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Tag Archives: skeletal
How Exercise Might Mitigate Age-Related Decline in Skeletal Muscle Structure and Function
Summary: Study reveals exercise is associated with myonuclear remodeling and may contribute to the protective effects of exercise on muscle function throughout the lifespan.
Source: King’s College London
Research has found that exercise is associated with changes to the nucleus in muscle fibres and may contribute to the protective effects of exercise on muscle function throughout the lifespan.
The paper’s authors, from the School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine & Sciences and the Centre for Human & Applied Physiological Sciences, isolated single muscle fibres from young and older exercise trained individuals.
In particular, they used tissue from young marathon runners and elderly master cyclists – with the latter capable of cycling 100km in under 6.5 hours (with an average age of 76).
Strikingly, they found that myonuclei – commonly referred to as the ‘control centre’ of muscle fibres – were more spherical, less deformable, and contained more of a protein called lamin A than untrained individuals. Parallel studies in mice confirmed changes in lamin A, and showed that myonuclei were stiffer as a result of exercise.
Writing in the Journal of Physiology, they concluded that exercise is associated with myonuclear remodelling, which is preserved in older people, and may contribute to the protective effects of exercise on muscle function throughout the lifespan.
Age-related decline in skeletal muscle function, such as muscle strength and endurance, can result in reduced quality of life. Whilst it is appreciated that exercise can mitigate the decline in muscle function, the precise mechanisms that control this process are not fully understood.
Characterizing the subcellular changes associated with exercise may therefore improve our understanding of how exercise can extend functionality in old age.
Apart from housing the genome of the cell, the nucleus is capable of sensing and responding to physical forces, which can alter nucleus shape and activate cell communication pathways.
Defects in proteins that control the mechanics of nuclei, such as lamin A, are hallmarks of some diseases including heart disease, muscular dystrophy and premature aging disorders.
In these conditions, nuclei are misshapen and more deformable, with aberrant cell communication. However, whether these particular properties are affected in aging and exercise was previously unknown.
The researchers speculated that nuclei in muscle cells, called myonuclei, would show similar abnormalities to laminopathies in aging individuals.
Dr Matthew Stroud, Principle Investigator of the Stroud Lab, said: “Whilst we know that exercise is able to overcome various detrimental aspects of the aging process, our molecular understanding of this is incomplete. Here we used both humans and mice to show that changes to nucleus shape and structure in muscle are strongly associated with exercise.”
As gatekeepers of the genome, nuclei govern cell fate and function, and the nuclear alterations we observed may promote muscle adaptation to exercise. This may help to mitigate muscle dysfunction with age.”
Human lifespan has increased substantially over the past half-century and this trend is projected to continue. One concern, however, is that this has not been accompanied by an equivalent extension of healthspan – the part of a person’s life when they are generally in good health – in old age.
Instead of this, morbidity has been extended, and independence and quality of life has reduced. The authors hope that unraveling the beneficial effects of exercise may guide treatments to improve the healthspan of our ever-expanding aging population.
About this exercise, aging, and muscle function research news
Author: Press Office
Source: King’s College London
Contact: Press Office – King’s College London
Image: The image is in the public domain
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Original Research: Open access.
“Myonuclear alterations associated with exercise are independent of age in humans” by Matthew Stroud et al. Journal of Physiology
Abstract
Myonuclear alterations associated with exercise are independent of age in humans
Age-related decline in skeletal muscle structure and function can be mitigated by regular exercise. However, the precise mechanisms that govern this are not fully understood. The nucleus plays an active role in translating forces into biochemical signals (mechanotransduction), with nuclear lamina protein
Lamin A regulating nuclear shape, nuclear mechanics, and ultimately gene expression. Defective Lamin A expression causes muscle pathologies and premature ageing syndromes, but the roles of nuclear structure and function in physiological ageing and in exercise adaptations remain obscure.
Here, we isolated single muscle fibres and carried out detailed morphological and functional analyses on myonuclei from young and older exercise-trained individuals.
Strikingly, myonuclei from trained individuals were more spherical, less deformable, and contained a thicker nuclear lamina than untrained individuals. Complementary to this, exercise resulted in increased levels of Lamin A and increased myonuclear stiffness in mice.
We conclude that exercise is associated with myonuclear remodelling, independently of age, which may contribute to the preservative effects of exercise on muscle function throughout the lifespan.
Tyrannosaurus Skeletal Remains Reveal T. rex May Have Been 3 Distinct Species
A new analysis of Tyrannosaurus skeletal remains reveals physical differences in the femur, other bones, and dental structures across specimens that could suggest Tyrannosaurus rex specimens need to be re-categorized into three distinct groups or species, reports a study published in Evolutionary Biology.
Tyrannosaurus rex is the only recognized species of the group of dinosaurs, or genus, Tyrannosaurus to date. Previous research has acknowledged variation across Tyrannosaurus skeletal remains in the femur (thighbone) and specimens with either one or two slender incisor teeth on each side of front ends of the jaw.
Gregory Paul and colleagues analyzed the bones and dental remains of 37 Tyrannosaurus specimens. The authors compared the robustness of the femur in 24 of the specimens, a measure calculated from the length and circumference that gives an indication of the strength of the bone. They also measured the diameter of the base of teeth or space in the gums to assess if specimens had one or two slender incisiform teeth.
The authors observed that the femur varied across specimens, some with more robust femurs and others with more gracile femurs. The authors found there were two times more robust femurs than gracile ones across specimens, which suggests that this is not a difference caused by sex, which would likely result in a more even split. The authors also suggest that the variation in femurs is not related to growth of the specimen as robust femurs were found in some juvenile specimens two thirds the size of an adult and gracile femurs were found in some specimens that were full adult size.
Dental structure also varied across specimens, although those with both femur measurements and dental remains was low (12 specimens). Specimens with one incisor tooth were correlated with often having higher femur gracility.
Of the Tyrannosaurus specimens, 28 could be identified in distinct layers of sediment (stratigraphy) at the Lancian upper Masstrichtian formations in North America (estimated to be from between 67.5 to 66 million years ago). The authors compared Tyrannosaurus specimens with other theropod species found in lower layers of sediment.
Only robust Tyrannosaurus femurs were found in the lower layer of sediment (six femurs). The variation of femur robustness in the lower layer was not different to that of other theropod species, which indicates that likely only one species of Tyrannosaurus existed at this point. Only one gracile Tyrannosaurus femur was identified in the middle layer with five other gracile femurs in the upper layer, alongside other robust femurs. The variation in Tyrannosaurus femur robustness in the top layer of the sediments was higher than what was observed in some earlier theropod specimens. This suggests that the Tyrannosaurus specimens found at higher layers of sediment physically developed into more distinct forms compared to specimens from lower layers, and other dinosaur species.
Gregory Paul, lead author, said: “We found that the changes in Tyrannosaurus femurs are likely not related to the sex or age of the specimen. We propose that the changes in the femur may have evolved over time from a common ancestor who displayed more robust femurs to become more gracile in later species. The differences in femur robustness across layers of sediment may be considered distinct enough that the specimens could potentially be considered separate species.”
The authors nominate two potential new species of Tyrannosaurus based on their analysis. The first, Tyrannosaurus imperator (tyrant lizard emperor), relates to specimens found at the lower and middle layers of sediment, characterized with more robust femurs and usually two incisor teeth. The authors argue these features have been retained from earlier ancestors (tyrannosaurids). The second, Tyrannosaurus regina (tyrant lizard queen), is linked to specimens from the upper and possibly middle layers of sediment, characterized with slenderer femurs and one incisor tooth. The recognized species Tyrannosaurus rex (tyrant lizard king) was identified in the upper and possibly middle layer of sediment with specimens classed as retaining more robust femurs while having only one incisor tooth. Some specimens could not be identified based on their remains so were not assigned to a species.
The authors acknowledge that they cannot rule out that the observed variation is due to extreme individual differences, or atypical sexual dimorphism, rather than separate groups, and they also caution that the location within sediment layers is not known for some specimens. The authors discuss the difficulties of assigning fossil vertebrates to a potential new species.
The authors conclude that the physical variation found in Tyrannosaurus specimens combined with their stratigraphy are indicative of three potential groups that could be nominated as two new species, T. imperator and T. regina, alongside the only recognized species to date, T. rex.
Reference: “The Tyrant Lizard King, Queen and Emperor: Multiple Lines of Morphological and Stratigraphic Evidence Support Subtle Evolution and Probable Speciation Within the North American Genus Tyrannosaurus” by Gregory S. Paul, W. Scott Persons IV and Jay Van Raalte, 1 March 2022, Evolutionary Biology.
DOI: 10.1007/s11692-022-09561-5
Texas mom, boyfriend charged after boy’s skeletal remains found in apartment
A 35-year-old Houston-area woman and her 31-year-old boyfriend were taken into custody Tuesday, both of them charged in connection with the death of an 8-year-old boy whose skeletal remains were found Sunday inside an apartment.
Gloria Williams, identified as the mother of the child, was charged with injury to a child by omission and tampering with a human corpse, while boyfriend Brian Coulter was charged with murder, FOX 26 of Houston reported.
Both suspects had been released following an initial round of questioning, according to the station.
Additional charges were expected as the investigation continues, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez told the station.
TEXAS KIDS ABANDONED WITH SKELETAL REMAINS OF 9-YEAR-OLD BROTHER FED BY NEIGHBORS
Three other boys – ages 7, 10 and 15 – were found abandoned inside the same apartment in western Harris County near Houston, according to the report.
The dead child was declared the victim of multiple blunt-force injuries, according to the county medical examiner’s office.
Authorities said the 15-year-old boy called for help around 3:15 p.m. Sunday and said his 9-year-old brother had been dead for a year, with the corpse rotting in a room next to his, FOX 26 reported.
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez speaks with reporters, Oct. 26, 2021. (Harris County Sheriff’s Office)
(Harris County Sheriff’s Office)
The teen claimed the parents had moved out several months ago, leaving the surviving boys alone, the report said.
Gonzalez told reporters the children were unsupervised for “an extended period of time” but did not specify exactly how long, FOX 26 reported. He said it appeared they had some food available to them during that time but the two younger surviving boys appeared malnourished, with signs of physical harm, when they were discovered, the report said.
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One neighbor said other residents of the apartment complex helped provide food to the boys, KTRK-TV of Houston reported.
The investigation is continuing, led by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office’s homicide, child abuse and crime scene units, FOX 26 reported.
Skeletal remains of a 9-year-old and 3 kids were abandoned at apartment complex in southwest Harris County, sheriff says
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — A nine-year-old found dead inside a southwest Harris County apartment may have been dead up to a year, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
Harris County deputies responded to a gruesome scene Sunday where skeletal remains were found and three children were left abandoned.
Heartbreaking. @HCSOTexas units are at an apt complex at 3535 Green Crest, near Addicks Clodine & Westpark Tollway. Units found three juveniles abandoned in an apartment. Skeletal remains, possibly of another juvenile, were also found inside the unit. #HouNews pic.twitter.com/uVcybOugM9
— Ed Gonzalez (@SheriffEd_HCSO) October 24, 2021
According to Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, investigators responded to an apartment complex in the 3535 block of Green Crest near Addicks Clodine and Westpark Tollway on Sunday afternoon.
The sheriff’s office says they received a call from a 15-year-old claiming that his 9-year-old brother had been dead for a year in the apartment he shared with his siblings.
The teenage boy also told 911 dispatchers that his parents had not lived in the apartment with him and his two living siblings for several months.
When deputies arrived, they found skeletal remains consistent with what that teenage boy told dispatchers.
Authorities also said they found all three boys in the apartment, the teenager and his two brothers. They appeared to have been abandoned inside.
Late Sunday night, the sheriff’s office said the mother of the children and her boyfriend had been found and were being interviewed by law enforcement.
The children showed signs of malnourishment and were taken to the hospital to be treated.
During a news briefing Sunday afternoon, Gonzalez called the situation “horrific” after he saw how the children, ages 15, 10 and 7 had been living.
“I have been in this business a long time, and never saw anything like this,” Gonzalez said.
The eldest child appeared to have been the caretaker of the other kids for an extended period of time.
The 9-year-old’s remains were reportedly out in the apartment, not concealed or hidden.
“[We’re] Connecting all the dots at this point, it appears [the kids] were in there while the body was deteriorating,” Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez said authorities responded after they were called for a welfare check at that unit. It is unclear if the children were enrolled in school while going through this
Neighbors said the apartment complex, CityParc11 at West Oaks Apartments, had been doing inspections the past month.
ABC13 was kicked off the property by management who wouldn’t answer questions about the last time the apartment was inspected.
The three children are now in the county’s custody.
Follow ABC13 reporter Brooke Taylor on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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How Did This Skull End Up All Alone in a Cave in Italy? We Finally Have an Answer
It was found in 2015 – an isolated clue to a macabre mystery set in motion thousands of years in the past.
This ancient puzzle consisted of just a single piece: a solitary human cranium, discovered all by itself with no other skeletal remains around, resting inside a cave in Bologna, Italy, at the center of a cavernous depression the locals call Dolina dell’Inferno (Hell’s sinkhole).
It was not an easy thing to find.
The well-concealed skull, missing its lower jawbone, could only be reached by traversing a difficult cave passage called the Meandro della cattiveria (Maze of Malice), and then ascending a vertical shaft to a height of 12 meters (39 ft), where the cranium rested on a rocky ledge.
Due to difficulty in accessing the spot, speleologists weren’t able to retrieve the cranium until 2017, at which point researchers had a chance to study this mysterious, ancient specimen.
The lonesome skull turned out to be ancient indeed, with radiocarbon dating suggesting the cranium belonged to an individual who lived sometime between 3630 and 3380 BCE, placing them within the archaeological context of the early Eneolithic (aka Chalcolithic) period of the region.
Other Eneolithic human remains have been found in the general area; not in Hell’s sinkhole, but in a rock shelter approximately 600 meters (nearly 2,000 ft) away from the cave in which the skull was found.
So, the greater context makes some sense. But how exactly did this solitary skull get so far away from its Eneolithic counterparts, positioned high up on a ledge, yet buried within a malicious maze of a cave, and concealed at a depth of 26 metres (85 ft) below the ground?
According to anthropologist Maria Giovanna Belcastro from the University of Bologna – the first author of a new analysis of the skull’s unusual fate – a number of factors were at play.
Belcastro’s team investigated the cranium, which the team says most likely came from a young woman, aged between 24 and 35.
Evidence of various lesions on the sides of the skull are likely the result of human manipulations of the skull at the time of the woman’s death, the researchers suggest, perhaps reflecting ritualistic acts to remove flesh from the cranium, as part of a funeral custom.
Other lesions on the cranium, some believed to have been sustained antemortem (prior to death), may have been due to an injury that killed the woman, and other markings could be evidence of a kind of medical treatment delivered by her people.
As for how the skull became so separated from the rest of its skeleton, the researchers hypothesize that the cranium may have intentionally or accidentally been removed from the rest of the body, before rolling or being pushed along the ground by water or mud flows, until it somehow came to the edge of Hell’s sinkhole, ultimately falling within the depression.
Over time, water infiltration in the sinkhole could have dissolved gypsum deposits within the cave, creating the vertical shaft beside the skull’s secure resting place.
“The reactivated cave passage started evolving downward, with the formation of a lateral sinking creek and carving out the maze lying below,” the researchers write in their paper.
“This new reactivation was able to entrench approximately 12 meters of gypsum, connecting to the lowering base level.”
Various sediments lodged within the cranial cavity offer some support for this argument, suggesting matter got stuck inside the skull during water or debris flow, as the skull made its improbable, chaotic journey into the cave. Signs of other trauma to the cranium suggest plenty of bumps along the ride.
This hypothetical interpretation isn’t what necessarily happened, of course, which is something we can never truly know for sure. But as the researchers point out, of all the parts of a human skeleton, the shape of a skull makes it the most suited to doing a runaway.
“If the skeleton was intact by the time of this sequence of events, other skeletal elements, different in shape and size, might have remained stuck elsewhere and dispersed during transportation,” the authors suggest.
“The cranium would have rolled more easily than other skeletal parts in a water stream and debris flow… During its decomposition and those dynamic phases, it would have been filled with sediment. Therefore, it would have reached the cave and come to a stop on the plateau where it was found.”
The findings are reported in PLOS One.