Myology research highlights

Decline in respiratory function in patients with DMD starts during early teenage years and leads to early morbidity and mortality. Published evidence of efficacy for idebenone on respiratory function outcomes is currently limited to 12 months of follow-up time. Here the authors report data collected as retrospective cohort study (SYROS) from 18 DMD patients not … [Read more]

Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) is a rare and heterogeneous pediatric-onset idiopathic inflammatory myopathy. Gastrointestinal (GI) involvement occurs in 22% to 37% of JDM patients but has only been described in case reports. In this retrospective, single-center, observational study, the authors aimed to assess the causes and management of severe GI manifestations in JDM patients. They studied … [Read more]

This 24-week, Phase I/II, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study investigated the safety and efficacy of extended-release albuterol in late-onset Pompe disease stably treated with enzyme replacement therapy at the standard dose for 4.9 (1.0-9.4) years and with no contraindications to intake of albuterol. Twelve of 13 participants completed the study. No serious adverse events were related … [Read more]

The objective of this study was to describe successful therapeutic strategies in statin-induced anti-HMGCR myopathy. Retrospective data from a cohort of 55 patients with statin-induced anti-HMGCR myopathy, sequentially stratified by the presence of proximal weakness, early remission, and corticosteroid and IVIG use at treatment induction, were analyzed for optimal successful induction and maintenance of remission … [Read more]

Stem cell therapy is a promising strategy to treat muscle diseases such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). To avoid immune rejection of donor cells or donor-derived muscle, autologous cells, which have been genetically modified to express dystrophin, are preferable to cells derived from healthy donors. Restoration of full-length dystrophin (FL-dys) using viral vectors is extremely … [Read more]

Anti-transcription intermediary factor 1 (TIF1)-γ autoantibodies are robustly linked with cancer-associated DM in adults. This review aims to give an overview of the physiological context of TIF1-γ and to determine whether there is a pathophysiological link between anti-TIF1-γ autoantibodies and the occurrence of cancer. Detection of anti-TIF1-γ autoantibodies has a high sensitivity and specificity for … [Read more]

Myotonic dystrophy type I (DM1) is an autosomal dominant multisystem disorder characterized by myotonia and muscle weakness. Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cancer have been shown to be part of the DM1 phenotype. Metformin, a well-established agent for the management of T2D, is thought to have cancer-preventive effects in the general population. In this study, … [Read more]

The project entitled “Unidentified myopathies after negative results for corresponding thematic panels” proposed as part of the France Genome Medicine Plan 2025 is about to begin. Undertaken by Tanya Stojkovic*, and also France Leturcq**, the goal of this project is to integrate high throughput sequencing technologies into the diagnostic strategy for unidentified myopathies in order … [Read more]

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is one of the most frequent late-onset muscular dystrophies, characterized by progressive fatty replacement and degeneration involving single muscles in an asynchronous manner. With clinical trials at the horizon in this disease, the knowledge of its natural history is of paramount importance to understand the impact of new therapies. The aim … [Read more]

Little is known about the relationship between Becker Muscular Dystrophy (BMD) and mental disorders. This study aimed to clarify whether BMD is a risk factor for psychiatric diseases. The authors asked genetically or immunohistochemically confirmed BMD patients to participate in the study interview. Participants who consented to psychiatric tests underwent further assessments of intellectual, psychological, … [Read more]