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J Craniofac Surg 2020 May 28. Epub 2020 May 28.

Department of Adult and Development Age Human Pathology "Gaetano Barresi," Unit of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.

Hairy polyps are histological benign lesions derived from 2 germinal layers which arise during fetal period, they can occur anywhere in the body. When they are localized in the oropharynx or nasopharynx can lead to upper airway obstruction in infants.We describe a case of a 2-days-old full-term female with intermittent upper airway obstruction, stridor, and feeding difficulty. Read More

J Craniofac Surg 2020 May 28. Epub 2020 May 28.

Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine changes in the electromyographic activity, thickness, width, and hardness of the masseter muscle from before to after orthognathic surgery.

Material And Methods: The study included 15 patients with Class III dentofacial deformities who were treated with combined orthodontic and orthognathic surgery. Fifteen individuals with normal occlusion and no signs or symptoms of temporomandibular joint dysfunction were used as controls. Read More

Sci Rep 2020 May 29;10(1):8765. Epub 2020 May 29.

Department of Sport Medicine and Functional Explorations-CRNH Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand University Hospital, G. Montpied Hospital, Clermont-Ferrand, F-63000, France.

Metabolic myopathies are muscle disorders caused by a biochemical defect of the skeletal muscle energy system resulting in exercise intolerance. The primary aim of this research was to evaluate the oxygen cost (∆V'O/∆Work-Rate) during incremental exercise in patients with metabolic myopathies as compared with patients with non-metabolic myalgia and healthy subjects. The study groups consisted of eight patients with muscle glycogenoses (one Tarui and seven McArdle diseases), seven patients with a complete and twenty-two patients with a partial myoadenylate deaminase (MAD) deficiency in muscle biopsy, five patients with a respiratory chain deficiency, seventy-three patients with exercise intolerance and normal muscle biopsy (non-metabolic myalgia), and twenty-eight healthy controls. Read More

Cells 2020 May 26;9(6). Epub 2020 May 26.

Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Medical University of Warsaw, Lindley 4 St, 02-005 Warsaw, Poland.

Heterotopic ossification (HO) manifests as bone development in the skeletal muscles and surrounding soft tissues. It can be caused by injury, surgery, or may have a genetic background. In each case, its development might differ, and depending on the age, sex, and patient's conditions, it could lead to a more or a less severe outcome. Read More

Int Immunopharmacol 2020 May 21;85:106611. Epub 2020 May 21.

Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas 37130-001, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Department of Structural Biology, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas 37130-001, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Electronic address:

While thioridazine (Tio) inhibits the antioxidant defenses of Trypanosoma cruzi, the gold standard antitrypanosomal drug benznidazole (Bz) has potent anti-inflammatory and pro-oxidant properties. The combination of these drugs has never been tested to determine the effect on T. cruzi infection. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2020 May 20;21(10). Epub 2020 May 20.

School of Medicine, University of Marília (UNIMAR), Avenida Higino Muzzi Filho, 1001, Marília 17506-000, São Paulo, Brazil.

Skeletal muscle is capable of secreting different factors in order to communicate with other tissues. These mediators, the myokines, show potentially far-reaching effects on non-muscle tissues and can provide a molecular interaction between muscle and body physiology. Sarcopenia is a chronic degenerative neuromuscular disease closely related to cardiomyopathy and chronic heart failure, which influences the production and release of myokines. Read More

Histopathology 2020 May 22. Epub 2020 May 22.

BIAS - Brazilian Image Autopsy Study Group, Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil.

Aims: Brazil ranks high in the number of COVID-19 cases and COVID-19's mortality rate. In this context, autopsies are important to confirm the disease, determine associated conditions, and study the pathophysiology of this novel disease. In order to follow biosafety recommendations, we used Ultrasound-Guided Minimally Invasive Autopsy (MIA-US) to assess the systemic involvement of COVID-19 and present the results of ten initial autopsies. Read More

FASEB J 2020 May 22. Epub 2020 May 22.

Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Molecular Diagnostics Division, London Health Sciences Centre, Children's Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada.

Studies have shown that mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) can be exchanged between tissues; however, the mechanism(s) behind this phenomenon remain unclear. Exosomes and other extracellular vesicles (EVs) including microvesicles (MV) have been shown to contain mtDNA. EVs can be derived from a number of tissues; however, the source and relative proportion of EVs containing mtDNA remains unknown. Read More

J Exp Med 2020 Jul;217(7)

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE.

Approximately one third of cancer patients die due to complexities related to cachexia. However, the mechanisms of cachexia and the potential therapeutic interventions remain poorly studied. We observed a significant positive correlation between SIRT1 expression and muscle fiber cross-sectional area in pancreatic cancer patients. Read More

J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2020 May 11;201:105693. Epub 2020 May 11.

Laboratory of Veterinary Biochemistry, School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu, Hokkaido 069-8501, Japan. Electronic address:

Adrenal corticosterone plays crucial roles in energy metabolism and immuno-reactivity throughout the body. As we have previously shown that corticosterone biosynthesis in C2C12 myoblasts, we study about corticosterone biosynthesis in rat skeletal muscles. It was found that enzymatic activities producing corticosterone and testosterone except the activity of P450scc in rat skeletal muscle as like as C2C12 cells. Read More

Ulus Travma Acil Cerrahi Derg 2020 May;26(3):351-360

Department of Cardiology, Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University Faculty of Medicine, Kahramanmaraş-Turkey.

Background: Acute ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury of skeletal muscle, an important mortality and morbidity cause, is associated with oxidative stress. Lycopene is a carotenoid pigment with potent antioxidant activity and is found in vegetables and fruits. This study aims to investigate the protective effects of lycopene against I/R injury in rat hind limb muscle model. Read More

Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2020 May 20. Epub 2020 May 20.

Wright State University, Department of Biological Sciences, Dayton, OH, USA.

Huntington's disease (HD) patients suffer from progressive and debilitating motor dysfunction for which only palliative treatment is currently available. Previously, we discovered reduced skeletal muscle Cl channel (ClC-1) and inwardly rectifying K channel (Kir) currents in R6/2 HD transgenic mice. To further investigate the role of ClC-1 and Kir currents in HD skeletal muscle pathology, we measured the effect of reduced ClC-1 and Kir currents on action potential (AP) repetitive firing in R6/2 mice using two-electrode current-clamp. Read More

FASEB J 2020 May 19. Epub 2020 May 19.

Research Unit of Biomedicine, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.

Signaling through activin receptors regulates skeletal muscle mass and activin receptor 2B (ACVR2B) ligands are also suggested to participate in myocardial infarction (MI) pathology in the heart. In this study, we determined the effect of systemic blockade of ACVR2B ligands on cardiac function in experimental MI, and defined its efficacy to revert muscle wasting in ischemic heart failure (HF). Mice were treated with soluble ACVR2B decoy receptor (ACVR2B-Fc) to study its effect on post-MI cardiac remodeling and on later HF. Read More

Neuromuscul Disord 2020 Mar 5. Epub 2020 Mar 5.

Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.

The purpose of this study was to report the findings of clinical and genetic evaluation of a 3-month old male Boykin spaniel (the proband) that presented with progressive weakness. The puppy underwent a physical and neurological examination, serum biochemistry and complete blood cell count, electrophysiological testing, muscle biopsy and whole genome sequencing. Clinical evaluation revealed generalized neuromuscular weakness with tetraparesis and difficulty holding the head up and a dropped jaw. Read More

Hum Mol Genet 2020 May 15. Epub 2020 May 15.

Department of Pathology & Immunology.

mRNA processing is highly regulated during development through changes in RNA binding protein activities. CUG-BP, Elav-like family member 1 (CELF1, also called CUGBP1) is a RNA binding protein the expression of which decreases in skeletal muscle soon after birth. CELF1 regulates multiple nuclear and cytoplasmic RNA processing events. Read More

Diabetes 2020 May 14. Epub 2020 May 14.

Applied Physiology & Nutrition Research Group; School of Physical Education and Sport; Laboratory of Assessment and Conditioning in Rheumatology; Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, BR

Exercise seems to enhance the beneficial effect of bariatric surgery (RYGB) on insulin resistance. We hypothesized that skeletal muscle extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling may underly these benefits. Women were randomized to either a combined aerobic and resistance exercise training program following RYGB or standard of care (RYGB). Read More

Nutrients 2020 May 12;12(5). Epub 2020 May 12.

Division of Nephrology, San Giovanni di Dio Hospital, 92100 Agrigento, Italy.

Protein Energy Wasting (PEW) in hemodialysis (HD) patients is a multifactorial condition due to specific pathology-related pathogenetic mechanisms, leading to loss of skeletal muscle mass in HD patients. Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging still represent the gold standard techniques for body composition assessment. However, their widespread application in clinical practice is difficult and body composition evaluation in HD patients is mainly based on conventional anthropometric nutritional indexes and bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA). Read More

Acta Physiol (Oxf) 2020 May 14:e13496. Epub 2020 May 14.

Venetian Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), Padova, Italy.

Aim: Resistance exercise increases muscle mass over time. However, the early signalling events leading to muscle growth are not yet well-defined. Here, we aim to identify new signalling pathways important for muscle remodelling after exercise. Read More

Exp Gerontol 2020 May 11;137:110964. Epub 2020 May 11.

Exercise Physiology Research Group, Department of Movement Sciences, KU Leuven, Tervuursevest 101, 3001 Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address:

Muscle loss is an important feature that occurs in multiple pathologies including osteoarthritis (OA), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and type II diabetes (T2D). Despite differences in pathogenesis and disease-related complications, there are reasons to believe that some fundamental underlying mechanisms are inherent to the muscle wasting process, irrespective of the pathology. Recent evidence shows that inflammation, either local or systemic, contributes to the modulation of muscle mass and/or muscle strength, via an altered molecular profile in muscle tissue. Read More

AJR Am J Roentgenol 2020 May 14:1-6. Epub 2020 May 14.

American Institute for Radiologic Pathology, Silver Spring, MD.

We undertook this study to determine the radiologic features of desmo-plastic fibroblastoma. We reviewed available radiologic images for 29 pathologically confirmed desmoplastic fibroblastomas, including images from MRI, radiography, ultrasound (US), and CT. The patient population included 14 women and 15 men (mean age, 60 years; range, 23-96 years). Read More

Oncologist 2020 May 13. Epub 2020 May 13.

Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.

Immune-related adverse events induced by immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy may affect diverse organ systems, including skeletal and cardiac muscle. ICI-associated myositis may result in substantial morbidity and occasional mortality. We present a case of a patient with advanced non-small cell lung cancer who developed grade 4 myositis with concurrent myocarditis early after initiation of anti-programmed death ligand 1 therapy (durvalumab). Read More

Metab Syndr Relat Disord 2020 May 11. Epub 2020 May 11.

Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.

Adipose tissue (AT) around and within non-AT organs (i.e., ectopic adiposity) is emerging as a strong risk factor for type 2 diabetes (T2D). Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2020 May;99(19):e20056

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Rationale: Cervical cancer primarily spreads through direct invasion or via local lymphatics, and hematogenous metastasis is infrequent. Previous reports have shown that lung, liver, and bone are the organs most frequently affected by hematogenous metastasis of cervical cancer, while skeletal muscle is very rarely involved.

Patient Concerns: A 75-year-old Japanese woman presented with a painful muscular mass in her right lower abdomen. Read More

J Ginseng Res 2020 May 7;44(3):461-474. Epub 2019 Mar 7.

Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, School of Medicine and Life Science, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.

Background: Ginseng effectively reduces fatigue in both animal models and clinical trials. However, the mechanism of action is not completely understood, and its molecular targets remain largely unknown.

Methods: By screening for proteins that interact with the primary components of ginseng (ginsenosides) in an affinity chromatography assay, we have identified muscle-type creatine kinase (CK-MM) as a potential target in skeletal muscle tissues. Read More

Anticancer Res 2020 May;40(5):2409-2418

University of Illinois Cancer Center, Chicago, IL, U.S.A.

Background/aim: Skeletal muscle mass loss is an emerging concern in oncology. Our systematic review and meta-analysis identified the mean difference in skeletal muscle index pre- to post-chemotherapy and synthesized potential key factors.

Materials And Methods: We searched primary original research published through October 2019 in four databases: MEDLINE via PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, and Embase. Read More

Redox Biol 2020 Mar 4;34:101492. Epub 2020 Mar 4.

Division of Pulmonary, Department of Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.

Myo-satellite cells regenerate and differentiate into skeletal muscle (SM) after acute or chronic injury. Changes in the redox milieu towards the oxidative arm at the wound site are known to compromise SM regeneration. Recently, we reported that abrogation of Nrf2/antioxidant signaling promotes oxidative stress and impairs SM regeneration in C57/Bl6 mice. Read More

Skelet Muscle 2020 May 2;10(1):13. Epub 2020 May 2.

Present Affiliation: School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, Western Australia.

Background: In Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), DYSTROPHIN deficiency exposes myofibers to repeated cycles of contraction/degeneration, ultimately leading to muscle loss and replacement by fibrotic tissue. DMD pathology is typically exacerbated by excessive secretion of TGFβ and consequent accumulation of pro-fibrotic components of the extra-cellular matrix (ECM), which in turn impairs compensatory regeneration and complicates the efficacy of therapeutic strategies. It is currently unclear whether DMD skeletal muscle fibers directly contribute to excessive activation of TGFβ. Read More

J Physiol 2020 May 2. Epub 2020 May 2.

Program in Physical Therapy, Washington University, St. Louis, MO.

Key Points: Muscle infiltration with adipose tissue (IMAT) is common and associated with loss of skeletal muscle strength and physical function across a diverse set of pathologies. Whether the association between IMAT and muscle weakness is causative or simply correlative remains an open question that needs to be addressed to effectively guide muscle strengthening interventions in people with increased IMAT. In the present studies, we demonstrate that IMAT deposition causes decreased muscle strength using mouse models. Read More

J Biol Chem 2020 Apr 29. Epub 2020 Apr 29.

Model Animal Research Center, Nanjing University, China.

Mutations in the () gene can cause the fatal disease X-linked centronuclear myopathy (XLCNM), but the underlying mechanism is incompletely understood. In this report, using an disease model, we found that expression of the intragenic microRNA miR-199a-1 is up-regulated along with that of its host gene, dynamin 2 (), in XLCNM skeletal muscle. To assess the role of miR-199a-1 in XLCNM, we crossed with mice, and found that the resultant - double knockout mice display markers of improved health, as evidenced by lifespans prolonged by 30% and improved muscle strength and histology. Read More

Curr Diabetes Rev 2020 Apr 30. Epub 2020 Apr 30.

Department of Anatomy and Histology-Embryology, Medical School, University of Patras, 26500 Patra. Greece.

Background: Estrogen receptor β (ERβ) plays an important role in human metabolism and some of its metabolic actions are mediated by a positive "cross-talk" with Nuclear Factor of Activated T cells (NFAT) and the key metabolic transcriptional coregulator Transcriptional Intermediary Factor 2 (TIF2).

Introduction: Our study is an "in situ" morphological evaluation of the communication between ERβ, NFAT and TIF2 in morbid obesity. Potential correlations with clinicopathological parameters and with the presence of diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were also explored. Read More

Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2020 Apr 29. Epub 2020 Apr 29.

Kids Neuroscience Centre, Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, NSW 2145, Australia; Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; Children's Medical Research Institute, Functional Neuromics, Westmead, Sydney, NSW 2145, Australia.

The ubiquitous calpains-1 and -2 play important roles in Ca-dependent membrane repair. Mechanically active tissues like skeletal muscle are particularly reliant on mechanisms to repair and remodel membrane injury, such as those caused by eccentric damage. We demonstrate that calpains-1 and -2 are master effectors of Ca-dependent repair of mechanical plasma membrane scrape injuries, though are dispensable for repair/removal of small wounds caused by pore-forming agents. Read More

Hum Mol Genet 2020 Apr 29. Epub 2020 Apr 29.

King's College London, Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, London SE1 1UL, UK.

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is a prevalent, inherited skeletal myopathy linked to hypomethylation of the D4Z4 macrosatellite at chromosome 4q35. This epigenetic de-repression permits expression of the transcription factor DUX4, which may drive pathology by direct activation of target genes, or through inhibition of the homologous transcription factor PAX7. We demonstrated that PAX7 target gene repression is a superior biomarker of FSHD status, compared to DUX4 target gene expression. Read More

Vet Pathol 2020 Apr 29:300985820921814. Epub 2020 Apr 29.

Michigan State University, Lansing, MI, USA.

Multinucleated giant cells (MGCs) are a prominent histological feature of various mesenchymal neoplasms and are often considered a criterion of malignancy. Mesenchymal neoplasms with MGCs for which the cell lineage is unclear generally are referred to as giant cell sarcomas. Here we characterize the gross, histologic, and immunohistochemical features of 90 giant cell sarcomas in domestic pet rabbits. Read More

Malays J Pathol 2020 Apr;42(1):115-119

Singapore General Hospital, Division of Pathology, Department of Anatomical Pathology, Singapore.

Introduction: Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) usually occurs in adolescents and young adults, and most frequently arises in the extremities.

Case Report: We present a rare case of metastatic alveolar RMS from a nasal primary to cervical lymph nodes (LNs) in an elderly patient, diagnosed on the fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy. Smears showed malignant round cells featuring focal rhabdoid appearance, with rhabdomyoblastic differentiation further supported by immunocytochemical stains. Read More

J Forensic Leg Med 2020 Apr 12;71:101941. Epub 2020 Mar 12.

Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, JIPMER, Puducherry, India.

Background: Rhabdomyolysis is a potentially fatal condition which occurs due to skeletal muscle injury and classically presents with myalgia and red-brown coloured urine. Presence of excess myoglobin in the glomerular filtrate forms myoglobin casts which causes severe obstruction and necrosis of the tubules leading to acute renal failure.

Methods: We report two fatal cases of rhabdomyolysis associated acute renal failure. Read More

Eur J Prev Cardiol 2020 Apr 27:2047487320919863. Epub 2020 Apr 27.

Department of Cardiology, Stavanger University Hospital, Norway.

Aging (Albany NY) 2020 Apr 24;12(8):7511-7533. Epub 2020 Apr 24.

Institute of Cellular and System Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan 350, Taiwan.

Inflammation of the vascular microenvironment modulates distinct types of vascular cells, and plays important roles in promoting atherosclerosis, stenosis/restenosis, and vascular-related diseases. Nik-related kinase (Nrk), a member of the Ste20-type kinase family, has been reported to be selectively expressed in embryonic skeletal muscle. However, whether Nrk is expressed in adult vascular smooth muscle, and if it influences intimal hyperplasia is unclear. Read More

Cancers (Basel) 2020 Apr 19;12(4). Epub 2020 Apr 19.

Molecular Oncology and Viral Pathology Group, IPO Porto Research Center (CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal.

Cancer cachexia or wasting is a paraneoplastic syndrome characterized by systemic inflammation and an involuntary loss of body mass that cannot be reversed by normal nutritional support. This syndrome affects 50%-80% of cancer patients, depending on the tumor type and patient characteristics, and it is responsible for up to 20% of cancer deaths. MicroRNAs are a class of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) with 19 to 24 nucleotides in length of which the function is to regulate gene expression. Read More

J Biomed Mater Res A 2020 Apr 21. Epub 2020 Apr 21.

Division of Experimental Pathology and.

Tailoring the properties of extracellular matrix (ECM) based hydrogels by conjugating with synthetic polymers is an emerging method for designing hybridhydrogels for a wide range of tissue engineering applications. In this study, poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA), a synthetic polymer at variable concentrations (ranging from 0.2 to 2% wt/vol) was conjugated with porcine cholecyst derived ECM (C-ECM) (1% wt/vol) and prepared a biosynthetic hydrogel having enhanced physico-mechanical properties, as required for skeletal muscle tissue engineering. Read More

Antioxidants (Basel) 2020 Apr 17;9(4). Epub 2020 Apr 17.

Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", 00133 Rome, Italy.

With the increase in average life expectancy, several individuals are affected by age-associated non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs). The presence of NCDs, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), leads to the reduction in skeletal muscle mass, a pathological condition defined as sarcopenia. A key factor linking sarcopenia with cellular senescence and diabetes mellitus (DM) is oxidative stress. Read More

Acta Neuropathol 2020 Apr 18. Epub 2020 Apr 18.

Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.

Polyglutamine (polyQ) tract expansion leads to proteotoxic misfolding and drives a family of nine diseases. We study spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), a progressive degenerative disorder of the neuromuscular system caused by the polyQ androgen receptor (AR). Using a knock-in mouse model of SBMA, AR113Q mice, we show that E3 ubiquitin ligases which are a hallmark of the canonical muscle atrophy machinery are not induced in AR113Q muscle. Read More

J Biomed Res 2019 May;34(2):75-85

Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of California Davis Health, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.

Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a rare and life-threatening pharmacogenetic disorder triggered by volatile anesthetics, the depolarizing muscle relaxant succinylcholine, and rarely by strenuous exercise or environmental heat. The exact prevalence of MH is unknown, and it varies from 1:16 000 in Denmark to 1:100 000 in New York State. The underlying mechanism of MH is excessive calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), leading to uncontrolled skeletal muscle hyper-metabolism. Read More

Acta Neuropathol Commun 2020 Apr 17;8(1):53. Epub 2020 Apr 17.

Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK.

The primary molecular endpoint for many Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) clinical trials is the induction, or increase in production, of dystrophin protein in striated muscle. For accurate endpoint analysis, it is essential to have reliable, robust and objective quantification methodologies capable of detecting subtle changes in dystrophin expression. In this work, we present further development and optimisation of an automated, digital, high-throughput script for quantitative analysis of multiplexed immunofluorescent (IF) whole slide images (WSI) of dystrophin, dystrophin associated proteins (DAPs) and regenerating myofibres (fetal/developmental myosin-positive) in transverse sections of DMD, Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) and control skeletal muscle biopsies. Read More

Antioxid Redox Signal 2020 May 27. Epub 2020 May 27.

Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa, Japan.

Selenoprotein P functions as a redox protein through its intrinsic thioredoxin domain and by distributing selenium to intracellular glutathione peroxidases, that is, glutathione peroxidase 1 and 4. : Selenoprotein P was rediscovered as a hepatokine that causes the pathology of type 2 diabetes and aging-related diseases, including exercise resistance in the skeletal muscle, insulin secretory failure in pancreatic β cells, angiogenesis resistance in vascular endothelial cells, and myocardial ischemicreperfusion injury. It was unexpected for the antioxidant selenoprotein P to cause insulin resistance, because oxidative stress associated with obesity and fatty liver is a causal factor for hepatic insulin resistance. Read More

Life Sci 2020 Jul 12;252:117630. Epub 2020 Apr 12.

Laboratory of Molecular Iron Metabolism, College of Life Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province 050024, China.

Oxidative stress is the core of most pathological situations, and its attribution toward disease conversion is not yet well established. The adaptive capacity of a cell can overcome ROS-induced pathology. However, when a cell fails to extend its maximum adaptive capacity against oxidative stress, it could lead a cell to misbehave or defunct from its normal functions. Read More

Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2020 May 15;318(5):C1030-C1041. Epub 2020 Apr 15.

Department of General Physiology, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia.

Na,K-ATPase is a membrane transporter that is critically important for skeletal muscle function. Mdx and Bla/J mice are the experimental models of Duchenne muscular dystrophy and dysferlinopathy that are known to differ in the molecular mechanism of the pathology. This study examines the function of α1- and α2-Na,K-ATPase isozymes in respiratory diaphragm and postural soleus muscles from mdx and Bla/J mice compared with control С57Bl/6 mice. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2020 Apr;99(15):e19721

Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

Introduction: Moderate to severe postoperative pain and associated opioid use may interfere with patients' well-being and course of recovery. Regional anesthetic techniques provide an opportunity for opioid sparing and improved patient outcomes. A new regional technique called the erector spinae plane (ESP) block has the potential to provide effective analgesia after shoulder arthroscopy with minimal risks and decreased opioid consumption. Read More

Skelet Muscle 2020 Apr 11;10(1). Epub 2020 Apr 11.

Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV, 89557, USA.

Background: All types of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) are caused by the aberrant activation of the somatically silent DUX4 gene, the expression of which initiates a cascade of cellular events ultimately leading to FSHD pathophysiology. Typically, progressive skeletal muscle weakness becomes noticeable in the second or third decade of life, yet there are many individuals who are genetically FSHD but develop symptoms much later in life or remain relatively asymptomatic throughout their lives. Conversely, FSHD may clinically present prior to 5-10 years of age, ultimately manifesting as a severe early-onset form of the disease. Read More

Radiol Clin North Am 2020 May;58(3):603-618

Department of Radiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Electronic address:

Venous malformations and hemangiomas of the skeletal muscle are separate entities with different clinical presentation, histology, and imaging findings. Recent advances in the field of vascular anomalies and current efforts in the unification of terminology by the International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies are pivotal in understanding and differentiating intramuscular venous malformations and intramuscular capillary-type hemangioma. Fibroadipose vascular anomaly is another recently defined vascular anomaly affecting the skeletal muscle, with a distinct clinical presentation, histology, and imaging appearance. Read More

Cell Metab 2020 May 9;31(5):909-919.e8. Epub 2020 Apr 9.

Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada; Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada; Cardiovascular Research Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada. Electronic address:

Perturbations in carbohydrate, lipid, and protein metabolism contribute to obesity-induced type 2 diabetes (T2D), though whether alterations in ketone body metabolism influence T2D pathology is unknown. We report here that activity of the rate-limiting enzyme for ketone body oxidation, succinyl-CoA:3-ketoacid-CoA transferase (SCOT/Oxct1), is increased in muscles of obese mice. We also found that the diphenylbutylpiperidine pimozide, which is approved to suppress tics in individuals with Tourette syndrome, is a SCOT antagonist. Read More