Research on muscle biology and repair. Covers tissue maintenance, Parkinson's protection, repair-cell preservation, and muscle strength with age.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota Medical School have discovered a subset of muscle stem cells that are located close to blood vessels and are likely to be the more potent stem cell population in maintaining muscle health. This groundbreaking study uses 3D technology to study the interaction between stem cells and blood vessel...
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have discovered a new way in which nerve cells control movement by dynamically adjusting neurotransmitter production. This finding opens up new avenues for treating diseases such as myasthenia gravis and spinal muscular atrophy.
Researchers develop a system using IL-4 nanoparticles to target macrophages, reducing inflammation and promoting muscle fiber regeneration. Mice with injured muscles treated with IL-4 nanoparticles showed improved muscle structure and strength.
Biomedical engineers at Duke University discovered that immune cells, specifically macrophages, play a critical role in regenerating lab-grown adult muscle tissue. The discovery could lead to new treatments for degenerative muscle diseases and enhance the survival of engineered tissue grafts.
Researchers found that exercise stimulates autophagy, a cellular process responsible for removing damaged proteins and toxins from muscles. The study shows that regular physical activity can reduce the buildup of toxic proteins in muscles, leading to improved muscle function and reduced wasting.
Researchers will explore how smooth muscles control feathers and aid birds in flight, a novel approach that could reveal the role of smooth muscle in limb control for the first time. By studying body contour feathers and wing movement, they aim to transform our understanding of bird flight.
Researchers discovered Sherpa muscles can resist fatigue up to twice as much as lowlanders' in a low-oxygen environment. The study found that Sherpa fatigued 33% less and recovered nearly twice as fast compared to lowlanders.
Massachusetts General Hospital researchers discovered that extracellular RNA in urine can serve as a source of biomarkers for muscular dystrophy. This non-invasive assay allows for the monitoring of systemic diseases and may reduce or eliminate the need for muscle biopsies, enabling early identification of therapeutic response.
Encouraging strength-based exercises like squats and lunges could play a key role in tackling child obesity by reducing body fat percentage. The findings also suggest an increase in muscle mass gained from strength training can help boost children's metabolism and energy levels.
The MoreGrasp project developed a sensoric grasp neuroprosthesis controlled by thought, enabling users to perform daily activities with ease. The technique uses 'attempted movement' signals, allowing for more precise control and improved learning through brain-computer interface training.
The POPULAR study confirms a significant association between neuromuscular blocking agents and respiratory complications after surgery. Established techniques to avoid residual paralysis did not lower the patients' risk of pulmonary complications.
Fibro-adipogenic progenitors (FAPs) have multiple identities during muscle regeneration, driving symptoms of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Targeting FAPs with defined markers may prevent fibrosis and promote regeneration.
Researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute found sarcolipin increases muscle energy expenditure and fat oxidization by uncoupling calcium ion transporter SERCA activity. This leads to increased mitochondrial biogenesis and fat burning, potentially helping people with obesity and type 2 diabetes
Research by UPNA finds that muscle strength training can reverse age-related muscle loss and improve cardiovascular health. The study emphasizes the importance of considering physical exercise as a treatment for cardiovascular diseases.
Researchers have successfully boosted expression of the dystrophin gene to therapeutic levels in large animal models, a crucial step towards developing a treatment for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The study demonstrates that CRISPR/Cas9 approaches can improve muscle function and integrity in DMD patients.
Researchers found that brain stimulation may be a viable treatment for RLS, which affects 10% of adults in the US. The study suggests that hyperarousal and excitability in the motor cortex are key factors contributing to the condition.
A study published in Neurology suggests that spinal muscular atrophy drug nusinersen may be effective for muscle control even when treatment is started in children seven months and older. The research found significant muscle control improvements in participants, including an 8-year-old child, with some able to sit up without support.
A new study found that obesity blunts post-workout muscle building and repair in young adults. The research showed that obese individuals had reduced rates of myofibrillar protein synthesis after a weightlifting session compared to normal-weight peers.
Researchers aim to address muscle power deficits in children with cerebral palsy, using a combined impairment and task-specific approach. The study will investigate the effects of PT3 on functional walking capacity, muscle performance, and architecture.
Researchers found that vamorolone improved muscle repair and strength in experimental models of LGMD2B, while prednisolone worsened muscle weakness and degeneration. The study suggests modified steroids like vamorolone may be an option for some patients with the disease.
Researchers at Stanford University found that head positioning is a more important factor in determining concussion risk than neck tension. Small variations in position can affect the subsequent rotation of the head and increase or decrease concussion risk.
Scientists at Helmholtz Zentrum München discovered a metabolic network controlled by muscle cell circadian clocks, regulating fat storage and glucose metabolism. The study found that without this internal clock, mice became leaner and had more muscle mass.
Researchers discovered that nematodes undergo complete degeneration of muscles and neurons, only to rebuild them in adulthood. This process may hold clues for understanding human neurodegenerative diseases and developing new pest control strategies for soybeans.
A study found that 12 weeks of aerobic and strength-based exercise reduces symptoms and levels of fatigue in patients with chronic kidney disease. Exercise also improves blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetic control, making it a beneficial treatment option for patients with CKD.
Researchers at the University of Bath found that eating breakfast before exercise increases the body's ability to burn carbohydrates during exercise. This also leads to faster digestion and metabolism of food eaten after exercise.
Research published in The Journal of Physiology suggests that exercise can help people exposed to extreme temperatures protect themselves from muscle fatigue. Exercise builds-up muscle in the limbs, allowing it to shiver longer and maintain core temperature for longer.
Researchers at Queen Mary University of London and University of Cambridge developed auxetic materials with smooth curves, enabling repeated deformations without damage. These materials can be used in energy-efficient gripping tools, re-configurable shape-on-demand materials, and lattices with unique thermal expansion behaviour.
Researchers discovered a link between the protocadherin 17 gene and abnormal brain-eye muscle connections in zebrafish, which may contribute to strabismus. The study suggests that Pcdh17 protein plays a crucial role in positioning neurons correctly in the brain and extending axons to target muscles.
A new study by the University of Leicester found that larger muscles can compensate for poor muscle quality in Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patients, improving physical function and strength. The research suggests that muscle size is a more important factor than muscle quality in maintaining good physical performance.
A study published in eNeuro found a common neural signature of balance maintenance in the healthy brain, which could be used to assess balance in patients with movement disorders. The researchers used EEG and EMG to record electrical activity from the brain and muscles while participants walked or stood on a narrow beam.
Researchers discovered a protein called JNK that drives response to exercise, stimulating skeletal muscle growth and endurance adaptation. Inhibition of this pathway may improve response to aerobic capacity training.
Researchers at BIDMC have shown that altering brown fat tissue can significantly impact skeletal muscle function, leading to reduced exercise performance. The findings suggest that myostatin, a hormone normally silenced in brown adipose tissue, plays a crucial role in regulating muscle function.
A new study found that long-term heat therapy increases mitochondrial function in the muscles by an average of 28 percent. Heat therapy may provide a new treatment option for people with chronic illness or disease who cannot exercise regularly.
Researchers developed a custom-made silicone implant technique using 3D CAD technology, yielding high-quality results in patients with chest deformities related to Poland syndrome. The implants provided good cosmetic outcomes and improved the patients' social and emotional aspects of quality of life.
Researchers discovered fibro-adipogenic progenitor cells promote muscle wasting and scarring in spinal cord injury, ALS, and SMA models. By targeting IL-6-STAT3 signaling, they found a potential new avenue for treating or testing motor neuron diseases.
The OpenSim software has been expanded to improve its applications in medicine, paleontology, and animal locomotion by adding accurate models of muscle dynamics, joint kinematics, and assistive devices. The new improvements enable researchers to perform powerful simulations, visualize solutions, and communicate ideas more effectively.
As adults age, muscle loss in the throat impairs efficient constriction during swallowing, leading to increased food retention. This study explains why 15% of seniors experience dysphagia, a condition that can cause malnutrition, dehydration, and pneumonia.
A new Arizona State University study shows that animals may be able to use their own muscles to get water when it's not available. Researchers found that during reproduction, muscle metabolism is linked to the water requirements of developing offspring.
Researchers have discovered a second-generation drug that can silence the gene responsible for inherited ALS by injecting it into rodents. The new version of the drug is more effective at reducing SOD1 protein production and delaying disease progression. It may be ready for early-stage clinical trials.
A 60-year-old amateur weight-lifter developed non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy after taking high doses of testosterone and receiving illegal stem cell infusions. Doctors warn that AAS abuse can cause heart problems in people without usual risk factors, especially when taken at high doses.
Researchers discovered that snipefish use an elastic-boosted head flick to capture prey at unprecedented speed, with the fastest recorded events occurring in just two milliseconds. This mechanism allows the fish to pivot their heads rapidly and bring their mouth up close to the prey.
Researchers developed a diagnostic test using needle biopsies to detect malignant hyperthermia, a fatal genetic condition caused by muscle protein mutations. The new test is less invasive and can be performed on children, providing potential early diagnosis.
Researchers studied identical 52-year-old twins with different fitness paths, revealing the importance of exercise in maintaining overall health. The athletic twin exhibited better cardiovascular and pulmonary health, as well as greater muscle strength and endurance, highlighting the benefits of regular physical activity.
Researchers at Mayo Clinic have identified a neurological cause for the yips in golfers, which can be measured using quantitative methods. The study found that five out of 27 golfers had a neurologic cause for their condition, with greater acceleration of wrist and arm movement and more variability in wrist acceleration and rotation.
A new study found that intensive care patients are unable to effectively use fats for energy, contributing to significant muscle loss. This inability is likely due to widespread muscle inflammation in the early days of intensive care, making nutrition and exercise programmes less effective.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine discovered that alternative splicing is essential for maintaining adult muscle mass. Knocking out genes Rbfox1 and Rbfox2 in skeletal muscles led to rapid loss of muscle mass within four weeks. The study highlights the critical role of alternative splicing in adult muscle maintenance.
Researchers identify myofibroblasts as key players in activating nucleus movement, potentially leading to new therapeutic strategies for muscle disorders. The discovery could improve understanding of muscle differentiation, functionality, and regeneration.
A study by University of Huddersfield researchers suggests that carbohydrate gels and caffeine-infused chewing gum can help teams perform better in extra time. The five-minute window before extra time begins is crucial, but teams may also need to develop better nutritional strategies.
Scientists successfully regenerate skeletal muscle cells in mice with muscular dystrophy by using cells from animal teratomas. The study showed improved potential with 80% regeneration compared to the current 5-10%.
Researchers developed a deep-learning model to predict biological age of muscles and estimate the importance of genetic and epigenetic factors driving muscle aging. The study identified tissue-specific biomarkers of aging, which can be used to track the effectiveness of interventions.
A new study by UC San Francisco scientists reveals the brain area responsible for controlling vocal pitch in humans. The dorsal laryngeal motor cortex is found to govern the 'music' of speech, enabling flexible control over pitch fluctuations during speech.
Researchers found that a dietary supplement derived from glucose increases muscle-force production in the Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) mouse model by 50% after ten days. The study suggests that N-acetylglucosamine may preserve muscular strength and is an inexpensive product with potential as a treatment for DMD patients.
A study published in Cell found that a specific region of the brain's frontal lobe controls vocal pitch, enabling humans to convey meaning through speech and language. By examining neural activity and using brain sensors, researchers identified increased activity in this region when participants altered their voice pitch.
A University of Guelph study discovered that muscle sympathetic nerve activity increases in over-trained athletes after overload training, hindering performance. In contrast, recreational triathletes and cyclists who followed a consistent training regime showed improved fitness and cardiovascular health.
A team of researchers has developed a mouse model of myotonic dystrophy type 1, revealing multiple mechanisms beyond alternative splicing. The study found a clear association between specific signaling pathways and muscle loss, as well as the upregulation of protein AMPK-alpha and the reduction of PDGFR-beta signaling activity.
Researchers at MIT's CSAIL have developed a system that allows people to control robots using brainwaves and hand gestures. The system uses EEG and EMG feedback to detect errors and correct robot mistakes on multi-choice problems, enabling more natural human-robot interactions.
Researchers have developed a dual-therapy approach that combines brain-computer interface and functional electrical stimulation to boost motor recovery in stroke victims. The study found significant improvements in arm mobility among patients who received the treatment, with some scores exceeding twice those of control group patients.
A woman's experience of chronic pain in her left knee, thigh, and hip after getting a tattoo has led doctors to warn patients with compromised immune systems about the potential risks. Inflammatory myopathy, a condition characterized by muscle weakness and pain, was diagnosed after a biopsy revealed inflammation in her thigh muscle.
Researchers discover a causal relationship between inflammatory responses in aging nerves and degenerative aging processes. The team found that reducing macrophage activity improves nerve structure and function, increasing mobility and quality of life for those affected by age-related muscle weakness.
A new study has found that girls with high vitamin D levels have stronger muscles than those with low levels. The association was not found in boys, and researchers are unsure why girls benefit more from vitamin D. Vitamin D is an important source of muscle strength, but the exact mechanism is still unclear.