Research on muscle biology and repair. Covers tissue maintenance, Parkinson's protection, repair-cell preservation, and muscle strength with age.
A new gene therapy has demonstrated effectiveness in clearing glycogen buildup from muscles in mice, potentially replacing enzyme infusions. The therapy uses a modified virus to deliver a gene that produces an enzyme missing in people with Pompe disease.
Scientists at Linköping University and the University of Borås developed a new technology that turns fabric into muscular tissue, allowing it to actuate like muscle fibers. The 'textile muscles' can be integrated into clothing, providing power for devices like exoskeletons, and opening up new opportunities for people with disabilities
A new study published in Experimental Physiology found that sprint interval training is a powerful stimulus to elicit cellular remodelling in both men and women. The research, conducted at McMaster University, showed that changes in gene expression over a short time-scale are similar between the sexes.
Researchers found that myokines enhance human cognitive function, plan to use this feature to correct conditions such as autism and memory disorders without medication. They conducted comprehensive studies involving volunteers and animals, including mice, to investigate the production of myokines.
Researchers found that the fluid-filled nature of muscle fibers plays a role in creating tension when stretching. The study used a model and experiments with real bullfrog muscle to demonstrate the mechanical properties of fluid in muscle fibers. This discovery argues for accounting for fluid in models of muscle mechanics.
Muscle stability relies on two proteins: titin and α-actinin. The TUM researchers used optical tweezers to measure the forces between these proteins, finding a bonding force of five piconewtons that stabilizes muscles and enables heart function.
Researchers at UC Berkeley discovered that blinking prompts the brain to reposition eyeballs, keeping vision in line. This mechanism allows our brains to adapt to changes and compensate for errors in our bodies' own hardware.
New research identifies physiological changes in the body that could explain why older mothers are more likely to experience complicated births. The study found that maternal age influences the structure of the uterus, leading to impaired muscle contraction properties, reduced sensitivity to oxytocin, and altered hormonal signals.
Research by UTA professors Marco Brotto and Mauro Marrelli shows that a healthy diet and regular exercise can mitigate damage to the heart and skeletal muscles caused by malaria. The study highlights the importance of addressing the impact of malaria on these areas, which is often overlooked in previous studies.
Researchers discovered the TFEB gene plays a central role in regulating muscle metabolism and energy use during exercise. Overexpressing TFEB improved mitochondrial health and increased energy production in mice, suggesting potential new treatments for diseases like diabetes and obesity.
Researchers have identified potential therapies for myotonic dystrophy type I (MD1) by targeting AMPK and mTORC1 pathways, which are disrupted in MD1 muscle tissue. Treatment with drugs that activate these pathways improves muscle function and reduces abnormal gene splicing.
A new study reveals that AMPK plays a key role in enhancing insulin's ability to stimulate glucose uptake in muscles after physical activity. This discovery may lead to the development of an 'exercise pill' for people with limited mobility or those who struggle with physical activity.
A Baylor College of Medicine team discovered that disrupting the natural cycle of muscle fuel usage can lead to diabetes but also enhances exercise endurance. Mice with disrupted HDAC3 showed superior endurance by burning more lipids and less glucose.
Researchers found pelvic floor muscle training significantly reduced prolapse symptoms in women with early signs of prolapse. The study recommended that women should be advised to undertake pelvic floor muscle training even before experiencing symptoms.
Researchers aim to create genetically corrected stem cells to replace the mutated dystrophin gene in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. They plan to use induced pluripotent stem cells to produce healthy muscle progenitor cells, which will repopulate weak muscle mass.
The University of California, Davis, is part of a six-year, $170 million NIH project exploring the molecular changes caused by physical activity and their impact on health. Researchers will use rat models to study exercise physiology and analyze tissue samples from humans and animals.
A new drug, nusinersen, has shown promise in improving muscle function and nerve activity in babies with infantile-onset spinal muscular atrophy. The phase 2 trial found remarkable improvements in muscle function, but the results are considered preliminary due to the small sample size and open-label design.
A young bodybuilder's use of non-prescribed injections, including coconut oil and insulin, led to severe complications, including a ruptured triceps and multiple cysts. The case highlights the risks of self-administered natural oils and steroids used to achieve a desired body image.
A biomedical researcher created micro muscles to test muscle efficiency in lab conditions. The study aims to improve exercise performance for athletes and develop diets for people with mobility issues by understanding how nitrates and nitrites affect muscle function.
Brown University's XROMM technology has been upgraded with new software and fluoromicrometry methods, allowing researchers to track muscle contractions and bone movements with precision. This advancement has led to discoveries such as the use of body muscles to power swimming in fish.
Researchers found that amphetamine slows down body temperature rise and masks fatigue in rats, allowing them to run longer. However, this mechanism can lead to dangerous overheating of muscles, posing a significant health risk.
Researchers discovered that Huntington's disease affects muscle maturation, leading to disrupted skeletal muscle function and potentially improving motor symptoms. The study suggests targeting skeletal muscle tissue may provide a new opportunity to improve patient care.
Mexican free-tailed bats have specialized facial muscles that aid their ability to manipulate the acoustic projection pattern of their sonar pulse emissions. The unique muscles enable the bats to adjust the shape of their mouth cavity, creating a wide-angle beam or a narrow beam with varying degrees of aperture.
Researchers find that rapsyn helps ensure optimal positioning and functioning of acetylcholine receptors on muscle cells, enabling precise brain-muscle communication. This discovery provides new insight into diseases like muscular dystrophy and offers potential therapeutic targets.
MIT researchers create a new system for producing artificial muscle fibers that contract and expand like natural muscles, using ordinary nylon fiber. The approach harnesses the bending motions of nylon fibers by selectively heating one side to produce complex patterns of movement.
Researchers have developed a technique to remove mutated DNA from mitochondria, which could help slow or reverse aging. The study found that increasing mitophagy, a form of cellular quality control, can reduce the levels of mutant mtDNA in cells.
Researchers found that fat-free mass index, but not body mass index, was a significant predictor of survival in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Lower fat-free mass index was linked to worse survival over an average follow-up of 2.3 years.
A naturally occurring growth factor called FGFBP1 is secreted by muscle fibers to maintain neuromuscular junctions. However, ALS patients have reduced levels of FGFBP1 due to the accumulation of TGF-beta, a growth factor associated with the immune system.
Researchers used 3D electron microscopy to visualize collagen cables in skeletal muscle fibrosis, a roadblock to muscle recovery. Targeting these cables could provide treatments for conditions like muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, and age-related muscle loss, improving muscle function and reducing pain.
Researchers found that four key muscle-cell proteins undergo a critical splicing transition in fetal forms, essential for adult muscle function. Disrupting this transition leads to major structural problems and muscle weakness in adult mice, highlighting the importance of alternative splicing in maintaining muscle health.
A primate regained control of its paralyzed leg using a neuroprosthetic system that decodes brain activity associated with walking movements and relays this information to the spinal cord. The system was tested in collaboration with an international network of collaborators, including Medtronic and the University of Bordeaux.
Researchers found a weak correlation between muscle size and strength gains following training. Muscle growth can occur with low or high load resistance training, but strength results vary.
New research from University of Southern Denmark shows that elite athletes' muscles produce more energy-efficient mitochondria, generating up to 25% more energy. This discovery has implications for treating diseases affecting muscle function and may lead to new treatment options.
A NASA-funded study found that prolonged spaceflight leads to significant atrophy of the muscles supporting the spine, resulting in increased back pain and spinal disc disease. Despite no change in disc height, these changes may be preventable through core-strengthening exercises or yoga.
Dr. Phillips' review suggests that protein sources high in leucine, such as whey protein, can maximize muscle protein synthesis and growth. Whey protein's high-quality amino acid profile and digestibility make it an ideal supplement for strength trainers and those looking to preserve muscle mass with age.
A study found that long-duration spaceflight weakens the muscles supporting the spine, leading to increased back pain and disc disease. Researchers suggest exercise countermeasures like core-strengthening exercises and yoga may help prevent muscle atrophy and improve spinal function.
Researchers have adapted a facial analysis software to quantify how often patients' eyes closed when instructed to keep them open, finding a correlation with clinician ratings. The new program has the potential to help study facial tics and twitches in other contexts, including Tourette Syndrome, schizophrenia, and Parkinson's disease.
A Kent State biologist has received a $450,000 grant to investigate how the body allocates energy and burns fat. Her research aims to understand how thermogenesis, the biological phenomenon of burning caloric energy, can be used to induce weight loss in humans.
Researchers discovered that muscle tissue has a built-in clock controlling energy efficiency, with optimal performance during the day. The finding suggests that humans may be able to respond better to exercise during daylight hours.
A new investigation finds that vitamin supplements can slow muscle wasting by boosting NAD+ levels in mice. The study supports the potential benefits of NAD+ precursors for patients with muscular dystrophy and other muscle disorders.
Large doses of nicotinamide riboside have been found to effectively counteract the progress of Duchenne muscular dystrophy in animals, reducing muscle inflammation and increasing comfort. The treatment aims to provide worn-out mitochondria with fuel, reversing the disease's damaging effects.
Researchers are testing two new treatments for presbyopia, a condition that causes blurry near vision. Femtosecond laser reshaping of corneal tissue and electrostimulation have shown potential benefits over traditional procedures.
Two studies found that patients with a higher resting heart rate after an exacerbation are at risk for recurrent exacerbations, while hand grip strength is associated with fewer COPD exacerbations. Muscle weakness is linked to exercise limitation and exacerbations, making hand grip strength a useful marker.
Researchers found that satellite cells differentiate into myofibres only when Prox1 is active. The study also revealed that Prox1 is expressed in adult slow muscle fibres, which have high metabolic activity and are linked to type 2 diabetes risk.
Researchers developed a smart textile that can sense and move like a muscle, enabling new device applications. The textile generates a mechanical work capacity and power output higher than human muscles, with potential uses in robotics, sensors, and smart clothing.
Researchers at KIT discovered that scavenger cells play a crucial role in repairing torn muscle fibers by removing repair patches and restoring normal cell membrane structure. This process requires the aid of macrophages roaming within the muscle, and a short amino acid sequence in the dysferlin repair protein.
Researchers found that increasing satellite cell numbers can increase muscle regeneration and stifle degeneration. Muscles with genetically modified TEAD1-expressing fibers showed a six-fold increase in satellite cells, allowing for faster repair after injury.
New research challenges the use of ice baths after exercise, suggesting they may not reduce inflammation in muscles. The study found no significant benefit from cold water immersion on muscle inflammation compared to active recovery.
A new study compares Botox to sacral neuromodulation as treatments for urge incontinence, finding that Botox provides more daily relief but may be associated with more adverse events. The study analyzed data from 381 women and found a significant reduction in symptoms with botulinum toxin.
Researchers used electron microscopy to capture the first three-dimensional image of a myosin filament in a Thai water bug. This discovery sheds light on how mutations in myosin can cause cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart muscle. The study provides new insights into muscle contraction and relaxation.
Researchers at UB and Johns Hopkins University discovered glutamate's crucial role in neuromuscular development, contradicting long-held assumptions. Glutamate receptors activate muscle fibers, while NMDA receptors play a key role in brain development and learning.
A PolyU study reveals that running in minimalist shoes can significantly increase leg and foot muscle volume. The experimental group showed a 7.05% increase in extrinsic foot muscles and an 8.8% increase in intrinsic foot muscles compared to the control group.
Italian researchers identified a biomarker bio-Adrenomedullin that correlates with good microcirculation and longevity in centenarians. The study found that low levels of this peptide hormone are associated with efficient blood perfusion, similar to that in younger individuals.
Researchers found that retroviral genes are essential for placenta development and contribute to male muscle mass. In mice, the inactivation of syncytins led to a fusion deficit during muscle growth, resulting in smaller fibers and less effective regeneration in males.
Scientists at Michigan State University have discovered a new target for treating Kennedy's disease by focusing on the role of genes in muscles. Contrary to previous beliefs, researchers found that the affected gene does not cause muscle fibers to lose connections with neurons, but rather appears broken and disorganized.
A new study from Karolinska Institutet reveals that the sympathetic nervous system comprises different neurons regulating specific physiological functions. The research found that goose bumps and nipple erection are caused by specialized neurons controlling erectile muscles in these tissues.
A baby born with Zika infection remained infected for two months and one week after birth, showing delayed psychomotor development and spastic hemiplegia. The virus may have been sexually transmitted, as the father also showed symptoms before his wife.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have identified a protein called Perilipin 5 that promotes the efficient breakdown of fat. This discovery could lead to new ways to treat obesity and type 2 diabetes, as excess fat can accumulate in tissues not specialized for storage and cause dysfunction.
Tendon transfer surgery can significantly improve hand and elbow function in quadriplegics, enabling patients to perform daily activities like dressing and bathing. However, the procedure remains underused due to lack of coordinated collaboration among specialists.
A new study from the University of Stirling found no difference in muscle growth response to protein after a full-body workout between larger and smaller participants. Consuming 40 grams of protein after exercise was more effective at stimulating muscle growth than 20 grams, regardless of body size.