Application of ice is commonly prescribed to treat bruised muscles, but does it really shorten recovery and facilitate healing? Researchers from Queensland University of Technology (Australia) investigated the science behind the conventional wisdom of icing. Jonathan Peake presented the results at the American Physiological Society Annual Meeting, part of Experimental Biology 2015 (30 March 2015;ContinueContinue reading “Icing an injury might slow healing”
Tag Archives: musculoskeletal system
TWEAKing treatment for myotonic dystrophy
Muscular dystrophies are inherited disorders that result in progressive muscle damage and functional disability. There are currently no effective treatments available for the most common muscular dystrophy in adults, myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1). Mani Mahadevan (University of Virginia, Charlottesville) led the team that identified the mutation that causes DM1, which they reported in 1992ContinueContinue reading “TWEAKing treatment for myotonic dystrophy”
Strong muscles, strong mind
Depression is a debilitating condition that affects millions of people worldwide. Physical exercise can improve symptoms in many people with depression, but the mechanisms by which it does so have not been characterized. Physical endurance exercise induces PGC-1α1 in skeletal muscle, promoting mitochondrial biogenesis, fatty acid oxidation, angiogenesis and resistance to muscle atrophy. By studyingContinueContinue reading “Strong muscles, strong mind”
Strengthening bone in neurofibromatosis type 1
Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is characterized by skeletal abnormalities such as scoliosis, fragility, fractures and pseudoarthrosis (failure of bones to fuse properly after fractures). The disorder is caused by mutations of neurofibromin, a protein that regulates cellular signaling pathways. New research from investigators at Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN) suggests that treatment with the enzyme asfotase-α preventsContinueContinue reading “Strengthening bone in neurofibromatosis type 1”
With oxytocin, old muscles act like new
As we age, the ability of our tissues to maintain homeostasis and to repair themselves declines, eventually leading to organ degeneration and failure. Aging of muscle tissue is characterized by deficient muscle regeneration after injury and by altered muscle function and associated atrophy, known as sarcopenia. Some previous work suggests that the age-related decline inContinueContinue reading “With oxytocin, old muscles act like new”
Silk strong enough to bind broken bones
To repair fractured bone, screws made of metal alloys are the gold standard. But these devices can impair bone remodeling and healing and may also corrode, causing pain and inflammation and necessitating their removal. Biodegradable alternatives eliminate some of these concerns but present their own disadvantages: they can trigger inflammation, they are not strong enoughContinueContinue reading “Silk strong enough to bind broken bones”
Genetic variant regulates arthritis severity
Lyme disease, caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, is the most prevalent arthropod-borne illness in the US. Disease severity varies greatly, with up to 60% of untreated patients developing a self-limiting, inflammatory arthritis. Even after appropriate antibiotic therapy, 10% of patients may develop chronic arthritis lasting months to years. The spectrum of arthritis severity amongContinueContinue reading “Genetic variant regulates arthritis severity”
A link between gut bacteria and rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease marked by joint inflammation. Although its causes are unknown, mouse studies suggest that gut bacteria may be involved in supporting the immune response underlying inflammation. When scientists led by Dan Littman (New York University School of Medicine, NY) investigated this involvement, they found that a specific gut bacteriumContinueContinue reading “A link between gut bacteria and rheumatoid arthritis”
Boosting bone growth in dwarf mice
Achondroplasia, the most common form of dwarfism, is characterized by short stature, short limbs and a relatively large head, sometimes resulting in problems with the spine and with hearing and breathing. It is caused by a mutation of the receptor FGFR3, which is involved in the development of bone and brain tissue. The mutation causesContinueContinue reading “Boosting bone growth in dwarf mice”
Alternative splicing and muscle atrophy
Myotonic dystrophy type 1 is the second most common form of muscular dystrophy and the form most likely to occur in adults. The disorder is characterized by weakness and atrophy of type 1 (or slow) muscle fibers through mechanisms that, until recently, were not understood. Now, Zhihua Gao and Thomas A. Cooper (Baylor College ofContinueContinue reading “Alternative splicing and muscle atrophy”
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