A new compound has proved effective in animal studies in restoring electrical activity in the muscles of muscular dystrophy patients--reversing some of the damage done by the disease. Scientists found that a synthetic RNA molecule was able to cure myotonia, a common symptom of muscular dystrophy that involves extensive muscle tensing. MD is characterized by an inability to relax muscles, a condition that causes progressive muscle wasting.
"The significance of this work is the proof of concept that a fundamental aspect of this genetic disease can be reversed even after it is very well established," says senior author Charles Thornton, M.D., University of Rochester Medical Center. "It encourages us to believe that other parts of the disease could be reversible as well."
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- check out the report from Ivanhoe
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