We attempted to determine muscle biopsy sites using fusion imaging technology, which synchronizes ultrasonography (US) examination with MRI images. [Method] We performed MRI and US in the biopsy position immediately prior to the biopsy. The MRI imaging technique used was fat-suppressed T2-weighted imaging, performed with markers affixed to the target muscle for the biopsy. US was aligned with MRI at the marker site to perform US/MRI fusion. The biopsy site was designated as the area with abnormal findings on MRI. After marking the site with ultrasound, an open muscle biopsy was performed directly beneath the marked site. [Results and Discussion] The muscle biopsy was performed on the quadriceps femoris and triceps brachii. The histopathological findings in both cases were consistent with myositis, and we successfully obtained tissue samples appropriate for diagnosis. In the triceps brachii, the MRI abnormalities were localized, but the lesion could be accurately identified. US is influenced by the examiner’s skill in scanning techniques and interpreting findings, but synchronizing it with MRI enables objective evaluation. Fusion imaging of US and MRI is expected to improve the diagnostic accuracy of muscle biopsy.

This study aimed to examine the neurophysiological effects of variations in the tone of mother’s speech on children with cerebral palsy who have communication limitations due to motor difficulties. The subject was a 6-year-old girl with cerebral palsy, born as a low birth weight infant at 2000 g and 34 weeks gestation. Participant’s mother was asked to speak under two conditions: “asking condition” and “inform condition,” using four channels (Fp1, Fp2, P3, P4) for EEG measurements. Wavelet Coherence analysis was employed for data analysis. The results indicated that maternal vocalizations affected the child’s emotions and were associated with the facilitation of cognitive activity. Moreover, in the “inform condition,” the child exhibited a tendency to focus on specific vocalizations, whereas in the “asking condition,” there was a tendency to attend to the overall vocalizations. This study suggests that vocal interactions may play an important role in the effects of rehabilitation and the development of the child.