Research on muscle biology and repair. Covers tissue maintenance, Parkinson's protection, repair-cell preservation, and muscle strength with age.
A research team led by Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Linke has discovered that protein networks play a crucial role in stabilizing muscle fibers using the same mechanism as DNA methylation. The study found that disrupting this network leads to significant changes in muscle structure and function.
A new study uses advanced imaging to measure tricuspid valve anatomy and predict the severity of leakage. The research found that pulmonary arterial pressure, annulus area, and papillary muscle position are correlated with the grade of tricuspid regurgitation.
A compound called AICAR has been found to prevent heat-induced deaths in mice with a gene mutation that makes them sensitive to heat. The study's findings suggest that AICAR could protect young athletes and soldiers from heat-related illnesses, potentially saving lives during exercise.
Researchers found that AICAR, an experimental therapy, protected animals from heat-induced sudden death and may hold promise for treating people with enhanced susceptibility to heat stroke. The drug works by reducing calcium leakage from RYR1, thus diminishing heat-induced contractions and muscle damage.
At around 2 meters per second, running makes better use of a key calf muscle than walking, increasing efficiency and conserving energy. This discovery sheds light on why speed walking is generally confined to the Olympics.
A study in Cell Metabolism identifies serum response factor (Srf) as a crucial signal that tells surrounding muscle stem cells to multiply and join muscle fibers, controlling muscle growth. SRF's role in regulating muscle atrophy is also confirmed, with potential applications for therapies targeting its targets.
Researchers discovered that increased production of microRNA miR-21 stimulates progressive muscle deterioration in a mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Inhibiting miR-21 reduced collagen levels and prevented fibrogenesis in diseased animals, suggesting it as a potential therapeutic target.
A study published in Frontiers in Zoology has found a hybrid system in pearl-perch that utilizes characteristics of both slow and fast systems for sound production. This discovery takes researchers closer to understanding the evolution of superfast sonic muscles that drive swimbladder vibration.
Researchers at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute have identified two cell surface proteins, Jamb and Jamc, crucial for muscle cell fusion. The discovery sheds light on cellular fusion and its importance in muscle development, potentially leading to new treatments for muscle-wasting disorders.
Whole-body cryotherapy outperforms far-infrared radiation and no treatment in enhancing post-exercise recovery for well-trained runners. Three cryotherapy sessions over 48 hours accelerated recovery more than other methods.
Researchers discovered that nerve impulses from muscles inhibit motor areas in the brain, leading to muscle fatigue. The insular cortex plays a key role in regulating muscle performance, with increased activity preceding fatigue.
The Biophysical Society has announced 2012 CPOW Travel Award winners, recognizing postdoctoral female researchers presenting at the conference. The award aims to increase participation of women in biophysics.
Researchers found that ephrin proteins help satellite cells navigate and differentiate into muscle fibers. By understanding this process, they hope to develop more effective treatments for muscular dystrophy, a condition where muscles are easily damaged and patients' satellite cells lose their ability to repair.
Researchers at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute discovered a way to reprogram muscle cells to burn sugar more efficiently, resulting in increased athletic ability and reduced lactic acid production. This novel mechanism could lead to new prevention or treatment methods for obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes.
A team of scientists from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and CellThera regenerated functional muscle tissue in mice using a novel protocol that combined reprogramming human cells and biopolymer microthreads. The study showed promising results, with most new muscle fibers composed of mouse cells, suggesting that fibrin microthreads alo...
A health supplement commonly used by bodybuilders, L-tyrosine, has shown rapid and dramatic improvement in muscle wasting disease Nemaline Myopathy (NM) in laboratory tests on mice. Trials suggest it could also be effective for a range of other muscle-wasting diseases, offering new hope for treating children affected by the condition.
Researchers have discovered a new way to build muscle by suppressing a natural inhibitor, resulting in mice and worms with super-strong muscles. This breakthrough could lead to treatments for age-related or genetics-related muscle degeneration, as well as applications for athletes and individuals with genetic muscular dystrophy.
Researchers at Max Planck Institute identified the genetic switch Spalt that regulates flight muscle formation in flies. Without Spalt, flies are flightless, but can still move their legs normally. This discovery has potential medical applications for understanding and regulating human muscle function.
Researchers at Brown University discovered that frogs' stretchy tendons are the key to their impressive jumping abilities. The study shows how the leg muscle shortens and loads energy into the tendon before releasing it to propel the frog forward, enabling them to jump much farther than expected.
Scientists at Oregon Health & Science University have identified a definitive role for the brain in regulating involuntary muscle mass loss associated with chronic illnesses. The process is driven by a signaling system that controls stress responses and cortisol release.
Researchers create super-strong mice and nematodes by reducing natural inhibitor function, leading to denser muscle fibers and increased energy delivery. This breakthrough could lead to treatments for age-related or genetically caused muscle degeneration.
Two studies found that reducing NCoR in muscles increases exercise capacity and fat-burning, while reducing it in fat cells improves insulin sensitivity. The findings imply that limiting NCoR activity could be a potential treatment strategy for metabolic disorders.
Researchers have identified a potential oral therapy for HSAN1, an inherited nerve dysfunction characterized by progressive muscle control loss. Oral administration of L-serine reversed deoxysphingolipid accumulation and reduced neuropathy severity in mice and humans with the disease.
Researchers at the University of Leeds have discovered that leg muscle dysfunction is related to the severity of symptoms in heart failure patients. Daily activity in these patients can be limited by impaired leg muscles, not just a failing heart.
A recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that higher levels of testosterone were associated with reduced loss of lean muscle mass in older men. Higher testosterone levels were also linked to less loss of lower body strength, particularly in those who were losing weight.
Researchers found a previously unknown molecular pathway controlling ion channel number and location on the cell surface, affecting heart rhythm and other muscle activity. This discovery may lead to new treatments for heart arrhythmia and related conditions such as paralysis and kidney disorders.
A reconstruction based on the skull of Norway's best-preserved Stone Age skeleton, Viste Boy, has been scientifically rebuilt to study features of a boy who lived outside Stavanger 7,500 years ago. The model reveals a strong and muscular individual with scaphocephaly, challenging earlier theories about his health.
A study found that amino acid supplements can significantly reduce protein degradation in horse muscles after intense exercise. This could lead to an advantageous effect on muscle mass and improved training efficiency in sport horses.
Researchers at Emory University School of Medicine have identified a set of genes that act in muscles to modulate aging and resistance to stress in fruit flies. Mutations in these genes speed up the process of aging and make the flies more sensitive to oxidative stress.
Researchers found that Carnotaurus' unique tail structure supported a massive caudofemoralis muscle, allowing for exceptional straight-ahead speed. The muscle's attachment to the upper leg bones also enabled powerful flexing, giving the dinosaur increased power and speed.
Researchers found that red-bellied piranhas produce three distinct sounds: a barking noise, a drum-like percussive sound, and a softer 'croaking' sound. The fish's swim bladder vibrates in response to muscle contractions, producing these sounds.
Researchers have developed novel motors that twist like elephant trunks, providing a thousand times higher rotation per length than previous artificial muscles. The motors use carbon nanotube yarns and can accelerate a paddle up to 590 revolutions per minute, making them suitable for applications such as microfluidic pumps and mixers.
Researchers from UBC and international partners develop artificial muscles strong enough to rotate objects a thousand times their own weight, with the same flexibility as an elephant's trunk or octopus limbs. The new material is composed of carbon nanotube yarns that can twist and untwist, enabling rapid rotation and control.
A new study using cutting-edge technology finds that Tyrannosaurus rex grew more quickly and reached significantly greater masses than previously estimated. The team calculated the body mass of five specimens, including the iconic SUE skeleton, which weighed over nine tons.
Researchers studied lungfish to understand pelvic fin muscle development and its connection to the emergence of hind legs. The team found a transitional mechanism in bony fish that paved the way for tetrapod physiology, highlighting the importance of understanding evolutionary pathways in land adaptation.
A team of researchers has identified a way to accelerate the regeneration of injured peripheral nerves in mice, enabling full muscle function recovery. Clinical data suggests that strategies increasing nerve growth rate may enhance functional recovery in patients after peripheral nerve damage.
A team of researchers identified a way to speed up the growth of damaged nerves, restoring muscle function in injured mice. The study suggests that increasing nerve growth rates may enhance functional recovery in patients with peripheral nerve damage.
Scientists at Boston Children's Hospital discover that motor nerve fibers can regrow but not communicate with muscle fibers in time. A limited time window exists for nerve regeneration and functional reactivation, highlighting the need for prompt treatment.
Researchers found that lamin filaments are essential for proper gene positioning and organization, a crucial factor in maintaining nuclear shape and function. Mutations in lamin genes cause 14 different diseases, including Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy, by disrupting muscle-specific gene reorganization.
Researchers found that bats control echolocation calls with the fastest-contracting muscle type, enabling them to produce calls at rates of up to 190 calls per second. This allowed bats to better track insects in flight and make them successful hunters.
Scientists have discovered 'superfast' muscles in bats that allow them to navigate and hunt in total darkness using echolocation. These muscles can contract up to 100 times faster than typical body muscles, enabling the rapid succession of calls needed for successful hunting.
A new study published in the FASEB Journal found that rats fed homobrassinolide produced an anabolic effect, increasing lean body mass, muscle mass, and physical performance. The research also suggests potential applications for brassinosteroids in treating muscle wasting conditions.
Researchers at Brown University discovered that tendons absorb shocks and store energy, while muscles take on the role of absorbing remaining energy after impact. This finding highlights the critical role of tendons in shock absorption and has implications for the development of synthetic tendons and rehabilitative practices.
Researchers at the University of Missouri have identified a key communication breakdown between nerves and muscles that may lead to new treatments for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and other motor neuron diseases. The study found that nerve signals are disrupted before reaching muscle ends, which could inform targeted treatments.
The US Department of Defense has awarded the University of South Florida $1.59 million to conduct two major studies on preventing low back injury and improving prosthetics for wounded warriors. The studies will test high-intensity exercise training programs and prosthetic foot technologies in military populations.
Bioengineers at UC Berkeley have successfully reprogrammed mature muscle tissue, a major breakthrough in combating muscle degeneration. The researchers used small molecule inhibitors to de-differentiate mature muscle cells, allowing them to revert back to an earlier stem cell stage.
Arctic ground squirrels have adapted to store high levels of anabolic steroids in their muscles, allowing them to burn protein and maintain vital functions during hibernation. This unique mechanism could hold the key to understanding how to mitigate negative effects of testosterone on human health.
McMaster researchers discovered that mice without essential exercise genes have impaired muscle function and lower mitochondrial levels. The study highlights the importance of AMPK enzyme in exercise regulation and its potential implications for individuals with mobility issues or obesity.
A high-protein, dairy-rich diet has been found to lead to greater whole-body fat and abdomen fat losses, as well as lean mass gains and increased strength. The study also shows that the tissue composition of lost weight is predominantly fat, with no muscle loss.
A study on Mt. Everest climbers suggests that leucine supplementation can help retain muscle mass while burning fat during periods of food restriction. The researchers found that the food item in which leucine was delivered was critical to its effectiveness, and future studies aim to improve the palatability of the supplement.
Researchers investigated the muscle-building effect of protein beverages on athletes. Consuming high-quality protein drinks immediately after exercise increased muscle protein synthesis by 33% compared to periodic smaller doses. The essential amino acid leucine plays a crucial role in stimulating muscle growth during recovery.
Engineers create epidermal electronic systems (EES) with miniature sensors, light-emitting diodes, tiny transmitters and receivers to measure human physiological data. The devices are seamlessly integrated onto the skin, providing opportunities for non-invasive medical monitoring.
A Baylor University study found that NO2 Platinum, a muscle-strengthening supplement, has no significant impact on blood flow. The researchers saw a slight increase in blood flow after exercise but attributed it to resistance exercise rather than the supplement.
A six-month double-blind study found that higher protein intake during weight loss can offset negative effects on muscle mass by maintaining more muscle relative to the amount of weight lost. Women who ate more protein lost 3.9 percent more weight and had a relative gain of 5.8 percent more thigh muscle volume than woman who did not.
Engineered from muscle and nerve cells, the functional anal sphincters showed normal tissue function and developed a blood supply when implanted in mice. This breakthrough suggests a potential future treatment for both fecal and urinary incontinence.
A new in vitro study reveals that dilating the tricuspid valve opening or displacing its papillary muscles can cause leakage, with combination of both increasing severity. The study's findings suggest improved diagnosis and treatment for tricuspid regurgitation, a condition affecting millions of Americans.
Aging causes muscle weakness due to calcium leakage from ryanodine receptor channel complex, leading to reduced muscle function. An experimental drug called S107 stabilizes calstabin1, improving muscle force and exercise capacity in aged mice.
Researchers have developed a mouse model for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and discovered a potential therapy using HDAC6 inhibitors, which halted damage to nerves and reversed symptoms. This treatment could offer new hope for an incurable disease affecting approximately one in 2,500 individuals.
Research ties aging muscle weakness to leaky calcium channels in muscle cells. A drug already in Phase II clinical trials for heart failure may help repair these channels, restoring muscle function. The study's findings suggest a new approach to addressing age-related muscle wasting by focusing on muscle function rather than mass.
Researchers developed a quicker freeze-drying technique that reduces energy and processing time, resulting in freeze-dried salmon cubes with minimal moisture content. These cubes maintain color, rehydrate quickly, and have reduced shrinkage compared to traditional freeze-drying methods.