http://medicalxpress.com/ en-us Medical Xpress internet news portal provides the latest news on Health and Medicine. A research study from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) has yielded important breakthroughs on how the body loses muscle, paving the way for new treatments for aging, obesity and diabetes. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-12-ways-muscle-loss-obesity-diabetes.html Medical research Wed, 19 Dec 2012 09:19:57 EST news275131190 A study by scientists at the Motor Neuron Center at Columbia University Medical Center suggests that spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a genetic neuromuscular disease in infants and children, results primarily from problems in the motor circuits that coordinate muscle movement. Previously, researchers thought that motor neurons or muscle cells were responsible. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-11-childhood-neuromuscular-disease.html Medical research Tue, 20 Nov 2012 08:25:44 EST news272622331 A study by scientists from the Motor Neuron Center at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) suggests that spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a genetic neuromuscular disease in infants and children, results primarily from motor circuit dysfunction, not motor neuron or muscle cell dysfunction, as is commonly thought. In a second study, the researchers identified the molecular pathway in SMA that leads to problems with motor function. Findings from the studies, conducted in fruit fly, zebrafish and mouse models of SMA, could lead to therapies for this debilitating and often fatal neuromuscular disease. Both studies were published today in the online edition of the journal Cell. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-10-mechanisms-underlying-major-childhood-neuromuscular.html Medical research Thu, 11 Oct 2012 12:34:52 EST news269177667 (Medical Xpress)—Scientists at the University of Bath are one step further to understanding the role of one of the proteins that causes the neurodegenerative disorder, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Motor Neurone Disease (MND). http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-10-clues-motor-neurone-disease.html Medical research Wed, 10 Oct 2012 07:48:36 EST news269074109 (HealthDay) -- Multiple factors contribute to leg weakness in people with hip osteoarthritis (OA), with muscle atrophy being the strongest contributor, according to the results of a systematic review published online July 25 in Arthritis Care & Research. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-08-multifactorial-mechanisms-underlie-leg-weakness.html Arthritis & Rheumatism Thu, 09 Aug 2012 16:00:01 EST news263745301 An analysis of published data in the medical literature has found that vertebroplasty can provide more pain relief and better function for patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures than nonoperative treatments. Vertebroplasty, a medical procedure for reducing pain caused by this type of fracture, involves the injection of an acrylic cement into the body of the fractured vertebrae for stabilization. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-07-vertebroplasty-reportedly-pain-relief-function.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Mon, 09 Jul 2012 11:48:40 EST news261053313 A team of researchers led by the University of Florida, Gainesville, has determined the precise structure of a virus that has promise as a delivery vehicle for gene therapy. The research appears in the June 2012 issue of the Journal of Virology. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-06-3d-adeno-associated-virus-aim-boost.html Genetics Thu, 21 Jun 2012 09:40:02 EST news259489450 A team of Japanese researchers will reveal study results Monday at the Experimental Biology 2012 meeting that show how acupuncture therapy mitigates skeletal muscle loss and holds promise for those seeking improved mobility through muscle rejuvenation. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-04-japanese-acupuncture-skeletal-muscle-atrophy.html Medical research Mon, 23 Apr 2012 15:30:01 EST news254397275 A team of scientists from the University of Missouri created a genetically modified mouse that mimics key features of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, an inherited neuromuscular disease affecting approximately 150,000 people in the United States. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-04-genetically-mice-aid-incurable-neuromuscular.html Medical research Tue, 17 Apr 2012 13:08:20 EST news253886739 VIB researchers have developed a mouse model for Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) neuropathy, a hereditary disease of the peripheral nervous system. They also found a potential therapy for this incurable disease. The treatment not only halted the damage to the nerves and the atrophy of the muscles, it even succeeded in reversing the symptoms. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-08-mice-therapy-charcot-marie-tooth-disease.html Dentistry Tue, 02 Aug 2011 13:10:07 EST news231505760 The Westie Foundation of America (WFA) announced today preliminary findings in two major studies involving the health of West Highland White Terriers also known as Westies. Findings in these and other studies of Westies and other dogs may hold answers for similar human conditions like Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). The studies are jointly funded by the WFA and the AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF). http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-07-westie-dogs-similar-human-diseases.html Medical research Mon, 18 Jul 2011 16:44:39 EST news230226262