A clinical trial argues against the hypothesis that the diabetes drug metformin could help exercising seniors gain more muscle mass. The double-blind trial found that older adults who took metformin while performing rigorous resistance exercise training had smaller gains in muscle mass than the placebo group.
Read moreA research team found muscle cells treated with statins released the amino acid called glutamate at much higher levels than muscle cells that were untreated. As glutamate is a potent activator of muscle pain receptors, this release was proposed to trigger the sensation of muscle pain.
Read moreChikungunya is an infectious disease caused by a mosquito-borne virus transmitted to humans. It is characterized by high fever and intense joint and muscle pain that can last for several months. The mechanisms of infection of human cells with the virus remain very poorly understood. Researchers have now identified a protein that is crucial in order for the virus to replicate within its target cells. This research opens up therapeutic avenues in the fight against chikungunya.
Read moreResearchers have developed a novel way to measure how mechanical fatigue affects biological cells. They also have established the important role of this effect in influencing physical properties of biological cells such as red blood cells (RBCs). This new technique assesses the mechanical integrity and fatigue behavior of RBCs using a general microfluidics method that incorporates amplitude-modulated electro-deformation. This method has important applications for mechanical fatigue studies in conjunction with other microenvironments related to health and materials engineering.
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