Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Autophagy 2019 Jan 18. Epub 2019 Jan 18.

a Department of Neurology, Hope Center for Neurological Diseases , Washington University School of Medicine , St Louis , MO , USA.

Differentiated tissue is particularly vulnerable to alterations in protein and organelle homeostasis. The essential protein VCP, mutated in hereditary inclusion body myopathy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia, is critical for efficient clearance of misfolded proteins and damaged organelles in dividing cells, but its role in terminally differentiated tissue affected by disease mutations is less clear. To understand the relevance of VCP in differentiated tissue, we inactivated it in skeletal muscle of adult mice. Read More

Eur Heart J Qual Care Clin Outcomes 2019 Jan 11. Epub 2019 Jan 11.

Lund University, Medical Service, Clinical Genetics and Pathology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Division of Oncology and Pathology, Lund, Sweden.

Aims: To determine the rate of injuries related to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in cardiac arrest non-survivors, comparing manual CPR with CPR performed using the Lund University Cardiac Assist System (LUCAS).

Methods And Results: We prospectively evaluated 414 deceased adult patients using focused, standardized post-mortem investigation in years 2005 through 2013. Skeletal and soft tissue injuries were noted, and soft tissue injuries were evaluated with respect to degree of severity. Read More

Nat Commun 2019 Jan 14;10(1):181. Epub 2019 Jan 14.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.

Whether sensory nerve can sense bone density or metabolic activity to control bone homeostasis is unknown. Here we found prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) secreted by osteoblastic cells activates PGE2 receptor 4 (EP4) in sensory nerves to regulate bone formation by inhibiting sympathetic activity through the central nervous system. PGE2 secreted by osteoblasts increases when bone density decreases as demonstrated in osteoporotic animal models. Read More

Pflugers Arch 2019 Jan 9. Epub 2019 Jan 9.

Department of Pharmacology and Hypoxia-related Disease Research Center, Inha University School of Medicine, Room 1015, 60th Anniversary Hall, 100, Inha-ro, Nam-gu, Incheon, 22212, Republic of Korea.

Exercise is a well-known non-pharmacological intervention to improve brain functions, including cognition, memory, and motor coordination. Contraction of skeletal muscles during exercise releases humoral factors that regulate the whole-body metabolism via interaction with other non-muscle organs. Myokines are muscle-derived effectors that regulate body metabolism by autocrine, paracrine, or endocrine action and were reportedly suggested as "exercise factors" that can improve the brain function. Read More

Sensors (Basel) 2019 Jan 7;19(1). Epub 2019 Jan 7.

Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.

Background: Motion capture and analyzing systems are essential for understanding locomotion. However, the existing devices are too cumbersome and can be used indoors only. A newly-developed wearable motion capture and measurement system with multiple sensors and ultrasound imaging was introduced in this study. Read More

Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 2019 Jan;155(1):117-126

Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia.

This case report describes the successful camouflage treatment to correct a moderate skeletal Class III malocclusion in a 19-year-old male cleft-palate patient. Early closure of the palate produced palatal scar tissue that inhibited midfacial growth, causing maxillary arch deficiency, severe maxillary crowding, and anterior and posterior crossbites. Combined surgical-orthodontic therapy would have been the preferred treatment of choice; however, the patient declined this option because of surgical risks and costs. Read More

Nat Biomed Eng 2018 Dec 1;2(12):942-954. Epub 2018 Oct 1.

Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.

Adult skeletal muscle has a robust capacity for self-repair, owing to synergies between muscle satellite cells and the immune system. In vitro models of muscle self-repair would facilitate the basic understanding of muscle regeneration and the screening of therapies for muscle disease. Here, we show that the incorporation of macrophages into muscle tissues engineered from adult-rat myogenic cells enables near-complete structural and functional repair after cardiotoxic injury in vitro. Read More

Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2018 Dec 20;1864(3):358-371. Epub 2018 Dec 20.

Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA 94304, United States of America. Electronic address:

Long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase 1 (ACSL1) plays a pivotal role in fatty acid β‑oxidation in heart, adipose tissue and skeletal muscle. However, key functions of ACSL1 in the liver remain largely unknown. We investigated acute effects of hepatic ACSL1 deficiency on lipid metabolism in adult mice under hyperlipidemic and normolipidemic conditions. Read More

Neurol Genet 2018 Dec 27;4(6):e298. Epub 2018 Nov 27.

Department of Neurology (D.M.H.), Ghent University Hospital; Department of Pediatrics (A.V.V., J.S., E.V., R.V.C.), Division of Pediatric Neurology and Metabolism, Ghent University Hospital; Department of Radiology (M.A.), Ghent University Hospital; Department of Nuclear Medicine (I.G.), Ghent University Hospital; Center for Medical Genetics Ghent (T.S., B.M.), Ghent University, Belgium; and Center for Medical Genetics (S.S.), UZ Brussel and Reproduction Genetics and Regenerative Medicine, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.

Objective: To report the clinical, radiologic, biochemical, and molecular characteristics in a 46-year-old participant with adult-onset Leigh syndrome (LS), followed by parkinsonism.

Methods: Case description with diagnostic workup included blood and CSF analysis, skeletal muscle investigations, blue native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, whole exome sequencing targeting nuclear genes involved in mitochondrial transcription and translation, cerebral MRI, 123I-FP-CIT brain single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and C-11 raclopride positron emission tomography (PET).

Results: The participant was found to have a defect in the oxidative phosphorylation caused by a c. Read More

Surg Radiol Anat 2018 Dec 17. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Service de Chirurgie du Rachis, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle (FMTS), 1 Place de l'hôpital, BP 426, 67091, Strasbourg Cedex, France.

Purpose: The thoracic spine, the chondral and osseous ribs, and the sternum together make up the thoracic cage. These elements are strictly correlated, although their growth is not synchronous. The purpose of this study is to provide a comprehensive data set of thoracic dimensions and non-invasive volumetric assessment in a large cohort of males and females from early childhood to young adult age. Read More

Radiat Oncol 2018 Dec 17;13(1):248. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.

Background: To report our experience in planning and delivering total marrow irradiation (TMI) and total marrow and lymphatic irradiation (TMLI) in patients with hematologic malignancies.

Methods: Twenty-seven patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation were treated with TMI/TMLI using Helical Tomotherapy (HT). All skeletal bones exclusion of the mandible comprised the treatment target volume and, for TMLI, lymph node chains, liver, spleen and/or brain were also included according to the clinical indication. Read More

Sensors (Basel) 2018 Nov 30;18(12). Epub 2018 Nov 30.

College of Electronic Information Engineering & Hebei Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China.

The center of plantar pressure (COP) reflects the dynamic balance of subjects to a certain extent. In this study, wearable pressure insoles are designed, body pose measure is detected by the Kinect sensor, and a balance evaluation system is formulated. With the designed games for the interactive actions, the Kinect sensor reads the skeletal poses to judge whether the desired action is performed, and the pressure insoles simultaneously collect the plantar pressure data. Read More

ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2018 Nov 26. Epub 2018 Nov 26.

Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Center, Department of Development and Regeneration , KU Leuven , Leuven 3000 , Belgium.

The combination of biomaterials with stem cells is a promising therapeutic strategy to repair traumatic injuries in the central nervous system, and human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) offer a clinically translatable option among other possible sources of stem cells. We report here on the use of a supramolecular bioactive material based on a peptide amphiphile (PA), displaying a laminin-mimetic IKVAV sequence to drive neural transdifferentiation of human BMSCs. The IKVAV-PA self-assembles into supramolecular nanofibers that induce neuroectodermal lineage commitment after 1 week, as evidenced by the upregulation of the neural progenitor gene nestin ( NES) and glial fibrillary acidic protein ( GFAP). Read More

Int J Paleopathol 2018 Nov 22;24:171-174. Epub 2018 Nov 22.

Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zurich, Building 42, Floor G, Room 70, Winterthurerstr. 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.

Objective: To evaluate differences in lesion identification in skeletal remains with respect to bone type and method of analysis.

Materials: 212 mostly 19th century adult skeletons from St. Bride's Church in London. Read More

Handb Clin Neurol 2018 ;157:749-760

Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Gerontopsychiatry/Neurology, University of Bonn Medical Center, Bonn, Germany.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the major adult-onset motor neuron disease, and is clinically, pathologically, and genetically associated with frontotemporal dementia, the second cause of dementia in the elderly. Here, we review the evidence linking thermoregulation and ALS. Indeed, while ALS is not classically associated with defective thermoregulatory function, its progression severely affects key brain regions controlling body temperature and impacts multiple sensors and effectors of this homeostatic function. Read More

Bone Joint J 2018 Nov;100-B(11):1524-1532

Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil; Department of Biomechanics, Medicine and Rehabilitation of the Locomotor System, Clinical Hospital of Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.

Aims: The aims of this study were to evaluate the abductor function in moderate and severe slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE), comparing the results of a corrective osteotomy at the base of the femoral neck and osteoplasty with 1) in situ epiphysiodesis for mild SCFE, 2) contralateral unaffected hips, and 3) hips from healthy individuals.

Patients And Methods: A total of 24 patients (mean age 14.9 years (sd 1. Read More

Stem Cell Reports 2018 Dec 8;11(6):1523-1538. Epub 2018 Nov 8.

Division of Biomedical Engineering for Health and Welfare, Tohoku University Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, 2-1 Seiryomachi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8575, Japan. Electronic address:

Adult muscle stem cells (satellite cells) are required for adult skeletal muscle regeneration. A proper balance between quiescence, proliferation, and differentiation is essential for the maintenance of the satellite cell pool and their regenerative function. Although the ubiquitin-proteasome is required for most protein degradation in mammalian cells, how its dysfunction affects tissue stem cells remains unclear. Read More

Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2018 23;6:140. Epub 2018 Oct 23.

Structure and Motion Laboratory, Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, United Kingdom.

Flapping flight is the most power-demanding mode of locomotion, associated with a suite of anatomical specializations in extant adult birds. In contrast, many developing birds use their forelimbs to negotiate environments long before acquiring "flight adaptations," recruiting their developing wings to continuously enhance leg performance and, in some cases, fly. How does anatomical development influence these locomotor behaviors? Isolating morphological contributions to wing performance is extremely challenging using purely empirical approaches. Read More

EMBO Mol Med 2018 Dec;10(12)

Translational Research Key Laboratory for Diabetes, Department of Endocrinology, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China

While adult mammalian skeletal muscle is stable due to its post-mitotic nature, muscle regeneration is still essential throughout life for maintaining functional fitness. During certain diseases, such as the modern pandemics of obesity and diabetes, the regeneration process becomes impaired, which leads to the loss of muscle function and contributes to the global burden of these diseases. However, the underlying mechanisms of the impairment are not well defined. Read More

Hum Biol 2018 Jan;90(1):63-76

4 Department of Forensic Science, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA.

Computed tomography (CT) scans provide anthropologists with a resource to generate three-dimensional (3D) digital skeletal material to expand quantification methods and build more standardized reference collections. The ability to visualize and manipulate the bone and skin of the face simultaneously in a 3D digital environment introduces a new way for forensic facial approximation practitioners to access and study the face. Craniofacial relationships can be quantified with landmarks or with surface-processing software that can quantify the geometric properties of the entire 3D facial surface. Read More

Hum Mov Sci 2018 Dec 26;62:150-160. Epub 2018 Oct 26.

Université de Lorraine, Laboratory « Développement, Adaptation et Handicap » (EA 3450), F-54000 Nancy, France. Electronic address:

It has been suggested that vestibular cues are inhibited for the benefit of spinal locomotor centres in parallel with the increase in locomotion speed. This study aimed at quantifying the influence of a transient vestibular tone imbalance (TVTI) on gait kinematics, muscle activity and muscle synergies during walking and running. Twelve participants walk or run at a self-selected speed with or without TVTI, which was generated by 10 body rotations just prior the locomotion task. Read More

J Invest Surg 2018 Oct 31:1-7. Epub 2018 Oct 31.

a Department of Bone and Soft Tissue , Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University , Urumqi , Xinjiang , China.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the feasibility and clinical applicability of a modified type V resection method for malignant bone tumors of the proximal humerus.

Methods: The relevant anatomic MRI data from 30 normal adult shoulder joints were measured to analyze the feasibility of the modified type V resection method for malignant bone tumors of the proximal humerus. Sixteen patients with malignant bone tumors of the proximal humerus were treated with modified radical resection between March 2012 and April 2017. Read More

Skeletal Radiol 2018 Oct 30. Epub 2018 Oct 30.

Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Clinic, Universitat de Barcelona (UB) and CIBERER, Villarroel 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is considered the most sensitive and specific imaging technique for the detection of muscle diseases related to myopathies. Since 2008, the use of whole-body MRI (WBMRI) to evaluate myopathies has improved due to technical advances such as rolling table platform and parallel imaging, which enable rapid assessment of the entire musculoskeletal system with high-quality images. WBMRI protocols should include T1-weighted and short-tau inversion recovery (STIR), which provide the basic pulse sequences for studying myopathies, in order to detect fatty infiltration/muscle atrophy and muscle edema, respectively. Read More

J Chem Neuroanat 2018 Dec 24;94:125-138. Epub 2018 Oct 24.

Department of Organ & Tissue Anatomy, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Higashiku, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka 431-3192, Japan. Electronic address:

Myostatin (also called as growth and differentiation factor 8 or GDF8), a member of the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) superfamily of secreted differentiation and growth factors, is a potent inhibitor of skeletal muscle mass in mammals. Although myostatin also plays pivotal roles in cardiac growth and metabolism, postnatal glucose metabolism and adipogenesis, little information is available for myostatin function in the adult central nervous system (CNS). We, thus, investigated myostatin expression in the adult rat CNS using immunohistochemistry. Read More

Georgian Med News 2018 Sep(282):95-99

State Establishment "Dnipropetrovsk Medical Academy of Health Ministry of Ukraine", Ukraine.

The purpose of the study of the study is an identification of the extension and impact of polymorphism of COL1A1 gene on cardiovascular system and musculoskeletal state of athletes. 85 people in the ages from 9 to 32 (the average age was 23.2±4. Read More

Skeletal Radiol 2018 Oct 24. Epub 2018 Oct 24.

Department of Radiology, VA San Diego Healthcare System, 3350 La Jolla Village Dr., MC-114, San Diego, CA, 92161, USA.

Objective: To determine if radiographic medial tibiofemoral offset (MTFO) is associated with: (1) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) pathology of cartilage, meniscus, and ligament; and (2) a distinct pattern of lateral cartilage degeneration on MRI.

Materials And Methods: Three hundred consecutive adult knee MRIs with anteroposterior (AP) radiographs were retrospectively reviewed, and 145 studies were included. MTFO was defined as a medial extension of the medial femoral condyle beyond the articular surface of the medial tibial plateau on weight-bearing AP radiographs. Read More

Cytotherapy 2018 Nov 10;20(11):1381-1400. Epub 2018 Oct 10.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Biomedical Engineering Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA. Electronic address:

The Signature Series Symposium "Cellular Therapies for Orthopaedics and Musculoskeletal Disease Proven and Unproven Therapies-Promise, Facts and Fantasy" was held as a pre-meeting of the 26 International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT) annual congress in Montreal, Canada, May 2, 2018. This was the first ISCT program that was entirely dedicated to the advancement of cell-based therapies for musculoskeletal diseases. Cellular therapies in musculoskeletal medicine are a source of great promise and opportunity. Read More

J Vet Intern Med 2018 Nov 13;32(6):2003-2012. Epub 2018 Oct 13.

U955-IMRB, Inserm, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Unité de neurologie, Maisons-Alfort, France.

Background: The only hereditary neurologic disorder described so far in American Staffordshire Terriers is adult-onset cerebellar degeneration secondary to ceroid lipofuscinosis. We have seen several dogs with a newly recognized neurological disease characterized by locomotor weakness with or without respiratory signs and juvenile onset consistent with degenerative polyneuropathy of genetic origin.

Objectives: To characterize a novel polyneuropathy in juvenile American Staffordshire Terriers. Read More

Med Sci Monit 2018 Oct 10;24:7223-7230. Epub 2018 Oct 10.

Department of Physical Therapy, Kyungdong University, Gangwon, South Korea.

BACKGROUND Weak pelvic floor muscles (PFMs) is an important cause of stress urinary incontinence. Effective strengthening of PFMs is very helpful in improving lower urinary tract disease. The purpose of this study was to determine the activation of PFMs in accordance with movement of the pelvis and ankle. Read More

Am J Phys Anthropol 2018 Dec 9;167(4):876-895. Epub 2018 Oct 9.

Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.

The past two decades have seen a proliferation in bioarchaeological literature on the identification of scurvy, a disease caused by chronic vitamin C deficiency, in ancient human remains. This condition is one of the few nutritional deficiencies that can result in diagnostic osseous lesions. Scurvy is associated with low dietary diversity and its identification in human skeletal remains can provide important contextual information on subsistence strategy, resource allocation, and human-environmental interactions in past populations. Read More

Clin Exp Rheumatol 2018 Sep-Oct;36 Suppl 114(5):86-95. Epub 2018 Oct 1.

Rheumazentrum Ruhrgebiet, Herne, Germany.

Objectives: To identify inflammatory pelvic structures of patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in detail, searching for a disease-specific pattern.

Methods: A total of 40 contrast-enhanced pelvic MRIs of patients with a clinical diagnosis of PMR was reviewed by an experienced musculoskeletal radiologist who assessed all abnormalities semi-quantitatively, based on a predefined scoring system.

Results: The median (25th/75th percentiles) age of patients was 67 (55/73) years, median symptom duration 13 (6/22) weeks, 55% female, median CRP 1. Read More

J Exerc Rehabil 2018 Aug 24;14(4):699-703. Epub 2018 Aug 24.

Department of Kinesiology, College of Natural Science, Jeju National University, Jeju, Korea.

Recently though various hip seats for carrying infant of women was designed and developed, then, wearing slipper may restrain the movement of bare foot. The study was undertaken to investigate the dynamic stability and kinetic variables according to between position of carrying infant and wearing slipper. Adult female (n=10) and under one year age of infant (n=10) participated in the study. Read More

J Electromyogr Kinesiol 2018 Dec 22;43:95-103. Epub 2018 Sep 22.

University of Colorado, Boulder, Department of Integrative Physiology, Neurophysiology of Movement Laboratory, Applied Biomechanics Laboratory, 354 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309, USA. Electronic address:

Walking is often compromised in individuals with low back and hip disorders, such as sacroiliac joint dysfunction (SIJD). The disorder involves reduced coactivation of the gluteus maximus and contralateral latissimus dorsi, which together provide joint stability during walking. The purpose of our study was to compare the kinematics and contributions of selected muscles to identified synergies during walking between healthy individuals and those with SIJD. Read More

Nuklearmedizin 2018 Sep 28;57(5):174-180. Epub 2018 Sep 28.

Introduction: Bone pain from multifocal blastic or mixed lytic-blastic metastatic lesions can be effectively addressed with radiopharmaceuticals with high affinity for such foci. Sm-ethylene diamine tetramethylene phosphonic acid (Sm-EDTMP) and Lu-ethylene diamine tetramethylene phosphonic acid) (Lu-EDTMP) are two such radiopharmaceuticals. The aim of this study was to make a comparison of efficacy between Sm-EDTMP and Lu-EDTMP in terms of palliation of commonly encountered symptoms in cancer patients, functional status, and pain intensity as measured by Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status, and numeric rating scale (NRS) respectively. Read More

Development 2018 Oct 29;145(21). Epub 2018 Oct 29.

Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy

The transcription factor Nfix belongs to the nuclear factor one family and has an essential role in prenatal skeletal muscle development, where it is a master regulator of the transition from embryonic to foetal myogenesis. Recently, Nfix was shown to be involved in adult muscle regeneration and in muscular dystrophies. Here, we have investigated the signalling that regulates Nfix expression, and show that JunB, a member of the AP-1 family, is an activator of Nfix, which then leads to foetal myogenesis. Read More

Acta Chir Orthop Traumatol Cech 2018 ;85(3):199-203

Ortopedická klinika Lékařské fakulty Univerzity Karlovy a Fakultní nemocnice Hradec Králové.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY When treating tears of the distal biceps brachii muscle tendon, we repeatedly noticed a difference between the preoperative ultrasound findings and the operative findings. The aim of the study was to retrospectively correlate these findings in order to determine the sensitivity of the ultrasound examination in everyday orthopaedic practice. Moreover, we compared the results and complications of surgical treatment through two operative techniques used at our department. Read More

Clin Interv Aging 2018 12;13:1701-1708. Epub 2018 Sep 12.

Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Opole University of Technology, Opole, Poland,

Objective: The objective involved the analysis of the efficiency of the Program of Movement Recreation of Elderly People (PMREP) exercise program expressed in terms of the stabilography measures and coactivation of muscles in women in the age group of 60-70 years. The assumption that was assumed stems from theoretical implications that the adequate postural stability is manifested in the decrease of the body sways measured by means of a force plate.

Materials And Methods: The study involved a group of 60 females, all members of the active seniors' association. Read More

Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2018 Dec 19;1863(12):1469-1477. Epub 2018 Sep 19.

Institute for Research in Dental Sciences, Facultad de Odontología, Universidad de Chile, Chile; CEMC, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Chile. Electronic address:

The ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) promotes cellular cholesterol efflux, leading to cholesterol binding to the extracellular lipid-free apolipoprotein A-I. ABCA1 regulates lipid content, glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in adipose tissue. In skeletal muscle, most GLUT4-mediated glucose transport occurs in the transverse tubule, a system composed by specialized cholesterol-enriched invaginations of the plasma membrane. Read More

PLoS One 2018 25;13(9):e0204312. Epub 2018 Sep 25.

Laboratory for Molecular Biology, Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.

Muscle proteins with ankyrin repeats (MARPs) ANKRD1 and ANKRD2 are titin-associated proteins with a putative role as transcriptional co-regulators in striated muscle, involved in the cellular response to mechanical, oxidative and metabolic stress. Since many aspects of the biology of MARPs, particularly exact mechanisms of their action, in striated muscle are still elusive, research in this field will benefit from novel animal model system. Here we investigated the MARPs found in zebrafish for protein structure, evolutionary conservation, spatiotemporal expression profiles and response to increased muscle activity. Read More

J Electromyogr Kinesiol 2018 Dec 12;43:75-81. Epub 2018 Sep 12.

Department of Physiotherapy, HES-SO// University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Western Switzerland, Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Community Medicine, Medical Faculty, University Hospitals and University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.

Diminished hip abductor strength decreases postural control which is a parameter that is associated with an increased risk of ankle sprains. In our study we evaluated the influence of hip abductor fatigue on sagittal plane ankle kinematics and shank muscle activity during a single-leg forward jump. Sagittal ankle plane kinematics are important in ankle sprains but less studied than frontal plane kinematics. Read More

J Cell Biochem 2018 Sep 22. Epub 2018 Sep 22.

Institutes of Agricultural Science and Technology Development, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.

Myostatin (MSTN) is an important gene involved in the regulation of embryonic muscle cells and adult muscle development; it has a good application prospect in transgenic animal production by improving the yield of muscle. The purpose of this study is to construct MSTN gene knockout vector using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats ( CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 ( Cas9). The knockout efficiency was evaluated in sheep ear fibroblasts (SEFs) by cleavage activity of transcription of guide RNA ( gRNA), luciferase-single-strand annealing assay, T7 endonuclease I assay (T7E1), and TA clone sequence (10/38); and above all, detection showed that the cleavage activity of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated MSTN reached 29%. Read More

Top Stroke Rehabil 2018 Sep 17:1-7. Epub 2018 Sep 17.

a Laboratory of Neurological Physical Therapy Research, Department of Physical Therapy , Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar) , São Carlos , SP , Brazil.

Background: Stroke is a leading cause of disability in the adult population, impairing upper limb (UL) movements affecting activities of daily living. Muscle weakness has been associated to disabilities in this population, but much attention is given to central nervous system alterations and less to skeletal muscles.

Objective: The objective of this review is to carry out a systematic literature review to identify structural muscle alterations in the UL of poststroke individuals. Read More

Bone 2018 Dec 12;117:31-36. Epub 2018 Sep 12.

Clinical and Investigative Orthopedics Surgery Unit, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States of America.

Melorheostosis (MEL) is a rare disease of high bone mass with patchy skeletal distribution affecting the long bones. We recently reported somatic mosaic mutations in MAP2K1 in 8 of 15 patients with the disease. The unique anatomic distribution of melorheostosis is of great interest. Read More

Int Orthop 2018 Sep 14. Epub 2018 Sep 14.

Spine Surgery Unit, Surgery and Transplantations Department, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy.

Purpose: Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) are rare inherited metabolic diseases, causing lysosomal storage of mucopolysaccharides; clinical presentation involves skeletal system and particularly the spine. Anomalies include developing kyphosis at thoracolumbar junction, that can causes nervous symptoms, and dens hypoplasia with associated atlantoaxial subluxation that can cause myelopathy. We present our experience in the treatment of spine pathology in MPS. Read More

FASEB J 2018 Sep 11:fj201800683RR. Epub 2018 Sep 11.

Department of Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.

Skeletal muscle mass is regulated by the coordinated activation of several anabolic and catabolic pathways. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a major site of protein folding and a reservoir for calcium ions. Accretion of misfolded proteins or depletion in calcium concentration causes stress in the ER, which leads to the activation of a signaling network known as the unfolded protein response (UPR). Read More

Georgian Med News 2018 Jul-Aug(280-281):48-53

Kharkiv Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education, Ukraine.

In order to study the features of hemodynamics in the vertebral artery (VA), depending on the biomechanical disorders of the cervical spine (CS) and the musculoskeletal system as a whole 105 patients (53 females and 52 males, mean age - 38±5,9 years) having signs of the Vertebrobasilar insufficiency on the background of biomechanical disorders of the CS and the locomotor system as a whole were examined. The control group included 50 practically healthy persons (25 females and 25 males, mean age - 37±5,6 years). Physical examination included a clinical-neurological, vertebro-neurological examination (visual assessment of violations of statics and dynamics of the musculoskeletal system, measuring the craniovertebral angle (CVA) using a photogrammetric method, manual diagnostics for the detection of muscular-tonic syndromes and musculoskeletal dysfunction) and Doppler ultrasound of extra- and intracranial segments of VA. Read More

Chin Med J (Engl) 2018 Sep;131(18):2164-2171

Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350005, China.

Background: Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is characterized by asymmetric muscular deficit of facial, shoulder-girdle muscles, and descending to lower limb muscles, but it exists in several extramuscular manifestations or overlapping syndromes. Herein, we report a "complex disease plus" patient with FSHD1, accompanied by peripheral neuropathy and myoclonic epilepsy.

Methods: Standard clinical assessments, particular auxiliary examination, histological analysis, and molecular analysis were performed through the new Comprehensive Clinical Evaluation Form, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis-based Southern blot, Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA), whole exome sequencing (WES), and targeted methylation sequencing. Read More

BMC Infect Dis 2018 Sep 10;18(1):457. Epub 2018 Sep 10.

Department of Laboratory medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.

Backgrounds: Extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) is a heterogeneous disease, and diagnosis is sometimes difficult. We investigated the diagnostic performance of the QuantiFERON-TB Gold assay (QFT-GIT) according to sites of EPTB and predictors for false-negative QFT-GIT results.

Methods: A total of 2176 patients were registered with active TB from January 2012 to December 2016 in Seoul St. Read More

Growth Horm IGF Res 2018 Oct - Dec;42-43:52-57. Epub 2018 Aug 29.

Edison Biotechnology Institute, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, United States; Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, United States; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, United States. Electronic address:

Objective: Mice and humans with reduced growth hormone (GH) action before birth are conferred positive health- and life-span advantages. However, little work has been performed to study the effect of conditional disruption of GH action in adult life. With this as our objective, we sought to elucidate a reproducible protocol that allows generation of adult mice with a global disruption of the GH receptor (Ghr) gene, using the tamoxifen (TAM)-inducible Cre-lox system, driven by the ROSA26 enhancer/promoter. Read More

Clin Nucl Med 2018 Nov;43(11):854-856

Department of Nuclear Medicine, Gülhane Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Ankara, Turkey.

Three-phase bone scintigraphy is sometimes of great value in the detection of uncharacteristic metastases and assists the management of patients in terms of primary focus detection. While evaluating the skeletal system with whole-body bone scintigraphy, other system pathologies may also be detected incidentally. In this case, we present the extraordinary findings on the 3-phase MDP bone scintigraphy and F-FDG PET/CT imaging of the complicated bone metastases in a patient with thyroid carcinoma. Read More