PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Tamoxifen ameliorates symptoms of Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Results of new study published in the American Journal of Pathology

Tamoxifen ameliorates symptoms of Duchenne muscular dystrophy
2013-01-15
(Press-News.org) Philadelphia, PA, January 15, 2013 – A new study has found that tamoxifen, a well-known breast cancer drug, can counteract some pathologic features in a mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). At present, no treatment is known to produce long-term improvement of the symptoms in boys with DMD, a debilitating muscular disorder that is characterized by progressive muscle wasting, respiratory and cardiac impairments, paralysis, and premature death. This study will be published in the February 2013 issue of The American Journal of Pathology.

Using the mdx5Cv mouse model of DMD, investigators found that tamoxifen, given orally for more than a year, "caused remarkable improvements of muscle force and of diaphragm and cardiac structure," according to lead author Olivier M. Dorchies, PhD, of the Department of Pharmacology, Geneva-Lausanne School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of Geneva and University of Lausanne. For instance, in the heart, fibrosis was diminished by approximately 50%. In the diaphragm, the muscle of the dystrophic mouse thought to be most like that of human DMD, tamoxifen reduced fibrosis while increasing thickness as well as the number and average diameter of muscle fibers. The net effect was that tamoxifen raised the amount of contractile tissue available for respiration by 72%.

Patients with DMD show muscle degeneration, and their muscle fibers become abnormally susceptible to stress. In this animal study, tamoxifen improved the structure of leg muscles, slowed muscle contraction, increased overall muscle function, and made leg muscles more resistant to repetitive stimulation and fatigue. In fact, tamoxifen rendered dystrophic muscles even stronger than those of non-dystrophic control mice. "Our findings of a slower rate of contraction and an enhanced resistance to fatigue in muscles from tamoxifen-treated dystrophic mice are of significance for the pathophysiology of muscular dystrophy," say the authors.

A wire test revealed that treating male mdx5Cv mice with tamoxifen for more than a year increased the whole body strength 2- to 3-fold, close to that of normal mice.

Additional findings shed light on the mechanism of tamoxifen's therapeutic actions. For example, plasma creatine kinase (CK) activity was found to be about 3 times higher in the dystrophic male mice than in the non-dystrophic males, and tamoxifen treatment normalized the CK levels of the dystrophic mice. The authors suggest that this effect is mediated by an estrogen receptor (ER) dependent mechanism. The study also reported for the first time that mouse dystrophic muscle is high in both ER α and β, and that tamoxifen raises levels of ERβ2 in particular. Other findings, such as increased levels of calcineurin and accumulation of several structural proteins, indicate a protective effect of tamoxifen on dystrophic muscles. The authors point out that the beneficial effects of tamoxifen were seen with muscle tissue levels much lower than those reported in previous studies of normal rodents, suggesting that doses lower than those used to treat breast cancer may be effective in the treatment of DMD.



INFORMATION:


[Attachments] See images for this press release:
Tamoxifen ameliorates symptoms of Duchenne muscular dystrophy

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Low birth weight not associated with asthma risk

2013-01-15
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (January 15, 2012) – Asthma is a serious condition that affects more than 25.7 million Americans, and is responsible for nearly 4,000 deaths annually. While the cause of asthma remains unknown, a study released today in the January issue of Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, the scientific journal of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), has concluded that low birth weight is not associated with asthma risk in young children. "Asthma is the most common chronic illness in childhood and is a leading reason for missed ...

Fetal exposure to PVC plastic chemical linked to obesity in offspring

2013-01-15
Irvine, Calif. — Exposing pregnant mice to low doses of the chemical tributyltin – which is used in marine hull paint and PVC plastic – can lead to obesity for multiple generations without subsequent exposure, a UC Irvine study has found. After exposing pregnant mice to TBT in concentrations similar to those found in the environment, researchers saw increased body fat, liver fat and fat-specific gene expression in their "children," "grandchildren" and "great-grandchildren" – none of which had been exposed to the chemical. These findings suggest that early-life exposure ...

Quality of instruction trumps language in reading programs for elementary-age ELLs

2013-01-15
WASHINGTON, January 14, 2013─New research synthesizes studies of English reading outcomes for Spanish-dominant English language learners (ELLs) in elementary schools. The review, Effective Reading Programs for Spanish-dominant English Language Learners (ELLs) in the Elementary Grades: A Synthesis of Research, appears in the December issue of Review of Educational Research, a journal of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). Conducted by Alan C. K. Cheung, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Robert E. Slavin, Johns Hopkins University and the University ...

New research shows uncertain benefits after grade 2

2013-01-15
WASHINGTON, January 14, 2013─ Education researchers Paul Hanselman and Geoffrey D. Borman have evaluated the impact of literacy instruction in grades 3 through 5. Their findings were published in Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis (EEPA) in Online First. EEPA is a peer-reviewed journal of the American Educational Research Association. The researchers examined Success for All, an instructional approach that is among the most mature and proven school reform models, to identify impact on reading achievement among older elementary students. This study, a follow-up ...

Post-Concussion Syndrome a Significant Problem for TBI Victims

2013-01-15
Post-concussion syndrome a significant problem for TBI victims Traumatic brain injuries are insidious harms. At first, it might seem like the consequences of a blow to the head -- be it from a motor vehicle accident, a slip and fall or another cause -- will fade away over time. Since there is so little that can be done in the immediate aftermath of a head injury, most doctors hope that rest and careful monitoring will help the brain heal itself. Unfortunately, a new study shows that that the effects of traumatic brain injury can linger for years after the initial ...

Internet Use Being Restricted for Those Accused of Sex Crimes

2013-01-15
Internet use being restricted for those accused of sex crimes When a person is arrested for committing a crime, there is often a period of confusion and uncertainty. Police may question the person that they arrested in the hopes that he or she will give them the information they need to support a conviction. If the crime is a very serious or high-profile incident, the situation will become even more stressful, and the consequences of a conviction much more severe. For individuals charged with sex crimes, there are often additional punishments put in place that will ...

After Pleading Guilty, Drunk Driver Faces Multiple Lawsuits

2013-01-15
After Pleading Guilty, Drunk Driver Faces Multiple Lawsuits Family members of those killed by drunk drivers might find that seeing the driver sent to prison relieves their suffering. Due to the magnitude of the loss, though, justice might not provide a huge consolation. Still, victims' families can take some comfort in knowing they have the legal option of seeking financial compensation for the loss of their loved one. Drunk Driver Pleads Guilty For example, take the case of a Pennsylvania man who pled guilty to killing three people as a result of driving drunk. ...

An Introduction to the SEC's Whistleblower Program

2013-01-15
An introduction to the SEC's whistleblower program In 2010, the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, established a whistleblower program under the Dodd-Frank Act. The program rewards individuals who provide the SEC with original information that leads to successful sanctions against a company for securities violations. It also provides protection against retaliation for employees who blow the whistle on their employers. The SEC's whistleblower program The SEC has about $452 million in its coffers to provide cash awards to whistleblowers who provide information ...

Wiretaps Revolutionize White-Collar Crime Prosecution

2013-01-15
Wiretaps revolutionize white-collar crime prosecution After a long history of success in the investigation of drug crimes, wiretapping has recently gained momentum as a tool for the prosecution of insider trading and other white-collar crimes. In what has been widely regarded as a turning point for white-collar criminal prosecution, Raj Rajaratnam, co-founder of the hedge fund management firm Galleon Group, was convicted in May 2011 of insider trading and conspiracy charges supported largely by evidence obtained from wiretaps. Experts believe that the Galleon case ...

Guarding Against Allegations of Illegal Insider Trading

2013-01-15
Guarding against allegations of illegal insider trading Insider trading has become a hot topic in the news recently as federal prosecutors continue to crack down on white-collar crime. Unfortunately for some of those who are charged with insider trading offenses, the line between legal and illegal securities transactions is not always as clear as it seems. Insider trading is the trading of stocks, bonds or stock options by a corporation's "insiders," such as officers, executives and major shareholders. Contrary to popular misconception, insider trading is ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Robotic space rovers keep getting stuck. UW engineers have figured out why

New research shows how immigration status can become a death sentence during public health crisis

University of Toronto Engineering researchers develop safer alternative non-stick coating

Good vibrations: Scientists use imaging technology to visualize heat

More ecological diversity means better nutritional resources in Fiji’s agroforests

New global study shows freshwater is disappearing at alarming rates

Scientists create an artificial cell capable of navigating its environment using chemistry alone

A little salt is good for battery health

Deep-sea fish confirmed as a significant source of ocean carbonate

How to keep kids with eating disorders home after hospital stay? Therapy

Sex differences affect efficacy of opioid overdose treatment

Aligning AI with Human Values and Well-Being

Engineering the next generation of experimental physics

The scuba diving industry is funding marine ecosystem conservation and employing locals

BATMAN brings TCR therapy out of the shadows

Surrogates more likely to be diagnosed with mental illness, study finds

Columbia Engineering researchers turn dairy byproduct into tissue repair gel

Global estimates of lives and life-years saved by COVID-19 vaccination during 2020-2024

Potential trade-offs of proposed cuts to the NIH

New research simulates cancer cell behavior

COVID, over 2.5 million deaths prevented worldwide thanks to vaccines. One life saved for every 5,400 doses administered

Scuba diving generates up to $20 billion annually

Scientists advance efforts to create ‘virtual cell lab’ as testing ground for future research with live cells

How DNA packaging controls the “genome’s guardian”

Simplified models, deeper insights: Coarse-grained models unlock new potential for ionic liquid simulations

Gorillas’ personal circumstances shape their aggression towards groupmates

Which signalling pathways in the cell lead to possible therapies for Parkinson's disease

Identifying landslide threats using hydrological predictors

First graders who use more educational media spend more time reading

Exploring the meaning in life through phenomenology and philosophy

[Press-News.org] Tamoxifen ameliorates symptoms of Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Results of new study published in the American Journal of Pathology