Muscled Maize

A crop disease that almost decimated the maize stocks of East Africa four years ago is now being fought back with painstaking research by Kenyan scientists.A new maize hybrid,known as Wei 101,promises to prevent maize lethal necrosis（MLN）by up to 96 percent,saving farmersfrom devastating financial losses. The hybrid has under- gone field trials and will be available to farmers in the next few months,

Pathophysiological changes of muscle after ischemic stroke:a secondary consequence of stroke injury

Sufficient clinical evidence suggests that the damage caused by ischemic stroke to the body occurs not only in the acute phase but also during the recovery period,and that the latter has a greater impact on the long-term prognosis of the patient.However,current stroke studies have typically focused only on lesions in the central nervous system,ignoring secondary damage caused by this disease.Such a phenomenon arises from the slow progress of pathophysiological studies examining the central nervous system.Further,the appropriate therapeutic time window and benefits of thrombolytic therapy are still controversial,leading scholars to explore more pragmatic intervention strategies.As treatment measures targeting limb symptoms can greatly improve a patient’s quality of life,they have become a critical intervention strategy.As the most vital component of the limbs,skeletal muscles have become potential points of concern.Despite this,to the best of our knowledge,there are no comprehensive reviews of pathophysiological changes and potential treatments for post-stroke skeletal muscle.The current review seeks to fill a gap in the current understanding of the pathological processes and mechanisms of muscle wasting atrophy,inflammation,neuroregeneration,mitochondrial changes,and nutritional dysregulation in stroke survivors.In addition,the challenges,as well as the optional solutions for individualized rehabilitation programs for stroke patients based on motor function are discussed.

Muscle strength and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease/metabolicassociated fatty liver disease

This editorial comments on an article published in a recent issue of World Journal of Gastroenterology,entitled“Association of low muscle strength with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease:A nationwide study”.We focused on the association between muscle strength and the incidence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)and metabolic-associated fatty liver disease(MAFLD),as well as the mechanisms underlying the correlation and related clinical applications.NAFLD,which is now redefined as MAFLD,is one of the most common chronic liver diseases globally with an increasing prevalence and is characterized by malnutrition,which may contribute to decreased muscle strength.Reduction of muscle strength reportedly has a pathogenesis similar to that of NAFLD/MAFLD,including insulin resistance,inflammation,sedentary behavior,as well as insufficient vitamin D.Multiple studies have focused on the relationship between sarcopenia or muscle strength and NAFLD.However,studies investigating the relationship between muscle strength and MAFLD are limited.Owing to the shortage of specific medications for NAFLD/MAFLD treatment,early detection is essential.Furthermore,the relationship between muscle strength and NAFLD/MAFLD suggests that improvements in muscle strength may have an impact on disease prevention and may provide novel insights into treatments including dietary therapy,as well as tailored physical activity.

Cerebral and muscle tissue oxygenation during exercise in healthy adults: A systematic review

Background:Near-infrared spectroscopy(NIRS)technology has allowed for the measurement of cerebral and skeletal muscle oxygenation simultaneously during exercise.Since this technology has been growing and is now successfully used in laboratory and sports settings,this systematic review aimed to synthesize the evidence and enhance an integrative understanding of bloodflow adjustments and oxygen(O_(2))changes(i.e.,the balance between O_(2) delivery and O_(2) consumption)within the cerebral and muscle systems during exercise.Methods:A systematic review was conducted using PubMed,Embase,Scopus,and Web of Science databases to search for relevant studies that simultaneously investigated cerebral and muscle hemodynamic changes using the near-infrared spectroscopy system during exercise.This review considered manuscripts written in English and available before February 9,2023.Each step of screening involved evaluation by 2 inde-pendent authors,with disagreements resolved by a third author.The Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist was used to assess the methodological quality of the studies.Results:Twenty studies were included,of which 80%had good methodological quality,and involved 290 young or middle-aged adults.Different types of exercises were used to assess cerebral and muscle hemodynamic changes,such as cycling(n=11),treadmill(n=1),knee extension(n=5),isometric contraction of biceps brachii(n=3),and duet swim routines(n=1).The cerebral hemodynamics anal-ysis was focused on the frontal cortex(n=20),while in the muscle,the analysis involved vastus lateralis(n=18),gastrocnemius(n=3),biceps brachii(n=5),deltoid(n=1),and intercostal muscle(n=1).Overall,muscle deoxygenation increases during exercise,reaching a plateau in voluntary exhaustion,while in the brain,oxyhemoglobin concentration increases with exercise intensity,reaching a plateau or declining at the exhaustion point.Conclusion:Muscle and cerebral oxygenation respond differently to exercise,with muscle increasing O_(2) utilization and cerebral tissue increasing O_(2) delivery during exercise.However,at the exhaustion point,both muscle and cerebral oxygenation become compromised.This is characterized by a reduction in bloodflow and a decrease in O_(2) extraction in the muscle,while in the brain,oxygenation reaches a plateau or decline,potentially resulting in motor failure during exercise.

Foam rolling and stretching do not provide superior acute flexibility and stiffness improvements compared to any other warm-up intervention: A systematic review with meta-analysis

Background:Acute improvement in range of motion(ROM)is a widely reported effect of stretching and foam rolling,which is commonly explained by changes in pain threshold and/or musculotendinous stiffness.Interestingly,these effects were also reported in response to various other active and passive interventions that induce responses such as enhanced muscle temperature.Therefore,we hypothesized that acute ROM enhancements could be induced by a wide variety of interventions other than stretching or foam rolling that promote an increase in muscle temperature.Methods:After a systematic search in PubMed,Web of Science,and SPORTDiscus databases,38 studies comparing the effects of stretching and foam rolling with several other interventions on ROM and passive properties were included.These studies had 1134 participants in total,and the data analysis resulted in 140 effect sizes(ESs).ES calculations were performed using robust variance estimation model with R-package.Results:Study quality of the included studies was classified as fair(PEDro score=4.58)with low to moderate certainty of evidence.Results showed no significant differences in ROM(ES=0.01,p=0.88),stiffness(ES=0.09,p=0.67),or passive peak torque(ES=-0.30,p=0.14)between stretching or foam rolling and the other identified activities.Funnel plots revealed no publication bias.Conclusion:Based on current literature,our results challenge the established view on stretching and foam rolling as a recommended component of warm-up programs.The lack of significant difference between interventions suggests there is no need to emphasize stretching or foam rolling to induce acute ROM,passive peak torque increases,or stiffness reductions.

Magnetic resonance imaging of extraocular rectus muscles abnormalities in acute acquired concomitant esotropia

AIM:To investigate the difference of medial rectus(MR)and lateral rectus(LR)between acute acquired concomitant esotropia(AACE)and the healthy controls(HCs)detected by magnetic resonance imaging(MRI).METHODS:A case-control study.Eighteen subjects with AACE and eighteen HCs were enrolled.MRI scanning data were conducted in target-controlled central gaze with a 3-Tesla magnetic resonance scanner.Extraocular muscles(EOMs)were scanned in contiguous image planes 2-mm thick spanning the EOM origins to the globe equator.To form posterior partial volumes(PPVs),the LR and MR cross-sections in the image planes 8,10,12,and 14 mm posterior to the globe were summed and multiplied by the 2-mm slice thickness.The data were classified according to the right eye,left eye,dominant eye,and non-dominant eye,and the differences in mean cross-sectional area,maximum cross-sectional area,and PPVs of the MR and LR muscle in the AACE group and HCs group were compared under the above classifications respectively.RESULTS:There were no significant differences between the two groups of demographic characteristics.The mean cross-sectional area of the LR muscle was significantly greater in the AACE group than that in the HCs group in the non-dominant eyes(P=0.028).The maximum cross-sectional area of the LR muscle both in the dominant and non-dominant eye of the AACE group was significantly greater than the HCs group(P=0.009,P=0.016).For the dominant eye,the PPVs of the LR muscle were significantly greater in the AACE than that in the HCs group(P=0.013),but not in the MR muscle(P=0.698).CONCLUSION:The size and volume of muscles dominant eyes of AACE subjects change significantly to overcome binocular diplopia.The LR muscle become larger to compensate for the enhanced convergence in the AACE.

Myosteatosis is associated with coronary artery calcification in patients with type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND Myosteatosis,rather than low muscle mass,is the primary etiologic factor of sarcopenia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).Myosteatosis may lead to a series of metabolic dysfunctions,such as insulin resistance,systematic inflammation,and oxidative stress,and all these dysfunctions are closely associated with the acceleration of T2DM and atherosclerosis.AIM To investigate the association between myosteatosis and coronary artery calcification(CAC)in patients with T2DM.METHODS Patients with T2DM,who had not experienced major cardiovascular events and had undergone both abdominal and thoracic computed tomography(CT)scans,were included.The mean skeletal muscle attenuation was assessed using abdominal CT images at the L3 level.The CAC score was determined from thoracic CT images using the Agatston scoring method.Myosteatosis was diagnosed according to Martin’s criteria.Severe CAC(SCAC)was defined when the CAC score exceeded 300.Logistic regression and decision tree analyses were performed.RESULTS A total of 652 patients with T2DM were enrolled.Among them,167(25.6%)patients had SCAC.Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that myosteatosis,age,duration of diabetes,cigarette smoking,and alcohol consumption were independent risk factors of SCAC.Myosteatosis was significantly associated with an increased risk of SCAC(OR=2.381,P=0.003).The association between myosteatosis and SCAC was significant in the younger patients(OR=2.672,95%CI:1.477-4.834,P=0.002),but not the older patients(OR=1.456,95%CI:0.863-2.455,P=0.188),and was more prominent in the population with lower risks of atherosclerosis.The decision tree analyses prioritized older age as the primary variable for SCAC.In older patients,cigarette smoking was the main contributing factor for SCAC,while in younger patients,it was myosteatosis.CONCLUSION Myosteatosis is a novel risk factor for atherosclerosis in patients with T2DM,especially in the population with younger ages and fewer traditional risk factors.

A"messenger zone hypothesis"based on the visual three-dimensional spatial distribution of motoneurons innervating deep limb muscles

Coordinated contraction of skeletal muscles relies on selective connections between the muscles and multiple classes of the spinal motoneuro ns.Howeve r,current research on the spatial location of the spinal motoneurons innervating differe nt muscles is limited.In this study,we investigated the spatial distribution and relative position of different motoneurons that control the deep muscles of the mouse hindlimbs,which were innervated by the obturator nerve,femoral nerve,inferior gluteal nerve,deep pe roneal nerve,and tibial nerve.Locations were visualized by combining a multiplex retrograde tracking technique compatible with three-dimensional imaging of solvent-cleared o rgans(3DISCO)and 3-D imaging technology based on lightsheet fluorescence microscopy(LSFM).Additionally,we propose the hypothesis that"messenger zones"exist as interlaced areas between the motoneuron pools that dominate the synergistic or antagonist muscle groups.We hypothesize that these interlaced neurons may participate in muscle coordination as messenger neurons.Analysis revealed the precise mutual positional relationships among the many motoneurons that innervate different deep muscles of the mouse.Not only do these findings update and supplement our knowledge regarding the overall spatial layout of spinal motoneurons that control mouse limb muscles,but they also provide insights into the mechanisms through which muscle activity is coordinated and the architecture of motor circuits.

Skeletal muscle as a molecular and cellular biomarker of disease progression in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis:a narrative review

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a fatal multisystemic neurodegenerative disease with motor neurons being a primary target.Although progressive weakness is a hallmark feature of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,there is considerable heterogeneity,including clinical presentation,progression,and the underlying triggers for disease initiation.Based on longitudinal studies with families harboring amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-associated gene mutations,it has become apparent that overt disease is preceded by a prodromal phase,possibly in years,where compensatory mechanisms delay symptom onset.Since 85-90%of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is sporadic,there is a strong need for identifying biomarkers that can detect this prodromal phase as motor neurons have limited capacity for regeneration.Current Food and Drug Administration-approved therapies work by slowing the degenerative process and are most effective early in the disease.Skeletal muscle,including the neuromuscular junction,manifests abnormalities at the earliest stages of the disease,before motor neuron loss,making it a promising source for identifying biomarkers of the prodromal phase.The accessibility of muscle through biopsy provides a lens into the distal motor system at earlier stages and in real time.The advent of“omics”technology has led to the identification of numerous dysregulated molecules in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis muscle,ranging from coding and non-coding RNAs to proteins and metabolites.This technology has opened the door for identifying biomarkers of disease activity and providing insight into disease mechanisms.A major challenge is correlating the myriad of dysregulated molecules with clinical or histological progression and understanding their relevance to presymptomatic phases of disease.There are two major goals of this review.The first is to summarize some of the biomarkers identified in human amyotrophic lateral sclerosis muscle that have a clinicopathological correlation with disease activity,evidence of a similar dysregulation in the SOD1G93A mouse during presymptomatic stages,and evidence of progressive change during disease progression.The second goal is to review the molecular pathways these biomarkers reflect and their potential role in mitigating or promoting disease progression,and as such,their potential as therapeutic targets in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Transcriptomic and epigenomic landscapes of muscle growth during the postnatal period of broilers

Background Broilers stand out as one of the fastest-growing livestock globally,making a substantial contribution to animal meat production.However,the molecular and epigenetic mechanisms underlying the rapid growth and development of broiler chickens are still unclear.This study aims to explore muscle development patterns and regulatory networks during the postnatal rapid growth phase of fast-growing broilers.We measured the growth performance of Cornish(CC)and White Plymouth Rock(RR)over a 42-d period.Pectoral muscle samples from both CC and RR were randomly collected at day 21 after hatching(D21)and D42 for RNA-seq and ATAC-seq library construction.Results The consistent increase in body weight and pectoral muscle weight across both breeds was observed as they matured,with CC outpacing RR in terms of weight at each stage of development.Differential expression analysis identified 398 and 1,129 genes in the two dimensions of breeds and ages,respectively.A total of 75,149 ATAC-seq peaks were annotated in promoter,exon,intron and intergenic regions,with a higher number of peaks in the promoter and intronic regions.The age-biased genes and breed-biased genes of RNA-seq were combined with the ATAC-seq data for subsequent analysis.The results spotlighted the upregulation of ACTC1 and FDPS at D21,which were primarily associated with muscle structure development by gene cluster enrichment.Additionally,a noteworthy upregulation of MUSTN1,FOS and TGFB3 was spotted in broiler chickens at D42,which were involved in cell differentiation and muscle regeneration after injury,suggesting a regulatory role of muscle growth and repair.Conclusions This work provided a regulatory network of postnatal broiler chickens and revealed ACTC1 and MUSTN1 as the key responsible for muscle development and regeneration.Our findings highlight that rapid growth in broiler chickens triggers ongoing muscle damage and subsequent regeneration.These findings provide a foundation for future research to investigate the functional aspects of muscle development.

SWIR FluorescenceImaging In Vivo Monitoring and Evaluating Implanted M2 Macrophages in Skeletal Muscle Regeneration

Skeletal muscle has a robust regeneration ability that is impaired by severe injury,disease,and aging.resulting in a decline in skeletal muscle function.Therefore,improving skeletal muscle regeneration is a key challenge in treating skeletal muscle-related disorders.Owing to their significant role in tissue regeneration,implantation of M2 macrophages(M2MФ)has great potential for improving skeletal muscle regeneration.Here,we present a short-wave infrared(SWIR)fluorescence imaging technique to obtain more in vivo information for an in-depth evaluation of the skeletal muscle regeneration effect after M2MФtransplantation.SWIR fluorescence imaging was employed to track implanted M2MФin the injured skeletal muscle of mouse models.It is found that the implanted M2MФaccumulated at the injury site for two weeks.Then,SWIR fluorescence imaging of blood vessels showed that M2MФimplantation could improve the relative perfusion ratio on day 5(1.09±0.09 vs 0.85±0.05;p=0.01)and day 9(1.38±0.16 vs 0.95±0.03;p=0.01)post-injury,as well as augment the degree of skeletal muscle regencration on day 13 post-injury.Finally,multiple linear regression analyses determined that post-injury time and relative perfusion ratio could be used as predictive indicators to evaluate skeletal muscle regeneration.These results provide more in vivo details about M2MФin skeletal muscle regeneration and confirm that M2MФcould promote angiogenesis and improve the degree of skeletal muscle repair,which will guide the research and development of M2MФimplantation to improve skeletal muscle regeneration.

Tumor necrosis factor α deficiency promotes myogenesis and muscle regeneration

Tumor necrosis factorα(TNFα)exhibits diverse biological functions;however,its regulatory roles in myogenesis are not fully understood.In the present study,we explored the function of TNFαin myoblast proliferation,differentiation,migration,and myotube fusion in primary myoblasts and C2C12 cells.To this end,we constructed TNFαmuscle-conditional knockout(TNFα-CKO)mice and compared them with flox mice to assess the effects of TNFαknockout on skeletal muscles.Results indicated that TNFα-CKO mice displayed phenotypes such as accelerated muscle development,enhanced regenerative capacity,and improved exercise endurance compared to flox mice,with no significant differences observed in major visceral organs or skeletal structure.Using label-free proteomic analysis,we found that TNFα-CKO altered the distribution of several muscle development-related proteins,such as Hira,Casz1,Casp7,Arhgap10,Gas1,Diaph1,Map3k20,Cfl2,and Igf2,in the nucleus and cytoplasm.Gene set enrichment analysis(GSEA)further revealed that TNFαdeficiency resulted in positive enrichment in oxidative phosphorylation and MyoD targets and negative enrichment in JAK-STAT signaling.These findings suggest that TNFα-CKO positively regulates muscle growth and development,possibly via these newly identified targets and pathways.

Genome-wide association study identifies 12 new genetic loci associated with growth traits in pigs

Growth traits are among the most important economic traits in pigs and are regulated by polygenes with complex regulatory mechanisms.As the major indicators of growth performance,the backfat thickness(BFT),loin eye area(LEA),and days to 100 kg(D100)traits are commonly used to the genetics improvement in pigs.However,the available genetic markers for these traits are limited.To uncover novel loci and candidate genes associated with growth performance,we collected the phenotypic information of BFT,LEA,and D100 in 1,186 pigs and genotyped all these individuals using the Neogen GGP porcine 80K BeadChip.We performed a genome-wide association study(GWAS)using 4 statistical models,including mixed linear models(MLM),fixed and random model circulating probability unification(FarmCPU),settlement of MLM under progressively exclusive relationships(SUPER),Bayesian-information and linkage-disequilibrium Iteratively nested keyway(Blink),and identified 5,3,and 6 high-confidence single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)associated with BFT,LEA,and D100,respectively.Variant annotation and quantitative trait locus(QTL)mapping analysis suggested that6 genes(SKAP2,SATB1,PDE7B,PPP1R16B,WNT3,and WNT9B)were potentially associated with growth performance in pigs.Transcriptome analysis suggested that the expression of Src Kinase Associated Phosphoprotein 2(SKAP2)was higher in prenatal muscles than in postnatal muscles,and the expression of Phosphodiesterase 7B(PDE7B)continuously increased during the prenatal stages and gradually decreased after birth,implying their potential roles in prenatal skeletal muscle development.Overall,this study provides new candidate loci and genes for the genetic improvement of pigs.

Lower limb suspension induces threshold-specific alterations of motor units properties that are reversed by active recovery

Purpose:This study aimed to non-invasively test the hypothesis that(a) short-term lower limb unloading would induce changes in the neural control of force production(based on motor units(MUs) properties) in the vastus lateralis muscle and(b) possible changes are reversed by active recovery(AR).Methods:Ten young males underwent 10 days of unilateral lower limb suspension(ULLS) followed by 21 days of AR.During ULLS,participants walked exclusively on crutches with the dominant leg suspended in a slightly flexed position(15°-20°) and with the contralateral foot raised by an elevated shoe.The AR was based on resistance exercise(leg press and leg extension) and executed at 70% of each participant’s 1repetition maximum,3 times/week.Maximal voluntary isometric contraction(MVC) of knee extensors and MUs properties of the vastus lateralis muscle were measured at baseline,after ULLS,and after AR.MUs were identified using high-density electromyography during trapezoidal isometric contractions at 10%,25%,and 50% of the current MVC,and individual MUs were tracked across the 3 data collection points.Results:We identified 1428 unique MUs,and 270 of them(18.9%) were accurately tracked.After ULLS,MVC decreased by 29.77%,MUs absolute recruitment/derecruitment thresholds were reduced at all contraction intensities(with changes between the 2 variables strongly correlated),while discharge rate was reduced at 10% and 25% but not at 50% MVC.Impaired MVC and MUs properties fully recovered to baseline levels after AR.Similar changes were observed in the pool of total as well as tracked MUs.Conclusion:Our novel results demonstrate,non-invasively,that 10 days of ULLS affected neural control predominantly by altering the discharge rate of lower-threshold but not of higher-threshold MUs,suggesting a preferential impact of disuse on motoneurons with a lower depolarization threshold.However,after 21 days of AR,the impaired MUs properties were fully restored to baseline levels,highlighting the plasticity of the components involved in neural control.

Biology of Hippo signaling pathway:Skeletal muscle development and beyond

Global demand for farm animals and their meat products i.e.,pork,chicken and other livestock meat,is steadily incresing.With the ongoing life science research and the rapid development of biotechnology,it is a great opportunity to develop advanced molecular breeding markers to efficiently improve animal meat production traits.Hippo is an important study subject because of its crucial role in the regulation of organ size.In recent years,with the increase of research on Hippo signaling pathway,the integrative application of multi-omics technologies such as genomics,transcriptomics,proteomics,and metabolomics can help promote the in-depth involvement of Hippo signaling pathway in skeletal muscle development research.The Hippo signaling pathway plays a key role in many biological events,including cell division,cell migration,cell proliferation,cell differentiation,cell apoptosis,as well as cell adhesion,cell polarity,homeostasis,maintenance of the face of mechanical overload,etc.Its influence on the development of skeletal muscle has important research value for enhancing the efficiency of animal husbandry production.In this study,we traced the origin of the Hippo pathway,comprehensively sorted out all the functional factors found in the pathway,deeply analyzed the molecular mechanism of its function,and classified it from a novel perspective based on its main functional domain and mode of action.Our aim is to systematically explore its regulatory role throughout skeletal muscle development.We specifically focus on the Hippo signaling pathway in embryonic stem cell development,muscle satellite cell fate determination,myogenesis,skeletal muscle meat production and organ size regulation,muscle hypertrophy and atrophy,muscle fiber formation and its transformation between different types,and cardiomyocytes.The roles in proliferation and regeneration are methodically summarized and analyzed comprehensively.The summary and prospect of the Hippo signaling pathway within this article will provide ideas for further improving meat production and muscle deposition and developing new molecular breeding technologies for livestock and poultry,which will be helpful for the development of animal molecular breeding.

Is sarcopenia effective on survival in patients with metastatic gastric cancer?

BACKGROUND Sarcopenia is a progressively diminishing state characterized by the reduction of muscle mass and density,which is frequently observed in malignancies of solid organs.AIM To assess how sarcopenia affects the overall survival of individuals who have been diagnosed with metastatic gastric cancer.METHODS The study retrospectively included individuals who had been diagnosed with metastatic gastric cancer between January 2008 and December 2020.Sarcopenia was identified through the calculation of the average Hounsfield units(HUAC)using computed tomography(CT)images taken at the time of diagnosis in patients.RESULTS A total of 118 patients with metastatic gastric cancer were evaluated.Sarcopenia was detected in 29 patients(24.6%).The median survival of all patients was 8(1-43)mo.The median survival of patients with sarcopenia was 2 mo,while it was 10 mo for those without sarcopenia(P<0.001).A significant relationship was found between sarcopenia and survival.CONCLUSION Sarcopenia has been observed to impact survival outcomes in various types of solid tumor cancers.Sarcopenic patients can be identified in a short time,easily and inexpensively,by HUAC measurements from CT images used for diagnosis,and survival could be promoted with nutritional support.

Translational machinery and translation regulation in axon regeneration

Over the centuries,the regeneration field has been puzzled by the dual response of the central nervous system(CNS-brain,spinal cord,cranial nervesⅠandⅡ)and the peripheral nervous system(PNS that refers to all the nerves that innervate muscles,skin,organs,bones among others).Even Ramon y Cajal had noticed that an injury to the PNS often leads to axon regrowth,in contrast to the CNS.

Vitamin A regulates mitochondrial biogenesis and function through p38 MAPK‑PGC‑1α signaling pathway and alters the muscle fiber composition of sheep

Background Vitamin A(VA)and its metabolite,retinoic acid(RA),are of great interest for their wide range of physiological functions.However,the regulatory contribution of VA to mitochondrial and muscle fiber composition in sheep has not been reported.Method Lambs were injected with 0(control)or 7,500 IU VA palmitate into the biceps femoris muscle on d 2 after birth.At the age of 3 and 32 weeks,longissimus dorsi(LD)muscle samples were obtained to explore the effect of VA on myofiber type composition.In vitro,we investigated the effects of RA on myofiber type composition and intrinsic mechanisms.Results The proportion of type I myofiber was greatly increased in VA-treated sheep in LD muscle at harvest.VA greatly promoted mitochondrial biogenesis and function in LD muscle of sheep.Further exploration revealed that VA elevated PGC-1αmRNA and protein contents,and enhanced the level of p38 MAPK phosphorylation in LD muscle of sheep.In addition,the number of type I myofibers with RA treatment was significantly increased,and type IIx myofibers was significantly decreased in primary myoblasts.Consistent with in vivo experiment,RA significantly improved mitochondrial biogenesis and function in primary myoblasts of sheep.We then used si-PGC-1αto inhibit PGC-1αexpression and found that si-PGC-1αsignificantly abrogated RA-induced the formation of type I myofibers,mitochondrial biogenesis,MitoTracker staining intensity,UQCRC1 and ATP5A1 expression,SDH activity,and enhanced the level of type IIx muscle fibers.These data suggested that RA improved mitochondrial biogenesis and function by promoting PGC-1αexpression,and increased type I myofibers.In order to prove that the effect of RA on the level of PGC-1αis caused by p38 MAPK signaling,we inhibited the p38 MAPK signaling using a p38 MAPK inhibitor,which significantly reduced RA-induced PGC-1αand MyHC I levels.Conclusion VA promoted PGC-1αexpression through the p38 MAPK signaling pathway,improved mitochondrial biogenesis,and altered the composition of muscle fiber type.

An early scoring system to predict mechanical ventilation for botulism: a single-center-based study

BACKGROUND: Early identification of patients requiring ventilator support will be beneficial for the outcomes of botulism. The present study aimed to establish a new scoring system to predict mechanical ventilation(MV) for botulism patients.METHODS: A single-center retrospective study was conducted to identify risk factors associated with MV in botulism patients from 2007 to 2022. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to screen out risk factors for constructing a prognostic scoring system. The area under the receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve was calculated.RESULTS: A total of 153 patients with botulism(66 males and 87 females, with an average age of 43 years) were included. Of these, 49 patients(32.0%) required MV, including 21(13.7%) with invasive ventilation and 28(18.3%) with non-invasive ventilation. Multivariate analysis revealed that botulinum toxin type, pneumonia, incubation period, degree of hypoxia, and severity of muscle involvement were independent risk factors for MV. These risk factors were incorporated into a multivariate logistic regression analysis to establish a prognostic scoring system. Each risk factor was scored by allocating a weight based on its regression coefficient and rounded to whole numbers for practical utilization([botulinum toxin type A: 1], [pneumonia: 2], [incubation period ≤1 day: 2], [hypoxia <90%: 2], [severity of muscle involvement: grade Ⅱ, 3;gradeⅢ, 7;grade IV, 11]). The scoring system achieved an area under the ROC curve of 0.82(95% CI 0.75–0.89, P<0.001). At the optimal threshold of 9, the scoring system achieved a sensitivity of 83.7% and a specificity of 70.2%.CONCLUSION: Our study identified botulinum toxin type, pneumonia, incubation period, degree of hypoxia, and severity of muscle involvement as independent risk factors for MV in botulism patients. A score ≥9 in our scoring system is associated with a higher likelihood of requiring MV in botulism patients. This scoring system needs to be validated externally before it can be applied in clinical settings.

Temporal and spatial regulation of biomimetic vascularization in 3D-printed skeletal muscles

In the intricate skeletal muscle tissue,the symbiotic relationship between myotubes and their supporting vasculature is pivotal in delivering essential oxygen and nutrients.This study explored the complex interplay between skeletal muscle and endothelial cells in the vascularization ofmuscle tissue.By harnessing the capabilities of three-dimensional(3D)bioprinting and modeling,we developed a novel approach involving the co-construction of endothelial and muscle cells,followed by their subsequent differentiation.Our findings highlight the importance of the interaction dynamics between these two cell types.Notably,introducing endothelial cells during the advanced phases of muscle differentiation enhanced myotube assembly.Moreover,it stimulated the development of the vascular network,paving the way for the early stages of vascularized skeletal muscle development.The methodology proposed in this study indicates the potential for constructing large-scale,physiologically aligned skeletal muscle.Additionally,it highlights the need for exploring the delicate equilibrium and mutual interactions between muscle and endothelial cells.Based on the multicell-type interaction model,we can predict promising pathways for constructing even more intricate tissues or organs.