, and principal investigators who use imaging, spectroscopic, and electrophysiological methods in their studies of the neuromuscular system is anticipated. In this application we have requested partial support for the trainees to attend and benefit from the workshop; we have also requested support for a minority trainee travel stipend program.