Musculoskeletal

Over the years muscular dystrophies have become a popular area of research. These are a group of inherited disorders that involve an increase in muscle weakness over time. These disorders greatly decrease the quality of life and there are no known cures. Research in this area appears to have excelled in the past two years with findings related to the genes NCoR and EZH2.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe muscle wasting condition, causing disability and early death. There is currently no cure or adequate treatment for DMD, but pioneering research indicates that injection of a laminin protein may prevent (or at least slow) this muscle degeneration.

Over the years muscular dystrophies have become a popular area of research. These are a group of inherited disorders that involve an increase in muscle weakness over time. These disorders greatly decrease the quality of life and there are no known cures. Research in this area appears to have excelled in the past two years with findings related to the genes NCoR and EZH2.

Aggrecan is essential for the normal function of articular cartilage and intervertebral discs. Aggrecan provides the ability for the tissues to withstand compressive loading. This property is dependent on both the high charge density endowed by its numerous chondroitin and keratan sulfate chains and its ability to form large molecular aggregates interacting with hyaluronans. Degradation of Aggrecan via the action of proteases takes place throughout life and the degradation products which accumulate in the tissue and impair its function.