Blog Archives
229th ENMC international workshop: Limb girdle muscular dystrophies – Nomenclature and reformed classification
This workshop on the classification and nomenclature of the LGMDs aimed to i) reach consensus on an updated definition of LGMD and to evaluate current subtypes of LGMD by application of the updated definition; ii) review and evaluate suggestions of potential new classifications of LGMD subtypes; iii) reach consensus on the most useful nomenclature and … [Read more]
Myositis: A new classification system based on phenotypic, biological and immunological criteria
Four types of myositis that consider all the clinical criteria of patients have been defined. A new classification that paves the way for reliable diagnosis and personalised treatments for patients. Affecting between 3,000 and 5,000 people in France, myositis (or inflammatory myopathies) is a group of rare autoimmune muscle diseases. Until now, three types of … [Read more]
Medical research assistant position available at the Institute of Myology
Within the EU-H2020 Solve-RD project “Solving the unsolved Rare Diseases” a medical research assistant position is available in the team of Gisèle Bonne. The main ambitions of the Solve-RD proposal are (i) to solve large numbers of Rare Disease cases, for which a molecular cause is not known yet, by combined Omics approaches, (ii) to … [Read more]
Baseline data from the NatHis-SMA study
There is currently a concerted effort to define the natural history of the disease and develop outcome measures that accurately capture the complexity of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). As several therapeutic strategies are currently under investigation and both the FDA and EMA have recently approved the first medical treatment for SMA, there is a critical … [Read more]
Carey-Fineman-Ziter syndrome with mutations in the myomaker gene and muscle fiber hypertrophy
Carey-Fineman-Ziter syndrome (CFZS) is an autosomal recessive inherited disorder. Clinically, patients are described as having non-progressive congenital myopathy with marked facial weakness, together with other clinical attributes such as Moebius and Pierre Robin sequence, facial abnormalities, and growth delay. Recently, autosomal recessive mutations in the gene myomaker (MYMK/TMEM8C) were found to be associated with CFZS. … [Read more]
An observational study of functional abilities in patients with type 1 SMA
This observational study describes cross-sectional clinical findings in 122 patients, aged between 3 months and 22 years, affected by type 1 spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Patients were classified according to the severity of phenotype and to the number of SMN2 copies. Patients with the more common and the most severe phenotype older than 2 years … [Read more]
Martine Barkats and AAV9-SMN: from discovery to treatment
In March 2018, Genethon and AveXis concluded an agreement on the patent exploitation filed in 2007 by Martine Barkats concerning her work at Genethon since 2004 (1). Martine Barkats joined the Institute of Myology in 2010. Since then, she and her team have continued their research to develop innovative therapies for motor neuron diseases. From … [Read more]
Consensus recommendations on outcome measures for children with mitochondrial disease
Although there are no effective disease-modifying therapies for mitochondrial diseases, an increasing number of trials are being conducted in this rare disease group. The use of sensitive and valid endpoints is essential to test the effectiveness of potential treatments. There is no consensus on which outcome measures to use in children with mitochondrial disease. The … [Read more]
Distal myopathies: Role of MRI in the diagnostic work-up
Distal myopathies are a diagnostically challenging group of diseases. Here, the authors aimed to understand the value of MRI in the current clinical setting and explore the potential for optimisingits clinical application. They retrospectively audited the diagnostic workup in a distal myopathy patient cohort, reassessing the diagnosis, whilst documenting the usage of MRI. A literature … [Read more]
Institute seminar – September 17th – Pr Marco Narici (Italy)
Impact of chronic inactivity on neuromuscular health Monday 17 September 2018 – 12:00-13:00 Prof. Marco Narici (Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Universita’ di Padova, Italia) Host : Gill Butler-Browne Institute of Myology auditorium Hôpital de la Pitié-Salpêtrière Building Babinski Entrance 82 bd Vincent Auriol metro Chevaleret