Expanding science skills: teaching tissue culture, data analysis, and reporting through imaging the actin cytoskeleton.

Within the eukaryotic cell, the actin cytoskeleton is a crucial structural framework that maintains cellular form, regulates cell movement and division, and facilitates the internal transportation of proteins and organelles. External cues induce alterations in the actin cytoskeleton primarily through the activation of Rho GTPases, which then bind to a diverse array of effector proteins to promote the local assembly or disassembly of actin. We have harnessed the extensively studied functions of RhoA in the dynamics of the actin cytoskeleton to craft a practical series for Stage 2 Biology students.

Probing cellular health at the muscle level-Multi-frequency bioimpedance in Parkinson's disease.

Bioimpedance (mfBIA) non-invasively assesses cellular muscle health. Our aim was to explore whether mfBIA captures abnormal cellular muscle health in patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD) and how such changes are modulated with the use of Parkinson's medication. In patients with PD (n = 20) mfBIA measurements were made of biceps brachii, triceps, and extensor carpi radialis longus muscles of the more affected arm whilst at rest, using a mobile mfBIA device (IMPEDIMED, Australia).

A Non-Invasive Sound Technology to Monitor Rumen Contractions.

This technical report used a wireless device (CURO MkII) that recorded high-quality rumen sound waves from cows of different production statuses (dry cow vs. lactating cow) and physiological stages (pregnant vs. non-pregnant).

Tuberculosis and diabetes: increased hospitalisations and mortality associated with renal impairment.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) triples a person's risk of active tuberculosis (TB) and is associated with increased mortality. It is unclear whether diabetes status and/or the associated renal dysfunction is associated with poor TB outcomes in New Zealand, which has high diabetes screening.

Aim: To characterise the population of TB-DM and TB-alone to assess the effect of diabetes status and renal function on hospitalisation and mortality.

The impact of water depth and speed on muscle fiber activation of healthy dogs walking in a water treadmill.

Background: Water treadmills are frequently used in the rehabilitation of dogs, for example with the purpose of re-building muscular strength after surgery. However, little is known about how different water depths and velocities affect the muscular workload during aquatic locomotion. This study used acoustic myography to assess hind limb muscle fiber activation in 25 healthy large-breed dogs walking in a water treadmill.

Treatment and outcomes of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Auckland, 1995-2018.

Background: New Zealand has a low burden of tuberculosis; however, multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) still represents a challenge for clinicians. This is the first description of clinical aspects of MDR-TB in New Zealand.

Aims: To evaluate the treatment and outcomes of patients with MDR-TB disease in Auckland.

An Investigation Into the Short-Term Effects of Photobiomodulation on the Mechanical Nociceptive Thresholds of M. Longissimus and M. Gluteus Medius, in Relation to Muscle Firing Rate in Horses at Three Different Gaits.

Back pain is a common condition in horses, yet despite this, quantitative assessments of the efficacy of treatment are scarce. Mechanical nociceptive thresholds (MNTs) and acoustic myography (AMG) recordings were obtained, both preinterventionand postintervention, from the left and right epaxial muscles in eight healthy general riding horses (mean age 17 ± 6 yrs). Using an algometer, MNT readings were taken at each of the 6 preselected points along the thoracolumbar M.

Deep Eutectic Solvents Based on Natural Ascorbic Acid Analogues and Choline Chloride.

Deep eutectic solvents (DES) are one of the most promising green technologies to emerge in recent years given their combination of environmentally friendly credentials and useful functionalities. Considering the continued search for new DES - especially those that exemplify the aforementioned characteristics, we report the preparation of DES based on natural analogues of l-ascorbic acid for the first time. The onset of eutectic melting occurred at temperatures far below the melting point of the individual components and resulted in the generation of glass forming fluids with glass transition temperatures, viscosities and flow behavior that are comparable to similar systems.

Multi-frequency bioimpedance: a non-invasive tool for muscle-health assessment of adults with cerebral palsy.

Muscle contracture development is a major complication for individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) and has lifelong implications. In order to recognize contracture development early and to follow up on preventive interventions aimed at muscle health development, non-invasive, and easy to use methods are needed. The aim of the present study was to assess whether multi-frequency Bioimpedance (mfBIA) can be used to detect differences between skeletal muscle of individuals with CP and healthy controls.

Novel insights into cerebral palsy.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by abnormalities of muscle tone, movement and motor skills, and is attributed to injury to the developing brain. CP affects about 1 in 500 neonates. CP shows clinical features which evolve with age, and these may over time lead to deterioration of motor function although the lesion to the developing brain is non-progressive.

Muscle function assessed by the non-invasive method acoustic myography (AMG) in a Danish group of healthy adults.

Acoustic myography (AMG) is a non-invasive method to assess muscle function during daily activities. AMG has great scope for assessment of musculoskeletal problems. The aim of this study was to create an AMG data set for general clinical use and relate these findings to age and gender.

Assessment of Noninvasive Low-Frequency Ultrasound as a Means of Treating Injuries to Suspensory Ligaments in Horses: A Research Paper.

Therapeutic ultrasound is a noninvasive technique, which is well tolerated by horses, does not need sedation, and can easily be performed in a routine clinical setting. Twenty-three client-owned sport horses were recruited at Clinica Equina San Biagio and included in this case study. Treatment of the injured suspensory ligament apparatus was administered using an EQ Pro, low-frequency therapeutic unit (38 kHz).

A comparative multi-site and whole-body assessment of fascia in the horse and dog: a detailed histological investigation.

Fascia in the veterinary sciences is drawing attention, such that physiotherapists and animal practitioners are now applying techniques based on the concept of fascia studies in humans. A comprehensive study of fascia is therefore needed in animals to understand the arrangement of the fascial layers in an unguligrade horse and a digitigrade dog. This study has examined the difference between the horse and the dog fascia at specific regions, in terms of histology, and has compared it with the human model.

The Efficacy of Intermittent Long-term Bell Boot Application for the Correction of Muscle Asymmetry in Equine Subjects.

It has been proposed that manipulating proprioceptive signals of the equine distal limb as part of a rehabilitation process in cases of musculoskeletal pain or neurologic deficits can be used to correct postural control and restore normal motor programs. This trial has examined the effect of treatment with a light-weight and loose-fitting bell boot (82 g) on an imbalance of muscle gluteus superficialis function in horses as measured using acoustic myography (AMG). Eight horses were trained over a 60-minute period every 3 days for 6 weeks, a protocol based on preliminary findings.

Muscle assessment using multi-frequency bioimpedance in a healthy Danish population aged 20-69 years: a powerful non-invasive tool in sports and in the clinic.

The condition of active muscles determines an individual's ability to carry out daily activities and has implications for an athlete's performance. Multi-frequency bioimpedance (mfBIA) is a non-invasive, well-known, validated, and much used method to assess muscle condition. However, it is rarely used to its full potential.

An acoustic myography functional assessment of cerebral palsy subjects compared to healthy controls during physical exercise.

Individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) participate in reduced levels of physical activity and spend an increased amount of time in a sedentary state compared with healthy control subjects. Whether this in part can be explained by impaired muscle function is still unclear. The aim of the present study was to elucidate differences in muscle fibre recruitment during treadmill exercise between CP subjects and healthy age-, sex- and BMI-matched controls.

Microvascularization is not a limiting factor for exercise in adults with cerebral palsy.

Muscle contractures are a common complication in patients with central nervous system (CNS) lesions which limit range of movement and cause joint deformities. Furthermore, it has previously been shown that muscles with contractures have a reduced number of capillaries, indicating decreased tissue vascularization. The aim of the present study was to investigate the microvascular volume (MV) at rest and after acute exercise in the muscle tissue of individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) and healthy control individuals.

The relation between maximal voluntary force in m. palmaris longus and the temporal and spatial summation of muscle fiber recruitment in human subjects.

This study aimed at looking at the frequency (T-score) and the amplitude (S-score) of fiber use during contraction of a forearm muscle, m. palmaris longus, as measured by acoustic myography (AMG). An additional aim was to relate the T- and S-scores to the recorded force obtained from a hand dynamometer.

A more precise, repeatable and diagnostic alternative to surface electromyography - an appraisal of the clinical utility of acoustic myography.

Acoustic myography (AMG) enables a detailed and accurate measurement of those muscles involved in a particular movement and is independent of electrical signals between the nerve and muscle, measuring solely muscle contractions, unlike surface electromyography (sEMG). With modern amplifiers and digital sound recording systems, measurements during physical activity both inside and outside a laboratory setting are now possible and accurate. Muscle sound gives a representation of the work of each muscle group during a complex movement, and under certain forms of movement even reveals both concentric and eccentric activity, something that sEMG is incapable of.

Multi-frequency bioimpedance in human muscle assessment.

Bioimpedance analysis (BIA) is a well-known and tested method for body mass and muscular health assessment. Multi-frequency BIA (mfBIA) equipment now makes it possible to assess a particular muscle as a whole, as well as looking at a muscle at the fiber level. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that mfBIA can be used to assess the anatomical, physiological, and metabolic state of skeletal muscles.

Fiber type-specific response of skeletal muscle satellite cells to high-intensity resistance training in dialysis patients.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of high-intensity resistance training on satellite cell (SC) and myonuclear number in the muscle of patients undergoing dialysis.

Methods: Patients (n = 21) underwent a 16-week control period, followed by 16 weeks of resistance training 3 times weekly. SC and myonuclear number were determined by immunohistochemistry of vastus lateralis muscle biopsy cross-sections.

Multi-frequency bioimpedance in equine muscle assessment.

Multi-frequency BIA (mfBIA) equipment has been shown to be a non-invasive and reliable method to assess a muscle as a whole or at fibre level. In the equine world this may be the future method of assessment of training condition or of muscle injury. The aim of this study was to test if mfBIA reliably can be used to assess the condition of a horse's muscles in connection with health assessment, injury and both training and re-training.

Resistance training and testosterone levels in male patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis.

Background: We investigated serum testosterone and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels' associations with muscle fibre size and resistance training in male dialysis patients.

Methods: Male patients were included in a 16-week control period followed by 16 weeks of resistance training thrice weekly. Blood samples were obtained to analyse testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), IGF-1, and IGF-binding protein 3.

Interleukin-6 and vitamin D status during high-intensity resistance training in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Background. The aim of this study was to investigate IL-6 and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH D) associations with muscle size and muscle function in dialysis patients. Methods.