A novel contaminant in museums? A cross-sectional study on xerophilic Aspergillus growth in climate-controlled repositories.

In the last decade, extensive fungal growth has developed in Danish museums parallel to climate change, challenging occupational health and heritage preservation. The growth was unexpected as the museums strived to control relative humidity below 60 %, and it should exceed 75 % to risk growth. A Danish case study found xerophilic Aspergillus species able to grow at low relative humidity in a museum repository.

Muscle contractility in spinobulbar muscular atrophy.

Spinobulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is caused by a trinucleotide repeat expansion in the androgen receptor gene on the X chromosome. There is a toxic effect of the mutant receptor on muscle and neurons resulting in muscle weakness and atrophy. The weakness can be explained by wasting due to loss of muscle cells, but it is unknown whether weakness also relates to poor muscle contractility of the remaining musculature.

Refining the spinobulbar muscular atrophy phenotype by quantitative MRI and clinical assessments.

Objective: To investigate the phenotypic features, with emphasis on muscle, in 40 patients with spinobulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) using quantitative MRI, stationary dynamometry, questionnaires, and functional tests.

Methods: Patients with genetically confirmed SBMA were included. MRI was used to describe muscle involvement and quantify muscle fat fractions of arm, back, and leg muscles.

Disease progression and outcome measures in spinobulbar muscular atrophy.

Objective: Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is a slowly progressive disease with weakness of bulbar and extremity muscles. There is no curative treatment for the disease, but several clinical trials have been conducted over the past years. The results from these trials have uncovered a great need to develop quantitative, reliable outcome measures.

Collagen XII myopathy with rectus femoris atrophy and collagen XII retention in fibroblasts.

Introduction: Mutation in the collagen XII gene (COL12A1) was recently reported to induce Bethlem myopathy. We describe a family affected by collagen XII-related myopathy in 3 generations.

Methods: Systematic interview, clinical examination, skin biopsies, and MRI of muscle were used.