Joana Fernandes,  —

A small protein called Myomixer plays a crucial role in the development of skeletal muscle, the type of muscles the body uses to move, according to a study that has implications for muscular dystrophy (MD). The research at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center could lead to treatments for the…

Adults with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) may have less ability to sequentially process auditory and visual information, according to a new study. The study, “Profile of cognitive function in adults with Duchenne muscular dystrophy,” appeared in the journal Brain & Development. Most studies analyzing cognitive function in DMD focus…

Santhera Pharmaceuticals is recruiting patients for a new Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating its lead candidate Raxone (idebenone) in slowing respiratory decline in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients being treated with glucocorticoids. Raxone is an experimental drug designed to improve energy production in the mitochondria (the cell’s powerhouse) of muscle cells. In…

Apabetalone (RVX-208) may become a promising therapy to treat facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), according to results announced by the pharmaceutical company Resverlogix. Researchers found this drug acts by switching off the DUX4 gene, which is abnormally active in the muscles of FSHD patients, causing inflammation and muscle atrophy. Apabetalone…

Gene variations that decrease the production of a certain protein appear to reduce muscle strength in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) but improve their disease progression, according to a study. The research, “Evidence For ACTN3 As A Genetic Modifier Of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy,” was published in the journal…

The binding of two proteins called titin and α-actinin ensures that muscles are not ripped apart when they are forced to stretch, according to new research. Scientists believe the identification and study of this protein interaction may offer new possibilities for the treatment of diseases such as muscular dystrophy. The…

Researchers identified a group of cells called fibrocytes that may contribute to inflammation and fibrosis leading to muscle loss in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The study, “Identification And Function Of Fibrocytes In Skeletal Muscle Injury Repair And Muscular Dystrophy,” was published in The Journal of Immunology. The muscle…

Detection of the protein dysferlin may help doctors diagnose cases of Miyoshi myopathy (MM), a muscular disorder that primarily affects muscles of the hands and feet, according to a case study published in the journal Experimental And Therapeutic Medicine. In the study, “Atypical Miyoshi Distal Myopathy: A Case…

Heart complications in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) are associated with shortening of telomeres, the protective DNA sequences at the ends of chromosomes, resulting from the lack of dystrophin (the hallmark of DMD), according to a new study. The study, “Telomere Shortening And Metabolic Compromise Underlie Dystrophic Cardiomyopathy,” was…

T1 mapping, a cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging technique, can serve as a useful biomarker for detecting myocardial fibrosis and poorer heart function in young patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and other cardiomyopathies, according to a new study. The study, “Native T1 Values Identify Myocardial Changes And Stratify Disease Severity In…