Articles tagged with Muscles
Researchers have discovered a new therapeutic target that improves deteriorating skeletal muscle tissue caused by SMA. The therapy enhances muscle strength, improves gross motor skills, and increases the lifespan in a SMA model. By inhibiting myostatin, a protein that limits muscle growth, the treatment reduces symptoms of SMA.
A study by Ohio State University researchers found that the molecule miR-29 is essential for muscle repair and maturation, but its absence is linked to rhabdomyosarcoma cancer. Raising miR-29 levels in cancer cells slowed tumor growth and induced maturity.
Researchers found that laminin-111 restored regenerative capacity in a mouse model for alpha 7 integrin congenital myopathy. The protein promotes muscle cell health and survival by interacting with the extracellular matrix.
Researchers discovered that nerves connecting to flexor muscles are guided by a protein family called ephrin-B, which is closely related to the previously identified ephrin-A protein. This finding provides insights into how nerves form and could lead to new strategies for treating disorders such as epilepsy and mental retardation.
Research suggests FHL1 enhances transcription factor NFATc1 activity to promote muscle hypertrophy. Overexpressing FHL1 in mice and myoblasts resulted in increased strength and endurance.
Scientists have successfully transplanted a single adult stem cell into a live mammal and shown that it can self-renew and repair damaged tissue. The study used genetically engineered cells to track their dynamics, demonstrating the ability of these cells to proliferate and engraft into injured muscle tissue.
Research suggests Vitamin E's antioxidant properties may reduce pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in skeletal and cardiac muscle. The study found significant reductions in oxidized proteins and two cytokines with Vitamin E treatment compared to placebo, potentially correlating with increased muscle strength.
The 'Jollbot' can jump over obstacles and roll on smoother terrain, solving the problem of robots being able to move over rough terrain. It uses electrical motors to store energy in its springy skeleton, allowing it to leap up to half a metre high.
Researchers at Caltech have created images of the heart's muscular layer showing a connection between muscle configuration and contraction. The findings provide evidence that the helical shape is crucial to the heart's effective beating, settling a 50-year debate.
Vasovagal syncope is a common emergency situation in dental offices, characterized by loss of consciousness and muscle tone. Patients experiencing symptoms such as dizziness, lightheadedness, or pain may have an underlying cause that can lead to a life-threatening situation.
A new study published in Neurology found that growth hormone insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) does not slow the progression of weakness in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The two-year study involved 330 people with ALS and found no difference in muscle strength between those taking IGF-1 and placebo, as well as no differences ...
Scientists have discovered that prostacyclin stimulates the activation of uterine muscles, leading to strong contractions during labor. This finding may help develop therapies for preventing preterm labor, a serious complication of pregnancy.
Researchers have identified a molecule, Wnt3, that plays a crucial role in creating connections between nerves and muscles. This finding offers a new possibility for developing drugs to treat MND and other neurodegenerative diseases.
A study by Michigan State University researcher Jill Slade examines the ties between statin medications and muscle weakness, fatigue, and deterioration. The research aims to better understand the side effects of statins and identify potential risks in susceptible individuals.
A double-blind study found that beta-alanine supplementation increases physical working capacity in elderly individuals, improving fitness levels by 67% compared to placebo. This increase is clinically significant, as decreased functional capacity is associated with increased mortality.
Combining aerobic and high-force eccentric resistance exercise improved glucose control, physical performance, and body fat composition in people with type 2 diabetes. Patients who participated in a 16-week supervised exercise training program showed significant advantages over those in an aerobic-only exercise program.
Researchers have found an effective way to deliver gene therapy, targeting both skeletal and cardiac muscle, with the potential to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The therapy could be beneficial for patients by correcting electrocardiogram abnormalities in their hearts.
A University of Iowa study identifies a faulty signaling pathway that causes exercise-induced fatigue in mouse models of muscular dystrophy. The research suggests that targeting this pathway may lead to therapies for this type of fatigue. Viagra was shown to overcome the signaling defect and relieve the fatigue.
A recent study published in PLoS Computational Biology reveals that the human brain plans movements by integrating biological and environmental constraints. The researchers discovered a mathematical principle that predicts short periods of muscle inactivation during arm movements, which is a novelty in motor control studies.
A new study from the University of New Hampshire found that elderly women can increase muscle strength similar to young women after an eight-week training regime. However, the older group showed a reduced capacity to increase power, which is more closely related to preventing falls.
Researchers successfully linked a person's brain to individual muscles in a paralyzed limb using neuroprosthetic devices, allowing natural control and movements. The study demonstrates a novel approach to restoring movement through direct artificial connections between the brain and muscles.
Researchers found that SREBP-2 induces expression of type 2 taste receptors in cultured mouse intestinal cells and enhances T2R-induced secretion of cholecystokinin. This mechanism may inform the gut about food-borne toxins and initiate a response to limit their absorption.
A new hand transplant has shown emerging sense of touch in a 54-year-old man's former 'hand area' of the brain 35 years after amputation. The brain's map of the individual fingers is still evolving with increasing sensation, but researchers are optimistic about the potential for future recovery.
Facial reanimation surgery uses microsurgical procedures to connect nerves and muscles, allowing people to smile again. Plastic surgeons also discuss rejuvenating aging smiles and enhancing the mouth region using various techniques and devices.
A Johns Hopkins researcher found that early mobilization can help prevent muscle weakness and improve physical function in ICU patients, leading to shorter hospital stays and better quality of life. The study suggests that getting patients up and moving shortly after admission can help mitigate the negative effects of prolonged bed rest.
Researchers at the Salk Institute have discovered a two-stage fasting-response mechanism that ensures glucose production in the brain is tightly regulated. CRTC2 and FOXO1 proteins play key roles in this process, with SIRT1 serving as a nutrient sensor that switches between them.
A team of researchers has developed a pacemaker to stimulate the muscles that control breathing in horses. This technology may also benefit humans with laryngeal paralysis or those who undergo laryngeal transplants. The study's findings provide insights into the coordination of movement and breathing in equines.
For obese patients, a single session of exercise boosts fat-burning oxidation and reduces accumulated fat by-products inside the muscle, improving metabolic health. The study found that exercising increased fat storage in muscles, suggesting a potential therapeutic benefit for individuals at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Researchers found that women's muscle strength was 30% lower when compared to before casting, while men regained 99% of their strength within a week. The study suggests that hormonal differences may contribute to slower recovery times in women.
Researchers found that high-dose statins can decrease satellite cell proliferation, potentially affecting muscle healing and repair. The study's findings suggest a need for further research on the effects of statins on muscle progenitor cells in older adults.
A recent study by Ohio University researchers found that women's muscles require longer and more intensive rehabilitation after bed rest and cast immobilization. Women lose around 30% less muscle strength within one week of cast removal compared to men, suggesting different rates of muscular strength-building may be the cause.
Researchers found that even after years of steroid use, muscle fibers still gave lifters an advantage. The study suggests that anabolic steroids can enhance muscle fiber size and endurance even after withdrawal.
A four-month exercise program improved fitness, reduced fat, and prevented lean muscle loss in older sedentary individuals. In contrast, dieting alone led to greater lean muscle loss, highlighting the importance of exercise for maintaining muscle mass and overall health.
A study published in PLoS One found that a restricted-calorie diet can reduce iron accumulation in muscle cell mitochondria, which can contribute to muscle loss in aging adults. The research suggests that reducing caloric intake early on may help limit muscle wasting in later years.
A new study reveals that laminin influences post-synaptic patterning by corraling cell surface receptors on the muscle side of the synapse. Maturation of the muscle side was slowed in mice lacking specific laminin chains, highlighting the protein's role in coordinating nerve and muscle fiber development.
The NIH has awarded $9 million to launch the first Senator Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center (MD CRC) focusing on facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). The center will collaborate with patients, researchers, and pharmaceutical companies to study causes and potential treatments.
Researchers at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center found a correlation between non-subcutaneous fat and calcified plaque in the arteries, increasing cardiovascular event risk. The study suggests targeting non-subcutaneous fat may be key to preventing heart disease.
A study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine found that trained sexologists could correctly infer vaginal orgasm through watching the way women walked over 80% of the time. The sum of stride length and vertebral rotation was greater for vaginally orgasmic women, suggesting a link between gait and sexual function.
Researchers found that cyclic compression of muscles after intense exercise reduced swelling and muscle damage in a study using animals. The massaged muscles recovered an estimated 60% of strength and had fewer damaged muscle fibers compared to rested muscles.
Researchers investigated physiological methods used by well-trained runners to control exercise intensity and avoid exhaustion. They found that heart rate response scales with race distance, indicating athletes actively manage their body's increasing strain.
The project utilizes physiological information to develop more sophisticated assistive aids for individuals with neuromuscular diseases and musculoskeletal injuries. Researchers aim to create robotic orthoses that can aid patients with muscular dystrophy regain significant use of their limbs.
Researchers focus on two muscle fibre types to achieve tastier cuts of meat without sacrificing production values. The study aims to identify genes important in slow muscle growth, enabling farmers to breed naturally flavorful and succulent meat.
A randomized, placebo-controlled study found that creatine supplementation had negligible effects on exercise function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Despite increased muscle creatine levels, the study's results suggest that physical training alone remains essential for improving outcomes.
Two drugs, GW1516 and AICAR, have been identified by researchers to enhance exercise endurance by increasing fat burning in muscle fibers. In laboratory experiments, mice treated with the drugs ran longer distances on treadmill tests than untreated animals, with one compound increasing endurance by 44 percent.
Researchers discover two compounds that enhance exercise endurance in mice, offering potential therapeutic benefits for certain muscle diseases. The drugs, PPARd and AICAR, work by reprogramming muscle gene activity, increasing running distance and time by up to 70%.
A CU-Boulder study using a space-age, low-gravity training machine found it reduced impacts on muscles and joints by nearly half when subjects ran at 50% of their body weight. The G-Trainer, built by Alter-G Inc., was retrofitted with force-measuring technology to quantify its effects.
Researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center have successfully transplanted muscle stem cells into mice with muscular dystrophy, improving muscle function and replenishing the stem cell population. This breakthrough study demonstrates the potential of stem cell therapy for treating degenerative muscle diseases like Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Researchers from Stanford's Bio-X program have devised a needle-thin probe to observe sarcomeres, the basic contracting engines of muscle, in live humans. This microendoscopy technique provides an alternative to painful muscle biopsy and could prove useful in understanding muscular diseases.
Researchers have shown that purified stem cells isolated from adult skeletal muscle can restore healthy muscle and improve muscle function in mice with muscular dystrophy. The injected cells also replenished the pool of regenerative cells normally found in muscle, allowing the treated muscle to undergo subsequent rounds of injury repair.
Researchers discovered that European starlings and zebrafinches control their songs with the fastest-contracting muscle type yet described. These songbirds can alter volume and frequency of their songs up to 250 times per second, providing precise control over their vocalizations.
Researchers are studying two myostatin inhibitors to optimize recovery of injured soldiers, with promising results in muscle regeneration and bone formation. The goal is to develop a stronger, more rapid recovery for victims of traumatic limb injuries.
Researchers found that songbirds control their songs with superfast muscles that can produce work at frequencies over 100 Hz, a 100 times faster than human blink rate. This discovery suggests these muscles are more common than previously thought and provide precise control of song modulations.
Researchers found that rats on diets enriched with industrial or natural trans-fats showed no significant changes in insulin or glucose responses. The study also confirmed these findings in cell culture studies, indicating that muscles can utilize trans-fatty acids without increasing the risk of insulin resistance and diabetes.
A new study led by Dr Alexandra Sänger found that slower exercise methods, such as SuperSlow, increase muscle mass and reduce connective tissue, benefiting menopausal women. The results suggest that these exercises may contribute to a better quality of life in old age.
A study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology found that athletes who ingested caffeine with carbohydrate after exhaustive exercise had 66% more glycogen in their muscles four hours later. This suggests that post-exercise caffeine consumption can aid in muscle refueling and potentially enhance athletic performance.
Researchers identified two key pathways controlling adult stem cells' repair and replacement abilities. By tweaking these pathways, they revived the ability of old mice's muscle tissue to repair itself nearly as well as younger counterparts.
Research shows that patients need to re-learn the sit-to-stand position technique after TKA, relying on a larger hip extensor movement. Physical therapists can help by teaching correct techniques, potentially preventing future knee osteoarthritis.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have identified a key molecule linked to the progression of ALS. The protein VAPB plays a crucial role in regulating nerve-cell interactions and protein folding, with abnormal function contributing to the disease.
A new University of Illinois study found that a higher-protein diet with lean meats and low-fat dairy can lead to significant weight loss without compromising bone health. The research, published in the Journal of Nutrition, showed that participants who followed this type of diet experienced stable or even increased bone density.
Researchers are rethinking how muscles work by studying toads' rapid feeding actions. They've discovered that muscles behave like springs, allowing for efficient energy storage and release. This new model could lead to innovations in prosthetics, electric motors, and treatments for Parkinson's disease.