Articles tagged with Muscles
A study by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center has identified the atrogin-1 gene as a key player in statin-related muscle toxicity. The researchers found that statins activate this gene, leading to muscle damage and atrophy, with potential implications for patients taking these cholesterol-lowering drugs.
A University of Georgia study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that obesity may be bad for bone health in young women. The research used advanced three-dimensional bone scans on 115 women aged 18-19 and found that obese participants had weaker bones by 8-9% compared to those with normal body fat.
A new model regarding physical activity recommendations is emerging, highlighting the importance of non-exercise activities in countering health risks. Researchers found that sitting for extended periods can have negative effects on fat and cholesterol metabolism, while standing can burn double the number of calories.
Researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center have identified a synthetic RNA-based molecule that eliminates myotonia, a symptom of muscular dystrophy, in mice. The study restored normal muscle function by re-establishing a critical cellular mechanism that controls electrical activity in muscles.
Researchers developed a morpholino antisense oligonucleotide to correct the abnormal inclusion of exon 7a in ClC-1 mRNA, restoring chloride channel function and eliminating myotonia in mice with DM1. This approach may potentially treat myotonia in individuals with DM1.
Researchers found that skeletal myoblasts can help improve urinary incontinence in female rats with urethral sphincter deficiency when transplanted into their nerve-damaged muscles. The transplanted muscle cells increased urethral pressure, leading to significant improvement in incontinence and near-normal urethral closure pressures.
Researchers have developed a new neural-machine interface that enables prosthetic arms to respond directly to the brain's signals, allowing for greater control and movement. This technology has the potential to provide an even greater number of arm and hand movements beyond the four already achieved.
Researchers at Indiana University found that women's brains respond differently to male faces depending on the menstrual cycle stage. During ovulation, their brains show more activity in areas related to rewards and less activity in areas associated with inhibition. Additionally, training has been shown to improve balance in older adul...
Researchers found that severely restricting calories can maintain physical fitness into advanced age, reducing visceral fat and improving overall physical function assessments. This approach may slow the progression to physical disability and loss of independence.
A study found that Pycnogenol enhances healthy nitric oxide production, leading to increased blood flow and oxygen supply to muscles. The supplement allows for better expansion of arteries, meeting the enhanced oxygen demand of performing muscles.
Researchers discovered microRNAs linked to 10 major muscular disorders, opening doors to new treatments. The study found that targeting specific microRNAs may slow muscle loss by addressing the underlying biological processes.
Scientists at UCSD School of Medicine identified a potential new therapy for chronic spasticity and rigidity, a painful condition often resulting from spinal cord injuries. They found that the AMPA receptor antagonist NGX424 suppresses spasticity and rigidity in rats, providing a novel means of reducing muscle tone.
A 20-week randomized trial found that perindopril improved exercise capacity and maintained health-related quality of life in elderly participants. The degree of improvement was equivalent to that reported after 6 months of exercise training.
A new study led by McMaster researcher Dr. Mark Tarnopolsky shows that taking a combination of creatine monohydrate and conjugated linoleic acid with resistance exercise training provides even greater benefits for muscle endurance and fat-free mass in older adults. The six-month program resulted in improvements of functional ability an...
A computer simulation created by Georgia Tech and Emory researchers sheds light on how the nervous system adapts to sensory loss, enabling patients to regain balance despite impaired sensory information. The findings could lead to better diagnosis and rehabilitation for patients with balance problems.
A study by Tufts University physicist Roger Tobin suggests that steroid use can increase home run production by 50-100% through a 4% increase in batted ball speed. Muscle mass boosts also contribute to higher bat and ball speeds, leading to more dramatic effects on home runs.
A new study suggests that training programs promoting balanced activity of the inner and outer thigh muscles may help protect the ACL from injury. The research found that women tend to activate their outer thigh muscles more than their inner thigh muscles when preparing to land from a jump, leading to a larger valgus knee angle.
Researchers discovered a gene mutation that doubles AMPK activity in muscle during rest, leading to increased glycogen storage and decreased fat stores. This finding has significant implications for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and provides valuable information for pharmaceutical research.
Maternal and neonatal tetanus can be eliminated with effective action, including vaccination and proper care practices. However, sustaining elimination may require improvements in immunization and health services.
Researchers found that immunosuppressive drugs suppress beta-cell regeneration in diabetic mice, raising questions about the potential of successful regenerative islet transplantation. Meanwhile, a new study demonstrated that eIF4E-specific antisense oligonucleotides reduce tumor growth without causing damage to normal tissues.
A recent study discovered that mice lacking the protein myostatin and overproducing follistatin have four times more muscle mass than normal mice. This finding offers new avenues for enhancing muscle growth in patients with muscular dystrophy and other wasting diseases.
A study by the University of Copenhagen found that soccer players experienced greater improvements in fitness ratings and muscle mass compared to joggers. The researchers attribute this to the shifts between walking, running, and sprinting in soccer, which engages multiple muscle fibers.
A new oral treatment, EN101 antisense, has been shown to significantly reduce muscle weakness in people with myasthenia gravis. The study found that patients experienced improved muscle function, swallowing time, and disappearance of symptoms such as drooping eyelids.
Researchers found that Wnt protein impairs communication between stem cells and damaged muscles in older adults. This impairment leads to slower healing times and poorer tissue repair. The discovery opens doors to potential treatments for various tissues, including skin, gut, bone marrow, and even brain.
A diet rich in protein may help slow the deterioration of elderly people's muscles. Researchers found that both young and elderly volunteers experienced increased muscle protein synthesis after consuming a moderate amount of protein-rich food. This is crucial for maintaining health, independence, and preventing muscle loss.
A study by McMaster University found that drinking milk after weightlifting increased fat loss and improved muscle gain compared to other beverages. The researchers discovered the milk group lost nearly twice as much fat and gained more muscle mass than other groups.
Researchers found that individuals with a high fear of back pain will exhibit unusual movement patterns to prevent exacerbation, which can ultimately weaken their muscles. This study aims to inform the development of new treatments for backaches, a common condition affecting eight out of ten adults.
A team of scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has shown that stem cells engineered to secrete a key growth factor can protect motor neurons characteristic of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), but not restore muscle connections. The study demonstrates promise for cell-based therapies in diseases with few treatment options.
People with writer's cramp have reduced grey matter in specific brain regions, including the cerebellum and sensorimotor cortex. The study suggests that these changes may be a result of sustained repetitive movement, or an adaptation to the condition.
Researchers report successful outcomes for a surgical technique called temporalis tendon transfer, which helps reanimate facial paralysis with high patient satisfaction rates. The procedure resulted in improved form and function, with movement in mouth muscles identified in all patients after treatment.
A new study at WashU Medicine found that surgical repair of sports hernias using tension-free mesh, coupled with an innovative rehabilitation program, successfully returned athletes to competition in 93% of cases. The rehab protocol was developed by Ray Barile and involves a multistep, graduated approach to physical activity.
Researchers at Penn School of Medicine have discovered a potential new target for treating muscular dystrophy by targeting the 'brake' on utrophin gene expression. The study proposes using drugs to remove this brake, increasing utrophin production as a possible therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
During exercise, muscles primarily use carbohydrate and fat as fuels, shifting from fat to glucose with increasing intensity. The study found that adaptations in the rest of the body, not muscle itself, drive this shift.
A novel mutation in regulatory protein tropomyosin is associated with muscle weakness and distal limb deformities. The mutation modulates contractile speed and force-generation capacity by affecting myosin-actin kinetics.
Researchers develop an exercise program using rowing and strength training to address physical changes caused by microgravity. The program also includes a potassium-magnesium-citrate supplement to prevent kidney stones. Studies show that the regimen preserves cardiac size and function, muscle mass, and bone mineralization.
Fossilized dinosaurs exhibiting wide-open mouth and head-back poses were likely victims of brain damage or asphyxiation due to trauma, according to two paleontologists. This new explanation challenges the long-held notion that the pose resulted from water currents or muscle contractions.
A study published in Neurology found that moderate strengthening exercises can slow the progression of ALS by 12%, maintaining function and quality of life. The research suggests individualized rehabilitation programs can help people with ALS maintain independence for longer.
A study by Frank de Paoli and colleagues reveals that lactic acid and adrenaline work together to protect muscles from potassium ion imbalance. This finding contradicts the long-held idea that lactic acid causes muscle fatigue.
Researchers have discovered two types of satellite cells in muscle that behave like stem cells, allowing them to regrow and repair muscle tissue. These findings could lead to new treatments for muscle-wasting diseases and potentially even help maintain muscle mass with age.
Researchers found that a 45-minute walk restores the muscle-growth-stimulating effects of insulin to levels comparable to those seen in normal young adults. This breakthrough suggests that moderate aerobic exercise may slow the rate of muscle loss in aging.
Researchers found that repetitive strain injury is not one diagnosis but an umbrella term for various disorders caused by repetitive movements and risk factors. Conventional definitions include conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis, which affect millions worldwide.
A study using dynamic sonography found that 46 of 50 male soccer players had muscle tears and/or hematomas in the thigh and calf regions. The imaging modality successfully diagnosed complete muscle tears surrounded by hemotomas and partial tears with pseudo-tumor-like appearances.
A recent study showed that exercise, specifically resistance training, can reverse the genetic fingerprint of aging in healthy senior citizens. After six months of twice-weekly resistance training, older adults' mitochondrial function and muscle strength improved significantly, with some even surpassing those of younger adults.
A study led by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine found that muscle-derived stem cell injections strengthened sphincter muscles, improving bladder control and quality of life for women with stress urinary incontinence. The treatment was safe and effective, with long-term improvements observed.
Fused tyrannosaurid nasals increased skull strength, allowing for deep bone biting and superior bite force. This adaptation made T. rexes nearly unbeatable predators.
A study published in the Journal of Physiology found that adding marine omega-3 fatty acids to a steer's diet increased sensitivity to insulin, improving protein metabolism. This could lead to alternative methods for increasing muscle mass in animal farming.
Research suggests that older-adult dieting won't lead to reduced physical function, with women losing muscle but maintaining aerobic fitness and strength. Weight regain also doesn't negatively impact physical performance, as long as the regained weight is not excessive fat.
A study by radiologists at the University of Minnesota found that PET-CT detects muscular lymphoma more effectively than CT alone, revealing muscle involvement that may be overlooked. This breakthrough suggests that incorporating PET-CT into imaging protocols can lead to more accurate diagnoses and treatment plans.
A multi-center study shows that repeated Botox treatments over a year significantly decrease spasticity and pain in upper limbs following a stroke. The treatment improves quality of life for post-stroke patients with significant and lasting relief from debilitating symptoms.
Dysphagia affects 18 million Americans, leading to aspiration pneumonia, malnutrition, dehydration, and death. Exercise science principles can help restore fundamental function using mouth and throat muscles. Researchers propose more emphasis on theories like resistance training, repetitions, and biofeedback to optimize rehabilitation ...
Researchers identified an enzyme called SIK1 that regulates a pathway involving exercise-induced hormones and controls muscle-specific gene expression. Boosting SIK1 levels or inhibiting HDAC activity restored normal muscle function in genetically engineered mice with weak muscles. The discovery may provide clues for improving cellular...
A new study found that hibernating black bears lose about half as much skeletal muscle strength as humans confined to bed rest for similar periods. The researchers tested the bears' muscle strength and fatigue resistance after a 110-day period of anorexia and confinement.
A new study reveals that precise levels of the special protein UNC-45 are crucial for proper muscle formation. Having too much or too little UNC-45 can disrupt myosin assembly, leading to muscle paralysis and other health issues.
A new class of treatment, PTC124, has been shown to restore muscle function in a mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy by targeting a specific genetic defect. The drug allows the ribosome to read through a mutation and produce full-length dystrophin protein, enabling enough protein to be made to correct defects in the muscles.
A study of 4,000 pregnant women found that almost 1 in 5 overweight women required emergency Caesarean sections due to poor uterine contraction. Obese women experienced excessive bleeding following delivery, which was attributed to poor uterine activity.
A new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that milk protein significantly outperforms soy protein in building muscle mass after weightlifting. Young men who consumed skim milk post-workout gained almost twice as much muscle mass in 10 weeks compared to those who drank a soy drink.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins have identified a protein required for neighboring cells to fuse and become one super cell. The Solitary protein coordinates the movement of molecular delivery trucks and marks where the cell barrier needs to be broken, directing the building of a delivery road.
SPOC Inc. has developed a proprietary point-of-care medical diagnostic system that pinpoints specific myofascial trigger points causing pain, revolutionizing neck and back pain diagnosis and treatment practices. The investment from Stevens Institute of Technology and Connecticut Innovations will help commercialize the product.
Researchers at the University of Iowa found that biofeedback treatment can correct bowel function in nearly 80% of patients with dyssynergic defecation. The study compared biofeedback to standard treatment of laxatives, diet, and exercise, and found that biofeedback was significantly more effective in improving muscle function.
Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute found that boosting a key muscle gene improved Duchenne muscular dystrophy symptoms in mice. The study suggests increasing PGC-1alpha levels could slow or reduce disease progression.