Sarcopenia in neurodegenerative disorders

Sarcopenia is a progressive generalized muscle disorder, associated with an increased risk of falls, fractures, physical disability, and mortality. Sarcopenia criteria are based on an assessment of a triad of symptoms – a decrease in muscle mass, muscle strength, and impaired physical performance. The most common diagnostic methods are handgrip dynamometry, densitometry, bioimpedansometry, and gait speed measurement. These methods have high accuracy and prognostic value, but are not always applicable to neurological patients. The article discusses sarcopenia detection in neurological practice, as well as its connection with neurodegenerative disorders – Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Having a number of common pathophysiological mechanisms, each of the diseases is characterized by a specific phenotype of muscle atrophy. The high incidence of sarcopenia symptoms in neurodegenerative diseases and the common mechanisms of their development allow us to treat sarcopenia as an overlap syndrome of neurodegenerative disorders.

Combined Administration of Andrographolide and Angiotensin- (1-7) Synergically Increases the Muscle Function and Strength in Aged Mice

Background: Sarcopenia is a progressive and generalized skeletal muscle disorder characterized by muscle weakness, loss of muscle mass, and decline in the capacity of force generation. Aging can cause sarcopenia. Several therapeutic strategies have been evaluated to prevent or alleviate this disorder. One of them is angiotensin 1-7 [Ang-(1-7)], an anti-atrophic peptide for skeletal muscles that regulates decreased muscle mass for several causes, including aging. Another regulator of muscle mass and function is andrographolide, a bicyclic diterpenoid lactone that decreases the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling and attenuates the severity of some muscle diseases. Objective: Evaluate the effect of combined administration of Ang-(1-7) with andrographolide on the physical performance, muscle strength, and fiber´s diameter in a murine model of sarcopenia by aging. Methods: Aged male mice of the C57BL/6J strain were treated with Andrographolide, Ang-(1-7), or combined for three months. The physical performance, muscle strength, and fiber´s diameter were measured. Results: The results showed that aged mice (24 months old) treated with Ang-(1-7) or Andrographolide improved their performance on a treadmill test, muscle strength, and their fiber´s diameter compared to aged mice without treatment. The combined administration of Ang-(1-7) with andrographolide to aged mice has an enhanced synergically effect on physical performance, muscle strength, and fiber´s diameter. Conclusion: Our results indicated that in aged mice, the effects of andrographolide and Ang-(1-7) on muscle function, strength, and fiber´s diameter are potentiated.

Prevalence of Sarcopenia According to the Method Used to Determine Physical Performance

Sarcopenia is currently defined as a progressive and generalized skeletal muscle disorder that occurs with advancing age and is associated with an increased likelihood of adverse outcomes. Low levels of measures for muscle strength, muscle quantity, and physical performance define sarcopenia. In this chapter, we will see that the prevalence of a low value of physical performance will be different according to the method used to measure this parameter, and thus, it would be foreseeable to think that the prevalence of sarcopenia will also be different according to the method used. However, despite the differences found in physical performance, we will show that the prevalence of sarcopenia appears to be regardless of the method used for physical performance, and therefore, how is it possible that having a significant difference in the prevalence of physical performance depending on the method chosen, the prevalence of sarcopenia has an almost perfect agreement? To answer these questions, a new simplified model is studied, defining sarcopenia as low muscle strength and low muscle mass and without taking physical performance into account. Finally, we will see that, indeed, physical performance does not seem to be decisive or necessary for the diagnosis of sarcopenia.

Muscle Activity and Gait Analysis of Assistive Device for Rehabilitation Gait Abnormalities Patient

Gait abnormality is a muscle disorder that disabling the patient to walk properly. This is caused by several factors including genetic influence, accident history, health issue, and others. Some suffered from this illness could be cured but some cases only could be helped by rehabilitation. This work is an original initiative in developing an assistive device as part of patient’s recovery and rehabilitation in helping the patient to regain muscle, as well assisting patient in performing their activities. However, the effectiveness on the device’s performance to serve its purpose has not yet been confirmed. Therefore, an electrical tool known as surface Electromyography (EMG) is being used to obtain the information required. This research is analysing the patient’s nerves system with and without the assistive device and demonstrate the effectiveness of the assistive device in reducing the muscle contraction, as well to increase the time-to-fatigue of the muscle. The findings of this research showed that the reduction in percent of average Root Mean Square (RMS) value of patient’s contraction muscle when using the device has increase the time-to-fatigue of the muscle. In conclusion, this assistive device assists the patient, minimise the muscle fatigue, and ease the patient in their daily chores.

Case Report: Probable Myocarditis After Covid-19 mRNA Vaccine in a Patient With Arrhythmogenic Left Ventricular Cardiomyopathy

Arrhythmogenic left ventricular cardiomyopathy (ALVC) is a rare heritable heart-muscle disorder characterized by a progressive loss of left ventricular myocardium and its replacement by fibrofatty tissue. Myocarditis is an inflammatory disease of the heart that may occur secondary to infections, immune system activation or exposure to drugs. Hot phases of ALVC present with chest pain and troponin rise, mimicking acute viral myocarditis and indicate a progression of the disease. Recently, myocarditis has also been described as an infrequent complication of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) mRNA vaccines. We herein report for the first time a case of probable myocarditis induced by Covid-19 vaccine in a patient with previous medical history of ALVC. We aim to highlight the common characteristics of ALVC and Covid-19 vaccine myocarditis and work through the differential diagnosis of these two entities.

Expansion of 5’ UTR CGG repeat in RILPL1 is associated with oculopharyngodistal myopathy

Oculopharyngodistal myopathy is an adult-onset degenerative muscle disorder characterized by ptosis, ophthalmoplegia and weakness of the facial, pharyngeal and limb muscles. Trinucleotide repeat expansions in non-coding regions of LRP12, G1PC1and NOTCH2NLC were recently reported to be the etiologies for OPDM. However, a significant portion of OPDM patients still have unknown genetic causes. In this study, we performed long-read whole-genome sequencing in a large five-generation family of 156 individuals, including 22 patients diagnosed with typical OPDM and identified CGG repeat expansions in RILPL1 gene in all patients we tested while not in unaffected family members. Methylation analysis indicated that methylation levels of the RILPL1 gene were unaltered in OPDM patients, which was in consistent with previous reports. Our findings first provided evidences that RILPL1 were associated OPDM which we suggested as OPDM type 4.

Etlik Piliçlerde Odunsu Göğüs Eti Sendromu ve Etkileri

The aim of the study is to present a review about the "Wooden Breast Syndrome" (WBS) syndrome, which is a muscle disorder that has become increasingly important in recent years, and the etiology of the abnormalities caused by this myopathy, and its histological, macroscopic, and microscopic features. Besides, the effects on the visual, sensory, functional, mechanical quality and processing properties of the breast meat of broilers and their negative effects on the poultry industry were also discussed. Since this myopathy gives a hard structure to the pectolaris major muscle, it is called "Wooden Breast" in public. It is assumed that the leading direct and indirect causes of WB syndrome in broilers are pectoral muscle hypertrophy (volume increase in muscle cells), rapid growth rate, and high breast meat yield. Also, age, gender, diet, feed restriction, oxidative stress, genetics, etc. factors are also thought to be effective. However, the etiology of WB syndrome is still unclear in many aspects. As a result of the macroscopic examination of the wooden breast meat, a striking stiffness, swelling, viscous exudate (inflammatory fluid), petechial (purple-red bleeding spots) fluid, and a pale appearance in the pectoral major muscles are observed, and the lesions that occur can be detected by palpation. Due to these visual and sensory defects in breast meat, the consumability of meat decreases and this leads to significant economic losses for the poultry industry.

Sarcopenia and Physical Activity Predict Falls in Older Adults from Amazonas, Brazil (La sarcopenia y la actividad física predicen caídas en adultos mayores de Amazonas, Brasil)

Introduction: Sarcopenia is a progressive and widespread skeletal muscle disorder involving loss of muscle mass and function, and is associated with several outcomes, including falls, functional decline, frailty, and mortality. Therefore, this study aimed: (1) to estimate the prevalence of sarcopenia, falls, and the risk of falls considering age, sex, and the level of physical activity (PA), and (2) to identify which of these predictors better explained the likelihood that participants present risk of fall. A total of 701 participants (433 women) with a mean age of 70.4±6.9. Sarcopenia was determined according to the most recent guidelines from the European Working Group (EWGSOP2). The prevalence of falls and the level of physical activity were assessed by questionnaires. The risk of falls was assessed using the Fullerton Advance Balance (FAB) scale. This study provides evidence that women (OR: 2.5, p<0.001), the oldest people (OR: 1.1 p<0.001), and people who had identified sarcopenia (OR: 2.9 p<0.001), and lower level of physical activity (OR: 2.9 p<0.001), were more likely to present the risk of falls. Implications for vulnerable aging are discussed. Resumen. Introducción: La sarcopenia es un trastorno del músculo esquelético generalizado y progresivo que implica pérdida de masa y función muscular y se asocia con varios resultados, que incluyen caídas, deterioro funcional, fragilidad y mortalidad. Por lo tanto, este estudio tuvo como objetivo: (1) estimar la prevalencia de sarcopenia, caídas y el riesgo de caídas considerando la edad, el sexo y el nivel de actividad física (AF), y (2) identificar cuál de estos predictores explicaba mejor la probabilidad que los participantes presentan riesgo de caída. Un total de 701 participantes (433 mujeres) con una edad media de 70,4 ± 6,9 años. La sarcopenia se determinó de acuerdo con las guías más recientes del Grupo de trabajo europeo (EWGSOP2). La prevalencia de caídas y el nivel de AF se evaluaron mediante cuestionarios. El riesgo de caídas se evaluó mediante la escala Fullerton Advance Balance (FAB). Este estudio proporciona evidencia de que las mujeres (OR: 2,5, p <0,001), las personas mayores (OR: 1,1 p <0,001) y las personas que habían identificado sarcopenia (OR: 2,9 p <0,001) y un nivel más bajo de AP (OR: 2,9 p <0,001), tenían más probabilidades de presentar riesgo de caídas. Se discuten las implicaciones para el envejecimiento vulnerable.