Blog Archives
Spinal cord epidural stimulation proves effective in type III SMA
An initial study evaluated epidural stimulation of the spinal cord in three patients with type III spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). While motor deficits may persist with Spinraza®, Zolgensma® and Evrysdi®, this technique could directly target the dysfunction of the neuronal circuitry of the spinal cord involved in the progression of the disease. The three participants … [Read more]
Researchers from the Institute’s imaging laboratory at the SFRMBM conference
Experts from the Institute’s NMR Laboratory – Spectroscopy Laboratory presented their work at the 7th scientific congress of the Société Française de Résonance Magnétique en Biologie et Médecine (SFRMBM), held in Saint-Malo, France, from 24 to 26 March 2025. Oral communications Monday 24 March • Course – « MR Fingerprinting: Practical Guide » – Benjamin … [Read more]
A candidate biomarker for mitochondrial diseases: serum chitotriosidase 1
Elevation of serum chitotriosidase is a biomarker of lysosomal diseases, particularly in Niemann-Pick disease. Recently, the lysosomal component of mitochondrial diseases has been discussed. Serum chitotriosidase (CHIT1) was measured in 117 people with neuromuscular diseases (90 hereditary, 27 inflammatory), 34 with mitochondrial diseases, 8 with Niemann-Pick type C and 38 controls. It is significantly elevated … [Read more]
A large proportion of MNM patients in favour of telemedicine, despite some reluctance
A French study collected data from 103 adults with a slowly progressive neuromuscular disease who had been using non-invasive ventilation for at least six months, using questionnaires to gain a better understanding of their feelings and experience of telemedicine for respiratory monitoring. Concerning teleconsultation : 73.8% of patients were in favour, 26.2% opposed. 61.2% of … [Read more]
Impaired spermatogenesis in SMA
For the first time, clinicians from the Neuromuscular Diseases Reference Centres looked at the spermatogenesis of 68 men with proximal spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) before starting treatment with risdiplam, a drug likely to cause fertility problems. Of the participants, 36 had type II SMA and 32 had type III SMA, who were followed up between … [Read more]
Mexiletine is rarely prescribed in France for myotonia in children
The network of French specialists in childhood myotonia was mobilised to find out how often and in what ways mexiletine is prescribed, even though it has marketing authorisation for adult patients suffering from myotonia, whether dystrophic or not: 34 centres responded to the survey, two of which were not treating children with myotonia, 461 children … [Read more]
The REDs lab is recruiting two PhD students
ENTRY-DM: MSCA Doctoral network Interdisciplinary doctoral training on oligonucleotide-based therapies for myotonic dystrophy Two PhD positions are available from September 2025, in the laboratory Repeat Expansions and Myotonic Dystrophy, at the Myology Research Centre / Institute of Myology in Paris, France. The project is funded by a MSCA Doctoral network, coordinated by Mario Gomes-Pereira. NETWORK … [Read more]
Real-life pharmacovigilance identifies unreported side effects of eculizumab and alglucosidase alpha
Two Chinese teams looked at the real-life side-effects of eculizumab in the treatment of myasthenia and alglucosidase alfa in the treatment of Pompe disease. Analysis of data from the FDA’s pharmacovigilance system, FAERS (FDA Adverse Event Reporting System), revealed : 46,316 side-effect reports for eculizumab between 2007 and 2023, grouped under 461 preferred terms; 4,326 … [Read more]
Two molecules with therapeutic potential identified in LGMD R2
A collaboration involving I-Stem, Genethon and the Institute of Myology carried out a high-throughput screening of 2,239 drugs already approved for other diseases and other bioactive compounds on immortalised myoblast models of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type R2 (LGMD R2) carrying the L1341P missense mutation in the DYSF gene or in muscle fibres from dysferlin-deficient mice: … [Read more]
