Articles tagged with Muscles
A novel gene called MLIP has been identified as affecting heart development and the aging process. The discovery opens up new avenues for understanding cardiac development and loss of cardiac function.
A recent study published in Nature has identified a key molecular mechanism that causes stem cells to differentiate into muscle cells in embryos. This breakthrough discovery could lead to new treatments for muscle dysfunction associated with aging and disease.
A study found that high doses of vitamin D supplementation on top of a standard rehabilitation program improves exercise capacity and respiratory muscle strength in patients with COPD. However, the treatment did not significantly improve health-related quality of life.
Researchers identify epithelial cells as key to sponge movement, contradicting long-held assumption about muscle cell origins. The study uses 3D imaging to visualize sponges' contracted and expanded states, revealing a new understanding of the evolutionary development of musculature.
Researchers found that penguins' muscles have sufficient oxygen to sustain dives for up to 20 minutes, contrary to earlier theories. The team's discovery reveals a surprising efficiency in the birds' underwater metabolism.
Researchers discovered losartan improves muscle regeneration and prevents wasting away from inactivity in geriatric mice. The study suggests losartan may have broader clinical applications in protecting against immobilization atrophy in older adults.
A Penn State study reveals that obesity impairs skeletal muscle function in rats, leading to impaired muscle strength and locomotion. The research suggests that the muscles of obese mammals are not properly 'tuned' to their body weight.
A parasitic fungus infects tropical carpenter ants, causing them to become zombie-like and die in ideal conditions for the fungus. The fungus affects the ant's muscles, nervous system, and behavior, leading to a loss of coordination and death.
A Texas A&M University study challenges the common perception of LDL cholesterol as 'bad' cholesterol. Research suggests that a certain amount of LDL is necessary for muscle growth and serves as a warning sign for potential health problems. The study's findings may have implications for conditions like sarcopenia, which affects million...
Researchers at the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases have identified a key player in muscle repair: the gene Ezh2. By activating this gene, satellite cells may proliferate and compensate for underlying defects, potentially increasing quality of life for individuals with degenerative diseases.
An international team of scientists used a powerful synchrotron X-ray technique to observe muscle protein changes inside intact and contracting muscle cells. The results revealed the conformation of myosin molecular motors in resting muscles and the signalling pathway between actin and myosin filaments.
Children and adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are less fit than their peers, with aerobic fitness levels 25% lower and muscle function 10% lower. The study suggests that active living can help reduce the risk of future health problems in IBD patients.
A new gene mutation has been identified as the cause of a rare form of muscular dystrophy, with severe cognitive impairment. Researchers created a mouse model to study the mutation and found similar muscle and brain abnormalities, offering hope for potential treatments.
A Virginia Tech researcher is working on a new device that uses electrical stimulation to help stroke patients regain their voice. The device, which is still in development, aims to improve the quality of life for patients with vocal paralysis and other neuromuscular disabilities.
Researchers identified a genetic switch, estrogen-related receptor gamma (ERR gamma), that converts fast twitch fibers into slow twitch fibers with increased blood supply. This discovery offers potential therapeutic avenues for treating critical limb ischemia and other cardiovascular diseases.
A new analysis found that fish oil supplementation can help combat cancer-related malnutrition, allowing patients to maintain their weight and muscle mass during chemotherapy. The study suggests that fish oil's omega-3 fatty acids may interfere with pathways altered in advanced cancer.
Scientists have discovered a new sauropod dinosaur, Brontomerus mcintoshi, with enormous thigh muscles and unique hip structure, suggesting it may have used its kick as defense against predators. The discovery challenges the previous idea that sauropods began to disappear in the Early Cretaceous period.
Researchers studied how children master speech by observing finger movements and neural processes. The study suggests that the beat could reveal underlying motor skills, shedding light on stuttering in children.
Researchers found that functional electrical stimulation (FES) therapy worked better than conventional occupational therapy alone to increase patients' ability to pick up and hold objects. FES therapy also improved daily activities such as dressing and eating, with significant implications for quality of life and independence.
A new gene test has identified GFPT1 as a crucial cause of Congenital Myasthenic Syndrome (CMS), a rare genetic condition affecting signal transmission between the brain and muscles. The test allows for earlier treatment with cholinesterase inhibitors, offering an effective therapy that can be taken through life.
Researchers found daily tart cherry juice consumption reduced muscle damage and improved recovery time by 5% in athletes. The study suggests antioxidant-rich anthocyanins in cherry juice may decrease oxidative damage to muscles, allowing for faster recovery.
Anthropologist Jane Desmond explores how Body Worlds exhibits tolerate the public display of human corpses, idealizing them as objects of scientific curiosity. The exhibitors promote the display as an advancement in anatomy studies, using de-emotional screens and depersonalization to create a universal experience.
Research on grizzly bears reveals a complex series of changes in their hearts as they hibernate, including the adaptation of a protein called myosin heavy chain. The left atrium produces more alpha protein, resulting in a weaker beat, to prevent damage from pushing against the stiffened ventricle.
Researchers found women with PAD lose ability to walk short distances and climb stairs sooner than men, despite having less calf muscle. Women are more likely to develop a mobility disability compared to men.
Researchers at the University of Nottingham are exploring whether chocolate and orange consumption can slow down muscle loss and frailty in older adults. The study aims to investigate the impact of cocoa and vitamin C on blood flow to leg muscles, with potential implications for improving mobility and reducing fall-related deaths.
New research from Karolinska Institutet shows that nitrate improves mitochondrial function in humans, consuming less oxygen and producing more ATP per molecule. This finding has significant implications for sports physiology and may also have positive effects on diseases involving mitochondrial dysfunction.
Researchers used accelerated evolution to engineer enzymes that can efficiently break down nerve agents, providing protection against nerve gas attacks. The developed enzymes show near-complete protection against certain types of nerve agents.
A minimally invasive procedure has shown promise in reanimating lower facial movement after paralysis, with all patients achieving improved symmetry and voluntary motion of the oral commissure. Directed physical therapy is necessary to achieve the best outcome, as spontaneous controlled smile requires intensive neuromuscular retraining.
The Muscular Dystrophy Association granted Acceleron Pharma a $1.5 million award to support the clinical studies of ACE-031 in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy patients. The grant will enable gathering safe dosing and pharmacodynamic activity information vital to future studies.
Researchers found extensive adhesions and inelastic muscles after using amniotic membrane to prevent postoperative scarring. The use of dried amniotic membrane, rather than frozen, may be the culprit behind these complications.
A novel human protein called biglycan has been shown to significantly slow muscle damage and improve function in mice with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. The treatment restores utrophin presence in muscle cells, reducing muscle tissue damage by 50% compared to untreated mice.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University engineered a mouse that can run longer on a treadmill by increasing its acetylcholine supply, which could lead to new treatments for myasthenia gravis and other disorders. The study also found potential links between cholinergic signaling deficits and conditions like muscular dystrophy and ADHD.
Researchers from Michigan State University are investigating the relationship between cesarean-section deliveries and degenerative spondylolisthesis, a condition causing lower back pain and nerve damage in women. The study aims to quantify muscle function objectively and document variables in women with and without the disease.
A new mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy suggests that muscle stem cells are key to understanding the disease's progression. The research found that mice with a similar mutation to humans experience severe muscle weakness and shortened life spans due to the inability of their muscle stem cells to keep up with ongoing damage.
A new $2.1 million NIH grant will help MU scientist Dongsheng Duan develop a treatment that prevents heart muscles from weakening due to Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Tests have shown that treating skeletal muscle alone can lead to complications, highlighting the need for comprehensive treatment targeting both skeletal and cardiac muscle.
A new study found that botulinum toxin A causes muscle weakness in muscles far removed from the injection site, even after repeated use. The study also reveals muscle atrophy and loss of contractile tissue in non-injected limbs.
Researchers identify biochemical mechanisms in Casertana and Large White pigs to produce more flavorful and leaner pork products. The study aims to develop new pig breeds with a desirable combination of leanness and flavor.
Tel Aviv University researchers discovered that endurance exercises increase muscle stem cells and enhance their ability to rejuvenate old muscles. This finding could lead to a new drug to help the elderly and immobilized heal their muscles faster.
A new study reveals that a key muscle protein is necessary for exercise but not normal muscle development. PGC-1-deficient mice exhibit mitochondrial problems but remain insulin-sensitive and do not develop diabetes.
A recent study followed 44 ultra-marathon runners for two months to investigate the physical effects of long-distance running. The research found that runners experienced significant muscle loss in their legs, as well as substantial fat reduction, particularly in visceral fat, which is linked to cardiovascular disease.
A study using fat yet muscular mice aims to understand how more muscle can reduce cardiovascular risk in obese individuals. The research suggests that increased muscle mass improves blood vessel function, glucose disposal, and heart health.
Experts in motor neuron diseases challenge a recent study's claim that repetitive head trauma causes ALS, citing lack of clinical and pathological evidence. The editorial aims to dispel doubts on Lou Gehrig's ALS diagnosis.
A new study reveals that adenosine tri-phosphate (ATP) works in synergy with lactic acid to sense muscle pain. The researchers found that ATP increases the sensitivity of acid sensing channel #3 (ASIC3) on sensory neurons, helping to explain why acid alone is unable to trigger ischemic pain.
Research by University of Alberta graduate student Scott Persons reveals T.rex's long tail was a key factor in its exceptional speed. The dinosaur's caudofemoralis muscles, attached to upper leg bones, provided the power stroke for fast forward movement.
A University of Colorado at Boulder-led study found that specific stem cells can prevent the loss of muscle function and mass with aging. The transplanted stem cells doubled in mass and sustained themselves for two years, suggesting a potential treatment for humans with chronic degenerative muscle diseases.
Kent State University geology professors Rodney Feldmann and Carrie Schweitzer report on the discovery of a 360-million-year-old fossil shrimp in Oklahoma. The ancient crustacean's muscles are remarkably well-preserved, providing valuable insights into its evolution.
Recent studies report no significant difference in function or patient satisfaction between biceps tenotomy and tenodesis for long head biceps tendinopathy. Nonsurgical treatment options, such as rest, anti-inflammatory drugs, and physical therapy, are considered the first line of treatment for this condition.
Researchers used X-rays to pinpoint locations of more than 50 mutations in the ryanodine receptor, a protein associated with calcium-related diseases. The study provides insights into how these mutations contribute to disease and could lead to new therapeutic targets for heart disease.
Researchers found that the DUX4 gene is normally expressed only in early development but its suppression is inefficient in FSHD patients. This leads to toxic bursts of protein causing muscle cell death and muscular dystrophy.
A new model, described in PLoS Computational Biology, allows runners to calculate personalized targets using their aerobic capacity to avoid hitting the wall. The model takes into account a runner's aerobic capacity and leg muscle mass to determine a safe pace for the race.
A new study found that clenching muscles can increase willpower by activating the mind-body connection. Participants who tightened their muscles demonstrated greater ability to withstand pain and make healthy choices.
A computational model of a swimming fish has been developed to simulate the interaction of both internal and external forces on locomotion. The study reveals that body stiffness is crucial in determining how well a fish swims, with stiffer bodies accelerating faster but expending more energy.
A fluorescent image of the mosquito heart, taken by Vanderbilt graduate student Jonas King, has won first place in Nikon's 'Small World' 2010 photomicrography competition. The image showcases the unique structure and function of the mosquito's circulatory system.
Patients with higher muscle mass tend to live longer if they have kidney disease, according to a recent study. Researchers found that increased mid-arm muscle circumference was associated with improved mental health scores and longer survival rates.
Researchers studying gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy discovered a natural immunity to dystrophin, complicating experimental therapies. The immune response triggered by T cells may target muscle cells, resembling autoimmunity.
A new study published in The FASEB Journal suggests that muscle inflammation after acute muscle injury is essential to muscle repair by means of insulin-like growth factor-1. Inflammation, once thought to be detrimental to healing, plays a crucial role in repairing damaged muscle tissue.
A study published in Experimental Brain Research reveals that chronic impingement syndrome, a common cause of shoulder pain, is triggered by excessive activation of specific neck and shoulder muscles during daily life or sports. The research opens the door to future tests of physiotherapy as a non-invasive treatment for shoulder injury.
Researchers at Stanford University successfully induced normal patterns of muscle contraction using light, reproducing the natural firing order of motor-nerve fibers. This technique could lead to practical applications for restoring movement in people with physical disabilities, such as stroke or spinal-cord injuries.
Researchers found that brain stimulation therapy improved motor function in 95% of patients with mild to moderate muscle weakness after an ischemic stroke. The treatment, using repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), rebalances brain activity between the affected and unaffected hemispheres.
A new Northwestern University study found that rapid weight gain in the first six months of life predicts earlier puberty for boys and has long-term effects on their physical characteristics and reproductive strategy. The researchers suggest that testosterone plays a key role in shaping these differences.