Muscular Atrophy News and Research

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Designer DNA drug could be used to delay paralysis in ALS

In virtually all persons with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and in up to half of all cases of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and frontotemporal dementia, a protein called TDP-43 is lost from its normal location in the nucleus of the cell.

17 Mar 2023

How the structural and functional effects of mutations on androgen receptor lead to prostate cancer

The androgen receptor is a key transcriptional factor for the proper sex development —specially in males— and the physiological balance of all the tissues that express this receptor.

17 Mar 2023

Study paves way for developing effective ASO therapies for brain diseases with fewer side effects

A promising therapy for a range of brain diseases involves antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs)-;specialized molecules that can modulate RNA and alter protein production-;directly injected into the cerebrospinal fluid, in the space around the brain and spinal cord.

14 Mar 2023

Rare Diseases Action Plan for England focuses on providing better care and reducing health inequalities

A new Rare Diseases Action Plan for England will be published today (Tuesday 28 February) that will ensure those living with these conditions receive better care and treatment, fairer access to testing and have continued support.

28 Feb 2023

A bitter battle over the ‘orphan drug’ program leaves patients’ pocketbooks at risk

A prescription drug that helps Lore Wilkinson walk and talk despite a rare muscle disease cost her so little for more than a decade that she didn't even use her insurance to pay for it.

22 Feb 2023

Alternative splicing plays a role in compensating for loss of gene function

Living organisms have a knack for persisting in the face of challenges. For instance, when genes malfunction, organisms may be able to compensate by activating redundant genes with similar functions, called paralogs.

21 Feb 2023

Nusinersen treatment improves spinal muscular atrophy patients’ walking distance

A positive effect of nusinersen treatment on motor function in ambulant pediatric and adult spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) patients during a 38-month period has been demonstrated by an analysis of data from the SMArtCARE registry.

15 Feb 2023

Protein secreted from skeletal muscle cells and helps to repair and grow muscles

Scientists from Tokyo Metropolitan University have discovered that a protein called platelet-derived growth factor subunit B (PDGF-B) is continuously secreted from skeletal muscle cells and helps to repair muscles by encouraging myoblasts (muscle stem cells) to proliferate.

16 Jan 2023

Tiny messenger can be promising candidate for treatment of diseases associated with muscular atrophy

WNT messenger proteins are crucial for a variety of cellular functions. A specific WNT messenger can increase muscle mass and improve regeneration in skeletal muscle.

14 Dec 2022

Government introduces a Vaccine Taskforce style approach to tackle public health challenges in the UK

NHS patients are set to benefit from cutting-edge new treatments and technologies as the government introduces a Vaccine Taskforce style approach to tackling some of the biggest public health challenges facing the UK.

27 Nov 2022

Researchers discover a new function of CRISPR/Cas9 gene scissors

For several years now, the CRISPR/Cas9 gene scissors have been causing a sensation in science and medicine.

25 Nov 2022

Scientists explore links between survival motor neuron protein and sarcopenia

Adopting some of the strategies behind successfully treating the childhood disease spinal muscular atrophy may enable development of therapies to curb the muscle decline that accompanies aging, new research suggests.

15 Nov 2022

Novel tool evaluates the contractile force-related state of myotubes

Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have developed a way to characterize the force generated by contracting myotubes, precursors to skeletal muscle fiber, combining electrostimulation and analysis of wrinkles in the silicone substrate on which they are mounted. Existing methods rely on muscle mass or the expression of certain proteins, both not as strongly correlated with muscle strength. Accurate measurement of myotube strength promises more effective screening of drug targets for treating muscle atrophy.

5 Sep 2022

Researchers receive $1.2 million Keck Foundation grant to find molecules for targeting the 'undruggable proteome'

The W.M. Keck Foundation has awarded a $1.2 million grant to medicinal chemistry and computational biology researchers at the University of Kansas and the University of Chicago focused on addressing a long-unresolved problem in biomedical research -; finding molecules able to target the "undruggable proteome."

29 Aug 2022

Remote ischemic preconditioning can amplify the protection against heart attack, stroke

The majority of heart attacks and strokes in the world are ischemic, meaning a clot or buildup of plaque in an artery prevents oxygen-rich blood from reaching cells in the heart or brain. Blocked for too long, tissues die.

19 Jul 2022

Investigating the prerequisites for developing RNA-based antibiotics

In the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, mRNA-based vaccines have impressively demonstrated their potential. Using this technology, scientists were able to rapidly develop and bring to market vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 that have been extremely effective at protecting millions of people against severe disease progression of COVID-19 or even death.

29 Jun 2022

Early identification and treatment can reduce financial costs associated with spinal muscular atrophy

New research published in Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology indicates that early identification and treatment of patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA)-; a genetic disorder characterized by weakness and wasting in muscles-; can reduce the total financial costs associated with the condition.

8 Jun 2022