Blog Archives

A new lead in the treatment of MELAS syndrome

The MELAS syndrome is a mitochondrial disease with a partly neuromuscular expression and is related, in the vast majority of cases, to a point mutation (m.3243A>G) of the mitochondrial DNA. French specialists report laboratory work on a cellular model of the disease (cybrid cells with different levels of heteroplasmy of this mutant). A multi-omics approach … [Read more]

A broad natural history study in myotonic dystrophies

The American Myotonic Dystrophy Registry is, after the French DM-scope database, one of the most important registries for Steinert disease (DM1) and myotonic dystrophy type 2 (DM2). An analysis of the data recorded during the first 17 years of operation of this register has been published. It includes 929 people with DM1, excluding infantile and … [Read more]

Characterisation of PABPN1 aggregates in OPMD – Interview with Capucine Trollet

The results of an international study conducted by the Institute’s Capucine Trollet and Vincent Mouly team have just been published in Acta Neuropathologica. The article relates to the characterisation of PABPN1 aggregates performed on a unique series of 90 muscle biopsies from OPMD patients, collected from clinicians in France, Canada, the Netherlands and Israel, and on … [Read more]

The first French series of patients with HINT1 neuropathy suggests a wider phenotypic and genotypic range

Neuropathies or neuromyotonias related to the HINT1 gene are of recent discovery (2012). A group of French experts gathered under the aegis of FILNEMUS, the French Rare Health Care for Neuromuscular Diseases Network, compiled clinical, genetic and electrophysiological data from seven patients with this autosomal recessive form of hereditary neuropathy: The initial presentation was suggestive of … [Read more]

A comparative study of two muscle biopsy techniques

Australian rheumatologists conducted a study to compare the feasibility and diagnostic performance of two techniques of muscle tissue sampling: one based on open biopsy, usually in a surgical setting, and the other consisting of needle puncture biopsy with guidance from muscle ultrasound (percutaneous technique). 38 adult patients (median age 64 years) were divided into two … [Read more]

Myotubular myopathy: valproic acid improves mouse models and leads to the identification of a specific epigenetic signature

Screening of 1280 molecules on zebrafish models of X-linked myotubular myopathy (XLMTM) showed that histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors such as valproic acid or trichostatin A improved their swimming speed in a dose-dependent manner. Similarly, Mtm1-/y model mice had their survival prolonged and their motor capacity (suspension test) improved by these molecules, and this to a … [Read more]

DMB: EDG-5506 moves to phase II

Following the success of phase Ia and Ib, Edgewise Therapeutics announced in a July 2022 press release the launch of phase II to evaluate EDG-5506, an orally administered small molecule known to inhibit ATPase, which acts on fast fiber myosins, particularly affected in dystrophies. This evaluation will focus on safety, pharmacokinetics and effects on biomarkers and … [Read more]

Experts from the Institute at WMS 2022

The 27th World Muscle Society International Congress (WMS) will be held from October 11 to 15, 2022 in Halifax, Canada, as well as in a virtual version on the congress platform. International muscle experts will gather to discuss basic research, clinical trials and therapeutic advances in neuromuscular diseases. Researchers and clinicians from the Institute will be present, both … [Read more]

FOP: a tendency for palovarotene to be effective

Forty people with fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP), aged 7 to 53 years, participated in the phase II trial of palovarotene, a selective gamma retinoic acid receptor agonist, versus placebo: 10 received placebo, 9 were treated with 5mg/d palovarotene for 15 days and then 2.5mg/d for a month, and 21 took 10mg/d palovarotene for 15 days … [Read more]

ERN EURO-NMD webinar, Oct. 13th : Robert Pangalila (The Netherlands)

Quality of life in Neuromuscular Disease Thursday October 13th, 2022 – 16:00-17:00 (Paris time) Robert Pangalila (Rijndam Rehabilitation Clinic and Erasmus University Medical Centre, The Netherlands)    Please register here to attend the webinar   Webinar organised by EURO-NMD in collaboration with ERN-RND and EAN.