Neuromuscular screen

To simplify this presentation, datasets drawn only from neuromuscular screening activity were used. However, the evaluation and approaches should be valid for all similar screening datasets, regardless of source. The methods are not sensitive to the biases introduced by the degree of interdependence found in many screening batteries that use multiple measures (such as the neurobehavioral screen). 

Gad, S.C. (1982a). A neuromuscular screen for use in industrial toxicology J. Toxicol. Environ. Health 9 691-704. 

On the other hand, the Rotarod Test can be considered only as an initial screen for neuromuscular impairment. More complex tests, for example analyses of gait, are required to further understand the motor aspects, whereas electrophysiological procedures, for example the electromyogram (EMG), are required for better understanding the neuromuscular aspects. 

Anadon, A., Martinez-Larranaga, M.R. (1985). Effects of crotoxin on autonomic neuromuscular transmission in the guinea-pig myenteric plexus and vas deferens. Toxicon 23 963-72. Arvidson, K.B., Valerio, L.G., Jr., Diaz, M., Chanderbhan, R.F. (2008). In silico toxicological screening of natural products. Toxicol. Mech. Meth. 18 229-42. 

Where neuromuscular conditions are atypical, thyroid dysfunction should be considered and actively sought using TSH level as a screening test. 

Smith, A.S., Long, C.J., Pirozzi, K., Hickman, J.J. A functional system for high-content screening of neuromuscular junctions. Technology 1, 37-48 (2013)... 

Postnatally, offspring were tested for olfaction, neuromuscular ability, exploratory and circadian activity, aversive and appetitive learning." There was evidence of impaired neuromuscular ability." Offspring from dams exposed on days 7-13 were poorer than controls in ascent of a wire mesh screen during the second week of life and were poorer than controls on a rotorod test on one of the 3 days tested in the fourth week of life." Offspring from dams exposed on days 14-20 performed less well in ascent of a wire mesh screen. 

The authors reported that these patients had an unusual neuromuscular syndrome (which has not previously been described), characterized by muscle spasms and hyper-reflexia that lasted between 2 and 8 days. They reported that though clenbuterol toxicity has been reported to cause muscle tremors and myalgia, previous patients did not have tetany, muscle spasms, or hyper-reflexia. None of the drug screens detected strychnine, which is a common contaminant of heroin. They concluded that this novel neuromuscular syndrome was probably due to clenbuterol-adulterated heroin, but acknowledged that there could be other possible expla-nations/contaminations that were not detected. 

---