Alcohol misuse can disrupt gut microbiota, causing inflammation that leads to organ damage

Alcohol researchers have long known that excessive drinking can cause damage to the liver, pancreas, heart, muscle, bone, and brain. However, only a subset of patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) appear to develop organ damage. New research shows that alcohol-induced gut inflammation is the missing link between unhealthy drinking and organ damage among certain AUD patients.

Synchronisation between the central circadian clock and the circadian clocks of tissues preserves their functioning and prevents ageing

• Two complementary research articles, published simultaneously in the journals Science and Cell Stem Cell by a team of scientists from the UPF and IRB Barcelona, reveal that central and peripheral circadian clocks coordinate to regulate the daily activity of skin and muscles.
• The coordination between the two clocks (central and peripheral) guarantees 50% of the circadian functions of tissues, including vital processes such as the cell cycle, DNA repair, mitochondrial activity, and metabolism.
• Synchronisation between the central brain clock and peripheral ones prevents premature muscle ageing and improves muscle function, suggesting new strategies to tackle age-related decline through circadian rhythm modulation.

Transplanting Muscle Mitochondria among Species May Create Opportunity for New Treatments

Article title: Muscle mitochondrial transplantation can rescue and maintain cellular homeostasis Authors: Debasmita Bhattacharya, Mikhaela B. Slavin, David A. Hood From the authors: “Our study illustrates the feasibility of using mouse skeletal muscle-derived mitochondria for transplantation in intraspecies- and interspecies-specific…

Radiofrequency heating plus electromagnetic stimulation reduces belly fat and increases muscle

The combination of radiofrequency (RF) heating and high-intensity focused electromagnetic (HIFEM) energy provides a single, noninvasive procedure for abdominal body shaping – simultaneously reducing belly fat while increasing abdominal muscle mass without surgery, reports a study in the May issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

Piezo1 Possible Key to Supporting Muscle Regeneration in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Tracing the impact of a single protein, Piezo1, Penn researchers found that restoring it in muscles affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy could improve their ability to heal efficiently

Tracking Muscle Activity with Clothes on Your Back

In APL Materials, researchers have developed a bioelectrical sensor that is convenient and low-cost. The sensor measures electromyography signals that are generated in muscles when they contract and are useful for studying muscle fatigue and recovery, and they have the potential to inform diagnosis and treatment of neuromuscular diseases. The biosensor, made of silver paste with a layer of gold nanoparticles on top, is directly integrated onto a piece of clothing. The result was a detector that was both conductive and nonirritating to the skin.

Orangutan Finding Highlights Need to Protect Habitat

Wild orangutans are known for their ability to survive food shortages, but scientists have made a surprising finding that highlights the need to protect the habitat of these critically endangered primates, which face rapid habitat destruction and threats linked to climate change. Scientists found that the muscle mass of orangutans on the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia was significantly lower when less fruit was available. That’s remarkable because orangutans are thought to be especially good at storing and using fat for energy, according a Rutgers-led study in the journal Scientific Reports.